Powell Valley Healthcare CEO sued for embezzlement

A company hired to provide management services for Powell Valley Healthcare is suing the hospital's former CEO on claims that he allegedly embezzled nearly $850,000 over the course of 6 months. Attorney Scott Klosterman, representing HealthTech Management Services, filed the suit in U.S. District Court last week. The lawsuit alleges Paul Cardwell authorized spending almost $850,000 to recruit physicians and other personnel to Powell Valley. According to the lawsuit, the money was sent to a straw company set up by an acquaintance of the CEO that kicked a substantial amount of Powell Valley Healthcare's money back to Cardwell. Cardwell resigned Sept. 23. The lawsuit states he is believed to be residing in Thailand. It's unclear if he has a lawyer who could comment for him.

Visitors to Rockies parks spend more than $1B

A new study finds that tourism in the Rocky Mountains' big national parks has provided a boon as the region's economy struggles to recover from recession. The study released by the National Park Service shows that more than 11 million visitors to Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton and Glacier national parks in 2010 spent $1 billion in surrounding communities. Those visitors and their money supported 15,412 jobs. The biggest beneficiaries were the towns in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho near Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Those parks drew 6.3 million visitors who spent $758 million in 2010. Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash says the study shows just how much of an effect that tourists to the park have, with each visitor contributing more than $90 to the area's economy.

Trooper Vehicle Struck Near Laramie

Twice in a week... a Wyoming Highway Patrol vehicle was hit again while it was parked on the side of the road. On Wednesday, a trooper working on a single vehicle crash on I-80, was sitting on the side of the road in his vehicle with the lights on. The driver of a Ford F-250 traveling westbound on I-80 lost control, striking the passenger side of the 2010 Dodge Charger patrol vehicle. Neither the trooper nor the driver were seriously injured. However, the troopers vehicle may be a total loss. The crash occurred approximately seven miles east of Laramie on the westbound side just shortly after 10:00 a.m. Last Friday evening a trooper was conducting a traffic stop and standing at the driver's door on Highway 220, just south of Casper, when a vehcile ran into the driver's side rear of the patrol car. The trooper was narrowly missed when that vehicle spun out of control.

Sweetwater County Celebrates Read Across America Week

Schools and libraries in Sweetwater County are celebrating “Read Across America” this week. Brittany Wells says the Love of Reading Committee in Sweetwater County got involved in the Read Across America campaign with the goal of promoting literacy and reading.






Tonight, Anne Parady at the Rock Springs Library says you can join in on their Seuss Celebration that starts at 6 PM.






Other visitors will be Cat In The Hat and Thing One and Thing Two. Refreshments will be served.

Wyoming Senate backs ending raises for state retirees

A bill that would effectively end cost-of-living raises for state employees has advanced to the Wyoming House. The Senate passed the proposal in a 23-7 vote on Tuesday after a failed effort to keep raises intact for judges and firefighters. Senate File 59, sponsored by the Joint Appropriations Committee, would require various state retirement funds to reach a certain financial threshold before cost-of-living increases would be paid. None of the retirement funds have reached that point. Sen. John Hastert, a Democrat from Green River, sponsored the amendment to exempt funds that cover judges and firefighters. He said the state needs to study the issue and suggested revisiting in next year instead.

Wyo. Senate committee mulls welfare drug testing

Some Wyoming lawmakers say they're inclined to impose random drug testing on participants in a state welfare program rather than require blanket testing of all applicants. The Senate's Labor, Health and Social Services Committee began hearing testimony Wednesday on the bill, which already has passed the House. The Senate committee intends to consider amending the bill to require random testing when it considers it again Friday. Sponsor Rep. David Miller, a Riverton Republican, and other supporters say constituents working in the private sector say they're subject to testing and that people who receive welfare benefits should be subject to the same scrutiny. Opponents say similar laws have run into problems in other states where some judges have ruled it's unconstitutional to require welfare applicants to undergo testing without probable cause.

Bill to lure Ultimate Fighting to Wyoming advances

A bill aimed at bringing an Ultimate Fighting Championship event to Wyoming is gaining support at the state Capitol. House Bill 87 would create a board and set rules for the mixed martial arts fighting events. It has passed the House and got the unanimous backing of a Senate committee on Tuesday. Wyoming is 1 of 5 states that doesn't have a mixed martial arts board or commission. It would cost $10,000 to start the board but bill sponsor Rep. Bryan Pedersen of Cheyenne said it would be self-funded once it was established. Pedersen says that the results of Wyoming fights aren't recognized by other states, forcing professional fighters to travel to other states to compete. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Montana approves bison tolerance zone expansion

Montana officials have approved a plan to expand so-called bison tolerance zones north of Yellowstone National Park by 75,000 acres for migrating animals in search of food. Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Montana Department of Livestock issued a joint decision Tuesday approving adjustments to the Interagency Bison Management Plan. The areas where bison will be allowed to wander will be expanded to the mountain ridges between the Paradise Valley and the Gardiner Basin on the east side of the Yellowstone River. The boundary to the west of the Yellowstone will be the ridgeline between the Tom Miner Basin and the Gardiner Basin. The agencies say they hope the expansion will decrease the need for hazing stray bison because the animals will seek out the new suitable habitat.

Senate sends wolf hunting bill back to committee

A bill that would allow Idaho ranchers to use powered parachutes, helicopters and live-bait traps to hunt problem wolves has died in the Senate. Senators agreed Tuesday to send the controversial legislation back to the Resources and Environment Committee - a move that likely ends the bill's chances this year. Republican Sen. Jeff Siddoway of Terreton is a sheep rancher and the bill's lead sponsor. Siddoway gave an impassioned speech defending his legislation and decrying the impact wolves are causing on livestock producers statewide. But he also acknowledged how his bill could risk putting wolves back on the federal Endangered Species List, and he urged his colleagues to send it back to committee. The legislation would let ranchers track and kill wolves for 36 hours after an attack.

Wyoming traffic stop nets 115 pounds of marijuana

Authorities say a traffic stop in southwest Wyoming has led to the seizure of 115 pounds of marijuana worth more than $692,000. The Wyoming Highway Patrol says a trooper pulled over a rental car on eastbound Interstate 80 Sunday night outside Evanston on a speeding violation. A patrol dog detected drugs, and a search revealed five packages of marijuana. Authorities also seized more than $3,000 in cash. The highway patrol said Tuesday that the 35-year-old driver, Shaval Green of Margate, Fla., and his 24-year-old passenger, Willie Lofton, of Cithonia, Ga., are in custody. They face felony charges of possession of a controlled substance in plant form, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, and conspiracy to deliver controlled substance.

BLM Congratulates Partners in Sommers-Grindstone Conservation Easement Award

The Bureau of Land Management has extended congratulations to those who made the Sommers-Grindstone conservation easement possible. Shelley Gregory says the 19,000 acre easement encompasses prime fish and wildlife habitat along the Green River in Sublette County and recently won Sunset Magazine’s “Best Ranchland” environmental award for 2011.






Jonah Interagency (JIO) and Pinedale Anticline Project funding is mandated through the environmental impact statement records of decision for the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field. Oil and gas operators contribute monies into each office’s mitigation and monitoring fund which is administered by the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline Boards.






The remaining $8.7 million was funded by numerous donors including the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Landowner Incentive Grant Program, Wal-Mart Acres for America through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative, Doris Duke Charitable Trust through The Nature Conservancy, Turner Foundation, Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition, Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Mule Deer Foundation.

Wyo. mulls "doomsday" bill in case of US collapse

Some Wyoming state lawmakers want to study the possibility of creating a state currency to prepare for the possible collapse of the national government. The so-called "doomsday" bill won initial backing in the state House on Monday after lawmakers dropped a proposal to study whether Wyoming should organize its own army and acquire an aircraft carrier and strike aircraft. The bill would set up a task force to study what the state should do in a range of catastrophes, including the possible political or economic collapse of the United States. Another potential disaster to be studied would be a disruption in food and energy supplies. The proposed study must pass another House vote before it could be sent to the Senate.

USFWS to kill wolves seen in Jackson, Wyo.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to kill three or four wolves that have brazenly approached homes in Jackson in northwest Wyoming. Wolf manager Mike Jimenez (hih-MEN'-ez) says there have been numerous sightings of wolves, beginning in late December, that show the animals have made residential areas part of their territory. He says that it appears the wolves are becoming habituated to people and houses. Jimenez says U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials had considered relocating the animals, but decided against it because there aren't many places to relocate wolves. He says killing the wolves won't have an adverse effect on Wyoming's wolf population.

Repeat WY drunken drivers would face up to 7 years

Repeat drunken drivers would face more time in prison under a proposal gaining support at the state Capitol. People convicted of drunken driving for the fourth time in 10 years - in Wyoming or elsewhere - would be sentenced to up to seven years in prisons. They would also face a $10,000 fine. House Bill 88 is set to be considered by the full Senate after getting the backing of the Judiciary Committee on Monday. It's already passed the House. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Sam Krone, a Republican from Cody. He says the bill would also create a longer probationary period so offenders could get treatment. Last year, 28 people in Wyoming were sentenced for driving under the influence at least four times.

BLM Thanks Many

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) extends its congratulations to the many cooperators who made the Sommers-Grindstone conservation easement possible. The 19,000 acre easement encompasses prime fish and wildlife habitat along the Green River in Sublette County, Wyo., and recently won Sunset Magazine’s “Best Ranchland” environmental award for 2011.
The Jonah Interagency (JIO) and Pinedale Anticline Project (PAPO) offices contributed a total of $11 million towards the final $19.7 million cost for the easement. Each office consists of representatives from BLM Wyoming, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
JIO/PAPO funding is mandated through the environmental impact statement records of decision for the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field. Oil and gas operators contribute monies into each office’s mitigation and monitoring fund which is administered by the JIO and PAPO Boards. The boards are comprised of the state directors for each participant agency and a Sublette County commissioner. After reviewing the easement proposal and the recommendations of JIO/PAPO staff, the JIO/PAPO Boards approved the $11 million contribution as part of mitigation efforts for development in the nearby oil and gas fields. BLM Pinedale Field Manager, Shane DeForest, states, “The JIO and PAPO were established to explore and implement innovative mitigation for gas field development. Conservation easements like this are the culmination of good ideas combined with the hard work of many.”

Gas Prices Rise

The Average price of gas in Wyoming is on the rise again, going up by more than seven-cents a gallon in the last week. Across the country, its gone up 11-cents. Some analysts are predicting it could go as high as $5 a gallon this summer. Several stations in Casper raised their prices another 10-cents Monday afternoon, meaning several stations in the Oil City are up 24-cents higher than it was just a week ago. Wyoming does luck out in a sense, because we have access to cheaper Canadian crude oil, that the majority of the US does not, leaving our price here considerably cheaper than the rest of the nation. While it is normal for gas to rise incrementally this time of year, it is going to rise aggressively thanks to the increasing tensions in the Middle East.

Budget Bills

The Wyoming House and Senate have passed parallel budget bills spelling out their respective visions of how to fund state government over the next two years.
Both bills call for roughly $3.2 billion in spending for the period starting in July.
Differences between the bills that will have to be resolved in conference committee.
Among the differences is a $3.2-million amendment approved in the Senate but not in the House. It would fund additional funding for treatment of people who suffer from acquired brain injuries or developmental disabilities. Sen. Charles Scott, a Casper Republican, is chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. He says he's pleased the Senate approved the funding and says it's critical to cut waiting periods for people who need those services.

Inaugural Muley Fanatic Banquet To Be Held This Saturday

The Inaugural Muley Fanatic Fundraising Banquet is this Saturday. Co-founder of Joshua Coursey hopes all of the hard work to put on the banquet will result in a whole lot of new memberships.






Coursey and Joey Faigl established The Muley Fanatic Foundation of Wyoming, Inc. after five years of dedicated volunteer work with the national organization. The location for the banquet, the Sweetwater County Events Center, is a familiar one to them.






Tickets for the banquet are 50 dollars per person. Entertainment at the event will be provided by Comedy Country Singer Kevin Blake Weldon. Doors open at 4:30 pm.

Education reform measure passes Senate

The state Senate has approved a bill that continues education reform efforts in Wyoming's public schools. Senate File 57 was approved on a 26-4 vote Monday. It now heads to the state House for consideration. The proposed bill deals with everything from testing of students to teacher and school administrator evaluations. It sets up a process for measuring how students are performing academically year to year and helping improve schools with poorly performing students. The bill is part of state education reform efforts to make sure Wyoming high school graduates are better prepared for college and careers.

Prison time for man accused in 2011 church arson

A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a church arson in 2011. Northern Arapaho tribal member Norman Ybarra of the Wind River Indian Reservation was sentenced Friday to four years and five months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors said Monday he also must pay $223,818 in restitution. Ybarra had been charged in the arson and burglary of the Arapahoe Baptist Church in September 2011.

Americans Elect Earns Spot On Wyoming General Election Ballot

Wyoming will have three parties on the general election ballot this year. Secretary of State Max Maxfield announced Monday that the Americans Elect party gathered enough signatures of registered voters in the state to be added to the November ballot. Americans Elect needed 3,740 signatures to gain ballot access as a provisional party. The organization submitted more than 7,000 signatures. The Republican and Democratic parties will be listed on both the primary and general election ballots. The Libertarian Party and Americans Elect will only appear on the November ballot since they nominate their candidates by convention and not by primary. Americans Elect is an online effort that seeks to choose a presidential candidate in a process that includes a virtual convention.

Meningitis Vaccine Bills Does Not Pass

A bill that would require most Wyoming college students get vaccinated against meningitis has died in the Senate. The bill would have required meningitis vaccinations for students within 30 days of enrolling at the University of Wyoming and the state's community colleges.

Senate Kills Concussion Bill

The state Senate has killed a proposal that would have required coaches and trainers of organized non-school youth sports and activities to get training about concussions. The 2011 Legislature approved legislation that requires public school districts to set policies on how to handle junior high and high school athletes who suffer concussions. But that bill dealt only with school athletes. The bill offered this year would involve youths in activities sponsored by non-school groups.

Wekkend Storm Stranded 160 Travelers in Grand Teton

A weekend snowstorm stranded some 160 travelers overnight in Grand Teton National Park. The storm also slowed the search for a snowboarder missing in the backcountry amid high avalanche danger. Rescuers were able to find Sam Hoerr of Dunlap, Ill., Saturday night and he was able to leave the backcountry with them on his own. The stranded travelers spent the night at two lodges and an elementary school in the park.

Rock Springs Beating Death

Despite the initial report of a shooting by the Rock Springs Police Department, they now say a Rock Springs man was allegedly beaten to death. Steve Core has the details.

Arrest of Wanted Man

The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man they say is wanted for attempted murder in a California drive-by shooting. Oreal Belcher was arrested Saturday in Rock Springs without incident. Police say Blecher is wanted in connection with a San Diego shooting. They say his alleged accomplice, Paul Price, was arrested just a couple of hours after the October shooting of a bar bouncer. The bouncer was shot multiple times in the chest, stomach, and arms. After learning that Belcher was in Wyoming, the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office partenred with the San Diego Police Department and the U.S. Marshall's Office to track Belcher to a home in Rock Springs. He is currently in the Sweetwater County Jail, awaiting extradition to San Diego.

Suspect in attempted murder case captured in Sweetwater County

A fugitive wanted for attempted murder in California was arrested in Rock Springs. Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that 41 year old Oreal Marcel Belcher was arrested without incident by county detectives at a Rock Springs residence.






Blust says that Sweetwater County detectives serve on a special United States Marshals Service fugitive apprehension team. 






Belcher remains in custody at the Sweetwater County Detention Center while arrangements are made for his return to California.

Wyoming man gets 12-30 years in Nebraska prison

A Wyoming man who was convicted of posing as a licensed car dealer has been given 12 to 30 years in a Nebraska prison. 52-year-old Thomas Merchant, of Cheyenne, was convicted of being an unlicensed dealer. He was sentenced on Thursday. Prosecutors say Merchant used a forged dealer's license when he bought 19 vehicles from the Nebraska Auto Auction last June. The business said the checks Merchant wrote for the vehicles bounced. Nebraska law requires car buyers to be either consumers or licensed dealers. Merchant originally faced a separate felony theft charge for the checks, but it was dismissed. In court Thursday, Merchant apologized for his lengthy criminal history. That history increased his sentence because he was found to be a habitual criminal.

Calf-to-cow ratio down on National Elk Refuge

Wildlife manager says the number of elk calves per 100 cows on the National Elk Refuge is lower than what is needed to sustain the Jackson Elk Herd population. Wyoming Game and Fish and National Elk Refuge personnel counted nearly 16 calves per 100 cows on the refuge during the annual elk classification count Feb. 13. Last year, they counted 22.4 calves per 100 cows. Biologists say 25 calves per 100 cows are needed to sustain the population of more than 11,000 animals. Biologists caution they have not yet tallied elk counted during flights over other winter range in the region.

Sick Bald Eagle Found Along WY Highway

An adult female bald eagle that was found sick on the side of the road in northeastern Wyoming is on the mend. Diane Morse, director for Northeast Wyoming NEW Bird Rescue and Rehab, says the eagle's diarrhea and vomiting have stopped, but it is "not out of the woods yet." A motorist spotted the eagle on the side of state Highway 59 on Feb. 18 and called wildlife officials. The eagle's initial blood work did not indicate what was making the bird sick.

UW Baseball Revival Strikes Out

A proposed $250,000 study on the feasibility of reviving the University of Wyoming's long-dead baseball and softball programs struck out this week in the state Legislature. The study would have looked into building an indoor field to accommodate games. But the idea got a lukewarm reaction at best from lawmakers and university athletic officials.

Horse meat processing plant proposed in Ozarks

A Wyoming-based company may build a plant in Missouri that would process horse meat for human consumption. Unified Equine was created by Wyoming state legislator Sue Wallis last November after Congress approved allowing the USDA to begin inspections for horse meat and plants. Supporters say the plant would bring jobs and put suffering or neglected horses out of their misery. Critics say they can't stomach the idea of horses being processed for meat.

3 Wyoming mail processing sites to close

The U.S. Postal Service plans to end mail processing in three Wyoming cities to save money. Under a plan released Thursday, mail processing now done in Rawlins and in Wheatland will move to Cheyenne and operations in Rock Springs will shift to Salt Lake City. The Postal Service plans to move ahead with a total of 260 consolidations nationwide beginning in mid-May. They're expected to result in a loss of roughly 35,000 jobs, which the post office hopes to achieve mainly through attrition. The move isn't expected to cost any jobs in Rawlins, which is understaffed now. However, postmaster Deedee Macey says it will take two days to deliver a letter mailed in the city, instead of one.

Regional Water Supply Project Rejected

The Fort Collins man aiming to build a pipeline to carry water from western Wyoming to Colorado’s Front Range said he is undeterred by a federal agency’s rejection of his permit application. Project opponents, however, said Aaron Million’s confidence might be misplaced. The proposal for bringing new water to the thirsty Front Range of Colorado was rejected as “premature” this week by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, subject to a potential rehearing. The 560-mile pipeline, formally called the Regional Water Supply Project, could potentially transport up to 250,000 acre feet of water from the Green River Basin in Wyoming to Colorado. It was proposed by water speculator Aaron Million as a way of bringing water to Denver-area suburbs that don’t have sustainable long-term water supply. After the proposal faltered and languished in the early review stages by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Million suddenly tried to reinvent the pipeline as an energy project, switching the review process to the FERC.

Wild Horse Drawing Contest Winners

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Desert District is pleased to announce Aislyn Pecolar, Domanik Gunyan and Rachel Shiler are the first, second, and third place winners of the wild horse drawing contest. The winners were announced Tuesday, Feb. 21, during an awards ceremony at Westridge Elementary School, Rock Springs, Wyo. The ranking of winners was determined by the number of votes their drawings received.
As first place winner, Aislyn Pecolar from Westridge Elementary School receives a $100 Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce gift certificate, which is accepted at most businesses in Sweetwater County. Pecolar’s family says she loves to draw. As second place winner, Domanik Gunyan from Desert View Elementary School receives a $75 Chamber gift certificate. Third place winner, Rachel Shiler, also from Westridge Elementary School, receives a $50 Chamber gift certificate. Shiler’s teacher says she spent a lot of time on her drawing.
Sweetwater County School District #1 fourth graders submitted more than 85 drawings of their interpretation of a wild horse during the contest. The public voted for their favorite artwork. The contest was held in conjunction with the reopening of the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility on Jan. 26, when 310 students from Green River, Rock Springs, Eden and Farson, Wyo., toured the facility. Other reopening activities included a preview day for potential adopters to view available mustangs and an adoption event resulting in 24 wild horses being adopted. The contest also coincides with the Wyoming history curriculum. Some of the drawings refer to the “Gift of the Sacred Dog,” which is the Native American term for wild horses.

Obama includes funds for Wyo. land deal in budget

President Barack Obama included $8 million in his fiscal year 2013 budget for the National Park Service to buy about 86 acres of state land in Grand Teton National Park. The money would come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Congress already appropriated $5 million for the parcel in fiscal year 2011. If Congress approves Obama's request for 2013, Park Service officials would still need to find an additional $3 million to complete the transfer because the property was appraised for $16 million. Grand Teton Park management assistant Gary Pollock says that he believes the missing $3 million could come from the Park Service budget. Conservationists support the federal purchase, which would preserve the property as park land.

Nominees made to EPA report review panel

Wyoming and oil and gas industry officials have recommended a number of experts, including four from Wyoming, to review a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report on well water contamination near Pavillion. Gov. Matt Mead submitted four names to the review panel and the industry jointly nominated 25. The panel's eventual five to seven members will be selected by an EPA contractor. The panel will meet in late March or April in Cheyenne to review the agency's draft report, which speculated a link between hydraulic fracturing and contamination found in some water wells in a rural area outside Pavillion.

Livestock disease found in elk southeast of Dillon

Blood tests on elk captured southeast of Dillon found five animals exposed to brucellosis in an area where the livestock disease previously was unknown. The test results were released Thursday as part of a long-term study of brucellosis and elk by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists. Eradicated elsewhere in the country, brucellosis persists in wildlife in the region around Yellowstone National Park. The disease can spread to cattle and cause infected pregnant animals to miscarry. Last year, brucellosis found in elk in the Ruby Range prompted an expansion of a special disease zone where ranchers face increased testing and vaccine requirements. But state veterinarian Marty Zaluski says no cattle spend winter where the latest infections were found. That means the state may not expand the disease zone.

Pinedale Anticline Project Office Seeks Public Comments

Shelley Gregory with the BLM has announced that the Pinedale Anticline Project Office (PAPO) is seeking public comments on updates to the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA) 2009 Wildlife Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (WMMP).






The draft 2012 WMMP has been posted on the PAPO web page at blm.gov. Public comments will be accepted until close of business on March 23rd.






For more information, contact Eric Decker at 307-367-5386.

Wyoming board sets 4% uranium royalty rate

The state Board of Land Commissioners has established a 4% royalty rate for new uranium leases. Royalties paid last year on uranium production in Wyoming totaled only $3,300. Currently, two companies are producing uranium in the state, and only one produces from a state lease. The Office of Lands and Investments had been charging uranium producers a royalty rate of 2.5 to 3% until 2010 when a 5% rate was imposed. Under the motion adopted Tuesday by the state Board of Land Commissioners, the office can change the royalty rate on uranium when the 10-year leases are renewed. Money from the royalties on production on state trust lands goes to support public schools.

Tipped Worker Wages

The restaurant industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the U-S economy - employing more than 10-million workers nationwide. A new report confirms, however, that growth doesn't include high-paying jobs with benefits. Called "Tipped Over the Edge," it cites the federal sub-minimum wage as part of the problem. Employers can pay tipped workers as little as two dollars and 13 cents an hour in Wyoming, with tips assumed to boost their pay. Dan Neal with the Equality State Policy Center says in a frontier state like Wyoming, it's uncommon to make a lot through tips.






The report also zeroes in on who the lowest-wage workers are in the restaurant industry and finds they're overwhelmingly women. Neal says there are other downsides, too. He cites state statistics on the lack of benefits.







Employers in Wyoming do have to add to the tip jar if not enough comes in to bring the hourly rate up to the regular federal minimum. The report recommends raising the minimum to just over five dollars an hour, something the National Restaurant Association opposes, saying that business owners can't afford to raise worker pay. The report recommends that workers be able to earn paid sick days

Wyoming School Enrollment

Enrollment in Wyoming's public schools increased for the sixth consecutive year this year and exceeded 89,000 for the first time since 2001. According to data compiled by the Wyoming Education Department, there are 89,476 students enrolled in K-12 public schools in the state for the current 2011-12 school year. The number is 1,311, or 1.5%, more than last year. Laramie County School District 1in Cheyenne remains the state's largest district with 13,370 students, followed by Natrona County School District 1 with 12,075. Among the largest districts, Campbell County School District 1 has 8,337 students, Sweetwater County 1 with 5,296, Albany County 1 with 3,676 and Sheridan County 2 with 3,202. Sheridan County School District 3 has the fewest students with 90. Washakie County District 2 has 104 students

Rock Springs Murder Investigation

A 35 year old Rock Springs man died Tuesday afternoon following a shooting incident and a 23 year old man has been arrested and charged with second degree murder. Rock Springs police report that just before 2pm Tuesday, officers were dispatched to an apartment located at Country Club Apartment complex on Sage Street as a 911 caller reported a man bleeding from the head. Upon arrival, emergancy personnel were directed to a second floor apartment where an adult male later identified as Micah William Carr, who was discovered unresponsive, lying on the floor in the apartment.
Police say lifesaving measures were attempted, however unsuccessful and Carr was pronounced dead just after 2pm. Detectives from the Rock Springs police department responded to the scene at which time the apartment was secured for crime scene investigators. Police say the investigation led to the arrest of 23 year old Brandon Lee Garcia, who has been charged with second degree murder.
An autopsy has been scheduled in Loveland Colorado. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing by the Rock Springs police department and the Sweetwater County Coroners office.

Man found unharmed after led astray by GPS During Snowstorm

Have you ever been led down a wrong road by your navigation/GPS System? A man driving from Casper to Riverton found himself in a dangerous situation after being led down a wrong road that isn't plowed during the winter. The Fremont County Sheriff's office says the man's vehicle became stuck in a snow drift. After trying to dig his car out, he took out on foot and came across an outbuilding for an energy company that had a heater, an Internet phone system and the coordinates of the site. The man called for help, gave the coordinate location and was rescued unharmed some time later.

Barry Cook Resigns As Green River City Administrator

Barry Cook has resigned as the Green River City Administrator. Cook has served in that position for 18 years. His resignation will be effective at the end of his contract on July 5th. Until his resignation date, according to a press release, Cook will serve as a consultant for the city in connection with special projects and assignments. The City has announced that it will immediately start a search for Cook's replacement. The City also stated in the release that they extend their appreciation to Cook for his long and faithful service to the City.

Rock Springs Man Dies, 23 Year Old Arrested Charged With Murder

A 35 year old Rock Springs man died Tuesday afternoon following a shooting incident and a 23 year old man has been arrested and charged with second degree murder. Rock Springs police report that just before 2pm Tuesday, officers were dispatched to an apartment located at Country Club Apartment complex on Sage Street as a 911 caller reported a man bleeding from the head. Upon arrival, emergency personnel were directed to a second floor apartment where an adult male later identified as Micah William Carr, was discovered unresponsive, lying on the floor in the apartment. Police say lifesaving measures were attempted, but were unsuccessful and Carr was pronounced dead just after 2pm. Detectives from the Rock Springs police department responded to the scene at which time the apartment was secured for crime scene investigators. Police say the investigation led to the arrest of 23 year old Brandon Lee Garcia, who has been charged with second degree murder. An autopsy has been scheduled in Loveland Colorado. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing by the Rock Springs police department and the Sweetwater County Coroners office.

Rock Springs Man Arrested After Crashing Through Fence At Sweetwater Events Complex

A Rock Springs man crashed his pickup through a fence at the Sweetwater County Events Complex and now faces multiple charges after a high-speed chase with county deputies. Deputy Dick Blust, Jr. says 41 year old Dean Domson was arrested late Tuesday afternoon.   






Domson's pickup was spotted parked in the Events Complex parking lot and took off at a high rate of speed, smashing through the fence near “E” gate and fleeing north on Yellowstone Road when deputies attempted to approach him. 






Domson continued north on Yellowstone, weaving from lane to lane and narrowly missing other vehicles.  The pursuit came to an end north of Spangler Road, where Domson stopped and was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Steve O’Farrell. No one was injured. Domson is now charged with Reckless Driving, Eluding, Speeding 98 in a 45, Property Destruction, and Duty to Stop Vehicle When Accident Involves Damage.

State House Committee Endorses 80 MPH Speed Limit

A state House committee has endorsed a bill giving WyDOT authority to designate an 80 mph speed limit on parts of the state's interstate highways. The measure doesn't mandate the higher speed limit. It just allows the WyDOT director to do so on interstate highways. Highway Patrol Col. John Butler said most speeding citations issued by troopers are for drivers traveling 79 to 80 mph.

New Bridge Built In Carbon County

A new bridge has been built in southern Wyoming with the help of a county in Colorado. Routt County, Colo., kicked in $150,000 toward the $400,000 it took to build the new Battle Creek Bridge in Carbon County. The new bridge, which opened last week, is located on County Road 710. The road empties into Colorado and is used by tourists visiting Encampment and Steamboat Springs.

Portions of I-80 Closed Due To Blowing Snow

Portions of I-80 are closed in Wyoming because of blowing snow as strong winds persist across much of the state. The interstate is closed westbound between Cheyenne and Laramie, in both directions from Laramie to Rawlins and eastbound between Rawlins and Rock Springs. Gusts up to 60 mph are expected in southeastern, southwestern and central Wyoming until late tonight.

City Council Report

The Green River City Council Met for its second monthly meeting Tuesday night, Erick Pauley has the story

Drinkle Selected as County Assessor

The Sweetwater County Commissioners selected Pat Drinkle as the new County Assessor at their Tuesday meeting. Drinkle will replace Dave Rauzi (Rou--as in ouch--zee).
Rauzi retired on Feb. first. Drinkle was Rauzi's chief deputy. Judge Nena James will swear Drinkle in Today(Wednesday morning at 8:45) at the county courthouse. Drinkle will then select her Chief Deputy. The Sweetwater County democratic party forwarded three names to consider, Drinke, Dave Divis(dee-vuss) and Mark Kot. Drinkle has said she plans to run for the office and will place her name on the ballott this November.

Both houses of Wyoming Legislature hear budget

Both houses of the Wyoming Legislature are hearing the budget bill that lays out recommendations for state spending over the next two years. The Wyoming House and Senate began hearing presentations Tuesday afternoon from the chairmen of the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee. The committee has recommended a $3.2 billion state funds budget for the 2-year funding cycle that begins in July. The proposed budget bill includes no funding for state employee raises over the next two years. State lawmakers are holding the lid on spending in the face of falling natural gas prices that promise to cut into state revenues.

2nd attempt to retrieve crashed Wyo. copter fails

A second attempt to retrieve a search and rescue helicopter that crashed last week in northwest Wyoming has been called off. Bridger-Teton National Forest spokeswoman Mary Cernicek says high winds stopped the second attempt on Tuesday. She says poor weather conditions this week may mean crews will have to wait until Friday for a third try. The helicopter crashed Feb. 15 in a remote area of the forest northeast of Jackson while responding to a snowmobile accident in which a man died. One volunteer rescuer died while the pilot and another rescue volunteer were hurt. The pilot reported losing control of the helicopter, but the helicopter must be retrieved so investigators can determine whether mechanical failure was a factor. Snowy weather stopped the first attempt to retrieve it last Friday.

Two Brothers Must Pay $11,000 In Fines For Hunting Violations

Two brothers must pay more than $11,000 for hunting violations. Officials say that 21 year old Lance C. Chase of Gillette and 25 year old Christopher C. Chase of Bismarck, North Dakota, trespassed on a Converse County property where a dead buck was found in November. Christopher Chase must pay fines of $5,500 and lose hunting privileges for five years for being an accessory to taking an antlered deer out of season or without a license, illegal transfer of a license and hunting in the wrong area. Lance Chase will pay $5,680 in fines and restitution plus lost hunting privileges for seven years for allegedly taking an antlered deer out of season or without a license, trespassing and being over the limit for deer for his license.

2 brothers fined over alleged hunting violations

Two brothers must pay more than $11,000 for hunting violations. 21 year old Lance C. Chase of Gillette and 25 year old Christopher C. Chase of Bismarck, Norh Carolina trespassed on a Converse County property where a dead buck was found in November. Officials say Christopher Chase must pay fines of $5500 and lose hunting privelages for five years for being an accessory to taking and antlered deer out of season or without a license and also for illegal transfer of a license and hunting in the wrong area. Lance Chase will pay $5680 in fines and restitution plus losing his hunting privelages for seven years for taking an antlered deer out of season or without a license, trespassing and being over the limit for deer for his license.

The Great American Spit Out Encourages Chewers To Quit

A disturbing trend has been noted among state high school students by the Wyoming Department of Health. Kim Deti says they are seeing continuing high rates of smokeless tobacco use among state high school students.






Tomorrow is the Great American Spit Out. Deiti says if you join in and stay tobacco-free for 24 hours, it just might be the first day of the rest of your life without smokeless tobacco controlling your every action. 






The Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program, which is part of the department’s Public Health Division, offers significant financial assistance to help cover the costs of cessation medications and free supportive services such as counseling. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or log on to wy.quitnet.com  to enroll. People who call or log on during February will be entered to win a $200 gas card.

Senate panel advances spice bill

The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced a bill that would crack down on the use of synthetic forms of marijuana called "spice." Senate File 29 now goes to the full Senate for consideration. The bill would expand the definition of spice and would outlaw more chemical compounds that are used to make the drugs. In 2011, the Legislature approved a bill outlawing spice. But Democratic Sen. Floyd Esquibel, of Cheyenne, says those who make spice often come up with different compounds to make the drug and the law needs to be updated to ban those new compounds.

Strong winds in forecast for Wyoming through Wed.

Strong winds are in the forecast for much of Wyoming through Wednesday. Winds gusting up to 60 mph are possible in southeast Wyoming on Tuesday with even stronger winds expected on Wednesday. The National Weather Service says there's a significant blowover risk for high-profile vehicles along Interstate 25 between mileposts 67 and 72. Strong winds are also expected in central and western Wyoming. The northwest flow bringing the wind is also forecast to bring snow to the western mountains. The Tetons could get up to 3 feet.

Training center proposed for blind in Rock Springs

A former businesswoman wants to build a training and rehabilitation center for the blind and visually impaired in Rock Springs. Robin Lonnevik says the center would be modeled on one in Boise, Idaho but would be smaller because of Wyoming's smaller population. Lonnevik, who is legally blind, spoke to the Green River Lions Club about the proposal last week. She's been investigating what grants are available to help pay for the project. Lions Club president Harry Holler said he thinks state funding would be needed to build the center. He said it's too late to ask the state Legislature for money this year but backers are hoping they can get some next year.

Senate File 54

Most Wyoming college students would be required to get vaccinated against meningitis and those in a state scholarship program would be required to perform volunteer civic service each semester in order to remain eligible for the money, under separate bills recommended Monday by Senate committees.
The Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee voted 3-2 to advance Senate File 54, which would require the meningitis vaccinations for students within 30 days of enrolling at the University of Wyoming and the state's community colleges.
Separately, the Senate Education Committee voted 5-0 to advance Senate File 98, which would require students receiving Hathaway scholarships perform some kind of community service. Both proposals go to the full Senate for consideration.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, said his proposal would provide exemptions for religious or medical reasons. "This is not forced vaccination," he said.
According to the state Health Department, there were 26 cases of bacterial meningitis in Wyoming from 2001-11, four of which resulted in death. There were no cases in Albany County where the University of Wyoming is located.

Senate File 25

State senators approved a public records bill Monday after changing it to keep secret from the public many documents that show how elected officials make decisions.
The bill — Senate File 25 — also would prohibit the public from seeing correspondence that is sent to less than a majority of a political body.
The legislation is expected to return to the Senate today for a second reading. It was approved Monday on a 20-9 vote.
“I don’t think it goes in the right direction for disclosure of public business,” Sen. Leland Christensen, R-Alta, said Monday afternoon. “It could limit access to the public process.”
Christensen, who spoke out against the bill Monday, said he hoped to build enough support to kill it.

Bill Would Require College Students To Get Vaccines

If two Senate Committees have their way, most Wyoming college students would be required to get vaccinated against meningitis and those in a state scholarship program would be required to perform volunteer civic service each semester in order to remain eligible for the money.






Yesterday, the Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee voted 3-2 to advance a bill which would require the meningitis vaccinations for students within 30 days of enrolling at the University of Wyoming and the state's community colleges. Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It can be easily spread in college dormitories where students are in close quarters and can be fatal. Students and their families would be responsible for paying for the vaccine shots under the meningitis vaccine bill. The UW Student Health Service charges about $125 for the shot. Another bill that was recommended by the Senate Education Committee would require students receiving Hathaway scholarships to perform at least 12 hours of volunteer civic service each semester in order to retain the scholarship. The Hathaway program provides varying levels of scholarship money to Wyoming residents in state colleges, based on their academic performance.

Concussion bill for non-school sports in Wyoming

A Senate committee has endorsed proposed legislation that would require coaches and trainers of organized non-school youth sports and activities to get training about concussions and how to handle youths who suffer concussions. Senate File 50 advances to the Senate floor after winning the 5-0 vote from the Senate Labor, health and Social Services Committee on Monday. The bill is sponsored by Republican Sen. Leslie Nutting, of Laramie. The 2011 Legislature approved legislation that requires public school districts to establish policies on how to handle junior high and high school athletes who suffer concussions. Nutting says last year's legislation only dealt with school athletes. Her proposal deals with youths in activities sponsored by organizations outside the schools. Medical care representatives say they are seeing more concussions among younger athletes.

WY State Senate Moves To Restrict Public Access To Information

The Wyoming State Senate is moving to restrict public access to information from state agencies and local governments. The Senate has approved an amendment that specifies state agencies and political subdivisions wouldn't have to disclose the records and recommendations that public officials relied on in reaching a final decision. Supporters say it would clarify existing state law, but opponents say it would create too much potential for abuse by public officials.

Pavillion Woman Faces Charges In Death of Infant Son

A Pavillion woman is facing charges in the death of her infant son in November. Candace Lea Wagner is charged with child abuse, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of 2-month-old Clancy Lee Wagner on Nov. 11. Detective Eric Granlund of the Fremont County sheriff's office testified last week that Wagner had gone to a bar the night before Clancy died. He says when she got home, she nursed him before they both went to sleep in her bed. Her son wasn't breathing in the morning. Granlund said the cause of death was asphyxia "by overlay or too many blankets." Wagner's attorney, Dan Caldwell, says there's no evidence Clancy died because of Wagner's actions . Wagner is free on a $5,000 cash bond.

Drivers Asked To Pay More Attention Following Another Moose Fatality

Drivers are being asked to pay more attention on roads in Northwestern Wyoming after a moose was killed on state Highway 390 near Teton Village. The male calf moose died either later Thursday or early Friday, and according to Jerry Longobardi with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, it appears he was hit hard enough to die on impact. A moose was also killed on Fish Creek Road and two more were hit in the Snake River Canyon this year. That makes the number of moose-vehicle collisions alarming to one resident who blames the accidents on distracted and speeding drivers.

WY Legislature Faces The Budget This Week

This week, the reality of falling natural gas prices is what the full Wyoming Legislature will face. They will buckle down on the business of considering the budget bill. Last week, the Joint Appropriations Committee recommended a 3.2 million dollar state funds budget for the 2-year funding cycle that starts in July. That just a tad up from the 3.1 billion dollar budget for the current cycle. In the new budget, there will be no money for state employee pay raises and no additional funding for the Department of Health even as federal economic stimulus funding comes to an end.

UW Professor Named To Task Force On Global Climate Change

What do you know about global climate change? UW Associate Professor of Anthropology Sarah Strauss knows quite a bit. She has been researching it for nearly 20 years. That is one of the reasons she has now been appointed to the American Anthropological Association's new nine-member task force on global climate change. She believes her field has an obligation to help people in local communities understand and communicate the possible risks global environmental change has in their own backyards. The Association has an objective of producing a guiding document that recognizes human contributions to global climate change-related issues.

BLM PFO Habitat Improvement Projects

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office (PFO) continues to plan and implement a number of wildlife habitat improvement projects and winter range protection measures with increasing emphasis on mule deer habitat enhancement in 2012 and beyond.
Currently, 500,000 acres of big game winter ranges are closed to all motorized travel annually from Jan. 1 to April 30. These closures have been in effect since 2008 and protect elk, moose, pronghorn, and mule deer from disruptive human activities which, during the difficult winter months, can increase the mortality rate for these animals.
The PFO plans to conduct an approved 300 acre spike treatment for crucial mule deer winter range south of LaBarge in the fall of 2012. This aerially applied pelleted herbicide treatment will reduce the amount of mountain big sagebrush in the project area by 50 percent over a period of one to five years. This treatment will increase forage variety, quantity and quality and improve the big sagebrush and mountain shrub age-class structure. The resultant vegetative diversity will benefit wildlife and livestock and improve winter and transitional habitat for mule deer.

BLM TO Hold Meeting Over The Slate Creek Allotment Management Plan

Shelley Gregory with The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kemmerer Field Office (KFO) says they will hold a public meeting to discuss current monitoring for the Slate Creek Allotment Management Plan (AMP) as well as proposals for short and long-term monitoring.







Gregory says public involvement is vital to the BLM's goals with the plan.






To learn more about the Slate Creek AMP, please go to the BLM website at blm.gov and navigate to the Kemmere Field Office Slate Creek AMP. For more information, please contact Spencer Allred 307-828-4526.

Wyoming is No. 1 fundraising state for elk group

Wyoming is No. 1 fundraising state for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Over the past six years, Wyoming had consistently finished second to America's most populous state, California, but the Cowboy State came out on top in 2011. The foundation is an international conservation outfit based in Missoula, Mont. It's mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. In 2011, Wyoming chapters of foundation raised $1.4 million, edging second-place California by nearly $11,000.
Foundation President David Allen says Wyoming residents are proud of their wild country, elk herds and hunting heritage, and they're clearly willing to invest to keep them all in top shape. In 2012, Wyoming could become the first state to reach 1 million acres of foundation funded habitat stewardship and protection projects.

Fairview Rancher Convicted of Animal Cruelty

A Fairview rancher has been convicted of animal cruelty after 98 horses were seized by Wyoming Livestock Board officials and law enforcement last May. James Ridge was convicted of 4 counts of animal cruelty in the culmination of one of the state's largest cases animal mistreatment. The rancher could receive up to a year and a half in jail.

Land Conservation Agreement Will Secure Wildlife Near Big Piney

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and The Conservation Fund say a land conservation agreement will secure key wildlife habitat of the Fish Creek Flying W Ranches near Big Piney. Two conservation easements will permanently preserve vital big game winter ranges on two historic ranches and provide public walk-in access on the Green River.

Yellowstone Big Horn Sheep Threatened By Non Native Mountain Goats

Biologists say non-native mountain goats have gained a foothold in parts of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and could threaten native bighorn sheep. A Montana State University researcher says the goats were introduced in the region by wildlife managers and seem to like the same habitat as the sheep.

HUD awards nearly $4M to Wind River tribes

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has given nearly $4 million to Wind River Reservation tribes to help improve housing conditions. It's reported that the HUD grant provided the Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority with more than $1.5 million and the Northern Arapaho Housing Authority with more than $2 million. Danielle Taylor, executive director of the Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority, says the money will help renovate old homes, build new homes and help tribal members get access to affordable housing. The grant can also be used for crime prevention and safety and to model activities to provide creative approaches to solve affordable housing problems.

Sheridan Fire Chief Resigns To Save The City Money

Fire Rescue workers are known for making huge personal sacrafices to save others... but Sheridan's fire chief has sacraficed his job to save the city money. In a letter addressed to Mayor Dave Kinskey on Thursday, Fire Chief Patrick Reitz said his decision to resign is based on budgetary needs of the city and the fire department, and he recommends that the position not be refilled. Reitz said in a news release that the department can be operated using a single chief, instead of the current fire chief/emergency services director and division chief of operations positions. He recommends the current division chief of operations be appointed interim head of the department.

Flu Cases Increasing In Wyoming

The Wyoming Department of Health is beginning to see reports of increasing flu cases in the state. That has prompted state health officials to encourage residents to take common-sense steps to avoid influenza or spreading it to others. Clay Van Houten is the health department's emerging diseases unit chief. He says the agency has seen more reports of flu-like illness and flu cases recently with a few reported outbreaks in schools and health care facilities in Wyoming. That has prompted state health officials to encourage residents to take common-sense steps to avoid influenza or spreading it to others. Basic common-sense measures, such as getting a flu shot, can slow or prevent influenza's spread.

City administrator Barry Cook Resigns

Longtime Green River City administrator Barry Cook has resigned. Green River mayor Hank Castillion said Cook handed him his resignation letter Thursday night. Castillion says the letter will be forwarded to the City council for discussion and action at there upcoming Tuesday night meeting. Castillion says he could not comment on what the next step will be for the city until the council has an opportunity to discuss Cook's resignation. Cook has served the city for over 15 years.

Six Penny Tax

Costs associated with their proposed sixth-penny tax-funded projects was scaled down this week by Department heads and Green River City Council representatives. The city had six potential projects to complete with sixth penny tax money with the primary project being streets and infrastructure estimated at $20 million. Other items the city was interested in exploring were a swimming pool for Green River High School, construction of a new Green River Police building, an expansion on the Green River Recreation Center, construction of a parks shop and the creation of a community center. School board member Steve Core envisions a great partnership between the community and school district if they approve the pool.

Slate Creek Allotment Management Plan Meeting

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kemmerer Field Office (KFO) will hold a public meeting to discuss current monitoring for the Slate Creek Allotment Management Plan (AMP) as well as proposals for short and long-term monitoring. The meeting will take place at 1:00 p.m. on February 29 at the KFO, 312 Highway 189 N., in Kemmerer, Wyo.
The 260,000 acre Slate Creek allotment northeast of Kemmerer is currently used by 10 ranchers for cattle and sheep grazing from April through November of each year. Ongoing public input will shape the AMP to help balance livestock use with other resource uses such as oil and gas development, wildlife habitat and outdoor activities.
For more information, please contact Spencer Allred 307-828-4526.

Ding A Ling Derby Kicks Off Friday At Flaming Gorge

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Ding A Ling Derby starts today at Flaming Gorge. Jill Tonn says registration begins at noon today at Buckboard Marina and will run until about 9 PM tonight for teams of three.






Sunday's weigh-in will only be held at Buckboard and will take place from 7:30 to 9:30 AM with an awards ceremony at 10.






Registration for a three person team is 100 dollars. Tonn also reminds everyone to practice safety while on or near the ice.

Busy Day On Thursday for the 2012 Wyoming Legislature

Busy day on Thursday for the 2012 Wyoming Legislature with several items on the agenda. The House voted to consider a bill that would require people applying for certain welfare programs to pass a drug test. The House approved, for the second time, a bill to set new legislative districts. The also voted to approve, for the second time, a bill that would repeal the gas tax credit for producers of ethanol. They gave preliminary approval to a ball that would allow the state game commission to allow baiting of game animals such as deer to allow hunters to kill them when they congregate in towns and other places. A bill that would have required high schools to pay the cost of any remedial college classes required by their former students who receive money under the state's Hathaway scholarship program was declined. The House also voted not to consider a bill that would have authorized tribal police and officers with the BIA to enforce state traffic laws against non-Indians. And that bill that would have prohibited sex offenders from residing near child care facilities was withdrawn by its sponsor.

Yellowstone penny sales tax fails

A proposal to impose a 1-cent state sales tax in Yellowstone National Park to raise money for park infrastructure projects has failed in the Wyoming Legislature. The bill offered by Republican Rep. Keith Gingery, of Jackson, failed to receive enough votes in the state House for introduction this session. The tax money collected would have helped pay for projects such as new roads and sewer lines in the national park. A Park Service spokesman had said he couldn't think of any instance where a state dedicated its sales tax revenue to a national park.

Wyoming copter crash kills rescuer and snowmobiler

Authorities in Wyoming say a failed rear rotor might have caused a search and rescue helicopter to crash, killing 1 of the crew members attempting to help an injured snowmobiler, who also died. Teton County sheriff's officials say the chopper had reached the snowmobiler, 53-year-old Steven Anderson of Morris, Minn., and his party but was leaving to get more help when it crashed Wednesday. It went down on Togwotee (TOH'-gut-ee) Pass in northwest Wyoming, about 50 miles northeast of Jackson. The rescuer killed was 63-year-old rescuer Ray Shriver. The pilot and another rescuer were injured.

Wyo. House rejects bill banning local gun control

Wyoming lawmakers won't be considering a bill that would have banned local gun control laws, such as one recently passed in Casper. The House rejected taking up House Bill 60 on Wednesday. The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Kendall Kroeker of Evansville and would have specified that only the state can regulate the sale or use of guns and ammunition. In December, the Casper City Council passed an ordinance barring people from openly carrying weapons at city government meetings. State law prohibits people from carrying concealed weapons at meetings but it doesn't ban people from openly carrying them.

Wyo. Senate panel advances wolf bill

A bill to change Wyoming's wolf management law to accommodate an agreement to end federal protection for the animals in the state has cleared its first committee hearing. The Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee unanimously approved the bill Thursday. Gov. Matt Mead and U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar agreed last year on a plan to end federal protections for wolves. They agreed wolves should be protected as trophy game animals in a flexible zone outside Yellowstone National Park but classified as predators that could be shot on sight elsewhere in the state. The agreement requires Wyoming to maintain at least 10 breeding pairs of wolves and at least 100 individual animals outside of Yellowstone and the Wind River Indian Reservation.

Green River Chamber Awards

The Green River Chamber of Commerce handed out their annual awards Wednesday at the Chambers monthly lunch and learn. Todd Malonek (MUH-LO-NECK) was named the Chambers Outstanding Citizen, while Tom McIntosh was named the Distinguished Citizen. Muh-lo-neck is a longtime volunteer for youth soccer and supports numerous other organizations. McIntosh, a retired school teacher, was honored for his hours supporting the Sweetwater Mountain Bike Association. The Red Carpet person of the year award was given to Brenda Holloway, while the volunteer of the year award was given to Bonnie Bigolin-----BIG-O-lynn))) The chamber also honored outgoing seven year chamber board members Mike Nelson and Bigolin.

Green River Chamber Distributes Annual Awards

The Green River Chamber of Commerce handed out their annual awards Wednesday at the Chambers monthly lunch and learn. Todd Malonek (MUH-LO-NECK) was named the Chambers Outstanding Citizen, while Tom McIntosh was named the Distinguished Citizen. Muh-lo-neck is a longtime volunteer for youth soccer and supports numerous other organizations. McIntosh, a retired school teacher, was honored for his hours supporting the Sweetwater Mountain Bike Association. The Red Carpet person of the year award was given to Brenda Holloway, while the volunteer of the year award was given to Bonnie Bigolin-----BIG-O-lynn))) The chamber also honored outgoing seven year chamber board members Mike Nelson and Bigolin.

Group Warns Thin funds could mean more poor Wyo. roads

A think tank says Wyoming risks seeing more roads and bridges deteriorate into lousy shape if the state doesn't pony up enough spending. The Washington, D.C., research group TRIP released a report on Wyoming highway funding Wednesday. TRIP says that unless Wyoming allocates enough money to roadwork, the portion of Wyoming roads in poor shape risks increasing from 20% now to 37% a decade from now. The report also warns of deteriorating bridges. Fourteen percent of Wyoming bridges are considered structurally deficient. TRIP says that could increase to 22% in a decade without adequate funding. The report comes out three days into the legislative session. This year's session is focused on the state's biennial budget, which includes funding for the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Wyoming legislation addresses health care exchange

A Wyoming Senate committee has voted to advance a bill that would give lawmakers until 2013 to decide whether the state should create its own health care exchange. The committee voted Wednesday to send the bill to the full Senate. The federal government's health insurance overhaul requires states to form an exchange by 2014 or the federal government will step in. A committee of state lawmakers, health-care representatives and members of the public has been trying to determine if it would be cost-effective for Wyoming to form its own exchange and how one would be managed. Exchanges allow small businesses or individuals to band together to form a pool when buying insurance coverage, which advocates say can minimize insurance risks and keep costs down.

One Dies In Wyoming Helicopter Crash

A coroner says one person has died after a helicopter carrying three people crashed on Togwotee Pass in northwest Wyoming. Teton County officials say the helicopter had been on the way to help a snowmobiler when it crashed Wednesday afternoon. Teton County Coroner Kiley Campell says 1 of the three people on board the helicopter has died. The victim's name wasn't immediately released. Sheriff's officials say the rear rotor on the helicopter may have failed.

Rawlins Get Ready To Host 3A East Regional Wrestling Tournament

Rawlins is getting ready to host the 3A East Regional Wrestling Tournament. About 300 wrestlers, parents and coaches are expected to attend the tournament on Friday and Saturday. The Rawlins Daily Times reports that the visitors are expected to spend $30,000 on hotels and restaurants during their stay. Many in town welcome the visitors because a lack of snowfall has kept snowmobilers away this winter.

242 Pounds of Pot Seized Near Evanston

Wyoming authorities say they've seized 242 pounds of marijuana from a truck hauling cars. Troopers stopped the truck yesterday on eastbound I-80 near Evanston. They inspected it after finding 1 of the cars wasn't listed in the truck's shipping records. Troopers estimate the pot is worth about $1.7 million and believe the shipment was headed from California to Detroit.

GRO-Biz Conference and Idea Expo

The tenth annual GRO-Biz Conference and Idea Expo will be held in Laramie at the Hilton Garden Inn on February 22 and 23, 2012. The event will feature workshops on the most current business topics and government contracting opportunities, plus provide a forum where business owners can share ideas and meet federal government contracting officers in person. Find the link to register at our website, the radio networ dot net (To register for the two-day event, go to http://www.regonline.com/2012grobizidea.) Cost is $185.

Keynote speakers at the conference will be Senator Mike Enzi, Richard Phenneger, and Michael Bachofen. Businesses interested in government contracting will learn about federal and state procurement processes and how to find bidding opportunities.
Call (800) 348-5194 for additional information, or register online.

School District 2 Meeting

There was thunderous applause at Tuesday nights school district #2 board meeting, Erick Pauley has the story

Fugitive Back In Custody After Calling Authorities For Gas

A 59-year-old fugitive is back behind bars after he ran out of gas in Wyoming and called the local sheriff's office for roadside assistance. The Wyoming Highway Patrol said Tuesday that Richard Vincent of Prineville, Ore., was wanted in Georgia for violating parole on a murder and escape conviction. Vincent called the Uinta (YOO'-ihn-tah) County Sheriff's Office who sent state troopers to help him out. When they learned that Vincent had an outstanding felony warrant from Atlanta, he was taken into custody. Vincent is now being held for Georgia authorities pending extradition.

Busy Day With the Wyoming Legislature

The Wyoming State Legislature had a busy day yesterday as they tackled a second day of the Budget Session yesterday. (Feb. 14) What was approved was a change with redistricting which allows Senator Curt Meier to retain his Senate seat. They also voted to remove language from a pending budget bill that had called for spending up to 15 million dollars to acquire land east of Laramie for protection of the area's aquifer. Things that were voted against included House Bill 39 that would have modified high school graduation and the state's Hathaway Scholarship program. They also voted against HB 45 that would have allowed consumers to back out of deals with roofing contractors and set restrictions on their operations. Also voted against was a bill that would have prohibited collective bargaining by public sector employees, a bill that would have increased the penalties for parents who refuse to send their children to school and SF 60, which would have required energy companies to disclose information about the composition of fluids used in hydraulic fracturing.

Prepare To Eat Lots of Chili At This Weekend's Chili Cook Off

The Society of Petroleum Engineers Chili Cook Off will take place this coming Saturday at the Sweetwater Events Center. Chairman Ryan Igleheart says the cook off will have fifteen teams will be competing with different varieties of chili.






The teams also provides a lot of showmanship. This year’s theme is a Hawaiian Luau.






Be prepared to get full... it is all of the chili you can eat. Cost at the door is 7 dollars for adults and kids ages 6 and under get in free.

Work Begins on Temporary WY 130 Bridge

Work has begun on a detour around the temporary bridge spanning a section of Wyoming 130 where four members of a family died when the bridge washed out last summer 22 miles southeast of Saratoga. Work on the detour downstream from the temporary bridge is not expected to affect movement of alternating one-way traffic over the temporary bridge.

Sweetwater Co. halts wind farm applications

The Sweetwater County Commission has approved a temporary halt to applications for commercial wind farms. The county has not met state standards for wind farm zoning. Commission Chairman Wally Johnson says that the county is not ready for any new wind farm projects.bbJohnson also questioned whether he was willing to sacrifice the county's "wide-open spaces" to the turbines, but said he is not "categorically against" wind energy.

Wyoming Whiskey to go on sale in-state in Decembe

Wyoming's first legal distillery says its first batch of bourbon whiskey will be ready to drink in December. But Wyoming Whiskey says people will only be able to buy bottles in Wyoming at first because of the limited supply. The company began distilling whiskey in 2009 in the tiny town of Kirby under the guidance of a former master distiller at Maker's Mark. CEO Brad Mead told says that 200 of the 3,000 barrels now being distilled will be released beginning on Dec. 1. The company plans to expand sales to the rest of the country in the fall of 2013.

Fatal Crash Near Pinedale Ruled A Suicide

Authorities say a fatal crash near Pinedale last week was a suicide. The Wyoming State Patrol says 45-year-old Thayne Adams of Marbleton swerved into an oncoming garbage truck on U.S. Highway 191 just south of the Pinedale airport on Feb. 8. Adams' Dakota pickup collided head on with the truck and both vehicles caught fire. The driver of the truck, 48-year-old Clayton McCarty, was able to get out before the fire but was taken St. John's Medical Center in Jackson with unspecified injuries. The patrol said that witness statements and information gathered about Adams' state of mind before the crash led to them to focus on suicide as the cause of the crash and the Sublette County coroner agreed.

Authorities still quiet on Powell police shooting

Authorities still have not released the name of a man who was shot and killed by police officers last Thursday. Few details have been released about the incident. The shooting occurred at the Park Motel at around 3:30 a.m on Thursday. It marked the second time in less than five months that a law enforcement officer had been involved in a fatal shooting in Park County. Powell Police Chief Roy Eckerdt said last week that officers arrived at the gunman was armed with a .357 Magnum when they arrived, and he fired multiple times from his room. The man also said he had taken hostages. Police exchange gunfire with the man throughout the morning before he was shot in his room at 7:25 a.m. He was taken to a Powell-area hospital, where he died a short time later.

Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office to hold Annual Planning Meeting

Shelley Gregory with the Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office says they will hold the Annual Planning Meeting or APM for Development on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 9:00 a.m. in the PFO Rendezvous Room at 1625 W. Pine St, Pinedale, Wyo.






The meeting is open to the public and there will be an opportunity for public comment.






One meeting will be focused on development, one on wildlife and one on air, water and socioeconomics. For more information, call Tim Zebulske at 307-367-5336 for more information or visit blm.gov.

Wyo. lawmaker tries again on meningitis shots

A Wyoming lawmaker is trying again to vaccinate college students against meningitis. Last year, Sen. Bill Landen's proposal failed largely because it would cost $335,000 a year. This time the Casper Republican is proposing that students pay for the shots themselves. Students would have to get the shot within 30 days of entering the University of Wyoming or any of the state's community colleges. Students at UW have to pay about $127 for vaccinations. Two-thirds of lawmakers gathering for the new budget session would have to agree before the bill could be considered.

Gov. Matt Mead wants state to pass wolf plan

Gov. Matt Mead is calling on Wyoming lawmakers to endorse a wolf management plan that would designate the animals as predators that could be shot on sight in most of the state. Mead and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar last year agreed on a plan to end federal protections for wolves in Wyoming. The federal government already has turned over wolf management to state governments in Idaho and Montana. Under the Wyoming proposal, wolves would be subject to controlled hunting in a flexible area in the northwest corner of the state, generally around Yellowstone National Park. They would be left unprotected elsewhere. Wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone and other areas in the mid-1990s. There are now more than 1,600 in the Northern Rockies, including more than 300 in Wyoming.

Mead says Wyoming needs emphasis on education

Gov. Matt Mead says Wyoming needs to continue its strong emphasis on children's education. The Republican governor, speaking in his second State of the State Address on Monday in Cheyenne, called on legislators to join with him in providing consistency and direction in dealing with education issues. State lawmakers have been working to overhaul the state's K-12 education system for the past several years, saying student achievement and test scores have been lagging far behind the state's heavy financial commitment to education. The Legislature's Joint Interim Education Committee is pushing an accountability bill to change the state's student assessment system.

Mead wants slower budget growth, not blanket cuts

Gov. Matt Mead says he's proposing a fiscally conservative budget that still maintains investment in Wyoming. Speaking in his second State of the State address Monday in Cheyenne, Mead says he's proposing an appropriate budget for the coming 2-year cycle even as national and global economic forces affect state revenues. Falling natural gas revenues have reduced this year's state financial projections by more than $100 million. Many analysts say the state's shortfall could grow even more. Mead has resisted the call from some in the Wyoming Legislature to implement across-the-board budget cuts for state agencies. Mead also has continued to push for the state to give local governments $168 million in the coming 2-year budget cycle, saying it's critical that the state continue infrastructure investment.

Flight Flap

The story has made national headlines concerning the flight out of Sweetwater County Airport in Rock Springs Jan. 29, where Jennifer Winning of Littleton, Colo., couldn’t fly anywhere.“They wouldn’t let me get on the plane because I’m female,” Winning told FOX31 in Denver. Winning told the TV station that she arrived at the security checkpoint at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of her United Express flight (operated by SkyWest) to Denver, but was informed by a Transportation Security Administration employee that she couldn’t be screened because the security checkpoint had been closed and that all the female agents were off duty. If Winning needed a pat-down, there was no one available to perform it. United spokesperson Michael Trevino said the airline’s policy at the Rock Springs airport is that domestic customers must have completed their check-in process at least 30 minutes before a flight and be at the gate at least 15 minutes prior to departure. “This customer did not attempt to begin the screening process until 27 minutes before the flight,” Trevino told msnbc.com.

Moose on the Move

As the depths of winter begin to weigh on wildlife, moose have begun to move into developed areas around Jackson Hole, which offers potential for more contact and conflicts with humans.
Wildlife managers and residents have reported moose near homes in subdivisions such as Melody Ranch, Cottonwood Park and Rafter J. Residents have also reported moose in town near Snow King Resort, off Highway 390 and around two apartment complexes close to Kmart.
“During this last part of winter, moose get stressed out,” Wyoming Game and Fish spokesman Mark Gocke said. “It’s the hardest part of the winter for them, and they can get cantankerous. They’re a big animal, and they can be potentially dangerous.”
Near a school bus stop at Melody Ranch, Victoria Hess gathered children into cars last week after they got between a mother moose and her calf. One boy started crying, she said.

Rawlins High School Teacher Faces Charges Relating To Sexual Assault of Student

A 43-year-old Rawlins High School teacher possibly faces up to 140 years in prison after allegedly coercing a 17-year-old female student to perform oral sex on him in exchange for an A+ in his class and other sexual encounters with the girl.






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Social studies teacher Scott Allen Wilson allegedly passed a note to a student back on December 15th that asked the girl to make out with him. When they were alone, Wilson then allegedly shut the classroom door and coerced the girl into performing oral sex on him in exchange for the high grade. According to an affidavit, during a December 18th interview with a deputy, Wilson admitted to the incident as well as to being questioned regarding his interest in the girl by the Rawlins High School principal prior to the incident. Wilson is charged with second and third-degree sexual assault. Part of the charges are relating to three other incidents with the girl that go back to when she was just 15. Wilson’s bond was set at $250,000 cash and reduced to $50,000 cash — which he posted on Dec. 21st. He has not been at the school or at any school facilities since his arrest, but is still under contract and being paid by the school district.

Watch Live Stream of Gov. Mead's State of the State Address 10 AM Monday

Gov. Matt Mead's State of the State address at 10 AM this morning (Monday) to a joint session of the Wyoming Legislature will be streamed live on the Web. The governor's office says people can watch the address at governor.wy.gov. The live stream will also include the State of the Judiciary message delivered by Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kite.

Union Pacific Will Pay $1.5 million In Fines

Union Pacific Railroad will pay $1.5 million in fines for environmental damage in Wyoming and other areas of the Intermountain West. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the settlement in a news release last week. The settlement is part of a Clean Water Act enforcement action. The funds repay the national emergency clean fund for cleanup costs at 20 rail yards in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. It also covers damage from spills of oil and coal along tracks in all three states. In a statement on its website, Union Pacific says it works to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations. Regional Administrator Jim Martin says the EPA is monitoring Union Pacific's efforts to improve safety and prevent environmental damage.

Bark Beetles Killed More Trees Last Year

Bark beetles continued to kill more trees in Wyoming last year. The U.S. Forest Service and the Wyoming State Forestry Division say that the 2011 aerial survey of the state showed that an additional 167,000 acres of beetle-infested forest were found across the state. That brings the total infested acreage up to 3.3 million since the first signs of the outbreak in 1996. Beetles expanded their range on the Medicine Bow National Forest and adjacent private forest lands near Laramie last year. They also expanded into 68,000 acres in the Laramie Range near Casper and into another 28,000 acres in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The Bighorn National Forest showed the lowest levels of mountain pine beetle activity among national forests in the state.