2013 Wyoming Chocolate Festival Has Something For All Ages

The 2013 Wyoming Chocolate Festival has something for every age of chocolate lover. Terri Nation says it starts tonight with the Adult Night featuring wine and chocolate.






Saturday is the big day for kids with a Willy Wonka Theme day filled with fun activities from 1 to 3:30 pm.






Admission for Kids Day is six dollars. It all takes place at the the Rock Springs Civic Center located at 410 N Street. The event benefits The City of Rock Springs Urban Renewal Agency. 

No more funding for Flaming Gorge task force

Colorado water officials have decided against more funding for a task force studying issues surrounding proposals for Colorado to use water from the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming. The Colorado Water Conservation Board decided this week that further study could be handled by the state's Interbasin Compact Committee, which addresses statewide water issues. The task force was formed after businessman Aaron Million proposed building a multibillion-dollar pipeline from the reservoir to deliver water to Colorado, and a coalition of water providers said they were exploring a competing proposal. The task force concluded in a report this year that state leaders should first agree on how they want to meet Colorado's water needs, whether that's through new reservoirs, conservation or other options.

National Elk Refuge begins supplemental feeding

National Elk Refuge officials have decided to start providing supplemental feed to the thousands of elk and bison on the refuge. Biologists assessing natural forage this week found it had depleted to "negligible levels" on the south end of the refuge. Officials decided to distribute alfalfa starting Thursday to prevent the animals from dispersing in search of new food. On average, the refuge starts supplementing natural forage around Jan. 26. Elk refuge manager Steve Kallin says feed rates vary, but on average, each elk receives about 8 pounds of pellets each day and each bison about 20 pounds a day.

Aaron Peck leads Int'l Pedigree dog sled race

Aaron Peck of Grand Prairie, Alberta, is in first place on the sixth day of the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race. Peck and the other mushers are racing near Big Piney and Marbleton in western Wyoming on Thursday. Buddy Streeper of Fort Nelson, British Columbia is in second place in the race and Lars Lindh of Sweden is in third. Jerry Bath of Lander has moved to 8th place. Streeper said he spent three weeks training for the race in Yellowstone to get used to racing at high altitude. The nearly 350-mile race ends Saturday near Evanston.

Icy roads blamed for crashes around Rawlins

Icy road conditions are blamed for a number of crashes around Rawlins, including two separate ones involving semitrailers. One truck slid off Interstate 80 Wednesday night, spilling its load of clementine oranges. The driver wasn't hurt bu the highway was closed for three hours. Another truck rolled just past Creston Junction, trapping the driver inside. Lt. Bob Garner of the Wyoming State Patrol says the driver was extricated and taken to the hospital. No other injuries were reported in any of the other accidents.

Hill announces run for governor in 2014

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill says she will run for governor in 2014. Hill made the announcement during a talk show Thursday morning. The announcement comes two days after Gov. Matt Mead signed a bill stripping Hill of most of her power as state superintendent. Mead has appointed an interim director to lead the Wyoming Department of Education. Hill has filed a lawsuit contesting the legislation. Elected in 2010, Hill is in her third year as head of the Wyoming education system. However, in the last two years she had alienated and frustrated state lawmakers and others who took issue with how she ran the Education Department. Hill has defended her administration of the agency.

Watt Challenge

Represenative Steve Watt from Rock Springs says he will challenge Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill to run for governor in 2014. In a prepared statement, Watt says. quote, "This is solely my idea. No one has talked to me or approached me about asking Superintendent Hill to run for governor. After the vote on senate file 104 I come to the conclusion that Superintendent Hill is the kind of person that I want for governor. I believe that Superintendent Hill is a person of great courage and integrity. It is obvious to me that Superintendent Hill does not care what toes she steps on, she will do what is right, that she will do what’s right for Wyoming."

For three years now, fishermen have swarmed to Flaming Gorge in hopes of catching that one burbot that is tagged for big cash prizes worth $1000, $2500 or even $10,000. But Regional Fisheries Biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish in Green River says the real prize for them is seeing the many fish removed from the water.






Amadio says that the burbot feed off of the food supplies of native fish and also on their eggs. They are most active in the winter.






This year, if a burbot is caught with internal tags from the past two years, those will be worth $100. Prizes will also be offered for the most burbot, biggest burbot and youth big and small. Teams of four can register on Friday, from 3-5p.m. at Buckboard Marina, located south of Green River, Wyoming along Flaming Gorge.

Bill would punish animal rights activist

A bill that would punish activists who secretly videotape animal cruelty at farms is advancing in Wyoming. House Bill 126 introduced by Rep. Sue Wallis', R-Recluse, would make it a misdemeanor to record video or audio at a farm under false pretenses. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports a House committee voted 6-3 Tuesday to send it to the floor for debate. Animal rights activists say the bill would prevent whistleblowers from exposing the mistreatment of animals. The Humane Society last summer released what it said is an undercover video showing workers abusing pigs at Wyoming Premium Farms in Wheatland. The video shot by an activist posing as an employee and the ensuing investigation by authorities resulted in misdemeanor charges against nine former workers.

House votes to exempting assault rifles from ban

The Wyoming House has given preliminary approval to a bill seeking to block the federal government from restricting assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the state. The House on Wednesday also gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow citizens who hold concealed carry permits to carry guns on campuses of public schools and college campuses. Both bills would need two more approvals in the House before heading to the Senate. Rep. Kendell Kroeker, a Republican from Evansville, sponsored the bill to exempt assault rifles and magazines from federal control. Kroeker says the bill would get Wyoming's position on record in case the federal government imposes a new ban on assault rifles. Last month's massacre of 20 elementary school students in Connecticut has prompted new calls for gun control.

Senate panel advances sexual orientation bill

A Wyoming Senate committee has advanced a bill that would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4 to 1 Wednesday morning to endorse the bill sponsored by Laramie Democrat Chris Rothfuss. It now heads to the Senate floor. Rothfuss has said that it's critical for Wyoming to offer equal treatment for gays and lesbians as the state seeks to recruit high-tech businesses. A House committee earlier this week recommended approval of a bill that would allow same-sex domestic partnerships. If the bill becomes law, it would essentially give gays and lesbians the legal rights of heterosexual married couples.

Wyoming kids go to hospital after eating veggies

This isn't going to help kids eat their vegetables. About a dozen Wyoming preschoolers at Linford Elementary School in Laramie were taken to the hospital Tuesday after eating sample-sized portions of either yucca, the cactus, or yuca, with one c, the root vegetable. It was part of a push to get students to eat new types of fruits and vegetable. Superintendent Brian Recht says the district's food supplier couldn't confirm which of the two was served. Both are potentially harmful if not properly prepared. One preschooler reported nausea, but it's not clear if it was related to the food. Samples were also served at other schools, but no one reported getting sick.

2013 Wyoming Chocolate Festival Entry Forms Due By February 6th

You still have time to get your entries in for the 2013 Wyoming Chocolate Festival. Terri Nation with the Rock Springs Downtown Urban Renewal Agency says that all entry forms need to be in by February 6th if you want to compete for the big prizes.






There are youth and adult divisions with different categories. One requirement is that you must provide a whole lot of bite-sized samples for the judges and the attendees.






Entry forms are available online at rswy.net or at downtownrs.com. For more information, go to those websites or on Facebook. Just search for Rock Springs Main Street.

Governor Mead Signs Senate Bill 104; Hill Challenges The Law

Gov. Matt Mead signed legislation that strips the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction of much of its power. Supt. Cindy Hill immediately served Mead with legal papers that seek to challenge the law. The bill replaces the elected superintendent of public instruction as head of the state Education Department with a director appointed by the governor. The superintendent would remain an elected state officer with some education duties. Senate File 104 was the first measure to pass the Legislature this session.

Bodies of western Wyo avalanche victims recovered

Authorities have recovered the bodies of 2 backcountry skiers who died in avalanches in western Wyoming. Officials in Grand Teton National Park say rangers on Monday recovered the body of 30-year-old Nick Gillespie from a canyon in the north end of Grand Teton. Meanwhile, in Sublette County, a search and rescue team on Monday recovered the body of 28-year-old Elizabeth "Liza" Gray Benson from the Bondurant area. Both avalanche victims were from Jackson. They were caught in small avalanches while skiing Sunday afternoon. The avalanches occurred as a storm brought several inches of fresh snow to the region. They were the first avalanche deaths in the area so far this winter.

Gov. Mead must act on schools superintendent bill

It is time for Gov. Matt Mead to decide whether he will sign into law a bill that makes major changes to the powers and duties of the state superintendent of public instruction. The governor has until the end of the day Tuesday to sign, veto or allow the legislation to become law. The bill would immediately replace the elected superintendent of public instruction as head of the state Education Department with a director appointed by the governor. The superintendent would remain an elected state officer with some education duties. Superintendent Cindy Hill has not said whether she would mount a court challenge if the bill becomes law. Senate File 104 was the first measure to pass the Legislature this session.

Aaron Peck in 1st place in Stage Stop Dog Race

Aaron Peck of Alberta, Canada has moved into first place in International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race. Peck replaced Buddy Streeper of Fort Nelson, British Columbia as the top musher after the third stage of the race Monday in Alpine, Wyo. On Tuesday the dog teams will race around Pinedale, where wind chill values could drop to as low as minus 10. The racers will then attend a banquet in Lander and watch a movie of last year's stage there. Streeper is now in second place and Lars Lindh of Sweden is in third. Lander favorite Jerry Bath has advanced to ninth place. The race also includes stages in Idaho, Utah, and Montana.

2 Car Crash

Emergency Services responded to a two car accident outside of Green River monday morning, Erick Pauley has the story

2013 Burbot Bash To Kick Off February 2nd

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Wyoming/Utah local Chambers of Commerce and state wildlife agencies have joined forces to fight back against an unwelcome invader in Flaming Gorge with the 2013 Burbot Bash that will feature cash prizes valued at over $10,000. Craig Amadio, Regional Fisheries Biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish in Green River says the Burbot Bash will kick off on February 2nd at Buckboard Marina, located south of Green River along Lake Flaming Gorge.






You may pre-register starting December 10th online at flaminggorgecountry.com. You can also register Friday, February 1st from 3-5p.m. at Buckboard Marina, located south of Green River, Wyoming along Flaming Gorge. Teams of up to 4 anglers can compete for cash and prizes by catching tagged fish.






The derby will conclude with a prize award ceremony featuring a burbot fish fry on Sunday, February 3rd at the Manila Rodeo Grounds in Manila, Utah.

House panel endorses UW search secrecy

A legislative committee has endorsed a bill that would allow searches for University of Wyoming and state community college presidents to be closed to the public. The House Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee voted 9-0 Monday to send House Bill 223 to the floor for debate. The panel heard more than an hour of testimony on the measure. The bill was proposed after media outlets in the state protested the decision by the UW Board of Trustees to hold a secret search for a new president to replace retiring President Tom Buchanan. Proponents of the bill argue the university could attract more quality candidates than if the search were done in the open. Opponents contend an open process when considering finalists can be helpful in making the right choice.

House panel advances 2 gun law measures

The House Judiciary Committee has endorsed two bills addressing where people are allowed to carry guns. The panel voted 5-3 Monday to endorse a bill that would ban deadly weapons from courtrooms and unanimously endorsed a second bill that would allow people to carry a concealed gun into a government meeting. Both measures head to the full House for debate. House Bill 216 would put into law the common practice now of banning deadly weapons from courtrooms in the state. Supporters say it would remove any doubt that weapons are not allowed in the courtroom. House Bill 200 would allow people to carry concealed weapons into a government meeting, except the Legislature. Currently people can openly carry a gun into a government meeting but not a concealed gun.

Jackson bighorn carrying bug linked to pneumonia

Biologists think there's a risk of another pneumonia outbreak developing among Jackson Hole's bighorn sheep herd. Ten of fourteen sheep darted earlier this month tested positive for a bacteria linked to bighorn die-offs in the West. Biologists took samples from the animals because of a high death rate among radio-collared sheep. 6 of the 20 tracked sheep have died since the summer. The tests of the darted sheep did yield some good news. Game and Fish wildlife biologist Doug Brimeyer said none of the 14 had a more dangerous pathogen and all had good fat reserves. The area's bighorn sheep herd was cut in half by a pneumonia outbreak in 2002 and the population took years to recover.

Jackson skier killed in avalanche near Bondurant

A 28-year-old backcountry skier from Jackson is dead after being caught in a small avalanche west of Bondurant. The Sublette County Sheriff's Office said Elizabeth "Liza" Gray Benson hit a tree after being carried away by the slide on Sunday. Rescue workers planned to recover her body from the area near Cliff and Cabin creeks on Monday. The sheriff's office said Benson was skiing with four other people, including a doctor. The skiers called for help but during the call the doctor pronounced Benson dead. The avalanche danger at the time was rated as moderate following the first significant snowfall in weeks.

BC's Buddy Streeper leads Stage Stop Dog Sled Race

Dog sled racers are in Alpine, Wyo. for the third stage of the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race. The mushers will race about 56 miles before being welcomed to Pinedale for a banquet in the evening. After stages in Jackson and West Yellowstone, Mont., Buddy Streeper of Fort Nelson, British Columbia is in first place with a time of 4 hours, 9 minutes and 20 seconds. Lars Lindh of Sweden is in second place and Ryan Redington of Wasilla, Alaska is in third. 2 of the stages will cross into Idaho and Utah, making this year's race the first time the event has traveled through four Rocky Mountain States.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Wildlife managers with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are seeking the public’s opinions and ideas for managing two elk herds in southwest Wyoming, the Sierra Madre and Petition Elk Herds. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department periodically reviews wildlife herd objectives to determine if they are appropriate. The Sierra Madre Elk Herd is comprised of elk hunt areas 13, 15, 21, 108, and 131. The Petition Elk Herd includes hunt area 124.These hunt areas are located primarily between Rawlins, Baggs, and Encampment. Baggs Wildlife Biologist Tony Mong said the review period was extended to this year so more information could be collected.
“We started the elk objective review in April of 2012 when we looked at the Sierra
Madre Elk Herd,” Mong said. “It was then that we made the decision to extend the review to 2013 to allow for additional data collection, which includes hunter and landowner surveys, radio telemetry location data, and a new method of population estimation occurring in late February. Because of this extended review we will hold meetings to give people an opportunity to take a look at the new information and give comments/opinions on the Sierra Madre Elk Herd. In addition, we will be discussing the Petition Elk Herd population objective.” The Meeting dates, times and locations are : Monday, January 28, Saratoga, 6:00 pm, Saratoga Town Hall (will also be discussing Snowy Range Elk and Moose) Tuesday, January 29, Laramie, 6:00 pm, Fire Hall #3 in West Laramie (will also be discussing Tuesday, February 5, Baggs, 6:30 pm, Snake River Community Center Wednesday, February 6, Rawlins, 6:30 pm, Jeffrey Center

Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County

The organization that accredits and certifies hospitals nationwide has given a clean bill of
health to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and dismissed a series of complaints brought by a former physician against the Hospital and its Board of Trustees. The Joint Commission, an independent reviewing body, has notified Jerry Klein, the Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, that the Commission will take no further action on the complaints filed by Dr. Richard Clark.Dr. Clark, former President of the Medical Staff, resigned his position in August of 2012. After his resignation, Dr. Clark filed a formal complaint with The Joint Commission claiming the Hospital and Board of Trustees had violated performance standards by amending the Medical Staff Bylaws to change the time physicians have to become Board Certified in their medical specialty. The Hospital responded to the allegations with a detailed review of the procedures used by the Medical Staff and the Board of Trustees in adopting amendments to the Medical Staff Bylaws. The Hospital’s response included minutes of meetings and documents signed by Dr. Clark in his capacity as Medical Staff President, which show his attendance and participation in the process of passing the amendments. The amendments adopted by the Medical Staff and approved by the Board of Trustees included implementing a Code of Conduct for Physicians at the Hospital and increasing the time for physicians to obtain Board Certification from five years to seven years.

Campbell County leads state in flu cases

Wyoming health officials say Campbell County leads the state in reported flu cases this year. According to a report by the Wyoming Health Department, the county had 402 confirmed cases of flu through the week of Jan. 6-12. Laramie County had 319, followed by Natrona County with 303, Sweetwater County with 264 and Fremont County with 200. Wyoming has nearly 2,500 confirmed cases of flu and is on track to break the state record in the past decade of 3,109 set during a pandemic year in 2009-10. Reggie McClinton, state's flu surveillance epidemiologist in Cheyenne, says he expects Wyoming to surpass 2,700 flu cases within the next week.

Gay rights bills finding support among GOP

Democratic lawmakers in Wyoming for years have floated bills aimed at preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians but have found little support. Now, they seem to have gained some - among Republican lawmakers. It remains to be seen whether gay rights supporters in the overwhelmingly Republican Legislature can pass measures that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, create civil unions or even gay marriage. So far, 9 of the legislature's 78 Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors of the various bills. 8 of the Legislature's 12 Democrats are on board with at least 1 of the bills. Committee hearings on 2 of the bills were scheduled for Monday.

Bird hazard study planned at Riverton airport

The city of Riverton has agreed to pay $73,000 to assess bird hazards at its regional airport. The city budgeted $133,000 for the review, but all four bids came in under that amount. Loomacres Wildlife Management Inc. of Warnerville, N.Y., confirmed the lowest bid. The company, which has an office in Worland, will study migratory patterns year-round to determine if birds pose a danger to aircraft.

Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police issues position statement on gun controversy

Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, has issued a statement on the current controversy over guns at their annual meeting in Cheyenne. Blust says that part of the statement states that they wish to de-emphasize the political wrangling over gun control, and turn the focus to purposeful answers to how we can improve our children’s safety and begins like this.






Blust says some of the points state that WASCOP fiercely supports and defends both the U.S. and Wyoming Constitutions, it support the strong gun heritage that has existed in Wyoming for generations and we continue to stress gun safety as a paramount tenet of gun ownership and it acknowledge that unless we set our schools up like prisons, if a person is determined to enter a school with evil intent, they will succeed unless someone is there to stop them.






Blust says the last point of the statement is that WASCOP members look to law makers to provide legislation based on meaningful discourse that addresses the complexity of evil, mental health, public safety, and preservation of civil rights.

Wyoming whooping cough cases quadruple in 2012

Wyoming saw a four-fold increase in whooping cough cases last year. Wyoming recorded 59 confirmed cases of whooping cough in 2012, up from 13 a year earlier, according to figures from state Health Department. The state averaged only 16 cases annually between 2007 and 2011. Nine Wyoming counties did not record a case in 2012. Fremont County had the most with 14. The increase mirrors a national trend. Most states reported at least double the number of whooping cough cases in 2012. Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory disease characterized by severe coughing that can last for weeks. State Epidemiologist Dr. Tracy Murphy says the increase may be related to the vaccine losing its effectiveness over time but he says vaccination remains the best protection.

Pedigree Stage Stop dog race begins Friday

The annual International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race officially is jumping off in Jackson. The race begins Friday evening and follows a new route this year, visiting the communities of West Yellowstone in Montana, Alpine, Pinedale, Lander, Marbleton, Kemmerer, and Mountain View in Wyoming. It finishes on Feb. 2 in Evanston. Two of the stages also will cross into Idaho and Utah, making this year's race the first time the event has traveled through four Rocky Mountain States. The youngest musher in this year's race is 17 years old while the oldest is 60. There are 16 teams from as far away as the Northwest Territories in Canada.

Montgomery Gentry Will Perform at the 2013 Sweetwater County Fair

The Sweetwater County Events Complex has just announced that Montgomery Gentry will be performing this year at the Sweetwater County Fair. Chad Banks says they will perform on Wednesday July 31st, a day after Florida Georgia Line will perform.






Banks says they will continue to announce other performers in the coming weeks and you can find out who they are by heading to the Sweetwater County Events Complex website.






Not only will you find out about the future performers for the Sweetwater County Fair’s After Dark Series at their Facebook page, Banks says they also will do giveaways for their Facebook Friends. You can find them at facebook.com/SWCEC.

Sweetwater County Continues To Have One of Lowest Unemployment Rates

The economy in Sweetwater County continues to look strong as the un-employment rate continues to be one of the lowest in Wyoming. According to the Wyoming Department of Workforce services, Sweetwater Counties un-employmet rate in December stood at 4.2 percent, the same as November, and down from 4.5 percent at the same time last year. The workforce in the county is over 24,800, down slightly from November. The statewide un-employment rate stood at 5.0 percent. The national rate is 7.6 percent. The lowest rate in the state continues to be Sublette county, at 3.6 percent. The highest rate is Teton county at 7.3 percent.

Wyo. House advances schools superintendent bill

A bill that changes who runs the Wyoming Department of Education has survived a second round of floor debate in the state House of Representatives. Senate File 104 replaces the elected superintendent of public instruction with a director appointed by the governor as head of the education agency. The superintendent will remain an elected state officer and will retain some education duties. The bill passed preliminary votes on Wednesday and Thursday. It faces one more round of debate Friday. The measure has already passed the state Senate. Proponents say the bill would improve delivery of K-12 education in Wyoming and save the state's school reform effort. Opponents are concerned about increasing the governor's power and diminishing voter influence on education policy.

Silencers bill gets preliminary Senate approval

The Wyoming Senate has given preliminary approval to a bill that would allow the use of silencers for hunting. Some have suggested the practice is unsporting, since it would give hunters who miss a second shot. To that, Republican sponsor Sen. Ogden Driskill of Devils Tower, said, "If we're going to talk about fair chase, let's make bow and arrow hunters say 'bang' or 'shoot' when they release an arrow." They Devils Tower lawmaker introduced the Senate version after a House bill was defeated. Wyoming is one of the few western states that bar hunters from using silencers.

Flaming Gorge task force makes recommendations

A task force studying issues related to proposals to divert water from the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming to Colorado says state leaders first need to agree on how Colorado's water needs can be met. In a report to be presented to the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Basin Roundtable Exploration Committee says questions that should be addressed include how Colorado can maximize its entitlements to Colorado River water without overdeveloping the river and who would finance a new water supply project. It also lists characteristics of "good" water supply projects, which it says shouldn't reduce supplies to existing water users, for one. The report, released Wednesday, says there is an immediate gap between the Front Range demand for water and the supply and mentions "risks of the status quo."

ICE FISHING ANGLER CREEL SURVEY UNDERWAY

Anglers hitting the ice this winter on Flaming Gorge Reservoir will notice a lot of activity by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The WGFD recently initiated a two-month ice fishing creel survey at Flaming Gorge to collect information from anglers that will help biologists with future management of the fishery.
Green River Fisheries Biologist Craig Amadio says angler creel surveys are an important tool for collecting information used to adjust fishing regulations and stocking programs. Amadio says it has been ten years since a large-scale creel survey was conducted at Flaming Gorge and the fishery has experienced substantial changes since then. Anglers should not be surprised if they are occasionally visited by both creel clerks and game wardens on the same day.
“All anglers need to be aware of current fishing regulations and are strongly encouraged to use caution and good judgment while on the ice,” Amadio said. “Ice fishing is a great winter activity, but there are also risks involved. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid dangerous areas around pressure ridges and open water. Make sure to have appropriate cold weather and safety gear and never ice fish alone.”
For more information about the winter creel survey or the Flaming Gorge fishery, call the Green River Game and Fish Regional Office at (307) 875-

BLM Rock Springs Wild Horse Adoption and School Field Trips Postponed

The Bureau of Land Management High Desert District is postponing this week’s scheduled Sweetwater County School District Number 1 and Number 2 fourth grade field trips, wild horse adoption and reopening of the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility in Rock Springs, Wyo. due to illness. Serena Baker tells us that approximately 30-40 percent of the weanling wild horses were diagnosed with Strangles during this morning’s routine veterinarian check-up prior to the adoption.






The BLM HDD is postponing the expanded adoption events to reduce the stress on the wild horses while they are sick. The school tours, preview day and wild horse adoption will be rescheduled for March 6-9.






Voting will close Friday, Feb. 1. Prizes will be awarded to the drawings receiving the highest number of votes at a ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. at the BLM High Desert District Office for first, second, and third prize.

House advances bill to strip supt. of duties

The bill stripping the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction as head of the state Department of Education has received preliminary approval in the state House of Representatives. Senate File 104 would replace the superintendent with a director appointed by the governor. The House approved the bill Wednesday afternoon after nearly two hours of debate. It has already passed the Senate and needs two more votes in the House. If passed, the bill would trigger one of the most sweeping changes in a statewide elected official's duties in decades. The proposal has raised concerns about increasing the governor's power while diminishing the 2010 vote that put current Superintendent Cindy Hill in the office. Supporters of the measure say the change is necessary to save the state's ambitious school reform effort.

Military considers joining firefighting sooner

The general in charge of the military response to civilian emergencies says officials are weighing whether to make it easier to call in military planes to help fight wildfires. The head of the U.S. Northern Command, Army Gen. Charles Jacoby, said Wednesday the option of calling up C-130 cargo planes sooner is under consideration as military and civilian leaders get ready for this year's wildfire season. The Defense Department has eight C-130s that can be equipped to drop thousands of gallons of retardant on wildfires. Under current rules, they can't be called up unless all the civilian and commercial firefighting aircraft are in use or unavailable. Last year's devastating wildfires across the West prompted some civilian leaders to question why the C-130s weren't activated sooner.

Judge sides with media in UW president search suit

A judge in Laramie has ordered the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees to identify the finalists for university president after they get those names from a search committee. The trustees say they might appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court. The Casper Star-Tribune, Wyoming Tribune Eagle and The Associated Press sued the trustees last fall after they closed their search for a successor to Tom Buchanan, who plans to step down at the end of this summer. UW trustees say a closed search encourages more applicants, but the media outlets say it violates Wyoming's open records law. Albany County District Judge Jeffrey Donnell sided with the media on Wednesday. Media attorney Bruce Moats praised the decision. Trustees President Dave Bostrom says trustees will assess how it affects the search process.

Committee votes against Medicaid expansion bill

A Wyoming legislative committee has voted against a bill to approve expansion of the federal Medicaid program. The Senate Labor Health and Social Services Committee voted 4 to 1 on Wednesday to recommend that the full Senate not pass the bill to add nearly 30,000 people to the Medicaid rolls in the state. It's possible the bill could still come up for consideration. Sen. John Hastert, a Democrat from Green River, is sponsoring the expansion bill. He told the committee that the state health department would save millions through the expansion by cutting reliance on other state programs. Committee chairman Sen. Charles Scott, a Casper Republican, said he was concerned that the state can't trust federal promises to continue picking up the bulk of program costs.

Silencer bill advances to debate in Wyo. Senate

Allowing hunters to use silencers is back on the agenda at the state Capitol. A Senate committee backed a silencer bill on Tuesday, sending it to the full Senate for debate. The vote came less than two weeks after a House committee rejected an identical bill. Sen. Ogden Driskell of Devils Tower introduced the Senate version of the bill after the House one was defeated. Wyoming is 1 of the few western states that bar hunters from using silencers. Rep. Kathy Davison of Kemmerer is the chairwoman of the committee that rejected the House bill and testified against the Senate version. She said ranchers and property owners depend on hearing gunshots to know if someone is trespassing on their land.

The Sweetwater County Fair - Wyoming's Big Show - is now accepting applications for commercial vendor spaces

If you step outside, it may be hard to imagine Wyoming's Big Show... the Sweetwater County Fair, but Chad Banks is hoping that potential vendors WILL think about it soon.






The fair will open up on July 30th this year. Banks says it is important to get your application in early.






Booths will be available in the Exhibit Hall and on the Magnificent Midway. For an application or more information, go to sweetwaterevents.com.

Dick Cheney to speak at Wyo. GOP dinner next month

Former Vice President Dick Cheney will be the guest speaker at a Wyoming Republican Party dinner next month. Cheney will speak Feb. 9 at the dinner being held at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne. The party says the event is open to the public. Tickets are available by contacting the party's office in Casper.

Wyoming House defeats bill to open arrest records

The Wyoming House of Representatives has defeated a bill that would have changed state law to allow the release of names of people charged with sexual assault before until they're bound over to district court. Cody Republican Rep. Sam Krone, an assistant Park County prosecutor, had sponsored the bill. He argued arrests on sexual assault charges should be treated the same as arrests on charges of murder and other crimes. But several opponents argued sexual assault cases deserve special treatment. They said the charge carries such stigma that it's proper to require a judge to determine that there is sufficient evidence to send the case to district court before the defendant's name can be released to the public. The House voted 32-to24 on Tuesday to kill the bill.

Wyo. unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in Dec.

Wyoming's unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in December. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reports that the rate fell from November's 5.1%. The agency noted that the number of unemployed individuals in Wyoming has fallen while employment has not grown, causing the state's labor force to decline. From December 2011 to December 2012, Wyoming's labor force decreased by nearly 2,500 individuals. Most county unemployment rates changed little from November to December. The highest unemployment rates were found in the western and central parts of the state. Teton County posted the highest unemployment rate at 7.3%, followed by Lincoln at 7%, Fremont 6.2% and Park 5.9% counties. The lowest unemployment rates were found in Sublette at 3.6%, Converse 3.7% and Niobrara 3.8%.

Wyo. judge hears fracking disclosure case

A judge heard arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit that questions state officials' refusal to publicly release the ingredients in hydraulic fracturing chemicals that companies use to drill for oil and gas. The Powder River Basin Resource Council and others say landowners need to know which chemicals could contaminate their groundwater. The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and companies including Halliburton argue that the ingredients are trade secrets not subject to public release under Wyoming's open records law. Fracking involves pumping water and sand underground to fracture open oil- and gas-bearing formations. Wyoming was one of the first states to require companies to tell state regulators the ingredients in the chemicals mixed in with that water. Natrona County District Judge Catherine Wilking said she would rule within two months.

Anti-suicide group holds training in Riverton

A suicide prevention group is holding a second day of workshops at the Wind River Casino. The Fremont County Suicide Prevention Task Force is holding Safe Talk suicide awareness training sessions Tuesday morning and afternoon. A small group gathered for Monday morning's session, with attendees sharing stories about the impact of suicide on their lives. Last year was a record breaking year for suicides in Fremont County, with 19 people taking their own lives.

Senate

Controversy continues in the state capital regarding Senate File 104, Erick Pauley has a special report

Collecting Shed Antlers Is Strictly Prohibited Through April

As of January 1st, a ban prohibiting the collection of shed antlers on lands west of the Continental Divide went into effect. Mark Zornes, Wildlife management Coordinator in the Green River Region for Game and Fish says the ban will be in effect through April.






Zornes says the regulation is necessary to protect animals that are searching for food on the winter ranges.






The crime of gathering horns and antlers during the ban is treated much like poaching. If you see anyone you suspect of gathering horns and antlers on public lands, you are asked to call the Game and Fish Hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP.

Wyoming official marks MLK-Equality Day

Wyoming's top statewide elected officials marked Martin Luther King-Equality Day in Cheyenne with speeches that celebrated how far the nation has come in overcoming racial discrimination in the years since the civil rights leader was slain while also calling on people to continue working toward realizing his dream. Gov. Matt Mead and First Lady Carol Mead walked with the crowd from the Union Pacific Depot, up Capitol Avenue, to the state Capitol on Monday. Mead gave a speech calling King an amazing man. The governor said it's likely that if King were alive today, he would think that society has come a long way. State Treasurer Mark Gordon, State Auditor Cynthia Cloud, Secretary of State Max Maxfield and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill also participated.

Central Wyo. College students watch shooting video

Students, staffers and board members at Central Wyoming College have been watching a video about how to respond to a shooting. The video was created by the city of Houston and was released in the days after a gunman opened fire at a midnight "Batman" movie screening in Aurora, Colo., in July. The video instructs people to try to escape. If that's not possible, it says they should find a hiding place, put their cellphones on silent and find objects they can use to fight back. Campus safety director Steve Barlow says that it's important for students to know their options in dangerous situations. In November, a man killed his father, a Casper College computer science instructor, in front of his class before killing himself.

Wind River dancers, drummers perform for president

Dancers and drummers from the Wind River Indian Reservation performed for President Barack Obama during Monday's inaugural parade. The group arrived at the reviewing stand just after the Montana delegation after nightfall. The group headed to Washington for the event even as they continued to raise money to pay for their trip. They only had about two weeks to fundraise after the Presidential Inaugural Committee invited them to join the parade.

Central Wyoming snowpack lagging, hurting skiing

The central Wyoming snowpack is lagging this year, hurting business at Hogadon Ski Area on Casper Mountain. Snowpack in the northern Laramie Range is between 60 to 70% of the 30-year average. The ski area opened a month late on Dec. 30 and only two runs are open. Lift tickets normally sell for $40 but have been cut to $13 to lure skiers. Snowpack levels in western Wyoming are between 90 and nearly 100% of average. National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Jones said current 90-day predictions don't show a change in weather patterns. However, he noted that the state usually receives most of its snowfall in March and April. The next chance of snow in western Wyoming is Wednesday.

Civilian Handgun Training Course schedule announced

Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust Jr. has announced that the schedule for this year’s Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office Civilian Handgun Training Courses has been released.






Topics covered include grip, sight picture, trigger control, and above all, safety. There is a $30.00 charge for the course.






Participants are required to supply a handgun, 100 rounds of ammunition, eye and ear protection, and comfortable clothing appropriate for weather conditions. Class size is limited. Call the Sweetwater County Sheriff's office for more information.

Light plane crashes at Rock Springs airport

A private light plane crashed at the Rock Springs - Sweetwater County Airport Friday afternoon. In a special bulletin, Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell said the aircraft’s pilot and sole occupant, Robert Neuwirth of Gillette, Wyoming, crashed his aircraft, a 1976 Piper PA-28-35 single engine, during an attempted landing at around 2:30 PM. Neuwirth suffered only minor injuries and was not hospitalized. Haskell said federal authorities will be investigating the crash, and had no information on its cause.

Laramie officers will wear video recorder

Laramie police officers will begin wearing video cameras and pocket-sized recorders this year as the department shifts away from vehicle-mounted systems. Police expect to save $80,000 over the next five years because the new system is cheaper to own and operate. Police Chief Dale Stalder says one vehicle-mounted system costs $5,000 to $6,000. Stalder says officer-mounted cameras cost about $1,000, but the city is getting them free in exchange for signing a 2-year contract with a vendor for secure online storage at $24,000 a year. Each camera will have six hours of recording time. Stalder says officers will be required to record all traffic stops and service calls such as house parties and domestic disputes.

US rig count drops this week by 11

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped by 12 this week to 1,749. The Houston-based company said in its weekly report Friday that 1,316 rigs were exploring for oil and 429 for gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes counted 2,008 working rigs. Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, North Dakota gained five rigs, Pennsylvania increased by four and Arkansas by two. Meanwhile, Texas declined by 11 rigs, Oklahoma three, New Mexico two, and Colorado, Louisiana and Wyoming one each. California and West Virginia were unchanged. The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.

Wind River reservation group to represent Wyo.

Wyoming will be represented at the presidential inaugural parade thanks to a last-minute effort by Wind River Indian Reservation residents. A group of 13 dancers and others plan to fly to Washington, D.C., on Saturday even though organizers are still about $6,000 short of their scaled-down fundraising goal. Northern Arapaho tribal liaison Gary Collins said he's buying one-way tickets to stretch the money at the outset and hoping more comes in. Originally, he wanted to raise $35,000 to send a bigger group. He said he only had two weeks to raise money after the Presidential Inaugural Committee asked for help making sure 1 of the most conservative states was represented in the parade. A committee spokeswoman said having marchers that represent the nation's spirit, values and diversity is a priority.

Wyo. hay production in 2012 worst since 2002

Hot, dry weather took a toll on Wyoming's 2012 hay crop. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the state produced 1.9 million tons of hay in 2012, down from 2.4 million tons the previous year and the lowest hay production since 2002. Overall acreage for alfalfa hay was down by 145,000 acres total; acreage for other types of hay was down 100,000 acres to the lowest point since 1919. Todd Ballard, of the Statistics Service's Wyoming Field Office, tells the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that end-of-year hay stocks are down 27% from last January. They are at their lowest levels since 1950. The hay shortage has caused skyrocketing prices for the crop with alfalfa going for upward of $215 a ton in November, compared to $145 the previous year.

Wyoming lawmakers deny railroad security officers legislation

State lawmakers defeated legislation Thursday that would have given railroad security officers the power to arrest, issue citations and use firearms when necessary. Current law allows companies to name reserve deputies in each county. The deputies are trained to handle emergency situations on rail cars or at loading stations. With 900 miles of track, the Burlington Northern and Sante Fe and the Union Pacific railroads only have one trained security officer each. Wyoming’s current security laws differ from the federal government’s. Every other state, excluding Minnesota, complies with Washington’s rules and gives railroad companies significant jurisdiction to police their railroads and railcars. The bill died in the Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee by a vote of 5 to 4.

Wyoming House faces third vote on fuel tax hike

A proposal to raise Wyoming fuel taxes by a dime a gallon faces its third vote in the state House of Representatives. The House on Friday is set to vote on a bill that would raise the tax from the existing rate of 14 cents a gallon up to 24 cents. The hike would raise about $70 million a year for the state highway system and local governments. Proponents say the tax hike is necessary to provide a steady source of funding for the state highway system and local roads. Some opponents have said the transportation department should be more efficient. They said working families can't afford to pay higher taxes.

Wyo. Republican Party backs Gun Appreciation Day

The Wyoming Republican Party says it is endorsing Gun Appreciation Day on Saturday. The nationwide event encourages people to visit their local gun ranges, gun stores and sporting goods stores. Meanwhile, others are calling for more restrictions on and oversight of gun ownership after the Newtown, Conn., school massacre. The shooter killed 20 children and six educators at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14 before killing himself. Wyoming Republican Party Chairwoman Tammy Hooper says Wyoming Republicans have shown strong support for the right to keep and bear arms. She says co-sponsoring Gun Appreciation Day is another way of showing that support.

Bill would end sentences of life without parole

A Wyoming lawmaker is pushing to end the sentence of life without parole, a punishment currently reserved for those convicted of first-degree murder or repeated sexual offenses. Republican Sen. Bruce Burns, of Sheridan, says there are currently more than 20 inmates serving sentences of life without parole in the state. His bill would prohibit such sentences in the future and allow the governor to commute the sentences of those inmates currently serving them. Burns says he's pushing the bill to give the state a way to get offenders out of the state prison system when they're old so the state won't be responsible for their medical care. Cheyenne District Attorney Scott Homar says he's opposed to the bill. He says some murderers and sex offenders should never walk free.

Change in air for blizzard of winter weather terms

If you've ever hit a mental whiteout thinking about how a winter storm watch differs from a winter weather advisory, take heart. This winter, the National Weather Service is trying out simple, descriptive language to possibly replace its 14 watches, advisories and warnings for wintry conditions ranging from ice storms to blizzards and lake-effect snow. For example, a Weather Service statement issued in place of a winter storm watch would read: "The National Weather Service is forecasting the potential for a significant winter storm." Weather Service forecaster Eli Jacks says the goal is language that is self-evident and that anybody can immediately understand. The experiment began in December and runs through March at 26 Weather Service offices covering Alaska, Oregon, the northern Great Plains, Michigan, New England, Appalachia and Oklahoma.

Bill requires 4 years of math in Wyo. high schools

Wyoming high school students would have to take math classes each year under a bill being considered by state lawmakers. Currently, state law doesn't require students to study math in their senior years though some school districts still require it. The proposal to require math classes every year won easily won approval from the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. It now goes to the full Senate for debate. Democratic Sen. Chris Rothfuss of Laramie said he introduced the bill after hearing about high school graduates failing their math placement exams in college.

Midwest bankers survey suggests continued growth

A new survey of rural bankers suggests that growth in farmland prices, cash rents and farm equipment sales remain strong despite the continuing threat of drought in 10 Midwestern and northern Plains states. A report on the Rural Mainstreet Index released Thursday says the index hit 55.6 in January, down from 60.6 in December. It is the index's fifth straight month above growth neutral. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the region's rural economy is still expanding at a moderate pace and that farm communities "appear to have shed the negative impacts of the 2012 drought." The index ranges from 0 to 100, with 50 representing growth neutral. It's based on a survey of rural bankers in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Sweetwater County Sheriff issues computer repair scam alert

Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. is warning the public about a telephone computer scam making the rounds.






Blust says the scammers often falsely identify themselves as representatives of legitimate, well-known companies such as Microsoft or anti-virus software manufacturers like Norton in an effort to sound legitimate and may even know their prospective victim’s name and address.






Blust offers these tips to stays safe.... Remember that computer and software companies aren’t going to call you to tell you about problems that you are having. Your name and address is readily available from a wide variety of sources, including telephone books. If you get an unsolicited call like this, just hang up.

Wyo. Guard unit prepares of Mideast mission

More than 160 Wyoming National Guard members are preparing for deployment to the country of Bahrain. The guard's 133rd Engineer Company based in Laramie will spend nine months on the deployment. The unit will provide security at a military base. They will leave for Bahrain in June. But they undergo a two-week training session at Camp Guernsey this month and will have more training in Mississippi in April.

Fuel tax increase up for second vote in Wyo. House

A proposal to raise Wyoming fuel taxes by a dime a gallon is set for a second vote in the state House of Representatives. The House on Thursday is scheduled to consider a proposal to hike the tax from the existing rate of 14 cents a gallon up to 24 cents. The hike would raise about $70 million a year for the state highway system and local governments. The House on Wednesday narrowly approved the tax increase on its first vote. Supporters said the state highway system and local governments need a steady source of road funding. Some opponents said the transportation department should be more efficient. They said working families can't afford to pay higher taxes.

BLM Rock Springs Seeking Comment on Bridger Coal Lease Modification

The Bureau of Land Management Rock Springs Field Office has launched a public comment period on an environmental assessment on a proposal by Bridger Coal Company to expand their coal lease by 320 acres for underground mining. Shelley Gregory says that the additional acres are in the checkerboard region of mixed public, private and state owned land.






Bridger Coal Company operates the Jim Bridger Coal Mine complex which includes surface, underground, and highwall mining methods, along with ongoing reclamation, and has been in production since 1974.






For more information, go to blm.gov or call 307-352-0211.

Economic Impact of 2012 of National High School Finals Rodeo Released

The numbers from the 2012 National High School Finals Rodeo are in. The study, conducted by Dr. Gerald L Grotta of Grotta Marketing Research, indicated that during the eleven days of the National High School Finals Rodeo at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs,, $7,534,345 was spent in the community by those people attending the event. Over the eleven days, 12,755 unique visitors attended the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) for a total of 84,395 visitor days, resulting in 6,941 hotel/motel room nights.

The estimates from the report were based on a survey of 400 randomly selected adults attending the show, using assumptions to minimize the possibility of overestimating the amount of expenditures generated in Sweetwater County during the event. Interviewing survey respondents was done at all locations being used for the show – competition arena, trade show and special event areas.

People from 41 states and three countries – Australia, Canada and the United States –participated in the NHSFR. The sample for the survey included people from 39 states and all three countries with interviewing done July 15-21, 2012.

Two thousand sixty seven (2,067) contestants attended the rodeo with an average of 4.44 people in their groups. The NHSFR also saw 133 vendors at the trade show.

Money spent in Sweetwater County during the event was broken into key categories

Western Wear, Boots and Other Clothing with $1,032,647 spent, Horse Trailers at $1,280,507, Saddles and Tack $ 668,886, Rental Cars $ 135,917, Food/Meals (excluding drinks) $1,714,710 and Hotels/Motels $ 660,924.

The expenditures resulted in an estimated $397,508 total sales tax revenues with $82,024 in Sweetwater County taxes and $314,235 in Wyoming state sales taxes.

It should be noted that only actual or planned purchases were included in the data. Many respondents were not sure what they might purchase or how much they might spend during the show, especially early in the event. If respondents said they did not know what they might purchase or how much they might spend, no purchases were recorded. The report also doesn’t take into consideration additional expenditures within the state of Wyoming as contestants and families travel across the state.

Dr. Gerald L. Grotta has an extensive background in marketing research, including economic impact studies for a wide range of clients. Since opening his own research company in Fort Worth, TX in 1983, Dr. Grotta has done research and consulting projects for a variety of local, state and national clients including: Fort Worth Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Texas Motor Speedway, American Paint Horse Association, National Team Penning Association, National Cutting Horse Association

The full report is available at the Sweetwater Events Complex’s website at sweetwaterevents.com.

Superintendent Hill points out meeting problem

Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill has voiced concern about a possible open meetings violation by the State Building Commission. The five statewide elected officials, including the governor and the superintendent, are members of the board. Hill says a Laramie charter school official improperly sat in on an executive session in October. Hill says the person is a client of state Sen. Phil Nicholas, an ex-officio member of the commission and a practicing attorney. She says the person shouldn't have attended the session or the session should have been open to the public. Nicholas says it was an unintentional mistake. Gov. Matt Mead, who chairs the commission, says the commission needs to exercise more caution when it goes into executive session. The attorney general determined no open meeting violation occurred.

Wyoming bill would make sex assault arrests public

A Wyoming lawmaker wants to change a state law that keeps the identities of people charged with sexual assault secret until they're bound over to district court. Sponsor Rep. Sam Krone is a Cody Republican and works as a prosecutor in Park County. Krone's bill would allow the release of a defendant's name as soon as they're charged with sexual assault, the same as any other felony. Existing law blocks the release of names. It has prompted legal challenges from news media organizations. The Wyoming Press Association, several Wyoming newspapers and The Associated Press secured a district judge's ruling last year that circuit court hearings and records concerning sex crimes don't necessarily have to be closed to the public. That case is still pending.

2 Jackson skiers headed to int'l Special Olympics

Two skiers from Jackson will compete in the Special Olympics World Games in South Korea later this month. 45-year-old Mona Sobieski and 15-year-old Alex Moreno are getting ready back at home after training in Lake Placid, N.Y. Sobieski has been skiing for 30 years but has never been to the world games before. She moved to Jackson in 2006 and is also an equestrian. Moreno is an eighth grader at Jackson Hole Middle School who's been skiing since his fourth grade teacher encouraged him to get involved in the Special Olympics. He'll compete in the giant slalom, regular slalom and super G during the games, which start Jan. 29th.

Mead 'disappointed' by new EPA Pavillion extension

Gov. Matt Mead says he's disappointed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking more public comments on a report on pollution in a Wyoming gas field. The comment period was supposed to end Tuesday and has been extended to Sept. 30. That could postpone formal expert review of the 2011 report by another eight months. EPA findings in the Pavillion area marked the first time the federal agency linked hydraulic fracturing with a case of groundwater pollution. Fracking involves pumping water, sand and chemicals into oil and gas wells to fracture rock formations. Mead joins Pavillion-area landowners and gas field owner Encana in saying the extension doesn't help resolve the problem. EPA officials say the extension will allow them to post more information and receive more comments on the study.

Mercury

Ice fishing is picking up around the region and so are the number of questions about the recent fish consumption advisory and levels of methylmercury in the flesh of angler caught fish. Green River Fisheries Supervisor Robert Keith says there is great deal of current, useful information and recommendations included in Wyoming’s Fish Consumption Advisory posted on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s website (wgfd.wyo.gov, click on “Fishing and Watercraft,” then “Fish Consumption Advisory” in the right column). “The Wyoming Health Department is working with Game and Fish to provide people information to allow them to make informed decisions about how to include fish in healthy diet,” Keith said. “The bottom line is, fish are an important part of a healthy diet because they contain high quality protein and other nutrients, are low in saturated fat and contain omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately, fish also contain methyl mercury and some fish contain much more than others. Anglers need to take into consideration the information contained in the fish consumption advisory when deciding how frequently they are going to eat fish that have elevated levels of methyl mercury.” According to the Wyoming Department of Health, The Fish Consumption Advisory recommends the amount and type of fish to consume to recognize the health benefits of eating fish, while limiting consumption of mercury to safe levels.

Rodeo

The green river city council met last night, Erick Pauley has the story

Stolen Truck From Rock Springs Has Been Recovered

The GMC pickup stolen from Clearview Acres west of Rock Springs on January 13th was recovered Monday. Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that a bulletin was issued describing the green and tan 1997 GMC extended-cab four-wheel-drive discovered stolen around 8:00 PM on the 13th, asking that the public keep an eye out for it.






Officials say the pickup’s keys were apparently left in the ignition.






Anyone with information on the theft and/or the hit and run crash are asked to contact either the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office or the Rock Springs Police Department, as the investigation continues.

2 Jackson reps. back gay marriage, civil unions

Two Republican lawmakers are backing proposals to either allow gay marriage or same-sex civil unions in Wyoming. Reps. Keith Gingery and Ruth Ann Petroff of Jackson are supporting the proposals from Democratic Rep. Cathy Connolly of Laramie. One would allow gay marriage by changing the state's definition of marriage. Gay married couples would be treated like all other married couples. The other would create civil unions and allow same-sex couples to be treated as a spouse under all state rules and laws. Gingery says the number of gay couples is increasing, posing a legal problem that the state must resolve. Last year, lawmakers considered but ultimately rejected a proposal that would have barred recognition of same-sex marriages.

Alan Jackson replaces Lady Antebellum at 2013 CFD

Country music legend Alan Jackson will perform at this year's Cheyenne Frontier Days in place of Lady Antebellum. The show is scheduled for the evening of July 20. Lady Antebellum had been scheduled until lead singer Hillary Scott announced in December that she was pregnant. This will be the first child for Scott and her husband, Chris Tyrrell. Frontier Days officials are allowing people who already bought tickets for Lady Antebellum to get refunds. They also plan to honor those tickets for the Alan Jackson show. Jackson has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide and has topped the country singles charts 35 times. His hits include "Gone Country," and "Livin' on Love."

Film contest features state of Wyoming as star

For a sixth year, the Wyoming Film Office is running the Wyoming Short Film Contest. The annual contest asks moviemakers to submit films of 15 minutes or less featuring the state of Wyoming. Contestants can choose to film in the state, set their stories in Wyoming or use the state as a central character. A judging panel of film production, visual arts and industry representatives will choose one film to win $25,000. The contest kicks off this week, and submissions are due by April 5. For more information, go to wyomingshortfilmcontest.com.

Wyoming set to warm up, a bit

Wyoming is set to warm up, a bit. The National Weather Service says wind chill temperatures along Interstate 80 were 30 to 35 degrees below zero early Tuesday but that relatively warmer temperatures should develop later. It's expected to get into the teens in Jackson, Riverton, Pinedale, a day after temperatures failed to get above zero at their airports. Negative 5 was the high at Pinedale's airport on Monday. Meanwhile, the Bighorn Mountains and parts of Big Horn County are getting snow. Wyoming's snowpack is 78% of average, compared with 95% at this time last year.

City Council Meeting

The Green River City Council meets for the second consecutive week tonight, Erick Pauley has the story

Public asked to watch for stolen vehicle

Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that the Sheriff’s Office is asking that the public to keep an eye out for a stolen vehicle.






Officials said the keys were apparently left in the vehicle.






If you have information, you can call 9-1-1, 24 hours a day. Or you can also call 307-922-5321 or 307-872-3870.

Wyo. Bison hunt hits goal of 200 by season close

Hunters report killing 200 bison during the just-completed bison hunting season in northwest Wyoming. The number is precisely what wildlife managers sought to trim from the Jackson Hole bison herd. Hunters took 90 bulls and 110 cows. The hunting season ended on Jan. 6. The majority of bison were killed either at the hunt's mid-August onset or over the last few weeks. Most of the animals were killed on the National Elk Refuge. Wyoming Game and Fish Department spokesman Mark Gocke says the strong finish is fairly typical. The purpose of the hunt is to reduce bison numbers to a more manageable level and to push bison off the elk refuge in late summer and fall to protect the winter forage for elk.

Bill to ban on sex offenders near child care fails

A bill that would have banned sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of child care facilities has been voted down in a Wyoming legislative committee. The House Judiciary Committee on Monday afternoon voted 7 to 2 against the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. John Eklund of Cheyenne. Rep. Stephen Watt, a Rock Springs Republican and former law enforcement officer, spoke against the bill in committee. Watt says that although he doesn't like sex offenders, he has a problem with the state imposing continuing punishment on them after they've served their prison time. Linda Burt with the American Civil Liberties Union in Wyoming spoke against the bill, saying it threatened to leave offenders with nowhere to live in many communities.

Court takes up Yellowstone-area wolf harvests

A state judge will decide whether gray wolf hunting and trapping should be blocked outside the gates of Yellowstone National Park after state officials pressed for a ban to be reinstated. At issue are two areas north of Yellowstone totaling about 60 square miles. State officials tried to shut down hunting and trapping in December over worries that too many wolves were being killed. A lawsuit blocked that move for now. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commissioners contend the closure was valid. But during a Monday hearing before Judge Brenda Gilbert, plaintiffs said not enough public notice was given before the closures were enacted. Gilbert did not immediately rule. Wildlife advocates say the case threatens to drive away tourists who visit Yellowstone to see wolves in the wild.

Tribes fundraising to send Wyo. group to inaugural

The Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes are raising money to try to send a group to Washington, D.C. to represent Wyoming in next week's inaugural parade. Northern Arapaho tribal liaison Gary Collins says the Presidential Inaugural Committee recently contacted him about getting a Wyoming delegation to participate in the Jan. 21 parade. He said he contacted the tribes to put together the Wind River Dancers. They need to raise $35,000 to send between 10 and 15 people to Washington. An account has been set up at Atlantic City Federal Credit Union.

Temps below zero in many parts of Wyoming

Winds combined with frigid weather pushed temperatures way below zero in parts of Wyoming on Monday. The National Weather Service said it felt like minus 42 near Skyline in Carbon County at 6:30 a.m. In southeastern Wyoming, temperatures hovered between minus 10 and 20 early Monday. With the wind chill, it felt like 25 to 35 below zero in many areas. In western Wyoming, the mercury dropped to minus 36 near Kemmerer and Big Piney overnight. Temperatures were also in the negative-30s in and around Pinedale, Bondurant and Cokeville.

Flu Case Numbers Are High in Sweetwater County

State health officials say this is the worst flu season in three years. Jean Brunz, Public Health Nurse for Sweetwater County says that while it has not officially been called an epidemic, all across the state, the numbers are getting high and it has some health officials baffled.






Brunz highly recommends getting the flu vaccine, if you haven't yet. And keep in mind, it takes about two weeks for the flu shot to take effect.






Laramie and Cheyenne are now out of influenza vaccine and do not expect to get more. To make an appointment to get yours at either the Green River or Rock Springs Sweetwater County Community Nursing locations, call call (307) 922-5390 or (307) 872-3944.

EPA extends comment period for Pavillion study

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has once again extended the public comment period for its study of groundwater pollution in a central Wyoming gas field. The comment period for the EPA investigation in Pavillion was scheduled to end Tuesday but has been extended until Sept. 30. The comment period was extended twice last year. The EPA theorized over a year ago that hydraulic fracturing may have played a role in the pollution. The federal agency says the longer comment period will allow more time for people to weigh in on the testing. Both a landowner with contaminated groundwater and the owner of the Pavillion gas field, Encana Oil and Gas, object to extending the comment period. Both sides say they want the studies to wrap up.

Ohio candy maker recalls product sold in Wyoming

An Ohio candy maker recalled 492 bags of its product because it contains milk that is not declared on the label. Island Delights Inc. of Seville announced the recall of the bags of Coconut Haystack candy earlier this week. An audit by the Ohio Department of Agriculture found the candy contained milk that could be harmful to the health of people who are allergic to it. The company said it has gotten no reports of adverse reactions or illness from the candy. The recalled product was distributed to retail stores and through mail order in 2012 in the following states: Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Firefighters meet in Riverton for training

About 500 firefighters from across the United States met in Riverton this past weekend to take part in the Mid-Winter Fire School. The school was hosted by the Wyoming State Firemen's Association and the Riverton Volunteer Fire Department.. Scott Walters, chairman for the school and captain of the Riverton Fire Department, says firefighters took basic and more advanced classes. The classes are intended to help them advance their career knowledge with important and effective training. Walters says several fire department captains, chiefs, lieutenants and firefighters from Wyoming and other states volunteered their time to teach the classes and have been doing so for more than 30 years.

Stage Stop 2013: 23 teams, 368 dogs will race

The largest sled dog race in the lower 48 states this year will feature 23 teams carried along by a total of some 368 dogs. The 2013 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race is scheduled to begin at the Jackson Town Square on Jan. 25. New for this year will be a side-by-side start. That means two teams at a time will jockey for position as they race down a street on their way out of town. The 9-day race will cover parts of 4 states - Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Montana - before wrapping up with an awards banquet in Evanston on Feb. 2.

Litter leads to poaching charges

Wyoming Game and Fish Department investigators have charged two men with poaching deer after linking trash found at the scene of the crime to them. The two buck deer were found on winter range near Big Sandy in southwest Wyoming last month. Pinedale warden Jordan Kraft was able to trace a discarded energy drink and chewing tobacco can to two suspects. Kraft then found missing parts of the poached deer and other evidence behind one suspect's house in Moorcroft. State Chief Game Warden Brian Nesvik says that poaching crimes on the winter range in southwest Wyoming are treated as a high priority in part because deer are in the middle of their rut, often near roads and vulnerable.

Gun Bill

Wyoming lawmakers have proposed a new bill that, if passed, would nullify any federal restrictions on guns, threatening to jail federal agents attempting to confiscate guns, ammunition magazines or ammunition.
The bill – HB0104 – states that “any federal law which attempts to ban a semi-automatic firearm or to limit the size of a magazine of a firearm or other limitation on firearms in this state shall be unenforceable in Wyoming.”
The bill is sponsored by eight Wyoming state representatives ad two state senators. If passed, the bill would declare any federal gun regulation created on or after January 1, 2013 to be unenforceable within the state.
In addition, the bill states would charge federal officials attempting to enforce a federal gun law within the state with a felony – “subject to imprisonment for not more less than one (1) year and one (1) day or more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.”
The bill also allows the Attorney General of Wyoming to defend a state citizen from any prosecution by the United States Government.
One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Wyoming State Senator Larry Hicks, told The Washington Examiner that this type of legislation sends a message to the federal government in Washington D.C.
“It says that your one size fits all solution doesn’t comport to what a vast majority of the state believes,” Hicks explained in an interview.Citing the Tenth and the Second Amendments, Hicks asserted that the legislation was Constitutional, adding that he fully expected it to pass in the Wyoming state legislature. Hicks said that his Wyoming constituents were upset about the looming threat of gun control coming from Washington, particularly since Vice President Biden signaled yesterday that President Obama was willing to issue an executive order to tackle the gun issue.

Retiring county officers receive special awards

Two sheriff’s officers received special recognition at a ceremony in Rock Springs on December 28th. Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that Major Dennis Claman was presented with the Sheriff’s Office Distinguished Service Medal and Undersheriff Craig Jackson with the Meritorious Service Medal by Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell. Both men retired at the end of December.






Claman joined the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office in 1991, where he served first as a detective, followed by a promotion to detective Sergeant. He was promoted again to the rank of major, in command of the Operations Division, in 2007. In addition, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Wyoming Army National Guard.






He also served for six years with the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office in Cheyenne, where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice at Laramie County Community College. He joined the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office in 1992. In his 20 years with the Sheriff’s Office, C.J. was a patrol deputy sheriff, a drug task force special agent, a detective, and, from 2007 through 2012, served as Undersheriff of Sweetwater County.

Wyoming lawmakers push gun control exemption

Some Wyoming lawmakers are pushing to pre-empt any federal crackdown on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the aftermath of last month's school shooting in Connecticut. A bill pending in the Wyoming Legislature would specify any federal limitation on guns would be unenforceable. It also would make it a state felony for federal agents to try to enforce such regulations. Vice President Joe Biden is set to deliver gun control proposals to President Obama on Tuesday. Sponsor Rep. Kendell Kroeker, an Evansville Republican, says state lawmakers have a responsibility to oppose any federal law or order that violates the U.S. Constitution. Rep. James Byrd, a Democrat from Cheyenne, opposes the legislation. He says Wyoming is bound to lose if it forces a legal showdown over guns with the federal government.

2012 was driest, warmest on record in Wyoming

It's now official: 2012 was the driest and warmest year in Wyoming in 118 years. The National Weather Service says the statewide average precipitation for the year was 8.08 inches, shattering the 1988 record. The average statewide temperature was 45.6 degrees, 5.1 degrees above the 20th century average. The previous warmest year on record was 1934. Nationally, 2012's drought was the worst since the 1950s and slightly behind the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows worsening drought conditions across east central Wyoming and some improvement in the far west. Exceptional drought conditions persist in most of Goshen, Niobrara and Weston counties and parts of Converse, Campbell and Sweetwater counties. Drought conditions are expected to continue through March in areas rated as having moderate or worse conditions.

Laramie gives up on delayed July 4th fireworks

Laramie has given up on rescheduling last year's Fourth of July fireworks. The display was postponed in July because of extreme fire danger and dry conditions. A wildfire had started days before near Lake Owen. The city had planned to hold the fireworks display later in the year, perhaps around Christmas or New Year's. But that didn't happen because dry conditions persisted into December. Then, after snow began to fall, officials were concerned about whether firework technicians would be able to travel to Wyoming. Assistant City Manager Dave Derragon said most of the $16,000 set aside for the display will be used for this year's Fourth of July fireworks - unless high fire danger cancels that display too.

Judge transfers wolf case to Wyoming from Colo.

A lawsuit filed by a coalition of environmental groups challenging the federal government's decision to transfer wolf management to the state of Wyoming should be heard in the state, a federal judge has ruled. Senior U.S. District Judge John L. Kane of Colorado issued an order Wednesday granting a joint request from the federal government and the state of Wyoming to move the case from federal court in Colorado to federal court in Wyoming. The eight environmental groups filed suit in November claiming that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the federal Endangered Species Act when it ended federal protections for wolves in Wyoming last fall. The groups maintain Wyoming's management plan classifying wolves as predators that can be shot on sight in most of the state is inadequate.

January Hunting Season Meetings

GREEN RIVER—Wildlife managers with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are seeking the public’s help in developing the 2013 hunting seasons. Green River Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco says there will be four public meetings in southwest Wyoming and regional staff is hoping to hear from as many people as possible. “We invite anyone interested in hunting and wildlife management to attend one of the four information gathering meetings in preparation for the 2013 season-setting process,” DeCecco said. “This is the second year we have held these meetings earlier in the annual hunting season setting cycle. We have committed to gathering public input prior to season development to provide a more meaningful and timely dialog with the public, well in advance of drafting 2013 seasons. This is an opportunity for sportsmen to share any information, observations, or ideas you think would be valuable in developing 2013 hunting season proposals.” Meetings will be held at the following locations:
Monday, January 14: Green River, Green River Region Game and Fish Office, 6:30 PM Tuesday, January 15: Baggs, Valley Community Center, 6:30 PM
Wednesday, January 16: Kemmerer, Lincoln County Public Library, 6:30 PM
Thursday, January 17: Evanston, Uinta County Library/ Bridger Carter room, 6:30 PM