Telephone “prepayment” scam circulating in Sweetwater County

The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens about a telephone scam making the rounds. Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that county residents are receiving calls informing them that they have been selected by the United States government to receive a $6,700 grant or “free money” that they need not pay back.






According to Blust, the callers attempt to make their information sound credible by providing a callback telephone number and a “confirmation number” for the phony grant.






Blust says that you will never be legitimately contacted through an unsolicited call and told you’ve been awarded a grant. The best rule to remember is that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Cirque Du Soleil Semi Involved in Fatal Crash

A semi truck owned by Canadian circus company Cirque du Soleil was involved in a fatal crash on I-25 near Douglas Thursday afternoon. One person died in the accident and two others were injured. According to Wyoming Highway Patrol, the semi collided head-on with another commercial vehicle in a construction zone about 1.5 miles northwest of Douglas. The crash closed the southbound lanes around milepost 141 and traffic was being diverted to the old Glenrock highway. The two injured people were hospitalized at Converse County Memorial Hospital in Douglas. Cirque du Soleil spokeswoman Debbie Fitzgerald confirmed that the company did in fact own the semi. Following the crash, the company released a statement saying "We have very few details about this accident. We will await the police investigation and report. We were very saddened to learn there was a loss of life in this accident and our thoughts are for the family of the deceased." A traveling Cirque di Soleil show called "Amaluna" is set to open in Denver on July 18th.

Document on western power line project now online

Federal officials have published the draft environmental impact statement for a proposed transmission line meant to carry wind power from Wyoming to California, Arizona and Nevada. The document identifies possible routes for TransWest Express LLC's proposed line, along with potential impacts to the environment, public health and other areas. TransWest has proposed a route from near Sinclair, Wyo., through Colorado and Utah to an area near Boulder City, Nev. Federal officials have identified a somewhat different route that they say will minimize impacts to greater sage grouse and roadless areas in national forests. The public will have 90 days to weigh in. TransWest plans to comment later. A decision is expected in 2014. TransWest is part of The Anschutz Corp. based in Denver.

Grand Teton climber falls into icy water, dies

A climber on Grand Teton died after he slipped and fell into icy-cold water. Teton County Coroner Kiley Campbell says hypothermia may have caused Thursday's death of 55-year-old Gary Miller, of Colorado Springs, Colo. Miller had just climbed Grand Teton. Miller was descending when he fell on a snowfield and slid into a 35-foot-deep crevasse. He was soaked by rushing cold water at the bottom. Climbing guides worked to pull Miller out with a rope. They got Miller out of the crevasse just as a rescue helicopter arrived. By that time Miller had been subjected to 35 to 40-degree water for at least an hour. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Two climbers have died in the Tetons this year.

Conant avoids possible death sentence in plea deal

Prosecutors have agreed not to seek the death penalty against the Wheatland man who pleaded no contest this week to killing his three sons and his brother in 2011. Everett Conant III entered the pleas Wednesday at a hearing in Evanston, home of the Wyoming State Hospital. The 37-year-old has been undergoing mental evaluations there. Kerri Johnson of the Wyoming Public Defender's Office, who represents Conant, says the parties agreed at the plea hearing that a judge could sentence Conant to life for each count. Judge John Brooks of Douglas hasn't yet set a sentencing hearing, his office said Friday.

New Laws Take Effect Monday

More than 120 new state laws will take effect Monday. Some of the bills passed during this year's legislative session had immediate start dates, but others required time for agencies to develop rules and to get the word out to the public. The laws range from dealing with human trafficking to hitchhiking to silencers on guns.

Left Turn Lanes Closing at Elk Street and Stagecoach Blvd. in Green River

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will be closing the left turn lanes at the intersection of Elk Street and Stagecoach Blvd. Today (Monday) and Tuesday, July 2. Crews from Advanced Electrical will be replacing the 5-section signal heads for the turning lanes with updated 4-section signal heads as part of a statewide contract for project B122096 Urban Signal Work. Work will begin on today (Monday July 1) with left turn lanes being closed one at a time while the contractor works on the corresponding signal head. Work will continue on Tuesday, July 2 until completed. During that time, the traffic signal will still be in operation and left turn movements will still be allowed. Motorists will still be able to access all local businesses and roads. WYDOT recommends local traffic take an alternate route if possible to avoid congestion.

WYDOT would like to remind drivers to slow down in work zones, be alert and cautious of roadside workers. For more information on road construction, closures and weather conditions, go to wyoroad.info.

Economic News For Sweetwater County

The economic news in Sweetwater County continues to look good----The Wyoming Department of workforce services reports that Sweetwater Counties un-employment rate in continues to decline---in May, the rat stood at 3.6 percent compared to 3.9 percent in April of this year. Last May, the rate stood at 4.5 percent. There are currently over 25,000 residents in the labor force in the county. The number of residents looking for work declined from over 1,000 in April to 917 in May. The statewide un-employment rate stood at 4.2 percent in May, down from 4.9 percent in April. The highest un-employment rate in Wyoming is in Teton county at 6.4 percent, while the lowest is Ni-oh-brair-ah county (Niobrara) at 3.1 percent.

Flaming Gorge Days Parade is Saturday at 10 AM

This year, the theme of the Flaming Gorge Days parade will be Rock of Ages. It will take place at 10 AM on Saturday, following the Uinta Drive Route. Rebecca Briemaster with the Green River Chamber says that if the parade isn't your thing, there are plenty of other great activities.






Briemaster says all of the fun is a bonus to the impact Flaming Gorge Days has on the community.






For a complete schedule of events, go to flaminggorgedays.com.

US District Judge Clarence Brimmer retires at 90

U.S. District Judge Clarence A. Brimmer of Cheyenne has retired after more than 38 years on the bench. Brimmer, who turns 91 next month, was appointed by former President Gerald R. Ford in 1975. He quit hearing cases this month. Brimmer has been on senior status since 2006 but had continued to hear cases. Brimmer says he's kept working so long because he liked the work. He says he's always felt he was making a difference on the bench. He says he finally ended it a couple of weeks ago because he felt that it was time to go. Brimmer's judgeship capped a legal career that also included stints as Wyoming attorney general and U.S. Attorney for Wyoming.

Explosives test closes Wyo. Guard base entrance

Possible traces of explosives in a delivery truck prompted authorities to shut down the entrance to the Wyoming Air National Guard base for almost two hours. A major thoroughfare in front of the base also was closed. No explosive devices were found. The incident began around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Guard spokeswoman Deidre Forster says the truck was delivering an antenna to the base. A routine chemical test came back positive for possible explosives residue on the truck's gear shifter and on the driver's hand. Forster says the Federal Bureau of Investigation questioned the driver. The base entrance and Dell Range Boulevard were reopened at 1:15 p.m.

Wyo. education dir. brings business background

Those involved in Wyoming education say the business background of Gov. Matt Mead's selection to head the Wyoming Department of Education should be an asset. Wyoming Board of Education member Scotty Ratliff says he's optimistic about what Rich Crandall brings to Wyoming. Sen. Hank Coe, chairman of the Wyoming Senate Education Committee, says Crandall's administrative expertise is necessary as director. Crandall is a Republican Arizona state senator and co-owner of 2 companies. He was appointed director of the Wyoming agency on Wednesday. His education includes a master's of business administration from the University of Notre Dame. His experience with education has been mostly political. Crandall was president of the school board in Arizona's largest school district and was chairman of education committees in the Arizona Senate and House.

Jewell makes emotional pledge to Native Americans

Sally Jewell made an emotional pledge in her first address to Indian Country as the 51st U.S. Interior secretary, saying she'll help right past wrongs against Native Americans and work with tribes "nation-to-nation" to protect their sovereignty. Jewell fought back tears and paused to compose herself during remarks Thursday in Reno, Nev., to about 300 delegates of the National Congress of American Indians. The casino-ballroom audience gave her a standing ovation. The ex-outdoor retail executive from Seattle became secretary in April. She told delegates the U.S. government doesn't have a proud legacy when it comes to upholding promises to native people. She said she cannot "reverse all of that" in four years, but she is determined to make important progress and help tribes become more economically independent.

Former hospital CEO returns to US to face charges

A former hospital CEO who went overseas before being tried on charges of defrauding his employers has been returned to the U.S. Paul Cardwell arrived in the U.S. Wednesday in the custody of FBI agents. He was arrested in Thailand on June 7. Cardwell is accused of stealing about $848,000 from Powell Valley Healthcare in Wyoming when he was its CEO and about $846,000 from White County Memorial Hospital in Monticello, Ind., when he was CEO there. Prosecutors allege Cardwell ushered funds to a bogus recruiting firm supposedly run by Michael Plake of West Lafayette, Ind., and that the two would split the money. Plake is serving a 30-month prison sentence. Cardwell fled in August, just before he was expected to accept a plea deal.

Hill worried about her rights if investigated

State schools Superintendent Cindy Hill says she wants to make sure her rights are protected if a legislative investigation is launched into her administration of the state Education Department. State House Speaker Tom Lubnau has asked the Legislature's Management Council to empanel a House committee to investigate information in a recent inquiry that Hill may have misused federal funds while she ran the agency. Hill was stripped of her authority over the agency by a new state law enacted this past winter. Lubnau wants the House Rules Committee to conduct the investigation. In a letter Thursday to the Gillette Republican, Hill said that all members of the committee voted for the new law. She wants a committee consisting of House members who voted on both sides of the issue.

Obama speech praises natural gas fracking boom

This week, President Barack Obama praised renewable energy, conservation - and fracking for natural gas. His support for fracking is upsetting some environmental groups that otherwise support his climate plan. Deb Nardone, the head of the Sierra Club's Beyond Natural Gas program, says Obama "is taking the wrong path" on natural gas. Obama is acknowledging the concerns of some environmentalists who want drilling reined in, but he also is rejecting their key arguments. In his speech Tuesday, Obama said that "cleaner-burning" natural gas is creating jobs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering utility bills for many families.

Preventing aquatic invasive species

Preventing aquatic invasive species from establishing populations in Wyoming waters sounds like a daunting task, considering invasive mussels have been detected in neighboring states such as Utah and Colorado, and in water just 60 miles from the Wyoming border.
However, Regina Dickson is up to the challenge. Dickson’s enthusiasm for and dedication to her job is obvious. After working as a technician for two summers, Dickson is in her third year, now a crew leader in the Wyoming Game and Fish Departments Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program. Dickson directs the program for southwest Wyoming and supervises five technicians who work on Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
Early detection of aquatic invasive species results in greater potential for containment or eradication of the invasive species, ultimately minimizing the negative effects and financial burden caused by the introduction of aquatic invasive species. New Wyoming regulations require that any watercraft transported into Wyoming from March 1 through November 30 must undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized inspector prior to launching in any water of the state. Year-around, any watercraft that has been in a water infested with zebra or quagga mussels within the past 30 days is required to undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized inspector prior to launching.

Flaming Gorge Days Have Arrived

Flaming Gorge Days have arrived. Rebecca Briemaster with the Green River Chamber of Commerce says there are lots of fun activities planned for this year's event.






The Festival in the Park will be held all day Friday and Saturday.






Saturday night's headline concert will be Halestorm with special guest, Adelitas Way. For a complete Schedule of Events and how you can purchase tickets to the shows, go to flamingorgedays.com.

Matthew Shepard Foundation praises DOMA ruling

The Denver-based Matthew Shepard Foundation is praising the U.S. Supreme Court for striking down a major provision of the Defense of Marriage Act but says much needs to be done to implement the ruling. Shepard was a gay University of Wyoming student tied to a fence and fatally beaten by two men in 1998. Outrage over Shepard's murder strengthened the resolve of many to advocate for gay rights, including gay marriage. Judy Shepard says she once talked about gay marriage with her son and recalls speculating it might be legal in his lifetime but not hers. She calls it "sad and ironic" it's happening in her lifetime but not his. Jason Marsden with the foundation says federal agencies will need to make a variety of changes to implement Wednesday's ruling.

Pavillion group spells out water study concerns

Homeowners in a gas field with tainted groundwater want more detail from Gov. Matt Mead about how Wyoming will take over from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the investigation of what caused the contamination. The group Pavillion Area Concerned Citizens asks Mead in a letter Monday how homeowners will play a role in the investigation. They say nobody consulted them before the plans changed. Mead spokesman Renny MacKay says the state and the EPA made the decision about the study. He says Pavillion residents will have a say going forward. An EPA official said Wednesday handing off to the state is the "most pragmatic" way ahead. In 2011, the EPA tied the contamination to the petroleum industry practice of hydraulic fracturing but announced last week it won't finalize the report.

Wyo. gov appoints state Education Dept. director

Gov. Matt Mead has selected an Arizona state senator to run the Wyoming Education Department. Mead late Wednesday afternoon announced his choice of Richard Crandall, who co-owns two nutritional service companies. The Education Department has a budget of about $1 billion a year and employs about 150 people. Mead and the Legislature enacted a new law this past winter removing the statewide elected superintendent of public instruction as head of the Education Department. Instead, the department will be administered by a director appointed by the governor. The change occurred in the middle of Superintendent Cindy Hill's 4-year term. Hill is challenging the constitutionality of the change. Crandall says that he'll let the superintendent situation take its own course and that he has a clean slate with everyone involved.

Sweetwater Co. approves flight subsidy

The Sweetwater County Commission has approved a subsidy to keep SkyWest Airlines service between the Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Airport and Salt Lake City. Green River, Rock Springs, Sweetwater County and the state combine to pay the subsidy. Sweetwater County's share is a little more than $244,000. Rock Springs pays about $179,000 and Green River contributes is a little under $120,000. Wyoming pays almost $1.4 million. The terms of the contract runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013. SkyWest offers two roundtrips flights a day between Salt Lake City and Rock Springs and one roundtrip flight between Gillette and Rock Springs.

Income Guidelines Updated for WIC in Wyoming

Updated income guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program begin July 1, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.
WIC provides help to new moms with breastfeeding, infant foods and formula; and families with whole foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grain cereals, bread, rice, oatmeal, canned tuna or salmon, eggs, cheese, milk, soy beverages, dried beans/peas, brown rice; and kitchen staples such as tortillas and peanut butter.
“Many people know about the food available through our program. WIC also has peer counselors for peer-to-peer breastfeeding help, nutritionists to help with planning family meals, and makes referrals for other health and social services,” said Janet Moran, WIC program manager with the Wyoming Department of Health.

Sweetwater County Fair Wyoming's Big Show Names Farm Family Today Award Winner

Chad Banks with the Sweetwater County Fair says they have named the Thoman Family of Fontanelle as this year's Farm Family Today award winner.






The Thomans have won numerous awards and recognitions from organizations such as the BLM and the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative.






Banks says the Farm Family Today award encourages a positive relationship between the urban fairgoer and the agriculturalists who have made fairs a modern tradition for so many people.

BLM Pinedale Postpones Mule Deer Public Meeting

The Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office and Pinedale Anticline Project Office are postponing the Tuesday, July 2 public meeting for the Sublette Mule Deer Mitigation Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) to provide for additional EA revisions. A rescheduled meeting date as well as public comment period will be announced in late July.
For more information, please contact Eric Decker at 307-367-5386 or Dan Stroud at 307-367-5387.

Sweetwater County Valuation Numbers Have Been Certified by the State

According to Sweetwater County Assessor, Pat Drinkle, the valuation numbers for the County have been certified by the State Board of Equalization. This process is the final “stamp of approval” for the County’s valuation. All of the “local assessed property” (residential improved and vacant, commercial improved and vacant, mobile homes, personal property, agricultural and some industrial) must meet very strict statistical requirements. All of the numbers were in compliance. The actual numbers for 2012 and 2013 are:

Locally Assessed - 2012 $ 645,165,381 2013 $ 678,454,439
State Assessed – 2012 Minerals $2,007,299,074 2013 $1,824,939,187
State Assessed – Other 2012 $ 200,734,226 2013 $ 199,682,352
Total Assessed Value 2012 $2,853,198,681 2013 $2,703,075,978

As evidenced by the numbers, Mineral Production (Oil, Gas, Coal, Trona, and Sand and Gravel) is the main component of Sweetwater County’s total valuation. Natural gas was down substantially this year, but oil, coal, and trona were all up over last year making the gas decline a little easier to handle. These valuation numbers are used by the county, school districts, cities/towns and all the special districts throughout the county to budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The reduction in valuation from 2012 to 2013 was anticipated and all taxing authorities were advised to plan accordingly when budgets were submitted last year.

Superintendent Hill denies misusing federal money

State schools Superintendent Cindy Hill says she didn't break any laws when she administered the state Education Department. Hill on Monday responded to a report from an inquiry team appointed by Gov. Matt Mead on the department's operations and management practices. The inquiry reported information about possible misuse of federal money for unauthorized programs and trips in the state plane while under Hill's administration. That has raised discussion of possible impeachment proceedings against Hill, who has since been removed as head of the agency. In her written response, Hill says she didn't misuse funds or the state plane. Hill says the move to oust her is rooted in a rush to "federalize Wyoming's educational system." State House Speaker Tom Lubnau, of Gillette, says Hill's federalization assertion is preposterous.

Sweetwater district may hours over health care

School officials in Sweetwater County are considering cutting the hours of more than 500 part-time workers to avoid providing them with health insurance. Under the new federal health care law, people working between 30 and 34 hours a week are entitled to the same insurance coverage offered to full-time employees. Part-time workers at Sweetwater County School District No. 1 could be cut by up to five hours. No final decision has been made. Human resources director Kelly McGovern told the school board earlier this month that it would be impossible to cover all of them. School board chairman Justin Spicer said it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, which would have to come out of the budget for classrooms and other essentials.

WWCC graduates its first class of EMTs in more than 20 years

Western Wyoming Community College graduated its first class of five Emergency Medical Technicians (Basic) in more than 20 years on Tuesday, June 18 in a ceremony at the Rock Springs campus. All five students have passed their state certification exams and are ready to begin new careers as EMTs.
EMT Basic graduates included: Crystal Camacho, Danielle Kendall, Matthew Gardner, and Angela Locke, all of Rock Springs; and Eric Chase Cochrun, of Green River. Locke received a special award for perfect attendance in the class; Gardner received a special award for the highest combined average score in the class.
Carole Shafer, director of Workforce and Community Development at WWCC, said that Western had graduated its last EMT class in 1992, after which the program sunset due to the existence of other training opportunities in the area. But local industry representatives had approached Western more recently about establishing a new program, she said. The State of Wyoming approved Western’s new program in September 2012. Western’s curriculum committee approved the program as a credit course in December 2012. The first class began in January 2013.

Enter the Green River Chamber’s Name the BLM Wild Horses Contest

The Green River Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Name the Horses Contest for the two Bureau of Land Management High Desert District yearling Mustangs being showcased for adoption this summer at the Visitor Center in Green River.  Serena Baker with the BLM says this is the third year wild horses have been fostered for adoption at the Visitor Center. 






Pictures of the Mustangs, along with their vaccination records can be found at blm.gov and then search for Green River Wild Horses.






The winners will receive a $25 gift certificate and have their picture taken with the horses. Only one entry per person will be accepted. For more information on the contest, contact the Green River Chamber. Adoption requirements and an application are available by googling Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse adoptions.

Rock Springs PD Animal Control Rescues Baby Red Tail Hawk

On Thursday, June 20th, at around 7 pm, Rock Springs PD Animal Control Supervisor Mike Kiggins responded to Rose Crown Circle in Rock Springs in reference to a Red Tail Hawk that was possibly injured. A resident of the area had been jogging and was surprised when she didn't see the bird initially and it fanned its wings at her. She contacted dispatch and Animal Control Officer Kiggins responded to check on the animal. Kiggins said the bird was just a baby and probably was unable to complete what might have been its first flight. Kiggins took the bird to Animal Control to provide it with food and water and let it rest overnight with the intention of trying to release it back into the wild the next day. Kiggins said though these birds are beautiful, the talons are dangerous and could likely pierce a person to the bone. Kiggins estimated the wing span of the bird to be approximately three feet.

Wyo. House speaker recommends special committee

Wyoming House Speaker Tom Lubnau is recommending that the chamber form a special committee to investigate how the state Education Department operated under Superintendent Cindy Hill. Lubnau sent an email Monday to the 59 other members of the state House, asking for their thoughts on how to proceed following a report from the governor's office on the department's operations and management practices. The most troubling information the report found involved possible misuse of federal money for unauthorized programs and trips in the state plane while under Hill's administration. That has raised discussion of possible impeachment proceedings against Hill, who has since been removed as head of the agency. Lubnau says the House can do nothing, appoint a special committee to investigate further or call a special session.

Land values skyrocket in parts of Wyoming

Wyoming ranch land values increased by 4.7% in 2012 with an average price of $450 per acre. U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show the average price for land last year was up from $428.85 in 2011. However, Steven Gunn of the USDA in Denver says the state's prices are the lowest in the Mountain West region thanks to a lack of fertile crop land. Idaho leads the region with an average value of $1,210. Gunn says that land with the potential to develop energy drives up prices in the state. Jim Magagna, of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, says if the land were being graded on its agricultural value the prices wouldn't be rising.

More seeking Wyoming big game licenses online

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says the number of applications submitted by Wyoming hunters for big game licenses is up, and more are being submitted electronically. The department said Monday it has received 97,324 applications from Wyoming elk, deer and antelope hunters, up about 2.7% from 94,736 applications in 2012. The department plans to accept only electronic applications next year, instead of ones printed on paper. Of the applications submitted this year, 6,505 were submitted on paper forms. Last year 17,712 hunters sent in paper applications.

Union Pacific Railroad Invests $15 Million

Union Pacific Railroad will strengthen Wyoming’s transportation infrastructure by investing $15 million in the rail line between Rawlins and near Rock Springs. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific without taxpayer dollars, began June 15 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.
The railroad will replace 127,200 railroad ties and install more than 61,200 tons of rock ballast. In addition, crews will renew the surfaces at 18 road crossings. The project is one of nearly 1,500 Union Pacific will complete across its 32,000-mile network this year to help improve train operating efficiency, reduce motorist wait times at crossings and enhance safety.
Donna Kush, Union Pacific vice president - Public Affairs, Northern Region says "Union Pacific helps link businesses with consumers, suppliers and markets across the nation and around the world,” “In addition to helping move customers’ goods more safely and efficiently, our investments support communities by reducing traffic congestion, facilitating industrial development and, promoting economic expansion.”

Public Asked to Use Caution as Fire Danger Increases

ire danger is increasing throughout the Rawlins Interagency Dispatch area and fire managers are reminding public lands users to use caution while recreating outdoors.
Fire managers track fire danger indices by monitoring the weather and the moisture in vegetation. Fire danger, currently moderate, is increasing with warm and dry weather and indices are now trending above normal for this time of year. Moderate fire danger means fires start easily, spread at a moderate rate and, on windy days, will burn briskly and spread rapidly in open-cured grassland.
As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, visitors and residents alike are reminded that fireworks are not permitted on BLM lands at any time. Other activities subject to BLM year-round fire restrictions include:
Discharging a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition;
Burning, igniting, or causing to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or other hazardous or explosive material; and
Operating any off-road vehicle on public lands unless the vehicle is equipped with a properly installed spark arrester.
With the already active fire season, public land users should exercise caution and practice heightened fire safety at all times: ensure all campfires are dead out; travel and camp with a shovel, fire extinguisher and ample water; and confine smoking within a vehicle or cleared area. Industry should also have protective measures in place to limit fire ignitions.

BLM Congratulates June Winners of Mustang Versatility Trail Ride Buckle Series

Serena Baker with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Desert District and their partners for the 2013 Mustang Versatility Trail Ride Buckle Series congratulate Dawn Helms and her Mustang “Black Jack” from Pavillion, for placing first in the Extreme Trail Competition and receiving the Horse of the Month honors at the June event.






The Mustang horse/rider pair who work best together will also be chosen as the “Horse of the Month” at each Mustang Versatility event.






Daily prizes are also awarded at each monthly event. The four month series showcases Mustangs, but all horse breeds are welcome. Membership is not required to participate, but only members accumulate points toward year end buckles and awards. Non-members are eligible to receive daily prizes.

Former Wyo. Sec. of State gets Cheyenne funeral

One speaker at former Wyoming Secretary of State Thyra Thomson's funeral in Cheyenne said she personified both chutzpah and pizazz. Peter K. Simpson said at Friday's service that he loved Thomson, calling her the "queen of Wyoming." Thomson served as secretary of state from 1963 to 1987. She first ran for office after her husband, former U.S. Rep. Keith Thomson, died in 1960. A decorated war hero, Keith Thomson died shortly after his election to the U.S. Senate. Lynne Cheney, wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney, said Thyra Thomson will be buried next to her husband at Arlington National Cemetery. But Cheney says that when she imagines Thyra Thomson reunited with her husband after so many years, she doesn't picture them at Arlington, but rather dancing among the stars.

Some residents oppose Wyo.-EPA frack study deal

Some Wyoming residents say they were excluded from a deal that has the state government taking over further study of tainted drinking water in their area from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA theorized in 2011 the petroleum industry practice of hydraulic fracturing may have contaminated the groundwater near the town of Pavillion. The EPA now says it won't finish or have outside experts review the research. Wyoming officials announced Thursday the state will take over the study with help from $1.5 million from Encana Corp., which owns the Pavillion gas field. Environmentalists and the Northern Arapaho Tribe call that a conflict of interest. Gov. Matt Mead says he's talking with affected residents and understands their skepticism. He says he's pleased EPA recognizes Wyoming is best-positioned to act.

State advises anglers about mercury in fish

The Wyoming Health and Game and Fish departments advise residents to remain up to date on the mercury levels in the fish they catch and eat. Game and Fish Department assistant fisheries management coordinator Mark Smith says the two agencies plan to continue to update the fish consumption advisory for Wyoming-caught fish as new data is analyzed. New data on fish from Lake Desmet, Boysen, Buffalo Bill, Keyhole and Pallisades reservoirs found a few additions and adjustments to the consumption advisories for fish in those waters. The majority of additions to the advisory this year are for larger lake trout and walleye at Buffalo Bill Reservoir, where data was previously not available. Anglers may want to consult the updated advisories by going to the Game and Fish website.

Man dies after being swept away by river in Carbon County

Authorities say a 32-year-old Denver man died after he was swept away by the North Platte River in Carbon County. The sheriff's office says Derick Scovill was camping with his parents and other family members in the Miracle Mile area when he fell into the river Monday. His body washed ashore two miles downstream about an hour and a half after he fell in. A camper found the body and called authorities.

Traffic Signal at Elk and Stagecoach in Green River Will Shut Down For a Period on Saturday

This Saturday, the Wyoming Department of Transportation will be shutting down the traffic signal at the intersection of Elk Street and Stagecoach Blvd. in Green River for 6-8 hours. Stephanie Harsha says that crews from Advanced Electric out of Casper will be pulling and replacing wiring as part of a statewide contract urban signal work.






WYDOT recommends local traffic take an alternate route if possible to avoid congestion. The work will take place Saturday only.






WYDOT would like to remind drivers to slow down in work zones, be alert and cautious of roadside workers. For more information on road construction, closures and weather conditions, please visit wyoroad.info.

Fire Danger Increases Throughout the Rawlins Interagency Dispatch Area

Fire danger is increasing throughout the Rawlins Interagency Dispatch area and fire managers are reminding public lands users to use caution while recreating outdoors. Fire managers track fire danger indices by monitoring the weather and the moisture in vegetation. Fire danger, currently moderate, is increasing with warm and dry weather and indices are now trending above normal for this time of year. Moderate fire danger means fires start easily, spread at a moderate rate and, on windy days, will burn briskly and spread rapidly in open-cured grassland. As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, visitors and residents alike are reminded that fireworks are not permitted on BLM lands at any time.

Green River Man Sentenced In Sexual Abuse of a Minor Case

Back on on June 6th, a 26 year old Green River man was sentenced out of Sweetwater County Court to a term at the Wyoming State Penitentiary for two counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and one count of Burglary. In October of 2012, Charles Anthony Berry was arrested in Indiana and extradited to Sweetwater County to face the charges. Berry has been incarcerated at the Sweetwater County Detention Center since his extradition. Berry’s burglary charges stem from an incident that occurred in Green River, in August of 2012, where Berry entered a resident’s garage and stole several items. The 2nd degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor charges stem from incidents that occurred during the summer months of 2012, where Berry enticed two victims, both between the ages of 13 and 15 years old, into sexual acts. Berry was sentenced to 3 to 7 years for the burglary, and 8 to 15 years for each count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

30 US reps seek reforms for BLM's horse budget

Thirty U.S. representatives are urging new U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to quickly reform the government's wild horse management program. The lawmakers say the program and its spiraling budget have created an "untenable situation" for both the mustangs and taxpayers. Arizona Democrat Raul Grijalva (gree-HAHL'-vuh) wrote the letter appealing to Jewell "as a conservationist and outdoor enthusiast." A recent scientific review recommended that the government invest in widespread fertility control of the mustangs and let nature cull any excess herds instead of spending millions to house them in overflowing holding pens. There are an estimated 37,000 free-roaming wild horses and burros on federal land in the West. A spokeswoman for Jewell was not immediately available for comment.

Yellowstone norovirus hits around 200 people

A norovirus outbreak believed to have started at Yellowstone National Park may have affected around 200 people at both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. About 50 visitors have reported symptoms associated with norovirus, a stomach flu that is easily spread by touching an infected person or contaminated surfaces. Up to 150 park employees may have been infected, though not all those cases have been confirmed. The outbreak is believed to have started with a group of tourists who visited the Mammoth Hot Springs area in Yellowstone on June 7. They complained of stomach flu symptoms and, within 48 hours, employees who work with visitors also reported being sick. Physician's assistant Michael Takagi says that the outbreak is 1 of the most significant ones he's seen.

Fire danger increases in Teton are

Agency fire managers say the fire danger is increasing in northwestern Wyoming and they're asking the public to use caution while recreating outdoors. Managers track fire danger by monitoring both weather conditions and the moisture in trees and other vegetation. The fire danger is currently rated as moderate but will continue to rise with warmer and drier weather. Firefighters suppressed two human-caused fires this week on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, fire managers also remind the public that fireworks are not permitted in Grand Teton National Park, on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, in Teton or Sublette counties or on state lands.

I-80 Roadwork Will Divert Traffic Through Green River

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will be diverting eastbound traffic off Interstate 80 tonight, tentatively from midnight to 5 a.m. for a deck pour on the bridge over the county road at milepost 86.7. Stephanie Harsha says that traffic will be diverted through Green River.






The project began on June 3 and is scheduled to finish by Oct. 31, 2013.






WYDOT would like to remind drivers to slow down in work zones, be alert and cautious of roadside workers. For more information on road construction, closures and weather conditions, please visit wyoroad.info.

Rawlins-area wind farm proposal could be revived

A wind farm project that originally got a permit from Carbon County 14 years ago but never got developed could be headed for a revival. Terra Moya Aqua Global Wind first obtained a conditional use permit for the Simpson Ridge project in 1999. Carbon County officials say the permit issued back then is still good. They say another company, Polstream USA, now has acquired the permit from Terra Moya Aqua and is interested in developing the project. One obstacle is that Simpson Ridge is habitat for sage grouse and carries certain restrictions on development. County planning officials say they have asked Polstream to meet with the county Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss their plans.

Possible impeachment of Wyo. schools chief raised

The prospect of impeaching state schools Superintendent Cindy Hill is being discussed by some lawmakers in the wake of an inquiry into state Education Department operations under her direction. House Speaker Tom Lubnau, of Gillette, says it's premature to talk impeachment but it can't be ruled out. He will gauge sentiment among representatives before making any decision on whether to consider impeachment proceedings. The inquiry released this week through the governor's office details a number of concerns from Education Department employees, including how state and federal money was handled. In the report, Hill defended her management or said she was unaware of specific problems and concerns. Some lawmakers say the report bolsters the Legislature's decision to remove the superintendent as head of the agency this past winter.

As fires rage, feds cut funding on prevention

The federal government is spending less and less on preventing wildfires even as the nation endures increasingly destructive blazes. The Obama administration is proposing a 31% cut to the main program that clears brush and overgrown trees to prevent forest fires. That program is already funded at lower levels than 11 years ago. Automatic budget cuts that kicked in in March have made the gap worse. As a result, the Forest Service treated 1 million fewer acres this year than last and expects to treat far fewer next year. Federal fire officials say the problem is that an increasing chunk of their budget is eaten up simply trying to put out the giant blazes. 8 of the nine worst fire years in U.S. history have been recorded since 2000.

Community Spaceport Day June 22, 2013

There are plenty of activities planned for the Green River Community Spaceport Day on Saturday. The Green River Fraternal Order of Police will be hosting a Pancake breakfast fundraiser starting at 8:00 am. The cost is $3. The First 200 people will receive a free Spaceport T-shirt! A Guardian Flight Helicopter, Aviat airplanes from Afton and other small airplanes will all be at the Green River Airport. Visit with pilots; learn about airplanes and the importance of general aviation. Intro flights over north Flaming Gorge will be available for $5 per person. Drawings will be held for Flaming Gorge Days Concert Tickets - You must be present to win.

Fremont County Police: Woman hospitalized after shooting herself

Fremont County authorities say a driver is in critical condition after apparently shooting herself while behind the wheel. Officials aren't naming the 33-year-old Kinnear woman. They say she's listed in critical condition in an unspecified medical facility out of state. According to a statement from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, the woman drove away from a residence on Sunday afternoon after saying she intended to harm herself following a dispute with her boyfriend. A Wyoming state trooper later saw the woman's vehicle veer off of Highway 26 and plow through a fence. The trooper found that the woman had what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to her head. Authorities aren't sure whether the woman shot herself while driving or possibly after her vehicle left the roadway.

Green River City Council

The Green River City Council Met Last night, Erick Pauley has the story

BLM Pinedale Hosts Greater Sage-Grouse Public Meeting

Shelley Gregory with the Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office tells us that, in coordination with the Pinedale Anticline Project Office, they will host a public meeting on Thursday, June 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1625 W. Pine St. in Pinedale, to present the draft Pinedale Anticline Project Area Greater Sage-Grouse Mitigation Plan.






Public comment will be sought regarding the plan’s proposed mitigation and implementation at the meeting. The draft plan is available online at J.I.O Papa website or at blm.gov or by googling Greater Sage Grouse Mitigation Plan.






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

Wyo. State Pen inmate dies after lengthy illness

The Wyoming Department of Corrections says a 40-year-old inmate has died following a lengthy illness. The agency says Michael Van Derrickson died Monday at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County in Rawlins. He was an inmate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, where he was serving a three to five year prison sentence on an aggravated assault and battery conviction out of Sweetwater County. The Corrections Department says a routine autopsy has been ordered.

Wyo. dries out, wildfire likelihood increases

The likelihood of large wildfires is increasing in Wyoming with the dry weather much of the state has seen over the past month or so. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows nearly all of Wyoming experiencing moderate to extreme drought. Parts of Wyoming that got above-average snowfall in April have been abnormally dry ever since. Medicine Bow National Forest in southeast Wyoming is getting drier now that the weather has warmed up. However, no major wildfires are burning in Wyoming yet. A minor fire was burning Tuesday in Bridger-Teton National Forest about six miles southeast of Hoback Junction in western Wyoming.

Wyo. Education Dept. inquiry released

An inquiry into the Wyoming Education Department chronicles a slew of complaints and concerns about how the agency was run under State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill. However, the inquiry report released Tuesday by Gov. Matt Mead's office makes no conclusions or recommendations. Concerns raised by current and former employees include how money was spent, and how employees were treated and hired and even fearful for their safety. In response, Hill defended her practices or said she was unaware of specific problems and complaints. Mead created the inquiry in February after hearing of concerns from agency employees. The concerns came out when Mead and the Legislature passed a law replaced the statewide elected superintendent as head of the Education Department with a director appointed by the governor.

Powell man credits bear spray in grizzly encounter

A Powell man says bear spray enabled him to frighten off a grizzly bear during a close encounter at a campground west of Cody. Mike Musso says the family dog alerted him to the grizzly approaching the family camper June 6. Musso was camping with his wife and two sons along the North Fork of the Shoshone River. He says the grizzly came within 5 feet of the camper. He says the grizzly was about to charge at their dog, Winter. That's when Musso opened fire with bear spray from the door of the camper. Musso says the spray hit the bear in the face. The bear backed up, shook its head and ran off. The U.S. Forest Service closed the campground the next day.

Cheyenne girl dies in Riverton horse accident

A Cheyenne girl has died in a horse-riding accident in Riverton. Fremont County officials say 6-year-old Cassidy Cooper of Cheyenne died Saturday when the horse she was riding reared and fell on her. Cassidy was visiting her grandfather's home in Riverton when the accident happened. Fremont County Coroner Ed McAuslan says he understands that the girl was thrown and then the horse fell on her. The Fremont County Sheriff's Office report stated that the horse reared while the girl was riding in the 1600 block of Major Avenue. She was pronounced dead at Riverton Memorial Hospital.

Rock Springs man dies in Flaming Gorge Leap From Cliff

The body of a Rock Springs man was recovered from Flaming Gorge Saturday afternoon. Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that 24 year old Michael Pond was on an outing at Flaming Gorge in the Big Firehole area on Saturday in the company of four friends.






Authorities were notified around 2:30 PM. Deputies and other emergency responders, including the Sweetwater Boat Team and Sweetwater Dive Team, the Wyoming Game Fish Department, and the United States Forest Service, converged at the scene, located about 3 miles southwest of the bay at Big Firehole.






Pond’s is the third death on Flaming Gorge this year. In May, Danny Angelo Durante of Jackson died when his small boat capsized in the Gorge just south of the Wyoming-Utah border and Mitch Hunt of Rock Springs drowned in Sage Creek Bay June 2. On May 3rd, three young Utah men narrowly escaped death when their own small boat capsized in bad weather in the Anvil Draw area. The three were rescued by other boaters.

New citizens sworn in at former internment camp

A group of Wyoming residents became U.S. citizens this past week. Not unusual, but the place where there held the ceremony was. The naturalization ceremony was held at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, near where thousands of Japanese Americans were held by the federal government during World War II. Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson and his brother Peter Simpson were among the featured speakers at the event. Pete Simpson is a member of the board that oversees the Heart Mountain learning center. He told the immigrants that he was humbled by their dedication and determination.

Wyo. sees increase in K-12 language program

The number of K-12 students in Wyoming participating in a program to help them speak the English language has increased 10.5% over the last four years. The number of students in the program has increased from 3,190 in the 2009-10 school year to 3,526 this past year. The majority of students in the program are Hispanic. Beth VanDeWege oversees the English Language Learner program at the state Education Department. VanDeWege attributes most of the increase to better screening practices in identifying students needing the program. She says the state is required by federal law to provide the program to students who don't speak English proficiently. Teton County School District 1 had the most students in the program with 480, followed by Rock Springs with 393 and Casper with 382.

Officials investigate rig death in southern Wyo.

The Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Administration is investigating the death of a 32-year-old Worland man on a drilling rig near Baggs last month. Carbon County Sheriff Jerry Colson says Don "Carl" Jordan died May 15 when he was struck by a piece of equipment, resulting in massive chest injuries. Colson says that the rig is owned by Worland-based Winchester Well Service Inc. Winchester President Terry Davis declined to comment, citing the investigation.

Body of Rock Springs Man Recovered From Flaming Gorge

The body of a Rock Springs man was recovered from Flaming Gorge Saturday afternoon. We get the details from Steve Core.

BLM Pinedale Hosts Greater Sage-Grouse Public Meeting

The Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office, in coordination with the Pinedale Anticline Project Office, will host a public meeting on Thursday, June 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1625 W. Pine St., Pinedale, Wyo., to present the draft Pinedale Anticline Project Area Greater Sage-Grouse Mitigation Plan.
The plan was developed in response to a drop in the number of active sage-grouse leks in the Duke’s Triangle Complex, a Pinedale Anticline Wildlife Monitoring and Mitigation Matrix trigger that requires a mitigation response. The draft plan is available online at www.wy.blm.gov

Public comment will be sought regarding the plan’s proposed mitigation and implementation at the meeting. Written comments will also be accepted by delivery or mail to Eric Decker, Project Coordinator, 1625 W. Pine St., P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, WY 82941 or by email to egdecker@blm.gov. Comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 3.
For more information, please contact Eric Decker at 307-367-5386.

June and July Are The Peak Season For Ticks

The Wyoming Department of Health is reminding everyone who enjoys outdoor activities, that June and July are the peak seasons for ticks. Kim Deti offers some suggestions on how to keep ticks away.






Deti says that ticks are not only annoying, but can pose a threat to your health.






Ticks are predominant in brushy, grassy areas. You can also be exposed to ticks by playing or handling animals. Anyone who becomes ill after an insect or tick bite or should contact a medical professional.

Wyo. vets can request designation on ID cards

Beginning July 1, Wyoming veterans can request a veteran designation on the front of their Wyoming driver license or identification cards. The red "V'' in the upper right-hand corner of the license or card will allow Wyoming veterans to validate their honorable service with a government-issued identification card. To qualify for the designation, applicants must submit a verification form and copy of their separation papers to the Wyoming Veterans Commission. The commission will notify WYDOT Driver Services if an applicant qualifies as an honorably discharged veteran. There is no additional fee required to get the veteran designation.

Wyoming Stock Growers get new president

The Wyoming Stock Growers Association has a new president. Jim Wilson, of Thermopolis, has taken over the reins of the organization for the next two years. The organization also has several new regional vice presidents from across the state. Established in 1872, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association serves the livestock business and families of Wyoming by protecting their economic, legislative, regulatory, judicial, environmental, custom and cultural interests. It promotes the role of the cattle industry in resource stewardship, animal care and beef production.

US rig count up 6 this week to 1,771

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by six this week to 1,771. The Houston-based company said Friday in its weekly report that 1,413 rigs were exploring for oil and 353 for gas. Five were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago there were 1,971 active rigs. Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana gained three rigs, Texas and Colorado picked up two and California one. West Virginia dropped two rigs while Alaska, New Mexico and Wyoming each dropped one. The count for Arkansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania was unchanged from the previous week. The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.

Fremont Co. officials rule child's death homicide

Fremont County authorities have ruled that the recent death of a 4-year-old boy is a homicide. The Fremont County Coroner's Office this week says the boy died April 9 from sepsis due to severe bronchopneumonia. The office noted that severe malnutrition and dehydration were contributing factors. The boy was pronounced dead at Riverton Memorial Hospital. There was no immediate information from the county attorney's office about the case.

Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo

The chips will fly this weekend during the 53rd annual "Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo" in Encampment, Wyoming. Loggers from all over the country will compete for the title of "Rocky Mountain Champion Lumberjack". Using power saws, axes and hand saws, competitors cut down trees, chop logs, and saw wood blocks in half, racing the clock for the fastest time. The weekend begins tonight with a melodrama at 7. Other activities include a rodeo, parade, barbecue and live music.

Wyoming ranchers see meddling in grazing permits

Wyoming ranchers say an Idaho-based environmental group has too much influence over how local grazing allotments are managed on public lands. Ranchers complained to federal land managers about the Western Watersheds Project at last week's Wyoming Stock Growers Association annual convention. Association executive vice president Jim Magagna says decisions about how to graze individual allotments should be between the rancher with the valid permit and the federal agency that has jurisdiction over the land. But Jonathon Ratner of the Western Watersheds Wyoming office says his organization is getting involved to make sure laws and regulations are being followed on grazing allotments. Ratner says what a rancher feels is the proper way to manage grazing on public lands is generally not the proper way.

Wyoming state forester says state still damp

Wyoming's state forester says conditions remain too damp to fuel the kind of large forest fires that are burning in the southern Rocky Mountains. State Forester Bill Crapser says Thursday that Wyoming has seen some smaller fires recently. But he says they haven't been growing very large because fuels remain damp. Wyoming sent a strike team of firefighters to New Mexico recently. Crapser says several Wyoming firefighters are also serving on incident management teams assigned to large fires burning in Colorado. Crapser says he believes Wyoming is probably still a couple of weeks away from significant fire activity, depending on the weather. He says conditions will change quickly if Wyoming experiences a week and a half of hot, dry weather.

Tree falls on Scout at camp near Utah-Wyo. line

A Boy Scout has been hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after a tree fell on him at a Utah Scout camp in the Uinta Mountains. The Boy Scouts of America's Great Salt Lake Council says strong winds pushed over a tree that landed on a 14-year-old Thursday afternoon. Chief scout executive Rick Barnes says the boy was participating in an event at the Hinckley Scout Ranch about 30 miles south of Evanston, Wyo. Barnes says the boy had a broken arm, broken leg and head contusion and was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Eric Quinney with the Uinta County Fire and Ambulance in Evanston says emergency crews arrived at the camp around noon Thursday. Officials are not releasing further details.

Union Pacific To Close Section of WYO 412 Near Carter For Work

Stephanie Harsha with the Wyoming Department of Transportation says that the Union Pacific Railroad will be closing a section of WYO 412, near Carter, to replace two crossings on June 18 to June 20.






The section of WYO 412 will be closed during the work, and no through traffic will be allowed. Traffic is advised to plan alternate routes during the closures.






For more information on road construction, closures and weather conditions, please visit http://www.wyoroad.info.

Mushroom permits at Medicine Bow National Forest

The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is offering permits for harvesting wild mushrooms at all six district ranger offices. Permits for both personal and commercial mushroom collecting are available for forest lands. The personal-use permits are free and allow people to gather up to one gallon of mushrooms a day or up to five gallons per calendar year. One gallon of non-dried mushrooms equals approximately five pounds. Commercial permits cost $20 each and allow permit holders to harvest up to 50 pounds, or about 10 gallons, in a 7-day period. People may buy up to five commercial permits each calendar year. Commercial permits are only available on the Medicine Bow National Forest. Harvesting mushrooms is prohibited in Wilderness Areas, Research Natural Areas and Special Interest Areas.

Man bound over in death of Shoshoni man

A 45-year-old man charged with second degree murder in the death last month of a Shoshoni man has been bound over for trial in district court. Shey E. Bruce had his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Riverton. Bruce is accused in the death of 65-year-old Charles Darrell Laster. Police say Laster died after being hit in a head with a beer bottle at his home on May 14. Circuit Court Judge Wesley A. Roberts found that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to provide probable cause for the charges against Bruce. Bruce next will face an arraignment in district court and will be asked to enter a plea.

Monell-Arch Oil and Gas Development

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office (RSFO) is launching a 30-day public comment period on an environmental assessment for the Monell-Arch Oil and Gas Development which is a proposal by Anadarko Petroleum Corp. to expand the Patrick Draw Field with development of up to 125 new oil, carbon dioxide, and water injection wells.
The Patrick Draw Field is located in the checkerboard pattern of mixed land ownership, and includes the Monell and Arch Units which encompass approximately 22,657 acres of primarily federal and private land, with a small amount of state-owned land. Interstate 80 dissects the project area which is located roughly 30 miles east of Rock Springs, Wyo. in Sweetwater County. The new proposal includes a combination of vertical and directional drilling of 105 oil wells, 18 carbon dioxide injector wells, and two water injection wells to be developed during the next nine years. The maximum surface disturbance is anticipated to be 238 acres, with the life of the wells projected to be roughly 30 years. The Monell and Arch Units were developed in the late 1950s to early 1960s, and presently support 128 producing wells.
Public comments are most useful when they are specific, cite additional relevant issues and/or determine the extent of those issues.

BLM Opens Protest Period for Snake River Resource Management Plan Amendment

The Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office has opened a 30 day protest period on the proposed amendment to the Snake River Resource Management Plan to allow the sale of three parcels of public land in Teton County. Shelley Gregory says the proposed RMP amendment identifies and allows for the disposal of 2.01 acres of public land comprised of three parcels.






The third parcel of 1.06 acres is proposed for direct sale at the fair market value to TSR Limited because its inaccessible location makes it difficult and uneconomical for the BLM or any other agency to manage. 






Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the proposed RMP amendment and associated environmental assessment may be found in the “Dear Reader” letter of the Snake River Final Environmental Impact Statement located at blm.gov. Protests must be received by July 12th.

Funeral services for David Panzer have been set

Funeral services for David Panzer have been set for June 14, 2013 at 12 noon. The funeral will take place at Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Rock Springs. The family has requested that David’s motocross family and friends wear their jerseys to the service. In addition, all riders over the age of 18 will be allowed to caravan on their bikes with David to his final resting place. All bikes must be trailered or trucked to the services and from the cemetery.

Wyoming Supreme Court reverses incest conviction

The Wyoming Supreme Court has reversed a Fremont County man's incest conviction. The court ruled Wednesday that it amounted to double jeopardy to convict the man of sexual abuse of a minor and incest when both charges were based on the same incident involving his stepdaughter. The man had been sentenced to serve concurrent sentences of up to 40 years on the sexual abuse conviction and up to 15 years on the incest conviction. The Associated Press is not identifying the man to avoid identifying the victim. The court opinion states that county prosecutors may ask a district judge to void the man's original plea agreement and reinstate other charges they had dropped against him.

Former Wyoming Sec. of State Thyra Thomson dies

Former Wyoming Secretary of State Thyra Thomson has died. She was 96. Thomson served as secretary of state from 1963 to 1987. Thomson went into politics following the death of her husband, former U.S. Rep. Keith Thomson, a Wyoming Republican. He died in 1960 shortly after being elected to the U.S. Senate. Thyra Thomson died Tuesday in Cheyenne, her son Bill Thomson said. Gov. Matt Mead says Thyra Thomson was a wonderful person who had an immense amount of character. Wyoming voters elected Thomson secretary of state six times. She worked alongside Governors Clifford Hansen, Stan Hathaway and Ed Herschler. She served as acting governor when they were out of the state. Services for Thomson aren't set yet but will take place in Cheyenne.

Wyoming police respond to call about exorcism

Authorities in central Wyoming say they received a 911 call reporting that a woman involved in an exorcism had stopped breathing and had gone into cardiac arrest. But when Fremont County sheriff's deputies arrived, the woman was breathing. The Sheriff's Office says it received the call Tuesday from a residence near Riverton, about 120 miles west of Casper. The caller said a woman possessed by a poltergeist had stopped breathing when sprayed with Holy Water and then went into cardiac arrest when others attempted an exorcism. The woman was taken to a hospital. Police said she was in stable condition. The home's occupants told police that a demon had been breaking things and biting people in the home, but the deputy couldn't find any evidence.

Take-A-Kid Fishing Day

There is plenty to do on Father’s Day weekend, including bringing your son or daughter to the annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Day.
Take-A-Kid Fishing Day will take place 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, June 15, at Wataha Park Pond (also referred to as the Rock Springs Pond), on the road into the Rock Springs Golf Course. Fishing will take place in the pond on the right side of the road. The event is FREE and open to kids of all ages.
Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, the Flaming Gorge/Green River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department sponsor the annual event.

Brief Tornado Touches Down Near Buffalo

A brief tornado touched down east of Buffalo along I-90 yesterday at around 4:00pm. According to the U.S. National Weather Service Riverton Facebook page, there was rotation caught on radar at the time. A brief video of what appears to be the tornado was posted on the page. One comment from the Weather Service said the video could have been of what is known as a “gustnado” or a circulation that forms along the leading edge of a gust front in the rain-cooled air. However, if the video was taken directly beneath the updraft of the storm and attached to a wall cloud, it was more than likely a tornado. No damage was reported.

WYDOT To Begin Work on I80 Near Wamsutter

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will begin working in the Tipton area near Wamsutter on Interstate 80 this week. Stephanie Harsha says that the project began last year and has a completion date of Oct. 31st, although paving should be completed by early July.






Yesterday, permanent pavement marking began to be installed by American Pavement Marking and Products, out of Layton, Utah.






The work will be done in one lane, while the adjacent lane carries traffic. Speed limits will be reduced in the work area and the contractor anticipates the work in the Rock Springs area to take about 2 weeks.

Wyo. Military Dept. finalizes furlough order

More than 400 Wyoming Military Department employees will be required to take off 11 days without pay this summer because of federal budget cuts. Maj. Gen. Luke Reiner, Wyoming's adjutant general, said he recently sent out furlough notices to 404 civilian workers. The 11 unpaid furlough days are less than the 22 initially proposed. But during a briefing with state lawmakers Monday, Reiner said there still will be significant consequences for the readiness capabilities of the Guard and for the individual employees. The majority of the furloughed employees work in Cheyenne. Reiner said many of those affected are technicians or mechanics. Active Guard members and reservists aren't subject to the furlough.

Gas commission wants comment on testing proposal

Wyoming's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission plans to seek public comments on a proposal to require baseline testing of area water quality before oil and gas drilling may proceed. Baseline testing is the practice of testing water quality before any drilling is allowed. The test results can help to settle arguments over whether later drilling contributed to ground water pollution. Gov. Matt Mead's recently released energy policy calls for baseline testing. The governor and other members of the state's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission heard details of a testing proposal on Tuesday in Casper. The commission will consider public comments as it develops a formal testing rule for later consideration.

Former tribal housing official denies charge

A former director of the Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority has entered a not-guilty plea to an indictment charging that she converted federal money to her own use. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Cheyenne announced that Joanne Lynn Seesequasis was arraigned in federal court on Monday. She pleaded not guilty to the indictment charging her with conversion of money from an Indian tribal organization. The indictment filed this March charges that Seesequasis unlawfully claimed more than $45,000 in overtime pay between March 2009 and March 2010, while she was executive director of the housing authority. Seesequasis is set to stand trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal in August.

Hill offers to give up 2 staff positions

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill is offering to return more than $100,000 in funding to the Wyoming Department of Education. Hill said she intends to forego an administrative assistant and a public information officer because of a report last week that the education department's Information Management Division is struggling with staffing and other issues. But the spokesman for Gov. Matt Mead says that Hill was in the governor's office just last Thursday asking for an $113,000 increase in her budget. Renny MacKay says at that time Hill did not express any concern about the Education Department staffing. MacKay says the governor's office is unsure where Hill is headed with budgeting. Hill later denied that she had asked Mead for increased funds last week.

Teton County mourns death of 2 teens in 2 days

Teton County residents are mourning the deaths of 2 teenagers in two days. Seventeen-year-old Sydney Judge, who just finished her junior year at Jackson Hole High School, died in a rollover wreck on U.S. Highway 89 on Sunday. On Saturday, the body of 19-year-old Austin Kortum was found by deputies along Greys River Road in Lincoln County. Kortum graduated from Summit High School in 2011. No cause of death has been released for either. Investigators believe Judge, a high school rodeo competitor, may have been distracted by an electronic device while driving. An iPad displaying the login screen was found on her passenger seat. Investigators are also examining her cellphone. A witness said no one cut her off.

Rock Springs Man Found Guilty of Sexual Assault Charges Wanted in Texas

Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. tells that a Rock Springs man found guilty in District Court on June 7 on two counts of Sexual Assault of a Minor in the First Degree is facing similar charges in Texas.






H o d g e i s f i g h t i n g extradition and hearings on the matter have been scheduled.






Hodge remains in custody at the Sweetwater County Detention Center while his pre-sentencing investigation is conducted.

Trona miner applies for Wyoming lithium leases

FMC Corp. has applied for a state mineral lease in the area of Sweetwater County where deposits of lithium have been newly discovered. FMC has trona mining operations near the lithium find. FMC spokeswoman Barbara Del Duke wrote in an email that there is little information about the lithium deposit at this time but the company is prepared to consider potential opportunities. Duke says the company is not committing to any future business plans with the mineral lease applications. The University of Wyoming Carbon Management Institute reported in April that it had found up to 228,000 tons of lithium in southwest Wyoming while studying a future storage site for carbon emissions. Lithium is a key component of batteries and electronic devices.

Fremont Co. dog owner cited for fatal attack

A Fremont County dog owner has been cited after his Rottweiler mix attacked and killed an elderly poodle north of Riverton. Undersheriff Ryan Lee says that a 7-year-old girl also suffered minor injuries in the course of Wednesday evening's attack. Her grandmother reportedly refused offers for emergency medical care.

Superintendent circulates surveys for report

Parents, teachers and community members in Wyoming are being surveyed about public education in the state. Three surveys are being circulated by the state Superintendent of Public Instruction office. State Superintendent Cindy Hill says the information is being gathered for a report covering school districts across the state. Hill's office is charged with submitting an annual report to the Legislature on the general status of Wyoming's public schools. The report is due Oct. 15. Hill says that the surveys are an effort to gather as much public comment as possible so that the report can be useful. The report is part of the changes in the superintendent's duties that the Legislature and Gov. Matt Mead enacted this past winter.

Woman Arrested in Rock Springs For Attempted $5000 Shoplifting Spree at Walmart

Last Thursday, the Rock Springs Police Department was contacted by Wal-mart Loss Prevention Officers about a suspicious customer who appeared to be shoplifting. Two officers responded who were able to watch the shoplifting take place over the Walmart video system. Over four hours, a woman was seen filling two shopping carts with merchandise, stuffing her pockets and purse with various items and taking other property out of its packaging to conceal it in other items. They also watched as she changed clothing in an apparent attempt to disguise herself. One officer recognized the woman as 25 year old Alta Margaret Hughes of Ethete who had been previously warned of trespassing from the store. When she attempted to leave the store with the merchandise, she tried to run when officers moved in to make an arrest. She was quickly caught. She was not only arrested for the attempted shoplifting of an excess of five thousand dollars, but had an outstanding arrest warrant for stealing a motor vehicle in Fremont County. In addition to that warrant, she was charged with Grand Larceny, Attempted Grand Larceny, Trespassing, and Resisting Arrest.

June and July Are Peak Seasons For Ticks

The Wyoming Department of Health is reminding everyone who enjoys outdoor activities, that June and July are the peak seasons for ticks. Kim Deti offers some suggestions on how to keep ticks away.






Deti says that ticks are not only annoying, but can pose a threat to your health.






Ticks are predominant in brushy, grassy areas. You can also be exposed to ticks by playing or handling animals. Anyone who becomes ill after an insect or tick bite or should contact a medical professional.

Homicide Arrests

Police in Visalia are investigating a homicide from Friday night. It happened around 11:30 pm near Conyer and Vine. Officers responded to a shots fired call and found a Hispanic man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to the Kaweah Delta Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The gang suppression and violent crimes units have been assigned to the case. Authorities say the shooting appears to be gang related.

Children's Summer Reading Program Continues at all Sweetwater County Libraries

While the Sweetwater County Library in Green River kicked off their children's summer reading program on June 1st, the Rock Springs and White Mountain Libraries will hold their kick off this week. Brittany Wells says their event will take place tomorrow at 1 PM at the White Mountain Library.






The program will continue through the summer will a big celebration in July called “Librarypalooz – Can You Dig It?”.






That celebration will take place from 4 to 9 PM on July 10th at Centennial Park in Green River. For a complete list of summer reading events, pick up a brochure at your local library.

Fugitive ex-hospital CEO arrested in Thailand

A former Wyoming hospital CEO who disappeared before being tried on charges of defrauding his employers has been arrested in Thailand. FBI spokesman Dave Joly (JAHL'-ee) says that Paul Cardwell was arrested early Friday after fleeing in August. Joly says it could take up to a month to return Cardwell to face charges in Wyoming and Indiana. Cardwell is accused of stealing about $848,000 from Powell Valley Healthcare in Wyoming in 2011 and about $846,000 from White County Memorial Hospital in Monticello, Ind., between 2003 and 2009. He had been CEO of both. Prosecutors allege Cardwell would send funds to a bogus recruiting firm supposedly run by Michael Plake of West Lafayette, Ind., and that the two split the money. Plake received a 30-month prison sentence in May.

Wyoming runoff below average but better than 2012

Wyoming's expected runoff remains below normal, but better than what the state saw last year at this time. In its final report on Wyoming's expected water outlook for the year, the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service reports that the state's annual runoff from the winter snowpack will be about 67% of normal. The Snake River basins is expected to yield about 69% of average runoff, the Yellowstone River about 89% and Clark's Fork 85%. Runoff from the Wind River basin is expected to be about 59% of average, the Bighorn River 61%, Upper North Platte about 63%, Lower North Platte 55% and the Green River 37%. Wyoming relies heavily on its mountain snowpack to supply its drinking and irrigation water needs for the year.

Wild horse group pushes for bait traps in roundups

Some wild horse advocates want the Bureau of Land Management to use bait traps instead of helicopters to gather wild horses in southern Wyoming this summer. Bait trapping involves setting pens around a water source and capturing horses when they come to drink. A public hearing Thursday evening in Rawlins, BLM wild horse specialist Ben Smith said the practice is cheaper but it takes longer to gather horses. BLM spokeswoman Serena Baker also said bait trapping doesn't work well in large horse areas like 1.6 million acres the BLM manages in southern Wyoming. Wyoming Farm Bureau supports using helicopters to gather horses. The BLM is planning to treat some mares with a fertility control drug during a planned roundup in August.

Mead impressed with Education Dept. finalists

Gov. Matt Mead says he's impressed with the finalists to run the state Department of Education. Mead says he expected to appoint a permanent director of the agency this week, but he needs some more time because of the quality of the candidates. The state Board of Education recommended the three candidates after more than 80 applied for the position. Mead has interviewed all three. None of the three are from Wyoming, but the governor says all are eager to move to the state because of the great support Wyoming provides to public education. Mead and the Legislature enacted a new law this past winter removing the superintendent of public instruction as head of the Education Department. Instead, the department will be administered by a director appointed by the governor.

YOUTH FISHING DAY JUNE 15

There is plenty to do on Father’s Day weekend, including bringing your son or daughter to the annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Day. Take-A-Kid Fishing Day will take place 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, June 15, at Wataha Park Pond (also referred to as the Rock Springs Pond), on the road into the Rock Springs Golf Course. Fishing will take place in the pond on the right side of the road. The event is FREE and open to kids of all ages.
Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, the Flaming Gorge/Green River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department sponsor the annual event.
Take-A-Kid Fishing Day is one of more than 2,500 events that are held across the country to celebrate National Fishing Week. The goal of the event is to help young people and adults alike discover the joys of fishing.
Fishing mentors and some fishing tackle will be available, but supplies are limited. Fishing licenses are required for all participants 14 years or older. Non-resident youth under the age of 14 do not need a license if accompanied by an adult possessing a valid Wyoming fishing license. Adults accompanying youth are welcome to fish with a valid State of Wyoming fishing license.
“Fishing should be good this year,” said Green River Fisheries Supervisor Robert Keith. “We encourage everyone to come and participate. This is a great opportunity for kids to do something special with their fathers on Father’s Day Weekend.”

WYDOT To Hold Public Meeting in Green River About Green River Street Projects

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will be hosting a public meeting on Monday, June 10, 2013 at the Sweetwater County Public Library at 300 North 1st East Street to discuss the details of the Green River Streets Project. Stephanie Harsha says the meeting will take place at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents are encouraged to attend anytime between then.






Work will take place on West Teton Blvd from the Upland Way intersection to the Bridger Drive intersection.






Residents living in these areas are encouraged to attend, ask questions or provide thoughts and feedback about the work. If you have any questions or concerns, please email stephanie.harsha@wyo.gov or call 307-352-3065.