Dry weather expected in Yellowstone this weekend

A new wildfire has started in Yellowstone National Park but officials report no issues with any of the fires burning in the park. Storms on Thursday brought rain to the Alum (AL'-um) Fire burning about 5 miles northwest of Fishing Bridge Junction. However, the storms also were accompanied by lightning that started at least one new fire about a mile away. The National Park Service says more than 700 lightning strikes occurred in the park Thursday afternoon so additional fire starts are expected. Dry, warmer weather also is expected this weekend. All park roads and major tourist facilities are open. The five fires that have been burning in the park this week have shown little activity and are just being monitored.

Rock Springs to host 2014 Dem state convention

Rock Springs will be the site of the 2014 Wyoming State Democratic Convention. Party leaders selected Rock Spring earlier this month during a meeting in Green River. The Democratic convention will run May 16-17 next year. Democrats from across the state will gather to adopt a platform, hear from state and national leaders and plan strategy initiatives heading into the 2014 election cycle. The party expects between 200 and 300 delegates to attend the convention. Sweetwater County Democratic Chairman Mark Chollak says that the convention will be an opportunity for Democrats to influence the course of the party for the next several years.

Updates Made to Planned Disability Program Changes

Updated Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) plans for changing developmental disabilities programs, which are funded by Wyoming Medicaid, are now available for review. A law approved by the Wyoming Legislature and the governor earlier this year called for a redesign of developmental disabilities programs within the existing budget slated for these programs. The Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver program serves about 2,300 individuals with an annual budget of $103 million (not including medical costs.) Updates and details about the waiver redesign project are available online at http://www.health.wyo.gov

BLM Rock Springs and Rawlins Schedule Public Meetings and Extend Scoping on Wild Horse Management

Serena Baker tells us the BLM will host public scoping meetings from 4-7 p.m on Sept. 11th at the Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191 N., and on Sept. 12th at the Rawlins Field Office located at 1300 N. Third St. in Rawlins, to address wild horse and burro management for the Rock Springs and Rawlins Resource Management Plans.  






On April 3rd, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming ruled in the case of Rock Springs Grazing Association versus Ken Salazar to uphold the revised consent decree governing wild horse management in the checkerboard pattern of mixed public, private and state-owned land in southern Wyoming.






Written comments will be accepted until Sept. 27th.   For more information, contact Jay D’Ewart at (307) 352-0331, or William West at (307) 352-0259.

Investigation of Superintendent Hill moving slowly

The Wyoming House investigation into Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill has been slowed by document requests and other behind-the-scenes activity. The Legislature's Select Investigative Committee hasn't met since Aug. 7. The panel was formed to look into claims that Hill, among other things, misspent federal money, abused state resources and created a hostile work environment when she headed the state Education Department. The committee could recommend whether Hill should be impeached. Hill has denied any wrongdoing. House Speaker Tom Lubnau says that one of the key documents being sought is the unredacted version of a report done by an inquiry team appointed by the governor. Mead spokesman Renny MacKay says the attorney general's office is reviewing the request.

Yellowstone fires expected to stay away from tourists

Officials are confident that a wildfire burning in the heart of Yellowstone National Park will stay away from several major tourist areas during the busy Labor Day weekend. The Alum (AL'-um) Fire has burned about 7,300 acres. It is located on the ridge about five miles northwest of Fishing Bridge Junction on the north side of Yellowstone Lake. Fishing Bridge, Lake Village and Bridge Bay are major tourist areas nearby. The fire hasn't grown much over the last few days and all park campgrounds, lodging, stores, service stations, restaurants and other facilities are open. While the fire is not expected to move toward Fishing Bridge, Lake Village or Bridge Bay, firefighters have done extensive work to ensure the protection of these areas should the fire make an unexpected move.

Feds ease Wyoming's education requirement

The U.S. Department of Education has granted Wyoming's request to freeze its goals for meeting federal education mandates. Without the relief from the No Child Left Behind Act, even Wyoming's highest performing schools would soon be labeled as failing. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 holds schools accountable to proficiency targets that increase annually until they reach 100%. At that point, every tested student is expected to score at or above proficient in every subject area on a state test by the end of the 2013-2014 school year. David Holbrook, of the state Education Department, says that freezing Wyoming's targets is a more reasonable measure than continuing on and using the targets that have been escalating over the years.

2nd grizzly bear seen on National Elk Refuge

A second adult grizzly bear has been spotted on the National Elk Refuge near Jackson in northwest Wyoming. The first grizzly was spotted on the refuge on Aug. 20. The second was seen on Tuesday. It is the first time grizzly bears have been seen on the refuge since 1994. Elk refuge biologist Eric Cole says that it remains to be seen if the two sightings of grizzlies on the refuge within a week is coincidence or a sign of a southward shift of the bears. Cole says it's possible that more bears will be observed on the refuge this fall.

BLM Rawlins Seeks Comment on Endurance/Barricade Gas Infrastructure Project

The Bureau of Land Management Rawlins Field Office has launched a public comment period on an environmental assessment for a proposal by Samson Resources Co. and Mountain Gas Resources, LLC to construct new access roads, two pipelines, two compressor stations, and install a high and low pressure loop pipeline in the Desolation Flats Natural Gas Field. Serena Baker says that the Endurance/Barricade Gas Infrastructure Project encompasses around 42,240 acres of primarily public land with a small amount of state owned land, about 25 miles southwest of Wamsutter.






To reduce surface disturbance, the two new pipelines, one 16-inch and one 20-inch, would be co-located along the new access road. Total surface disturbance is anticipated to be about 495 acres with the life of the project estimated to be 30 years.






Written comments will be accepted until Sept. 6th. For more information, call 307-328-4252. 

Rock Springs Chamber Unveils Sweetwater County Magazine

The Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce recently unveiled Sweetwater County magazine, a relocation and economic development guide. The magazine features original photography and articles that highlight Sweetwater County’s quality of life, diverse business climate and tourist attractions. A section titled Things To Do high-lights the county’s must-do activities, attractions and restaurants. Articles focus on Sweetwater County’s natural beauty and the outdoor attractions, such as Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, that attract adventure junkies from across the country. Special features focus on Sweetwater County’s strong and solid business climate, which is attracting both young, crea-tive entrepreneurs as well as established corporations, such as Halliburton. Other articles highlight the region’s top-notch schools and high-quality health-care options.
Rock Springs and the surrounding county are also featured on Livability.com, a national website that spotlights more than 500 of America’s best places to live and visit. The website includes articles and photo galleries, maps, video tours of the county as well as detailed demographic information. A digital version of the magazine is free and accessible online at livability.com/rock-springs/wy/magazine and can be shared through e-mail and social media. A tablet version optimized for the iPad is also available online.

New state ed director sees Wyo. among K-12 leaders

The new director of the Wyoming Department of Education says the state is uniquely positioned to be among the national leaders in K-12 education. Richard Crandall took over the agency earlier this month after a new law replaced the superintendent of public instruction as its administrative head with an appointed director. Crandall came to Wyoming from Arizona where he was closely involved in education issues. Crandall says Wyoming has all the pieces in place to be successful at educating its students for college and careers. Crandall says the agency is working to re-establish credibility with the 48 school districts. He says the Education Department also will help support home schools, private schools and charters.

Report: Little data for air firefighting efficacy

A new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office says despite years of study, the U.S. Forest Service and Interior Department have yet to pin down just how effective their aircraft are at fighting wildfires. The agencies contract dozens of private aircraft to fight wildfires such as the huge fire burning near California's Yosemite National Park right now. The contracted aircraft include 145 helicopters and 44 tanker planes of various sizes. Their biggest role is to bomb water or fire-retardant slurry on and near wildfires. The Forest Service says it's collecting more data on the performance and effectiveness of those aircraft. The GAO also describes challenges the Forest Service faces in modernizing its aging fleet of large air tankers. Agency officials say they agree with most of the GAO findings.

Yellowstone counts 4,600 bison in the park

Yellowstone National Park has an estimated 4,600 bison roaming within its boundaries. The park counted the bison during its annual summer bison survey. The aerial survey found about 3,200 bison in the Northern herd and 1,400 in the Central herd this summer. There were about 700 calves-of-the-year observed in a June aerial survey. This year's count represents an increase of 8.75% over last year's survey. The peak population estimate of 5,000 bison was recorded in the summer 2005. The observed rate of population change this past year is within the natural range of expectation for wild bison.

2 accused in Wyo. triple slaying to change pleas

Court documents indicate two men charged with killing three members of a Wyoming family near the Montana border have reached plea deals. Court documents show Tanner B. Vanpelt and Stephen F. Hammer intend to change their pleas from not guilty and be sentenced Sept. 3. Hammer was 19 and Vanpelt was 18 when they were arrested in March on suspicion of fatally shooting 40-year-old Ildiko Freitas and her parents, Janos and Hildegard Volgyesi, in the northwestern Wyoming town of Clark. Details of the plea agreements haven't been revealed.

Concerns raised about Wyoming disability program

State health officials have been working to improve a redesign to 1 of Wyoming's main programs for funding disability services. The Home and Community-Based Waivers program pays for services for people with developmental disabilities. About 2,200 people with disabilities rely on the waivers for services ranging from tutoring to intensive supervision. Nearly 600 more are waiting for a spot in the program. Lawmakers ordered the program redesigned to cut the waiting list without spending more money. But the original redesign drew criticism from parents and guardians worried about drastic budget cuts. Chris Newman, of the Wyoming Department of Health, says that the agency believes it has addressed those concerns.

New sentencing for teen in home invasion killing

A Sheridan teenager involved in the 2009 home invasion slaying of a businessman is getting a new sentencing hearing. Wyatt Bear Cloud originally had received a life sentence for his role in the killing of 79-year-old Robert Ernst. District Judge John Fenn is presiding at the hearing in Sheridan on Wednesday. The United States Supreme Court ordered Wyoming to grant Bear Cloud a new sentencing hearing following a ruling in an Alabama case that judges must consider options other than life in prison for juveniles convicted of murder. Another teenager who fired the shots that killed Ernst is set to be resentenced later this year. He was 15 and Bear Cloud was 16 at the time. The third defendant was 18 and is also asking for a new sentencing hearing.

Strong Conservation Support for Shoshone Nat’l. Forest

The future of the nation’s first national forest is being debated, and an analysis of public comments shows a skew towards conservation. Connie Wilbert at the Sierra Club-Wyoming Chapter helped analyze more than 23-thousand comments on the Shoshone National Forest management plans – which are being redone. Ninety-eight percent supported conservation priorities, and when Wyomingite-only comments were assessed, she found that nearly 70 percent favored conservation. Eighteen percent wanted more development.






Wilbert says the analysis was provided to forest managers. Other interesting notes: Ninety-eight percent of Wyoming comments opposed oil and gas surface development within the national forest, and 75 percent didn't want more motorized access – but 25 percent did.
Comments came in from all over the country, but Wilbert has found that local comments are usually weighted more strongly by forest managers.






Wilbert adds that comments were separated according to whether they were a form letter or an individual letter. Conservation support was strongest among the form letters. It was at 70 percent in the individual letters. The Forest Service is expected to issue its final Environmental Impact Statement this fall.

1st grizzly seen at Elk Refuge in nearly 20 years

A grizzly has been spotted at the National Elk Refuge for the first time in nearly 20 years. A sow, with three cubs, was seen on Aug. 20 feeding on a gut pile from the annual bison hunt. It's believed to have been a bear well-known to visitors of Grand Teton National Park, No. 399. That bear had triplets this year and had been seen in the southeast edge of the national park days before the refuge sighting. A grizzly, also with three cubs, was last seen at the refuge in 1994. Refuge biologist Eric Cole says that hunters have been warned to carry bear spray because of the possibility of grizzlies being drawn to the hunt.

Wyoming hay production up thanks to more moisture

Hay production in Wyoming is improved over last year thanks to early snows, moderate temperatures and a modest improvement in rainfall. Hay production in the state is projected to improve by 4% through the end of the year, to about 1.96 million tons versus 1.89 million tons in 2012. Drought conditions that limited the state's hay production in 2012 have lessened this year. While much of Wyoming remains in some stage of drought, Steve Gunn of the National Agricultural Statistics Service says that it's nowhere near as bad as last year. Gunn says that while the average yield for a given acre of hay has remained steady at about 2.1 tons per acre, growers have been able to increase that acreage.

Wyoming accountability effort seeks public comment

State education officials say Wyoming's school accountability effort remains a work in progress. State Board of Education Coordinator Paige Fenton Hughes says many accountability pieces are still being worked on. But Fenton Hughes says the education board is having several meetings around the state and some online to provide information on draft standards and to gather comment. During 1 of those meetings Monday in Cheyenne, pieces of the accountability system set to go before the Legislature in October were addressed. Fenton Hughes says that the overall goal of accountability is to have Wyoming become a leader in education. The effort currently has several pieces including the accountability model that will be used to grade schools and school districts and a system of statewide supports.

Wyo. state auditor lists priorities if re-elected

State Auditor Cynthia Cloud says that if she is re-elected in 2014, she wants to continue improving a website that lists how and where state agencies are spending their money. The Republican recently announced that she will seek a second term. She says that another priority for her in a second term would be overhauling the state's financial accounting system, which largely has been unchanged since 1991. No challengers have emerged for Cloud so far. Cloud became auditor after running unopposed in the general election after narrowly defeating Bruce Brown in the 2010 Republican primary. The state auditor receives a $92,000 annual salary plus benefits.

Bank robbery suspect arrested in western Wyoming

Authorities have arrested a 56-year-old man in connection with a bank robbery in Lincoln County. The Wyoming Highway Patrol says the First National Bank in Afton was robbed late Monday afternoon and the suspect was caught without incident about 20 minutes later. The patrol says the suspect entered the bank, demanded money and then left with an undisclosed amount of cash in a red Toyota pickup. Within minutes of the report a patrol trooper caught up to the red pickup and waited for backup officers to arrive. The suspect's vehicle was stopped about 15 miles south of Afton and the arrested made. The patrol says officers recovered money that had been taken during the robbery as well as other items involved in the robbery.

Green River man charged in pickup explosion

County deputies arrested a Green River man on August 23rd after an explosion damaged his cousin’s pickup. Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. said deputies were dispatched to an address on Fairview Lane north of Rock Springs at around 10:00 PM on the 22nd, where they discovered that the driver’s side rear tail light assembly of a Dodge Ram pickup had been blown off with an explosives charge. The truck resembled one that belonged to Justin Palmer.






Deputy Sheriff Sean Henry examined Palmer’s pickup and found an unexploded “mortar shell” in the tailpipe. The shell type was a large, consumer firework. The fuse had been lit but had apparently gone out. In the meanwhile, Corporal Jason Mower located the vehicle described by Palmer near the intersection of Yellowstone Road and U.S. Highway 191 and stopped it. Inside were Kyle Henderson and the associate identified by Palmer.






Henry and Mower placed Henderson under arrest and transported him to the Sweetwater County Detention Center. He is charged with Possession, Manufacture, Transportation and Sale of Explosives, Improvised Explosive Device, or Incendiary Apparatus with Unlawful Intent, a felony. He could now face up to five years in prison, a five thousand dollar fine or both. 23 year old Henderson remains in custody in lieu of a $15,000 cash or surety bond. A preliminary hearing date of August 29th has been set. No one was injured during the incident.

WWCC employees, residence assistants participate in active-shooter training

Western Wyoming Community College faculty and staff, as well as student residence assistants, learned some valuable strategies for safeguarding their personal safety, and that of the campus, in the event of a violent encounter like those that have occurred at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University and other institutions in recent years. Last Thursday, they participated in a three-hour session that focused on proactive strategies for identifying potential conflicts. Session leader and personal-security expert Matt Welborn said it is important to identifity those potential conflicts before they erupt into what he calls “flash-point” incidents. Welborn, an Army veteran with a background in Special Operations who is now a consultant for the Spokane-based Center for Personal Protection and Safety, said that students, faculty and staff should not hesitate to notify campus personnel of any troubling behaviors exhibited by fellow students or college employees. WWCC Vice President for Student Success Services Jackie Freeze, Ph.D., acknowledged the importance of preparing for such frightening scenarios, as campus shootings have become a tragic and disturbing reality in the higher education landscape.

Liz Cheney attacks Sen. Enzi at Tea Party rally

Liz Cheney used a Tea Party rally to criticize Sen. Mike Enzi, saying Wyoming needs a better leader to defend it from Washington's "war on coal". Saturday's rally in Big Horn County was 1 of the rare occasions in which the two have been in the same place at the same time since Cheney announced she would challenge him next year. Cheney said the "sitting senator" shouldn't just list problems but come up solutions and fight for them. More people stood to applaud Cheney than Enzi. He spoke first and didn't criticize her. Afterward, Enzi said he's working hard to make sure the administration will do the right thing with coal. He said Cheney doesn't have a voting record, freeing her to say whatever she wants.

Mud Volcano reopens as Y'stone fire simmers nearby

Cooler weather continues to help keep fires in Yellowstone under control, allowing park officials to reopen the Mud Volcano area north of Fishing Bridge. The Mud Volcano and other areas along the Yellowstone River have been closed for over a week because of the Alum (AL'-um) Fire. Some trails, picnic areas and road pullouts remain closed Monday. The Alum Fire has burned about 12 square miles. The fire is only a few hundred yards from the Grand Loop Road but isn't growing much. Park officials are allowing the fire to burn without interference to help the ecosystem. Meanwhile, they're clearing vegetation northwest of Bridge Bay to protect buildings in case the fire moves that way. Four smaller fires continue to burn slowly in mostly remote areas of Yellowstone.

UW shakes up management following new president

The University of Wyoming has seen a shake-up in management ranks since Robert Sternberg took over as president on July 1. Several key leadership positions at UW have undergone changes since Sternberg took over. In one change, School of Energy Resources Director Mark Northam will begin reporting directly to Sternberg. Northam had been reporting to the UW provost. In other changes, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Myron Allen is moving to a faculty position. Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Budgets Carol Frost also is returning to a faculty position in the Department of Geology and Geophysics. And College of Business Dean Brent Hathaway has resigned to become business school dean at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Rain, cooler weather help firefighters in NW Wyo.

Rain and cooler weather have slowed the growth of a wildfire that has scorched more than 38 square miles in northwest Wyoming The Hardluck Fire has been burning in rugged, inaccessible terrain in the Shoshone National Forest about 50 miles southwest of Cody since July 17 when it was started by lightning. Over the past four days, about .70 inches of rain has fallen over the fire, which is 0% contained. Rain and cooler weather also has help crews battling several smaller wildfires burning in mostly remote areas of Yellowstone National Park.

Sweetwater County fugitive deported from Mexico

Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that a fugitive sought for three years by the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office was taken into custody recently, but first he was deported from Mexico.






Blust says that Sergeants Joe Tomich and John Grossnickle, who supervise the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team, worked the case with the United States Marshals Service.






Larceny is punishable upon conviction by imprisonment of not more than 10 years, a $10,000 fine, or both. Blust says that his agency is arranging Ward’s return to Sweetwater County, as the investigation continues.

Bramwell Street in Green River Closed Beginning Monday, August 26th

Bramwell Street in Green River will periodically be closed from Monroe Avenue to Logan Street for a water line replacement beginning today (Monday, Aug 26). Traffic will be detoured during the closures. Work is expected to take approximately three weeks and will occur between 7 am and 7 pm. Access during this closure will be limited to emergency vehicles and local residents only. For more information call Public Works at 872-0528.

Wyo. workplace deaths reach 5-year high in 2012

Workplace fatalities in Wyoming reached the highest number in five years in 2012 but the number wasn't too much higher than the rate over the past several years. The state Department of Workforce Services reports 35 people died on the job in Wyoming in 2012, up from 32 in 2011 and 33 in 2010. The 2012 figure was the highest in Wyoming since 2007. Wyoming has consistently had the worst or second-worst workplace fatality rate of any state over the past decade. Transportation accidents such as vehicle crashes continue to account for just over half of Wyoming's workplace fatalities. Nationwide, workplace deaths have been declining for two decades. A preliminary count of workplace deaths nationwide in 2012 was down 7% from 2011.

Number of state employees in Wyoming declines

Two recent budget cuts, a hiring freeze and a high turnover rate are being blamed for a steady decrease in the number of state employees in Wyoming over the past three years. In the past decade, the number of state workers grew steadily. But according to figures from the state Department of Administration and Information, since 2010, the number of state employees has dropped - to 8,545 in 2011, 8,493 in 2012 and 8,455 as of July 31. Gov. Matt Mead has said he wants a smaller and more efficient state government. But some lawmakers say they're hearing increased complaints from many state employees, and agency leaders say their offices can't get much leaner and still function.

Activists keep Nev. horses from going to slaughter

Some 150 mustangs that had been set to be auctioned off for possible slaughter after their removal from the range in Nevada have been granted a reprieve. With financial backing from Florida horse lover Victoria McCullough, activists acquired the animals Friday for $29,800, or $200 a head, from the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe in northern Nevada Plans call for the horses to be split up among advocacy groups and end up at homes in Nevada and California. McCullough, chairwoman of the Chesapeake Petroleum board, rescues horses through her Wellington, Fla.-based Triumph Project. A federal judge cleared the way Wednesday for the tribe to sell the mustangs over the objection of activists who claim the unbranded animals are federally protected wild horses that should not be auctioned off for slaughter in Canada or Mexico.

Wyoming could get 1st national veterans cemetery

Wyoming could soon be getting its first national veterans cemetery. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to buy land in Cheyenne to create the cemetery. A spokeswoman says that the department would like to buy land next to or within an existing cemetery. Cheyenne is 1 of 8 cities identified by the VA last year for a program to increase burial options for veterans in rural areas. The state operates the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery in Evansville but the closest national cemetery to Cheyenne is 110 miles away in Denver.

County, federal officers conduct compliance checks of registered sex offenders

Sweetwater County detectives and deputy United States Marshals recently carried out a sweep of registered sex offender compliance checks throughout Sweetwater County as an ongoing part of a special campaign called “Operation Jessica.” Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says the teams of county and federal officers carried out 80 registered offender compliance checks in Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, Green River, Farson, Wamsutter, and Bairoil. Three registered offenders were found to be non-compliant, which is a felony offense. Charges are being filed against the three men.






Offender’s photographs and other information are then posted on the DCI website. The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office website provides a link to the state’s registration pages. The United States Department of Justice maintains a national sex offender registry website at nsopr.gov.






Officials named the sweep “Operation Jessica” for nine-year-old Jessica Marie Lunsford, who was abducted, raped, and murdered in Homosassa, Florida in 2005 by 47-year-old John Couey, a convicted sex offender who lived near her. 

Wyoming Fugitive Task Force Needs Your Help

The US Marshal Service led Wyoming Fugitive Task Force is looking for Gina Scott. Scott is currently wanted for a Federal Probation Violation with an original charge of a Methamphetamine Conspiracy. If you have any information on her where...wearabouts you can contact the US Marshals Service at 307-772-2196, Silent Witness at 638-tips (8477), or send us a facebook message or email wyomingsmostwanted@gmail.com. You may be eligible for a reward and can remain anonymous. If you see Scott do not approach, contact the nearest law enforcement agency.

New Yellowstone winter use plan signed

The National Park Service has adopted a winter use plan for Yellowstone National Park that focuses on controlling the effects of snowmobiles rather than strictly limiting their numbers. Park Service Regional Director John Wessels signed the new plan Thursday. Previous winter use plans capped the numbers of snowmobiles and enclosed, multi-passenger snowcoaches allowed in the park each day. That policy will continue for the upcoming winter season, with no more than 318 snowmobiles and 78 snowcoaches allowed in each day. The new plan to take effect in 2014 focuses on so-called "transportation events," defined as one snowcoach or a group of up to 10 snowmobiles. Up to 110 transportation events will be allowed each day. Yellowstone officials plan to release more detailed rules for winter access in the weeks ahead.

Wyo. ACT scores lower than '12, national average

Wyoming's scores on the ACT college entrance exam are lower than last year's and also below the national average. The average overall score for Wyoming students in the 2013 results was 19.8, down a half point from last year. Wyoming's lowest scores were on the English portion of the test but scores on the math, reading and science portions also dropped below 2012's results. Nationally, the average scores in all four subject areas also fell. Deb Lindsey of the state education department says that the drop in scores is likely because the results of test takers who needed extra time to complete the test were included for the first time. The results released Wednesday are mainly from students who took the test as juniors last year.

Heavy rain helps cool Yellowstone wildfires

Heavy rain has helped cool off wildfires burning in Yellowstone National Park. Half an inch of rain fell Wednesday on the biggest fire in the park. The Alum Fire has burned about 12 square miles of wilderness north of Lake Village. On Tuesday, the fire forced park officials to close a section of the road between Fishing Bridge and Canyon Village. Park officials also made preliminary plans to evacuate Lake Village, a threat that now looks increasingly unlikely. Five fires are burning in mostly remote areas of Yellowstone and parts of the park got up to an inch of rain Wednesday. A national incident management team is now overseeing the fires. Park officials say they're not changing their strategy of mostly letting the fires burn to help the ecosystem.

BLM-Honor Farm wild horse adoption Aug. 30-31

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Wyoming Honor Farm have scheduled a wild horse adoption for Aug. 30-31 in Riverton. This is the 25th year of a partnership between the BLM and the Honor Farm, a minimum-security correctional facility. The BLM provides wild horses rounded up from Wyoming's public lands and Honor Farm inmates train the horses to be gentler in preparation for adoption. The BLM says the program has helped place some 3,500 wild horses with owners. On Aug. 30, the Honor Farm will host a clinic to explain the gentling process and people will be able to view the latest horses offered for adoption. The horse auction is set for Aug. 31. About 30 halter- and saddle-started horses will be available.

Wyoming to speed orphan well plugging

Wyoming is preparing to accelerate a program to plug orphaned oil and gas wells. The accelerated program by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission starts in the spring. But that will mean a higher conservation tax on energy producers. Orphaned wells are non-producing oil and natural gas wells that have been abandoned by their owners, who in many cases have gone out of business. Wyoming has about 1,200 orphan wells, most of them coal-bed methane wells in the Powder River Basin. Wyoming oil and gas supervisor Grant Black told energy producers in Casper that plugging would accelerate to reduce environmental risk. He said plugging the wells will cost on average $10 per foot. He didn't have an estimate of the program's entire cost.

Teen solo pilot walks away from remote Wyo. crash

A teenage pilot whose plane went down in a remote part of northwestern Wyoming during her first solo flight escaped with just some bruises. The Park County sheriff's office says 17-year-old McKenzie Morgan of Billings, Mont. got lost while flying from Greybull to Fort Smith Tuesday and crashed in a rugged part of the Shoshone National Forest near the abandoned mining town of Kerwin. Two men out scouting elk on horseback saw the Cessna 172 go down and called for help. One of them met up with Morgan as she was walking out. Morgan's mother says her daughter is unable to talk about what happened until she speaks with investigators. She's proud of her daughter and says she managed to land the plane but then it flipped.

No bids for Wyo. federal coal tract a first

For the first time, nobody has bid on a tract of federal coal offered for sale in Wyoming. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management held a coal lease sale in Cheyenne on Wednesday but had no bids to open. No bids were submitted. BLM officials say that's never happened before in Wyoming, the top coal-producing state. Up for sale was 149 million tons of coal reserves next to Cloud Peak Energy's Cordero Rojo mine. The surface mine is the third-biggest U.S. coal mine after two others in the Powder River Basin. Gillette-based Cloud Peak initially had sought to bid but in a release said it determined that much of the coal couldn't be mined profitably. Environmental group WildEarth Guardians calls the no-sale "a victory for the climate and clean energy."

Boy, 3, finds loaded gun, shoots self in Cheyenne

A 3-year-old boy in Cheyenne found a loaded handgun in a bag and shot himself in the leg. Laramie County Sheriff's officials say the boy was treated at the Cheyenne hospital and released later in the day Wednesday. Sheriff's officials got the report around 7:45 a.m. They say the boy shot himself once in the calf while he was playing with the gun inside a house. They say they don't expect to file charges but are still investigating.

Celebrate National Public Lands Day at the CCC Pond Recreation Area

Make plans now to participate in the National Public Lands Day event at the CCC Pond Recreation Area in Pinedale. Shelley Gregory with the Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office and those at the U.S. Forest Service Pinedale Ranger District invite the public to help care for your public areas on Saturday, September 7th from 9 AM to 1 PM.






Activities will include maintenance and painting of the warming hut, bridge and kiosk, clearing brush around the parking lot, stabilization of shoreline fishing access, and cleaning and maintenance of the bluebird houses. Educational opportunities and activities will also be offered for children. Be sure and dress to work.






Individuals, families and groups are welcome. To register, call 307-367-5312 or register at the CCC Ponds Recreation Area on the day of the event. To get there from Pinedale, turn north on to Skyline Drive off Highway 191, continue 3.2 miles, then turn left on Fremont Lake Road. The CCC Pond Recreation Area is on the left, half a mile past Lakeside Lodge.

Yellowstone road reopens, fire may close it again

Yellowstone National Park officials have reopened a road closed by a wildfire but tell visitors at the tail end of the park's busy season to expect the road to close again. The Alum Fire has burned about 12 square miles but has been growing little over the past few days. Even so, park officials are making preliminary evacuation plans for Lake Village on the north shore of Yellowstone Lake. The fire is about five miles north of Lake Village. Thick smoke prompted park officials to close part of the road north of Fishing Bridge on Tuesday. The road reopened Wednesday but Yellowstone spokesman Dan Hottle says it could close again with little or no warning. He says visitors should be prepared to drive long distances around the closure area.

Take Advantage of the Sweetwater County Recreation Firearms and Archery Ranges

The Sweetwater County Recreation Board is reminding hunters to take advantage of the county’s firearms and archery ranges to check and sight in their hunting weapons before the big hunt begins. Speaking on behalf of the Recreation Board, Sweetwater County Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says the Sweetwater County Archery Complex is located about nine miles southwest of Rock Springs.






The archery complex features a 28-position hunter’s round, a 28-position N.F.A.A. field round, a third 28-position round, and a basic practice range.






There is no charge to use either the archery or firearms ranges.  Both ranges are available for walk-in use from dusk to dawn seven days a week, and a range officer is on duty at the firearms range Tuesday through Sunday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Foot Pursuit Results in Arrest of Wanted Person in Rock Springs

On Saturday, August 17th, at around 10:39 p.m., Officer Tony Anson of the Rock Springs Police Department attempted to pull over a pickup truck that had no visible registration to the rear. The driver had also failed to use a turn signal. A passenger fled on foot as soon as the truck stopped and Officer Anson pursued the subject on foot into the desert behind Homewood Suites on Winston Boulevard in Rock Springs. Anson was able to catch 25 year old Kyle Jacob Moore of Rock Springs. After a routine warrants check by dispatch, it was found that Moore was wanted on a warrant out of Sublette County for aggravated burglary with a $10,000 bond. Moore was taken into custody without incident.

Energy research and welcome center spur UW giving

Energy research and plans for a new welcome center resulted in the University of Wyoming exceeding the $50 million threshold in private contributions for the first time in its history. The state's only 4-year public university raised a record $56 million for the fiscal year ending on June 30. UW's previous record for private gifts was $43.1 million in 2011. UW Foundation President Ben Blalock says UW's School of Energy Resources continues to draw millions of dollars in industry contributions for research and improved facilities. In addition, he says the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center project on campus has attracted $22.5 million. Blalock says such projects excite alumni and others and it's important that the university remain visionary so that it keeps improving and growing.

Wyoming's obesity rate holds steady in 2012

Wyoming residents aren't getting any fatter according to a national study. The Trust For America's Health says Wyoming's obesity rate last year was 24.6%, which means about one in four residents are significantly overweight. The rate is about the same as it was in 2011. Wyoming is doing better than many other states. Its rate was the 10th lowest obesity rate. Thirteen states had rates above 30% and. Colorado continues to have the lowest rate at 21.5%.

Fire in heart of Yellowstone causes concern

More firefighters are arriving to bolster defenses against a wildfire burning in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. The Alum Fire is 1 of 5 burning in the park. It showed limited growth Tuesday. But while the other fires are in remote areas well away from developed areas, the Alum Fire is close enough to facilities along the northwest shore of Yellowstone Lake to cause some concern. About 150 firefighters were expected to be on hand Tuesday evening and firefighting equipment is being positioned in the Lake, Fishing Bridge and Bridge Bay areas in case the fire moves in their direction. The fire is just west of the southeast section of the Grand Loop Road north of Yellowstone Lake. Started by lightning, it had burned about seven square miles.

Woman arrested in Wyo. allowed to leave hospital

A woman wanted on more than 40 warrants in Utah and Wyoming is at large again after being released from a Salt Lake City hospital. Jamie Lindsay Cleghorn was captured by police in Riverton Aug. 12 after crashing her truck during a chase. The 34-year-old was flown to the University of Utah medical center and then released Wednesday. Confusion among several different law enforcement agencies appears to have allowed her to walk free. Deputy Uintah County Attorney John Gothard said his office asked university police to monitor Cleghorn and notify them before she was released. However, a Salt Lake police spokeswoman said her agency was summoned to guard her. She said officers left after learning that Cleghorn was immobile and wasn't wanted for anything violent.

More heat for Wyoming after record-setting day

More hot weather is in store for Wyoming after some record highs were set around the state. Casper and Lander both hit 96 degrees Monday, breaking previous records. Riverton reached 95 while Big Piney topped out at 92, beating the record of 89 degrees reached in both 2001 and 1986. The high temperature at Lake Yellowstone was 81 degrees which broke a 79-degree record set at the observation center in 2008 but matched a high recorded by a cooperative observer in 2001. National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Anglin says Wyoming's temperatures usually peak by late July and begin tapering off by mid-August. Record highs for Cheyenne, Rawlins and Laramie are possible on Tuesday.

Sweetwater Co. School District Number Two School Is Back In Session

Now that the kids of Sweetwater County School District Number Two are back in school, Superintendent Donna Littlecomo wants parents to remind their children about the rules of safety of riding on a school bus.






Littlecomo is also warning all drivers to respect the laws regarding school buses and to simply watch out for the students.






Sweetwater County School District Number Two had their first day of school yesterday. School District Number One students have a little more time for their summer. Their first day of school is September 3rd.

PAPO Sets Project Application Deadline

The Pinedale Anticline Project Office (PAPO) is accepting applications for potential 2014 project funding until Oct. 31. The project ranking score sheet emphasizes projects that specifically benefit mule deer and sage-grouse, with preference given to projects that are located within the Pinedale Anticline Project Area. Air quality projects will also be considered. All submitted applications will be reviewed by PAPO staff. Final funding decisions will likely be made by the PAPO Board of Directors at its May 2014 meeting in Pinedale, Wyo. There is no guarantee that any submitted application will be funded. Potential applicants are encouraged to go to blm.gov for more information about the PAPO and for the 2014 application, score sheet and guidelines. All project applications and any supporting documents must be submitted by email to egdecker@blm.gov by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 to be considered for 2014 funding. Receipt of submitted applications will be acknowledged. For more information, please contact PAPO Project Coordinator Eric Decker at 307-367-5386.

Green River City Council Preview

The Green River city council meets tonight, Erick Pauley has a preview of the agenda.

Wyo. a top state for 2011-2012 export increase

International exports from Wyoming surged 17% from 2011 to 2012. Wyoming's exports increased from $1.2 billion 2011 to $1.4 billion in 2012 and figures from the U.S. International Trade Association show Wyoming ranked seventh among U.S. states for growth in exports over that period. The mineral trona accounted for a large portion of Wyoming's exports. Trona is mined from southwest Wyoming and processed into soda ash. Soda ash is critical for manufacturing variety of products including detergents and glass. Wyoming also exports equipment for refineries and truck bodies for the mining industry. Top destinations for Wyoming products include Canada and Australia.

Yellowstone to poison creek, restore native fish

Biologists are preparing to poison off all the fish in a stream in Yellowstone National Park ahead of an effort to restore native fish species to those waters. Nonnative brown and rainbow trout have invaded and become established in Grayling Creek and its tributaries north of West Yellowstone, Mont. This week, biologists plan to put small quantities of a toxin in the streams to kill off the nonnative trout. Treatments with the chemical Rotenone will continue for two to three years until all of the nonnative fish species are gone. After that, biologists plan to restock the creek drainage with two native species, Arctic grayling and westslope cutthroat trout. Yellowstone officials say people shouldn't swim or drink from the streams through Aug. 30.

Wyo. delegation: Exempt state from BLM frack rules

Wyoming's congressional delegation is asking Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to exempt Wyoming from proposed regulation of hydraulic fracturing on federal land. Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso and Rep. Cynthia Lummis tell Jewell in a letter Monday that Wyoming and other states already regulate fracking. They say federal regulation in these states would be duplicative and impede oil and gas development. An Interior spokeswoman says the U.S. Bureau of Land Management will work with states that already have fracking standards to avoid unnecessary duplication or delays. Fracking is the practice of boosting production from oil and gas wells by pumping pressurized water into the wells to fracture open deposits. The proposed new federal rules would require companies to disclose the chemicals they mix in with the water they pump underground.

UW starts fall semester on Aug. 26

The University of Wyoming will welcome back students this week before fall semester classes start next week. UW residence halls open to students on Thursday. Freshmen students living in the residence halls and their parents are invited to the Washakie Center's Welcome to Wyoming dinner Thursday from 3:30-6 p.m. UW President Bob Sternberg will welcome freshmen on Thursday night in the College of Arts and Sciences auditorium as part of the Summit Transitions Program. Sternberg also will host a free welcome barbecue next Monday evening in Fraternity Mall. Students can listen to motivational speaker Anthony Robles, a NCAA wrestling champion with one leg for Arizona State, on Friday afternoon. UW football coach Dave Christensen and basketball coach Larry Shyatt also be on hand to welcome students.

More hot, dry weather fuels Wyoming wildfires

More hot, dry weather isn't helping wildfires burning in Wyoming. Fires burning in Yellowstone National Park as well as in the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone national forests grew over the weekend. Yellowstone has several active fires, including one that grew markedly over the weekend near Grand Loop Road north of Yellowstone Lake. However, the road remains open and no major park facilities are threatened. Other fires are burning in remote areas of Yellowstone and pose no danger although they are sending up a lot of smoke.The state's large fire remains the Hardluck Fire in the Shoshone Forest. It has been allowed to burn and has now scorched about 33 square miles.

BLM Kemmerer National Public Lands Day Event a Success

On August 9th, the Bureau of Land Management Kemmerer Field Office held a successful National Public Lands Day event to remove fencing treacherous to wildlife. Shelley Gregory says that thirty-five volunteers from the community, KFO, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and local ranches finished removing four miles of fencing from a nine-mile section. During last year's event, five miles of fencing was removed.






The KFO, in cooperation with Albert Creek Allotment permittees - the Sears and Collins ranches - planned the fence removal to improve the movement of the Wyoming Range and Uinta deer herds and the Carter Lease pronghorn herd throughout their crucial winter range. It was common to find up to 100 animals entangled in the fence each year.






For more information, about the fence removal, call 307-828-4508.

Man killed in farming accident near Manderson

Authorities say a man was killed while baling hay on a farm near Manderson. Cpt. Brent Godfrey with the Bighorn County Sheriff's Office says that authorities who were called to the Cecil Mullens farm Wednesday morning found 25-year-old Ty Aagard dead. Godfrey says the ranch's farmer went to check on Aagard and realized the machine was full. When he tripped the trigger to dump the hay, he discovered the man wrapped in the bale. Godfrey says Aagard might have been sucked into the baler while trying to unplug the machine.

Owners won't rebuild lone gas station in Chugwater

The owners of a Chugwater gas station that was destroyed when a man crashed his vehicle into it, causing an explosion and fire, have decided not to rebuild. Mayor Ladonna Sand says that the owners of Horton's Corner believe they are too old to rebuild, but some companies have expressed interest in the property. John Barberini Jr. is accused of deliberately driving his SUV into Horton's on Dec. 30. Horton's was the only place for miles around to get gas. Residents still have to drive to Wheatland, a 48-mile round trip to the north, or Cheyenne, an 80-mile round trip south, to fill up.

'Longmire' author enjoys success of books, series

Author Craig Johnson plans to keep writing books and short stories focusing on the fictional Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire. His books are popular and have spawned a TV series. Johnson has published nine books about the Wyoming sheriff and his colorful sidekicks, and a 10th is on the way in October. In addition, he has penned several short stories about Longmire. The 52-year-old Johnson travels around Wyoming, visiting libraries and talking about his work and experiences. Johnson says he wants to support libraries in the state. He says that he believes you can judge a culture by the strength of its libraries.

Hardluck Fire near Cody grows to 31 square miles

Fire officials say a wildfire in northwest Wyoming has scorched more than 31 square miles. The Hardluck Fire has been burning in the Shoshone National Forest about 50 miles southwest of Cody since July 17 when it was started by lightning. It is burning in rugged, inaccessible terrain, and firefighters have been letting it burn so far, though crews have been clearing fuels near buildings in case the fire approaches a more populated area in the South Fork Valley. Several fires are burning across Wyoming, but most of the smoke in the air is from large fires in Idaho and Utah.

Cindy Hill narrows public records request

tate schools Superintendent Cindy Hill has better defined her public records request in an attempt to speed up the release of the documents she is seeking from the governor's office. Hill originally asked for all emails and letters from several employees in the Department of Education and governor's office. She says she needs the documents to defend herself as she faces the prospect of impeachment from lawmakers who are investigating her. The governor's office has released some records, but Gov. Matt Mead and his staff have said processing the full request would take months and thousands of hours. Mead spokesman Renny MacKay says that even with the amended request from Hill it will still be a lengthy process to comply with her request.

1 killed in accident at Black Thunder mine

Authorities say a power shovel crashed into two pickup trucks at a northeast Wyoming coal mine, killing one worker and injuring another. Campbell County Sheriff Bill Pownall says the accident occurred at Arch Coal's Black Thunder mine about 1:30 a.m. Friday. Pownall says 24-year-old Jacob Dowdy, of Upton, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 38-year-old Mike Lewis, of Wright, was taken to Campbell County Memorial Hospital where he was listed in good condition. The preliminary investigation indicates that the power shovel was traveling up a ramp when it rolled back into the two pickup trucks. Dowdy had been an employee of Thunder Basin Coal Co., Arch Coal's subsidiary that operates the mine, for about three years. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

Evanston woman gets probation in Medicaid fraud

A federal judge has sentenced an Evanston woman to serve five months home confinement and two years of probation following her guilty plea to committing health care fraud. U.S. Attorney Kip Crofts announced that 52-year-old Brenda Murray also must pay more than $56,000 restitution. Murray pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal this June to defrauding the state Medicaid system by falsely claiming she provided services to children with developmental disabilities.

WYDOT To Host Public Meeting On Signing

Stephanie Harsha with the Wyoming Department of Transportation says their Traffic program is currently reviewing its Specific Service Signing Program and exploring options and changes that will likely impact businesses participating in the program.






This program was formerly known at the Logo Signing Program and was created to give specific motorist information along interstate highways for businesses accessible from eligible interchanges.






Residents and business owners, especially those who participate in the program, are encouraged to attend and provide feedback and comments.

Ten Pounds of Liquid Meth Seized in Rock Springs Motel Room

Around 10 pounds of liquid methamphetamine was found inside a motel room at the La Quinta Inn in Rock Springs on Monday. It all started when Rock Springs police officers made contact with a 2007 Hyundai with California license plates at the Kelly's Sunset located at 1645 Sunset Dr. in Rock Springs. The officers called in K-9 officer Gunner who positively indicated there were drugs in the vehicle, although none were found. Consent was given to search the motel room of the vehicle's occupants, identified as 25 year old Ana River, 27 year old Daniel Rivera and 34 year old Jesus Ramos, all from California. What was found was a one gallon container of what appeared to be antifreeze, but later tested positive for meth. All three were arrested, charged with alleged Possession of Liquid Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and booked into the Sweetwater County Detention Center. The street value of the meth was estimated to be $100,000.

River Festival and Art on the Green This Weekend in Green River

The River Festival and Art on the Green takes place this weekend at Evers Park in Green River. Starting this evening at 3 PM, everyone can enjoy the Micro Brew Gardens. The Cajun Shrimp Boil, the Knights of Columbus Spaghetti dinner and free games for the kids will be held from 5 to 7 PM. The Great Duck Race will be held at 7:30 PM with fireworks at dusk. On Saturday, things start early with a marathon at 6:30 AM, a Poker Horse and Green Belt Bike Poker Run at 9 AM followed by a Dog Fetching contest and Car and Bike Show at 11 AM. Free kids games will be held all afternoon. And you won't want to miss the Egg Race at 2 PM, Relay Costume Race at 2:30, followed by the Tug of War with Green River Firefighters at 3, Water Balloon Toss at 3:30 and the Pie Throwing Contest at 4. The Micro Brew Gardens will be open from 11 AM to 4 PM and the blues band, Blind Dog Smokin will perform from Noon to 4 PM. The Rock Springs Humane Society will hold a Dog Show at 1 PM.

US judge in NV asked to block auction of mustangs

Wild horse advocates are seeking an emergency court order to block the sale of what they say are federally protected mustangs rounded up illegally by a Nevada tribe and headed for an auction that could send them to slaughter. Under pressure from critics, the U.S. Forest Service earlier this week abandoned plans for a $120,000 government roundup of hundreds of horses in collaboration with the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Tribe near the Oregon border. But the agency agreed to let the tribe proceed gathering up to 700 horses on its own and sell them at a livestock auction Saturday in Fallon. Lawyers for Wild Horse Education say the U.S. agencies themselves are responsible for ensuring the protection of the horses. They want DNA testing before any animals are sold.

Wildfires being monitored in western Wyoming

Two new, small wildfires have started in Yellowstone National Park, but neither poses any danger to visitors or facilities. The National Park Service says the fires discovered on Wednesday were started by lightning. They joined two other small wildfires burning elsewhere in the park. All the fires are being monitored and allowed to burn right now. Several other active fires burning in Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming and also are being monitored by firefighters. The fires have been showing little growth and are in rugged areas. Management of 2 fires in the Pinedale area has been returned to district control for monitoring.

BLM Rawlins Reopens Prior Flat Campground

Serena Baker tells us the Bureau of Land Management Rawlins Field Office is reopening the upper loop of the Prior Flat Campground located in the Shirley Mountains about 30 miles northwest of Medicine Bow. It was closed during the weekend as a safety precaution due to potential bear encounters.  






Be Bear Aware signs have been posted at the campground which encourage recreationists, “Do not feed the bears, do not store food in sleeping area, secure food and garbage, and keep a clean camp.”  






A list of campsites managed by the BLM Rawlins Field Office can be found online at blm.gov.

Wyoming panel OKs flaring at Chesapeake oil wells

Wyoming regulators have approved Chesapeake Energy Corp.'s request to burn off natural gas from five oil wells north of Douglas, with a daily cap of 150,000 cubic feet of gas flared per well. The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission made its decision Tuesday. Chesapeake says it has three other wells that each flare less than 60,000 cubic feet daily, which is below the threshold that requires commission approval. Oil companies often flare natural gas from wells if there aren't pipelines to move the gas out of the area. Some landowners, conservationists and politicians have lamented that the gas is burned off, not sold at market so the state can earn tax revenues. A state legislative committee is considering taxing flaring.

Former hospital CEO discussing potential plea deal

A judge says a former CEO accused of defrauding two hospitals and fleeing to Thailand will remain in federal custody until his case is resolved. Paul Cardwell is accused of defrauding Powell Valley Healthcare in Wyoming. An indictment alleges Cardwell would arrange for hospital funds to be sent to a bogus recruiting firm supposedly run by Michael Plake of West Lafayette, Ind., but the money went to Plake and Cardwell instead. Plake is serving a 30-month sentence. Cardwell also is accused of defrauding White County Memorial Hospital in Monticello, Ind., when he was its CEO. Last week, a federal judge ordered that Cardwell be held until his case is resolved. His lawyer has indicated there could be a plea deal.

License vendors will no longer sell HIP permits

Vendors who sell Wyoming hunting licenses will no longer sell National Harvest Information Program permits. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says migratory bird hunters in the state will no longer be able to get the permits from vendors, but will be able to get them free from the department online. The change is part of the game department's transition to a paperless application process. Hunters must complete a HIP validation and must obtain a Wyoming HIP validation permit before they can legally hunt migratory game birds in the state.

Hemorrhagic disease killing Wyo., Mont., deer

A disease is killing dozens of white-tailed deer in Wyoming and Montana. Wildlife officials say the disease causes internal bleeding and is either epizootic hemorrhagic disease or bluetongue. Tests are being done to determine which virus is the cause. Neither virus poses a risk to humans. White-tailed deer are the usual victims but hemorrhagic disease also can infect pronghorn antelope, elk and mule deer. People in recent weeks have come across dozens of dead and dying deer in the Bighorn Basin in north-central Wyoming and from the Great Falls area to north of Chester in north-central Montana. Hemorrhagic disease is native to the region and outbreaks are fairly common. Biting gnats spread the viruses. Outbreaks tend to peak as dry weather causes deer and gnats to congregate near water.

New Rock Springs school will have security system

One of Wyoming's newest schools will have a security system when students return for the new school year. Gov. Matt Mead toured the school, Eastside Elementary in Rock Springs, on Monday and got a chance to see the system. After the tour, Mead said that today's schools need an active security system and more of the newer schools have them. The school isn't completely finished yet but it's expected to open by the beginning of the new school year on Sept. 3. It will serve about 450 fifth- and sixth-graders.

Rawlins man pleads not guilty to cocaine charges

A Rawlins man has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession and delivery of cocaine. 43-year-old Mario Javalera entered the not-guilty pleas on Monday. He is 1 of 4 people arrested in May on cocaine charges. Court records show that an informant told agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation that Javalera and others apparently used a Rawlins restaurant as an unofficial "pharmacy." The informant alleged that medications including penicillin and pain medicine were available at the restaurant without a prescription.

Wyo. weather helps keep lid on wildfires

Wyoming wildfires are showing little growth thanks to a lack of hot, dry weather that is plaguing neighboring states. The state's largest fire has burned about 24 square miles in the Shoshone National Forest. However, it has grown little over the past few days and firefighters are content to just monitor it for now. Several smaller fires are burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and two in Yellowstone National Park. The two Yellowstone fires are in remote areas and not threatening any park facilities or campgrounds. Wyoming has enjoyed cool temperatures and afternoon rainstorms in recent days, helping to keep fire activity down. Meantime, Idaho and Utah have both seen hot, dry weather that has prompted red flag warnings in areas bordering Wyoming.

Thayne sewer project gets underway

The Town of Thayne will spend the next several weeks upgrading and improving its sewer lagoon system. The goal of the project is to “get something better and more efficent” in place, said Mayor Bob King.
“The system we have in place down there is about 30 years old at this point and it is just not working properly,” he said. “We are bypassing the first two lagoons and taking the main line and putting into cell three. We are doing this so that we can drain the first two sewer cells and install new liners and aerators. We will also be getting new pumps.”
In addition to the upgrades to the sewer cells, the town’s sewer building will also be improved, King said.
“We are going to be installing a new venting system and some fans to help prevent the buildup of methane gas in the building,” he said.

LEAD Program

The application deadline to participate in the Wyoming L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Education and Development) program is rapidly approaching and agriculture producers and agribusiness men and women are encouraged to apply.
The program will accept applications for L.E.A.D. Class 13 until Aug. 31.
The L.E.A.D. program, a 14-month adult leadership initiative, was designed to create an outstanding, highly motivated group of agricultural leaders in Wyoming. Up to 18 fellows will be selected to participate in the program which begins in November. The program includes eight in-state seminars, a national study seminar in Washington, D.C., and an international trade mission. Participants will devote approximately 40 days to the study seminars and special project assignments.
The educational seminars are presented by qualified professionals and industry experts and cover topics including communication, policy and decision making, entrepreneurship, marketing, international trade, government and political affairs, resource management, and economic development.
L.E.A.D. fellows pay a tuition fee to participate in the program and are chosen based on their leadership potential, communication skills, commitment to participate, and other criteria.
A total of 203 fellows have graduated from the L.E.A.D. program since its inception in 1984 by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to establish a rural leadership program. The program is a partnership of the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming Agricultural Leadership Council.
For fellowship application forms and other information about the program, contact Garretson-Weibel at cindy.weibel@wyo.gov or 307.777.6589.

WYDOT hosts public meeting on signing

The Wyoming Department of Transportation Traffic program is currently reviewing its Specific Service Signing Program and exploring options and changes that will likely impact businesses participating in the program.
The public is invited to attend a meeting on the proposed options in Rock Springs on Monday, August 19, at 4 p.m. at the Wyoming Department of Transportation District 3 Offices at 3200 Elk Street. Some of the topics that will be discusses are the current procedures and why there is a need for change, proposed options, examples from other states and how to submit your feedback and comments.
This program was formerly known at the Logo Signing Program and was created to give specific motorist information along interstate highways for businesses accessible from eligible interchanges. Many local residents are already familiar with the signs, which display businesses that fall under categories like GAS, FOOD, LODGING and CAMPING. In 2006, signs with ATTRACTION and 24-hour PHARMACY were added.
Residents and business owners, especially those who participate in the program, are encouraged to attend and provide feedback and comments.

Milestone 78 for Social Security Today

Anniversary number 78 is today (Wednesday) for Social Security. The monthly benefits go to 95 percent of Wyomingites ages 65-plus, and thousands more receive benefits because of disabilities. Timothy Lockwood with A-A-R-P Wyoming says our state has a high percentage of veterans with disabilities receiving Social Security. A-A-R-P credits the program with keeping thousands above the poverty line.








Several proposals to change Social Security have been debated in Congress, including raising the retirement age, and changing the way the cost-of-living adjustment is calculated. Lockwood says the so-called “chained CPI” plan gets a “thumbs down” from A-A-R-P, although the organization is open to discussing ways to control costs and keep it solvent long-term.








The average retirement benefit in Wyoming is about 12-hundred dollars a month, with A-A-R-P pointing out that women disproportionately depend on Social Security for more than 50-percent of their incomes. Almost 67-thousand Wyoming retirees receive payments each month.

Trustees to review new locations for schools

School trustees will host this week the first of three public workshops to review possible sites for a new elementary school. The meeting begins at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the district’s new administration building at 1235 Gregory Lane. This week’s workshop will be the first step in a discussion district managers will have throughout the fall. Last year, the Wyoming School Facilities Department set aside funding for school land purchases around the state, including in Teton County. The district also is on the short list to get funding for a new bus barn from the Wyoming School Facilities Department.

Gov. Matt Mead says he's willing to consider trade

Gov. Matt Mead said Monday he hasn't seen a proposal of what lands the federal government will offer to swap for state holdings in Grand Teton National Park but doesn't want to wait years to resolve the issue. Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Sweetwater County, Mead said he talked last week with U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell when she was in Wyoming to tour the state-owned areas within Grand Teton. The federal government had agreed a few years ago to a four-phase, $107 million purchase of the nearly 1,300 acres of state-owned lands within the park. The federal government already has closed on the first phases, the purchase of minor state mineral rights in early 2012, followed late last year by the purchase of 86 acres of state land for $16 million.

Symposium set to address topics on replacement, bred heifer programs

An upcoming symposium for ranchers will address topics important to the management and development of replacement and bred heifers.
The Heifer Marketing and Development Symposium will take place in Riverton, Wyo., Sept. 9-10 at the Fremont Center on the Fremont County Fairgrounds; and in Douglas, Wyo., Sept. 11-12 at the Armory next to the Wyoming State Fairgrounds.
The symposium will feature industry and academic speakers on topics that could have an impact on the heifer development and marketing program for ranching operations. Topics include vaccination protocols; outlook for market demand; ultrasound and DNA technologies; bull selection; mineral nutrition; and more. Registration for the symposium is $10 by Aug. 26 or $25 at the door. To register, make checks payable to the Wyoming Business Council and mail to: Cody Bainter, 214 W. 15th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002.

Four Fugitives Arrested

Two fugitives wanted in Sweetwater County have been arrested in North Dakota, a third in Lyman, and a fourth after a foot chase on Friday in Rock Springs. Dectective Dick Blust Jr. of the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department






After a Friday foot chase in Rock Springs involving Fugitive Apprehension Team members, patrol deputies, and officers of the Rock Springs Police Department, Lester Thomas Dillon, 27, wanted for Probation Violation stemming from a range of original drug violations, was taken into custody. To date, the special Sheriff’s Office fugitive team has made a total of 285
arrests

BLM Rawlins Closing Portions of Prior Flat Campground for Public Safety

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field Office is immediately closing the upper loop of the Prior Flat Campground located in the Shirley Mountains approximately 30 miles northwest of Medicine Bow, Wyo. as a safety precaution due to potential bear encounters.
Wardens with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are attempting to capture and relocate a black bear in the area which has been getting into garbage cans in the campground. The closure of the upper loop is effective immediately and is expected to last through this weekend, or until the bear can be contained. Closure signs will be posted and the area will be patrolled by BLM law enforcement. Four of the nine developed campsites in the Prior Flat Campground are located on the upper loop which is affected by the closure. The remaining campsites at Prior Flat Campground will remain open.
The Prior Flat Campground is a popular recreation site for residents in nearby Casper, Wyo. and the surrounding area. It contains 15 free campsites on roughly nine acres surrounded by Aspen, limber pine, lodgepole pine, big sagebrush, and shrubs, grasses and forbs. Pronghorn antelope, mule deer, elk, coyotes, Greater Sage-grouse, and golden eagles can often be seen.

Wyoming Fighting Back Against Suicide

It was a chance to remember loved ones who were lost due to suicide Sunday at Lions Park during the 4th annual "Walk of Grace".
The event is put on every year by "Grace For 2 Brothers", an organization started four years ago here in Cheyenne.
Grace For 2 Brothers was founded by BJ Ayers because she lost two of her three sons by way of suicide.
Wyoming leads the nation in suicides per capita, a stat BJ wants to lower.
Her organization promotes suicide prevention and awareness so that no mother would have to go through what she's gone through.
An estimated 900 walkers on more than 25 teams showed up Sunday morning, proof that they are continuing to make great progress in their fight.

DOI Promises to Buy State Lands in Grand Teton

A patchwork of state lands and federal lands within Grand Teton National Park boundaries should soon become less spotty. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has announced the Department of Interior will fulfill an agreement with the state to purchase the state property, or do a land exchange within the next two years. The National Parks Conservation Association’s Grand Teton program manager, Sharon Mader says the move ensures that the lands will not be sold at auction.









There are about 12-hundred acres of state lands within the park. Close to 100 acres of state land along the Snake River have already been secured with Land and Water Conservation Funds.


Mader says there are no special “deals,” because it’s important that Wyoming’s best interest be a priority.








About 91-million dollars is needed to complete the purchase of the state land – although some of that may be the value of a land exchange involving oil and gas rights on B-L-M property.

Duncan apologizes for cut's impact on reservations

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says federal budget cuts have had a disproportionate impact on native people. Duncan apologized for the cuts Thursday during a visit to Wyoming's Wind River Indian Reservation, drawing applause from the students, teachers and tribal leaders gathered to meet with him and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. Health programs on the reservation stopped hiring and preschool and day care services cut hours as a result of the sequester cuts. Jewell told the group Indian education isn't "where any of us want it be" and promised to listen to suggestions. Jewell and Duncan played basketball with students at St. Stephens Indian School and attended a cultural danced at Arapahoe School during the visit. Jewell also visited Grand Teton National Park while in Wyoming.

Dumping on Public Lands: What a Waste!

The Bureau of Land Management Pinedale Field Office is reminding the public that the dumping of any kind of refuse on public lands is illegal. Shelley Gregory says that illegal dumping is a long-standing problem on public lands with dump sites often promoting even more dumping in the same area.

Solid debris such as appliances, yard clippings and vegetation, household trash and chemicals, vehicles, furniture and construction materials are typical; however, extremely hazardous wastes from clandestine drug labs are increasingly common.
Illegal dumps can pose a threat to humans, pets, wildlife and vehicles.

Toxic or hazardous liquids can drain into the ground, damaging vegetation and water sources, or be ingested with fatal results. Punctured tires, cuts and scrapes, trapped animals, infestations and harmful fumes can all result from these illegal dumps.
PFO Environmental Protection Specialist Cindi Etcheverry says, “This is your public land and your back yard. Dumping at the very least is an eyesore; at the most, it is a real threat to everyone’s safety.”

If you find an illegal dump on public land, resist the urge to poke around, note the location and call your local BLM office or other appropriate agency. The BLM evaluates each dump site before determining what methods are needed to safely remove refuse from the area.

Penalties for dumping on public lands can include a one-year jail sentence or up to a $1,000 fine.

For more information on the Sublette County landfill and transfer station, please contact:

Big Piney/Marbleton Landfill
10 County Rd. 215
Phone: 307-276-5792
Monday - Saturday, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.,
Closed Sundays and Legal Holidays

Pinedale Transfer Station
83 Pinedale Landfill, County Rd. 23-217
Phone: 307-367-3573
Monday - Saturday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Sundays and Legal Holidays

For additional information, please contact Etcheverry at 307-367-5375.

New owner brings Vietnam coffee to tiny Wyo. town

The tiny Wyoming town of Buford will be taking on a Vietnamese flavor. Pham Dinh Nguyen (WIN) bought the unincorporated area 30 miles west of Cheyenne last year from longtime owner Don Sammons. Buford has billed itself as the smallest town in the United States with a population of 1. Nguyen plans to give it another identity, renaming it Buford Phin Deli Town. The name will reflect his plans to sell Vietnamese coffee to travelers along Interstate 80. PhinDeli roughly translates to "delicious filter coffee." Nguyen still lives in Vietnam for now. His marketing representative, Amy Bates, tells the Wyoming Tribune

SD man faces charges in WY construction fatality

A South Dakota man faces a felony charge of aggravated vehicular homicide after authorities say he ran over and killed another man with a dump truck while under the influence of alcohol. 31-year-old Andrew Michael Ames, of Yankton, S.D., was charged after the truck he was driving ran over and killed 38-year-old Jason Thompson early Monday at a construction site in Gillette. According to court documents, a witness saw Ames drive over Thompson as he was backing up a dump truck. Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene. Ames told investigators that he had been drinking the night before. Police says he failed a field sobriety test and that his blood alcohol level was higher than the threshold for driving under the influence.

Judge clears teen to face charges in Hudson deaths

A Fremont County judge says a teen accused in a double slaying in Hudson in 2011 shows an adequate ability to face his charges. A judge made the decision following a competency hearing in Lander that ran almost nine hours Wednesday. A hearing is scheduled later this month to determine whether the teen will be tried as an adult or juvenile. The teen was among five people who faced charges stemming from the deaths of Eric Likes and Elva Quiver at Likes' home. Investigators say the two were killed during a robbery.

Wyoming's largest fire is 24 square miles

Wyoming's largest wildfire has grown to more than 24 square miles. The Hardluck Fire has been burning in the Shoshone National Forest since July 17 when it was started by lightning. Firefighters have been letting it burn so far. Three small fires are burning elsewhere in western Wyoming. Firefighters are also monitoring the 200-acre Snake Fire on the south end of Yellowstone National Park. Park officials say the fire poses no threat to visitors. The 400-acre Packer Creek Fire, between Bondurant and Daniels, is 65% contained, and about 50 firefighters are working on the 540-acre Green Fire north of Pinedale.

Sweetwater commission passes wind farm regulations

The Sweetwater County Commission has approved stronger regulations for wind farm development in the county. New rules will impose restrictions on setbacks to adjacent property owners and require analyses of the environment and the view shed and establish noise levels. The county has been working on the regulations for months. Commission chairman Wally Johnson says that the new regulations will have a long-lasting impact and effect on Sweetwater County. He says the county took its time to get the regulations right because once wind farms are built they are there forever.

More nighttime traffic diversion on I-80

The Wyoming Department of Transportation and contract crews from Ralph L. Wadsworth will be erecting girders on the US 191 bridge over I-80 this Monday and through Thursday, August 15th. Stephanie Harsha says that Daytime work will not impact I-80 traffic. However, beginning Tuesday night, crews will be diverting traffic off Interstate 80, closing a section of US 191 and closing exit 99 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Traffic will be diverted using the on and off ramps at exit 99. The interruption will be during nighttime hours (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) to limit traffic disruption. Traffic approaching from East and West will be moved onto the on and off ramps at exit 99. Speeds will be reduced to 30 miles per hour for traffic routed on to the ramps. Reduced speeds and delays are expected, but traffic will not be stopped on Interstate 80.

During the nighttime closures, WYDOT crews and contract crews will be working on the girders on the new bridge over the interstate. There will be no access to Interstate 80 from the Foothill Blvd. service road during the closures. Residents will not be able to access Interstate 80 at exit 99 during the nighttime closures.

WYDOT recommends all travelers in Rock Springs enter and exit Interstate 80 from exit 102, Dewar Drive, if at all possible. Traffic on US 191 South will be routed through the Sunset Drive Service Road. Travelers coming from the south on US 191 will be detoured into Rock Springs on Sunset Drive and onto the interstate from exit 102, Dewar Drive.

The Flaming Gorge Road project consists of one bridge replacement and two bridge improvements at the intersection of US 191 South and Interstate 80 near Cruel Jack's. The first bridge off exit 99 that travels over I-80 is the one being replaced.

Records show Sen. Mike Enzi made late tax payments

Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi has made a few late tax payments on his house in Gillette since he started in the Senate in 1996. Campbell County records show Enzi and his wife Diana were late on property tax payments on their home in Gillette in 1999, 2000 and 2008. They paid interest on the late payments. Enzi is facing challenger Liz Cheney in next year's Republican primary. Records show Cheney and her husband also were late paying property taxes on the Teton County home they purchased last year. Enzi spokesman Coy Knobel says the senator has been paying property taxes in Wyoming for 40 years and that he's always paid the bill with interest if he was ever late.

New Wyo. ed director: 'We're here to support'

Richard Crandall has taken over as director of the Wyoming Department of Education. Crandall, who started on Monday, says the agency's purpose is to support districts and teachers in educating students. Crandall was a longtime member of the state legislature in Arizona. He was picked to direct the department after a national search by the State Board of Education and an appointment from Gov. Matt Mead. A law enacted last winter replaced the state superintendent of public instruction as head of the Education Department with a director appointed by the governor. Crandall says his vision for the department is multi-faceted. He says that a large part of the work will be to find out the goals districts have and support that work.