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06-26-09

 

The bickering is over and once again, St. John’s Medical Center is without a permanent chief executive officer.  The hospital board yesterday fired CEO Jim Schuessler after months of high profile disagreement.  The board cited a lack of enough support from the board to allow him to be successful in his responsibilities as the reason for his dismissal.  Schuessler had taken the helm of the hospital in January of 2007.  Upon severing ties with Schuessler, the board appointed John Kren, the hospital’s Controller, as interim chief.  The hospital currently is operating without its top three administrative positions occupied.

(Jim Schuessler, File Photo)

 

Bears are beginning to wander into populated areas of Teton County, with one that had to be trapped and relocated.  Wyoming Game and Fish Spokesman Mark Gocke says for the most part, however, they have not been causing trouble. Gocke finds their appearance at this time surprising given the abundance of forage in the area and that it is still quite early in the season.  He says they more typically wander into populated areas later when food sources become more scarce. Gocke urges area residents to be sure attractants are not available to bears including garbage, pet foods, bar-b-que grills, or bird feeders.  Gocke says an adult female grizzly bear also was relocated yesterday from near Cody  into the extreme northern part of Bridger Teton National Forest after it was involved in cattle depredation in that community.

 

Replacement of a bridge in Teton County and highway work slated for Hoback Junction and just south of Jackson are among the projects the Wyoming Highway Department has delayed in order to remain within the department’s budget.  According to a statement by WYDOT’s District 3 office, the replacement of the Snake River Bridge at Hoback Junction has been delayed until 2011 and the projects on US 26/89 will not take place now until 2016.  At the same time, plans to widen the highway between Etna and Thayne in Lincoln County have also been delayed until 2016.  Among other projects “back burnered” are a reconstruction project of three miles of US 191 just south of Hoback Junction, a reconstruction project on Wyoming 22 west of Jackson and two projects along Wyoming highway 390 near Teton Village.  Highway Engineer John Eddins says the department expects to only be able to do about half of the miles of road improvements that it has in the past until finances improve.  Meanwhile, work on the Snake River Bridge east of Wilson begins Monday with one-lane, alternating traffic expected nightly between 6:30 pm and 6:30 am.

 

A preliminary review by the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance of studies, maps and data regarding the South Park area has found significant evidence of the importance of the area to the overall ecological health of the larger Jackson Hole ecosystem.  Executive Director Franz Camenzind says an examination of roughly 40 reports, studies, correspondences and assessments pertaining to the South Park and Tribal Trails connector road areas has found well-established evidence that: Elk, mule deer and moose use the area for annual migrations; raptors use the open agricultural fields for foraging, and the cottonwood and aspen stands for resting; songbirds and migratory birds use the wetlands and riparian areas for feeding and resting; and waterfowl, fish, amphibians and reptiles use the wetlands, rivers, riparian habitats, creeks and irrigation ditches. Camenzind says that the importance of regions such as South Park could be underestimated in part through the myth that Jackson Hole’s wildlife could survive on public lands alone.  Camenzind says the report will be available beginning July 1^st on the Conservation Alliance website or office at 685 S. Cache in Jackson.

 

Teton County’s HAM radio operators are joining with thousands of Amateur Radio operators who will be showing off their emergency capabilities this weekend.  This weekend, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with Teton County’s ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country, and contact fellow hams nationwide. Teton County’s HAMs will be set up in a forest service campground north of town.  The slogan, "Ham radio works when other systems don't! " is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis.  Over the past year, news reports have been filled with reports of HAM radio operators providing critical communications during emergencies including wildfires, hurricanes, winter storms, tornadoes and other events world-wide.

(Photo: icom)

 

An electrical transformer explosion near the town square late Thursday afternoon caused no small amount of excitement for witnesses, but did not spread to and structures in the vicinity.  According to Fire Marshal Rusty Palmer, the transformer on one of the poles behind Wyoming Outfitters exploded about 4:40 pm, spilling the oil contained inside to the ground, which then caught fire as well.  Palmer says the flames on the ground were quickly extinguished by some employees of the nearby stores using fire extinguishers, and Lower Valley Energy was contacted.  Palmer says firefighters put out the fire on top of the pole with the advice of the power company and were able to turn it over to the power company for repairs within an hour and a quarter.

 

 

 

06-25-09

 

Wyoming's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has increased from 4.5% in April to 5.0% in May. The state Department of Employment says the last time Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was this high was June 1999. Meanwhile, the state says the over-the-year job growth rate in Wyoming continued to decline, falling from -0.9% in April to -1.6% in May.  Teton County had one of the highest rates last month at 6.4 percent despite seasonal job gains in leisure and hospitality.  Still, Wyoming’s employment situation is in better shape than the nation as a whole where rate now stands at 9.4%.

 

While the cases of Swine Flu in Wyoming have increased even higher now, there still have been no confirmed cases in Teton County.  Currently, Kim Deti of the Wyoming Department of Health says there are 72 cases of Swine Flu in the state, 50 of which are in Laramie County.  The rest are in Sweetwater, Lincoln, Fremont, Natrona, Uinta, Campbell and Johnson Counties.  Again, Deti emphasizes that the count reflectgs only those cases confirmed in the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory and do not account for those people who may have become ill and not sought medical attention.

 

50-year-old woman from Spain had a close call yesterday of the large animal kind.  According to Stacy Vallie of Yellowstone National Park, the woman was butted and tossed in the air by a bull bison at Canyon while using a pay phone in the lodging area.  According to witnesses the woman was with her husband at the time and  the were talking on the phone with their backs to the road. The witnesses say as two bull bison were passing walking along the road some  20 feet away when one of the bison left the road, walked up behind the woman and butted her into the air. The injured woman was transported to the Canyon Lodge front desk by visitors, and taken by ambulance to the Lake Clinic where she was released with only minor injuries.

(NPS Graphic)

 

Isolated students in Teton County will have another alternative for their schooling beginning this fall, thanks to an agreement recently made with Connections Academy, LLC to provide virtual classes at home.  Jackson Hole High School Principal Scott Crisp says Jackson Hole Connections Academy will provide more than just internet links for classes. Crisp says the students have textbooks, text materials and access to academic coaches. Crisp says only one other county in Wyoming has made such a choice available.  Crisp explains that there has been a need for this kind of alternative because of the area’s geography and its weather. Crisp says the arrangement also provides additional resources for the traditional school setting.  Connections academy will work in partnership with Teton County School District to provide a comprehensive K -12 distance education option for students, and their diplomas will ultimately come from Jackson Hole Connections Academy within Teton County School District #1.

 

Brace yourself for the chances of stronger than expected Independence Day Holiday visitation numbers in northwestern Wyoming.  The holiday is only one week from Saturday now, and while AAA Auto Club is projecting the number of Americans traveling on vacation this Fourth of July holiday weekend will decrease 1.9 percent from 2008, AAA says the level of regional travel is not balanced throughout the nation.  According to their annual projection, travel plans are based on the economic conditions of the regions.  Consequently, AAA says relative economic strength in the Rocky Mountain Region – including Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and – is reflected in AAA’s expectations for higher than average Independence Day weekend travel.  The July 4th holiday is typically the busiest time of year for auto travel since nearly all school-aged children are out of school at this time and, as a result, parents are more apt to take family vacations at this time.

 

Governor Dave Freudenthal says as yet he has had no reply to the letter he sent to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack objecting that the forests in the state of Wyoming have not received any economic stimulus money to help with wildland fire mitigation projects.  Freudenthal says he had broached the subject with Vilsack at the Western Governor’s Conference earlier in the month but got no meaningful response then either other than to be assured they would look into it. The governor appealed to Vilsack for $26 ½ million dollars for mitigation projects here.  Freudenthal says when he sent the letter, some of the other government leaders cautioned that it might make them mad, but Freudenthal says they can’t give the state any less money than they are now.

(File Photo)

 

 

06-24-09

 

Lower Valley Energy’s annual meeting Thursday faces an unprecedented field of candidates for one of the cooperative’s board positions.  Cooperative Executive Director Jim Webb says eight candidates have lined up to seek the seat being vacated this year by a long-time board member.  Meanwhile, only one candidate is running for District 4.  Additionally, Webb says member consumers are asked to consider whether to opt out of state regulation for natural gas and propane rates. Webb says all LVE members, whether or not they use propane or natural gas, needs to vote on that issue.  Ballots must be returned to LVE prior to Thursday, or interested persons may attend the meeting at 6:00 in the Jackson office of the co-op and cast their votes in person.

 

Teton County’s Commissioners have taken official action now to combine the county’s operation of the Teton County Solid Waste Transfer Station with the Recycling Center and the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility located at Adams Canyon.  According to the county, a new Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling division of the Teton County Engineering Department will be established July 1st. This new division will be managed by the current staff of Jackson Community Recycling, with the support of an Advisory Board. JCR Executive Director Hather Overholser points out that Jackson Community Recycling has operated under a joint agreement between the Town of Jackson and Teton County as a public non-profit organization since 1990. Under the newly created county division, she says the Town of Jackson will no longer be directly involved with county solid waste management.

 

Even though the event is still seven months away, the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race has already filled its roster of teams for the 2010 race.  Race organizer Frank Teasley says they are now taking a waiting list of names.  The 2010 International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, limited to 20 teams, is slated to begin January 29^th from the Jackson town square.  Teasley says this is by far the earliest the roster has filled. Racers who have signed up hale from anywhere ranging from parts of Wyoming to the Northwest Territory of Canada.  Teasley says that a $500 gas stipend provided to each team who leaves Jackson’s starting line along with an increase last year in race prize money has made the race attractive to teams.

 

If the last week of June is here, can winter ski season be far behind?  While that may be a strange way of thinking, that is exactly how the area’s destination ski resorts see the calendar.  Grand Targhee Ski Resort Saturday began processing season passes for the upcoming winter season.  Among the 2009 -2010 rates, there’s a new lower rate for the Junior Grand Pass, offered at $199 until September 7th.  A new Grand Pass for college students also starts at $199 and requires that students are taking a minimum of eight college credits. Otherwise, the Grand Pass until September 7^th is $575 for adults, $399 for young adults, $2.75 for seniors over the age of 65 and free for children five and under.  The rates increase by $100 between September 8^th and November second, and another $100 after that.  The family pass until September 7^th is $1249.

 

Grand Teton National Park officials have announced that a brief travel closure will be in effect on the unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road within Grand Teton National Park for about seven hours beginning at 5:30 am on Friday. The temporary closure is scheduled to allow for grading work to be done on the unpaved roadbed. The Moose-Wilson Road will reopen by 1:00 pm barring inclement weather or equipment malfunction.

 

A local resident was found dead in the Sheep Creek area shortly after 11:30 am Monday.  Sheriff’s Captain Scott Terry says the county got a call from an individual in the area who discovered a deceased individual there, and officers were sent to investigate.  Deputies found Mark Baldock’s body, apparently the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Baldock was 53-year-old.

 

06-23-09

A Jackson man is in custody after a mid-morning bank robbery in downtown Jackson Monday.  Jackson Police Chief Dan Zivkovich says 47-year-old Patrick Stigen was apprehended after individuals outside the downtown branch of Wells Fargo bank described a man they saw running from the bank and the car he drove away in.  Zivkovich says during the process of questioning Stigen, he confessed to the crime. Zivkovich says the abilities of officers to apprehend the suspect was a result of quick response, good police work and helpful citizens. Zivkovich says investigators are still sifting through the details of the incident, but Stigen apparently placed a bag onto the counter at the bank and put his hand in his pocket suggesting he had a weapon. Slightly more than $2000 was taken.

 

Services are pending for a 19-year-old Jackson Hole youth who was struck by a car and killed about 8:30 Sunday evening as he was training for Junior Olympics in a northern Maine community.  According to a Fort Fairfield police report, Willie Neal was roller skiing not far from the Canadian Border with a companion when a car driven by an 18-year-old Ft. Fairfield male struck and killed Willie.  Neal last year served as the youngest delegate to the Democratic National Convention and was training with his brother Eliot to qualify for next year’s US Junior World Championship team.  Fort Fairfield police continue to investigate the case.

 

This weekend’s thunder storms kept interagency firefighters busy in Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest.  Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says despite the sodden wildlands, the lightning triggered a quarter acre fire near the Teton Point turnout north of Jackson which is currently being managed for its resource benefits.  Skaggs says a second fire started along the Granite Canyon Trail from an illegal warming fire. Two other fires were sparked Sunday on Munger Mountain and Curtis Canyon with the latter the result of a debris-burning fire. Both of those fires have been extinguished.

 

Jackson Hole Crime Stoppers has joined with Crime Stoppers USA’s 350-member programs and Crime Stoppers International (CSI) to announce their collaboration in the first ever worldwide manhunt for violent fugitives. The initiative is intended to help identify and capture fugitives wanted both domestically and internationally.  Sixty -five of those dangerous fugitives are believed to be hiding in the United States and can be viewed by going to CrimeStoppersUSA.com and clicking the International Fugitive Roundup link at the top of the home page.  At the same time, Jackson Hole Crime Stoppers is encouraging the public to report local fugitives.  The list of fugitives from Teton County can be viewed by looking at the warrants list at either the Jackson Police Department’s website, jacksonholepolice.com, or on the Sheriff’s website at tetonsheriff.org.  As always, tips for either can be called in to the Crime Stoppers hotline, 733-5148.

 

Response to the idea of turning the Wyoming portion of Interstate-80 into a toll road was largely negative at a series of public meetings last week. According to estimates, it will cost six point four billion dollars to maintain I-80 over the next 30 years.  One idea is to impose most of the tolls on truck drivers. The trucking industry opposes this saying tolls would lead commercial drivers to use other routes. But WYDOT spokesman Bruce Burrows says tractor trailers account for much more wear and tear than passenger vehicles. A feasibility study put possible toll rates at 116-dollars for tractor trailers and around nine-dollars for passenger vehicles. I-80 is already a toll road in portions of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio…and Pennsylvania is awaiting approval from the Federal Highway Administration to make that portion of the interstate a toll road.

 

The Wyoming Department of Education released the list of school districts statewide awarded another year of accreditation based on evaluation by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation.  Among the areas evaluated are vision and purpose, governance and leadership, teaching and learning, document and using results, resources and support systems, communications and relationships, and commitment to continuous improvement.  Twelve districts failed to receive full accreditation, but Teton County was numbered among the 36 districts that did for the coming year.  The accreditation process is completed every two years throughout Wyoming.

 

 

06-22-09

A collision between a motorcycle, with two riders aboard, and a pronghorn over the weekend resulted in serious injuries to the passenger and minor injuries to the driver. The collision occurred at 1:25 pm Saturday on Highway 26/89, two miles south of    the Snake River Overlook in Grand Teton National Park. 38-year-old Brady Burgess of Garland, Utah and his passenger and wife, 46-year-old Koreen Burgess, were southbound when the collision occurred.  Emergency medical personnel from Teton County and an off duty Minnesota highway patrolman, who was first on the scene, came to the aid of the pair. Two ambulances—one from Grand Teton and the other from Teton County—responded to the scene to transport the two injured people to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson where  Koreen Burgess is still hospitalized.  Neither Burgess nor his wife was wearing a helmet at the time.

Residents and Visitors traveling through Grand Teton National Park this week will see a lot of fire equipment and perhaps a little smoke in the vicinity of Mormon Row.  Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says the event is actually a unique training opportunity for interagency firefighters to learn ways to determine how and where a wildfire started. Skaggs says participants will also learn how to preserve evidence for investigations that might lead to citing the person who caused the fire so that park and forest officials can pursue cost recovery for fire suppression activities. 

(NPS Photo)

 

The town of Jackson will be getting five new busses for the START bus system thanks to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds being distributed through the state of Wyoming.  The Wyoming Department of Transportation was granted $3.6 million dollars for the construction of new bus facilities and the purchase of vehicles by communities within the state.  According to US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Crook and Campbell Counties will build new bus garages while the Town of Jackson acquired the new busses.  The latest five-bus grant from ARRA, along with two other recent grants, will pay for at total of nine busses that are already making their appearances of Jackson streets.  Among them, a large coach for the Jackson to Star Valley Route, two hybrids that were recently delivered, 5 standard busses which will be delivered in November and one more hybrid that will join the fleet next year.

 

At a hearing concerning state budget reductions last week, the legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee was told that the budget needed to be reduced and there is no guarantee that energy revenues will return to recent levels. The J-A-C was told that the state will have a lot less money to carry over into next year and so there was little choice but to reduce the state budget. Governor Dave Freudenthal told lawmakers that if they did
not make budget cuts now, future budget cuts would be very severe. When questioned about whether he was being too conservative, the Governor said if he is wrong, they can always find a way to spend money they did not expect to have. But Senator John Schiffer of Kaycee thinks the Governor’s cuts were probably appropriate. He says the legislature ended up spending a little too much. Meanwhile the committee got some sobering news. A surge in natural gas development in other places could mean that Wyoming’s gas market could be on the decline. State Economist Buck McVeigh says currently 60 percent of Wyoming’s revenues come from Natural gas. He says changes to the price of natural gas can have a dramatic impact on the state economy.
 

This week marks the National Weather Service observance of Lightning Awareness Week in Wyoming.  Warning and Coordination Meteorologist  Chris Jones says Wyoming does not have the best record in the country when it comes to lightning fatalities. Jones says people living in or recreating in Teton County can be particularly at risk. Jones says if you get caught on the trail, it is best if you are below tree line so that you aren’t the tallest object on the mountain – but if you get caught above timberline, stay as low as you can to make yourself less of a target and minimize your contact with the ground.

 

 

 

06-19-09

 

The recommendations of the group appointed to advise Teton County’s Planning Commission on key points of a comprehensive plan may have been turned over to the county prematurely.  Members of the Stakeholder Advisory Group participating in the Comprehensive Planning Process met with members of the media yesterday to discuss the scope of their activities and the value of what they had accomplished.  Those speaking for the 18-member committee said there is still much more analysis that needs to be done of the issues in question.  Still, Brad Mead explains that the committee’s job was NOT to produce a final comprehensive plan. Committee member Armond Acri adds that if there was disagreement, committee members listened to each other’s concerns and sought ways to deal with the issues in a way that would address those concerns.  Anne Hayden-Cresswell emphasized that the group was made up of representatives of key interests in the community whose recommendations carried no more weight than anyone else in the community.  The County Commission next week is to determine what should be the next step in the process. 

 

Officials in Yellowstone National Park have identified the man who plunged into the Yellowstone River Wednesday and was seen washing over the 208-foot Lower Yellowstone Falls.  Spokesman Al Nash says 20 year old Nicholas Mostert was on an observation platform at the Brink of the Lower Falls, when he jumped over the railing into the Yellowstone River.  Nash says searchers Wednesday rapelled to the bottom of the canyon and recovered some of Mostert’s clothing from an eddy about a quarter mile downstream from the base of the Lower Falls. The searchers are continuing their efforts along the banks of the Yellowstone River in hopes of recovering Mostert’s body, but officials admit it may be some time before his remains turn up.

Doug Madsen of Yellowstone’s Search and Rescue Team

Retrieves an item of the victim’s clothing from the

Yellowstone River.  (NPS Photo by Doug MacCartney)

 

Jackson Hole Airport yesterday became one of three airports nationally to receive American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funds for new in-line baggage screening.  Representatives of Homeland Security made a formal presentation of a check for $6-point-2 million dollars at the Jackson Hole Airport which will be used for equipment being incorporated into the terminal renovations, eliminating the need for passengers to walk their checked baggage to a screening location before reporting to the boarding area.  Airport Board President Jerry Blann says the airport was fortunate to be selected to receive the federal money for the new system. Airport Manager Ray Bishop pointed out that this is the second stimulus grant received by the airport with the first used to repave the runway.  Consequently, Bishop says, Jackson Hole Airport became the first to use FAA stimulus money in the nation and the first to use TSA stimulus money in the nation.

 

The debate over the killing of bison near Yellowstone National Park has flared up again this week.  Montana Department of Livestock agents captured three bull bison Wednesday morning in a bison trap located on private land less than 200 yards from the western border of Yellowstone National Park. The bison were then loaded onto a livestock trailer and shipped to a slaughterhouse. Local residents say the animals had been grazing near the Park border for the past several weeks on and around National Forest lands purchased for wildlife habitat.  The Montana Department of Livestock however maintains the animals were outside of that area and failed to respond to attempts to haze them back into the park. Officials say one of the four was shot near a ranch where it had been mingling with livestock in recent days, but the ranch manager says it was more than a mile away from the ranch.  The Buffalo Field Campaign’s Habitat Coordinator is very critical of the operation saying it demonstrates the state’s refusal to accept sound science about brucellosis transmission in their management decisions since the bison had not been tested for brucellosis before being shipped to the slaughterhouse.

 

The number of swine flu cases in Wyoming has risen now to 63 with a majority still reported in Laramie County.  According to the Wyoming Department of Health, 46 cases of the H1N1 virus were confirmed in Laramie County, six in Sweetwater County, five in Lincoln County, two each in Natrona and Uinta Counties, and one each in Fremont and Johnson Counties.  At this time, there still are no confirmed cases in Teton County, but Health Department Spokesperson Kim Deti (DEE-TIGH) is quick to add there may be cases in the state they don’t know about – including here. Deti also points out that while this is a new strain and an uncommon time of year for the flu, the incidence of the disease is similar to a typical annual flu season.

 

 

06-18-09

 

Searchers in Yellowstone National Park are combing the Yellowstone River for the body of a 20-year-old Utah man who was seen Tuesday afternoon apparently jumping into the river and then being carried over the 308 foot Lower Falls.  Spokesman Al Nash says little is known about the man or why he climbed over the railing and plunged into the rushing river below in front of horrified visitors.  Nash says park personnel continue to look for the remains of the man which could have been carried some distance downstream by the high, swift water. The current stream flow reading upstream of the falls at the outlet of Yellowstone Lake is recording over 44,500 gallons of water per second flowing into the Yellowstone River. Nash says the man’s name is not being released at this time.

(NPS Photo: Lower Falls; Bryan Harry) 

 

Gasoline prices continue to rise nationally, and locally they have pushed up several cents again.  According to the AAA Auto Club’s Fuel Gauge Report, the national average is currently $2.67 for a gallon of unleaded regular – up 36 cents from a month ago.  Wyoming’s average is now $2.54 per gallon with Jackson’s average hovering in that vicinity as well.  The lowest average price is found in South Carolina at $2.48 a gallon with gasoline averaging $3.02 in Hawaii and $3.01 in California now.  By July first last year, the national average for gasoline had risen to $4.11 and began its steady decline until December.

 

As predicted earlier this year, Lower Valley Energy was able to decrease its rate for natural gas delivered to Jackson Hole customers.  LVE filed with the Wyoming Public Service Commission for a natural gas rate decrease back in April, and Spokesman Brian Tanabe says it became effective on June third. The rate decrease is approximately 14%, and Tanabe says will be reflected in LVE bills that are sent out in early July.  Tanabe points out that this is the second such decrease in less than a year.

 

Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal is not pleased with the US Forest Service allocation of federal economic stimulus money, and has some sharp words for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.  Freudenthal is criticizing the agency for allocating millions of dollars in funding for wildland fire mitigation projects based on what he says is inaccurate data and a model he says the Forest Service is unwilling to disclose to the states.  Freudenthal points to the state’s forests which are suffering from the same pine beetle epidemic that has swept across the west, but has not received the kind of supplemental appropriations to address the impacts that Colorado and other states have.  The Governor is seeking $26 ½-million dollars for mitigation projects here.  In his letter to Vilsack, Freudenthal told Agriculture Secretary he is anxious to help the Forest Service live up to its responsibilities.

 

Nearly 60-million acres of national forest land throughout the western US will be open to the construction of access roads, after a federal judge in Wyoming refused to overturn his ruling blocking a nationwide order banning road construction there.  US District Judge Clarence Brimmer denied the request from the Department of Agriculture.  The 2001 rule would have banned development of more than 58 million acres – mostly in the western states.  Now, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is again seeking the power to reinstate that rule for one year.

 

Teton County is receiving nearly $1-point-5 million dollars from the Department of Interior as payment in lieu of taxes this year.  That’s nearly a quarter million dollars higher than last year’s payment.  Interior Secretary Ken Salazar explains that counties with federal lands lose tax revenues because those lands are federal, and the PILT money is intended to offset that loss. The lands upon which the PILT payment is being based include the National Forest and National Park Systems, those managed by the Bureau of Land Management, those affected by Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation water resource development projects, and others.

 

 

 

06-17-09

 

The governors of eight western states and three Canadian provinces concluded the 2009 Western Governors Association meeting in Park City, Utah yesterday where issues involving energy development and transmission and water concerns dominated the three-day agenda.  Among the actions taken by the group, a memorandum of understanding was formalized with the signatures of Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Idaho Governor Butch Otter, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.  Governor Schweitzer says the measure is an effort to better protect wildlife corridors and key habitats while building transmission facilities across the western states.  Schweitzer credits Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal for leading the effort to craft the agreement.  Secretary Salazar says the agreement will accelerate renewable energy projects and new transmission lines and the jobs those projects will create.  Meanwhile, the Western Governors’ Wildlife Council will hold its regular meeting next month, during which it will also begin the process of implementing the MOU with the federal agencies.

 

Runoff continues to keep the rivers high in northwestern Wyoming and area reservoirs are all nearly 100% filled now.  Still, the national weather service hydrologist Jim Fahey is looking at the summer ahead somewhat conservatively.  Fahey says snowmelt runoff volume forecasts vary from average to above average for the Snake, Shoshone, and Upper Yellowstone Watersheds to well below average for the Sweetwater and Lower Green Basins.  Fahey says anticipated snowmelt volumes are lower than normal for the rest of June through September across the state, but the cool, wet weather this month is helping maintain water storage levels higher longer bringing hope for a good carry-over into the next water year.

 

The move is under way for teachers and their classrooms from the old Jackson Elementary School to the school’s new building just to the north.  Teachers, support personnel, custodians and volunteers plan to have everything of value moved to the new building by the end of this week and the district is to turn the old building over to the demolition contractor by the end of the month.  That building has been serving the valley’s elementary students since 1956.  Once the old building is razed, the site is to be reclaimed as grassy area and playground.  School officials point out that the new 498-student building is the first in the state to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver rating from the US Green Building Council and is actually in line to be awarded the coveted gold rating.

(Photo: TCSD)

 

Work is under way today on a very popular trail in Grand Teton National Park, and a temporary closure of that trail will be necessary while supplies are airlifted in.  Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says a bridge between the West Jenny Lake Boat Dock and Hidden Falls is being replaced, and heavy logs are being transported to the site with a sling under a helicopter.  During the helicopter activity, the trail in the vicinity will be closed but the boats will continue to run and hikers will be rerouted.  Skaggs says rangers will be on hand to help direct hikers from the boats to the alternate routes during the closure period.  That closure is anticipated to take about two hours beginning at 1:00 pm.

 

Jackson Hole is to be in the national forefront once again during an event this fall which could bring cabinet members and energy policy makers to the community.  The University Of Wyoming School Of Energy Resources will host the Western States Energy and Environment Symposium Oct. 25-27.  According to the organizing committee, much of the agenda is already set now, but organizers say they're still waiting to hear back from the two cabinet-level officials who have been invited to speak at the event.  Those primary speaking spots have been offered to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Energy Secretary Steven Chu.  The three-day symposium is to focus on such issues as renewable energy, fossil fuel development, nuclear energy and carbon management.

 

Friends of Pathways has announced the establishment of a new active transportation challenge this summer. Under the “Go By Bike” initiative, bicyclists are urged to ride to work, log miles, compete against friends, win cool prizes all while saving money, burning calories and helping out the environment.  In just two weeks since the launch of the program, Friends of Pathways Executive Director Tim Young says there are already 36 teams and 198 participants who have logged 6,695 non-motorized miles.  The program began June first and will continue through September 12^th.

 

 

 

06-16-09

 

Funding cutbacks caused by the recession have come to Wyoming’s Department of Education.  Dr. Jim McBride met with district superintendents over the past week to discuss what funding is available and what is in store for school foundation accounts.  McBride told the school districts that cuts this year will not affect district funding, but that is likely to change next year.  That means, says Teton County Superintendent Pam Shea, this district will have to look at belt-tightening like everyone else when those cuts hit. Shea says beyond the operating budget, cuts are already being felt in the facilities budget, which she says could impact Teton County’s school district down the road. Shea says currently, Teton County has eight sections of Kindergarten through second grade students.  Tonight, the school board will vote whether to seek renewal of three property tax levies, including the one that supports the recreation district.

 

The search and rescue season is apparently getting into full swing now.  Two rescues last week kept Teton County Search and Rescue personnel busy and yielded a strong turnout from the volunteer organization.  The first of the calls involved a woman who slipped while traveling the Goodwin Lake Trail and injured her hip.  Search and Rescue Coordinator Doug Meyer says about 30 people responded to help evacuate her to where she could transport herself to the hospital for treatment.  Then over the weekend, Meyer says a large contingent of rescue personnel turned out to evacuate a bear hunter who had lost consciousness in the Burbank Creek area west of Teton Pass.  The man was ultimately flown out to an Idaho hospital.  On that incident, Meyer says the search and rescue personnel from here joined forces with rescuers from Driggs, Idaho and the Victor Fire Department since the incident was very near the state line.  Meyer says with people just getting into town and people ready to get into the back country after all the rain, he anticipates search and rescue activity will be picking up in the weeks ahead.

 

As summer travel has begun to pick up around the valley, unfortunately, so has wildlife mortality.  Mark Gocke of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department say it is a perilous time right now for those same animals people long to see. Consequently, Gocke says, drivers need to be extra watchful as they drive the valley, not only inside the National Park.  Gocke urges drivers to be aware of the vulnerable young, and those who may be more interested in watching the wildlife than the traffic around them.

 

Wyoming big game, fish and other wildlife could soon have a guaranteed home on public lands. Congress is looking at a bi-partisan bill that would require the Forest Service and B-L-M to coordinate and manage lands to maintain sustainable populations of fish and wildlife – while also managing oil and gas development. Duane Short with the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance says the bill would require federal agencies to establish an early warning system so action can be taken quickly when species numbers start to dwindle. Locally, hunting groups and union members are throwing their support behind the bill. Opponents of the bill say it creates more bureaucracy that could hinder development of important domestic oil and gas supplies.

 

This weekend is to be the first of three summer weekends entrance fees to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are being waived in hopes of encouraging the public to become more familiar with their national parks.  Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says the idea is to offer alternatives for families to take mini-vacations in an affordable setting. In addition to Father’s Day weekend, fee free weekends are being offered July 18 and 19 and again August 15 and 16.  In  Grand Teton National Park, special programs will be made available during the weekend in addition to the regularly scheduled programs.

 

 

 

06-15-09

 

Swine Flu has come to nearby Sublette County, now.  The Wyoming Department of Health announced this weekend the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of swine flu virus in state residents has risen to 47.  According to the department, testing at the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory has confirmed cases in six counties. Of those found in the state, 41 are from Laramie County, two are from Uinta County, and there is one each from Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona and Sweetwater counties.  The department expects the number of actual infections around the state to be higher because many ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested.

 

 The process for drafting the city/county comprehensive plan was for all intents and purposes derailed last Thursday when Planning Commission Chairman Tony Wall called for it to be reassigned by the board of county commissioners back to staff and the action was passed.  What that does, says County Planner Jeff Daugherty, is put the process on hold until the board of commissioners can act on reassigning the study.  Prior to the surprise action, Daugherty says public discussion was abundant and articulate.  Until the planning discussions can resume and a new comprehensive plan crafted, Daugherty says the county will continue using its 1994 plan to guide its decision.

 

Summer season is here at last, and for the children of Teton County, that means school dismissed for summer vacation on Friday.  Jackson Police Chief Dan Zivkovich reminds motorists that they will need to be all that much more watchful when driving through town now. At the same time, Zivkovich urges parents to take time to visit with their children about safe behaviors during their activities. Zivkovich says one of the highest concerns is where visibility may be obscured by parked cars or bushes, and motorists should always anticipate the unexpected.

 

Teton County, Wyoming has received $540,556 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Fiscal Year 2008 revenue sharing allotment. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service makes revenue sharing payments to counties for the lands they administer.  Lands acquired by the Service are removed from the tax rolls, but the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act, as amended, offsets the tax losses to the county or other local unit of government by paying an amount that often equals or exceeds that which would have been collected from taxes had the land been held in private ownership.  Teton County received payment based upon the acreage and current value of National Elk Refuge and Jackson National Fish Hatchery properties, both operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

Valley businesses and key energy and fuel distributors are being asked to participate in a community-wide emissions inventory this summer.  The baseline data gathered with this inventory will serve as a measurement for the Energy Sustainability Project.  Rick Heede, of Climate Mitigation Services, has been engaged to collect data about local energy and fuel usage valley wide. The emissions inventory will measure electricity, propane, natural gas, fuel oil, gasoline and diesel and will include just the immediate valley – Moran Junction to Hoback Junction, Teton Pass to Slide Lake.  The data collected will then be reported out in general and confidential terms with individual integrity maintained.  Jackson Mayor Mark Barron says the emissions inventory is the first step in moving towards a more sustainable energy future and creation of an action plan or ‘roadmap’ to get there.  In 2007, a challenge was issued by James Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank and long-time summer resident, for Jackson Hole to become a leader in energy efficiency and energy innovation, and to transform Jackson Hole into a model for sustainability. 

 

 

06-12-09

 

Could those traveling on I-80 through southern Wyoming find themselves paying a toll there in the future?  That is one option that is being discussed by the state legislature and officials of the Wyoming Department of Transportation.  However, WYDOT Spokesman Bruce Burrows quickly points out that the idea is only being explored at this point and is by no means a certainty.  In the interest of exploring this option, Burrows says public meetings are planned next week in Cheyenne, Laramie, Rawlins, Rock Springs and Evanston.  However, those from the Jackson Hole area wishing to participate in the process but unable to travel to one of these meetings may do so online. Burrows says the department is also looking at other options for raising revenues including an interstate pact under which the fuel taxes would be distributed according to the usage of roadways in each of the states.  Information gathered in the meetings will be reported back to the legislative committee that sponsored the bill.

 

The decision to remove the gray wolf from protection in Idaho and Montana has been the latest wolf action to be targeted by an environmental group.   The Greater Yellowstone Coalition filed a formal complaint in U.S. District Court in Missoula Wednesday, challenging the removal of gray wolves May 4^th from protection in Idaho and Montana.  Of course, wolves remain protected under the Endangered Species Act in Wyoming.  While GYC says it supports eventual state management of wolves, once adequate standards and safeguards are in place, delisting fails on several fronts. The GYC goes on that the state-by-state delisting approach also runs counter to previous decisions treating Greater Yellowstone wolves as one population.

 

Today is the day. All full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting analog signals and transmit only digital signals by the end of today.  The Federal Communications Commission reminds consumers they will need to make some changes in order to continue to receive TV programs if they are not on cable or satellite.  Those consumers who don’t subscribe to such pay television services and have older, analog televisions will need to attach digital-to-analog converter boxes between their antennas and their TV sets.  Consumers may call 1-888-CALL-FCC for help in understanding the transition to digital, or they may visit www.dtv.gov and enter their zip code or state in the upper right-hand corner of the page to find local events and walk-in centers where they can get assistance.  Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps explains that one of the great benefits of digital technology is that stations can now provide many more free over-the-air channels than the single channels have provided.

 

Bears have been in the news this week – a grizzly sow and cubs on the forest west of Big Piney, a grizzly moved from Park County to the vicinity of Grassy Lake and a grizzly attack on a hiker near West Yellowstone.  Wyoming Game and Fish Spokesman Mark Gocke says with the generous forage in the valley and the high bear activity, those involved in outdoor recreation need to be extra careful right now. Gocke says there haven’t been a lot of problems in residential areas around Jackson Hole yet, but there is a lot of bear activity in the vicinity of human activity. Officials of the national parks, forests and game and fish department encourage those who spot bears to quickly report them to the appropriate agencies.

 

Road construction continues in Grand Teton National Park. Beginning Sunday evening, the Signal Mountain Summit Road will be closed to weekday travel while the road receives an asphalt overlay. The project requires a closure for weekday traffic only while weekend traffic will be allowed to ascend the mountain. Park officials say these weekday travel restrictions will be in place through the remainder of the month. Meanwhile, reconstruction of the North Park Road in Grand Teton, between Lizard Creek campground and Flagg Ranch Resort is progressing. Work is being done includes widening and repaving the park road and the complete the reconstruction of the Snake River Bridge. Motorists are advised to expect daytime travel delays of up to 30 minutes from now through the end of November.

 

Run-off from melting snow caused a major rock slide along a popular trail in the Canyon area of Yellowstone National Park.  The slide has prompted a closure of the Uncle Tom’s Trail until further notice. The ½-mile long trail drops 500 feet in a series of more than 300 stairs and paved inclines. National Park Service staff have begun clearing rocks and debris from the trail, but have found significant structural damage to the steps, and the four steps of the lower landing were completely destroyed. Major repairs are necessary before the trail will reopen to the public. Uncle Tom’s Trail is a popular trail along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which provides a view of the Lower Falls and allows a descent of three-quarters of the way down in to the canyon.

 

 

 

06-11-09

 

Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal told graduates at the Journeys School last night that it will be up to the state’s young people to find new ways to move the state forward and keep it viable.  The governor told the three graduates and several hundred family and friends that coming to such graduation celebrations give him hope for the future. Freudenthal told the graduates that their education would continue beyond the classroom and he urged them to associate with a variety of peoples and interests to benefit from the richness of their views and values.  Most of all, Freudenthal entreated the students not to ever lose the enthusiasm for life they have now. The event marked the seventh graduation in the eight years since the Journeys School was established in Jackson.

(File Photo)

 

A man hiking in a popular recreation area just west of West Yellowstone was mauled Tuesday evening following a surprise encounter with a grizzly bear sow with one or more cubs.  The area where the mauling took place is approximately ten miles northwest of the town of West Yellowstone, Montana and four miles southwest of Lonesomehurst Campground near the confluence of the South Fork Madison River and the Madison Arm of Hebgen Lake.  The individual mauled was hiking alone in the area and surprised the sow.  He was able to walk back to the trailhead and get assistance.  He sustained injuries to his arm, neck and torso. The Gallatin National Forest has implemented a public safety area closure while Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigates the cause of the mauling.  

 

The rain continues to fall in Northwestern Wyoming, and at the same time, area reservoirs continue to fill.  The latest information from the US Bureau of Reclamation shows Jackson Lake is now 93% filled and Pallisades is 86% to its capacity.   Other reservoirs around the Snake River System are between 95% and 100% filled.  At the same time, snow still in the measuring stations around the area is above normal for this time of year, meaning in addition to the rain, there is still more snowmelt feeding into the system.

 

It’s election time for the Jackson Hole Area Chamber of Commerce.  There are six offices to be filled with multiple candidates for all but one.  Those offices include Retail Director, Recreation Director, Dining and Entertainment Director, Business and Professional Services Director, Financial Services Director, and Lodging Director.  Biographies of the candidates are available from the chamber of commerce and ballots need to be posted by Friday.

 

Among the issues of concern coming out of the “Building the Wyoming We Want” conference this week was how to get the state’s young residents more involved so that the state’s future is conducive to them remaining as residents.  However, Governor Dave Freudenthal says the responsibility for making that happen is shared. Freudenthal says historically, Wyoming has been a real “you wait your turn” sort of state, and that, he says, needs to change.  If we want young people to stay, the governor says they need to be allowed to be more active in their communities so that they can feel more invested in them and want to figure out how to stay.

 

Wyoming’s senators are continuing a tradition that had been kept by former Senator Craig Thomas.  Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso sponsored the annual bill to celebrate the National Day of the American Cowboy July 25^th.  Thomas, who was himself a cowboy, sponsored the resolution each year to name the fourth Saturday in July as a day to honor the accomplishments and contributions of cowboys across the nation. 

 (File Photo: Thomas)

 

 

 

06-10-09

 

A decline in the number of passengers coming and going from Jackson Hole Airport came as no surprise last month considering the airport closure for runway renovation.  Owing to the week-long closure, flights in and out of the valley dropped by 34% and so the number of passengers both coming and going similarly dropped by 38%.  Taking that into consideration, Airport Manager Ray Bishop says the decline in passengers that is left is pretty nominal. The statistics during May continued to show a decline in passengers year-to-date to about 16%...which in turn brings the airport passenger traffic to a level about even with levels seen in 2007.

 

The cloud-darkened skies of the nation’s current troubled economy appear to be more like partly cloudy over Wyoming.  According to a recent state survey, Wyoming residents are more optimistic about the future and what growth could bring to the state and region.  The survey, released this week by the governor’s office, indicates that Wyoming residents place their greatest priority on access to the great outdoors, their small, friendly communities and the health of the land and waters in the state.  However, the survey also shows that a strongly positive outlook toward the future was far from universal.  According to the document, residents of Carbon, Sweetwater, Lincoln, Sublette Uinta, Johnson and Sheridan Counties all see their economies as getting worse – being impacted by boom and bust cycles.

 

Wyoming’s schools collectively get a “C” when it comes to the effectiveness of graduating their students.  According to a report released this week by Educational Policy Improvement Center, only 73.2% of Wyoming’s high school students graduate, ranking the Cowboy State 23^rd out of the 50 states.  Statistics used in the report are three years old, but the report indicates Wyoming’s trend is downward.  Meanwhile, Teton County’s graduation rate for the year sampled was nearly 88%:  that’s higher than the highest statewide average in the survey.

 

Governor Dave Freudenthal told those attending the Building the Wyoming We Want conference in Casper yesterday that the state’s residents need to be actively involved in shaping the state’s future.  Freudenthal told the group, change is coming to Wyoming – like it or not – and the state’s residents need to take action to assure the change is of a positive nature. The Governor challenged residents to voice their concerns about the state’s growth at the local level where he says many of the key decisions are made in Wyoming.

(File Photo)

 

It was moving day Sunday for a four-year-old sub-adult grizzly bear that had been doing his grocery shopping at a dumpsite in Park County.  According to Wyoming Game and Fish Spokesman Mark Gocke, the bear had become a familiar site at a dump outside Clark, Wyoming north of Powell.  The bear was given a new home on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest south of Yellowstone in the Boone Creek Drainage – that’s about 30 miles northwest of Moran.  That location, Gocke says is within currently occupied grizzly bear habitat.

 

An environmental assessment on a comprehensive plan for improvements to the Tower/Roosevelt area of Yellowstone National Park has been released for public comment.  Park Spokesman Al Nash says the plan is really a broad brush approach. The area had been first developed as a stage stop over a hundred years ago and the plan seeks ways to make the area more efficient for visitors and administrators. Nash points out that each of the alternatives would put limits on what kind, where and how much future development would be permitted in the area.  The limits are designed to protect the area’s natural resources, and preserve the historic, rustic nature of the area.

 

 

06-09-09

 

While Yellowstone National Park last week reported an increase in visitation for the month of May, Grand Teton National Park is showing a decline.  Statistics posted by the National Park Service office in Washington indicate a decline in recreational visits of nearly ½% and a total travel decline in the park of almost 7%.  Still, says Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs, year to date figures are up over 3% compared with the same five month period of 2008. Skaggs goes on that the Park Service believes that people are tuning into the basics for family vacations again and taking the opportunity to “plug into that back yard national park experience and stay closer to home” and have a quality experience where you get a lot for the money that you spend for your vacation.

 

Travelers around Jackson Hole saw the price of gasoline jump with the lowest price shooting up from $2.21 Friday to $2.43 today.  Nationally, AAA Auto Club’s Fuel Gauge shows the average price of gasoline at the pump has increased nearly a dollar since the beginning of November.  Currently, the report indicates a national average of $2.61 ranging from $2.39 in South Carolina to $2.93 in Michigan.  AAA says a weak dollar has been influencing investors to look to investing in oil futures which in turn is causing the price per barrel to rise.  At the same time, recent low prices for crude have caused oil exporting countries to cut production while domestic inventories are declining.  All of this, AAA says is coming at the time that driving increases for the summertime which in turn increased demand. AAA now believes prices could eventually reach a national average of $2.75 per gallon if the existing momentum is maintained in the commodity and stock markets.

 

Yes, the earth shook south of Jackson again yesterday – this one was a 2.6 on the richter scale.  According to the US Geological Survey, the event took place at 3:07 pm 8 miles nearly straight east of Rafter J.  The USGS received very few reports of people in the valley who felt the quake.

 

Lightning storms rumbling through the Jackson Hole area over the weekend produced several lightning strikes to lands in the county, but Teton County Fire Marshal Rusty Palmer says fortunately, none resulted in any fire starts.  Palmer credits a combination of the wet conditions and the nature of the objects that were struck for the good fortune.  Palmer says most of the strikes were to rocks and bare land.  Still, Palmer urges residents who witness a lightning strike and then see any sign of smoke or flames to notify the fire department immediately so that crews can keep any such fire from spreading.

 

A local non-profit group is presenting an epic film entitled “Taking Chance” next week as part of their mission to recognize the sacrifices made by America’s veterans.  Sheriff Jim Whalen is involved in the group calling itself “Honoring our Veterans” which seeks to offer recreational opportunities to those men and women who have come home wounded or otherwise had their lives permanently altered.  Whalen says the film that is to be shown is a powerful piece about a Marine from DuBois, Wyoming as his remains are being brought home. Whalen says the local group is offering the movie to show how the US honors its fallen service members, and learn what the group is attempting to do for disabled veterans.  The movie will be shown twice Monday night free of charge – first at 7:00 pm and then again at 9:00 pm.

 

Yellowstone National Park is launching a series of safety inspections today focusing on commercial vehicles on park roads.  According to park administrators, the inspections are primarily focusing on commercial buses and trucks and evaluate both the driver and the commercial vehicle to assure full compliance with federal regulations that govern commercial vehicles. The Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are assisting park rangers with the full level inspections which officials say are taking place at undisclosed locations around Yellowstone.

 

 

06-08-09

 

Yellowstone National Park is reporting a 15% rise in overall visitation for the month of May – higher still for recreational visitors to the park.  Park Spokesman Al Nash says the increase was not totally unexpected. Altogether, the report shows visitation to the park for the year to date – including those traveling US Highway 191 along the western boundary of Yellowstone – is only slightly above the total for the first five months of 2008.  Still, Nash agrees with the Wyoming Travel Commission that the park could see solid visitation this summer because of its traditional place in family destinations. According to the park report, visitors through the south entrance saw an increase of over 19% from the same month in 2008. 

 

Rivers and streams in the area continue to run bank-full while the area’s reservoirs once again approach their capacities.  According to the Bureau of Reclamation, most reservoirs in the Snake River system are 90 to 100% full with Pallisades Reservoir currently filled to 78% of its capacity.  The weekend weather system brought generous rain to the valleys and more snow to the high country, and even closed some roads in Yellowstone for a time.  All of that precipitation is contributing to what promises to be another summer of sufficient water supplies for recreation and irrigation in this region.

 

A Governor's Task Force is conducting an online survey to review existing distance learning programs and opportunities in Wyoming – including those available here in Teton County. University of Wyoming Outreach School Dean Maggi Murdock says the survey will result in a better understanding of the distance education needs here. The survey, is open to all Wyoming residents online.

 

The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson is soon to be the recipient of an art collection valued at multi millions of dollars.  The Robert S. and Grayce B. Kerr Foundation recently is donating some 428 works of art and related items to the museum carrying a current market value of approximately $16 million.  The Foundation has been a cornerstone supporter of the Museum for over two decades.  The timing of the present gift serves to recognize the formal designation by the United States Congress and the President of the Museum’s status as the “National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States.”

 

For most people in Jackson Hole, the national conversion of analog to digital TV Friday will be transparent.  That’s because most here access their TV stations either through cable or satallite provider.  However, Jackson’s only TV station, KJWY does provide over the air signal and will discontinue analog transmissions beginning Friday – and for those who pick up that station from an antenna, KJWY Engineer Robin Estopinal says some changes will be necessary. Again, Estopinal points out that those on either Dish Network or Bresnan Cable in the valley will have no changes to make.  The deadline for converting translators and low power TV transmissions is set for another time.

 

 

 

06-05-09

 

Two Idaho men have been arrested in connection with a two state crime spree which is believed to have included vandalism at an RV storage area south of Jackson and the Darby Girls Camp in Teton County, Wyoming.  Damage at the girls camp was discovered in January, including broken windows and lighting fixtures and ruined furniture. Sheriff’s Detective Todd Stanyon says the investigations leading to the arrests involved multiple jurisdictions.  Stanyon says the pair was initially arrested in March by the Fremont County, Idaho Sheriff’s office in connection with a burglary in Island Park, and one of the two has also been implicated in the burglary of a home in Alta, Wyoming and may have been involved in a series of burglaries in Teton Valley, Idaho as well.  Stanyon says charges have been filed in the Wyoming cases. 

 

The orange cones are appearing in still more locations around the area as Wyoming Department of Transportation road repairs proliferate.  The latest involve road patching along US 26/89 south of Jackson followed by patching to Wyoming 22 over Teton Pass.  Each of those projects is expected to require only a few days of work and minor traffic disruption.

 

An earthquake about 3:45 pm Wednesday rattled homes and businesses around Riverside, Utah and was felt as far north as Blackfoot, Idaho.  Rated at four on the Richter scale, the quake apparently caused no damage.

 

Don’t pay for what you don’t have to.  That seems like some obvious advice, but State Treasurer Joe Meyer says some in Wyoming are being tricked into paying for services to connect residents with money they have coming to them from the unclaimed property office.  Meyer says post cards being received in the mail tell the recipients to send from $10 to $40 and fill out a form, and in return they get the phone number of the unclaimed property office.  Other offers seek finders fees under contract to obtain the information already available from the state at the unclaimed property office.  Meyer urges residents to avoid the scams and simply call the office at 307-777-5590 or check online to determine if the office has unclaimed funds for them.

 

Governor Dave Freudenthal has unveiled $231.6 million in budget cuts for the fiscal year which begins next month.  Speaking with members of the media yesterday, Freudenthal said the cuts were spread throughout the state’s programs, with the largest numerical cuts coming to those programs with the largest budgets.  Regardless of how conservative the governor is trying to make those cuts, Freudenthal says they won’t be totally painless.  Still, Freudenthal quickly points at other states and says it could be a lot worse. Freudenthal goes on that Wyoming’s unemployment rate is up to 4.5% but that is still lower than the national average.  However, given the decline in mineral revenues, Freudenthal says he doubts the revenue available for the next biennium will be any better.

 

The Wyoming Education Association has announced plans to host it’s annual summer institute in Jackson later this month.  According to Professional Issues Director Kathy Scheurman, sessions for the educators will address such topics as helping students deal with the military deployment of their parents, strategies to help English language learners close the gaps in their educations, and the use of technology in the classroom.  The event which will draw an undetermined number of statewide educators to Jackson takes place from June 16^th through the 19^th.

 

In efforts to control the mortality of trees on the Shoshone National Forest, a schedule has been set for spraying trees in and around local campgrounds with the insecticide, Carbaryl.  During the spraying, those campgrounds will be closed.  According to Forest Spokesman Mark Engler, Horse Creek and Double Cabin Campgrounds in the Wind River District out of DuBois will be closed for spraying Monday through Wednesday.  Engler says Carbaryl has a low toxicity rate and breaks down fairly quickly in the environment, but has proven to be effective in protecting the trees on a small scale against bark beetles.  Other favorite campground at Brooks Lake, Including the Upper and Lower Brooks Lake Campgrounds and  Pinnacle Campground, will not be sprayed until September first. 

 

 

06-04-09

 

The Wyoming Department of Health is shifting away from processing individual samples to determine if residents are infected with swine flu.  Earlier this week, the Department of Health announced that they had confirmed 13 cases of the disease in the state – 12 in Laramie County and one in Unita County.  So far, there have been none confirmed here in Teton County. Department Spokesperson Kim Deti explains that the state will now track a seasonal count of flu cases in general.  Deti says it has been undetermined if there was any kind of common denominator in the 12 cases in the Cheyenne area, and she quickly adds that the virus can be picked up anytime, anywhere from the local mall or schools to personal interactions.  She reminds that it is important to take the kinds of precaution that are typically observed in any flu or cold season.

 

Heavy Spring snows north of Yellowstone National Park this week lead to a power outage which effected much of the park and communities just outside the park.  The outage also led to phone, cell phone and internet service to be interrupted in much of the park.  Qwest Spokesperson Johnna Hoff says the power outage continued longer than the back-up batteries at a relay tower were capable of powering and technicians had to reach the tower on foot carrying new batteries, since the road to the tower was washed out.  Park Spokesman Al Nash says the outage did not affect the park’s radio and emergency communications.

 

The Teton County Sheriff’s Department is hosting an open house this weekend to give the public a rare glimpse of the county’s law-enforcement operation.  Sheriff Jim Whalen says this is the first time for such an event. Whalen says the open house will showcase the county’s canine program, the new bomb robot, the jail facility, the administrative offices, and the crime lab.  The open house runs from noon until 2:00 pm Saturday.

 

Rains in this part of Wyoming are renewing spring growth around the valley and surrounding forest.  While all of that is good now, predictive services at the National Interagency Fire Center are forecasting lower than normal precipitation in the later part of the summer for this part of the state, bringing with it a drying out of fine fuels and an elevated fire potential.  At the same time, the fire fighters are not voicing a high level of concern, but emphasize the importance of those living in urban interface areas to observe preventative measures – like clearing a defensible zone around their homes.

 

During a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing on the future of forestry policy, Wyoming’s Representative Cynthia Lummis emphasized her concerns regarding the health of Wyoming’s forests.  Lummis took time to explain the ravaging impacts bark beetles are having on the state’s forests.  Lummis pointed to Bridger-Teton National Forest where she told the subcommittee that 40% of the trees have been destroyed since 1991. She went on that the estimate is that by 2012, every single adult lodge pole pine in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado will be destroyed by beetle kill.  Lummis says the management of these resources needs to be more than just an experiment with grand theories about the role of fire or disease in the management of forests since Wyoming residents live near or even in these forests and base entire industries off of them.  Lummis serves as a member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

 

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently confirmed a grizzly bear in the Middle Piney Creek drainage west of Big Piney in the Wyoming Range. This is outside of the area of northwest Wyoming where grizzly bears are usually encountered, and the area is also heavily used by black bear hunters. An outfitter and a local hunter in the area reported seeing a grizzly bear while black bear hunting and provided photographs of the animal. The Game and Fish Department also reminds those recreating on the National Forest – including areas to the south now -- to follow food storage guidelines and store food and attractants unavailable to bears, and to carry and know how to use bear spray. 

 

Yellowstone National Park has unveiled a new educational film that is being screened through the summer at its Canyon Visitor Center.  The film, “Yellowstone: Land to Life” focuses on the effects of the park’s geologic forces and harsh weather conditions on the landscape and life forms.  What makes this film so unusual, however, is that it is fully accessible to visitors with hearing and visual disabilities, and may be heard in the visitors’ choices of English, Spanish, French, German and Japanese.  The film is being shown hourly.

 

 

06-03-09

 

Members of the public again had an opportunity Monday to participate in a public workshop on next year’s town budget and heard mayor and council discuss more areas that may see cuts due to a reduced sales tax base.  Mayor Mark Barron says the budget reductions are not pleasant by any means, but are a fact of life.  Among the more high profile cuts are those that will be suffered by the police department. Barron points out that the town budget is a living document and should economic conditions improve or finances become available, changes can be made even as the budget is being carried out.  The next public workshop is schedule for June 8^th.

 

Jackson Hole Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Manager Heather Falk has announced the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has approved a measure that would create a public/private partnership to attract international travelers to the US.  Falk says the “Travel Promotion Act of 2009” would have a budget of $200-million annually to be used in communicating the country’s security policies and showcase its most compelling attractions.  Falk says overseas visitors spend an average of $4500 per person per trip in the US. 

 

With the advent of the summer travel season, gasoline nationwide has spiked 45-cents at the pump since one month ago.  According to the AAA Auto Club’s Fuel Gauge Report, a gallon of unleaded regular now averages $2.52 across the country with the highest prices to be found in Hawaii at $2.83 per gallon followed by California at $2.78 per gallon.  The least expensive gasoline can be found in South Carolina at $2.33 per gallon.  In Wyoming, gasoline averages $2.38 a gallon with the lowest price in Jackson now $2.21.9.  Gasoline in Teton Valley Idaho can be found for as low as $2.38 at some locations.  According to the Lundberg Letter,

pump prices are being influenced by a slight increase in demand as employment – and so travel – begin to pick up again.  Consequently, The Letter predicts the retail price will swell moderately with a seasonally rising demand.

 

Teton County’s Sheriff’s office has entered the digital age with a new interactive website providing information about the department’s services, contact information, and activities.  Sheriff Jim Whalen says it is just one more effort to help the department better serve the public. Whalen says the new site also allows on-line reporting of certain crimes, minor vehicle accidents and lost property, and has a link to Jackson Hole CrimeStoppers to allow on-line reporting of crime tips.  The new site can be found at tetonsheriff.org.

 

It’s the stuff movies are made from, but in Jackson Hole, it’s part of our way of life.  It’s a semi-annual cattle drive right along the highway.  It’s scheduled for Saturday morning from 7:30 until 9:30 am between Moran Junction and Elk Ranch Flats on the northern end of Grand Teton National Park.  Park rangers will help with traffic control, but the handling of the 250 or so cattle will be the ranchers on horseback – just as it has been done for over 100 years.  In accordance with the 1950 Grand Teton National Park enabling legislation, certain historic grazing privileges were retained, and the fenced and irrigated Elk Ranch pastures continue to be used for cattle grazing. Park officials estimate delays to motorists range from 30 to 40 minutes sometime during the duration of the cattle drive.

 

 

 

06-02-09

 

The number of cases of swine flu in Wyoming has now soared to 13.  Those cases so far have been concentrated in the southeastern corner of the state.  Still, state health officials urge residents to take all the usual precautions of washing their hands frequently, avoiding people who appear ill, and if you are ill – stay home from work, school, or travel.

 

As the spring run-off continues, snowpack in the northwestern Wyoming aquifers is still above normal, but the water content in that snow has dropped significantly over the past week.  According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, snow in the Snake River Basin is still 103% of normal, but the water content is only 68%.  In the Upper Yellowstone-Madison Basin, snow is 100% of normal while the water content is 83% of normal.  At the same time, Jackson Lake is now 88% filled while Palisades is at 62% of it’s capacity.  Most other reservoirs in the Snake River system are at or near their capacities.  Further north, reservoirs in southwestern Montana 81-to-87% filled.

 

The man who is the recognized authority in the geologic activity of the Greater Yellowstone Region is soon to be recognized for his contributions by the National Park Service.  Dr. Robert B. Smith, research professor and professor emeritus of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, had recently became the recipient of a 2008 National Park Service award for natural resource research from Intermountain Region Director Mike Snyder, and now Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott will present Dr. Smith with his award certificate and an eagle sculpture plaque at an informal Park Service employee gathering in Moose.  The NPS regional director’s award for research in the field of natural resources is an annual recognition created to acknowledge excellence in developing scientific programs, and in publishing research that furthers the cause of science or natural resource management in national parks. That presentation is to be made Thursday.
 

There is a national move afoot to get young people out of doors more this year.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made a link between less outdoor time and increased childhood obesity rates.  Consequently, a number of federal agencies and interest groups have joined together in a campaign endorsed by Congress called “No Child Left Inside.”  The National Wildlife Federation is one such group, and Kevin Coyle with N-W-F says Wyoming children may be included among those experiencing “nature deficit disorder” - because they spend so little time outdoors compared to children a generation ago. N-W-F is coordinating the "Be Out There" campaign to help raise awareness of the lack of outdoors time for kids. Coyle says the digital age is one reason kids spend more time inside, with some studies showing children spend six hours a day in front of the TV or a video screen.

 

Teton interagency firefighters will prepare for the wildland fire season with an integrated fire training exercise on Saturday, June 6th. About 200 firefighters from Teton, Sublette and Lincoln counties, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Wyoming State Forestry Division will gather at Star Valley Ranch for the 11th annual All Fire Day. Star Valley Ranch residents are also participating this year, along with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Star Valley Search and Rescue, and Star Valley Emergency Medical Services.  During All Fire Day, firefighters will work through a variety of drills, structure assessments and live fire exercises. Homeowners at Star Valley Ranch will have the opportunity to participate in a mock evacuation and learn the steps to take in protecting their homes from wildfire.

 

Tickets went on sale yesterday for the major attractions at this year’s Teton County Fair.  Fair Manager Yvonne Robertson says that sales truly started with a bang. Robertson says while the traditional favorites including the pig wrestling, figure-8 races, demolition derby and rodeo are certainly seeing a lot of sales, there is a lot of interest in this year’s concert by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Robertson says tickets are also available the old fashioned way by calling 733-5289 or purchasing them at the fair office.

 

 

06-01-09

 

The Wyoming Department of Health is reporting seven more cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the state now.  The first case in the state was announced only two days earlier.  The most recent cases all involve individuals living in Cheyenne, including two adults and five young children. Spokesperson Kim Deti says so far the swine flu has turned out to be fairly comparable to what is seen in other seasonal influenzas.  Deti says the finding of these additional cases highlights that influenza is circulating in Wyoming, and people should take precautions to protect themselves and others from illness.  Those preventative measures are pretty standard and include frequent hand-washing, avoiding people who are ill and staying home from school, work or travel if flu-like symptoms show up.

 

The Jackson Hole Airport Runway is open and flights have resumed following a resurfacing project there last week.  Now, Airport Manager Ray Bishop says attention is turning to the renovation project on the terminal building itself.  Bishop says the bids are to be reviewed by staff to be sure they are complete, and then they will be presented to the board – probably at their June 16^th meeting – and a low bidder will be chosen and contracted. Bishop says if there are no unforeseen difficulties with the process, construction could begin as early as July.

 

The Wyoming Travel Commission has launched a flight of ads in regional markets today, including TV stations in nearby Idaho Falls and Pocatello.  Travel Commission Director Dianne Shober says in these lean economic times, studies indicate people will be looking at visiting destinations closer to home.  Shober says trends are for the traveling public to plan their trips only about two weeks before they travel, so it is this new trend that the commission is trying to address.

 

Bridger Teton National Forest wants to gather information this summer about the welfare of whitebark pine trees around the forest.  To that end, they are setting up specialized flights in order to survey the trees from the air.  Forest Spokesperson Mary Cernacek says the cones of the whitebark pines are a critical food source for the area’s grizzly bear population.  Cernacek says the forest has acquired about $150-thousand in grant money to fund the flights which will be made over the Greater Yellowstone Area from this month through August.  Once the survey is completed, a restoration strategy will be proposed and will be released for public comment by September.

 

The Snake River bridge just south of Flagg Ranch in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway will be CLOSED on Tuesday night, June 2nd, from midnight to 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, June 3rd. Nighttime construction work on the North Park Road from Lizard Creek Campground to Flagg Ranch began today. Park officials say work will take place hours a day through June.

 

There are plenty of buffalo roaming and antelope playing, but Wyoming officials have discouraging words about the number of deer and other big game animals here. A recent survey by the state Game and Fish Department indicates the Wyoming has a little more than half of the moose population state officials think it should have.  That’s what the agency learned during a recent count of big game animals around the state.  According to the Game and Fish census, only about 77-hundred moose were counted among the known populations while the state goal is for nearly 14-thousand.  Game and Fish officials say their findings will lead to a reduction in the number of moose licenses that will be issued in the upcoming season. The survey also indicates the state’s number of mule deer is down by 18% from the target population, and the number of big horn sheep is down about by 1/3 as well.  The antelope, elk and bison populations meanwhile substantially exceed state goals.

(Photo: Wyoming Game and Fish)

 

 

05-29-09

 

Work has progressed on the Jackson Hole Airport runway better than expected, and the reopening of the airport may even come earlier than targeted.  Airport Manager Ray Bishop says between the weather conditions and the efficiency of the contractors, the project has gone extremely well. During the down period, many people took advantage of the reduced drop-off package offered by the rental car companies to make their connections in Idaho Falls while others took advantage of the free shuttle bus service.  Either way, Bishop says everybody has pulled together and he has heard nothing but positive feedback for the expediency of the project.

 

Information was not immediately available regarding a fire late yesterday afternoon which destroyed a barn in the Solitude subdivision north of Jackson.  Fire units from Teton County and Grand Teton National Park were dispatched to the scene about 3:45 pm.  Unconfirmed reports indicate the fire originated from an electrical short outside and near the barn and spread to the structure.  There were no animals or people in the barn at the time of the fire.

 

Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal said he planned to go ahead with five to ten percent cuts for state agency budgets despite optimistic projections released Friday by the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group.  Considering the departure from estimates a year ago of a sizable surplus in state revenues, Freudenthal says he will move cautiously as economic recovery begins. Travel Commission Director Diane Shober spoke this week with Jackson business leaders about how those cuts would effect the travel commission. Freudenthal says he plans to release his budget recommendations to the public and to the Legislature by June 4 to give the Joint Appropriations Committee sufficient time to review the document.

 

Traffic on south Broadway is being narrowed to two lanes for the next six weeks as work commences on rehabilitating the bridge over Flat Creek.  According to Theresa Herbin of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, work will involve the removal of the bridge joints and paving materials on either side of the joints and replacing the worn parts.  During that time, the road will be narrowed from four to two lanes 24-hours a day through the duration of the project.  Completion of the project is anticipated by the latter part of July, weather permitting.  WYDOT officials ask that motorists drive with care through the construction area.

 

Grand Teton National Park is looking for public input on a proposed project to rehabilitate and upgrade the Gros Ventre Campground in the near future.  Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says the work is needed since the facility is showing signs of its age. Skaggs says The Park is also considering providing hook-up sites at Gros Ventre Campground in the future since they are in short supply parkwide. Skaggs says the Park is also considering a reduction in the size of the campground since it has traditionally been underutilized. Comments on the proposed rehabilitation project are being accepted until June 25^th.  Skaggs says the actual work could begin by the end of this season.

 

 

 

05-28-09

 

Last month’s unemployment statistics have been released now and they don’t look good for Teton County.  According to State Economist David Bullard, Wyoming’s natural resources & mining sector continued to shed jobs in April as did retail and leisure and hospitality.  The latter saw a decline of 700 jobs during the month from the previous year.  Consequently, Teton County’s unemployment rate has risen to the second highest in the state at 7.8% while the lowest unemployment is found in Albany and Sublette Counties. Overall, Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the most recent reporting period was unchanged from March, and at 4.5%, it remained much lower than the U.S. unemployment rate of 8.9%.

 

Optimistic is how Wyoming Travel Commission Director Diane Shober terms the climate of the tourism industry right now.  Shober was in Jackson through Memorial Day weekend and the first half of this week, and says she was greeted by those in the industry with cautious optimism. At the same time, Shober says the travel commission office has seen a level of inquiries that are ahead of last year.  Shober says national surveys indicate the public still plans on their summer travels. Shober says the feeling is that the state will experience a full season beginning the middle to latter part of June.

 

While a majority of the nation’s foundations are feeling the effects of a soft economy, the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole says it is into its largest competitive granting year yet—this year exceeding a half million dollars.  According to a Community Foundation statement, the organization’s most recent grant awards, the “Competitive Grants Program” has distributed nearly $502-thousand dollars for community programs in the county, including more than $146-thousand dollars for general operations.  Additionally, the Community Foundation says it launched its “Economic Response Initiative” in March which has granted an additional $47,500 to local agencies providing for such critical needs as emergency financial assistance, housing, food, safety, healthcare and unemployment. 

 

Meetings continue to be held throughout the community to review and discuss the proposed city/county comprehensive plan.  Mayor Mark Barron says the extent of discussion is good to assure all members of the community have the opportunity to participate in the process. In order for this to be a good plan for the community, Barron stresses that it needs to reflect the beliefs and concerns of as many of its residents as possible.  While Jackson various organizations have been sponsoring opportunities for the public to discuss the plan, the town and county next meet with the public about it the evening of June 11^th at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

 

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests, has trapped and relocated a sub-adult male grizzly bear that had been frequenting home sites along the Wind River west of Dubois. According to Game and Fish Spokesman Mark Gocke, the bear was released on Sunday in the Sheffield Creek drainage approximately 20 miles north of Moran. The release site is located within currently occupied grizzly bear habitat and the Grizzly Bear Primary Conservation Area in Bridger-Teton National Forest.

(Photo: Wyoming Game and Fish)

 

Six of the 18 3-A girls soccer players named by the Wyoming Coaches Association for all-state soccer designation this year are Lady Broncs.  Wyoming’s High School Athletic Association lists Abbie Moulder, Anna Thomas, Nicole Sutton, Sydney Leichliter, Kelsey Bancroft and Kathleen Eastman as members of that elite group.  The coaches went on to name Kelsey Bancroft as the state’s top Senior player of the year and Abbie Moulder as the top Underclassman of the year.  The Lady Bronc Soccer Team last weekend claimed the state title for the second year in a row.

 

 

05-27-09

 

Forecasters are warning people in the Greater Yellowstone area to be careful around the swollen rivers and streams now as spring run-off is in full swing.  Some areas north and west of Yellowstone have been issued flood watches this week. With rivers and streams in the area running bank-full, area reservoirs are now at or nearing their capacities.  Palisades reservoir, which earlier this month had been reduced to slightly more than 35% of its capacity is now 50% full again and filling more daily.  Jackson Lake which also has seen recent releases is now 82% full.  The remaining reservoirs in the system range from 96% to 100% full as the spring run-off continues.  Meanwhile, snow/water equivalency estimates show the Snake River drainage still 90% of the seasonal average while the Upper Yellowstone-Madison basin is still at 103% of normal.

 

Wyoming is one of the last hold-outs in the nation against swine flu.  The state department of health reports that there still have been no recorded cases of the disease in the Cowboy State.  That makes Wyoming now one of only three states nationwide not touched by the disease.  At the same time, state and county health care officials warn residents not to become overconfident, and continue to take the normal precautions against being exposed to the upper-respiratory illness by washing hands frequently and avoiding people who are ill.

 

The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance Board of Directors has chosen its next Executive Director. The Alliance announced Tuesday that experienced conservationist Paul W. Hansen will take the helm of the organization when its long-time Executive Director Franz J. Camenzind retires at the end of July. Hansen served most recently as director of the Yellowstone Program for The Nature Conservancy.  Hansen’s professional history also includes extensive work at the Izaak Walton League of America, where he was executive director, and Canada’s Department of Environment.  Hansen will officially take over the executive director post on August 1st.

 

With the inauguration of the new multi-use pathway in Grand Teton National park, park officials are looking for volunteers to ride patrols and offer pathway users assistance and information.  Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says the park will appreciate whatever time a volunteer cyclists might have to offer while enjoying the new pathway themselves.  Skaggs says the volunteers will be issued a jersey or vest to identify them as official pathway ambassadors, and will be provided some orientation. Those interested in volunteering should contact the volunteer coordinator at 739-3397.

 

Beginning June 1st, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers and other law enforcement officers will be able to automatically get information on the insurance status of vehicles every time they make a traffic-stop or call in a license plate check on a private vehicle registered in Wyoming. The automatic notification will be provided through the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s online insurance verification system to give officers an additional tool to use in determining if vehicles have valid insurance.  State law requires all vehicles registered in Wyoming to be insured, but according to the department, the best statistics available indicate about 13 percent of the private motor vehicles in Wyoming are uninsured.

 

Pinedale resident Kenny Green and Donald Cooper of Arkansas, were recently convicted for illegally shooting and wasting three pronghorn antelope south of Big Piney last fall.  The two were apprehended after a “Stop Poaching” report was made indicating two had shot and left some antelope in a ranch field south of Big Piney. Wyoming Game and Fish Department wardens responded with assistance from the Sublette County sheriff's office, located the dead antelope and monitored the scene until the two returned.  Green was charged with multiple counts of waste of big game, over limit of big game, wrong sex, game bird and small game violations. Cooper was charged with accessory to waste and failure to leave evidence of sex. In a plea agreement, Green was fined $1,460 and sentenced to 6 years suspension of his hunting privileges in Wyoming and in all other states participating in the violator compact. Cooper paid $520 in fines for his charges. 

 

The Environmental Protection Agency cited three Teton County businesses during the last quarter for what they said were violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act.  EPA Spokesperson Lisa Kahn says the EPA issued each an administrative order which includes actions that need to be taken to return to compliance with EPA standards.  Among the businesses cited were Camp Creek Inn, Hoback Stores and Nora’s Fish Creek Inn.  Kahn says the infractions were primarily monitoring violations, and while Camp Creek Inn has since closed, Hoback Stores have been in compliance for the past year and Nora’s has been in compliance since last fall but has failed to file a required report with the EPA.

 

 

 

05-26-09

 

It seems not everyone is pleased with the new county regulations aimed at protecting fellow patrons from second-hand smoke at area businesses.  A group, comprised of the parent company for the Virginian Convention Center, the Wyoming Contractors Association, The Wyoming Trucking Association and the Wyoming State Liquor Association filed suit in Ninth District Court Friday stating that the law targets the Virginian as the only bar and restaurant that permits smoking in the county, and violates the rights of those who choose to smoke.  Furthermore, the suit claims the rule is a violation of the fifth and fourteenth amendments of the US Constitution.  The Teton County Board of Health gave unanimous support for the smokefree rule after taking 45 days of public comment.  The new lawsuit is being condemned by Health advocates including the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Americans for Non-smokers Rights, Smokefree Wyoming, Teton County Tobacco Prevention, Devra Lee Davis Charitable Foundation, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association as being a step in the wrong direction. Board of Health member Dr. Brent Blue moreover emphasizes that it is the board’s responsibility to protect people in public places.

 

This is the week that Jackson Hole Airport is closed for resurfacing of the runway.  Airport Manager Ray Bishop says the preparations for the new service have gone very well and he is optimistic for the final phase to go off without a hitch. In the meantime, Bishop says those who have reservations for flights from Jackson may choose to take a shuttle to Idaho Falls where the flights are being diverted for the week. Likewise, Bishop says the shuttle will meet people at the Idaho Falls Airport and return them to Jackson.  Bishop says runway resurfacing typically needs to take place once every 10-15 years.

 

Details are not immediately available surrounding the stabbing of a Driggs, Idaho man Monday evening that left him hospitalized and led to the arrest of a man and woman as they were driving through Swan Valley, Idaho.  The pair now faces aggravated assault charges.  Further information is still to be released later today by the Teton County Idaho Sheriff’s office.

 

58 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and other high honors met in Jackson late last week during their annual convention and were hosted in part by the Jackson Hole American Legion Post #43.  Post Commander Dave Bentlage says the Legion of Valor traditionally holds its convention in the state where the Commander resides. Bentlage says the group of heroes spent an evening at the Bar-J Chuckwagon, attended a memorial service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, and cook-outs with the American Legion.  Bentlage says during their stay, the group often voiced how much they truly enjoyed the experience they had in Jackson Hole.

 

Teton County School District #1 is among thirteen districts statewide selected as recipients of Student Enrichment Pilot Project grants authorized by this year’s state legislature.  The project is intended to offer learning opportunities and activates that engage student s in developing essential skills, values and relationships that encourage academic success.  District Program Coordinator Kathy Milburn says the grant awarded to the local district is for $36,000. All programming for this project will take place during non-school hours – primarily this summer and weekdays after school.

 

The Beartooth Highway, the section of US-212 linking Red Lodge, Montana, with Cooke City, Silver Gate, and the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, opened for travel over the weekend.  Montana Department of Transportation officials say that because of the high elevation on this mountain pass, travelers should check current weather and road conditions. They go on that while crews make every effort to keep the road plowed and open, unpredictable weather conditions may cause temporary closures throughout the summer.  The road between Tower Fall and Canyon Junction over Dunraven Pass also opened to travel this weekend.

(MDT Photo)

 

 

05-25-09   Memorial Day

 

Jackson Hole Lady Bronc athletes have done it again.  The girls’ soccer team returned from Sheridan Saturday Night, bringing with them the state 3-A title.  State competition this week started with an 8 to zero shut-out of Torrington on Thursday, followed Friday by another shut-out; four to nothing over Worland.  Then on Saturday, the girls faced number one seeded Buffalo and kept them scoreless while chalking up three goals of their own.  Nicole Sutton made two of those goals.  Meanwhile, the boys went down to Buffalo in the first game two to zero, immediately putting them into the consolation bracket.  There they dominated the field for the rest of the weekend: four to zero over Torrington and three to zero over Powell giving them fourth place in state.

 

The Town of Jackson and Teton County were recently honored when Former First Lady Laura Bush, Honorary Chair of the Preserve America initiative, designated both communities as one of the nation’s newest Preserve America Communities. Jackson Mayor Mark Barron and County Commission Chairman Hank Phibbs each received a certificate of designation signed by Mrs. Bush and a road sign for their respective communities. Preserve America Communities are also featured in National Register Travel Itineraries and in “Teaching With Historic Places” curricular materials created by the National Park Service.  The Town and County will host a joint reception in recognition of this designation in the Teton County Commissioners Chambers Wednesday, May 27^th.

 

Lest we forget, today is Memorial Day – the day we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.  Here in Jackson, American Legion Commander Dave Bentlage says several observances are taking place; beginning at the American Legion Hall at 9:30 followed by a community memorial observance on the town square. Bentlage says the honor guard will then move from cemetery to cemetery with a stop at the Snake River Bridge where they will honor those lost at sea.  Bentlage urges members of the public to join in the observances or in other ways, remember those who made the supreme sacrifice for their country.

 

Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce honored several area residents during their annual dinner Thursday night.  Among them, Jim Moses was named Citizen of the Year, Franz Camenzind for the Power of Place award, Carrie Pennington for the Rising Star Award, Bob Arndt and Melanie Harrice for the chamber’s Green-to-Green environmental award, and the Jackson Hole Snow Devils for the Western Hospitality Award.  The annual chamber dinner was held at the Mangy Moose Restaurant in Teton Village and this year, chamber officials say the event saw a sell-out crowd.

 

Teton County Fair officials have announced that this year’s fair books are out now and can be picked up at the Fair Office or at various locations around town.  Information is also available online at tetoncountyfair.com .The fair itself, this year entitled “Barn In The USA”, will be held July 18 – 26 and tickets for the grandstand events go on sale June 1^st.

 

Summer mountain services are getting under way at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort now.  The new aerial tram began operating daily Saturday, making its summer debut for those wishing to sightsee, hike or dine at the top of the mountain.  In addition to freshly made waffles at Corbet’s Cabin at the tram summit this summer, Nick Wilson’s at the base of the mountain is serving BBQ and grill favorites. Jackson Hole Sports offers a full-service bike rental center and outdoor center with technical mountain wear, shoes, lifestyle clothing and kids clothing and equipment at the foot of the tram for mountain recreationists.  Additionally, the Bridger Gondola will start running nightly in mid-June to access The Deck and Couloir Restaurants – this year the ride will be FREE for everyone.

(JHMR Photo)

 

 

05-22-09

 

As the first long holiday weekend of the summer gets under way this afternoon, gasoline prices nationally have bumped slightly higher as is usually the case.  According to AAA Auto Club’s Fuel Gauge Report, the national average is $2.36 per gallon of unleaded regular – up about 8-cents from last week.  Those prices range from a high of $2.70 per gallon in Alaska to a low of $2.17 per gallon as Arizona’s state average.  Wyoming remains on the low end at $2.23 with some Jackson stations still priced at $2.05 for a gallon of regular.  AAA President & CEO Robert L. Darbelnet says sharply lower gasoline prices and plentiful travel bargains since last year have Americans feeling better about taking a road trip this summer, which he adds should help tourism-based economic activity throughout the nation.

 

It is Memorial Day weekend…the traditional kick-off of the summer travel season.  Those looking for a place to slip away for even a couple days will find most campgrounds in the region open.  In Grand Teton National Park all but Lizard Creek Campground will be open for the weekend along with Colter Bay Cabins, Signal Mountain Lodge, Jackson Lake Lodge and Flag Ranch Resort.   In Yellowstone National Park, Spokesman Al Nash says most facilities are open now. In Bridger-Teton National Forest, some of the campgrounds are still too soggy to be open this weekend, and Spokesperson Mary Cernacek suggests travelers should check with district ranger offices before setting out. And those wishing to camp in nearby Caribou Targhee National Forest this weekend will find Mike Harris and Trail Creek campgrounds on the west side of the pass will be open on a limited basis while Reunion Flat will be open with no water yet available.  Again, travelers are urged to check with Caribou-Targhee district ranger offices before setting out.

 

A bill to permit gun-owners to carry their weapons into national parks and refuges where they would be permitted by state law to do so on similar state lands has one final hurdle before becoming law – President Obama’s signature.  The house approved the bill 279 to 147 only one day after the Senate passed their version of the bill.  Wyoming Representative Cynthia Lummis says she whole-heartedly voted for the measure Wednesday. Lummis in fact co-sponsored the bill which she says protects the rights of Americans guaranteed under the Second Amendment.  Wyoming Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso had also supported the bill when it was before the Senate.  The bill could be signed as early as this weekend.

 

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is to make presentations of the State Transportation Improvement Program during the week of June 1st to address future highway improvement projects in Western Wyoming.  Those presentations begin with one at 1:30 pm June first at the WYDOT office south of Jackson.  Projects in the program include work on the Snake River Bridger, Cattleman’s Bridge, the South Park Pathway and Teton County’s START Bus transportation system.  The STIP is a prioritized construction plan by which the Department designs, schedules and prioritizes road construction projects over the next six years. The actual contract bidding on any one of these projects is determined by a number of factors, the most significant being the amount of total revenue the Department receives from all sources in any year.

 

Some in the valley fear that stronger restrictions on smoking in public places will negatively impact business, but national researchers say that does NOT appear to be the case.  A new study published in a public health journal this week by Liz Klein of Ohio State University says researchers could not find any significant effect on employment in bars and restaurants where bans had been passed, and so business was apparently not hurt.  On the other hand, Jan Drury of the American Heart Association in Cheyenne says the research on the health benefits of making workplaces and other public places smoke-free provide solid support for such a move. Teton County’s smoking ban in businesses, restaurants and service lines takes effect tomorrow.

 

 

 

05-21-09

 

Travelers appear ready to vacation but will shift travel destinations if necessary.   AAA Auto Club is projecting the number of Americans traveling on vacation this Memorial Day holiday weekend will increase 1.5 percent from 2008 with approximately 32.4 million travelers taking a trip of 50 or more miles away from home. Last year, 31.9 million Americans traveled during the same period; down from the 35.3 million travelers who vacationed in 2007.  About 83% of those people, AAA says will travel by car. This summer AAA does not expect the price of gasoline to average more than $2.50 per gallon. The current nationwide average price of self-serve regular is just under $2.24 a gallon. The average distance traveled by Americans this Memorial Day holiday weekend is forecast to be approximately 620 miles.  The Wyoming Highway Patrol says during the Memorial Day Holiday period, they are joining with other Highway Patrols and State Police agencies nationwide for an aggressive mobilization to reduce highway fatalities during the holiday weekend.

 

Lincoln County Authorities have identified a suspect in a stabbing death there Sunday.  41-year-old David Reneker was found dead in his home shortly after 8:00 am Sunday morning by a friend who called on him.  According to a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department statement, Reneker had died after suffering multiple knife wounds.  Reneker, who lived in Jackson from 1997 until he moved to Alpine in 2007, was employed on building projects there.  The sheriff’s statement says the department is continuing to investigate the case.

 

Jackson Mayor Mark Barron addressed the sixth annual conference of the Yellowstone Business Partnership yesterday, telling them of the rewards Jackson has enjoyed after signing the climate protection agreement. The focus of this week’s meeting at Jackson Lake Lodge is sustainability, including regional transportation and land development issues in a responsible manner while living in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

 

Grand Teton National Park will be opening the new multi-use pathway from just east of Moose to South Jenny Lake Junction this weekend.  The pathway has been long in the planning stages and Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says it now provides a unique opportunity to walk, bike or roller blade through the natural wonder of the park.  Funding for the project was made possible through federal funding obtained by the late Senator Craig Thomas.  Skaggs says the pathway is open for use from sunrise to sunset daily and pets are restricted on the pathway. Skaggs says the opening of the new pathway has also brought a reduced speed zone along the park road between the Taggert Lake parking area and Bar-B-C Road due to increased congestion in that area.

 

Teton County’s “Smokefree Air Rule of 2009” takes effect Saturday, banning smoking in places of employment, retail stores, and eating and drinking establishments – just to name a few.  Under the new rule, smoking will also be prohibited within 20 feet of outside entrances, windows and ventilation systems at places of business, outdoor seating or serving areas of restaurants, or places where the public is queing up for concession stands, bus stops or recreational services.  Lauri Clements says business owners need to have no-smoking signs clearly visible at their doors to advise their patrons of the ban. Clements says smoking IS permitted outside a window of a business if that window is one that does not open.  Initially, enforcement will take more of a form of education, but Clements says it will get tougher as time goes on. 

 

 

 

05-20-09

 

Some remodeling of town facilities will be put on hold, but not totally cancelled in the wake of a tighter budget – including improvements at the Home Ranch Parking Lot.  That’s the word from Mayor Mark Barron who says the Town of Jackson Staff had done admirably in keeping the community on track through the lean times. Barron says the adjustments being made to live within the town’s budget have been healthy to improve the efficiency and a resolve to continue to deliver services.  Barron says, in his words, “it’s real easy to look at doomsday and scenarios when the headlines are always negative” but Barron says he is optimistic for a solid summer season ahead for the town.

(Photo: JH Underground)

 

Retired teachers and state employees will have money to retire on after all.  Governor Dave Freudenthal has certified the results of an independent audit of the Wyoming Retirement System, setting in motion a process that will transfer $150 million in Wyoming School Foundation Program funds to the retirement system. The funds had been appropriated earlier this year by the Wyoming Legislature and held by the State Auditor pending the completion of an independent audit of the retirement system. The 2009-2010 Supplemental Budget Bill stipulated that following the audit, the Governor would certify to the State Auditor the amount needed to offset the unfunded liability attributable to increases in teacher salaries.  The system provides retirement benefits to nearly all State employees.

 

The North Park Road in Grand Teton National Park is the site of some major reconstruction and the deck of the Snake River Bridge near Flagg Ranch has been reduced to only one lane now causing traffic flow to be somewhat restricted. Park officials say that travelers through that area can expect up to 30 minute delays throughout the day.  Reconstruction of the Snake River Bridge will also require a limited number of overnight travel closures during the next few weeks. Closures are scheduled to occur between the hours of 11:00 pm. and 6:00 am. Specific dates for these overnight travel closures will be announced at a later time.

 

A wolf that had been reportedly chasing people on bicycles and a motorcycle was euthanized Tuesday morning by Yellowstone National Park staff along Fountain Flat Drive.  The yearling male wolf from the Gibbon Meadow Pack had been frequently observed in Biscuit Basin and the Old Faithful developed areas in close proximity to park visitors. In addition to the incidents of the wolf chasing three bicyclists and a motorcyclist, the park has also received reports of the yearling wolf approaching people, as well as cars; behavior consistent with a food-conditioned animal. This is the first time such a management action has occurred since wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone in 1995. Fish and Wildlife Service Wolf Recovery Manager Ed Bangs reminds visitors to wolf habitat never to feed animals since getting them habituated to hand-outs simply constitutes signing an animal’s death warrant.

 

Managers of the agencies that make up the Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Coordinating Committee, set maximum acceptable numbers for bear deaths in the ecosystem during the spring meeting earlier this month.  The committee examined the causes of grizzly bear deaths over the past year and preventative steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths in the future.  Ray Hageman of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports that the mortality is not entirely human-caused. In spite of the increased mortality last year, the committee heard reports that the overall population size of grizzly bears in the ecosystem has continued to grow over the past 15 years.

 

Jackson Hole High School’s Rodeo team returned from Casper Competition this week with three individual firsts and several other high finishes.  AJ Fuchs (FOX) took first place twice twice during the two-day event while Kylee Tafoa claimed a first in pole bending.  Tafoya also took a first in barrel racing while Tayler Holmes and Zac Nenna brought back a third in team roping.  Fourth place finishes were awarded to AJ Fuchs and Matt Sheick in team roping and to Shyann Lucas in girls cutting.  The team next participates in three days of competition in Buffalo and Sheridan this weekend.

 

Grand Targhee Resort was recently awarded the 2009 CLIF® BAR Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence by a ski resort.  The award recognizes Grand Targhee for its leadership and participation as a founding member of The Climate Registry — the leading greenhouse gas inventory regulator in North America, and for its aggressive greenhouse gas mitigation program. Established in 1993, the Golden Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence recognize the environmental achievements of ski areas.

 

 

05-19-09

 

Approximately 125 people bidding on two dozen rather creative brassieres Saturday night raised around $22-thousand dollars for breast cancer research and financial aid for women wishing to have mammograms but not able to afford them.  The event was the annual Bras for a Cause conducted by the local Soroptimists Club which organizer Anne Schuler says was again a lot of fun.  Schuler says among the sales, three bras went for over $2000, and one called the “Stimulus Package” which was donated by First Interstate Bank brought $4000.  The generous bids stunned even the organizer. A fifth bra included four tickets to the sold-out Wyoming/Texas football game in September and brought $3500 to the cause.  Money from the event is being donated to the Wyoming chapter of the Susan G Komen foundation and to the St. John’s Medical Center Women’s Health Care Fund.

 

Snowpack in the river drainages above Northwestern Wyoming remain well above normal for this time of year, according to the Natural Resource Conservation Service office.  Reporting stations in the Snake River drainage recorded 107% of the normal snow accumulation still in those stations with a water equivalency of 115% or normal.  In the Upper Yellowstone-Madison basin, the snow depth is 104% or normal with a water content of 124% of normal.  Warmer temperatures this week are expected to begin diminishing the levels with run-off once again filling the evacuated flood control space in Jackson Lake and Palisades Reservoirs.

 

A section of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road from Canyon Junction to Fishing Bridge is closed today and tomorrow to allow National Park Service staff to repair a broken water main that underlies the road about of mile south of Canyon between the Canyon Corrals and the south end of the North Rim Drive. The break occurred Monday at around noon.  Maintenance crews hope to reopen the road late Thursday afternoon.

 

Final arrangements are being made for this coming weekend’s Old West Days celebration in Jackson.  This year marks the 28^th annual weekend which typically signals the beginning of the summer tourist season in the valley.  This year’s theme is "Celebrating the Spirit of the West."  Events include a parade Saturday morning at 10:00 am with mountain men, covered wagons, vintage vehicles and plenty of horses.  Following the parade, the town square will be filled with country music, crafts and activities, dancing, cowboy poetry and demonstrations.   Chamber Events Coordinator Maureen Murphy says it’s a great time for locals to get together and have fun after the long winter. The annual stage coach rides through town begin this weekend, while the annual mountain man rendezvous invites the public to wander through their encampment each day through the weekend at the Teton County Fairgrounds. 

 

Jackson Hole High School’s soccer teams played at home over the weekend with mixed results.  The girls’ team shut out Worland three to zero while the boys suffered a disappointing three to one loss.  The teams next set out for Sheridan Thursday to compete in the state championship.  Jackson’s boys will first face Buffalo at 11:00 am Thursday while the girls take on Torrington at 2:00 pm.  Currently the boys are rated 4^th place in the 3-A west while the girls stand in first place in the western division.

 

A handful of ambulances and a score of dedicated individuals who have taken the time to master complex emergency medical technician courses are seen providing a very critical service to the valley every day, but often are regarded with little more consideration than one gives to turning on a light switch…somehow, they’re just there.  Wyoming Department of Health Director Dr. Brent Sherard points out that nearly 80% of the EMS providers in the state, including those in Jackson Hole, are volunteers.  Sherard points out that this week, National Emergency Medical Services Week, is a good time to consider the contributions those few volunteers make to Wyoming’s well being.  Last year alone, Sherard says, EMS interventions in the state helped save 2,819 lives and helped avert 3,212 permanent disabilities.

 

 

05-18-09

 

131 bidders representing thirty states waved numbers at the auctioneers while scouts from throughout the Jackson Boy Scout district took turns holding up bundles of antlers in the 42^nd annual antler auction in Jackson, Saturday. Sales ranged from $5.20 per pound, to $90 per pound –one set brought a total of $1980.  Overall sales averaged $9.04 per pound.  Auction sales totaled about $20-thousand less than last year’s yield despite a comparable amount of antlers to be sold. The $88-thousand raised will mostly go to programs and equipment on the elk refuge while a small percentage will be returned to the scouts to pay the district’s national membership. 

(Photo by Lori Iverson, FWS)

 

Officials of Montana Department of Livestock, Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin National Forest and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks began hazing bison from the Horse Butte area north of West Yellowstone back across the boundary of Yellowstone National Park last Tuesday.   Representatives of the environmental group, Buffalo Field Campaign objected that the herd being hazed included neborn calves and pregnant mothers, and that at least one injury to a female bison trying to stay with her calf.  The purpose of the hazing is to stem the spread of brucellosis to cattle in the area.  While the environmental groups maintain that no cattle are run in the area, at least two ranchers are expected to begin grazing their herds nearby in June.  Under an agreement between state and federal wildlife agencies, bison that have migrated out of the park during the winter are to be returned to the park by May 15^th.

 

Yellowstone Business Partnership, an organization that promotes scientific understanding, informed dialogue, and collaborative approaches to resolving our region’s most complex socioeconomic and natural resource challenges has announced the agenda for its sixth annual conference this week at Jackson Lake Lodge.  Among the activities planned for business leaders from throughout the region are authoritative speakers, continuing education opportunities and a service project in the national park.  Entitled “Working Togethher for Regional Efficiency and Prosperity,”  the conference is dedicated to getting the region’s act together with respect to climate change.  Executive Director Jan Brown says the organization wants to help our business and community leaders better understand the scientific basis for global warming and the evidence of climate change that is all around us.  Among the speakers are Dr. Steven W. Running of the University of Montana; Dan Grossman, Regional Director of the Environmental Defense Fund - Rocky Mountain Office, and Mayor Mark Barron of Jackson.  The conference runs from today through Wednesday.

 

With the warming weather, residents and visitors will be taking more excursions into the wildlife-rich countryside around Jackson Hole.  At this time of year, a real treat is to see the baby animals currently making their appearances.  However, Mark Goeke of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department warns the public to stay away from them – both for the sake of the animals and the curiosity seekers.  …and if you see a baby that appears to be orphaned, Goeke says leave it alone:  likely as not, Mama’s not far away. Goecke says this part of the state tends to be a little later for when animals typically are giving birth and the young will begin showing up primarily during the month ahead.

(Wyoming Game and Fish Photo)

 

A Jackson auto dealership is numbered among five in Wyoming that will no longer carry Chrysler products as part of Chrysler Motor Company’s reorganization plans.  The giant car manufacturer announced the closure of dealerships as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan.  Teton Motors will no longer carry Jeep products but continues as the valley’s GMC dealership.  The other four dealerships being discontinued by Chrysler include dealers in Torrington, Laramie, Riverton, and Rock Springs.  The dealerships were notified by a special delivery letter Thursday leaving Wyoming dealers stunned, and in some cases, bitter about the news.

 

 

05-15-09

 

Reservoirs in the area are getting to the levels they need to be just prior to the high country melt out.  Mike Beus of the Bureau of Reclamation Minidoka Project office says the lower reservoirs are now at their capacity while space has been made at Palisades and Jackson Lake for flood control. Beus says the irrigation season is getting a late start and so supplies are generous and Shoshone Falls in southern Idaho was pretty spectacular to see this spring.  Bu-Rec officials met with river users last night about plans for releases through the summer.  Bues says there will be high flows through the snow-melt season and then keep the flows fairly steady through the recreation season while balancing those levels with those that are best for the fisheries there.

 

April was an excellent month for visitation in Grand Teton National park, posting nearly a 50% increase in total visits over the same month last year.  According to the park’s monthly public use report, 160,836 visits both of recreational and non-recreational natures were recorded in the park compared with 107,442 in April 2008.  With those figures factored in, the park reports a year-to-date increase of 8.19% in visits, or 46,561 more people than over the same period last year.

 

Saturday marks the 42^nd annual Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction at which time, thousands of pounds of antlers are sold to the highest bidders traveling to the event from around the world.  National Elk Refuge Spokesperson Lori Iverson says the Boy Scout project collecting and selling the antlers actually begin in the late 1950s, and has since grown to be a major money-maker for refuge needs. The money the scouts realize is used to pay the district’s national scouting membership fees.  Meanwhile, the community also enjoys heightened visitation during the event as curiosity seekers come for the truly unique sale. Iverson says Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will have displays nearby, there will be tables set up by Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Teton County Weed and Pest, and the refuge will offer a birding opportunity following the event at the Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center.  At the same time, the scouts will have demonstrations of their scout craft in the square adjacent the auction.  Activities begin at 9:00 am.

(File Photo)

 

The state department of health is encouraging residents to take care of water standing on their property with the spring melt in full swing now.  Emily Thorp, surveillance epidemiologist with the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program at the Wyoming Department of Health says with concerns over the West Nile virus, it is not too early to look to ways of preventing mosquitoes from breeding around your property. Among them, dispose of containers that collect water, dispose of old tires or drill holes in them to allow water to drain, replace water in bird baths at least once a week, turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use, aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish that prey on insects, and be sure drains, ditches and culverts can drain properly. Thorp says last year there were 10 human West Nile virus cases in Wyoming with fortunately no deaths.

 

Teton County’s Smokefree Air Rule of 2009 takes effect one week from tomorrow, banning smoking in places of employment, restaurants and bars, retail establishments, shopping malls, nursing homes, theaters, libraries, galleries and museums – just to name a few.  Under the new rule, smoking will also be prohibited within 20 feet of outside entrances, windows and ventilation systems at places of business, outdoor seating or serving areas of restaurants, bus stops, ski lift lines, and concession stands.  Between now and then, Teton County Environmental Health Supervisor Lauri Clements says business owners are encouraged to prepare their properties for compliance. Clements says initially, enforcement will take more of a form of education and get tougher as time goes on. 

 

 

 

05-14-09

 

Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately calls to the Teton County Sheriff’s Department helped lead to the apprehension and arrest of a driver who unquestionably didn’t belong on the road early Wednesday morning.  Captain Scott Terry says the first call regarding the situation came in about 4:00 am. Terry says the driver suffered minor injuries, but was ultimately arrested for driving under the influence.  Terry says the department really appreciated the public support providing more eyes and ears for the law enforcement officers.

 

A meager turnout for a town meeting Tuesday night spoke of relative unconcern about construction set to take place on the Grand Loop Road in northern Yellowstone National Park this summer.  Park Spokesman Al Nash says that’s because it does not impact access to the prime destinations in the park from the south. The greatest concern is being expressed in Gardiner and West Yellowstone Montana. In those communities, Nash says the highest concern is about the period of time from late August through early December that the road between Artist Paint Pots and just south of Mammoth will be completely closed for bridge replacement. The next meetings are scheduled for 1:00 pm today in the conference room of the Yellowstone Association headquarters on West Park Street in Gardiner, Montana, and 7:00 pm in the Community Room of the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center.

 

Wyoming Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso are cheering the Senate passage of an amendment which allows citizens to carry concealed weapons on to National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service public lands.  This follows an effort by some on Capitol Hill to prohibit weapons to be carried into or through the national parks, whether or not they are permitted by state law in similar state facilities.  Enzi, Barrasso and fifteen other Senators led an effort to force a vote on the amendment. That measure, the Preservation of the Second Amendment in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges Act, passed on a vote of 67-29.

 

The Jackson Hole Soroptimists are hosting a unique event Saturday for which the hope to get a lot of support.  It’s called “Bras for a Cause” and money raised will be use largely for breast cancer research and financial aid for mammograms.  Anne Schuler of the Soroptimists says the event was brought to Jackson four years ago and has been a very successful fundraiser.  The garments are displayed during a fashion show followed by a live auction for them. Money is raised both through entry fees for the bras, but through the auction of the lingerie. Last year, Schuler says, the event raised over $20-thousand.  The fashion show takes place from 6:00 until 10:00 pm at the Town Square Tavern.

 

Beginning tomorrow, Bridger-Teton National Forest will sell firewood permits for private use at many of the District offices. Firewood permits cost five dollars per cord with a minimum purchase of four cords for twenty dollars.  The Forest will also offer permits for sale through the US mail this year. Last year, the Forest announced that it would be raising prices of firewood permits in order to bring additional funds to Forest to pay for the clean up of dead branches and trees that have accumulated in pockets of the Forest, known as slash. However, the forest has since decided that by keeping firewood permit cost as low as possible would encourage the public to help in removing the slash build up. The permits may be obtained during business hours at any district office or the Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center.

 

05-13-09

 

Residents of Teton Valley Idaho overwhelmingly approved a mill levy increase to preserve their school system in the wake of deep cuts in state funding.  According to School District 401 Superintendent Gordon Woolley, 1175 of the 1430 voters who turned out yesterday approved the tax increase.  The increase brings to $2.6 million dollars the amount the district will receive through the local taxes -- $600-thousand of which was approved yesterday.  Had the increase not been approved, district officials say about 30 faculty positions would have had to be eliminated and several programs and student activities would have been eliminated.

 

Teton County Sheriff’s officers are investigating another string of auto burglaries; this time in the Rafter J subdivision.  Sheriff Jim Whalen says the unlocked vehicles have been easy targets for the thieves. Among the items taken have been wallets, cash, CDs and electronics left out in plain sight.  Whalen says such items are best stored out of sight or taken inside by their owners. Whalen says the officers currently have no leads and are looking to members of the public who may have seen something suspicious in their neighborhood.  Tips may be called in to the sheriff’s office or may be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers tip line, 733-5148.

 

In business news, Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc., a residential real estate brokerage firm, has announced it has acquired the assets of Teton Village Realty in Jackson Hole. Teton Village Realty through the years has specialized in properties at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and surrounding areas.  In a news release, Sotheby’s says it will continue to operate the former Teton Village Realty offices, located in the Teton Mountain Lodge and Hotel Terra at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort under their banner still staffed by the agents of TVR .

 

Wyoming is in the midst of its local celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week.  According to the state travel commission, Travel and tourism is one of Wyoming’s largest industries, yielding a $2.68-billion dollars in direct travel expenditures, $108 million in state and local taxes, $646 million in payroll, and supporting 30,350 jobs. It’s only logical then, says Deputy Travel Commission Director Alan Dubberly, that the state is aggressive in marketing itself nationwide. Governor Dave Freudenthal has signed a proclamation designated May 9^th -17^th as National Tourism Week in Wyoming.  Freudenthal says Wyoming continues to be an affordable destination for visitors from around the region and for international travelers. In Freudenthal’s words, “It will be a beautiful summer in Wyoming and we hope that visitors will come and enjoy it.”

 

Gasoline prices nationally jumped 17 cents on the average since last week according to AAA Auto Club’s Fuel Gauge Report.  The national average now stands at two-and-a-quarter per gallon with Arizona now the only state selling gasoline for under $2.  Wyoming now averages $2.13 per gallon – the lowest prices to be found in the southeastern corner of the state.  The average in Jackson currently is $2.08 per gallon according to gasbuddy.com beginning at 2.05 at the low end.  Meanwhile, the Energy Information Administration of the US Department of Energy predicts that retail prices of gasoline through the summer season will average $2.21 nationally, down about 40 cents from last summer.

 

The Jackson Hole High School Rodeo Team showed well last weekend during competition in New Castle.  Among the placings, Kylie Tafoya took two firsts in Barrels and a 5^th in Pole-bending, AJ Fuchs (FOX) had a second in tie-down roping, Tyler Holmes and Zac Nenna claimed a first in team roping and Brittany Martin was sixth in Breakaway.  By the end of the event, Tafoya  and Fuchs both were awarded buckles – Tafoya for Barrels and Fuchs for Tie-Down Roping.  The team next competes in Casper.

 

 

05-12-09

 

Grand Teton National Park has become the first national park to earn “StormReady” status from the National Weather Service.  Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says with the technology the park has either had in place or recently added, the park has achieved the particularly high status in emergency preparedness.  Skaggs says the infrastructure is particularly significant given historic events the park has experienced – like a microburst that felled trees in Colter Bay Campground some years ago, and the first high-altitude tornado recorded in history that tore through the back country northeast of the park. Skaggs says the system utilizes a multi-point system for obtaining the information, and getting the information out to the public in the park. Skaggs points out that the system is applicable to situations beyond weather incidents.  Among them, earthquakes, fires, hazardous spills, civil danger, and yes, even volcano warnings.

 

Poles open at 8:00 am today in Teton County, Idaho where voters will be asked to determine the fate of a supplemental levy for the schools.  School District 401’s funding was cut by the state, declining by at least $600,000 and threatening cuts to extracurricular and arts programs and staffing there.  Voters may cast their ballots at either Teton High School, Victor Elementary School or Tetonia Elementary School.  Polls will remain open until 8:00 pm.

 

Some encouraging signs for the travel season ahead have been observed in recent weeks by the Wyoming State Travel Commission.  Deputy Travel Commission Director Alan Dubberly says inquiries about vacations in Wyoming have been increasing and that number is now three percent higher than at this time in 2008 making officials in that agency very optimistic.  Dubberly points out that while good numbers in inquiries don’t necessarily mean corresponding rooms or vacation packages sold, the conversion rate typically is very strong. Dubberly says TV ads have been running in more distant markets like Chicago since March and have unveiled billboards there this week.  However, Dubberly says regional TV ads in markets including Denver, Salt Lake City, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Butte, Bozeman, Billings and Rapid City are also set to run beginning early next month.

 

Forest Service personnel are trying to avoid a calamity on a forest road that leads to the Palisades Dam on the lower end of that reservoir north of Alpine, Wyoming.  The Bureau of Reclamation and Caribou-Targhee National Forest rangers are monitoring landslide activity, and have roadway caution signs in place warning motorists of the potential for danger there.  The landslide area is located about a quarter-mile upstream of the left abutment of Palisades Dam.  The active landslide area covers about 13 acres and stretches across about 1,000 lineal feet above Bear Creek Road which leads to the Calamity Boat Launch area and private property.  Flashing yellow caution lights will be visible to drivers heading over the top of Palisades Dam.  Federal officials are urging drivers to exercise caution when driving along the road.

 

It was a good weekend for many on the Jackson Hole High School Track and Field Team.  Andy Phillips finished 2nd in the 2 mile with a 3A state leading time of 10:18.  Freshman Lars Schou set a new best with an 11:11...poising himself for a state berth at next week's regionals. Eliot Neal broke through in the mile with a personal best 5:02 and is also looking good for state. The boys 4X800 relay team took over 20 seconds off their time setting up an anticipated duel with Lander at state and have a chance for the state title in that event.  Catherine Cloetta and Siena Richard dueled to new personal records in the mile at 5:59 and 6:00 respectively, both looking good for state.  Becky Griest and Ellie Finnigan cut abpit 10 seconds off their personal bests in the 800 with times of 2:45 and 2:48 while the Girls 4X800 team took about 20 seconds off their best and look very competitive for state competition.  Regional competition is May 15^th and 16^th in Cody with the state finals to follow May 21^st in Casper.

 

 

05-11-09

 

Unemployment insurance statistics for the third quarter of 2008 were released Friday and indicate the increase in jobs seen in Wyoming was higher than what one might have expected.  From third quarter 2007 to third quarter 2008, total unemployment insurance covered payroll increased by $267.8 Million – just shy of ten percent -- based upon employer UI tax filings. This increase, state officials say, was slightly lower than the 5-year average. The Table shows that on an over-the-year basis employment increased in 20 of Wyoming’s 23 counties. The largest job gains occurred in construction -- more than 800 jobs -- and mining (including oil & gas) -- approximately 650 jobs.  Teton County’s workforce increased by 389 jobs.

 

A public meeting to provide area residents with information on road construction that will take place this year in Yellowstone National Park is set to take place tomorrow in Jackson.  Spokesman Al Nash says the biggest project will be on a segment of the park’s Grand Loop Road between Madison and Norris through Gibbon Canyon.  Nash says visitors can expect up to 30-minute delays on the road through the Gibbon Canyon throughout the summer. This section of road will also be closed to travel between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. every night from May 26^th  through August 16^th.  After that, the section of road will be completely closed to all travel between Artists Paint Pots and the Tuff Cliff Picnic Area beginning August 17, in order to remove an existing bridge and build a new span across the Gibbon River. This section of road will remain closed until it reopens to snowmobile and snowcoach travel in December.  Nash says the Jackson meeting is at 7:00 pm at the Teton County Library. Meanwhile, details are still being finalized on a second meeting later in the summer.

 

This week is being marked as National Police Week.  Here in Jackson Hole, Teton County Sheriff Jim Whalen says officers of the police and sheriff’s departments will remember the service and sacrifice of those local officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.  Those three officers were Deputy William Edwards killed July 15^th, 1969, Sheriff Boyd Hall killed November first, 1972, and Wyoming Game and Fish Warden Kirk Inberg who died in a plane crash October 16^th, 1991.  Whalen says the observance of the week by local officers will be subtle, but heart-felt.  The actual police officer Memorial Day is Friday and sheriff’s officers will wear black bands across their shields while the sheriff’s department flagpole displays the American flag at half staff. Police Chief Dan Zivkovich says the Jackson Police Department will also wear black bands across their shields Friday, and the town flag will also be flown at half staff.  Last year alone, 134 officers nationally lost their lives in the line of duty.

 

Winter snowpacks and cooler early spring temperatures are expected to moderate conditions and keep the fire potential in the normal range for most of this part of the west this summer.  The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho says this year’s hotspots will be California, north-central Washington, and the Southwest from Arizona to Texas.  Closer to home, NIFC says Increased chances of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation are expected across Idaho and western Montana later this summer. Unless rapid snow melt occurs during May or early June, allowing fuels to dry earlier than expected and the area experiences unusually active lightning, normal significant fire potential is expected.   By the same token, bug kill remains a significant problem in southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming, but unless there is a premature loss of snowpack followed by a very hot summer, NIFC says the area would see normal fire potential this year.  The seasonal outlook considers the condition of wildland fuels, weather forecasts, and climate and drought data.

 

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire – but that’s not always bad.  Teton interagency fire personnel and Grand Teton National Park natural resource managers are planning a 60-acre prescribed fire as part of a 4,000-acre native rangeland restoration project in the Aspen Ridge/Hunter Ranch area of Grand Teton National Park.  This fire is the next stage in an effort to convert pasture land back to native vegetation as part of the 2007 Bison and Elk Management Plan for the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park. The prescribed fire may be initiated today, weather permitting.

 

 

 

05-08-09

 

Jackson’s town council is about to launch into a series of four workshops on the proposed budgets for the remainder of this year and next year.  Mayor Mark Barron says while finances will clearly be tighter in the next couple years, the town staff has done yeoman’s job of adjusting for the smaller revenue stream without significantly impacting services. Barron says the town currently has $20-million liquid assets in the bank and has trimmed about a half-million dollars from this year’s budget as a hedge against an anticipated 12% decline in revenues. At the same time, however, Barron says he is optimistic for the year ahead and anticipates the town will be in better shape than the scenarios now being considered. Barron says cuts may manifest themselves as a reduction in the thoroughness of snow plowing from past years, some of the vacant positions may not be filled immediately and town employees have experienced a wage freeze.  However, Barron quickly points out that the basic services area residents expect will certainly not be interrupted.  The first of the town’s budget workshops will be May 18^th.

(Photo: JH Underground)

 

Gasoline prices nationally have jumped by 9-cents over the past week, now averaging $2.14 per gallon according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report.  Wyoming’s statewide average is $2.06 compared with the lowest state average of $1.92 in Arizona.  Here in Jackson, gasoline at the discounted outlets is still $1.97 for a third week in a row and range upward from there.  That’s about four cents lower than the lowest price that can be found in Idaho Falls – Idaho’s lowest prices.

 

Wyoming Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso are pushing to protect second amendment rights in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks through their Preservation of the Second Amendment in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges Act.  The bill would allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons in national parks if the concealed weapons permit holder is authorized to do so on similar state lands in the state in which the national park or refuge is located.  Representative Cynthia Lummis is a co-sponsor of the House version of the measure.  The senators explain in a news release that a rule was implemented in December 2008 to allow concealed weapons in national parks and refuges. However, that rule was then challenged in court when President Obama took office and the U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C. ruled that an environmental study would be needed before the new rule change could be accepted. While the courts wait for a final decision on the environmental study, Enzi and Barrasso say they are working to add co-sponsors to the bill to ensure Wyoming gun owners are not left in limbo.

 

The Governors of Idaho and Wyoming expressed their concern in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on what they say is an “ill-conceived and hastily contrived” approach to eliminate brucellosis.  Governors Butch Otter and Dave Freudenthal say that the USDA’ s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service proposal does not address the root problem of brucellosis transmission in the Greater Yellowstone Area - wildlife within the National Parks and on the National Elk Refuge. The governors maintain that National Brucellosis Elimination Zone is centered around an idea that by setting aside the zone, USDA-APHIS can then declare the rest of the nation “free” of the disease and “walk away from the issue.  As a result, the Governors say, (in their words) “brucellosis, in a national and even regional sense, will simply fade from the public conscience with the states of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana being left to their own devices to deal with yet another unfunded federal mandate, and the livestock producers in the Greater Yellowstone Area being forever handicapped at the marketplace: not because of any actual persistence of brucellosis in their cattle herds, but because of some federally contrived ‘zone.’ ”

 

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will have a new face for the coming season. JHMR announced the appointment of Chip Carey as their Chief Marketing Officer responsible for sales management, product development, marketing communications and market research.  The position has been vacant since Regina Woodhouse left in August. Carey joins JHMR from his current brand consulting business in Park City, Utah which he has operated since leaving American Skiing Company in 2007, where he had been Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. Carey will lead this effort under the direction of JHMR President, Jerry Blann.

 

 

 

05-07-09

A bill presented to the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands has drawn the ire of Wyoming Representative Cynthia Lummis. The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, primarily drafted and supported by lawmakers from eastern states, would set aside more than 24 million acres of land in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington; and impugn water rights upstream from those lands.  Lummis says among the lands tagged for a new environmental effort are approximately 70-thousand acres on the Bridger Teton National Forest now in multiple-use classification. The bill would take some of the lands not now considered wilderness and convert it to wilderness, banning recreational activities now there including ATV and snowmobile trails and the White Pines Ski Area.  Further, Lummis says other winter and summer motorized vehicle use including ATVs and snowmobiles would no longer be permitted in that area.  Considering the recreational nature of the northern part of the forest, Lummis says the bill if passed could cost the region dearly and shift the economy to almost totally energy development.  Lummis says such a move would also impair agricultural interests in the state.  Lummis says the bill has been attempted 19 times previously through the years with no success.  However, this time she says, the sponsors of the bill are of the majority party and the bipartisan members of Congress from the west have a major fight on their hands.

The number of people arriving in Jackson Hole by air last month actually increased after several months of decline.  According to the report to the airport board, the number of passengers deplaning here increased by four percent over the same month last year.  However, the number of those catching flights OUT of the valley decreased by ten percent.  To date, passenger traffic at Jackson Hole Airport is down 12% from the same period in 2008 and totaling about the same number of passengers seen through the airport in 2007.

A group calling itself “Parents for Education” has been recently formed to encourage residents of Teton County Idaho to support a proposed levy to augment the school district's funding there.  According to the group, the state is cutting over $600-thousand dollars from the district’s budget.  Rick Smith the cut stands to have a devastating effect on the valley’s education.  Smith says with the proposed mill levy going to a vote of Teton Valley residents Tuesday, an informational meeting has been planned for tonight to help clear up whatever confusion voters may have about the issue.  Smith says if the Levy passes, it will cost Teton Valley residents about what they might save by giving up buying one fast-food lunch each month.

The scene around Grand Teton National Park headquarters at Moose is beginning to look more like “Wild Kingdom” lately, with more large animals feeling at home around the developed area. Among the animals frequenting the area have been a moose, grizzlay bear, and Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says the latest to be seen in the office and residential area has been a mountain lion. As yet, Skaggs says there have been no reported incidents of lost pets, but employees and visitors are being cautioned to be on the alert. At the same time, Yellowstone National Park officials report that a wolf pack has made its den about a quarter mile east of Mammoth and even has made nighttime elk kills in the yards of employees homes.

(Photo by Kerry Murphy, YNP)

 

While areas around the country have reacted with radical measures taken in the name of precaution against the spread of swine flu, Teton County has remained alert, but conservative through the recent international scare.  Currently, Teton County Public Health is reporting that no cases of swine flu exist in Wyoming as of today and there are no suspected cases. In recognition of recent national reports, Public Health officials in the state say they are looking at swine flu just like seasonal flu.  Health officials point out that seasonal influenza and colds are still circulating around Wyoming, and not everyone that has a cough and fever has swine flu. Local health personnel continue to be vigilant for the disease and have stockpiles of antiviral medications available should the situation change.  Still, other than taking standard precautions, members of the public are being told not to be overly concerned.

 

05-06-09

 

Jackson Hole High School has a new principal for next year.  According to Superintendent Pam Shea, Scott Crisp who has been in the district both as a high school social studies teacher and then Principal of Summit High School will move into the position being vacated by Gary Elliott who is retiring at the end of the year. The only drawback from the appointment is that a search will now have to be launched for a new principal at Summit High School.  However, Shea says Summit High School does gain an advocate at Jackson Hole High school.  Overall, Shea calls the move very positive for both Crisp and Jackson Hole High School.

 

Even as hydrologists cautiously predict Wyoming is on track to pull out of it’s 10-year drought cycle, rain and snow continue to fall on the area’s aquifers improving the picture even more.  As of this week, the Snake River and Upper Yellowstone/Madison Basins both average 117% of normal water content in the snows still waiting to melt.  Meanwhile, the draw-down continues at Palisades Reservoir to make room for the anticipated run-off.  With Jackson Lake at 79% capacity and American Falls Reservoir at 98% full, Palisades in between has been drained to 43% capacity in anticipation of the flows yet to come.

 

Saturday is clean-up day in Jackson once again.  Every year local non-profit organizations, businesses, Adopt-A-Highway and individuals give their time and effort to clean up the valley.  After 41 years, the local Rotary Clubs, the Town of Jackson and Teton County are playing host to the day from 9am to noon. Rotarian Bob Norton says it is truly a community effort. Once the clean-up effort has been completed, Norton says community members return to the square to eat lunch and socialize. Volunteers will meet on the Town Square, at the Hoback Market or the Old Wilson Schoolhouse for a complimentary breakfast and area assignments.  From there, community members head out to clean Jackson Hole’s streets, highways, and roadsides.  Trash bags will be given out to everyone, but people are encouraged to wear gloves. 

 

With clean-up week in Jackson Hole, any number of area residents will likely spend some time in their garages after the long winter months of items being left out of place there.  The state department of health is reminding people to be mindful of rodent droppings as they clean garages, campers, cabins or barns.  Dr. Tracy Murphy points out that contact with rodent urine, droppings, saliva or nesting materials raises the risk of infection – not the least of which is hantavirus carried by the deer mouse.  Dr. Murphy says when the rodent waste products become dried, the virus is transmitted by the dust raised when these materials are disturbed.  When cleaning areas where rodents have been, the department of health urges, use rubber gloves, spray rodent droppings, nest materials or urine with a bleach solution until thoroughly soaked, and never vacuum the materials. When cleaning especially dirty areas, the health department suggests wearing coveralls, disposable shoe covers, protective goggles and masks to cover the mouth and nose.

 

The Jackson Police Department and Teton County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Wyoming Association of Sheriff’s and Chiefs of Police are conducting another round of alcohol compliance checks starting this week.  During the checks, police use underage teens to attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages at local retail, bar and restaurants.  If the business refuses to sell to the minor, the clerk is rewarded with a $10.00 gift certificate.  If the clerk fails, the clerk gets a misdemeanor citation with a bond of $750.00.  The police are addressing the underage drinking problem in Teton County and the availability of alcohol to minors through retail sales is one avenue we can target and reduce.   

 

 

05-05-09

 

Wyoming is not alone in its displeasure with the US Fish and Wildlife ruling that took effect yesterday, delisting the wolves in the Northern Rockies except for in Wyoming. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition has also condemned the move and has revealed plans to challenge the ruling in court – but with opposite reasons from the Cowboy State’s over the ruling. According to an official release, the conservation organization believes the ruling divides the wolves into separate populations based on artificial political boundaries and does not include mechanisms to ensure the critical connectivity between wolves of the Greater Yellowstone and Central Idaho areas. Furthermore, the GYC says Idaho plans to aggressively reduce its wolf population once delisting takes place. Wyoming had been left out of the delisting because it included in its management plan that actions would be taken to allow wolves that engaged in livestock depredation or otherwise caused problems to be shot in over 80% of the state. Meanwhile, Colorado wildlife authorities are trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a wolf which had traveled from western Montana to northern Colorado earlier this year. The lone female wolf was found dead early last month. Colorado is not among the states in the designated recovery area.

Visitation to Yellowstone National Park increased slightly for the month of April. According to the monthly report, total visitation improved by nearly .8% from the previous year with recreational visits increasing by more than 1½ %. The increase was not enough to make for rosier year-to-date statistics which still show Yellowstone visitors about 12% fewer than over the same period in 2008.

The town of Jackson is entering the antler auction again this year. This time, antlers forming the South East arch of the Town Square will go on the auction block during the annual Elk Antler Auction May 16th. The rebuilding of the four Arches around the Town Square is a community partnership between the Town of Jackson and the three Rotary Clubs in Jackson. One of the four has already been rebuilt and the other three are at least fifty years old withd their condition is deteriorating for public use. Donations to the upgrade of the elk antler arches are being made regularly to Rotary Clubs, but selling the antler arches to the highest bidder helps provide some of the necessary funding to purchase new antlers. The Public Works Department will begin dismantling the purchased arch – frame and all – May 26th following the Old West Days festivities.

(Photo: JH Chamber)

It’s the silver anniversary of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation – and among the accomplishments is a 35 percent increase in the Wyoming elk population during that period of work on projects that benefit elk and other critters. Former Jackson resident Tom Toman is the group’s conservation director. He says they’ve chalked up hundreds of projects in Wyoming with the main focus of making sure elk have room to roam on quality land. Private land protected through conservation easements give the landowners compensation for leaving their property undeveloped. It’s estimated there are 95 thousand elk in Wyoming this year. The elk population in Montana is up 66 percent since 1984, and elk numbers in Idaho are up five thousand.

The Jackson Hole High School Soccer teams continued their winning ways over the weekend with two victories each for the boys and girls teams. The success stories began Friday with the teams playing Newcastle – the boys ended up with an eight to zero win in Newcastle while the girls dominated the home field nine to zero. Then on Saturday, boys chalked up a five to one victory in Torrington and the girls won their game against Torrington as well, six to one. The girls soccer team travels to Lander today while the boys will play Lander here in Jackson.

Today is Cinco de Mayo being celebrated by those of Mexican decent. Often mistaken as Mexican Independence day, the holiday actually commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Battle was particularly significant since the Mexicans, outnumbered almost two to one, defeated a much better-equipped French army that had known no defeat for almost 50 years. The holiday now offers the opportunity for those of Mexican background now in locations now outside of their home country to celebrate their Mexican heritage and pride. Margot Brancheau of the Latino Resource Center says it is an important holiday for Latinos now in Jackson even though they are not from the part of Mexico where the event took place. For the most part Cinco de Mayo celebrations involve food, music, and dancing.

 

05-04-09

 

After 21 years serving on the Lower Valley Energy Board of Directors Thelma Crook has resigned her District 3 seat.  Crook has helped guide the cooperative through some significant events and was instrumental in the current direction and position Lower Valley Energy is in today.  As required by policy the vacant seat was immediately advertised and the pool of candidates was interviewed by the Board of Directors. The unexpired term will be filled by Etna resident Nancy Winters. There are 8 candidates for the District 3 seat and all Lower Valley Energy members can vote for open district seats. All Lower Valley Energy members will receive their ballot packet towards the end of May.

(LVE File Photo)

 

A plan to equip the National Elk Refuge with a new irrigation system could not only provide more natural forage for the elk and keep them from congregating like they do for supplemental feed, it could be good for water conservation as well.  Steve Kallin, Refuge Manager explains that utilizing flood irrigation now in place on the refuge leads to a lot of water loss through the porous soil. Furthermore, Kallin says the water now must be pumped uphill from Flat Creek while the new system would negate the need for electric pumps. Kallin says the system, if approved, would be a new low profile system connected with green hoses that would be hard to spot from the road – especially as the grass begins to grow.  There will be an open house regarding the draft environmental assessment of the plan with staffers of the refuge and the US Fish and Wildlife regional office on May 19th.

 

Two of three bridges being rehabilitated this summer by the Wyoming Department of Transportation are located here in Teton County.  Bridge rehabilitation work begins May 18 on US 26, over Flat Creek, at milepost 152. Traffic will be reduced to two-way traffic until work is complete on July 2nd.  The bridge rehabilitation then shifts to WYO 22, over the Snake River, at milepost 3.7, and begins on July 6th. Traffic will be restricted to one-way alternating traffic, from the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Oversized loads will be given the opportunity to pass through from noon to 1 p.m. each day. The bridge will be open to continuous two-way traffic each day from 4:30 to 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Work operations may be shifted to the night time shift in order to maintain two-way continuous traffic during the day, but the contractor anticipates all work will be completed by July 23, although the $1.56 million project has a completion date of September 30^th.

 

The Cowboy State is apparently coming out of its drought at last.  Wyoming is doing very well with respect to water supply and mountain snowpack averages.  Rangeland/pastureland precipitation totals through April of this water year have increased to near normal in many areas due to a wet late March and April.   The Lower Green and Upper Bear River Basins continue to be the driest basins in Wyoming---as these basins continue to be under the moderate hydrologic drought category.  Currently Grassy Lake Reservoir is 89% filled, Jackson Lake is at 79% of capacity and Pallisades is down to 48% of capacity after spring releases there in preparation for the height of seasonal run-off. Hydrologists say the bottom line is that current precipitation, water supply, and precipitation conditions are keeping the momentum going with respect to totally breaking the long-term drought that has been plaguing Wyoming for the past 10 years.

 

The cost of sending a letter is to go up again one week from now.  According to the US Postal Service, a first class stamp will go up from its current 42-cents to 44-cents Monday, May 11^th.  At the same time, the cost to mail a postcard will increase from 27 to 28 cents, and the cost to mail a letter to Canada will be 75 cents, a letter to Mexico will be 79 cents, and it will be 98 cents to mail a letter to all other countries.  One way to head off increased mailing expenses for a while is to buy a supply of Forever Stamps now at the current rate which remain valid after the rate change takes effect. The Postal Service says the increase is needed to help cover higher U.S. Postal Service operating expenses. According to the agency, mail volume is down nationally by at least 12 percent due to the poor economy. Then, of course, more people are also moving to other communication alternatives. 

 

 

 

05-01-09

 

Teton County School District officials are assuring parents that there are currently no reported cases of swine flu among the students in the district, and the district has an emergency response plan that could be implemented should the need arise.  Superintendent Pam Shea says the district is working together with local, county and public health officials in monitoring all illnesses and stands ready to make the appropriate response if necessary.  In the meantime, Shea says students are being urged to routinely wash their hands, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, avoid others with respiratory symptoms, and to stay at home if they are feeling flu-like illness. Shea says the school district is updated on the evolving situation daily by county and state health officials.

 

Clean-up week is almost here again with the county trash transfer station open and accepting trash at half the current rate between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm Monday through Saturday.  Clean-up week runs from May 3^rd until May 9^th.  During the week, if residents want to burn agricultural debris, town and county officials point out that they must contact Jackson Hole Law Enforcement to alert them of their plans.  The 40^th annual community clean-up day is set for Saturday, May 9^th from 9:00 am until noon with volunteers meeting on the Town Square, at the Hoback Market or the Old Wilson Schoolhouse for a complimentary breakfast and area assignments. 

 

Would-be visitors to the Jackson National Fish Hatchery will be disappointed for the next year-and-a-half as the hatchery is closed to visitation while construction crews are at work on the new 14-thousand square foot building. Hatchery Manager Kerry Grande says replacement of the building was a matter of safety. Grande says excavation has already begun, and when finished, the building will not only be more functional, it will also include an interpretation area for visitors to learn more about the hatchery’s operations.

 

The national average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline came down a penny this week as gas prices continue to fluctuate in the $2.00 range.  According to the AAA Auto Club’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, this week’s average is $2.05 per gallon ranging from a low average of $1.86 in Missouri to a high average price of $2.58 in Alaska.  Here in Wyoming, the report says, the average price is $2.02.  Prices range from $1.97 to $2.05 in Jackson – about three cents lower than prices in Eastern Idaho.

 

Wyoming is once again at the top of the list when it comes to the most dangerous states to work in – because of its high number of on-the-job deaths. The Governor wants to change that legacy. He’s announced a task force that will study worker safety issues and make recommendations for improvements by the end of the summer. Dan Neal with the Equality State Policy Center will be involved - he says details behind injuries and deaths are scarce, and every fatality should be thoroughly studied. Of 48 on-the-job deaths last year, only nine were investigated. Neal says the state needs to address work safety problems in oil and gas construction, but not overlook other industries, such as tourism, which might also need safety attention. Former District Judge Gary Hartman is chairing the group and he says nothing will be “off the table” as safety issues are examined.

 

Guys, just so you don’t forget, today is May Day.  May Day may be best known for its tradition of dancing the Maypole and crowning of the Queen of the May – and in romantic tradition, it is a day to bring your special someone a basket of flowers. In Hawaii, it is Lei Day – started in 1928 and continuing to this day, a string of flowers (or floral lei) is presented to a friend, sweetheart, or placed on the graves of loved ones as a symbol of Aloha.  The flowers are to be fashioned into a lei by the giver, and as this is done, the mana (or spirit) of the creator of the lei is sewn or woven into it. Therefore, when you give a lei, you are giving a part of you. The day is marked with celebrations, lei-making contests and the crowning of a queen.  So whether it is a basket of flowers or a floral lay, tradition says today is a day to share your friendship with someone in flowers.

 

 

 

04-30-09

 

Rumors about a case of swine flu being confirmed in Teton County yesterday are false.  That was the word from Wyoming Department of Health’s Teton County Coordinator Tammy Marshall who says confirmation must be made by the Center for Disease Control and requires two to three days to process.  Health Department Director Dr. Brent Sherard told reporters yesterday that the state has purchased a supply of antiviral drugs which it has stockpiled around the state, and so is ready to respond to an outbreak. In the meantime, he says, the state can only wait and watch. At this time, health officials stress there are NO confirmed cases in Wyoming.

 

The Jackson Hole Airport terminal renovation project was put out to bid yesterday with no shortage of interested contractors ready to examine the project.  Airport Manager Ray Bishop says this bid package is for just one phase of the project and will, when under way, provide literally hundreds of jobs for Teton County.  Bishop says construction documents have been made available online for interested bidders, or may be acquired by calling the airport.  Bidders have about a month to respond, and Bishop says the project could be under contract by the first week of July. Together with the architectural design, the building and the automated baggage handling system, the total project is anticipated to run in the area of $28-million. Bishop says he sees the project as being very timely for local economy, especially with regard to the employment picture. 

(File Photo)

 

The summer season is coming to Grand Teton National Park with the opening of the Teton Park Road and the Moose-Wilson Road tomorrow. However, the gravel road and parking area to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve will remain closed to public entry until the road can sufficiently dry out and harden to handle vehicles, and work can be completed on the accessibility trail to the Preserve Center. The Grassy Lake Road, in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, will open June 1st. Colter Bay Visitor Center opens May ninth, Jenny Lake Visitor Center May 15th and the Laurance Rockefeller Preserve on May 24th.  The Gros Ventre and Signal Mountain Campgrounds will be the first to open on May 8th. Entry fees will once be charged at entry stations with annual passes available either at the gates or the visitor centers.

 

Wyoming Representative Cynthia Lummis has added her name to a group of congressional members who have introduced the “Complete America’s Great Trails Act” to help close missing links and protect the viewsheds of America’s eight National Scenic Trails. Meanwhile, the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, Pony Express route and Native American trails have been included in the new National Landscape Conservation System – which means the historical significance could gain more footing with the Bureau of Land Management. That’s according to retired B-L-M employee Gary Long – now with the Alliance for Historic Wyoming. Studies will also be done on additional routes and cutoffs of the network of trails through Wyoming, and other states, for possible inclusion in the National Historic Trails System. A stumbling block to the trails project in Wyoming has been a fear that preserving the trails could limit oil and gas drilling.

 

Members of the Shoshone and Bannock tribes are completing their traditional ceremonial bison hunt at the National Elk Refuge today. Refuge Manager Steve Kallin explains the ceremony is specific to bison and will involve a maximum of three animals.  The tribes last participated in a ceremonial hunt on the refuge last May, which was the first time since the 2005 National Environmental Policy Act allowed reasonable access to US Fish and Wildlife Service managed lands for Native American ceremonial activities.  The Shoshone and Bannock tribes were historically associated with the Jackson Hole area long before white settlers moved here.

(NER Photo)

 

 

 

04-29-09

 

The swine flu will eventually make its appearance in Wyoming.  That’s the word from state Epidemiologist Dr. Tracy Murphy who told reporters during a news conference Monday that the state is keeping a close eye on the spread of the illness.  As yet, Murphy says there have been no confirmed cases of swine flu in Wyoming.  Unlike the cases in Mexico, Murphy says the American cases appear mild and patients readily recover.  Murphy says the best defense Wyoming residents can have against the swine flu is to follow the typical respiratory hygene measures including washing hands frequently, avoiding contact with ill persons and staying home when feeling ill.

 

Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation Department is closing portions of three parks on a rotating schedule beginning this week to implement a variety of facility improvements.   Parks Planner Steve Ashworth says the work is part of a schedule of maintenance for park facilities. Ashworth says the Miller park playground will be closed from now through Friday, May, 22 for maintenance construction.  Work will include replacement of the safety surfacing and installing perimeter curbing.  Owen Bircher parking lot and the adjacent site to the equestrian arena will be under construction starting Monday, May 11^th through Friday, June 19^th for construction.  Then Phil Baux Park picnic shelter will be closed starting Tuesday, June 2^nd through Friday, June, 26^th for construction.  Work will include the removal and replacement of the existing shelter.  The new shelter will be larger and accommodate a greater variety of community gatherings.

 

Students today were encouraged to get themselves to school without the use of a car.  Instead, students were encouraged to walk, bike or ride the bus to school to cut down on congestion around school and to raise awareness of the benefits of choosing an active transportation method.  Friends of Pathways spokesperson Stephanie Thomas says the school district partnered with Friends of Pathways in the iWalk/iBike/iBus to school, with curriculum development to be integrated into summer programs, and a Safe Routes task force composed of county and town officials, school administration, teachers and students to be formed.   The programs focus on the environmental, health and economic benefits of riding and walking while also teaching children the safest way to walk and ride to school. 

 

The National Elk Refuge has published a draft Environmental Assessment for an irrigation expansion project on the National Elk Refuge. The EA evaluates impacts of irrigation expansion on the southern end of the refuge. Spokesperson Lori Iverson says two alternatives are evaluated in the draft EA, including a no-action alternative and an outline of the proposed expansion. Iverson says there will be an open house with staffers of the refuge and the US Fish and Wildlife regional office on May 19^th.  Public comments on the document should be submitted by close of business on Tuesday, May 28th. Copies of the Environmental Assessment are available on the National Elk Refuge’s web site

 

The 2009 Governor’s Summit on Workforce Solutions is being hosted next month in Jackson.  Jerimiah Rieman with the Wyoming Department of Workforce Solutions and organizer of the 2009 Summit says this will be the most relevant workforce solutions-oriented conference any business or employer could attend this year.  Reiman says the keynote speaker is Don Tapscott, an internationally renowned authority on the strategic value and impact of information technology in today’s business economy.  This year’s Summit, entitled, “Innovate: Survive and Thrive in Wyoming’s New Frontier,” will be held May 26-28 at the Snow King Resort.

 

 

04-28-09

 

Teton County’s Commissioners yesterday spent more time discussing the merits of each of the two final candidates for county administrator, but have yet to make their final selection.  Monnie Gore of El Paso County, Colorado and Joe Kerby from Montrose County in western Colorado were in Jackson over the weekend for their second on-site interview.  Commission Chairman Hank Phibbs says both bring very strong credentials to the table. Phibbs says each of the candidates appears very impressed with the community and the roles they would fill in it. Phibbs says the commissioners hope to be able to announce their selection soon.

(Hank Phibbs: File Photo)

 

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Sunday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will invest $280 million in more than 770 projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to build visitors centers, improve infrastructure, and bolster conservation at national wildlife refuges and hatcheries across the country.  Of that money, the Jackson Fish Hatchery is to receive $55-thousand dollars and the National Elk Refuge is to receive more than $3.4 million dollars.  Primary among the projects at the elk refuge, $3.2 million in Recovery Act funding will be used to install an irrigation system and establish grasslands on upland areas of this refuge which over-winters major concentrations of elk that have historically relied upon artificial feeding programs to sustain them through the winter. This project is currently undergoing an environmental assessment and Spokesperson Lori Iverson says the exact parameters of the project are still to be determined.  Options to be considered include Alternative A which would be a no-action option – holding irrigation to the nearly 1000 acres outlined in a previous decision.  Alternative B would be a more expansive irrigation project and would allow increased forage production on over 5,000 acres of land and provide an expanded area for natural foraging which reduces artificial crowding of animals and associated tendencies for disease spreading among the herd.  Should the entire amount allocated under ARRA not be needed if the no-action alternative was selected, Iverson says the surplus would be turned back for use on other Fish and Wildlife Service Projects.  Meanwhile, the work needed at the fish hatchery will be associated with the building of a new 14-thousand square foot hatchery building to replace the current one which has been condemned.

 

As more spring-like weather becomes commonplace and the roads dry out, the Jackson area is experiencing more pedestrian and bicycle traffic.  Jackson Police Chief Dan Zivkovich says motorists will again have to become more attentive to these activities after the long winter. Zivkovich says motorists need to again be aware of the lane to their right used by bicyclists and bicyclists need to remember that they are responsible for the same rules of the road as a motor vehicle. Zivkovich says while there is no law requiring bicyclists to wear a helmet, he strongly urges cyclists to faithfully wear one for their own welfare.

 

The new multi-use pathway within Grand Teton National Park is now NOT to open to public use until late May. Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says the eight-mile-long pathway, which parallels the Teton Park Road from Dornan’s to South Jenny Lake, requires additional construction work including the final attachment of the Cottonwood Creek Bridge to its footers, stripping of the pathway surface, and the placement of all safety signs. Skaggs adds that the pathway is still covered by snowdrifts over much of its length. No specific date has been set for the pathway to open to public use and will not until all remaining construction work is completed. Furthermore, Skaggs says the opening date is dependent upon weather conditions and the impact of that weather construction progress.

 

The Wyoming Department of Health says while swine flu will inevitably come to the Cowboy State eventually, it is not something to panic about.  Instead, the best defense for residents is to take those precautions they normally would during flu season including washing their hands frequently.

 

 

04-27-09

 

The litany of failed banks has hit close to home now with the foreclosure of the parent company of a Jackson bank.  First Bank of Idaho out of Ketchum, Idaho, was closed Friday by the Office of Thrift Supervision, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver. First Bank of Idaho is the parent company to First Bank of the Tetons on Powderhorn Lane.  In order to protect the depositors, the FDIC says it has entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with U.S. Bank out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to assume the deposits. However, U.S. Bank will not assume $112.8 million in brokered deposits held by First Bank of Idaho.  All seven offices of the banking company, both in Idaho and Wyoming, reopen on today as branches of U.S. Bank, and depositors of First Bank of Idaho and First Bank of the Tetons will automatically become depositors of U.S. Bank.  Federal officials assure that deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC. Customers who have questions about the transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-591-2845.

 

Skies cleared for several hours Saturday morning, smiling down on approximately 160 scouts and adult scouters who combed the National Elk Refuge in the annual elk antler roundup.  The shed antlers that were recovered, along with about a half dozen skulls, will be sold at auction May 16^th on the town square with proceeds to go toward feed and feeding equipment at the refuge.  About 20% is donated back to the scouts to help pay the district’s national membership fee.  If not for the percentage from the antler sale, Loretta Kirkpatrick of the scout district says the money would have had to be raised in other ways – like knocking on the doors of businesses around town and seeking support.  Refuge Spokesperson Lori Iverson says the partnership with the scouts has been a great success story for the refuge over the years. The antler pick up by the Scouts began in the late 1950s to reduce damage to feeding equipment, prevent trespassing by antler thieves, and prevent disturbance to the elk herds.  Between now and May 16^th, the scouts will sort, bundle, weigh and tag the antlers for the internationally acclaimed auction.

 

A Wyoming Department of Health official is cautioning state residents that the recent outbreak of  swine flue bears some watching.  So far, swine flu cases reported in the news have been located in California, Texas and Mexico.  State Epidemiologist Dr. Tracy Murphy says at this time, this particular influenza virus does not appear to be a significant threat to public health in Wyoming yet.  Murphy noted that the current influenza season is winding down in Wyoming and reports have indicated a relatively mild season statewide with no increased mortality.

 

Rain and snow continued through the weekend, adding to the accumulations in the area’s aquifers of both snow and water content.  According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Snake River Drainage now has about 105% of the normal snow depth for this time of year.  Water content in that snow is about 104% of normal which is down slightly from last week.  Further North in the Upper Yellowstone-Madison drainage the snow depth is 98% of normal despite several inches falling on the Mammoth/Gardiner area over the past few days.  Snow water content in the meantime is 103% of normal.  The highest water content in this corner of the state is 132% at Two Ocean Plateau.

 

Mother Nature this weekend should have made it perfectly clear that the summer season is not as close as some would like it to be.  Still, Mary Cernacek of the Bridger Teton National Forest says there have been too many people trying to access the closed portions of the forest to the detriment of wildlife and forest roads there. Cernacek says the violations are being seen in many areas of the forest with no specific problem areas.  Winter closures will be lifted in many areas May first at 8:00 am.

 

 

04-24-09

 

Firefighters were called to the top of High School Hill Wednesday evening after several small fires were fanned into flame by the winds that briefly went through the area.  Fire Inspector Cathy Clay says it appears that some children had been playing with matches among the trees on the hill. Clay says the danger of children playing with fire is not only limited to property damage. Clay says with the beginning of weather that is conducive to outdoor activities, this is a good opportunity for parents to visit with their children about the dangers of fire.

 

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office has submitted a grant application to the Department of Justice, COPS Hiring Program which, if approved, will support the hiring of three full time Sheriff’s Deputies.  Currently the Sheriff’s Office has three vacancies that remain unfilled due to budget constraints.   Teton County Sheriff Jim Whalen says these are positions that are normally filled. Whalen says the COPS Hiring Program was allocated $1 billion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the purpose of granting funds to hire or retain sworn law enforcement officers for state and local jurisdictions. Whalen says the grant is competitive, so there is no guarantee the department will be awarded the funding it seeks.

 

Two candidates, both from Colorado, remain in contention for Teton County’s Grant Writer position.  The county began with seven candidates who they hosted last week and after interviews with commissioners and staff, two were determined to be the best fits to choose between.  According to the commission, Monnie Gore is currently the deputy county administrator and facilities manager for El Paso County, Colorado in Colorado Springs and Joe Kerby is county manager for Montrose County in western Colorado.  Gore and Kerby are to return to Jackson this weekend to complete the interview process.  County officials say the pair display particular experience with capital projects and a variety of local government organizational structures and financial acumen which will be particularly useful as Teton County addresses a sizable list of issues in the months ahead.

 

Grand Teton National Park is participating in the national celebration of Junior Ranger Day Saturday with a variety of activities and a display of gear used by rangers in their activities around the park.  Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says the Junior Ranger Program was designed decades ago to help families better enjoy their visits to the national parks. Skaggs says indoor activities Saturday will include instruction about climbing in the Teton Range, a scavenger hunt to explore the state-of-the-art exhibits in the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, an Animal Olympics competition where children can test their skills against the abilities of certain wildlife species, and a chance for children to don an actual ranger uniform.  Additionally, Skaggs says children aged 9 to 12 are being encouraged to write an essay on the theme, “Why are our national parks important to you and what is your best idea to protect our parks for the future?” The first prize winner will receive a $1,000 Visa gift card and the opportunity to direct $5,000 to support a favorite national park.  Deadline for the competition is May first.

 

The Teton County Fair’s recent photo contest has yielded three winners. According to Fair Manager, Yvonne Robertson, the Fair Board received many entries and had a hard job choosing the winners.  The contest asked for photos of barns to be used with the Fair theme this year of “Barn in the USA”.   The photo belonging to grand prize winner Christi Dutro of Jackson will be on the cover of the 2009 fair book. 1^st runner up was Ernest Labelle, and 2^nd runner up was Patrick Metcalf.  These photos will appear within the fair book.  This year’s Teton County Fair runs from July 18^th through the 26th.

 

 

 

04-23-09

 

The National Park Service has announced the allocation of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 now, with nearly $19-million dollars coming to Grand Teton National Park for a variety of projects and $15-million dollars being earmarked for Yellowstone Projects.  In Grand Teton, a substantial amount will be used to accomplish deferred maintenance of facilities and to complete long-delayed renovation of administrative facilities for the safety of employees and visitors and address energy efficiency concerns.  One of the projects, says spokesperson Jackie Skaggs, will rehabilitate the Lower Granite Canyon Trail, providing jobs for about two dozen local young people. Meanwhile, a new wastewater treatment plant and a power generating facility are two projects headlining construction planned in Yellowstone.  Spokesman Al Nash says the wastewater plant at Madison Junction will replace the current plant built 50 years ago which is now inadequate.  Further north, the park will build a micro hydro system to harness power from drinking water already stored for use there – thus saving the park over $80-thousand in electricity costs. 
 

Work begins Friday on the runway rehabilitation project at Jackson Hole Airport.  Airport Manager Ray Bishop says the initial phases begin with preliminary set-up activities.  Bishop says the project looks like it will employ about 30 people full-time.  Again, the first part of the project will be done at night in order to not interrupt air service, but barring weather delays, Bishop says final work which will close the runway for a week is to begin May 25th and be completed by the end of the month.

 

Teton County School Board last night examined the costs of a multipurpose stadium project at MacIntosh Field.  School Superintendent Pam Shea says some of the needs for renovation there are clear…including better stadium seating and more adequate restroom facilities.  Then, depending on what options are pursued, cost of the project could run the gamut from $3-million to as much as $12-million. The project is being put out to bid in three phases, with the first of those phases already bid and currently under review.

 

Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 3.9% in February to 4.5% in March, its highest level since August 2003. Still, the state’s unemployment rate remained well below the U.S. rate of 8.5%.  The loss of 500 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector was second only to the 2300 jobs lost in the construction sector.  Unemployment in Teton County rose to 5.1 percent last month, compared with 2.4 percent at this time last year.  The lowest unemployment rate in the state was found in Sublette County at 3.3 percent.  Big Horn County had the worst at 8.7 percent.

 

Idaho’s Department of Transportation has announced highway construction projects that will impact area residents who are westbound from Jackson Hole.  Crews are to repave 12 miles of U.S. 26 from Clark Hill to the Swan Valley Bridge, between now and September.  Additionally, crews will seal coat 10 miles of U.S. 26 from Ririe to Clark Hill. Crews repaved this stretch of highway last year.  State officials says motorists can expect 15 minute delays on Highway 26 from Clark Hill east of Ririe to the Swan Valley Bridge as travel will be reduced to one lane through the construction area. Work will take place between 7 am and 7 pm weekdays.  IDOT also says Idaho 33 from the Wyoming state line to the junction of Idaho 32 near Tetonia will receive a seal coat as well as new turn lanes at Fox Creek Road and Pack Saddle Road during the summer season.

 

 

04-22-09

 

The pre-runoff capacity of area reservoirs is leading to some early releases to make room for the inevitable snow melt.  Mike Beus of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Minidoka Project says Palisades Reservoir is the first to see such releases this week. After a number of relatively dry years, Bues says the system of reservoirs in Western Wyoming and Eastern Idaho is again going into this irrigation year with a surplus. Bues says at this time, a cool wet spring has negated the need for irrigation in the fields of Western Idaho’s Magic Valley until now.  Meanwhile, Beus says decisions regarding releases from Jackson Lake not will be made yet for a couple weeks.  Currently, Jackson Lake is at 78% of capacity.

 

Gasoline prices continue their steady creep upward as the summer season approaches.  The US Department of Energy is forecasting that prices will not reach what was seen about a year ago, but remain in the vicinity of $2.25 on average.  According to the government agency, the regular-grade prices have increased to more than $2.00 per gallon, rising slowly but steadily since the beginning of the year in conjunction with rising crude oil prices and refiner margins recovering from recent near-historic lows.  During this summer driving season prices are projected to average $2.23 per gallon, down almost $1.60 from last summer.  The agency adds that prices will likely rise to an average of $2.42 in 2010.  AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report puts the national average currently at $2.06 with Wyoming’s average at $1.98.  The lowest average in the country is $1.90 in Missouri.  Prices in Jackson this week start at $1.92.

 

Scores of students will be receiving scholarship money tomorrow night during the annual scholarship presentation at Jackson Hole High School.  Despite the national economic downturn, High School Counselor Julie Stayner says the unusually generous number of scholarships in this community has not been impacted. Stayner says the scholarship pool in Jackson has grown to approximately $475-thousand dollars in local funds.   Considering the current economy, Stayner says the scholarships will be particularly crucial to students. Scholarship presentations will begin at the high school auditorium at 6:30 pm tomorrow followed by a reception for the students, faculty and benefactors.

 

The upcoming spring opening of the Curtis Canyon and Flat Creek Roads and the removal of special Forest winter travel restrictions is set for Friday, May 1st at 8:00 am.  At that time, the Refuge Road will be open to public travel beyond the county maintained line, allowing access to the Curtis Canyon and Flat Creek Roads and the adjoining National Forest. These roads, along with critical winter range areas on the Bridger-Teton Forest, are closed from December 1st through May 1st to protect wintering wildlife in the area. Refuge officials remind area visitors and residents that access through the National Elk Refuge is restricted to public roads only; all off-road travel is prohibited, including hiking, biking or other recreational activities. Additionally, it is illegal to remove antlers from the National Elk Refuge.

 

It’s that time of year again -- the Wyoming Department of Health is reminding residents to take precautions to avoid infection with tick-borne diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever. These diseases are found in Wyoming and are typically transmitted by the bite of an infected tick.   Emily Thorp, surveillance epidemiologist says that as the weather warms up and people spend more time outdoors, they need to take precautions against contracting these diseases. Initial RMSF symptoms may include fever, nausea, muscle pain, lack of appetite and severe headache.  Later signs and symptoms may include rash, abdominal pain, and joint pain, and often, RMSF patients require hospitalization. Colorado tick fever usually causes fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and, occasionally, a rash.

 

 

 

04-21-09

 

Jackson Town Council examined several possible uses for a parcel of property, approximately 28 feet by 200 feet located adjacent the parking structure near the downtown post office.  Mayor Mark Barron says there have been several suggestions for the use of the property ranging from commercial or residential development to landscaped parkway. Among the considerations in addition to community needs is cost.  Barron says the cost of a parkway would be about $40-thousand while development of the site would not cost the town any financial commitment, but could absorb some of the capacity of the parking structure.

 

With the close of the 2008-2009 ski season officials at Grand Targhee Resort are saying they are statisfied with this year’s skier business.  Resort spokesperson Shannon Hamby was reluctant to discuss specific skier days, but said over the long run as opposed to year-to-year comparison, the season was good.  Hamby says the resort, in her words, “held its own” despite some unusual challenges – including a severe avalanche season.  On the positive side, the resort totaled 529 inches of snow compared with an annual average of about 500 inches,, and offset some of the national economic challenges with creative promotions including their “Daylight Savings” discount pass and a local/regional lodging package offering sking with the booking of a room.  Hamby says the resorts in Teton County comparatively offer unique and complimentary experiences to skiers which combined provide a special attraction that is not available in other parts of the country.

 

The time of the year for control burns has again arrived, but some people seem to forget that they are required to notify authorities of their intentions to touch off their grasses and discarded leaves and branches.  Fire Inspector Cathy Clay says an incident Sunday morning served to illustrate the problem with about a dozen firefighters and fire apparatus responded to a burn that had not been called in. Clay says city and county ordinances permit those who fail to notify authorities of their plans to burn to be cited for the violation.

 

Visitors to Yellowstone National Park will be able to find cell phone service in the park, but not in very many places.  The Park announced Monday that it had completed a plan which addresses the future of wireless communications in the park. According to their official statement on the plan, wireless communications in Yellowstone will be allowed in very limited areas to provide for visitor safety and to enhance park operations. The plan restricts towers, antennas, and wireless services to a few limited locations in the park, in order to protect park resources and limit the impact on park visitors. Under this plan, cell towers would not be allowed in recommended wilderness, in campgrounds, or along park road corridors. No cell phone service will be allowed in the vast majority of Yellowstone. And while those staying in the park will enjoy Wi-Fi service in some lodging, such service will be prohibited in Old Faithful Inn and Lake Hotel in order to preserve an historic lodging experience.  Cell service is currently limited to the immediate vicinity of Canyon, Grant Village, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Old Faithful. 

 

Wyomingites are gathering to talk about the collaborative process that led to the success of the Wyoming Range Legacy Act – which is being called a “big tent” approach. Wyoming State Senator Mike Massie is leading the discussion at the University of Wyoming today. Senator Massie says it’s a new model of conservation that has been used successfully in Idaho and New Mexico, too. The Wyoming Range Legacy Act directs existing oil and gas leases to be purchased from the leaseholders so the land will be left undeveloped. Critics of the act are concerned about the restriction on oil and gas drilling.

 

 

 

04-20-09

 

Reservoirs in the Upper Snake River and Henry’s Fork basins are filling fast, according to the Pacific Northwest Regional Office of the Bureau of Reclamation.  Current statistics show Grassy Lake Reservoir near the South Boundary of Yellowstone National Park 88% full, Jackson Lake is 77% filled and Palisades is 64% full.  West of the Tetons, Henry’s Lake is 98% full, Island Park Reservoir is 90% to capacity, and Ririe Reservoir is 61% full.  Downstream, American Falls reportedly is 98% to the top while Milner Reservoir much further downstream has topped 110%.  Meanwhile, the Snake River is reportedly running at 33-hundred88 cubic feet per second at this time.

 

It’s still too early to tell what the upcoming tourist season holds for Wyoming, but Governor Dave Freudenthal says he remains optimistic.  Freudenthal told reporters last week that while advanced reservations are off, it appears travelers are making their plans later than usual. Freudenthal compares the tourist industry to agriculture where producers in the spring prepare the best they can and hope for a bumper crop.  This year, says Freudenthal, the state will probably see increased regional visitation – a trend that’s become the focus of marketing by more states than just Wyoming.

 

Natural causes, not just human conflicts are to blame for last year’s excessive grizzly bear mortality in the Yellowstone Ecosystem.  At their spring meeting in Bozeman, managers of the member agencies that make up the Yellowstone Grizzly Coordinating Committee heard the results of a special task force created to study what led to both the male and female mortality quotas for grizzly bears in the Ecosystem being exceeded last year.  According to Larry Timchak, Caribou-Targhee National Forest Supervisor and Chair of the YGCC, it was determined that a wide range of factors contributed to the mortality limits for both sexes being exceeded in the Yellowstone Ecosystem last year. While bear managers were watching what appeared to be a typical year, he said, review of climatic data and information regarding the availability of key grizzly food sources shows that by the fall elk hunting seasons the bears were poised for conflicts with humans because of the delayed negative impacts of lingering winter snows and a poor whitebark pine cone crop.  The team also noted that there are more bears in the ecosystem than at the beginning of the recovery efforts, and they expanding into a wider range putting them into conflict with more humans.  Along with the review, the committee was presented with a list of potential actions that could be considered to help prevent quotas from being exceeded again in the future including better bear education for hunters and even the possibility of managing their numbers through limited hunting. 

 

Next week is National Infant Immunization Week. Wyoming parents are being encouraged by the Department of Health to make sure their children are up-to-date on immunizations. The Wyoming Vaccinates Important People program provides vaccines at no cost to resident families at nearly 130 participating healthcare provider offices. Children are eligible for the free vaccines from birth until the day before the 19^th birthday. While some of the diseases have not been seen in the state for a while, Wyoming Department of Health Director Dr. Brent Sherard says people should not assume they are totally eradicated. While providers may charge a small administrative fee (less than $15), the cost of the vaccine is covered by a combination of state and federal funding.

 

General Growth Properties, Inc., owner and operator of the Grand Teton Mall in Idaho Falls, has announced that it is voluntarily seeking relief to reduce and restructure its debts under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. In a news release distributed by GGP, the company assured that all day-to-day operations and business of the Company’s shopping centers and other properties will continue as usual.  The Company says it intends to work with its constituencies to emerge from bankruptcy as quickly as possible while executing on a plan of reorganization that preserves the Company’s integrated, national business operations.  In addition to the Grand Teton Mall, GGP has ownership interest in, or management responsibility for over 200 regional shopping malls in 44 states, as well as ownership in master planned community developments and commercial office buildings.

 

 

04-17-09

 

The Jackson Hole Airport Board met with their selected contractor, H.K. Contractors Inc. Wednesday to work out a detailed schedule for work resurfacing the runway.  Airport Manager Ray Bishop says the initial work milling the current surface will be done nights so that the runway can be available during the day.  Then beginning May 25^th, the new surface will be applied and the runway will remain closed – with plans to reopen May 31^st weather permitting.  During that time, Bishop says, passengers will be shuttled to the Idaho Falls Airport where flights are being redirected; including those that normally don’t serve Idaho Falls. Bishop says the shuttle will pick up passengers in front of Staples on Broadway and the Stinson Parking lot in Wilson, leaving the valley about three to 3½ hours prior to departure time. Bishop says additionally, flight rescheduling fees and car rental drop-off fees are being drastically reduced or eliminated for those people impacted by the closure.

 

The Town of Jackson is launching a program to help provide residents some relief from the high cost of prescription drugs. The town is making prescription drug discount cards available to all town residents through a program sponsored by the National League of Cities.  The discount cards offer city residents an average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs.  The cards may be used by all Jackson residents and have no restrictions based on the resident’s age, income level, or existing health coverage. According to Town Councilor Melissa Turley, the NLC card can be used when purchasing prescription drugs at Smith’s, Albertsons and KMart pharmacies as well as at more than 59,000 participating retail pharmacies across the country.  Cards are available at Town Hall and the Teton County Library at no cost to city residents.

 

Gasoline prices going into the weekend have crept upward again by a few pennies.  AAA Auto Club’s Fuel Gauge Report shows the national average price now $2.05 per gallon of unleaded regular with the lowest average price to be found in Missouri at $1.90-point-4.  Wyoming’s average is $1.93 per gallon.  In Jackson, prices range upward from the lowest price posted at $1.82.  Lowest prices in Eastern Idaho typically run from $1.97 to $1.99.

 

Were you involved in either of the Tea Parties in Jackson?  Local residents staged demonstrations at noon and again at 4:45 along Broadway Wednesday while Wyoming residents also showed up for Tax Day Tea Parties in Buffalo, Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Green River, Laramie, and Sheridan as well.  As far as Wyoming residents who showed up for the demonstrations is concerned, Governor Dave Freudenthal said he found the numbers surprisingly small. A statement from Senator Mike Enzi’s Office said it is important that the message of the tea parties is directed to those who advocate continued and unsustainable taxing and spending.  In the words of the emailed message, “Tea party goers can rely on the Wyoming delegation to be solidly against overspending.” 

(File Photo)

 
Yellowstone National Park is hosting several public meetings in Gardiner next month to give area residents information on road construction that will take place in The Park this summer.  The biggest project will be on a segment of the park’s Grand Loop Road between Madison and Norris through Gibbon Canyon. Visitors can expect up to 30-minute delays from the time the road opens April 17 through the summer. This section of road will also be closed to travel between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. every night from May 26 through August 16.  Then, Removal of an existing bridge and construction of a new span will require the road to be completely closed to all travel beginning August 17 until it reopens to snowmobile and snowcoach travel in December. The information meetings are Monday, April 27 at 7:00 pm and Thursday, May 14 at 1:00 pm in the Gardiner School; and also Monday, June 22 at 1:00 pm, Monday, July 20 at 7:00 pm, Monday, August 24 at 7:00 pm, and Monday, September 21 at 1:00 pm in the conference room of the Yellowstone Association headquarters on West Park Street near the Roosevelt Arch. 
 

 

04-16-09

 

There may have been no boxes of tea to throw into the Snake River, but more than 125 Jackson Hole residents were on hand for the local “Tea Party” protesting big government and deficit spending.  Despite snow and rain, participants waved picket signs and an American Flag at the corner of US Highway 89 and Wyoming 22 while passing motorists honked horns in support.  Event organizer Todd Graus says he was pleased overall with the response. Sponsored by the Jackson Hole Wyoming Republican Liberty Caucus, Graus says the event was meant to protest the federal government’s fiscal irresponsibility. Nonpartisan Tax Day Tea Parties were held in many cities and towns across the US yesterday in efforts to send a message to Washington that conservative Americans are fed up with what they see as irresponsible spending. 

 

Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi  exercised fiscal responsibility in 2008 according to a report card issued by the National Taxpayers Union. The report gauged lawmakers’ commitment to reduce spending, taxes, debt and regulation and ranked Enzi at the top of Congress with an ‘A’ grade.  Enzi, who has received 12 Taxpayers’ Friend Awards, was recognized for consistently voting to reduce and control the burden on American taxpayers. Duane Parde, President of the National Taxpayers Union, praised Enzi for his dedication to managing national spending and taxes.  Meanwhile, 267 U.S. senators and representatives were given an ‘F’ . 

(File Photo)

Visitors will once again be able to drive into portions of the interior of Yellowstone National Park starting this weekend. The roads through the North and West Entrances to Norris, Madison, Canyon and Old Faithful are set to re-open to car and RV traffic as scheduled at 8:00 a.m., Friday, April 17. Travel between Madison and Norris through Gibbon Canyon will be impacted this year by a major road construction project. Visitors can expect up to 30-minute delays from the time the road opens to travel on through the summer. The road linking Canyon, Fishing Bridge and the East Entrance opens on Friday, May 1. Travel from the South Entrance to Grant, West Thumb and Fishing Bridge is set to begin Friday, May 8, with travel from West Thumb over Craig Pass to Old Faithful expected to begin shortly thereafter.  Park Spokesman Al Nash reminds visitors that services are very limited this time of year, so gas tanks should be filled and lunches packed before entering the park.
 

It appears William Tell had nothing on three middle school students and two high school students from Jackson who have just won the first annual Wyoming Archery in the Schools Program tournament.  The tournament was hosted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department with participants competing at their own schools and submitting their scores to the state.  Among Wyoming’s seventh and eighth graders, McKenna Brinton took first place with 176 points, Melissa Fox followed with 166 points and Tara Ryan took third place with 110 points.  On the high school level, Will Wise came in first with 211 points and Trevor Ryan was second with 159 points.  The winners will join Wyoming’s winners in other divisions to compete at the National Archery in Schools national championships May eighth and ninth in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

The thriving wolf population around the Greater Yellowstone Area may provide a method for tourism interests to “keep the wolf away from the door” – so to speak.  According to a recent economic report, viewing tours of wolves nets about 35 million dollars a year to communities near Yellowstone National Park. Francie St. Onge, a backcountry guide leading tours for the Western Wolf Coalition says the canines are also having other positive impacts for vacationers. St. Onge says the presence of the wolf actually has really big effect on lots of other species, like fish, a lot of the other small mammals, and predators.  St. Onge goes on that with the reintroduction of the wolf, the elk are moving, not spending as much time in the riparian areas, and so the riparian areas are recovering and the fish populations are recovering.  There has been some concern that the recession might take a bite out of the state’s tourism industry. St. Onge says wolf tours, however, are booking almost instantly. Close to 50 percent of Yellowstone visitors list seeing a wolf as a priority.

 

 

04-15-09

 

Even as parts of Bridger Teton National Forest will be opening May first for antler collectors and other forest users, there will be some major changes in where motorized vehicles can go beginning this year.  Jackson District Ranger Dale Dieter says the forest’s new travel plan is now available to the public and its provisions are applicable immediately. Also, Dieter says where some areas may have been open May first in previous years which may not be the case under the new plan, so it would be a good idea to obtain a map before engaging in any activity on the forest.  Deiter says the plans will be updated annually, so the public needs to be sure each year that they have a current map.

 

Jackson police are looking for information someone in the public might have about vandalism over the weekend at the Cow Pasture Ball Diamond.  Corporal Andy Pearson says sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning, rocks were thrown through the windows at the concession stand adjacent the ball diamond, causing over $200 in damage. Tips may be called in to the police department directly or may be submitted to CrimeStoppers at 733-5148.

 

They’re back.  Grand Teton National Park is cautioning visitors and residents the bear population is coming out of hibernation now and seeking springtime food sources.  Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says the bears are being spotted park wide – not only in their traditional ranges up north. Skaggs says preventative measures should be observed, like storing food items and garbage properly in developed areas and bear spray should be carried while engaging in outdoor recreation.  Should one find themselves in a bear encounter, don’t panic. Skaggs says NEVER run from a bear as that might excite them and prompt them to pursue – and do not reward them with food, even as a distraction since that will only cause them to associate food with humans.

 

Supplemental feeding on the National Elk Refuge ended for the 2009 season on Friday, April 10th. Refuge officials had originally scheduled the feeding season to end on March 27th, but several spring snowstorms led to extending the season until temperatures warmed and new spring growth began to appear. This year,  feeding took place on the refuge six days later than the average end date but totaled 74 days, close to the long-term average. Altogether, an average of 7,300 elk and 800 bison were on feed this winter.

(N.E.R. Photo)

 

Meanwhile, the National Elk Refuge reports a 14½% decline in riders on the sleighs through the herd this year.  Spokesperson Lori Iversen says by the end of the four-month season, 21,955 people had taken the guided excursion into the refuge compared with 25,679 during the previous year.  However, that compares with only 18,062 during the 2006-2007 feeding season.  The tradition of the public viewing the elk from horse-drawn sleighs has continued since the turn-of-the-century with sleighs dedicated for this activity first appearing in 1965.

 

Finalists have been named for the University of Wyoming's Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri award for outstanding graduating seniors.  Spitaleri finalists are honored each year as exceptional role models for undergraduate scholarship and achievement. Deans, department heads, faculty members, staff and recognized student organizations nominated students on the basis of contributions to UW, active participation in extracurricular activities, academic success and citizenship.  Among the finalists is Kimberly Cranford of Alpine who will receive her degree in molecular biology.  The winners will be announced at a luncheon scheduled for Friday, May 1, and they will be introduced that evening during the annual Torchlight Laurels ceremonies in Laramie.

 

 

04-14-09

 

A father and daughter escaped serious injury late yesterday when the small, private aircraft they were flying in crashed near the Teton County/Fremont County line.  The single-engine Piper Cherokee went down 9 miles east of Togwotee Mountain Lodge shortly after 3:30 pm on a flight from Douglas, Wyoming to Idaho Falls, Idaho.  Sheriff’s Captain Scott Terry says the plane apparently was caught in a downdraft and was unable to recover.  The 32-year-old pilot Don Ballard and his teenage daughter were able to walk away from the wrecked plane and wait for rescuers who were deployed by both counties.  Terry says Ballard had been able to contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s office by placing a 911 call from his cell phone after the crash.   Terry says considering the terrain and the nature of the accident, the pair was very lucky.

(Photo from T.C. Search and Rescue)

 

A recent report from the county confirms that business in Jackson was little slow in the community last February.  According to Teton County Treasurer Donna Baur, the sales tax revenues received from the state for the month were down nearly 11% from the same month last year.  Combining the past three months, sales tax revenues collectively were down 8 ¾% from the previous year.  Such declines, according to Baur’s report have taken place in four of the past seven months.  However, Baur says the decline through the entire fiscal year to date has only been point-one percent.

 

The Town of Jackson and Teton County yesterday jointly released the draft Comprehensive Plan for public review and comment prior to adopting it and implementing its provisions.  Jackson Mayor Mark Barron says those wishing to view the plan may do so easily from the comfort of their homes or offices by going online to either the town or county websites. Barron says the two governing bodies have watched the plan evolve and had one more chance to review it before releasing it to the public yesterday – and the consensus is that overall, it is a good plan. Barron says the public’s comments need to be submitted either in the public meetings that will be scheduled, or through feedback on the plan website.

 

The Board of County Commissioners has announced the selection of seven finalists to be considered to fill the position of County Administrator when current Administrator, Jan Friedlund retires in June. The candidates will participate in a series of interviews on April 15th and 16th; with a community reception at the Wort Hotel on Wednesday, April 15th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. While all seven are well qualified for the duties of the position, two of the seven are local candidates.

 

The amount of water stored in the snow in Northwestern Wyoming’s river drainages continues to climb with the latest in the series of late-season storms.  According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, snow-water equivalency in the Snake River Basin is now 105% of normal while the snow-water equivalency in the Upper Yellowstone-Madison basin is 104% .  Actual snowpack is 103% and 99% respectively.  According to the NRCS, this year the state average is 103% with a low of 96% and a high of 130% of average – down slightly from last year’s average.

 

Two years have passed  since the grizzly bear was delisted in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, and while legal challenges have yet to be resolved, agencies responsible managing  the great bear continue to address challenges related to an expanding grizzly bear population.   On April 15 and 16, the Yellowstone Grizzly Coordinating Committee will be meeting in Bozeman at the Hilton Garden Inn to discuss ongoing management efforts.  Participants will be discussing a number of issues, but the topic likely to draw the most interest will be the presentation by a special team assembled to review grizzly bear mortality in 2008. Last year both the mortality limits for males and females was exceeded causing concern among IGBC members.

 

 

 

04-13-09

 

It could have been a lot worse.  Jackson Hole Mountain Resort says with the end of the season, statistics indicate a higher level of skier visitation than had been forecast.  Altogether, spokesperson Lisa Watson says more than 438-thousand skiers rode one or more of the lifts during the season.  Watson says the launch of the new $31 million Aerial Tram and over 500 inches of snowfall helped power those numbers.  Ski area President Jerry Blann points out that the intense storm cycles in December surrounding the holiday period turned out to be unfavorable given the early season snowpack which had an unstable rain layer from mid-November.  Blann says Christmas week should have historically seen the resort’s busiest business volumes, but the with unstable snow conditions, that was not to be. Still, Blann says, over 98 inches of snow in March allowed JHMR to end the season strong even if sales were off at the associated profit centers.

 

In response to declining revenue projections, Governor Dave Freudenthal has imposed a restriction on state agency hiring and ordered agencies to limit non-essential spending.  Freudenthal also asked agencies to limit non-essential expenses such as travel, the purchase of supplies and equipment and contractual services.  Freudenthal says it is all a part of the state trying to stay within its budget.  The order, he says, is to be effective until further notice.

 

Grand Teton National Park reported a slight decrease in recreation visits for the 2008-09 winter season.  According to park statistics, park visits dropped about 2.5% between December 2008 and March 2009, compared with the same period in 2007-08. Park officials point to an 11.5% decline experienced in December when poor snow conditions at first kept snowmobilers away, and later extreme avalanche danger discouraged visitors from visiting the back country. By itself however, March brought the park a 1.76% increase in visitation over last year.

 

It’s all in the packaging.  That’s the word from Wyoming Travel Commission Director Dianne Shober who says Wyoming has the product that will attract visitors this summer if they can be made to see the possibilities available to them. Shober says the feedback Wyoming is getting from tour operators and booking agencies is that the appeal of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park is still very strong among the inquiries they are getting from potential customers.

 

Tourism-Review.com, a travel news website for industry professionals, recently named Jackson Hole as one of the top ten adventure towns in the world.  According to the website, Jackson is a top ten destination for fans of adrenaline sports. The website touts the area’s perfect ski and snowboard freeride conditions the surrounding mountains. The article goes on go say, quoting now:  “fans of other adrenaline sports can definitely enjoy themselves here – be it bikers, hikers or paragliding enthusiasts.”  The other destinations named in the article include Valdez, Alaska; Vancouver, British Columbia; Moab, Utah; Puerto Escondido, Mexico and destinations in South America and Africa.

 

A student at Jackson Hole High School has been recognized for his achievement on multiple Advanced Placement tests. Ian Johnston will receive a $2,000 college scholarship for earning the greatest number of grades of five on AP courses in Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, and Physics: Electricity and Magnetism, and Mechanics and Statistics.  Meanwhile, Kathryn Kjellgren, a math teacher at Jackson Hole High School has also been recognized for dedication and commitment to the Advanced Placement program. Siemens Foundation will honor Kjellgren with a $1,000 award.  The Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement are awarded each year to students with the greatest number of scores of five on eight AP math and science exams, as well as to teachers and schools based on student participation and performance in Advanced Placement math, science, and technology courses.

 

 

 

 

04-10-09

 

(News by Dee Dee Dudley)

 

 

 

04-09-09

 

Some adjustments to Jackson’s housing formula are in the making to better accommodate the area’s employees.  One ordinance outlining the formula for nonresidential development to provide employee housing was revised on third reading during Monday’s council meeting. Jackson Mayor Mark Barron says that ordinance resulted in a slight construction in the amount of square footage per business to be allowed for housing. That ordinance was passed on first reading which Barron says brings the formula into line with the legal standard that was originally established in 1995.

 

The number of wolf packs in Wyoming are apparently on the rise.  According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, population data is still being collected even though the official census period ends each New Year’s Eve.  In the department’s most recent report, at least two additional packs were listed as having been seen so far this year.  The department estimated there were at least 178 wolves and at least 30 packs outside Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming by the end of last year.  Wyoming’s recovery criteria calls for 7 breeding pair and 70 wolves outside the park in addition to 15 packs and 150 wolves inside the park, according to Wyoming Attorney General Bruce Salzburg.

 

A grassroots movement has been sweeping the country inspired by the original Boston Tea Party of 1773, and one of those gatherings is slated to take place here in Jackson April 15^th.  While the events are being sponsored nationwide to protest the large deficit-spending in the recently approved federal budget, Jackson Hole Republican Liberty Caucus Chairman Shepard Humphries says it really goes beyond that.  The meeting is to take place at the Village Inn April 15^th.

 

Spring snowstorms that dumped heavy snowfall across Wyoming – particularly the eastern half of the state over the past two weeks have elevated the  snowpack in the state's aquifers above average. The Natural Resources Conservation Service reports that each of the state's 13 basins gained not only snow accumulation, but water content as well as a result of those storms.  Here in the northwestern corner of the state, the snowpack is now 103 percent of average in the Snake River Basin and 99 percent in the Upper Yellowstone/Madison Basin.  Meanwhile, the water content is 103 percent of average in the Snake River Basin and 104 percent in the Yellowstone area.  That’s the same as the statewide average which is a significant increase from two weeks ago.  The Lower Green River basin of southwest Wyoming still has the lowest snowpack at 92% of average.

 

 

 

04-08-09

 

Travel marketing for the state of Wyoming has been purchased and is to see its first run beginning Monday.  Travel Commission Director Diane Shober says more focus this year is being placed on those markets that are within easy driving distance of the state in addition to the more distant large markets that are traditionally targeted. Shober says bookings statewide are beginning to pick up now after a slow start, and now that air fares are dropping, she anticipates tourism to pick up even more. Shober says the slice of the travel pie will not be as large as Wyoming has seen in the past, but she is still optimistic that business will not be off as far as some fear.  Shober says the appeal of a national park vacation is still very strong nationally, and the two national parks is this part of the state provides a very strong product for Wyoming.

 

Travel in and out of the valley through Jackson Hole Airport was again down by double digits during March, according to statistics released yesterday by the Jackson Hole Airport administration.  The number of people catching flights to destinations out of the valley declined during the month by 12% from last year while those arriving declined by 19% according to the monthly report.  By contrast, departures from the airport during the same month last year had INCREASED by 18% while arrivals increased by 14%.  All told, the statistics indicate that departures to date are still ahead of the year to date statistics from 2007 by 1.4% while arrivals over the same period are even with those in 2007.

 

Just what impacts does the immigrant population in Jackson and Teton County have on both the government and the economy here?  That’s what community leaders wanted to know, and found out Monday afternoon with the release of a study conducted by the University of Wyoming.  Mayor Mark Barron says the survey showed that immigrant workers accounted for $355 ½ -million dollars of the total $332-billion dollar industry output of the valley in 2007. By contrast, Barron says the estimated costs to local government in providing services to immigrants may have been as high as $2-point-5 million dollars during that year.  At the same time, Barron says the stereotypical immigrant population appears to be in decline. Barron says with the slow economy, there will probably be fewer of the seasonal immigrant workers this summer.  Other statistics indicate that a large percentage of immigrant workers return repeatedly for seasonal peak seasons while returning home during the shoulder seasons while others have made Jackson their permanent home.

 

Jackson Hole residents will have twice the opportunity to clean up around their homes and community this spring.  According to Mayor Mark Barron, two full weeks have been approved for cleaning up and burning discarded vegetation.  The first week begins May third and concludes with the annual clean-up day May ninth.  Then, residents will again be afforded the opportunity to tidy up from May 31^st through June 6^th.  Barron says in past years, residents complained that they were unable to take advantage of the one week that had been set aside for the work and wished for an alternate date.

 

Travel between Jackson and Wilson just became a little faster with highway department personnel posting the summer speed limit along the highway once again.  Lt. Tom Kelly of the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s Teton County office says the speed is again 55 miles per hour – weather permitting.  Additionally, Kelly says the snowmelt is causing rocks and other debris to fall onto the roadways and could cause damage to vehicles if people aren’t alert for them.

 

 

 

04-07-09

 

Several employees of The Sports Authority in Jackson were sickened by unknown fumes in the store Monday morning and two taken for treatment at St. John’s Medical Center. Fire Marshal Rusty Palmer says the store had been evacuated by the time emergency personnel arrived shortly before noon and EMT’s quickly tended to those people who had been affected.  Meanwhile, firefighters aired out the store for about an hour after testing it for toxicity and finding nothing they could identify.  Palmer says whatever affected the employees was likely a transient source like an overheated light fixture.  Palmer says carbon monoxide and gas were quickly ruled out.  Once the building was ventilated, business resumed for the afternoon.

 

It may be beginning to feel like springtime in Jackson Hole, but Bridger Teton National Forest reminds outdoors enthusiasts that it is still too early to be trying to access the higher parts of the forest.  Linda Merigliano says people have been driving around barricades on closed roads and causing serious damage to the muddy roadways. Merigliano says especially at this time of tight budgets, unnecessary damage to the road is particularly unwelcome. The road is not supposed to be reopened until May 1^st and Merigliano says fliers about closures are available at either the interagency visitor center or the forest supervisor’s office.

 

Gas prices continue to rise nationwide according to AAA Auto Club’s Fuel Gauge Report.  As of this week, gasoline averages $2.03 per gallon nationally.  Wyoming comes in with the lowest average price, averaging $1.87 per gallon.  Jackson prices have increased slightly with $1.79 on the low end ranging up from there.  Prices in eastern Idaho are about 10-cents higher.  Travel industry experts predict gasoline will retail around $2.00 as the summer tourist season begins.

 

The Jackson Hole Center for The Arts has announced plans for an open house next week, providing community members insight into what the center offers and allow an opportunity to enroll in a variety of educational and enrichment classes.  Open House / Open Enrollment Week is scheduled for April 16-24.  The week will be filled with free dance classes, free art classes, free film screenings, free musical performances … nearly every one of the Center’s 17 resident arts and education nonprofits will offer activities and information during the typically slow time of year around the valley.  A schedule of activities is available from the Center for The Arts.

 

The Town of Jackson is advising that Center Street between Deloney and Gill will be closed today from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm and again on Wednesday from 7:00 am until noon. Town officials explain that the temporary closure is necessitated by activity around a private construction project in that block. 

 

 

 

04-06-09

 

As the U.S. Senate debates and amends the federal budget this week, Senator Mike Enzi spoke on the Senate floor this week about the failed priorities in the Administration’s budget and how it will impact citizens: and particularly Wyoming residents.  Enzi told his fellow senators the budget currently before the Senate would increase taxes on energy, small businesses, senior citizens and anyone making charitable contributions. Enzi says he doesn’t support increasing taxes on energy in good economic times, but he says he finds it especially troubling that the budget lays the framework for a national energy tax when employment is above 8% and rising.

 

If Pole Pedal Paddle has come and gone in Jackson, can springtime be far behind?  There was no shortage of participation and enthusiasm this weekend for the 34^th annual PPP event.  Contestants checked in from around Jackson Hole as well as Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Georgia,  and Alaska.  Those honored with top finishes included “Jungle Monkeys” in the Fun Class, “Georgi Superstars” in the Family Class, Spencer Lacy as the Young Men Independent winner, “You Go Girls” in the Masters Women’s Team, “Ticonderoga” in the Masters Men’s Team, Gary Lacy in the Masters Men Independent,  and Rendezvous River Sports in both the Mens and Women’s Racing Teams.  Funds raised from the event will be used to help provide affordable Alpine, Freeride, Nordic and Snowboard programs to Jackson youth through the Jackson Hole Ski Club.  (See Jackson Hole Ski Club website for unofficial results)

 

Mayor Mark Barron presented the Western Hospitality Award last week to Chris and Jeff Warburton of Bar T Five / Double H Bar on behalf of the Membership Committee of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.  The Warburtons run the National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides in the winter and the Bar T Five Covered Wagon Cookout in the summer.

 

Yellowstone National Park has outlined this summer’s plans for road improvements around the park, and plans public meetings about those in gateway towns in the month ahead.  The biggest project will be on a segment of the park’s Grand Loop Road between Madison and Norris through Gibbon Canyon.  Park officials say visitors can expect up to 30-minute delays from the time the road opens to travel April 17^th through the summer. This section of road will also be closed to travel between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. daily from May 26^th through August 16^th. Removal of an existing bridge and construction of a new span will require the road to be completely closed to all travel beginning August 17 until it reopens to snowmobile and snowcoach travel in December.   Officials quickly point out, however, that there will be no construction delays or night time closures during the Memorial Day and Independence Day holiday weekends.  A schedule for public meetings about the construction plans will be publicized shortly.

 

The Wyoming State Bar Association announced Wednesday that a Jackson attorney has been suspended from practicing law.  According to the state association, Caroline Fain faces an interim suspension pending the outcome of a hearing before the Board of Professional Responsibility within the next six months.  Specifics of the issue being reviewed were not revealed other than to say the attorney had failed to respond to requests from the Bar for information and actions required in sections of the association’s by-laws.

 

There is $32- million available to the rightful owners from the Wyoming State Treasurer. “Wyoming Windfall” is the catch name for the Unclaimed Property Division where unclaimed property includes wages, uncashed money orders, oil and gas royalties, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  Funds that have been held by a company or by another state for a specified number of years and have not or cannot be paid to the owner are then placed in protective custody by the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer’s Wyoming Windfall phone banks opened yesterday and will be available from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday through the week, or people may check on the Wyoming Windfall website. Treasurer Meyer stressed that Unclaimed Property is not a scam, nor is it the result of winning a contest – this money belongs specific Wyoming residents. Meyer said the average claim is less than $100; and, some owners have claimed $100,000 or more.

 

 

04-03-09

 

The state of Wyoming will be filing a lawsuit against the US Department of Interior, now that the decision to de-list the wolf in Idaho and Montana but not Wyoming has been published in the Federal Register.  Wyoming Attorney General Bruce Salzburg told media representatives Thursday that the state was filing a notice of intent as required in order to start the challenge process. The state has three principle grounds for Wyoming’s legal challenge.  First, the state intends to question whether or not the federal government’s objections to Wyoming’s dual classification system is based solely on science, as is required by the ESA, or on political and public relations concerns. Along those same lines, Salzburg says the rule contains a requirement that Wyoming manage a target population that combining inside and outside of Yellowstone is relatively larger than what applies to either Idaho or Montana.  Finally, Salzburg says last year’s court decision criticized three specific areas of Wyoming’s regulatory mechanisms; all of which have been addressed in changes mandated by the state.  However, says Salzburg, those changes have been ignored. Once the case is filed, it will be filed in the Wyoming federal courtroom, although Salzburg says the courts may elect to combine what lawsuits are filed by other interests with regard to the decision into a single venue which may or may not be the Wyoming court.

 

Yellowstone National Park has published its monthly report indicating that visitation during March again fell, this time by slightly more than 11%.  The sharpest decline was experienced at the East Entrance via Sylvan Pass where the count dropped from last year by 47%.  Visitors through the south entrance also declined by nearly 23%.  One interesting note is that the number of motorists traveling through the extreme western side of the park on US Highway 191 also dropped by 11% during March.  Meanwhile, the total number of visitors Yellowstone for the entire winter season was 86,793, down 13.2 percent from the 99,975 visitors recorded for the previous winter season.  Park managers believe a lack of early season snowfall and continued legal uncertainty surrounding oversnow travel at the beginning of the season, coupled with the weak economy, all contributed to the decline in winter visitation.

 

A Jackson boy involved in this week’s horrific vehicle accident in Oregon underwent surgery yesterday for injuries he received in the wreck.  Eddie Iden reportedly had suffered a compound fracture and has been receiving treatment in a Boise hospital.  Meanwhile, family members in Enterprise, Oregon near where the wreck took place have announced that services for Jeff Gaertner, the only person to die in the accident, will take place Sunday at 1:00 in the high school gymnasium in nearby Joseph, Oregon.  Gaertner most recently was youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Jackson.

 

Wyoming will need to trim between 300 and 325 million dollars from its general fund budget in the second year of this budget biennium.  That was the word Thursday from Governor Dave Freudenthal who told reporters natural gas prices at the state’s gas wells had dropped to 1/3 of what they were, impacting the state’s income through extraction fees. Freudenthal told reporters he has issued a directive to the state’s various agencies to cut their budgets by 10% or more, and will the state will be looking for other areas where deeper cuts can be made to non-essential expenses.  Freudenthal says if the agencies do not come up with appropriate cuts themselves, he will direct cuts himself to remain within the available funds.  In Freudenthal’s words, “I am not going into the red.”

(File Photo) 

 

After review of public comments and documentation, The Federal Transit Administration has issued a finding of no significant impact documenting its final decision for the North Highway 89 Pathway Project Environmental Assessment. The FTA has selected the preferred alternative which proposed a 6.2-mile pathway totally on the east side of Highway 89 between the Town of Jackson and the south boundary of Grand Teton National Park at the Gros Ventre River.  Teton County has been awarded $3-million in federal funding for the project through the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program and an additional $300,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act  funds through the Wyoming Department of Transportation. Design and engineering work for the North 89 Pathway will start this spring.

 

The Jackson National Fish Hatchery has announced plans to build a new hatchery building near the existing raceways and demolish the old building, now considered unsafe for use.  According to Hatchery Manager Kerry Grande, the main building had to be closed to the public in 2000 for health and human safety issues.  Grande says it was found that the building had deteriorated to the point engineers believed it was incapable of supporting code-mandated snow loads and would further require seismic retrofits if officials were to try to repair it.  The hatchery provides trout broodstock and distributes fish to the states of Wyoming and Idaho as well as the Wind River and Fort Hall Indian Reservations.

 

 

 

04-02-09

 

A free-for-all at Teton Village late yesterday afternoon drew additional law enforcement officers to the area but resulted in no arrests or injuries.  According to Teton County Sheriff Jim Whalen, an exuberant crowd broke into a snowball fight at a costume party being held for April Fools Day.  Whalen said the band brought in for the event apparently cheered them on.  The two deputies assigned to the event called for help in handling the crowd and six additional deputies joined by one Jackson police officer responded to the melee.  Whalen said of primary concern was possible injury to any of the participants.  Before the snowball-throwing brawl was over, one of the windows on the new tram was broken causing no small amount of distress for resort officials.  Whalen says with closing day coming on Sunday and more seasonal celebration, participants are encouraged to enjoy the activities, but refrain from throwing snowballs either at each other or nearby objects and buildings.

(File Photo)

 

The youth pastor from First Baptist Church died in a vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon while leading a church youth outing in northeastern Oregon.  According to Sheriff Fred Steen of Wallowa County, Oregon, 38-year-old Jeff Gaertner of Jackson died when his vehicle left the road and plunged over a very steep ledge near the town of Imnaha. Several boys were in the pick-up truck with him at the time of the accident including two from Jackson.  While their names have not yet been released, First Baptist Pastor Richard Steeg says they are recovering in nearby hospitals and should have no long-term complications.  The other boys in the truck were from a church youth group in Enterprise, Oregon that Gaertner previously led. One of those Oregon boys is listed in very critical condition in Boise, Idaho.  Sheriff Steen says emergency crews received a call to the scene of the single vehicle crash at 2:50 pm Tuesday.  Details of the accident he says are still under investigation.  The youth were participating in a religious outing in the Imnaha Canyon area near Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, and were to return home today.  A memorial service for Gaertner is being planned in Enterprise this weekend.

(First Baptist Church Photo)

 

The proliferation of employment opportunities across the Cowboy state continues to decline as the economic slump continues.  According to the state department of employment, Wyoming’s over-the-year job growth rate declined from 2.1% in January to 1.5% in February. That’s the slowest pace the state has seen since October 2004.  Job losses were experienced in construction and three other sectors. From January to February, employment increased by 100 jobs (0.0%). The normal seasonal pattern is for employment to rise by approximately 1,400 jobs in February. Leisure & hospitality employment decreased by 500 jobs, while the normal seasonal pattern is for this sector to gain approximately 300 jobs during February.  The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 3.7% in January to 3.9% in February, but still remained significantly lower than the U.S. unemployment rate of 8.1%. The lowest unemployment rate in the state is again found in Sublette at 2.8%, followed by Albany, and Campbell counties – both within a half a percent from Sublette.  Teton’s rate stands at 4.8%.

 

The cluster of minor earthquakes felt south of Jackson last weekend should serve as a reminder of the need for local citizens and businesses to be prepared. Jason Biermann, Teton County’s Emergency Management Coordinator again urges county residents to have a 72-hour kit and an emergency plan should there be a larger event. Biermann also encourages everyone to learn about the county’s hazards, and to become involved through programs such as the Community Emergency Response Team.  During last weekend’s events, no injuries or damage were reported, but the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center did field numerous calls from residents who felt the quakes.

 

Even before the spring run-off officially begins, area reservoirs are beginning to look very good for the season ahead.  In the upper Snake River Basin, Grassy Lake measured 87% of capacity, Jackson Lake is at 77 % and Palisades is 76% full.  Downstream, American Falls Reservoir is 97% filled while the percentage of the reservoirs along the Henry’s Fork that are filled is in the 90s.  Meanwhile, snowpack is at or above normal in the aquifers above those reservoirs with more snow on the way.

 

Cheyenne’s Reiman Corp. will complete repairs and rehabilitation work on the WYO 22 bridge over the Snake River west of Jackson and two other bridges under a $1.6 million contract that carries a Sept. 30 completion date. According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the Snake River Bridge work will include concrete patching, repair of damaged railing and replacement of expansion joints. The contract is only a small part of the more than $18.2 million in contracts for 11 highway projects around the state that were awarded by the Wyoming Transportation Commission during its March meeting in Cheyenne.

 

 

 

   April 1, 2009  (No Foolin')

 

 

 

If Teton County is going to renovate the airport terminal building, it needs to be sure it will be there a while. Grand Teton National Park has announced that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Jackson Hole Airport Use Agreement Extension has been released for public comment now. The purpose of an extension, says Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs, is to enable continued air transportation services at the Jackson Hole Airport. Skaggs says such an extension would ensure continued eligibility for future Airport Improvement Program funds.  The document is available on Grand Teton National Park’s Web site, or interested persons may request a copy through the Superintendent’s Office.

 

They are offering extended service at the Refuge buffet.  The supplemental feeding program on the National Elk Refuge had been tentatively scheduled to conclude on March 27^th, but due to recent snow and colder temperatures, refuge officials returned to higher rations and delayed the end of the feeding season. No new tentative date has been established for the end of this year’s feeding.  Refuge officials say the elk had begun to show less interest in alfalfa pellets and were favoring natural forage exposed by receding snow until several inches of new snow received over the past several days covered that forage and delayed the growth and green up of spring grasses on the refuge. Meanwhile, refuge staff will continue to evaluate conditions in consultation with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and set a new target date to wean the ungulates from their supplemental feed.

(NER Photo)

 

It’s the 34^th year this year for the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club’s annual Pole, Peddle, Paddle race – taking place this Saturday.  The event traditionally takes place each year on the last Saturday of skiing at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.  For those who somehow have missed becoming familiar with this most unusual event, contestants compete either individually or in teams during a four-leg race which consists of an alpine ski leg, a cross-country ski leg, a bicycle leg, and a boating leg. Optional, bizarre costumes are frequently the mode of dress for the activities. The Pole Pedal Paddle is a fundraiser for the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club, which seeks to provide affordable Alpine, Freeride, Nordic and Snowboard programs to Jackson youth.  The race begins 8:00 am Saturday morning at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.  Participants should attend a pre-race meeting at 6:00 pm Friday at Snow King Resort.

 

Springtime is approaching when a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of cleaning out his garage and getting his workbench ready for projects again.  To that end, the Jackson Community Recycling Center is the opening of the Household Hazardous Waste Collection next week. The facility is to open on Tuesday, April 7 marking its tenth year of collecting hazardous waste in the community. Recycling Center officials say the household hazardous waste collection facility will be open by appointment on the first and third Tuesday of the month from April through October.

 

U.S. Representatives Cynthia Lummis, Walt Minnick of Idaho, and Rob Bishop, of Utah, are leading a bipartisan effort to reach out to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar regarding the need for increased electric transmission in the West – particularly from renewable sources of energy.  In a letter to Secretary Salazar, signed by 15 Republican and Democrat colleagues, the congressmen wrote that the transmission infrastructure simply doesn’t exist to get wind, solar, and geothermal power to market. The effort of the congressmen runs parallel to efforts by Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal in his recent visit with the Secretary of Energy  Steven Chu in Washington recently.  Freudenthal told reporters that public utility commissions tend to be very parochial about a certain state’s interests and so don’t adopt a position with regard to multi-state transmission. The consortium of congressmen maintains that any interest or investment in new renewable projects in the western states will depend largely upon the ability to deliver that energy to consumers.

 

Nearly two years after the announcement that Fremont County would be the first home of a Job Corps Center for the state of Wyoming, Senator Mike Enzi shared news that just over $3 million has finally been allotted to begin designing the buildings.  The U.S. Department of Labor announced this week that $3,077,477 was being awarded for the Wind River Job Corps Center, allowing Coover-Clark & Associates, Inc. of Denver, Colorado to begin the architectural design and construction for the center. The center, which will be located in Riverton, will provide academic assistance and career technical training to about 550 students from around the state. High school and General Equivalency Diploma programs are also to be offered along at the center.