THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019
109TH YEAR/ISSUE 15
State legislation could kick-start hemp production
BECOMING BENJAMIN
POWELL AREA GROWERS INTERESTED IN CROP organizations are interested in building processing facilities in Wyoming. Loucks specifically menyoming farmers may soon have the oppor- tioned a Powell area group tunity to grow a new that wants to produce hemp “from the field crop. to the table.” A bill making Hemp was a its way through ‘... it passed out of topic of interthe state Legest among some islature would, the House 60-0, of the growat long last, al- which is something ers who attendlow producers ed the Heart to plant, harvest that almost never Mountain Irriand process in- happens.’ gation District’s dustrial hemp. Mike Forman annual meeting “It’s going to Wyoming Crop last week. give our farmMike Forman Improvement Association ers an opporof Powell, the tunity to grow a crop that they can set their president of the Wyoming own prices with,” Rep. Bunky Crop Improvement AssociaLoucks, R-Casper, said on the tion, said he assumes the House floor. Loucks is the lead popular bill will pass the Legsponsor of House Bill 171, also islature. In advancing to the Senate, known as the Hemp Freedom “it passed out of the House Bill. He called it “a great op- 60-0, which is something that portunity for the state,” say- almost never happens,” Foring that “literally hundreds man said. of farmers are interested” in See Hemp, Page 2 hemp and that a half-dozen BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor
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Karsten Krasovich portrays Benjamin Franklin during Westside Elementary School’s Wax Museum earlier this month. After researching notable, inventive and creative people throughout history, third-graders dressed in character and recited short speeches as ‘wax’ figures. For more photos, see Page 14. Tribune photo by Carla Wensky
City banners safe for now FEES TO INCREASE BY KEVIN KILLOUGH Tribune News Editor
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Wyoming lawmakers are considering a bill that would clear the way for farmers in the state to grow hemp, which is a non-intoxicating form of the same plant that yields marijuana. Hemp has a variety of uses, ranging from textiles to food. Photo courtesy www.MaxPixel.net
he Powell City Council decided that doing away with the city’s Bent Street banner program just isn’t going to fly. The council unanimously voted down a possible repeal at Tuesday’s regular meeting after supporters raised objections. Councilors also reported finding that most residents like the banners. Instead of ending the program, the council voted to pursue an increase in fees, from the current $15 to $50. The program allows commu-
nity organizations to advertise street. The signs also get shredtheir events on banners strung ded in Wyoming’s winds, which across Bent Street, near its in- doesn’t always look attractive on tersection with Coulter Avenue. the city’s main downtown thorCommercial or political promo- oughfare, he said. The council tions are not alvoted unanilowed. mously at its Feb. City Adminis- ‘Anything we can 4 meeting to draft trator Zane Loan ordinance gan had raised do for tourism, repealing the issues with the I’m all over it.’ program, while program at the Feb. 4 council Marybeth Richardson councilors sought more input on the meeting, saying Powell resident issue. In discusthe city’s current fees covered only about a third of sions with constituents, however, the labor costs the city incurs to council members said they found little support for the repeal. hang the signs. Councilman Scott Mangold Logan also said the work created a potential safety hazard said residents he spoke with saw when workers were lifted in the banners as part of the town’s bucket trucks parked on the tradition of advertising commu-
nity events. “They feel that this is hometown stuff,” Mangold said. Councilman Floyd Young said he spoke with eight people, and they all wanted to keep the banners. The council members said residents were open to increasing the fees, so the city recoups the cost of hanging the banners. “What I’m hearing, then, is it’s OK to raise the price so we aren’t subsidizing advertising,” Mayor John Wetzel said. Powell resident Marybeth Richardson agreed that raising the fees would be acceptable to the community organizations that utilize See Banners, Page 3
Wyoming designates tough salamander as state amphibian of the wild amphibians will know of their newfound fame until spring — they hibernate alamanders don’t often through Wyoming’s harsh winelicit feelings of admira- ter. Plus, they’re salamanders. When the amphibians wake in tion. A moist, yellow and brown soft-skinned salaman- April and scurry through spring squalls and reder says “gigsidual snow gles” more than “cowboy tough.” ‘Wyoming has a very to their favorite ponds, they But make no probably won’t mistake, the harsh environment. notice many in blotched tiger The western tiger the state cheersalamander is ing for their one tough cus- salamander has blotchy skin and tomer. And now adapted to handle amazing adaptit’s the state am- any condition the ability. They’ll phibian. be too busy lookGov. Mark environment can ing for a mate to Gordon signed hand out.’ feel the love for a law Tuesday that puts the Wendy Estes-Zumpf the species’ new salamander on Game and Fish designation. Science stuthe same level with bison (the state mammal), dents at Pathfinder High School western meadowlark (state in Lander nominated the rebird) and even the horned toad silient amphibian. “We truly (state reptile). Yet, not one believe that the blotched tiger
BY MARK DAVIS Tribune Staff Writer
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Blotched tiger salamanders are now on the same level with bison, cutthroat trout and the horned toad, being named as the official state amphibian. Seen here is a terrestrial adult. Photo courtesy Ian Abernethy
salamander is distinguished in its ability to thrive in Wyoming and in its contributions to so many Wyoming ecosystems,” the students wrote to Gordon. “It should be recognized above and beyond its fellow amphibians for those distinctions.” You’ll get no arguments from Wendy Estes-Zumpf, the state’s top herpetologist at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “Wyoming has a very harsh environment. The western tiger salamander has adapted to handle any condition the environment can hand out,” EstesZumpf said. The little critters can be found around most of the state, including in wetlands across the Big Horn Basin. The blotched tiger salamander is a subspecies of the western tiger salamander; there See Salamander, Page 2
Park County jail video surveillance system to be replaced BY CJ BAKER Tribune Editor
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ith the Park County Detention Center’s surveillance camera system reportedly at risk of permanently crashing, county commissioners have decided to upgrade sooner rather than later. Although the project wasn’t in this year’s budget, commissioners voted
Tuesday to hire a Denver-area firm to replace the dozens of cameras and the recording equipment at the jail with modern technology. County Chief Information Officer Mike Conners warned commissioners that, when one of the current DVRlike devices died, it was a struggle to find a replacement on eBay. “The next failure, I can’t even guarantee we’re going to get this thing
back up and running again,” Conners said. The system of cameras is used to
‘This is one of those tools that, without it, they can’t run the jail, basically.’ Mike Conners,Information officer
track the activities and movements of inmates and guards across the facility, helping detention deputies spot conflicts and determine when to open and close doors. “This is one of those tools that, without it, they can’t run the jail, basically,” Conners said, adding, “It’s a huge part of what they do there — all day, every day.” The commission agreed to accept a
INSIDE ♦ ROCK OF AGES: PAGE 8 ♦ PHS WRESTLERS STATE BOUND: PAGE 9
$218,741.14 quote from CML Security of Erie, Colorado; the county hopes to save some money by purchasing another $4,700 worth of equipment on its own, for a total estimated cost of just less than $223,500. “I don’t like writing a check any more than anybody else does, but I think it’s something that we’ve got to See Jail, Page 8