Sunday, June 12, 2011
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“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
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Wyoming Cities Can Regulate Firearms by Doug Dumbrill As I write this, I am aware of the pistol I often carry in my pickup, the 10-gauge shotgun leaning against the wall in my bedroom and my 15 or so hunting rifles, shotguns, black powder replicas and revolvers in the gun room. I was born and raised in Newcastle with guns in my hand as soon as I showed the responsibility and judgment to handle them. My grandmother, who homesteaded in Crook County in 1910, and my father, a Wyoming attorney for over 40 years, taught me about the use of firearms. They taught me that a bullet fired from a gun is absolutely irreversible. Because of this, my grandmother taught that it is the absolute responsibility of someone using or carrying a gun to care for the safety, concerns and sensitivities of those around him. This is just an application of the golden rule. Lest you think Grandma Fern was just some touchyfeely sentimentalist, she taught country schools in her 60s, living alone in the mountains outside Douglas. There, with her always, was her ancient .22 rifle and she was absolutely an expert in its use. My father served in the Army and in courtrooms when life was literally on the line. Neither of these mentors of mine would have dreamed of carrying a firearm to a courtroom or to get a vehicle license or to a meeting of the city council, the county commissioners or the planning board.
Glenrock Wyoming’s Sunday Morning Hometown Local News Newspaper
GLENROCK VEHICLE STOLEN FROM SALE BARN OTHER VEHICLES RANSACKED by Amanda Smith Sometime Sunday June 5th two men, 26 year old Robert Moore and 21 year old Samuel Brown both residing in Casper, Wyoming drove a stolen vehicle to Glenrock’s Sale Barn parking lot where it promptly broke down due to what sources say was a “blown tire.” The two men then ransacked several vehicles that were parked on the Sale Barn property.
Baughman was allegedly stolen by the two men and driven to Rushfield, Nebraska. According to Sheriff Terry Robbins, local Rushfield deputies located the stolen vehicle while searching for a similar vehicle in which a case of arson had been involved.
The vehicles were owned by local mine workers who utilize the parking lot to park their vehicles. One vehicle owned by Larry
The two men then allegedly moved on to another vehicle while in Rushfield and began to drive East. A Nationwide search was placed by Robbins and it wasn’t long before police in Broken Bowl, Nebraska apprehended the two individuals. According to Chief Steve Scott of Broken Bowl, neither subject is
CASPER * Game and Fish Department personnel trapped a male black bear in Casper early Friday morning. The seven-yearold bear was unharmed and will be released back into the wild.
town. It didn*t appear that the bear raided any trash cans or otherwise got into trouble. *He was just being a bear. We don*t think he learned any bad habits from this encounter,* Shorma said.
The bear was darted with a tranquilizer while resting in a backyard in the Southeast edge of town. The bear most likely entered town during the night. *It*s a healthy bear and it wasn*t getting into any trouble,* said Casper Game Warden Dustin Shorma. *The bear didn't threaten anyone and it tried to leave the area when it saw people.*
Casper Mountain supports a healthy black bear population. Bears have large home ranges with a male*s territory often covering more than 100 square miles, so it is not uncommon for them to wander into populated areas in search of food or mates. The Game and Fish Department does not have a strict policy when deciding whether or not to relocate or euthanize a bear. Each bear is dealt with on a caseby-case basis because each situation is different. Because this bear did not appear to have any conflicts with humans, it was a good candidate for release.
willing to discuss why they were headed East. Rushfield Deputies extradited the two men from Broken Bowl back to Rushfield on June 8th, according to Robbins. The two will be charged with Theft by Receiving and Disposing, Theft by Unlawful Taking and a third unrelated charge of Arson in the third degree. The two priors are punishable by a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 20 years in prison under Nebraska Law while the arson charge carries a maximum of five years. All three charges are felonies.
Black Bear Trapped Within Casper City Limits
Game and Fish personnel removed the bear as a precaution to prevent any possible conflicts with humans. Shorma said the bear most likely followed Elk Horn Creek down off Casper Mountain and into
Bears are often attracted to resi-
dential areas by garbage, bird feeders, pet and livestock food, ripe fruit trees, and other food attractants. Bears that receive food rewards in residential areas often stay in those areas, increasing the chances of a conflict with humans. When a bear receives a *food reward* it can become conditioned to humans and can become dangerous. Residents can help prevent foodconditioned bears by waiting until the day of pickup to put out trash cans, keeping pet and livestock foods locked up in bear-proof containers or indoors, by not feeding birds during the times of year that bears are active, picking up ripe fruit from the ground, and keeping barbecue grills locked up in a shed or garage.
For my grandmother, it would have simply been unforgivably bad manners, but for my father it would have been a betrayal of deep respect for the processes of a democratic republic. You see, my father didn’t see the law as he wished it was. He saw it as it really was and as it must be. This is what I’d like to bring to the debate about guns in government buildings. First, contrary to what has been stated over and over by gun rights advocates, the state of Wyoming did not completely forbid any gun regulation but theirs. Quite the contrary, the statute on this actually begins with a very important exception which recognizes that cities
Continued Page 3
by Bill Sniffen
One issue that is all over the news in neighboring states Colorado and Montana, which will not be discussed soon in Wyoming, is the legalization of medical marijuana.
-- President John F. Kennedy
Volume #4: Issue 46
LEGALIZED MARIJAUNA IN WYOMING?
Colorado and Montana have given in to the idea of “medical marijuana,” and that has effectively decriminalized the drug. In fact, there are reportedly now more pot stores in metropolitan Denver than liquor stores. Meanwhile states like Wyoming, Nebraska and Utah view marijuana as a gateway drug, and have pretty harsh penalties for both the possession of and the delivery thereof. Are leaders in Wyoming and these other states wrong? Not long ago, one prominent former Wyoming drug fighter told me confidentially that it was time for our state to modify its policies. Some of the facts used to support this argument were pretty compelling. However, I am not endorsing this. My, how the world has changed in the last four years. From 2003 to 2006, our advertising agency, Wyoming Inc., created the state’s first anti-Meth campaign. That experience provided our staff with a tremendous education on drug abuse and treatment alternatives. The experience made it easy to become anti-drug. In one way, I have come to the conclusion that Wyoming actions toward marijuana have been wrong. The penalties are too stiff. Some smart medical folks came up with a conclusion over a decade ago called “the disease concept.” This claims addicts are prone from early in their lives to become addicted to drugs and alcohol. These folks need treatment more than jail time. People with this “disease” should be treated much like someone who has diabetes, heart disease, M.S. or any other chronic disease. It was with this in mind that our neighboring states copied California and Oregon programs where medicinal marijuana was has been available since 1996. But it has not been a perfect plan in Montana and Colorado. Recently, Billings Gazette reporter Diane Cochran managed to get a marijuana prescription over the phone in eight minutes. Most Montana residents, especially the conservative ones, became pretty vocal upon reading that news story. Her story generated an astonishing 190 comments to the newspaper.
Montanans who are eligible to smoke or ingest marijuana legally. She told the doctor that she had a sore back from a fall on a concrete floor 15 years earlier. Another big furor in Montana is that folks discovered a loophole in state law that does not require people participating to even be Montana residents.
South of our border, 86,539 people in Colorado have applied for cards allowing them to purchase medical marijuana (82,944 cards are currently valid). It has become such a big business in Denver, that more than $1 million in special taxes were collected by the city during a recent 12-month period.
Some leaders of Colorado cities and towns have become so upset about the explosion of dispensaries, they had measures on the ballot this November to try to shut them down.
Some Wyoming folks are even getting involved in the Colorado pot bonanza. Scott Mullner, a city council member in Laramie, recently bought the 67acre organic Szymanski Farm in Boulder County, which news stories say could become one of that state’s largest pot farms.
“I had to do this. It’s the highest and best use as far as farming goes,” Mullner told the Boulder Camera newspaper. Even national figures are getting into the act.
Conservative political darling Sarah Palin (former governor of Alaska) chimed in on the controversy. On Fox News, she talked about prioritizing enforcement of marijuana laws, saying that if “somebody’s gonna smoke a joint in their house and not do anybody else any harm, then perhaps there are other things our cops should be looking at to engage in and try to clean up some of the other problems that we have in society.” Her state is one of 14 that has some kind of medical marijuana program. Another 13 have ballot measures or legislation pending on the issue.
I may not agree with Palin on all of her ideas about marijuana. But the facts seem to indicate there really is a need for effective medical marijuana. It is a fact that the drug helps people who are suffering from some serious diseases.
But the abuses appear to be rampant. Based on the experience in California and Oregon, and more locally, Colorado and Montana, it does not look like anything close to medical marijuana will be happening any time soon here in Wyoming.
Cochran is now one of 25,075
DEER CREEK MUSEUM PRESENTS: 2011 Summer Lecture Series One Town Many Stories June 16, 6-8 P.M——Prehistory: Glenrock’s Dinosaurs— Jessica Smith June 23, 6-8 P.M.—–Mormons and Early Settlement— Nena Grilley June 30, 6-8 P.M.—–Living History: Snow Shoe Ranch— Rachel Grant July 7, 6-8 P.M.——-Pony Express and its Legacy— Les Bennington July 14, 6-8P.M.——Main Street Story— Kathy Patceg
A male black bear recovers from tranquilizer while awaiting release after being trapped in Casper early Friday morning. Photo by Casper Game Warden Dustin Shorma.
July 21, 6-8 P.M.——Social History and Public Spaces— Library Staff All lectures are free and will take place at the Glenrock Library Should last no more than 45 minutes.
506 W. Birch Suite #12 - PO BOX 1207 Glenrock, Wy 82637 www.theglenrockbird.com
307-298-5107 or 307-359-8681 Special Thanks to Cowboy State Free Press
SPECIAL THANKS TO COWBOY STATE FREE PRESS
Announcements THE BIRD HAS RELOCATED FROM ITS TEMPORARY OFFICE IN THE BRONCO BUILDING TO ITS NEW HOME IN THE HOTEL HIGGINS. We are right on the street to the left of the main entrance of the Higgins down the stairs under the small green awning. Our new offices are BEAUTIFUL and everyone is welcome to come by and check out our new digs! Thanks to the Hotel Higgins for the beautiful office space. For those of you looking for office space, contact Judi Colling at 307-436-9212.
Kindergarten Registration! CLICK IT, OR GET A TICKET. WHP AND LOCAL PD WILL BE HANDING OUT TICKETS IF YOU ARE NOT WEARING YOUR SEAT BELT. NO IF’S, AND’S OR BUT’s!
Alcoholics Anonoymous Meetings in Glenrock at The Senior Center East Door (thrift store entrance.) Monday nights at 7pm - 8pm
Kindergarten will be held March 30, 2010 Win A Registration Maui Dream Vacation at 6:00-7:00 at Grant. All 4 and 5 year-olds, whose Fromp.m. The American Legion! birthday falls on or before September 15th are invited toThe attend. Registration consists of (1) an informational American Legion, Department of Wyoming during Parent Orientation, (2) Completing the Annual Convention in Laramie. and/or turning in required paperwork, and (3) The child’s visit to the classA 7-night vacation stay on beautiful Maui, Hawaii rooms. Parents need to bring current immunization reLuxurious two-bedroom $1500 travel cords and an official andcondominium original birthand certificate. All included. documents will be returned at the end of the evening. Drawing will be heldintroduction June 17, 2011 the Commander's This is a wonderful foratyour child and we Banquet look forward to meeting you and showing you around during The American Legion, Department of Wyoming's our exciting classroom! Annual Convention.
Proceeds go packets towards are programs and now functions the DeRegistration available at theofGrant Elpartment of Wyoming. ementary office, and will also be available on the night ofFor registration. Please see return completed details and tickets Marvin Wohletzpaperwork at Americanat Legion Post #9, Registration. All students who are registered by April 1st will in or a drawing for free call himbeatentered 462-4908 send inquiries to: backpacks loadedDept. withofschool supplies! For more information, please Wyoming - Maui Vacation call 436-2774. 1320 Hugar Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82001
(Need not be present to win.)
DEER CREEK MUSEUM PRESENTS: 2011 Summer Lecture Series One Town Many Stories June 16, 6-8 P.M——Prehistory: Glenrock’s Dinosaurs— Jessica Smith
Flood/High Water Update by Russ Dalgarn - Converse County EMS With the recent warm weather that we have been experiencing, our local snow pack has all but melted off. Our local creeks and streams are slowing back down to normal flows. The Bureau of Reclamation is planning on raising the releases out of Gray Reef Reservoir. Due to the increased runoff, releases from Gray Reef will be increased this week. The releases were increased daily this past week; Tuesday Night June 7 to 7800 CFS Wednesday Night June 8 to 8000 CFS. With the combination of the local creeks and streams slowing, and the increased releases from upstream we will see a gradual increase in the level of the river up to an
additional four (4) inches. I would like to remind everyone living along, or near a stream or river in Converse County, to have a plan in place for potential flooding. We have set up two locations for people to acquire sandbags. Residents in the west side of the County can get sand and sandbags from the landfill in Glenrock, residents in the Douglas area can get sand and sandbags at the County Road and Bridge yard in Douglas. This is a very dynamic situation. All of the above information may change.
Glenrock Pony Express Reriders Stay Strong Each year volunteers from across the nation gather along the original Pony Express trail to perform a reride of this historic American journey. Last year celebrated the 150th year of the Pony Express. Never has a year gone by since the reriders began when a ride had to be canceled; that is until this year. Set to take place in June the Pony Express Reride has been rescheduled for August 21 due to an outbreak of equine herpes. This deadly disease is easily transferred between horses and the state of Colorado has actually banned the import or export of horses from their state. This is sad news for horse lovers everywhere but the Glenrock Pony Express reriders refuse to let this
get them down.
June 12 early in the morning, the local members of the Pony Express Reride Association completed their leg of the journey. Riders traveled from Glenrock to Casper as they would have done if the ride was taking place across all the states. So many Pony Express enthusiasts had already penciled in the date and made plans to visit, that the Glenrock crowd decided to go ahead anyway. No horse sickness here thank goodness.
Pony Express Reriders Kim Cain, Rick Bretton and Les Bennington rode the unofficial reride this mornng Sunday June 12, 2011.
Wyoming Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Student-Drug Tests
by Bill McCarthy CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Tuesday June 7th, 2011 that school districts can test students in extracurricular activities for drug-and-alcohol use. Numerous students and parents sued Goshen County School District 1 over the constitutionality of its testing program. Writing for the unanimous majority, Justice James Burke said that the testing does not violate constitutional protections against illegal search and seizure. Since students choose to participate in extracurricular activities, expectations of privacy are limited.
compelling public interest in the safety and well-being o students, he wrote.
Justice Breyer of the United States Supreme Court stated “I cannot know whether the school’s drug testing pro gram will work. But, in my view, the Constitution doe not prohibit the effort.” Earls 536 U.S. at 842, 122 S.Ct. a 2571.
Although not all school dis tricts will implement the stu dent drug testing. They cer tainly may.
School districts also have a
June 23, 6-8 P.M.—–Mormons and Early Settlement— Nena Grilley June 30, 6-8 P.M.—–Living History: Snow Shoe Ranch— Rachel Grant July 7, 6-8 P.M.——-Pony Express and its Legacy— Les Bennington July 14, 6-8P.M.——Main Street Story— Kathy Patceg July 21, 6-8 P.M.——Social History and Public Spaces— Library Staff All lectures are free and will take place at the Glenrock Library Should last no more than 45 minutes.
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Sunday June 12, 2011 The Glenrock Bird Page 2
Pyatt’s Pieces “Bad News for Guys, God and Volunteerism”
New Billboards on HWY 25 Hopes to Bring More Visitors to Glenrock/Douglas
by Mike Pyatt
This writer is more inclined to read Homies’ Lame Journal than Ladies’ Home Journal. However, the latter recently published the results of a poll among 1000 married women with children, that did not bode well for guys, God and volunteerism. That poll asked the women, “What does it take for a woman to feel happy and fulfilled?” In short, their answer, for the majority of the respondents, was “Happiness comes from within”.
Photo at right is 8 miles south of the Douglas exits. The billboards were paid for by the Converse County Tourism and Promotion Board.
That the women said that their husbands and kids make them feel happy was commendable, nevertheless, their primary sense of fulfillment stems from “Being personally satisfied and independent.”
These boards will really help to get people off the Interstate this summer and beyond. Thanks CCTB for your continued efforts in promoting Douglas and Glenrock!
Carrying Guns in Wyoming Continued From Front Page
have important concerns when it comes to guns. The statute says:
public schools and college campuses.
“Except as authorized by W.S. 15-1-103(a)(xviii), no city, town, county, political subdivision or any other entity shall authorize, regulate or prohibit the … ownership … or ammunition.”
restaurants, theaters and public gathering spots.
s
Often in the law, the exception defines the rule so here is what cities are legally authorized by nthat exception to do:
of
“Regulate, prevent or suppress riots, disturbances, disorderly asdsemblies or parades or any other conduct which disturbs or jeopd:ardizes the public health, safety, epeace or morality in any public o-or private place.”
y esThe Legislature has without s,question left cities with a very atbroad power to legislate with regard to firearms and the inherent danger to safety, health and pubs-lic peace which they present. It is u-important to note that this power reserved to the cities is not just r-remedial but preventative. Wyomingites should not carry guns to:
public meetings and government buildings. the office, job site or workplace.
churches and places of worship or religious services. all of the above — keep guns at home or in vehicles. none of the above — allow guns in all public places. The city can act to “prevent” disturbance. The city can “regulate” conduct which “jeopardizes” “safety” or “peace.” “Peace” here is meant as the legal “peace,” that is “a state of public tranquility.” It is broad enough to encompass the operation of the city government in a safe and civil fashion. In an important and welcome recent U.S. Supreme Court case, District of Columbia v. Heller, the court found that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is an individual right (that is, not tied to being part of a militia). This is a very important, and to my mind, correct decision. But, in this very decision, the Supreme Court also said:
“… nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on long-standing prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings.”
In the case of McDonald v. City of Chicago, the court declared the right to keep and bear arms “fundamental,” and applied it to all the states of the union. I think that a positive step was made for protection of the right. But again, that’s not the whole story on the issue before residents in Gillette and other Wyoming towns. The Supreme Court said in the McDonald ecision that even this fundamental right is not: “… a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever, in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.” When, as recently occurred in Newcastle, openly armed groups appear at city council meetings to argue the dog ordinance (really) or at county commission meetings to oppose land-use planning, what is the purpose of carrying the firearm? They are packing to intimidate
elected officials into seeing things their way and to keep opposing voices from speaking out. Even if that’s not the subjective reason, it is the clear effect. In the course of my 30-year legal career, I have been in courtrooms where, had firearms been present among the litigants, they would certainly have been used. There have been council and commission meetings that were equally heated. It only has to happen once and you can never have it back. It seems to me that it is completely worthwhile, in light of new strengthened firearms rights, to think about our responsibilities over government buildings as “sensitive places,” places where we can speak our minds and do our business without worrying about whether the pistol needs to go inside or can just stay under the seat for the next trip to the country. We spent a long time growing out of our “Dodge City” phase. We should, and we are legally empowered to, discuss whether we want to go back. wyofile.com
One of the top responses, 72%, reported “Having the freedom to make the choices I want.” “Self” appears to be firmly entrenched in the frequency of responses. Further, 70% believed “Raising good kids” was important too.
Now, the bad news for the guys. Only 33% of respondents believe “Having great sex” would make them happy. Not all is lost husbands. Perhaps our wives will be happy with “good sex”. It’s akin to “grading on a curve”.
Evidently God won’t be pressed by most of the them. In fact, a paltry 30% reported that religion or spirituality provide good feelings for them. Since 72% are free to “make their own choices” they are unlikely to trifle with Him regarding such questions. He must surely be relieved of that duty. More time for the rest of us, eh? That’s good!
Last, and least, is “volunteering”. An anemic 23% of the ladies found that important. Contrastingly, at the top of the list, 74% reported “Being at peace with myself and my decisions”.
It is apparent that there exists an inverse relationship between the top response and the bottom response. Volunteering demands more than self-interest. Of course, if it doesn’t make one happy, why would one spend time doing such things? Thankfully, that spirit doesn’t permeate the ranks of Relay For Life volunteers in Converse County and nationwide.
That well-worn bromide, “As long as it makes me happy!” runs counter to such endeavors as volunteerism. How many of us have engaged in activities that made us “wildly happy” while it left others terribly miserable or wounded? And being “fulfilled” may, unfortunately, be a code word for being “full of ourselves”. Three-quarters of the Ladies’ Home Journal American women polled believe that women of their age are more fulfilled than women of the same age 30 years ago. What do you think?
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Sunday June 12, 2011 The Glenrock Bird Page 3
Wyoming Murderer Makes Run From Corrections Camp In Newcastle by bill.mccarthy NEWCASTLE – A 56-year-old convicted murderer made an overnight run Tuesday June7th, from the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp near Newcastle. Weston County sheriff’s deputies captured William Coomer about 2 p.m. Wednesday June 8th after a citizen reported seeing him in the LAK Reservoir area. The Wyoming Department of Corrections listed Coomer as escaped at 5:40 p.m. Tuesday.
rity Honor Conservation Camp. Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp is a minimum-security prison camp on the north side of Newcastle. In 1982 Coomer was sentenced to 20 years to life for seconddegree murder. He was paroled in 1999 but violated his parole in 2000. The prison is on lockdown and Coomer’s escape continues to be under investigagtion, the Department of corrections said in a press release.
The LAK Reservoir in eastern Weston County is less than 10 miles from the minimum-secu-
Antelope Coal/Cloud Peak Wins 350 Million Ton Federal Coal Lease
Cloud Peak Energy Inc. was the successful bidder last month for a federal coal tract containing 350 million tons in the southern Powder River Basin, according to the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management. Antelope Coal LLC, a subsidiary of Cloud Peak Energy, submitted a bid of $297.7 million, or about 85 cents per ton, for the “West Antelope II North Coal Tract.” The tract is just inside Campbell County’s southern border, and adjacent to the western and northern boundary of the Antelope coal mine.
It’s not the highest per-ton bid for Powder River Basin coal in Wyoming, but at 85 cents Cloud Peak Energy’s bid is a vote of confidence in the future of Wyoming coal. Back in the 1990s,
Powder River Basin coal sold for less than $5 per ton at times, and mine operators paid about 15 cents per ton for federal coal tracts. Today’s “fair market value” of 75 cents-plus per ton is evidence that prices are not expected to slide much below $10 or stay there for long if they do take a dip.
However, the cost of mining continues to rise as mines dig deeper and further away from their original load-out facilities, which means if spot prices drag long-term Coal haul trucks wait to be loaded at the Belle Ayr mine south of Gillette. contracts below $10 per ton, (Dustin Bleizeffer/WyoFile) mining companies might expect will pay more than $130 operates the Antelope, Cordero want to sit on production until prices bounce back. Meanwhile, per ton, depending on heating and Spring Creek mines in the Powder River Basin. Powder River Basin coal pro- value. ducers continue to eye the Asian thermal market, which analysts Cloud Peak Energy owns and wyofile.com
Gas Industry Pains Over Cost Of Coal by Dustin Bleizeffer Regulatory pressure to address coal emissions not only douses electric utilities’ enthusiasm for new coal plants, it also has utilities — and their customers — examining whether the cost of scrubbing emissions from its current coal fleet is worth the cost. Even in Wyoming — the nation’s largest coal-producing state — industrial customers are insisting that their utility more carefully scrutinize the value of adding pollu-
oxides) and collective catalytic reduction — which is an expensive upgrade — we want PacifiCorp (Rocky Mountain Power in Wyoming) to have the right analysis about whether it’s worth it to keep pumping money into these old coal plants,” said Shannon Anderson of the Powder River Basin Resource Council, a landowner advocacy group that has challenged air quality permits for coal-fired power plants. The PRBRC joined Wyoming Industrial Energy Consumers in pushing for the “Environmental Projects” measure in the
Upper Green River Basin (metropolitantype ozone pollution has become a major concern), EnCana Oil & Gas USA says it wants to “electrify” its proposed new gas field as opposed to relying on traditional, emissions-heavy gas- and diesel-fired engines.
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EnCana submitted a request to RMP to supply 20 megawatts of power for its proposed “Normally Pressured Lance” field where it wants to drill 3,500 new gas wells. A spokesman for EnCana told WyoFile that the company didn’t stipulate a dedicated power generation source for the 20 megawatts. But EnCana’s proposal does raise the question about the wisdom of reducing emissions in one “hot spot” locale by potentially adding emissions elsewhere and on a regional scale.
“There’s nothing to prevent anyone from attempting to calculate the emissions from that power source,” said EnCana spokesman Randy Rocky Mountain Power has added pollution controls to its Dave Johnston coal-fired power plant near Glenrock inTeeuwen. recent years. The power plant has been in operation for more than 42 years. Photo © Amanda Smith
tion controls to existing coal-fired power plants compared to spending that money on alternative sources of energy. In its current rate increase request in Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Power is under scrutiny for having spent hundreds of millions of dollars in pollution controls for its fleet of coal-fired power plants — three of which are in Wyoming. The utility estimates it will spend an additional $1.3 billion over the next 10 years adding pollution controls to its multi-state coal-fleet. “The cost is approaching the cost of brand new power plants,” said Bob Pomeroy, a Holland & Hart attorney representing Wyoming Industrial Energy Consumers. “At some point, you have to ask the question; Do these investments make sense compared to alternatives?” In a rare alliance, major natural gas producers in Wyoming and local environmental groups championed a pollutioncontrol provision in a proposed rate case settlement with RMP. If approved, RMP will be required to obtain a certificate of public necessity from the Public Service Commission by conducting a more holistic economic analysis of pollution control upgrades, including “a discussion of alternatives to the proposed environmental project(s), including, but not limited to, alternate emissions control technologies, fuel conversion, plant retirement and replacement or repowering,” according to the agreement. “Looking to the future with regional haze requirements coming, for NOx (nitrogen
settlement agreement with RMP. Wyoming Industrial Energy Consumers includes 22 companies — mostly in natural gas extraction, trona and soda ash production. These are not exactly champions of the current march toward more stringent air quality regulations at the local and federal levels. But the increasing cost of electricity — in this case, from a coal-heavy utility — is a significant expense. (RMP’s fuel mix went from 72 percent coal in 2006 to 58 percent coal in 2010, while natural gas went from 13 percent of RMP’s fuel portfolio in 2006 to 21 percent in 2010.) In 2010, 73 percent of the megawatt hours RMP sold in Wyoming went to “industrial” customers, according to the utility. Pomeroy estimated that rates for some industrial customers in Wyoming have jumped nearly 50 percent in the past six years. (RMP claims that that estimate is over-stated.) Rocky Mountain Power has added pollution controls to its Dave Johnston coalfired power plant near Glenrock in recent years. The power plant has been in operation for more than 42 years. (Dustin Bleizeffer/WyoFile - click to enlarge) “Our concern was, we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg because they (RMP) earmarked another $1.3 billion (for pollution upgrades to coal-fired power plants),” said Pomeroy. The natural gas industry faces an interesting dynamic in the western portion of Wyoming. Under pressure to curb emissions from oil and gas extraction activities in the
Without fully acknowledging its own production-side emission challenges, the larger natural gas industry is aggressively trying to wrest a large portion of the electric utility market from coal by championing natural gas as a cleaner alternative. And the industry has made gains. Coal fueled 52.8 percent of the nation’s electrical generation in 1997, but slipped to just 45 percent in 2009, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The use of natural gas to generate electricity is trending the other direction; from 21.4 percent of the nation’s electrical generation in 2008 to 23 percent in 2009. The role of America’s natural gas industry on the energy and environmental fronts has become increasingly complicated. While arguing at the local level (RMP’s rate case in Wyoming) that utilities should conduct a more holistic economic analysis of meeting air quality regulations, it hasn’t exactly applied that same standard to itself in its national campaign.
Sunday June 12, 2011 The Glenrock Bird Page 4
NEWS FROM THE NEST
Redrawing The Boundries of Barrasso: Another Sign Electing Wyoming Officials President’s Economic Policy LSO adds redistricting page tricts: is Failing
Check out the new website, and let your legislative representatives know you want a level playing field for all of Wyoming’s interests. Here’s a list of upcoming public meetings which will help determine Wyoming’s voting dis-
- Casper
June 14, 2011 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon Game & Fish Regional Office – (Pronghorn Room) 3030 Energy Lane Casper, Wyoming - Wright June 14 evening - Laramie June 28 morning - Cheyenne June 28 evening - Powell July 12 morning - Worland July 12 evening - Lander July 13 morning - Rawlins July 13 evening - Torrington August 15 evening Go to: http://legisweb.state. wy.us/lsoweb/Redistricting/ LegilativeRedistricting.aspx -the new redistricting website for more information.
“We can’t keep debating excuses instead of delivering solutions.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (RWyo.) released the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics report that the unemployment number climbed to 9.1 percent in May: “Today’s jobs report is another sobering sign that the President’s economic policy is failing this generation and the next. College graduates continue to enter an economy that is losing its global competitiveness. Millions of skilled Americans remain unemployed and help is nowhere on the horizon.
that make it harder for job creators to hire new workers. Just this week, the President nominated someone to run his Commerce Department who has actively undermined the creation of ‘all of the above’ American energy jobs. “As Americans struggle to find work and pay rising gas prices, they need better leadership from Washington. We can’t keep debating excuses instead of delivering solutions. We need to make it easier and cheaper for the private sector to create jobs. The President's policies made it harder and more expensive for the private sector to create jobs.”
Just a reminder, always call before you dig.
“Instead the Obama Administration continues to push policies
Barrasso Reacts to Reversal of Wild Lands Order WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (RWyo.) released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s decision to abandon its sweeping wild lands order (Secretarial Order 3310): “This Administration’s ‘wild lands’ proposal was misguided right out of the box. Public lands should be managed in a way that provides the greatest benefit to the public. This anti-multiple use order would have severely limited access to public lands and threatened Western economies. “I am pleased the Administration appears to finally understand that bypassing Congress and ignoring input from local officials is the wrong way to go. We need to have a balanced approach to managing our public lands that involves listening to folks on the ground who know the land the best. I look forward to working with Secretary Salazar to ensure that we achieve this goal. I will
fight any additional attempts by Washington to backdoor designate de-facto wilderness areas.” Background: On December 22, 2010, the Department of Interior (DOI) issued Secretarial Order 3310. This sweeping wilderness policy was issued without input from Congress or local officials. On January 28, 2011, Senator Barrasso, along with other Western Caucus members, sent a letter to the DOI protesting the wild lands order. On April 14, 2011, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution that contained provisions that limited the use of funds for the Interior Department to “implement, administer, or enforce” Secretarial Order 3310. On June 1, 2011, Interior Secretary Salazar announced the Administration would abandon Secretarial Order 3310.
These days more and more power lines are located underground, and the truth is, you don’t know where they are, but we do. So before you pick up a shovel, pick up a phone and call 811 48 hours before you dig. Whether you’re planting a tree, digging holes for fence posts or installing underground sprinklers, knowing where the power lines are buried could © 2011 Rocky Mountain Power
This year Wyoming legislators will redraw the boundaries of areas from which representatives are elected to the legislature, and the process should be an open one that encourages input from the public. So kudos to the Legislative Service Office for launching a new redistricting website. District boundaries are supposed to be drawn to fairly represent all constituents, but the process also presents an opportunity to favor one voting block over another — a time-honored battle between Republicans and Democrats.
“Call 811 before you dig.”
be a matter of life and death. For more safety information, visit rockymountainpower.net /safety.
NRA Continues Fight for Intervenor Status in Wolf Delisting Challenge
The National Rifle Association and Safari Club International (SCI) will move for reconsideration after being denied intervenor status last week by the Montana Federal District Court in a new challenge to the wolf delisting contained in the continuing resolution for FY 2011 by the Alliance for the Rocky Mountains. That court decision was based on the notion that the federal government would adequately represent SCI and NRA’s interests in the litigation. The NRA and SCI contend they have a right and indeed a responsibility to defend the interests of their members and the hunting community in general.
“Only the NRA and SCI can fully and adequately represent the interests of our members and hunters in this litigation," said Chris W. Cox. “While populations continue to far exceed delisting goals, we will continue our fight for hunters and for the complete delisting of gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act.”
Anti-hunting groups filed two new court cases on May 5th challenging the constitutionality of the recently passed law that directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the wolves of Montana, Idaho and portions of Oregon, Utah and Washington State. The NRA has pledged to continue to fight for the delisting and state-based management of gray wolves, whether in Congress or the courts.
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Worth
COWBOY CORNER TJ Casey is a singer/songwriter, storyteller, composer and entertainer. He was raised up on ranches in Wyoming and Montana and now teaches the "Code of the West" and poetry to students all across America. Check him out at: www.tjcasey.net.
Cowboy Poet TJ Casey There’s a place in the west, where the cottonwoods dance with the wind. And the stars in the sky, shine bright, while the quarter moon grins.
roam. The bear and the wolves, and the buffalo call it their home. There’s a place in the west, where the lone eagle soars in the blue. And you hear the wind whisper, but nobody’s out there but you.
There’s a place in the west, where the desert is dry as a bone. And the prickly pear blooms, and there’s no one but you there alone.
That place in the west, is Montana, where the land is as big as the sky. Where the tumbleweeds blow
There’s a place in the west, where the deer and the wiley elk
and gone again; where are these gray clouds bound?
White caps beamed across the bay like lights on harbor boats. The clouds above, a color gray; as by they swiftly float.
Somewhere in the distance I hear a steady wale. Gone in just an instance; then, the wind of another gale. Hard rain falling from the sky puddling on the earth; and I with constant blinking eye, measuring it’s worth.
The autumn trees sway in the wind; as leaves reach to the ground. Then out the sun
‘cross the prairie, where the Yellowstone River flows by.
There’s a place in the west, where no man ever has known. Just me and my dog and my horses, and we’re all alone.
That place in the west, is Montana Montana is where I call home, with the mountains and lakes and valleys and streams, from Montana I never will roam.
There’s a place in the west, where in the winter the snow’s piled high. Where it’s way below zero and you can’t get warm if you try.
There’s a place in the west, where the mountains reach up to the sky. Where at night on the wind, I can hear a lone coyote cry.
There’s a place in the west, that I wouldn’t trade for all gold. And I’d buy it all back, if it ever got traded or sold.
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Noon Monday thru Friday and from 6am to 1pm Saturday thru Sunday located at 400 W. Aspen Subscribe to the digital version of The Glenrock Bird and have it delivered to your emailbox every Sunday morning! JUST $5.00 a YEAR Subscribe by going to:
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THE NIGHT HAWK
I’m Just Sayin.... Columnist - Susan R. Stoltz Susan is owner/editor of Women Out West Magazine, featured speaker at writers conferences nationwide including Women Writing the West, Ozark Creative Writers and Writing the Rockies. As a freelance writer Susan has been featured in Open Range Magazine, Cactus Creek Daily and on the website of the National Association of Baby Boomers. Photo © Amanda Smith
I’m Just Sayin...
Weiner Stands Firm
You would think that if you were ‘caught with your pants down’ you would simply admit it and get it over with. Not so with Congressman Weiner. You can almost argue that he made a bad decision – don’t we all. You can certainly say he lacked good judgment – haven’t we all at one time or another. But there comes a point in time when it becomes more than lack of judgment or poor decision making. Do we want these sorts of people representing our populace and passing legislation that will affect our lives? Let’s face it folks, Weiner is not someone I would peg as a ‘ladies man.’ He’s not exactly what most would call handsome and we’ve all seen more of him than we would ever wish to see again. So maybe this would explain his need to send sexually explicit e-messages to people he has never really met. Hard to say – no pun intended. Here is a direct quote from the Congressman’s own website that I find particularly ironic: “Along with several colleagues in Congress, we introduced & passed the KIDS (Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators) Act of 2007, a bill to require sex offenders to register their e-mail and instant message addresses with the National Sex Offender Registry. The “Kids Act’ implemented one of my six recommendations to keep a closer eye on sex offenders both near school grounds and online. I also proposed stricter GPS tracking of sex offenders, tougher enforcement of registration laws and more public disclosure of sex offender data. Sadly, the Internet is the predator's venue of choice today. We need to update our strategies and our laws to stop these offenders who are a mere click away from our children.” But all this aside, he knowingly allowed someone else to take the blame for this debacle and pointedly lied that someone had hacked into his Twitter account. So after he lied, cheated, and used his office to conduct his lurid communications, Weiner has the audacity to stand firm on his decision not to resign. Seems firmness is the ONLY platform on which he has to stand. We certainly have the pictures to prove it.
Just sayin…..
Sunday June 12, 2011 The Glenrock Bird Page 6
POLICE BEAT Thursday June 9 Suspicious circumstance officer responded Rolling Hills completed x3 Ambulance request. Transported to Casper Traffic stop. Verbal warning for brake light Juvenile harrassment report taken Report taken ref civil matter Driving complain. Officer spoke with subjects Wednesday June 8 Loose horses, Salecs notified Rolling Hills completed x4 PBT administered at request of P&P Report of a dog attacking another dog. Citation issued for vicious dog. Traffic stop. Veral warning for brake light. Traffic stop. One Warrant arrest Citizen assist. Officer unlocked a vehicle Concerned citizens reporteed property damage. Report unfounded Warrant arrest. Transported to Douglas Tuesday June 7 OAA Officer complied Rolling Hills completed x4 Loose cow. SALECS notified Officer performed a VIN inspection. Ambulance request. Negative T Ambulance request. Negative T Subject fingerprinted for employment x2 Comm Tech notarized a paper Medical. Emergency Units responded Call referred to Public Works. Comm Tech notarized a paper. OAA. PBT test at request of P&P Citizen Assist. Officer unlocked vehicle. Monday June 6 Rolling Hills Patrol completed x3 Information documented Stolen vehicle reported Ambulance request. Officer performed VIN Inspec. Dog at large reported Civil matter. Officer responded.
Animal Game and Fish responded. Comm Tech performed a notary Identity Teft. Report taken. E911 domestic dispute. One arrested for assault and warrant Sunday June 5 Rolling Hills completed x 4 Controlled burn reported Range Key Issued Comm Tech performed a notary Traffic stop. Verbal warning issued for speed. E911 Hang up. Officer responded Comm tech performed a notary. Information logged Animal. Gate opeened to let deer out. Comm tech performed a notary. Citizen assist. Officer responded. Welfare check. Everyrhing was ok. Barking dog. Officer responded Saturday June 4th Traffic stop. warning for headlight. Rolling Hills patrol x4 Barking dogs. MSG left by ACO Key to shooting range issued Barking dogs. MSG left for ACO Traffic stop. Warning for no front plate. Traffic stop warning for brake light. Traffic stop warning for speed Traffic accident. Officer responded. E911 Harrassment. Officers responded. E911 Citizen assist. Officer responded. Friday June 3 Trespassing complaint. Officer dispateched Traffic stop. Verbal warning for brake light. Officer performed a VIN Inspec. Rolling Hills completed x4 Ambulance request. T to Casper Comm Tech performed a Notary Traffic stop. Verbal warning for brake light. Extra patrol requested. Officers notified. Driving complaint. UTL.
GLENROCK LIBRARY NEWS
BIRD WORD SEARCH
Privet! Hello in Russian from the library! Visit our Mango Foreign Language database on line. Find out how to get connected. There are over 80 languages to choose from. Learn from the comfort of your own home. This database comes to us courtesy of the state library. Bob Kisken is at it again! One of his passions is photographing what he sees. He has traveled the country doing just that. He didn’t have to go far this time. He headed over to the South Recreation Complex Memorial Day week end to capture the lil’ pokes rodeo. As you step into the library be sure to venture into the community room to take in the excitement of the day. SUMMER READING takes top billing! Tuesday evening, June 14, at 6:30 the Society of Creative Anchronism will put on their demonstration of steel and chivalry. Wednesday, June 15th Angie McCoy will be at the library to introduce us to their service dog. Thursday, June 16th we will be making family crests at story time. These programs will start at 10:30. That evening at 6:00, the Deer Creek Museum will start their lecture series. Jessica Smith from the Paleon will be speaking about dinosaurs in the Glenrock area. Friday, June 17th Indiana Bones will be telling us all about his travels at 1:00. Wow what a week!! Hope you can take in one or all programs. If you need to keep it straight the library does have a calendar of events, stop in. For Read Me A Story: June 11 – June 18: Bob by Tracey Campbell Pearson. This summer we are again having kids choose their books to read. This week we have Jessica. Pick up the phone and dialing 436-2353 to listen to Jessica read the book she chose.
Barbecue Baseball Bike Birdwatch boating camping canoe
fish frisbee garden hike hopscotch jumprope picnic
rollerblade skateboard silde swing vacation deadwood
SENIOR SHENANIGANS
Happy Birthday this week to Donna Gosnell, Beverly Wright, Evelyn Daniels, & Patricia Allen! Be sure to stop in anytime this month for a free lunch courtesy of Deer Creek Drug. Please contact the Center if you would like your birthday added to our list. Every Friday at the Glenrock Senior Center….lunch for a buck! Non-Seniors are $5.00.
Fun Night is Thursday June 22, 2011 starting at 4pm. We will be having Burgers and Brauts for dinner. Please call or stop by the center to sign up.
Forms for the Elderly and Disabled Tax Rebate are now available. Applications will be accepted until August 30, 2011. Please call to schedule an appointment or for more information to see if you qualify. Purchase a 10 punch meal ticket & save!!! 10 meals for $23.00…that is only $2.30 a Meal!
May Commodities are be available for pick-up at the Glenrock Senior Center. This month’s items are Cream Style Corn, Dried Plums, and Frozen Potato Wedges. Commodities are available on a first come first serve basis. The Commodity Program is not limited to senior citizens. If you would like more information about the Commodity program, or to see if you qualify, please call 436-9442.
We’re on the web at http:wyldweb.state.wy.us/ glen. Our phone number is 4362573. Fax number is 4368525. Be sure to “friend” us on facebook!! Just look up Glenrock Library.
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BIRD ODDS and ENDS Two Scholarships For Non-Traditional Students Are Available At The University Of Wyoming.
Deadline for the Osher Re-entry Scholarship is Wednesday, July 6, and for the Daniels Opportunity Scholarship Friday, July 15. Both are for the 2011-12 academic year.
The Bernard Osher Foundation recently awarded $50,000 to UW in scholarship funds. Among the criteria for the scholarship, applicants must be over 25 years of age, have a cumulative gap in their education of five or more years and are pursuing a first bachelor's degree. "Because UW is working to increase the number of bachelor's degree holders in the state, applicants also must be Wyoming residents and have a declared major," says Dolores Cardona, UW associate dean of students. "Preference will be given to newly matriculating students or students enrolling for the first
time."
Four awards will be given through the Daniels Opportunity Scholarship program. Requirements include involvement in one of two programs on campus, Student Support Services or the Nontraditional Student Center/ Continuing Excellence Series, during the academic year. The program's success was demonstrated with the recent graduation of four Daniels Scholars. Application information for both scholarships is available at http://www.uwyo.edu/ntscenter/ scholarships-and-opportunitiesntscenter/index.html . For more information, contact Cardona, (307) 766-6228, cardona@uwyo.edu , or Michael Wade at (307) 766-6189, mwade@uwyo.edu .
Parent Training Program Taking Hold in Wyoming With the graduation of its second group of students, organizers of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) are hoping to expand the program’s reach in Wyoming. A graduation celebration was held recently for 10 students who completed the program, which is supported by the Wyoming Department of Health’s Maternal and Family Health section. Graduating participants invested more than 60 session hours along with additional out of class hours completing a community project of their choice. Charla Ricciardi, child and adolescent health coordinator with the Wyoming Department of Health, says, “What we see with this program is
that PLTI is not about providing a service to participants; instead it teaches community responsibility and advocacy to those who desire to make a difference for children.” Ricciardi noted this is the second group of students to complete the program. “We’ve seen some good success with the initial effort in Laramie County and are now working toward expanding the program into other Wyoming counties with a planned workshop and other outreach efforts.”
policy and the media. Children are provided appropriate care during the classes. Federal funding for the program is provided through an Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant. For more information about PLTI, contact Ricciardi at 307-777-3733 or visit www. wyplti.org online.
PLTI is a four- phase, 20-session training that enables parents to become advocates for children. Each class is broken into four-hour increments. Parents are provided training on parent leadership, including focused study of politics,
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CLASSIFIEDS - SEEKING HOUSING Wanted to rent in Glenrock (Converse County School District #2 boundaries) 3 bedroom home, mobile home or apartment for August 1 occupancy. Please call Steve at 605-760-0958 or email shelgel@mail.com.
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Just a reminder, always call before you dig. These days more and more power lines are located underground, and the truth is, you don’t know where they are, but we do. So before you pick up a shovel, pick up a phone and call 811 48 hours before you dig. Whether you’re planting a tree, digging holes for fence posts or installing underground sprinklers, knowing where the power lines are buried could © 2011 Rocky Mountain Power
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e h T d r i B
be a matter of life and death. For more safety information, visit rockymountainpower.net/safety.
Sunday June 12, 2011 The Glenrock Bird Page 9
Subscribe to the digital version of The Glenrock Bird and have it delivered to your emailbox every Sunday morning! JUST $5.00 a YEAR Subscribe by going to:
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The Glenrock Breakfast House - Serving Awesome, Hearty Breakfast Meals From
6am Noon Monday thru Friday and from 6am to 1pm Saturday thru Sunday located at 400 W. Aspen Sunday June 12, 2011 The Glenrock Bird Page 10