From the Big Horn Radio Newscenter…
For July 2, 2008To listen to today’s latest news update, click here.
States worried about brucellosis-infected cattle are imposing strict rules on Montana cattle, especially those from counties surrounding Yellowstone National Park. Nebraska state veterinarian Dennis Hughes says cattle coming to Nebraska from Madison, Gallatin, Park, Sweet Grass, Stillwater and Carbon counties will have to be certified brucellosis-free. All animals older than 18 months will have to test negative for the disease, even if they're not going to market. There are less stringent rules for counties farther away from the park. Idaho, Washington, Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota also drafted rules for importing Montana cattle. State veterinarians from Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have said cattle will continue to be plagued by brucellosis as long as it remains prevalent in wildlife in and around Yellowstone. Brucellosis can cause pregnant cows to abort their calves.
During this Fourth of July weekend, visitors to Wyoming’s state parks are reminded that water levels are high at some sites, including Buffalo Bill State Park west of Cody. Several state park reservoirs are currently at or near capacity, including Glendo, Boysen and Buffalo Bill. Boysen State Park Superintendent Dan Marty says that people should look for the high water marks. Marty added that visitors are highly encouraged not to camp near the water’s edge during this time, but rather stay up in the designated camping areas for safety. Visitors are also reminded that campgrounds can fill early at all state parks during the holiday weekend, and to plan accordingly.
While one section of Stampede Avenue in Cody has been completed, providing less travel interruption for the 4th of July holiday, another segment of the construction is about to begin. The City of Cody Streets division will be removing and replacing the asphalt on Stampede Avenue from 12th Street to 11th Street, beginning Monday, July 7th. While detours will be provided and driveway accesses will be open as often as possible, the construction is scheduled to take approximately five weeks.
The Korean War Veterans Monument that will soon be erected in the new Memorial Park east of Cody was damaged last week. The Korean War Veteran’s Association has been developing the new Memorial Park near the airport. However, as contracted crews were placing the 8 ton solid granite monument onto its pad last week, the monument was dropped and broke. Buck Wilkerson with the Veteran’s Association says that despite the accident, the monument is being repaired and will be erected next week. Wilkerson says that it would take about three months to replace the piece of granite, so the decision was made to make the repairs instead, since the group is planning a September 6 dedication. The funds for the park are being raised privately, although the City of Cody has been partnering with the Korean War Veteran’s Association in creating and then maintaining the park.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has scheduled a series of public information gathering meetings to discuss a proposed regulation governing sage grouse raised on private game bird farms. One such meeting will be held on July 16 in Cody at the Park County Courthouse EOC room at 7:00 p.m. In addition to the public meeting, written comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. Aug. 8. All comments will be presented to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission prior to their Sept. 11-12 meeting in Casper, when the commission will take action on this regulation.
Yellowstone National Park staff would like to ensure that visitors to the park enjoy the holiday weekend safely and get the most out of their visit. A recent incident in the Park in which a bison injured a 12 year old boy is a reminder to visitors that Yellowstone is a wild place, and to use caution and common sense at all times, according to Al Nash with the Park Service. Nash says to protect wildlife, yourself, and other visitors, view wildlife from at least 25 yards; 100 yards from bears and wolves. Don’t block an animal’s line of travel, surround, crowd, approach or follow wildlife, run or make sudden movements. Never leave food unattended in any location, at any time. If a bear approaches during your picnic, collect your food and get into your car.
Hot days and melting snow have combined to cause heavy runoff and flooding in the Dry Medicine Lodge creek drainage near Hyattville — forcing the closure of the primitive four-wheel drive road above Medicine Lodge State Park to motorized travel. According to Steve Ronne, habitat and access supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the road has become unsafe to motorists. High water and flooding have made traveling the road with a vehicle very dangerous, according to Ronne, which is why Game and Fish has closed the road until the high water recedes. The closure took effect yesterday. Ronne noted that Medicine Lodge State Park is open for business as usual. However, campers should expect high water levels in Medicine Lodge creek and anglers should use caution.
Gas prices are at record highs and the automotive group AAA says that fewer Americans will be traveling this Fourth of July holiday. AAA officials say more than 500,000 fewer Americans are expected to take to the roads and skies this holiday when compared to last year. But they also say the Western part of the country should see the largest number of travelers. For the first time this decade, AAA is projecting a drop in Fourth of July travel of over 1 percent nationwide. And many of the almost 4.5 million Americans who do intend to travel say they will stay closer to home. AAA's daily Fuel Gauge Report showed Tuesday's national average price for regular gas at 4.09 cents per gallon.
The nation's Western governors are embarking on a plan to draft a national energy policy, saying the country needs direction and leadership on the issue. Governors participating in the Western Governors' Association meeting Tuesday in Wyoming say their resource-rich region is well positioned to take the lead on the issue. They hope their framework will influence whichever presidential administration assumes power in 2009. Discussion centered on the need for diverse, secure and affordable energy sources for the nation, relying both on traditional fuels such as coal and natural gas while also expanding renewable sources such as wind and solar. The governors also focused on climate change, discussing technology and strategies for cleaning up carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.
As Fourth of July celebrations approach, BLM encourages public lands users to be careful with fire during the holiday weekend and through the rest of the summer. Acting Associate State Director Jamie Connell says that Wyoming weather forecasts predict a hotter, drier summer at elevations less than 7500 feet, which will increase the risk of fire. Areas at elevations above 7500 feet will experience no significant change in weather patterns, and therefore, risk of fire will remain about the same as in previous years. According to Wyoming BLM State Fire Management Officer, Jeff Fedrizzi, BLM Wyoming has currently committed fire crews, fire engines and the Wyoming BLM helicopter to the wildfires in California in an effort to provide much needed assistance to the interagency community and to the people of California.
Wyoming has joined the rest of the nation in making dogfighting or cockfighting a felony offense. The tougher penalty for animal fighting is one of 76 laws passed last winter by the Legislature that went into effect yesterday. Wyoming was the last state to make animal fighting a felony on first offense. It now is punishable by up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine. In addition, anyone in possession of dogs or fowl with the intent of fighting, or who knowingly permits or promotes animal fighting, also can be punished under the new law.
The National Interagency Fire Center says fire activity in the western United States has prompted the agency to raise its national preparedness to level 5, its highest ranking. John Glenn, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, says burning conditions this fire season are expected to grow more severe throughout the west. The agency upped its national preparedness to level 5 early Tuesday. It marks only the second time the Boise-based agency has raised the preparedness to a level 5 this early in the fire season since the 1990s. The last time was in 2002. As of Tuesday, the agency says there are 95 large fires burning about 821 square miles nationwide.
A new poll shows high gasoline prices have dramatically changed Americans' views on energy and the environment. More people now say expanding oil drilling and building new power plants is a bigger priority than energy conservation. The poll by the Pew Research Center shows nearly half of those surveyed - or 47 percent - now rate energy exploration, drilling and building new power plants more important, compared with 35 percent in February. The Pew poll of about 2,000 adults conducted in late June shows the shift toward energy development across the political spectrum including among Democrats, political independents, liberals and young people.
Firefighting is by nature dangerous, and now fire bosses have a new concern: personal and legal liability if lives or property are lost. In 2006, Ellreese Daniels was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter and three other felonies, five years after four people under his command died in the Thirtymile fire in Washington. The charges were later reduced and Daniels has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of making false statements to investigators. His sentencing is July 23. A survey by the International Association of Wildland Fire found that, because of the criminal charges against Daniels, 36 percent of the members will make themselves "less available for fire assignments" and 23 percent would refuse the job of incident commander. The association says the end result could be more acres burned and more homes and other structures destroyed.
A special federal court has been set up in the Farson Fire Hall to handle minor cases arising from the Rainbow Family gathering in southwest Wyoming. The court was scheduled to hear some 70 cases Tuesday. Officials say the court will handle cases involving misdemeanor offenses of U.S. Forest Service regulations, such as traffic violations and minor drug possession.
The Montana wildlife department plans three hearings on proposed rules for managing gray wolves in the state. The hearings come as a lawsuit challenges reclassification of wolves in the Northern Rockies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced an end to wolves' status as an endangered species. The decision shifts management from the federal level to the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, which together have about 1,500 wolves. The hearings scheduled for July 16 in Bozeman, July 17 in Missoula and July 18 in Helena will be at offices of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
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