State Briefs

Man pleads not guilty to exposure allegations

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 40-year-old Gillette man has pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts against him alleging that he exposed himself to several people in Walmart and performed a sex act near a 5-year-old boy.

Chad M. Hoskey faces a felony charge of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor and four misdemeanor counts of public indecency. His next court appearance is scheduled in June.

The investigation began Feb. 27 when police were called to Walmart around 7 p.m. about a man exposing and touching himself inside of the store.

Hoskey already had been taken by Walmart employees to the loss prevention office, and when police arrived, they found him “visibly shaking” as he focused on security footage from the store, according to court documents.

He apparently would not look at the officer while employees searched the video footage, and he denied exposing himself. While that was happening, the officer pointed out that the man’s pants fly was open.

Employees then found a video of Hoskey in the electronics department with himself visibly exposed. Multiple witnesses also claimed to have encountered the man who was exposed and touching himself in several areas inside the store, according to the affidavit.

One woman said that while in the chips aisle, she saw Hoskey about 5 feet away with his hands near his groin making eye contact with her. She then went to find her husband, who found Hoskey nearby sitting on a bench and touching himself, according to court documents.

Teton Pass accident prompt warning of spring conditions

JACKSON (WNE) — An accident April 5 on Teton Pass involving a car transport truck that lost traction may serve as a warning of spring conditions for some Jackson drivers.

“A transport vehicle was on the pass traveling roughly 25 mph when it lost traction, slid into the ditch and tipped over,” said Stephanie Harsha, public relations specialist for Wyoming Department of Transportation District 3.

Drivers faced delays caused not only by the transport vehicle tipping over but also by the two cars on its deck that fell off and blocked the lanes.

Harsha said there were no injuries.

The accident occurred around 2 p.m. Lieutenant Matt Brackin of the Wyoming Highway Patrol said travel was limited to one lane, and his team was there until 6 p.m. directing both lanes of traffic.

“It’s a lot of traffic control, especially on a blind corner where this vehicle crashed,” Brackin said. “There were three vehicles that needed to be uprighted, so it was an extended duration on scene. Traffic was backed up westbound for about 3 miles.”

Harsha said the truck was not technically a hitched vehicle, which were restricted from driving the pass Tuesday due to adverse weather conditions.

“We do usually have a seasonal trailer restriction that restricts all hitch trailers and commercial trailers on Teton Pass from Nov. 15 through April 1,” Harsha said. “However, due to inclement weather restrictions, it was reinstated at the time of the crash.”

Selvig to lead Constitution Party’s U.S. House bid

SHERIDAN (WNE) — Riverton resident Marissa Selvig received the Constitution Party of Wyoming’s nomination for the state’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives April 2 at the party’s state convention in Evanston.

“I am beyond excited that it is finally official,” Selvig said of receiving the nod. “I am even more excited for the voters of Wyoming to have a real, constitutional choice in this race.”

Selvig and the Constitution Party of Wyoming said they offer the state’s voters an opportunity to support a return to the Constitutional principles that built the nation.

“It is long past time our elected officials uphold their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution with integrity and honesty,” Selvig said. “That is exactly what I intend to do should I be elected in November.”

Constitution Party of Wyoming Chairman Jeff Haggit echoed Selvig’s enthusiasm.

“Marissa is passionate about her faith and the belief that adhering to her oath of office is of utmost importance,” Haggit said. “She will make a great congresswoman.”

The race for Wyoming’s U.S. House seat has already seen much contention and national attention. Several Republican hopefuls have created a crowded field trying to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney. 

90 new beds part of Jackson ski resort plans to keep employees

JACKSON (WNE) — Jackson Hole Mountain Resort plans in about two weeks to start building three four-story buildings to house its workers.

“We’re not looking to make money or even break even on these units,” said Ty Hoath, the resort’s vice president of human resources.

The 30 new units of employee housing, totaling 31,000 square feet, are Phase 2 of the 2014 Powderhorn units in west Jackson, which are about 20 minutes from the resort. The project will double what was included in the first phase of the Powderhorn complex — 92 beds — with 90 more.

Construction is expected to take 16 to 18 months and be completed for the 2023-24 winter season. There will be a mix of one, two and four-bedroom “apartment-style” units.

The top three floors will have the four-bedroom units with lock-off bedrooms, two bathrooms, communal kitchens and kitchen areas. One and two-bedroom units will be on the ground floors.

This year, Hoath said, the resort is putting employees up in 390 beds, in either temporary master leases or resort-owned housing.

Workforce deed restrictions were voluntarily placed on all units in the new development, according to the Jackson/Teton County Housing Department and Town Planning Department.

With no “affordable” restrictions from the Housing Department, Hoath said, the resort independently determines how much employees can afford to pay to make units affordable.

Hoath said each employee pays under the affordability standard from the federal government, or 30% of gross income.

Truck driver ticketed after hitting two vehicles in two days in same parking lot

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 46-year-old man was ticketed after hitting two vehicles in the same parking lot in two days with his 2019 Kenworth.

On Tuesday, a white 2007 Peterbilt was parked at Hank’s Bar. When the driver returned Wednesday afternoon, the truck’s grille guard had been hit. Video from Hank’s Bar showed a white semi driving west in the parking lot, then turning south, said Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds.

It’s believed that is when the Peterbilt was hit, Reynolds said. Damage was estimated at $7,000.

At about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, a 38-year-old man reported that his 2001 Chevy Cavalier, which was parked on the edge of the parking lot, was hit on the passenger side door, receiving more than $1,000 in damage, Reynolds said.

At about 9 p.m., the 38-year-old man called the Sheriff’s Office, saying that he believed the suspect vehicle had returned to the parking lot.

The suspect truck, a 2019 Kenworth, matched the truck that was seen in security video footage. There was apparent damage to the trailer on the driver’s side, Reynolds said.

The Kenworth’s driver, the 46-year-old man, admitted that he’d driven in the parking lot the previous night, and that he thought he was too close to other trucks. He did not believe he had hit any other vehicles, Reynolds said, but he couldn’t account for the $1,000 in damage to his truck.

The man was ticketed for failure to report a crash.

Pinedale Airport improvements boost readiness

PINEDALE (WNE) –  A ribbon of fresh, jet black asphalt runs at a perfect angle to the horizon of Ralph Wenz Field, paralleling the Wind River Range. 

The roughly 1.5-mile runway allows aircrafts loaded with fuel and passengers to take off on warm summer days – a challenge at 7,058 feet, said Grover Laseke, Pinedale Airport manager. Advanced 3-D GPS technology created a perfectly level surface. 

The runway rehabilitation project, substantially completed in September 2021, is one of several projects launched by the Town of Pinedale to upgrade and expand services at Ralph Wenz Field before the Jackson Hole Airport closes between April 11-June 28. 

Laseke said it was difficult to predict how the closure will impact air traffic at the Pinedale Airport at this time. 

Due to the improvements carried out by the town and its contractors in 2021, Ralph Wenz Field is “prepared to provide whatever services we can” to aircraft rerouted from Jackson, Laseke said. 

The airport lacks the facilities for commercial passenger flights but can accommodate a wide range of private and chartered planes and jets. 

In addition to preparing the Pinedale Airport to welcome aircraft from Jackson, the flurry of construction activity last summer boosted the facility’s ability to provide crucial emergency services to the community, Laseke added. 

Federal, state and local agencies use Ralph Wenz Field as a center for fighting wildland fires from the air. During the 2018 Roosevelt Fire, the airport staged tactical aircraft, including two 747-jet air tankers capable of dropping more than 8,000 gallons of fire retardant. 

The Pinedale Airport is also a base for fixed-wing medical evacuations in Sublette County, said Laseke.