Wyoming News Briefs

Wyoming Weed and Pest Council partners with IMAGINE  

SHERIDAN (WNE) — For more than a century, cheatgrass has plagued native wildlife across the western United States. The invasive weed poses many threats; the most concerning is that it fuels wildfires. And, unfortunately, Wyoming is not immune to the weed’s spread.

According to the Institute of Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems, cheatgrass impacts all 23 counties in Wyoming. There are an estimated 20 million acres with more than 10 percent of annual grasses, including cheatgrass. That’s about two million acres of only annual grass in the state.

Invasive annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, are detrimental to native plants and wildlife. Cheatgrass provides fine dry fuels that increase fire frequency and severity. It also decreases forage quantity and quality for livestock and wildlife, alters habitat, changes soil health and decreases biodiversity.

Jaycie Arndt, a coordinator for IMAGINE, grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and came to dislike cheatgrass and other invasive plants. That’s why she’s dedicated to helping manage invasive weeds and annual grasses.

“We have to manage annual grasses, not only to improve our rangelands but also to prevent further degradation or complete loss of function of our landscapes,” Arndt said.

To combat the growing problem, IMAGINE was created in 2020 to foster a collaborative, statewide approach to managing annual grasses in the Cowboy State. The organization partners with the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council, among others, to research the best treatment options for controlling annual grasses.

The public can help defend against invasive weeds by making sure to clean equipment, shoes, clothes and vehicles before leaving an area with annual grasses.

To learn more about IMAGINE and upcoming events, see wyagresearch.org/imagine.

 Man pleads not guilty in 30-mile high-speed chase

GILLETTE (WNE) — A man accused of stealing a pickup truck, with a trailer towing another pickup truck, then leading law enforcement officers on a 30-mile high-speed chase between Gillette and Wright has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the alleged theft and chase.

Cohan J. Foster, 18, pleaded not guilty Oct. 5 to two counts of felony theft and misdemeanor counts of fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement and reckless driving. He waived his preliminary hearing Sept. 20 and was bound over to District Court.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Campbell County Recreation Center the afternoon of Sept. 14 to backup police officers on a traffic stop of a gray 2017 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck pulling a long flatbed trailer with a white Ford pickup on it. 

As the deputies arrived, a passenger in the truck exited the Dodge, at which point Foster sped off. The deputies pursued the truck as it sped east on Shoshone Avenue, then south on Highway 59 where two Highway Patrol troopers joined the pursuit.

Police told deputies the truck was stolen and that the driver, Foster, had extraditable warrants out of Texas.

The driver ran three red lights and drove the stolen truck at speeds between 70 and 97 mph throughout the course of the 30-mile pursuit.

A Sheriff’s deputy placed road spikes near Breene Road about nine miles from Wright, which Foster ran over, flattening his tires on the Dodge. The truck eventually came to a stop.

The vin number on the Dodge confirmed it as reported stolen in Gatesville, Texas. Two guns were reported stolen with the vehicle as well. A search of the truck found a Russian pistol that matched the description of one of the stolen guns, according to court documents. 

The white pickup the stolen Dodge was hauling had not been stolen.

 Car hits pedestrian in Jackson 

JACKSON (WNE) — A car hit a pedestrian Wednesday afternoon, sending a woman to the hospital.

Around 1 p.m., a vehicle turning right on a red light from Scott Lane onto Broadway hit a pedestrian who was in the crosswalk.

Lt. Russ Ruschill of the Jackson Police Department said the pedestrian had the right of way, but he did not know the ages of either party involved.

An ambulance arrived on scene, and the victim was transported to the hospital. Ruschill didn’t know if the parties were local to the area or non-local, or the extent of the woman’s injuries.

The collision had eastbound traffic “snarled up” for about 30 minutes, according to Ruschill, who started directing traffic once he arrived.

Ruschill didn’t know the woman’s condition but said she was conscious Wednesday evening and had contacted police.