Wyoming News Briefs

Cody man charged with perjury

CODY (WNE) — The Cody man charged in September for the alleged assault and battery of his pregnant girlfriend was charged Feb. 7 with one count of perjury after he allegedly asked his girlfriend to recant her statement to get the case dismissed.

Travis William Rednour, 40, now faces imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of no more than $5000 or both, if convicted of perjury.

That would be in addition to felony charges Rednour currently faces for aggravated assault and battery of a pregnant woman and the misdemeanor charge for interfering with emergency calls.

The alleged assault and battery in September occurred after Rednour’s girlfriend told him she was pregnant, the affidavit said.

The victim told police that Rednour shoved her, pulled her around by the hair on her head and slapped her across the face. She further told police that Rednour prevented her from calling 911 after the incident, according to the affidavit.

Following the posting of his $30,000 cash bond last year, he was released from Park County Detention Center, but was rearrested Feb. 3 due to a warrant revoking his probation for driving with a suspended license, according to the affidavit.

Rednour allegedly committed perjury on Feb. 7 while inside the Park County Detention Center when he placed a call to his girlfriend, whom he had been ordered by the Park County District Court not to contact.

All calls made by inmates in the Park County Detention Center are recorded, the affidavit said.

Rednour was given a $10,000 cash-only bond for the perjury charge and currently sits in the Park County Detention Center on a $70,000 bond.

He now faces a preliminary hearing on Feb. 23 to address the perjury charge. The hearing will determine if his case gets transferred to Park County District Court.

Avalanche danger ‘high’ as storm dumps snow, wind on Tetons

JACKSON (WNE) — The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center has raised the avalanche hazard to “high” in upper elevations as a winter storm brings heavy winds and snow to Jackson Hole.

“Use cautious route-finding as natural avalanches are likely in the upper elevations,” forecaster Alex Drinkard wrote in the Monday morning forecast. “Ride low angle terrain during this storm cycle as continued snowfall with strong wind throughout the day increases avalanche danger to high.”

At the same time, Teton Pass remains open to commuters. 

The Wyoming Department of Transportation advises drivers to “proceed with caution” between Wilson and the Idaho state line. There will be narrow travel lanes over the pass, but travel conditions may deteriorate.

The Avalanche Center bumped the hazard rating up after the storm began blowing in with a 31 mph average wind speed. It dropped 12 inches at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s mid-mountain Chief Joseph plot, 10 inches in Grand Teton National Park’s slightly higher Surprise Meadow plot, and 4 inches in the resort’s summit-top Rendezvous Bowl plot.

The max wind speed recorded was 65 mph.

Those winds have created wind slabs 3 to 4 feet deep that will be sensitive to human triggers, Drinkard wrote.

As the storm continues, forecasters are also warning that the new snow may re-awaken the persistent slab, a layer of weak snow buried deep in the snowpack that has the potential to cause large avalanches. The layer of concern is weaker snow that developed after a huge Jan. 26 storm. That layer is buried 2 to 3 feet deep in the snowpack. 

Cody man arrested for drugs found in garage

CODY (WNE) — A Cody man was arrested by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation on Feb. 10 after meth, magic mushrooms and marijuana were discovered stashed in his garage and throughout his residence.

Kelly Allen Brainerd, 40, was charged with one felony and two misdemeanors.

The charges against him include one count of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, which is a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years, a fine of no more than $25,000 or both.

His two misdemeanor charges include one count of possessing psilocybin (commonly known as magic or psychedelic mushrooms) and one count of possessing THC (marijuana). Both are punishable by imprisonment for up to 12 months, a fine of no more than $1000 or both.

Brainerd was allegedly found with the drugs on Feb. 10 following the execution of a search warrant by DCI agents at his Cody residence.

Brainerd was arrested in his garage, where he admitted to possessing meth and showed the DCI agents where he kept it, the affidavit said.

“Agents located over three grams of suspected methamphetamine concealed under the garage’s trash can,” the affidavit said. “Agents also located multiple baggies with suspected methamphetamine residue, a set of digital scales and ingestion apparatuses throughout the garage.”

Inside Brainerd’s residence were several ounces of psilocybin mushrooms and suspected marijuana edibles, the affidavit said.

After his arrest, Brainerd was interviewed by the DCI agents and indicated he facilitated a “large methamphetamine transaction” earlier this month, which agents were able to corroborate. 

As of Feb. 16, Brainerd remained an inmate in the Park County Detention Center.

He now faces a preliminary hearing on Feb. 23 to determine if his case gets transferred to Park County District Court.

Park County man pleads guilty to sexual abusing minor

POWELL (WNE) — A Park County man who pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of first degree sexual abuse of a minor now faces more than two decades of prison time. 

Robert Andrew McCoy, 55, was arrested in Powell in August and charged with three felonies: one count of first degree and two counts of second degree sexual abuse of a minor. 

Deputy County Attorney Jack Hatfield said last week that in exchange for McCoy’s guilty plea to the count of first degree abuse on Feb. 6, the two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor will be dismissed with prejudice. 

Hatfield said he also agreed not to charge McCoy with possession of child pornography or voyeurism, a charge that relates to viewing victims without their consent. 

Meanwhile, he said McCoy has agreed to serve 22-25 years in prison. 

Park County District Court Judge Bill Simpson will consider the proposed deal after the Wyoming Department of Corrections completes a pre-sentence investigation report. 

At McCoy’s October arraignment, Hatfield said the victim — who was under the age of 16 — came forward approximately four years ago, but “a confederate” of McCoy’s threatened the victim into withdrawing the statement. 

The abuse then continued, the prosecutor said. 

McCoy has remained in jail since his Aug. 24 arrest, with bond set at $350,000.

Ricketts donates $1 million to build Sublette hospital

JACKSON (WNE) — Jackson Fork Ranch owner and billionaire Joe Ricketts donated $1 million last Monday to the Sublette County Health Foundation, bringing the county closer to having its own hospital. 

At the moment, the roughly 9000 residents of Sublette County must travel 77 miles north to St. John’s Health in Jackson or 100 miles south to the Rock Springs hospital for most medical procedures.

“Right now, we only have a clinic,” said Kari DeWitt, executive director of the Sublette County Health Foundation. “We lack a lot of basic services, such as overnight care.”

Patients with pneumonia or who need pain management observation must be transferred to Jackson. The same goes for those in need of a blood transfusion, as a result of a car accident or through a pregnancy, for example. Cancer patients seeking chemotherapy also must travel far.

The foundation is only a year old, established in 2022 to raise money in support of Sublette County Health’s mission to offer “efficient, high-quality and patient-centered care.”

In November 2020, a majority of Sublette County residents voted in favor of building a critical access hospital. Preliminary plans call for a 24/7 emergency room and an attached long-term care center with 50 beds, including 10 in a specialized unit for dementia care, according to the hospital district’s website.

But inflation and a sharp increase in construction costs has resulted in a $9.2 million shortfall ahead of the spring timeline for construction, according to the foundation.

“Joe Ricketts’ generous donation is a critical first step to close the gap and will hopefully be a momentum builder,” DeWitt said in a news release. “We are overwhelmed by his generosity.”

City Council hopes to modernize Gillette’s brand

GILLETTE (WNE) — In the next few years, the Gillette City Council hopes to update the city’s brand and logo.

The city council has no desire to move away from the Energy Capital of the Nation moniker.

“Everybody in this room, we’re proud of the energy we supply,” said Councilman Tim Carsrud at a recent city council retreat. “We built [this community] on energy, and I for one, I don’t ever want to tap out.”

“The people that built Gillette still live here,” said Councilman Jim West. “If we offend those people with what we’re doing, we’re just shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Mayor Shay Lundvall said he’s “very much in favor” of rebranding, and that now is a good time to modernize and update things.

“It’s a prime opportunity to recalibrate,” Lundvall said. “We’re going to incorporate our heritage and everything that has made Gillette what it is, but also provide some current direction, and make it a little bit more modern.”

Carsrud said the energy industry will be here for a while, and it makes no sense to leave it behind.

“We are always just one federal administration away from being the Energy Capital of the Nation, we’re always one administration away from bankruptcy,” Carsrud said.

“It would be good to always make sure we have our heritage and what made Gillette incorporated in our logo,” said Councilwoman Heidi Gross.

“We can update our logo. It’s getting kind of old,” West said.

“It definitely says who we are,” said Councilwoman Trish Simonson.

Rebranding is costly, and the project would be done in phases.

“Hopefully by year two or year three, it’s well underway, if not close to being done,” Lundvall said. “I don’t want to drag this on.”

Yellowstone recruits for Youth Conservation Corps

JACKSON (WNE) —Yellowstone National Park seeks applicants for the 2023 Youth Conservation Corps, a residential work-based education program for ages 15 to 18.

Two one-month YCC sessions will be offered: June 11-July 12 and July 16- Aug. 15.

Forty-four teens will be randomly selected from across the country. 

Applicants must be U.S. citizens who will be 15 by June 11 but not over 18 by Aug. 15.

No wilderness experience is necessary, but enjoying camping is a plus, since it will be required four nights a week during work assignments.

Participants will be required to live in the park, and a minimal fee will be charged for room and board. Wages will be $9.50 an hour.

“YCC is designed to develop an appreciation for the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage through unique educational, recreational and work experiences,” a press release said. “Corps members work together with National Park Service staff to complete conservation projects such as trail rehabilitation, campground restoration, and a wide variety of resource management, visitor support services and maintenance projects.”

Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

To apply, go to TinyURL.com/ya96c98r. Completed application materials must be postmarked by March 1.

WySAC 2022 data shows positive change in mental health among Sheridan students

SHERIDAN (WNE) — The University of Wyoming’s Survey and Analysis Center published complete Prevention Needs Assessment data for 2022, showing positive progress in areas related to mental health.

The assessment is given to sixth-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders and covers topics such as mental health, substance use and problems at school. 

Tom Schnatterbeck, psychologist at Sheridan High School, said the data is useful for the high school to determine the efficacy of mental health services at SHS such as Sources of Strength, a prevention program which aims to encourage students to learn to support each other and combat suicide through social connection.

“The piece that I started looking at in terms of mental health in particular seemed to be really, really supportive of what we’re doing so far,” Schnatterbeck said.

Sheridan County Prevention Manager Ann Perkins said when compared across the state, the new data shows areas Sheridan County scored higher than other participating counties in students feeling they have a trusted adult they can talk to. 

WySAC data shows Sheridan County students who talked with their parents about their thoughts and feelings rose from 52.88% in 2020 to 57.95% in 2022.

Further, students who experienced depression all of the time fell from 5.46% in 2020 to 3.78% in 2022. Students who considered suicide decreased from 19.61% in 2018 to 18.49% in 2020 to 16.62% in 2022. Students who had attempted suicide at least once dropped from 6.19% in 2020 to 4.94% in 2022.

“One of the big drawbacks from this 2022 [data] is Natrona County did not participate in this survey. School districts have the right to opt out, and that’s obviously a huge chunk of our young people’s data, which is disappointing,” Perkins said. “There were some Fremont County school districts that did not participate as well.”