Wyoming News Briefs

North Antelope Rochelle Mine workers injured in tornado released from hospital

GILLETTE (WNE) — All mine workers hospitalized after a tornado carrying up to 130 mph gusts struck North Antelope Rochelle Mine early Friday night have been released and the large open-pit coal mine is gradually resuming its operations.

The tornado touched down at about 6 p.m. Friday while shift change was underway, knocking over at least 12 empty train cars, flipping multiple buses there to transport workers and sparking a search and rescue operation that drew numerous agencies from throughout Campbell and Converse counties to the mine located more than 60 miles south of Gillette.

All workers were accounted for as of 10 p.m. Friday including eight people who were injured by the tornado: six hospitalized at Campbell County Memorial Hospital, one hospitalized in Douglas and another who declined treatment.

The injured workers have all been released from the hospital, according to a Sunday morning statement from Peabody Energy, the St. Louis-based corporation that owns NARM.

Preliminary results from a damage survey conducted Saturday measured the tornado as an EF-2 on the zero-through-five scale, with wind gusts of 120-130 mph. 

The mine operations were suspended following the Friday night tornado and returned to partial operation Saturday night, with a focus toward restoring the train loading dock and the mine’s North facility, according to Peabody Energy.

“Other parts of the mine will require power line restoration before they can return to operation,” the statement read. “Rail cars that were blown over and derailed in the storm will need to be recovered.”

The mine expects to resume loading trains by Tuesday morning.

Human remains from 1982 cold case identified

CASPER (WNE) — Human remains discovered near Granger in 1982 have been identified, according to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office. 

Jack Clawson of Sedalia, Missouri went missing in 1981 while traveling through Wyoming on his way home from a trip to Fremont, California. 

His family lost contact with him during the trip. They reported him missing when he failed to show up for a hunting trip with friends, a Wednesday release states. 

His remains were discovered in 1982, a year after he was reported missing. A group of pipeline surveyors found them near Granger, south of Interstate 80. 

An investigation and autopsy showed no signs of foul play, the sheriff’s office said. The conclusion was that he likely died of exposure during the winter. 

Unable to identify the remains or tie them to a missing person’s report, Clawson’s case went cold until May of 2011 when detectives sent biological samples to the University of Northern Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. It was part of an effort to solve some historical cases, including that of Christine Thornton who was killed in Wyoming by Rodney Alcala, the Dating Game Killer. 

In March of 2023, the remains finally had a name: Jack Clawson.

“A final resolution of this case for Mr. Clawson’s family would not have been possible without the incredible technological advancements in forensic analysis and the outstanding teamwork of everyone involved including our lead detective, Stephanie Cassidy, the University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology, the Wyoming State Crime Lab, and the University of Northern Texas Health Science Center,” Sheriff John Grossnickle said in the release.

Cody man arrested in Oregon on sex crime allegations

POWELL (WNE) — Prosecutors are alleging that a Cody man sexually abused a minor in Park County last month and then left the state. Richard M. Perkins was arrested in Oregon two weeks ago, and authorities are now seeking to have him brought back to Cody. 

Court records show the Park County Attorney’s Office has charged Perkins, 59, with a felony count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor. 

First-degree offenses of sexual abuse of a minor are punishable by at least 25 years’ worth of prison time. 

Prosecutors have released no details about the allegations against Perkins, who’s best known for giving away thousands of bicycles to children across the Big Horn Basin. 

A fugitive complaint filed against Perkins in Coos County, Oregon, Circuit Court says only that the crime is alleged to have occurred on a specific date in mid-May in Park County. Circuit court personnel in Park County said they could not confirm the existence of a pending case against Perkins, which indicates the file has been made confidential and entirely unavailable to the public. 

State law and court rules protect the identities of defendants charged with sexual crimes and alleged victims until the case clears a preliminary hearing, but state law allows judges to restrict the disclosure of any information that’s “reasonably likely” to identify a minor victim. 

Perkins was booked into jail on June 11, and at his initial June 12 court appearance, his security, or bond, was set at $50,000. Coos County Circuit Court Judge Martin Stone appointed an attorney for Perkins after he reported having no money in the bank and no income.

As of Monday, Perkins remained in custody at the Coos County Jail in Coquille, Oregon.

Design contract awarded for Gillette industrial park

GILLETTE (WNE) — The Campbell County Commission approved a professional services agreement with HDR Engineering for the Pronghorn Industrial Park.

A $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration will pay for putting in water, power and fiber at the site, as well as extending Boxelder Road about 4000 feet. This grant included a $600,000 local match.

And a $2.6 million grant from the State Land and Investment Board will go toward putting a sewer system at the site.

According to the contract, the county will pay HDR $252,000 for design work and $270,000 for engineering services during the construction phase.

Public Works Director Matt Olsen said he’s hopeful that the project is ready to go out for bid at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024, with a company under contract and ready to go no later than March 1, 2024.

When completed, the industrial park will have four to six lots ranging from 15 to 20 acres. The goal of the project is to have shovel-ready sites for large businesses to move into.

Park County commissioners approve 301-foot-tall cell tower in Clark

POWELL (WNE) — Location, location, location. 

Just a few months after Wapiti residents showed up en masse to oppose a nearly 200-foot cell tower in the middle of the valley, a more than 300-foot tower was approved without objection on a tract of rangeland near Clark during the Park County Commissioners’ June 20 meeting. 

The Special Use Permit for the tower was approved, meaning Bridger Tower Corp will be able to move forward with the project. 

Assistant Planning and Zoning Director Kim Dillivan said Verizon has already expressed interest in being on the tower. 

There are spots for three other carriers as well. 

The land is just south of the intersection of Wyo. Highway 296 and Wyo. Highway 120N and surrounded mostly by ag land and vacant residential, Dillivan said. 

A 199-foot tower was previously approved by SUP in the same spot in 2018, he noted, but the work was never done and the SUP was voided, necessitating a new application.

State moves to revoke bond for shooting defendants

CHEYENNE — The attorneys for all three defendants involved in a shooting death on Dell Range have objected to filings by the assistant district attorney asking to revoke their bond.

Defendant Sarah Heath was driving a vehicle down Dell Range the evening of Jan. 9 when co-defendant Cody Nicholson allegedly handed a loaded firearm to 19-year-old Tirso Munguia. Angelina Harrison, 16, was seated in the front seat, with Nicholson directly behind her.

Allegedly, at some point during their ride, Munguia accidentally discharged Nicholson’s firearm, killing Harrison.

Two pieces of sworn testimony filed by Assistant District Attorney William Edelman allege Nicholson — on two separate occasions — was seen in public with both of his co-defendants, court filings showed. The state has filed bench warrants against all three defendants, along with the bond revocation, demanding they be arrested and brought before court.

The defendants’ attorneys allege that both of these accounts are biased and have filed evidence they claim prove these accounts were made in error.

Munguia requested to go to his mother’s funeral service on June 15. The court granted his request.  (In May, Munguia had his bond revoked for alleged contact with the victim’s family, but documents indicated he was allowed to post bond again.)

During the time Munguia was allowed to attend his mother’s service, the victim’s father, David Harrison, drove by the chapel where the service was being held. He alleges he saw Nicholson and Munguia standing within three feet of each other, violating the conditions of their respective bonds.

According to a “punch recap” from the Arby’s where Nicholson works, he was working from 10:09 a.m. to 4:09 p.m.  This would mean Munguia was legally compelled to leave the service 24 minutes before Nicholson left work.

The second piece of evidence the state filed to claim bond violation came from Edelman’s legal assistant, Chelsea Buckhaults. She alleges she saw Nicholson and Heath at the Walmart on Dell Range at 9 p.m. on June 2.

But Heath’s attorney, Melinda Godwin, presented a sworn affidavit from Tyler James Roberts stating that he was the one accompanying Heath, not Nicholson. She also presented another timecard from Nicholson, indicating that he was at Arby’s until 10:07 p.m. that evening.

Cheyenne man charged in stabbing of Laramie County sheriff’s deputy

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Laramie County sheriff ‘s deputies responded to several 911 hang ups and calls for wellness checks on West Prosser Road early Sunday morning, according to a news release from the Cheyenne Police Department.

After finding the person in question, 46-year-old Stephen Ashley, officers tried to take him out of his residence, suspecting he was under the influence but not in need of medical attention or criminal intervention, the release said. 

Ashley resisted attempts by officers and pulled out a concealed knife, stabbing one deputy in the shoulder.

The deputy told other officers he was stabbed. LCSO said after he announced this, Ashley was tased.

Deputies say he continued to struggle, lost consciousness and became unresponsive. After administering Narcan to Ashley, officers took him to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Ashley was cleared for release Wednesday by hospital officials and officially arrested on charges of aggravated assault of a peace officer and interference with a peace officer resulting in injury.

LCSO said the deputy has also been released from the hospital and is expected to fully recover.

Three involved in Lingle explosion

LINGLE (WNE) — An explosion involving a UTV last week in Lingle resulted in an aggressive fire that injured three people. 

According to Goshen County Sheriff Deputy Herb Irons, who was present on the scene of the incident on June 13, the vehicle was headed east on 8th St. and Sherman, when an accidental explosion occurred.

One woman, who was the driver, and two juveniles were riding in the UTV. All occupants were able to exit the vehicle. One juvenile was transported to the hospital. 

“Reports state that the smell of gas was omitting from the UTV,” Irons said. “Which then shortly after resulted in a large explosion. Based off of those statements, it’s believed that the explosion was caused by a fuel combustion.”

The Lingle Fire Department extinguished the fire. Its cause is unknown, though electrical factors possibly contributed.

Mosquitoes in Laramie County test positive for West Nile virus

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Mosquitoes found in Laramie County tested positive for the West Nile virus, city officials said in a news release Thursday.

Officials said they have noticed an increase in Culex mosquitoes, the primary carriers of West Nile virus.

“Most mosquitoes do not test positive for disease-causing viruses,” the release stated. “However, a bite from a West Nile Virus-infected mosquito can cause severe illness and, in some cases, death. Although a person’s chances of getting sick are small, those aged 50 and older are at the highest risk for serious illness.”

The city stated that the virus can cause neurological diseases and other serious health issues, but also milder illnesses like fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, swollen lymph nodes and rashes. The release said anyone who thinks they have symptoms should visit a doctor immediately.

The city suggested a “5-D” approach to deterring bites from mosquitoes.

The first two D’s stand for dusk and dawn. The city warned that people should stay inside during hours when mosquitoes are more active.

The next D stands for dress. The city urged people to cover up as much as possible when going outside.

The fourth D stands for drain. Since many mosquitos hatch their eggs in standing water, Cheyenne officials said people should reduce the amount of standing water in their yard to as little as possible.

The final D is DEET, the chemical found in insect repellant that the city urges people to use when going outdoors.

City not amending Atlas contract

CODY (WNE) — Atlas Strategic Communication’s request for an additional $16,500 for its “crisis management” work stemming from the internal investigation of Cody Police Officer Blake Stinson died during the city council’s June 20 meeting due to lack of a motion.

The request was originally tabled during the council’s June 13 work session after several council members wanted examples of what the consultant had done to justify an extra $16,500.

According to Atlas Strategic Communications’ amendment request, the additional money would go towards payment for “crisis communications services and stakeholder comment management.”

Neither were included in the consultant’s original contract, City Administrator Barry Cook had said at the June 13 work session.

The amendment request document said the consultant’s extra tasks included putting out press releases, announcements and statements; monitoring comments; responding to residents “in a timely manner”; managing engagement; and keeping a record of all resident feedback related to the investigation.

During the June 20 meeting, council member Don Shreve initially made a motion to take the item off the table so it could be discussed. Council member Lee Ann Reiter seconded the motion.

Council Vice President Emily Swett suggested the council “let it die with no motion,” which, after some discussion, is what council members decided to do. 

Dayton discusses defecating deviant

SHERIDAN (WNE) — Dayton residents expressed concern Wednesday over another resident defecating in public areas and burning human feces on their property.

Mayor Clifford Reed said he has spoken with the resident numerous times but had no success in prompting a change, due in part to the fact that the town does not have a law enforcement presence.

“Currently, we would have to go through an attorney, and we’ve had very poor luck doing that as of today, [and] set a court date for these violations,” Reed said.

The only law or ordinance being violated, though, relates to outdoor fireplaces or fire pits, Reed said. 

Concerns relating to the ordinance raised by community members included proximity to a combustible structure, what is being burnt and whether a fire extinguisher or hose is present.

“I mean, there’s three or four or five things wrong down there,” Reed said.

Public defecation is not currently outlawed in Dayton and would fall under Wyoming State Statute 6-4-201, which addresses public indecency but only applies in the event that the individual in question experiences sexual arousal. 

Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez said the sheriff’s office investigated the incident in Dayton and determined the person was not defecating for sexual pleasure and was therefore not in violation of state statute.

Residents urged the Dayton Town Council to create an ordinance explicitly outlawing public defecation in all instances.

“You’ll have to stay tuned,” Reed said.