Wyoming News Briefs

State’s unemployment rate steady at 2.8%

CASPER (WNE) — Wyoming continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation according to new numbers from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services and federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported Monday that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from January to February at 2.8%.

Wyoming’s unemployment rate was lower than its year-ago level of 3.1% and much lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 3.9%.

The region continues to lead the nation in unemployment, with North Dakota having the lowest rate in the nation at 2 percent followed by South Dakota at 2.1 percent.

From January to February, most Wyoming counties followed their normal seasonal pattern and remained stable or decreased slightly.

The largest decreases in unemployment occurred in Niobrara (down from 3.8% to 3.0%), Big Horn (down from 4.8% to 4.4%), Platte (down from 3.6% to 3.3%), and Crook (down from 3.4% to 3.1%) counties. Jobless rates increased modestly in Washakie (up from 3.9% to 4.5%) and Hot Springs (up from 3.2% to 3.5%) counties.

From February 2023 to February 2024, unemployment rates fell in 14 counties, rose in six counties, and remained unchanged in three counties.

The largest decreases were seen in Niobrara (down from 4.5% to 3.0%), Fremont (down from 4.8% to 4.2%), and Carbon (down from 4.2% to 3.7%) counties. Unemployment rates rose slightly in Hot Springs (up from 3.0% to 3.5%), Converse (up from 2.7% to 3.0%), and Washakie (up from 4.2% to 4.5%) counties.

Campbell County Commissioners not happy with high hotel room prices for Camporee

GILLETTE (WNE) — Rates for hotel rooms in Gillette skyrocketed as volunteers with the International Pathfinder Camporee booked reservations for the event that will be in Gillette from Aug. 5 to 11, and Campbell County Commissioners aren’t happy about that.

During a Joint Powers Lodging Tax Board meeting last week, Commissioner Kelley McCreery said that the county’s legal counsel has said these prices are just the result of a free market. But he worried about the precedent this would set.

“The way I see it, if they get away with it on this, anything that we have in the future that they know about, they can do the same thing,” McCreery said.

Jessica Seders, executive director of the Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that when the hotels have been approached about the rise in hotel prices, the response has been that “there was demand for the rooms, and demand is what caused the increase.”

But beyond prices going up, the commissioners are concerned about another potential issue. Seders said she’d heard from Camporee that there were about 150 room reservations that were canceled.

“These were reservations with confirmations that were made a long time ago,” she said.

A person with Camporee kept track of emails that were sent back and forth with the staff at a hotel they’d booked a room at a while ago.

“They were told they didn’t have the reservations anymore, and [the hotel] opened the hotel rooms back up and other Camporee folks took the rooms,” she said.

Seders added that the rooms were re-booked at a higher rate than the original reservation.

Seders said other large events will be watching Campbell County as it hosts the Camporee, and that these issues aren’t doing Gillette any favors.

Park County commissioners decline to add electronic poll books

POWELL (WNE) — Park County will not debut new electronic poll books for the 2024 elections and will continue to only use paper records.

Earlier this month, the Park County Clerk’s office asked the county commissioners to provide nearly $60,000 to implement e-poll books. Elections staff using the electronic system in addition to the paper books would streamline the registration process on Election Day and make the voter rolls more secure, but the proposal drew some opposition.

At a March 19 meeting, Commissioner Scott Mangold suggested the county try out e-poll books at the county’s three largest polling locations. However, Mangold’s proposal to grant roughly $38,000 died for lack of a second and no other motion was made.

Secretary of State Chuck Gray sent an email to commissioners emphasizing that e-poll books were authorized by the Legislature before he took office.

"I have expressed numerous times to the county clerks my concerns with the e-poll book system leading to polling place consolidation and also the connectivity issues,” Gray said.

Clerk Colleen Renner said Gray had not reached out to her about his concerns with the e-poll books. As part of its pitch to commissioners, Renner’s elections staff said it could help prevent ineligible voters from casting ballots on Election Day.

First Deputy Clerk Hans Odde said that while it's rare, there have been incidents of felons voting in Park County. Fremont County caught three with the program in the 2022 general election, Odde said. He said that while felons are caught eventually, it’s after their vote has been counted.

After Mangold’s motion died, Commissioner Scott Steward said he hoped the elections department continued to look into e-poll books.

“I think it’s worth continuing to pursue and investigate,” he said.

Search continues for missing Gillette woman

GILLETTE (WNE) — Search and rescue efforts continue for a 55-year-old woman who went missing Saturday evening south of Gillette.

Tami Lynn Sturgeon, of Gillette, was reported missing at about 7 p.m. Saturday by her 60-year-old husband. She has not been found as of Monday morning.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Sams said the two were south of Bishop Road in the Yellow Hammer Buttes area shed hunting when Sturgeon lost her cellphone. She and her husband went back to search for her phone and the two became separated.

“She discovered her phone was missing and they went back to that area to search for it and then they got separated,” Sams said, adding that the snow and cold weather complicated the search. Sams said the woman was dressed for the weather Saturday and the two had a backpack with some supplies, but that pack was not with Sturgeon.

Multiple agencies have joined the search including search and rescue teams from Sheridan, Crook and Johnson counties, Sheriff Scott Matheny said. Drones were also used and on Sunday a request for a Black Hawk helicopter was approved.

The plan was to use the helicopter to search the area Monday.

“It’s open but it's a rough area and it’s hard to navigate in that area,” Matheny said.

Suspect arrested after fatal shooting

CHEYENNE (WNE) — A dispute between two men early Saturday morning led to the shooting death of a 25-year-old Cheyenne man.

According to a news release from the Cheyenne Police Department, Cortaevius Williams died from a gunshot wound sometime after officers were dispatched to a report of a shooting at a residence in the 100 block of King Court. The address is in the south Cheyenne neighborhood west of Johnson Junior High School.

Upon arrival, officers found Williams, who was the apparent victim of a gunshot wound. Officers began to administer first aid until medical personnel arrived. Williams was transported to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center by ambulance, where he was pronounced deceased.

Later Saturday morning, Cheyenne Police detectives arrested Antonio Navarrete, 23, of Cheyenne for one count of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault. He was booked into the Laramie County jail without incident.

The preliminary investigation shows that an argument occurred between Navarrete and Williams in the parking lot of a local bar at approximately 12:30 a.m. During the argument, Williams allegedly smashed the windshield of Navarrete’s vehicle. Navarrete left the bar with a group of friends and returned home. Williams left separately.

Following the disturbance, Williams went to Navarrete’s residence to collect personal belongings. While there, another disturbance ensued, resulting in Williams being fatally shot.

Other people were in proximity of the gunfire; however, no other injuries were reported.

This case remains under investigation by the Cheyenne Police Department.

Teen defendants in Lincoln Park shooting sentenced to prison

CHEYENNE (WNE) — The two teenagers charged in connection with last year’s fatal drive-by shooting at south Cheyenne’s Lincoln Park were sentenced Friday to prison time.

The shooter, 18-year-old Johnny Munoz, was sentenced to 25 to 35 years in prison for second-degree murder, with a recommendation to the Youthful Offender Treatment Program.

The driver, 17-year-old Julian Espinoza, was sentenced to five to seven years in prison, according to the terms of a plea agreement, also with a recommendation to the Youthful Offender Treatment Program.

Per the deal’s terms, Espinoza pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to involuntary manslaughter.

Espinoza and Munoz were arrested in April of 2023 after a drive-by shooting at Lincoln Park, involving several young members of the Carabajal and Vigil families, resulted in the death of 15-year-old BayLee Carabajal- Clark.

Much of the nearly two-hour-long sentencing hearing centered on the young age of the defendants, with Munoz’s attorney, Patricia Bennett, framing his sentence on the terms of rehabilitation and preparing the young men for an eventual reentry into society.

Bennett said one “adult” involved in the case said, “this has been going on for 30 years, and [they] never thought that it would bleed over to the kids.”

She described the dispute between the Carabajal family and the other families involved as the “Hatfields and McCoys.”

Bennett asked First Judicial District Judge Catherin R. Rogers to consider Munoz’s young age, general deterrence, incapacitation and preparing him to be potentially reintegrated into society.

Munoz expressed his remorse and asked for forgiveness.

Espinoza also gave a statement which he reportedly prepared on his own.

“Words cannot express the depth of my remorse,” he said. “[I am] praying for your healing.... [I am] praying for your forgiveness.”

Man alleged to have threatened Cody officer with bear spray

POWELL (WNE) — When a Cody man was pulled over for speeding last month, he reportedly responded by threatening police with a can of bear spray and his dog.

Cody police didn’t confront Chad W. Garaas at the time, court records say, choosing to deescalate the situation and leave. Last week, however, authorities followed up with criminal charges.

Garaas now faces two felonies: aggravated assault and battery and possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent, plus a misdemeanor count of interference with a peace officer.

Park County Circuit Court Judge Joey Darrah set Garaas’ bond at $10,000 cash during a Monday hearing; the 44-year-old posted that sum and was released from custody later in the day.

It was around 8:45 p.m. on Feb. 28 that Cody Police Officer Tanner Wichern clocked Garaas speeding and pursued him to Garaas’ residence.

The affidavit alleges that Garaas became increasingly agitated as the traffic stop went on.

Charging documents say he threw his license and registration at the officer’s feet and made “vulgar off-handed statements.”

He later had his daughter bring one of his dogs to his truck, and Wichern recalled being told that “if I wanted to f— around, I was going to get bit.”

He later let his dog out of the truck, the affidavit says, but it didn’t attack the officer.

Garaas was cited for speeding and driving without proof of insurance.

Wichern and two officers providing backup prepared to leave, but as Wichern got into his vehicle, Garaas retrieved a can of bear spray from his truck and threatened him.

The judge barred Garaas from possessing any dangerous weapons, including bear spray or mace, while the case is pending. A preliminary hearing to determine whether there’s enough evidence for the charges to go to a trial in district court is tentatively set for March 28.

All Gillette College nurses hired from Class of 2023, more than half in Gillette

GILLETTE (WNE) — The Gillette College nursing program graduates continue to find work quickly after earning their degree and more than half of last year’s graduating class remained in Gillette for work.

At a college board meeting Wednesday, Gillette College President Janell Oberlander said “100%” of all 2023 nursing graduates are now working as registered nurses. She updated college board trustees on the job placement rate with numbers provided by Lindsay Wakefield, college dean of health sciences.

Based on those numbers, 15 of the 24 nursing graduates from last May now work at Campbell County Health and 17 are working in Gillette, Oberlander said.

She added that 21 nurses, or 88% of the program’s grads, stayed to work in Wyoming. Seventeen nurses work in Gillette, two were hired in Sundance and two others found work in Sheridan and Newcastle. The remaining three work out of state.

“Our goal and our mission is to train for the industry that we serve here in Campbell County and I think we do a great job with that,” Oberlander said of the program.

The update came after Oberlander gave a brief summary of the college’s recent visits to industry partners, especially those related to the career and technical education programs.

One killed, one injured in accident on Highway 30

SARATOGA (WNE) — A Saratoga man was killed instantly in an accident on Highway 30 and another motorist received minor injuries.

On March 11, at approximately 1:07 p.m., troopers from the Wyoming Highway Patrol responded to milepost 239 on US 30/287 for a head-on collision with injuries.

According to Trooper Ryan W. Gerdes, Public Information Officer for the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the accident occurred when 70-year-old Rickey Bales of Hanna, Wyoming crossed the centerline.

“Troopers determined an eastbound 1997 Toyota Tacoma driven by Bales crossed the centerline and struck a commercial vehicle driving the opposite direction.” Gredes said. “The westbound vehicle, a 2001 Peterbilt 378 conventional owned by Plattoga Holdings LLC, was driven by 58-year-old Saratoga, Wyoming resident Brian Detterer.”

Gredes said that the force of the collision destroyed the left tires of the Tacoma, causing it to spin several times and strike a guardrail.

“When the Tacoma struck the Peterbilt, it took out the left front steer tire of the Peterbilt.” Gredes said. “This caused the Peterbilt to travel off the left side of the road, go through a guardrail, down an embankment and roll over.”

Gredes said Detterer was partially ejected despite wearing his seat belt and died at the scene. Bales wore his seatbelt and sustained minor injuries.

Bales was cited for failing to stay in his lane.

Court pauses climate disclosure rules, prolonging regulatory uncertainty

CASPER (WNE) — The Securities and Exchange Commission spent years devising a framework for climate-specific disclosure rules aiming to give investors “decision-useful information” on a growing class of climate risks faced by publicly traded companies.

But only weeks after being released on March 6, the rules have already hit a roadblock.

The Fifth Circuit Court in New Orleans paused implementation of the climate disclosure rules on March 21 as it weighs a decision in a lawsuit brought by oil-field-services companies Liberty Energy and Nomad Proppant Services, marking a setback for environmentalists while prolonging a milieu of regulatory uncertainty.

The stay has been applauded by energy advocates in states like Wyoming, where leaders interpret the rules as an undue political effort certain to subdue the fossil fuel sector.

Trade group Western Energy Alliance has called the rules an attempt to “defund American oil and natural gas production.”

The trade group’s response is one of many backlashes, including a Wyoming-endorsed, 10-state legal petition filed against the SEC in the Eleventh Circuit which argues the move “exceeds the agency’s statutory authority and otherwise is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and not in accordance with law.”

The battle comes at a time when the majority of publicly traded companies are already disclosing an assortment of climate risks.

The rules “recognize that investors benefit… from bringing greater consistency, comparability… to such disclosures,” according to SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who says the rules come in response to investor pressure for more detailed, reliable and comparable information on these risks.

Under the rules, companies would be required to disclose expenses or losses incurred from severe weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, drought and wildfires. They would also be obliged to disclose how climate-related targets and goals materially affect operations and financial conditions, through added expenses or regulatory compliance.

‘Little Jackson Hole’ resort receives Sublette County building permit

PINEDALE (WNE) — Billionaire Joe Ricketts’ proposed luxury resort in the rural Hoback Basin near Bondurant is moving forward with the necessary building permit from Sublette County and plans to break ground later this spring or summer.

The permit authorizes the construction and development of the Homestead 20-unit resort with an attached underground day spa and a 90-seat fine dining restaurant.

Upon completion, the day spa and restaurant will be open to the public. Guests of the Homestead Resort will be encouraged to use the recreational offerings of local operators, guides and other businesses, according to a March 15 release.

“The design of the Homestead Resort should complement the beauty of its surroundings. I believe the architect’s renderings demonstrate just that,” Ricketts said in the release. “This project will create additional jobs and opportunity (sic) in our community, and I’m excited to get started.”

In 2021, Ricketts’ 56 acres of hillside agricultural property was rezoned into a recreational services district allowing a hotel and related development — The Homestead Resort — following approval by the Sublette County Commissioners.

At a meeting in Pinedale in May 2023, Ricketts explained referring to his address as “Little Jackson Hole” instead of “Bondurant” is a more “charming” way to advertise and market the Jackson Fork Ranch, the Homestead Resort and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

“If I was going to advertise ‘Bondurant’ to people from Los Angeles or New York, no one would know where it is. But if I advertise ‘Little Jackson Hole,’ everyone knows where it is,” he said.

Hoback Basin landowners, Ricketts’ neighbors and area residents who dread an expansion from Jackson south into Sublette County have been critical of Ricketts and his developments, even as the billionaire made large donations to local entities like the Sublette County Health Foundation.

AARP ranks Greybull among most livable communities in Wyoming

GREYBULL (WNE) — Greybull has been named one of the Top 10 most livable communities in Wyoming by the AARP Livability Index.

Started in 2015, the index evaluates and ranks communities based on a broad series of factors ranging from homes and transportation to healthcare and community engagement. Altogether, Greybull scored 62 points out of 100, putting it into the top half of small communities (5000 – 24,999 people) nationwide.

Greybull scored above the median average in all but two categories: environment and health, landing below the median in both categories.

According to the Index, 2.95% of local residents are exposed to drinking-water violations, but experience better air quality as compared to the average American.

In its evaluation of the community’s health, the Index found Greybull residents are less obese on average, but smoke more (19.7% of the population as compared to 18.8% on average).

A key health failure came from a perceived lack of available exercise opportunities, which asks that people in rural communities live within three miles or less of a public park or other recreational facility.

In that, Greybull scored 46% against the nationwide average of 64.8%. Another failure emerged with the number of preventable hospitalizations annually: Greybull saw 44% as compared to 38%.

More positive, however, were Greybull’s scores in housing and community engagement. The index found locals had, on average, retained more affordable and subsidized housing in Greybull.

AARP’s Index was most impressed by Greybull’s community and civic engagement data: the community scored 79 out of 100.

Other communities in the Big Horn Basin noted by AARP’s Livability included Powell (63), Cody (63), Thermopolis (62), and Worland (61). Jackson took the number one slot for Wyoming (68) and ranked ninth among small communities nationwide.