Wyoming News Briefs

Four wild horse and burro adoption events to take place in June

CHEYENNE (WNE) — The Bureau of Land Management Wyoming is kicking off the summer with four wild horse and burro adoptions in June.

Untrained animals will be offered to qualified adopters at the following in-person adoptions for a $125 minimum fee:

• June 1, Wind River Wild Horse Ranch Public Off-Range Pasture: Approximately 20 wild horses (burros to be determined) will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the public off-range pasture near Lander. Take a free wagon tour to view the resident wild horses until 1 p.m.

• June 8, Deerwood Ranch Public Off-Range Pasture: Approximately 20 wild horses (burros TBD) will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the public off-range pasture near Laramie.

• June 8, Spring Mustang Rendezvous at the Goshen County Fairgrounds: approximately five wild horses (burros TBD) and three halter- started horses from the Mantle Adoption and Training Facility will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at this third annual event in Torrington. First come, first served.

• June 21, Wheatland Off-Range Corral will host its monthly adoption event: up to 30 animals will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The competitive live auction will begin at 9 a.m.

Each of the wild horses and burros available for adoption have been removed from overpopulated herds roaming Western public rangelands.

For more information about the events and locations, visit blm.gov/whb/events or contact the national information center at 866-4687826 or [email protected].

Green River man pleads guilty to deer shootings in local neighborhood

GREEN RIVER— A years-long case of deer being shot and left to die in a Green River neighborhood has been resolved.

On April 9, Timothy Crooks was sentenced in the Sweetwater County Circuit Court to 15 days in jail for five counts of wanton destruction of a big game animal, to be served concurrently, with credit for three days served after his arrest in October 2023. 

In addition to jail time, Crooks’ hunting privileges were revoked for ten years. 

Crooks also forfeited the .22 Marlin rifle with scope and a homemade suppressor. 

Over five years, at least five deer were shot and killed in the area of Arkansas Drive.

During their investigation, Game Wardens and the Green River Police Department responded to numerous calls about dead or injured deer and recovered bullets from three of the deer. The case was recently settled thanks to cooperation from numerous reporting parties and a collaborative investigation between state and local officials.

In October 2023, Crooks was charged with five counts of wanton destruction of a big game animal and four counts of using a suppressor to take a big game animal. 

On Feb. 27, 2024, Crooks entered a change of plea, pleading guilty to five counts of wanton destruction of a big game animal. 

Reports of rabid skunks increase in Sheridan County

SHERIDAN (WNE) — As of May 22, a total of nine skunks have tested positive for Rabies virus in Sheridan County. To the knowledge of Sheridan County Public Health Public Information Officer Edward Hinzman, no other Wyoming county has reported a single Rabies-positive animal.

The Rabies virus can infect any mammal, including humans, cats, dogs, horses and livestock, although skunks and bats are the primary hosts of the virus in Sheridan County and throughout Wyoming. Transmission occurs primarily through a bite mark when infected saliva is introduced into the bite wound. 

Rabies virus infects and affects the brain, nervous tissues and salivary glands of the host animal, inducing paralysis and ultimately death. Symptoms may include aggressive or agitated behavior, excessive drooling or saliva production, staggering gait, seizures and other “not normal” animal mannerisms, although it should be noted not all infected animals will display symptoms.

General tips for reducing exposure to Rabies virus include the following:

• Be wary of any animals acting unnatural including usually nocturnal animals wandering around during the day, animals meandering aimlessly without regard to humans or other animals, or animals displaying aggressive behavior.

• Vaccinate dogs, cats, horses and other selected livestock for Rabies and keep the vaccinations up-to-date. 

• Teach children to never approach unfamiliar dogs, cats or wildlife, even if the animal appears friendly.

• People waking to find a bat in their room or a child’s room should contact a medical professional immediately. Bats have extremely small teeth and bite marks may go undetected. Unknown or minor contact with bats has been known to lead to Rabies infection. 

• Treat all animal bites with soap and warm water. Contact a medical professional immediately. Document all available information about the suspicious animal and possible location.

Barrasso bill would fund Southern Border Wall with unused COVID-19 funds

LYMAN (WNE) — U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation Tuesday, May 21, that would require unobligated COVID-19 funds be used to finish building the wall along the United States’ southern border. 

Barrasso introduced the legislation as an amendment to the Border Security Act (S. 4361). 

The Build the Wall Act of 2024 would establish the “Southern Border Wall Construction Fund” and require the Department of Homeland Security to use any unobligated Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLRF) to construct and maintain physical barriers along the southern U.S. border. 

“Border walls work. Before President Biden came into office, we were well on our way to a secure and safe southern border. But on his first day in office, the president and Democrats rolled out the welcome mat for millions of illegal immigrants to come into our nation,” said Barrasso. “We must hold Democrats accountable for their open border policies that have created the worst border crisis in our nation’s history. If they are serious about securing our border, they should have no issues voting for a policy that actually works and is already paid for.” 

Republican governors oppose two WHO proposals under negotiation

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Twenty-four Republican governors, including Gov. Mark Gordon, joined together Wednesday to write a letter to President Biden, stating their united opposition to two proposals currently under negotiation that would grant the World Health Organization unprecedented and unconstitutional powers over the United States and its people.

The most recent draft of the Pandemic Treaty would strip provisions that would allow for the WHO to have immediate access to outbreak sites through rapid response and expert teams, weaken intellectual property rights, and allow the WHO to use the treaty to call for parties to combat false, misleading, misinformation, or disinformation through effective international collaboration and cooperation.

“If adopted, these agreements would seek to elevate the WHO from an advisory body to a global authority in public health,” the governors stated in their letter. “Under the proposed amendments and treaty, the WHO’s Director-General would supposedly gain unilateral power to declare a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ in member nations, extending beyond pandemics to include a range of perceived emergencies.”

View the full letter at rga.org

Commuter buses now carrying food, water

JACKSON (WNE) — Following feedback from riders, all commuter START buses traveling to Idaho and Star Valley will be equipped with food and water in case of emergencies or long delays.

START Director Bruce Abel said the supplies are in response to two nights on Teton Pass this spring, May 1 and May 7, when the pass closed multiple times, inconveniencing riders and extending the commute into several hours.

“A number of our customers suggested it would have been nice if we had water and snacks on board,” Abel said.

Bottles of water are now stored in the overhead bins, and while Abel has snacks in hand, he’s mulling the appropriate place to keep the “protein-oriented” snacks, including beef jerky, trail mix and granola bars.

On May 1, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were kept busy, as car after car lost traction, resulting in multiple closures in one night. A START bus was among the vehicles that lost traction due to icy roads.

“It was effectively stuck,” Abel said.

Bus drivers are in contact with the Highway Patrol and Wyoming Department of Transportation via radios and also communicate via text and phone.

Corbett Bridge crash: Driver alleged to have been severely impaired

POWELL (WNE) — After a driver crossed into the wrong lane of travel and crashed into an oncoming vehicle east of Cody Monday afternoon, authorities suspected the 37-year-old man was drunk and placed him under arrest. 

Charging documents say a subsequent breath test confirmed their suspicions, as it allegedly pegged the Cody resident’s blood alcohol content at nearly five times the legal limit for driving. 

The crash on the Corbett Bridge on U.S. Highway 14-A did not result in severe injuries, but it has resulted in serious charges. 

Wade D. McMillin faces a misdemeanor count of driving while under the influence of alcohol plus felony counts of property destruction and aggravated assault and battery. 

Charging documents say both vehicles were totaled in the collision. 

First responders initially believed the couple had escaped injury, but the man later reported increasing foot pain and his wife reported chest soreness; both sought medical attention at a local hospital on Tuesday, charging documents say. 

“It’s only by the grace of God that he’s not dead and the two victims are not dead,” Deputy Park County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Hatfield said at McMillin’s initial court appearance on Wednesday afternoon. 

Two intoximeter tests, administered at the Park County Detention Center more than an hour after the crash, put McMillin’s blood alcohol content at 0.38% and 0.392%. 

Circuit Court Judge Joey Darrah set bond at $25,000 cash or surety. Beyond the standard conditions of staying away from bars and alcohol, Darrah required McMillin to participate in a Park County Treatment Court pretrial drug/alcohol testing program. 

“You’re presumed innocent, but based on what I’ve seen here, most people would not be conscious with that sort of a blood alcohol content,” Darrah said. “In fact, some people would die from that. So I do have a very serious concern.” 

A preliminary hearing is tentatively set for May 30.