State Briefs

Man charged with murder in mother’s death

CHEYENNE (WNE) — A Cheyenne man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his 80-year-old mother.

If convicted, James Wallace, 48, faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or the death penalty. His mother, Carol Wallace, was found dead last week in the home the two shared.

According to court documents:

Laramie County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 1100 block of Green Mountain Road, northwest of Cheyenne, for a possible weapons assault at 7:30 a.m. May 10.

Glenn Wallace called to report his brother, James Wallace, was “high on meth and freaking out, said he hit his mother with a hammer.”

When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered Carol Wallace’s body in the basement on the east side of the home. She was lying face down, and deputies noticed what appeared to be drops of blood on the stairs from the basement to the first floor.

A large hammer found outside the room where Carol Wallace’s body was found appeared to have blood and hair on it, as did a knife found in the vicinity.

During a May 11 autopsy, pathologists said Carol Wallace suffered blunt force trauma to the head and chest, a gunshot wound to the head and a cutting wound on the chest. Pathologists also identified what they believed to be several defensible wounds on one of Carol Wallace’s hands caused by a sharp object.

James Wallace had previously been arrested for domestic violence against Carol Wallace. He was released on bond March 25 in that case, and failed to appear for his May 6 court date.

Gillette, Campbell Co. decide against opioid lawsuit

GILLETTE (WNE) — Neither the city of Gillette nor Campbell County have plans to join a nationwide lawsuit against a major prescriptions drug company after more than a handful of Wyoming municipalities and counties have joined the lawsuit.

City Administrator Patrick Davidson said the city’s attorney, Tony Reyes, has looked into the feasibility of joining the lawsuit but found that it wouldn’t be financially beneficial to Gillette.

“There are over 2,000 plaintiffs suing one drug manufacturer and distributors and with that, it’s been a race to the courthouse,” Davidson said. “One issue with these class-action lawsuits is the first groups can settle up fairly effectively and then funds start to diminish.”

Davidson said Reyes and he looked at how the city could join the lawsuit, but the upfront costs and work from the city’s side didn’t line up with what it would bring in if it were to join the lawsuit.

Campbell County has chosen to stay out of the lawsuit as well. County Administrative Director Robert Palmer said commissioners discussed it last year, but decided not to join because they were not sure what the benefit would be to the county.

Green River joined Rock Springs, Casper, Cheyenne, Carbon County, the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the state of Wyoming in the lawsuit against the opioid pharmaceutical industry that was filed in Ohio.

In total, there are more than 2,000 people, cities, counties and other entities around the United States that are suing Purdue Pharma and other drug companies for allegedly misleading the public of the dangerous and addictive qualities of opioids.

Yellowstone unveils strategies for decision-making

JACKSON (WNE) — The federal officials who oversee Yellowstone National Park unveiled last week five “strategic priorities” that will guide decision-making in the short and long terms.

New Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly devised the conceptual goals with his senior leadership team. Each priority includes “measurable actions” that will be refined as work progresses, according to the park.

“It’s important that our priorities and actions are clear,” Sholly said in a statement, “not only to the NPS team here in Yellowstone, but to ensure our partners and the public understand our direction in these very important areas.”

Yellowstone’s first priority is to “focus on the core,” which is, in essence, its workforce. Actions to be taken under the goal include improving employee housing, financial responsibility and developing more efficient organizational structures.

The park’s second priority is to strengthen its ecosystem and cultural heritage resources. Steps to be taken in this vein include planning for the impacts of climate change, shoring up historic structures, and integrating environmental and historic preservation law into internal decision-making.

A third strategic priority is to “deliver a world-class visitor experience.” Yellowstone will focus on understanding and responding to more tourism, protecting people and resources, connecting people to the park and improving visitor amenities.

Investment in Yellowstone’s infrastructure is the fourth priority listed. The goal is broken into four parts: improving the condition and capacity of employee housing, transportation infrastructure, historic structures and building an “effective administrative framework.”

Yellowstone’s fifth and last priority is to build coalitions and partnerships, a goal that encompasses strengthening relations with gateway communities and establishing global partners.