Wyoming News Briefs

New York man pleads not guilty after saying he would shoot up a school

CASPER (WNE) — The case of a man who called 911 to report that he was going to shoot up several locations — including a mission, Walmart, high school and the Natrona County Library — was taken up in court recently as officials sought to determine if he should stand trial.

On June 22, 2023, police arrested Bryce Montesdeoca at the Central Wyoming Rescue Mission in Casper, where he had been staying since his recent move from New York.

Montesdeoca had a 9 mm pistol he claimed to have obtained “off the street” in New York, according to the affidavit.

He was charged with possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent. The felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of $1000 or both.

Montesdeoca pleaded not guilty, according to media reports.

He told police that his reasons for choosing these four locations were due to experiences he had with workers or youth in general.

Just prior to calling 911, Montesdeoca was told he had to leave the mission because he had not been doing his chores. According to the court documents, Montesdeoca told police that he was waiting outside of the mission for one of the workers to come out so that he could shoot him.

The Walmart and high school were chosen based on proximity to the mission, according to Montesdeoca’s statement.

Montesdeoca told police he called 911 because he wanted to give the officers a chance to “be a hero.”

He had been in Casper for less than a month, according to court documents, and told police that he chose Casper after researching crime rates and gangs.

Firefighters contain Clearwater along crucial northern, eastern edges

POWELL (WNE) — The Clearwater Fire is now 43% contained, especially on the northern and eastern flanks, and the threat of it spreading toward those directions has reduced to the point where some personnel are leaving for other fires, according to the Monday morning update by the Wyoming Type 3 incident command team.

“This leaves an appropriate number of resources here for this fire and is a standard practice with the national fire workforce when numerous regions throughout the country are experiencing a high volume of fire activity,” the report states. “Currently, 79 large active wildfires are being managed with full suppression strategies nationwide, and approximately 27,000 firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents.”

As of Monday morning, 80 personnel are still assigned to the blaze, down from nearly 150 last week.

Firefighters cut hazardous trees in the Elk Fork Campground over the weekend and did some additional work in the Elk Fork drainage on the eastern edge of the burn area, according to the release.

On Monday, engines were set to patrol the highway corridor, monitoring fire behavior and watching for any activity that could threaten the roadway.

The fire’s southern perimeter may also be monitored by aerial resources.

Due to heavy fuels in steep, inaccessible terrain, the fire is likely to burn and smolder for some time in conifer forest, brush, and dead and down logs, even with cooler temperatures and precipitation, the release states.

The Elk Fork Campground remains closed indefinitely, and the Wapiti and Clearwater campgrounds closed until conditions allow otherwise.

Internet coming for all Wyoming residents

CASPER (WNE) — Wyoming has taken a major step toward closing the digital divide and connecting everyone in the Equality State with affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service.

The state’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment proposal was approved this week for federal funding through the Biden Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative, meaning federal dollars are now available for infrastructure projects designed to bring digital access to all corners of the Cowboy State.

“In the 21st century, a reliable internet connection is a necessity that enables access to jobs, healthcare, and education,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Congratulations to the team in Wyoming. We look forward to working with you to ensure that everyone in the state is connected.”

Wyoming is now allocated more than $347 million to deploy or upgrade high-speed internet networks with the goal of connecting all residents with reliable high-speed internet service.

With commerce and daily life increasingly dependent on high-speed digital connection, far-flung and rural communities around the nation have fallen behind and seen opportunity loss.

Internet for All aims to level the playing field. The program first focuses on internet deployment, with remaining funds to be used on training and workforce development efforts.

Laramie County approves permit for Cowboy Solar project

CHEYENNE (WNE) — What will soon be the largest solar farm in Wyoming and one of the largest in the country took another step toward realization in Laramie County this week.

The Laramie County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a land-use plan, site plan and solar energy permit for Cowboy Solar, the $1.2 billion, 771-megawatt project to construct 1.2 million solar panels across 3845 acres.

Led by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian energy firm, Cowboy Solar projects I and II will be located southeast of Cheyenne, generally in the vicinity of one mile north across the stretch of Chalk Bluff Road immediately east of South Greeley Highway, also known as County Road 203.

Enbridge said construction is slated to begin in 2025, and both phases of the project will be fully operational by 2027. The land is split across three property owners leasing land to Enbridge as part of a 25-year agreement.

The three landowners — the Fogg Family Trust, Dunning Family Trust and Atchison Ranch LLC — were all in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting, and each expressed their support for the project.

Patty Epler, one of the owners of Atchison Ranch, said she was initially hesitant about the deal. However, after assurances that the land would be restored to grasslands after 25 years, she was happy to enter a deal with Enbridge.

Ed Prosser, an adjacent property owner to the project, expressed his concerns with the project coming to his neighborhood. His main concern was the potential transportation of 1700 20-ton lithium ion batteries through Wyoming and to the project site. He cited a recent incident where a truck transporting a similar battery fell and started a fire, closing Interstate 15 for more than 40 hours.

Christian Dick, director of project development for Enbridge, said that it is not yet confirmed whether they will have on-site battery storage, and that is dependent upon the power market dynamics.

Merna Butte Fire has those nearby on alert for possible evacuation

JACKSON (WNE) — Residents are on alert for possible evacuation as crews work to contain the 77-acre Merna Butte Fire, burning in heavy timber and dead and down fuels on Merna Butte in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office has coordinated the pre-evacuation notices, using the “Ready, Set, Go” alert system. Everyone within a one-mile radius is now in the “set” stage for possible evacuation while those within a five-mile radius of Merna Butte are under “ready” and should be monitoring the situation for possible evacuations.

The sheriff’s office and Sublette County Emergency Management will continue to update the public, the agencies said in a news release Sunday.

On Saturday, air attack operations dropped in retardant lines around the fire area, the release said.

The fire was reported in the early morning hours on Saturday, and the cause remains under investigation. On Facebook, the Bridger-Teton said it had notified dispersed campers in the Horse Creek drainage and at the Sherman Guard station.

Merna Butte is a 30-minute drive from the Bear Den restaurant at Daniel Junction, about 27 miles on the Daniel Merna Road. An emergency road closure is in effect. Roberts Road is closed, located off the Daniel-Merna Road. Firefighters also are using Horse Creek Road, and everyone is asked to remain clear of the area.

Firefighters are working to suppress the fire and keep it from moving toward infrastructure along the forest boundary.

The Merna fire is one of a handful of wildfires burning in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The largest, the Clearwater Fire west of Wapiti, is nearly 1900 acres and about 43% contained. Another blaze, the Leeds Creek Fire southwest of Dubois, is about 780 acres and 44% contained.

Wyoming employment and payroll: job growth continues in first quarter 2024

CHEYENNE (WNE) — The Research and Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported Friday that from first quarter 2023 to first quarter 2024, total employment in the state rose by 3429 jobs, and total payroll increased by $163.8 million.

Laramie County added 834 jobs, and its total payroll expanded by $49.4 million. Job gains were seen in construction, health care and social assistance, local government, state government and federal government.

Natrona County gained 462 jobs, and its total payroll grew by $33.4 million, while employment in Sheridan County rose by 335 jobs, and its total payroll increased by $18.3 million. Sweetwater County added 260 jobs, and its total payroll rose by $388,865.

Teton County gained 260 jobs, but its total payroll fell by $7.6 million. Employment rose in construction, local government, and administrative and waste services, but fell in finance and insurance, transportation and warehousing, and information.

The decrease in total payroll was largely the result of significant bonuses paid in management of companies & enterprises and finance and insurance in first quarter 2023, but not repeated in first quarter 2024.

Employment in Albany County increased by 216 jobs, and its total payroll rose by $8.8 million. Campbell County added 203 jobs, but its total payroll fell by $2.8 million. Uinta County lost 84 jobs, but its total payroll rose by $1.7 million. The largest job losses occurred in accommodation and food services, construction, local government and information.

Guides ‘devastated’ following fatal ATV crash

JACKSON (WNE) — A California teen involved in an ATV crash Tuesday on Shadow Mountain died from a traumatic brain injury early Thursday morning at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, according to Bonneville County, Idaho, Coroner Rick Taylor.

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the cause and circumstances of the crash.

Samantha Liber, 16, was driving an ATV during a guided trip with Jackson Hole Adventure Rentals at the time.

“This is our worst fear, this is something that we never would want to happen to anybody,” said Dave Walters, one of the owners of Jackson Hole Adventure Rentals.

At 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, first responders were notified of the ATV crash on Shadow Mountain, a popular recreation area in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The teen somehow got separated from the bigger group. She was wearing a helmet but suffered “serious head trauma,” according to a representative from Teton County Search and Rescue.

The guide has been offered leave with pay and counseling services due to the emotional impact of that afternoon, Becca Walters said.

She said the company will look at ways to make trips safer.

“We’ll always reexamine everything we do and see if there’s a way we can make it safer,” Walters said Thursday. “But she was wearing a helmet. She had a safety briefing. It was at the end of a tour, so she had done the whole thing without a problem. But we’re all processing it and trying to figure out the best way to move forward and have everything be as safe as it can be for our customers.”

“We really want to put our thoughts and condolences out to the family,” said Dave Walters. “We’re just devastated.”

Economic Analysis Division releases July 2024 Wyoming Insight

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Natural gas prices are steady at around $2/MMBtu, and oil prices have stayed above $80/bbl, according to an energy index and business indicators report for the state.

The July 2024 issue of the Wyoming Insight is available at the state of Wyoming’s Economic Analysis Division website, ai.wyo.gov/divisions/economic-analysis.

In July, the natural gas price at the Opal Hub averaged $1.91 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), 20 cents more than last month. The Henry Hub natural gas price averaged $2.07/MMBtu in July, 46 cents less than last month.

The West Texas Intermediate monthly average price for crude oil was $81.80 per bbl. in July, down 1.1% compared to last month.

Average active oil rigs were 13 in July, and the conventional gas rig count was two.

A year ago, there were 17 oil rigs and three conventional gas rigs.

Total sales and use tax revenues started Fiscal Year 2025 on high note, as collections in July totaled $94.7 million, which was $4.9 million (+5.4%) more than July last year.

“This is the highest single month total sales and use tax collections value ever recorded,” according to the report.

Collections from the construction sector saw the largest year-over-year increase in July, up 120.9%.

Mining employment is still down compared to pre-pandemic levels.

“Relative to February 2020 (before the pandemic hit the labor market in March 2020), total employment has surpassed pre-COVID levels, but employment in the mining sector has still not fully recovered,” the report said.

Compared to February 2020, total employment in June 2024 was up 3300 jobs, but employment in the mining sector was down 3200 jobs.

Increases to property valuations in Sheridan County slow

SHERIDAN (WNE) — Values of properties in Sheridan County increased at the slowest rate in the last four years in fiscal year 2025.

For fiscal year 2025, Sheridan County’s valuation sits at slightly less than $745 million, up from about $717 million in fiscal year 2024, representing an increase of approximately 3.9%.

The valuation increase rate has slowed drastically after sitting at 17.4% from fiscal year 2023 to 2024 and 21% from fiscal year 2022 to 2023.

“It’s leveled off; we’re not seeing any of the 20% [increases] like we’ve been seeing,” Sheridan County Assessor Paul Fall told The Sheridan Press.

As property values in Sheridan County continue to climb, so do its residents’ property tax bills.

Mills are equal to one-thousandth of a property’s valuation and fund school districts, community colleges, fire districts, weed and pest districts and local governments. The entities then determine the mills required to fund their budget and — as they did Monday — Sheridan County commissioners approve the levies each year.

Each entity has long requested the maximum number of mills to fund operations.

Sheridan County Commissioner Holly Jennings looked to offer property tax relief to Sheridan County’s residents by attempting to decrease the county’s number of mills levied from 12 to 11.

Dropping Sheridan County’s mill levy would save residents $9.50 for every $100,000 their home is worth. The county’s revenue would drop by about $780,000.

“I understand that it would not be a huge amount of return to people. It wouldn’t,” Jennings said. “But every little bit helps. That might be half a tank of gas or a couple of groceries but to the single parent trying to make it, that’s something.”

Jennings’ motion failed for lack of a second.

Wyoming Game and Fish analyzing data from angler survey

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Last fall, an angler survey was conducted for Laramie Region fisheries. The survey aimed to gather information about targeted fish species, satisfaction with regional fisheries and opinions on regulations and management of specific fisheries in the region.

It was emailed to resident anglers who held daily, annual or lifetime Wyoming fishing licenses in 2023 and live in the Laramie region, along with nonresident anglers who held an annual fishing license in 2023.

Nearly 40,000 anglers received the survey, including anglers from all 50 states.

Of those, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department received 4342 usable responses, with residents and nonresidents each composing about half of the usable responses received. A usable response required the participant to have recorded that they had fished in the Laramie region within the last five years.

The majority of survey respondents ranked fishing for trout as somewhat or very important. Anglers were more split on the importance of fishing for non-trout species.

Wyoming resident anglers had a higher average rank of importance for this question compared to nonresident anglers, confirming that resident anglers value fishing opportunities for both trout and non-trout species.

Fisheries biologists are continuing to analyze the survey data collected and plan to host an informational meeting in the fall to present the survey results and discuss local fisheries.