Wyoming News Briefs

Average gas prices drop more than 7 cents in past week in Wyoming

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Average gasoline prices in Wyoming have fallen 7.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.95 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy.com’s survey of 494 stations in Wyoming.

Prices in Wyoming are 20.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, and stand 19.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the lowest price in the state Sunday was $2.59, while the highest was $3.59, a difference of $1 per gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.01 per gallon Monday. The national average is down 11.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 23.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Three men arrested for kidnapping, attempted murder

GILLETTE (WNE) — Three men were arrested Sunday evening for kidnapping and attempted first-degree murder for allegedly assaulting a 36-year-old man.

Deputies responded to the Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport at about 4 a.m. Sunday for a report of a man sleeping in the entryway of the terminal building. He did not have a shirt or shoes on, and he had serious injuries to his face. His jaw was swollen and he was unable to open his left eye, said Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds.

He was taken to the emergency room by EMS to be treated.

Investigators learned that this man was connected to an abandoned vehicle that was reported earlier Saturday night. The vehicle was found at the intersection of Little Powder River Road and Hannum Road. All of the windows were broken, and the front windshield was severely damaged, Reynolds said.

Three men told deputies that the owner of the car, the 36-year-old, was leaving town that day, and that he was sleeping in the airport.

The victim said he didn’t do anything to be assaulted, and that he wanted to pursue charges against three men, ages 43, 41 and 37.

Deputies later contacted the three suspects and arrested them for kidnapping, attempted first-degree murder and felony destruction of property.

Monday morning, the deputies’ report did not have a lot of specifics to the kidnapping or the assault. Reynolds noted that there is a distinct language barrier, and that the investigation continues.

Man arrested for attempted murder after allegedly cutting girlfriend’s throat with box cutter

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 47-year-old man was arrested for attempted second-degree murder after allegedly cutting his girlfriend’s throat with a box cutter Thursday evening at a home in Rozet.

Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds said Edward Rusher and his girlfriend, 52, were arguing about their relationship Thursday, but there were no other details in the deputy’s report about what spurred the argument.

Rusher cut the 52-year-old’s throat and right elbow with the box cutter, and deputies were called at 6:57 p.m. By the time deputies arrived at the home, Rusher had fled in his car.

EMS took the woman to the Campbell County Health emergency room, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Reynolds said.

Deputies called the Gillette Police Department to assist with finding Rusher. Police officers found Rusher in his parked Buick at the Dogwood Apartments at 7:20 p.m., where deputies arrived and took over, said Police Deputy Chief Brent Wasson.

Rusher was taken into custody without incident.

Wyoming Economic Indicators report shows increase in lodging tax revenue

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Wyoming’s collection of the 4% sales and use tax from lodging in September 2024 increased 23.7% compared to September last year, according to the Wyoming Economic Indicators report. 

Meanwhile, Wyoming’s sales and use tax collections from the mining sector in September 2024 decreased 30.1% compared to September last year.

The report contains the Wyoming Economic Health Index, a coincident economic indicator designed to provide an overall assessment of the state’s economy.

Other highlights from the November issue include the following:

• The Wyoming Economic Health Index reported an index value of 106.5 in September 2024. This value is slightly lower than the September 2023 value of 106.7. This is the first time the WEHI has declined year-over-year since April 2021.

• The unemployment rate for Wyoming in September 2024 was 3.1%, lower than the national unemployment rate of 4.1%. This is the first time the unemployment rate has been above 3% since February 2023.

• Total non-farm payroll jobs in Wyoming numbered 294,800 in September 2024, higher than September 2023 by 2900 jobs.

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

Warrant issued for Evansville man on theft, conspiracy charges

CASPER (WNE) — The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warrant for an Evansville man accused of theft and conspiracy to commit theft. 

Matthew Dempsey, born 1981, has been tied to the theft and resale of more than $22,000 of equipment from a Casper electrical company. Though the warrant was filed Tuesday, the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office’s online warrant list still included Dempsey as of Friday morning. 

Court documents say allegations of theft from the business began after Dempsey confided in his wife during “an episode of depression” that he’d been reselling tires that came from his workplace on Facebook Marketplace. 

Based on the information provided by his wife to the investigating sheriff’s deputy, court documents estimate Dempsey may have stolen more than $110,000 of tires, though officers were only able to confirm a portion of that sum. 

The shop’s general manager told officers that the business installed its own tire machine to save money but did not have an inventory tracking system in place. 

During the investigation, sheriffs say they found multiple listings on Dempsey’s Facebook for items reported stolen from the shop, including five plasma cutters that the manager told officers the company didn’t even use and four welders. 

The items were listed for sale between $799 and $2,100. 

The filing also refers to the shop’s internal audit, which found more than $118,000 of missing equipment, though the document says investigators were only able to confirm the loss of $22,352.93 in tires, welders and plasma cutters.

Man in tree scam placed on probation, with condition that he not be self-employed

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 71-year-old man who took tens of thousands of dollars from people who paid him for work that he never completed will avoid prison time for now, but one of the conditions of his probation is that he not be self-employed.

Michael Kinzer, 71, had pleaded guilty to five counts of felony theft and four counts of misdemeanor theft on July 2. On Wednesday, District Judge Michael McGrady gave him five years of supervised probation, with the unique condition that he not be his own boss but instead be employed by a legitimate company with a supervisor who can keep him in check.

Kinzer had taken money from customers in Campbell County who believed he was going to do landscaping work and plant trees on their properties, but Kinzer never did the work or delivered the trees.

His defense attorney, David Holmes, said Kinzer has repaid all of the victims in Campbell County in full, amounting to $21,700, and asked that McGrady sentence Kinzer to probation. Holmes, Kinzer’s brother and current boss all told the judge that Kinzer has a tendency to get in over his head when he’s self-employed, getting into debt and using money from future jobs to pay off those debts.

Holmes said Kinzer intended to complete the work, but that he just bit off more than he could chew.

Greg Steward, the prosecuting attorney, argued for a two- to eight-year prison sentence and highlighted Kinzer’s extensive criminal history, which spans decades and includes different versions of the same scheme stretching back to 2004.

“This isn’t bad business, this is a criminal,” Steward said.

McGrady noted that if Kinzer violates his probation, he’s facing two to eight years in prison.

Wyoming unemployment rises to 3.2% in October 2024

CHEYENNE (WNE) — The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged upward from 3.1% in September to 3.2% in October, according to a report released Wednesday from the Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

Despite its recent increases, Wyoming’s unemployment rate remains much lower than the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.1%.

From September to October, county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and increased. Unemployment rates often rise in October as cooler weather brings seasonal job losses in leisure and hospitality, construction, and professional and business services. The largest unemployment rate increases occurred in Teton (up from 1.6% to 2.6%), Niobrara (up from 2.0% to 2.6%), Carbon (up from 2.7% to 3.2%) and Sublette (up from 3.0% to 3.5%) counties.

From October 2023 to October 2024, jobless rates rose in all 23 of Wyoming’s counties. These increases, while modest, suggest a somewhat greater supply of labor around the state.

The lowest unemployment rates in October were found in Crook County at 2.3%, Albany County at 2.4% and Converse County at 2.4%. 

Sublette County and Uinta County tied for the highest unemployment rate at 3.5%.

Current Employment Statistics estimates show that total nonfarm employment in Wyoming (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) rose from 295,100 in October 2023 to 298,200 in October 2024, an increase of 3,100 jobs (1.1%).

November unemployment data will be published on Dec. 23.

First statewide Chamber of Commerce expected to bring opportunities

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Wyoming has made history with the launch of the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce, the state’s first statewide Chamber of Commerce.

While numerous economic development and chamber organizations already represent thousands of local businesses, the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce unites these voices for the first time.

Dale Steenbergen, president/CEO of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, said in a news release he is excited for the opportunities this will bring for Wyoming business. 

“The Wyoming Chamber of Commerce creates a place for local chambers, economic development organizations, DDAs, main streets, tourism associations and business to come together to speak with one unified voice to move our state forward,” he said.

In this statewide launch, the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce has partnered with numerous local chambers and economic development associations across Wyoming.

By partnering with and strengthening local economic development organizations and Chambers of Commerce, the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce aims to facilitate free enterprise across the state, spearheading grassroots efforts to ensure every business in Wyoming has a level playing field and remains aware of the challenges they face. 

For any questions regarding membership, contact Heidi Peterson at HeidiP@wyomingchamberofcommerce. Org.

Hageman sponsors Visa Integrity Preservation Act

CHEYENNE (WNE) — U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman on Thursday introduced the Visa Integrity Preservation Act, a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to close the loophole that has allowed the Biden administration to grant mass amnesty to over 500,000 immigrants who illegally entered the United States or overstayed a visa, according to a news release from Hageman’s office.

If approved, this bill would require undocumented immigrants under all circumstances to depart the United States and be subject to an interview before they could receive a nonimmigrant visa. The bill would also bar them from reentering the United States under certain defined circumstances.

“The Biden/Harris open border policies have allowed over 12 million unvetted migrants to illegally enter our country. Their blatant and intentional refusal to enforce immigration laws is well documented in President Biden’s nearly 100 executive orders that are designed to subvert safeguards against illegal entry, including ‘Parole in Place’ orders,” Hageman said in a news release. 

“Allowing individuals to register for lawful status after already being in America is a huge incentive for illegal immigration — and exactly the opposite of what the Immigration and Nationality Act intends,” she said. “My bill will close this loophole and reestablish proper parole procedures.”