Capitol committee approves $2 million expense
CHEYENNE (WNE) — The committee overseeing the Capitol Square Project has approved the use of just over $2 million worth of a contingency fund set aside by the 2019 Legislature to complete three areas of the project.
The Oversight Group on Capitol Building Rehabilitation and Restoration on Wednesday unanimously approved the use of $2.04 million of a $3 million appropriation for construction of the Capitol’s new auditorium, student learning center and a welcome center.
The $3 million was included in the 2019 budget by the Legislature as a contingency fund for the project, and for completing the unfinished legislative spaces in the Capitol and the Capitol extension, said Michael O’Donnell, special assistant attorney general and one of the leads on the project.
With the approval of the expenditure, construction should begin on those three projects sometime shortly after the July 10 open house and celebration, with the goal of completion by mid- to late November.
The $300 million Capitol project was approved in 2014 by the Legislature and included complete restoration of the Capitol interior and foundation, a new underground extension and power plant, and the renovation of both the east and west wings of the Herschler Building.
While work will continue on the project throughout the year, the Capitol itself will be ready in time for the July 9-10 celebration set to coincide with Wyoming Statehood Day. Wyoming Legislative Service Office staff also are in the process of moving back to the Capitol now.
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One dead in head-on collision near Buffalo
BUFFALO (WNE) — A head-on collision between an RV and a minivan on Highway 16 west of Buffalo Monday morning left one dead and two others taken to the Johnson County Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Dispatch received the emergency call at 9:18 a.m. Monday morning, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s office. The accident occurred at mile post 61, 59 miles west of Buffalo when a minivan traveling eastbound crossed the centerline and collided with a westbound RV. The cause of the crossover is still under investigation,according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol District
4 supervisor, Lt. Erik Jorgensen.
Johnson County Sheriff’s office, Wyoming Highway Patrol and emergency services responded to the scene.
Names of those involved in the accident have not been released by authorities pending family notification. The Wyoming Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
This is the 73rd fatality on Wyoming roadways in 2019 as compared to 42 at the same time in 2018, 58 in 2017 and 37 in 2016.
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Legislators want to expand highway between Wright, Gillette
GILLETTE (WNE) — Two Gillette legislators are looking for support for their proposal to expand Highway 59 from two lanes to five lanes from Gillette to Wright.
In a workshop Tuesday with Campbell County Commissioners and the state Department of Transportation, state Sen. Michael Von Flatern, R-Gillette, and state Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, presented their plan to get funding for the project, which when completed could increase public safety and help local economic development.
Highway 59 turns from five lanes into two lanes about 10 miles south of Gillette. The project would take care of the remaining 26 miles of two-lane road to Wright.
It won’t be cheap. Construction wouldn’t begin until at least 2025, and the projected cost is $109 million in today’s dollars, or $138 million in 2025 dollars.
The breakdown in funding would include $30 million from the state, $40 million in local money and $60 million in federal funds.
Clem and Von Flatern asked the commissioners if they would support putting a special purpose tax on the ballot in 2020 to help pay for it.
Clem said letters of support from the county, city and town of Wright would go a long way to “bolster our efforts in the Legislature.”
If the federal money doesn’t come through, the backup plan would be the state’s legislative stabilization reserve account, or its rainy day fund.
Paul Hladky, vice president of Cyclone Drilling, said there have been 14 fatalities and 213 injuries on Highway 59 between January 2014 and March 2019, and employees have a greater chance of getting injured on their commute than they do during their shift.
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Cody man accidentally shot with vintage pistol
CODY (WNE) — The bullet left the vintage pistol went through Cody resident Aryean Vermunt’s shoulder, exited and became lodged in the side of the cabin.
Vermunt was the victim of an accidental shooting Monday at Pahaska Teepee Resort, 2.3 miles outside of the Yellowstone East Entrance. His bleeding was under control by the time medics reached the scene.
Lance Mathess, Park County Sheriff’s Office public affairs officer, said Vermunt was transported by ambulance to West Park Hospital and then transferred across state lines to the Billings Clinic.
Emergency responders first received report of the accidental shooting around 2:10 p.m. Monday, according to the Sheriff’s Office investigation, it was determined Vermunt, 24, had been shot with a vintage World War II Tokarev pistol.
When fellow Pahaska employee Cal Clark, 59, of Thermopolis set his small backpack down on the porch of an employee building, the Russian semi-automatic pistol discharged, entering Vermunt’s right shoulder and then traveling on.
A sheriff’s deputy was immediately dispatched to the scene. No citations were issued from the incident.
Clark had just completed a long bike ride, when he stepped around Vermunt and “let his backpack fall off his shoulders” landing on the porch and causing the Tokarev to fire through the fabric of the side of the camouflaged colored backpack. Statements from witnesses corroborated Clark’s account of events.
Mathess said the Tokarev has a propensity to accidentally discharge, especially when dropped.
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Riverton bans feeding of wild animals
RIVERTON (WNE) — As part of a plan to reduce the urban deer population, the Riverton City Council has adopted an ordinance banning the feeding of certain wild animals in town.
The ordinance was approved on third reading and now is in effect.
The rule makes it illegal to “knowingly or intentionally provide supplemental feed attractants” to deer as well as several other wild animals, including antelope, elk, moose, turkeys, non-domestic geese, bobcats, bears, mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, wolves and skunks.
Ducks appeared on the list when the council initially examined the ordinance May 7, but Councilman Tim Hancock moved for that animal to be removed, pointing to an area of Davis Lane where people enjoy feeding the birds.
“I get not feeding skunks (or) deer, elk and moose,” Hancock said. “But I just feel like ducks (are different). I don’t know if we need that as a prohibition.”
Mayor Rich Gard asked whether the ordinance could be modified to exempt the feeding of ducks at specific locations, and city administrator Tony Tolstedt said he could amend the language to reflect that request if the council so desired.
Later, Councilman Kyle Larson suggested removing not only ducks from the list but every animal other than deer.
“I’m wondering why we’re making it so broad when the idea is to eliminate collisions with deer with cars,” he said. “I’m wondering why we’re so inclusive. … The problem (is) deer.”
Tolstedt said the longer list addresses “multiple potential issues.”
“(It’s) an attempt to be proactive,” he said.
