UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING PRESIDENT
Panel named to help select new University of Wyoming leaderLARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Sixteen people have been named to the committee that will help select the next University of Wyoming president.
The panel members announced Wednesday by US Board of Trustees Chairman David True include UW trustees, faculty, staff and students as well as former Gov. Matt Mead.
The search committee will be charged with forwarding about 12 qualified candidates to the Board of Trustees.
Former Trustees President John MacPherson, of Saratoga, will chair the committee.
The trustees intend to hire a consulting firm and a search recruiter to assist in the search.
Acting President Neil Theobald is not restricted from applying for the long-term position previously held by Laurie Nichols, whose contract was not renewed.
It is hoped that a new president will be selected by July 1, 2020.
OIL-GAS RULES
Comment heard on proposed Wyoming oil and gas permit rules
(Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — More than 100 operators, landowners and lawmakers packed the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s public meeting on a proposed drilling applicationrule change.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that nearly 150 others joined Tuesday’s public meeting in Casper by phone.
The proposed rule would prevent a developer from controlling untapped land indefinitely by allowing others the opportunity to challenge inactive permits.
Commission Supervisor Mark Watson proposed the new rule to create opportunities to challenge operators that aren’t drilling on their permitted areas.
Under the proposal, if an operator wins a permit but fails to drill within the two-year period, other developers can file a challenge within 15 days of a notice.
The public comment period for the proposed new rule runs until Sept. 14.
YELLOWSTONE SNOWMOBILE PERMITS
Yellowstone sets lottery for unguided snowmobile permits
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Starting on Thursday, people can apply for permits to snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park without a commercial guide during the next winter season.
Under a special lottery program, the park allows one group of up to five snowmobiles to enter Yellowstone from each of its four winter entrances per day.
This year’s lottery will be open on the http://www.recreation.gov website until Aug. 31. Successful applicants will be notified in mid-September.
Trips can be for a maximum of three days in length, and permits cost $40 per day with a $6 application fee.
POLICE SHOOTING-CASPER-POSTPONED
Wyoming wrongful death lawsuit against police postponed
(Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A wrongful death lawsuit in the case of a Wyoming man shot and killed by police may be halted until next year.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports a magistrate paused the proceedings Tuesday due to the overseas military deployment of Casper Police Officer Jonathan Schlager.
Schlager and Officer Cody Meyers are named as defendants in the federal lawsuit filed in February by the family of Douglas Oneyear.
Authorities say the officers were investigating a reported assault and encountered Oneyear carrying a sword in February 2018.
Investigators found Schlager shot Oneyear twice and killed him, while Meyers’ gunshots missed Oneyear.
The lawsuit says the sword was a toy, but the officers dispute that description.
Other defendants include the Casper city government and 20 unidentified police officers and state police academy employees.
MISSING WOMAN
Green River woman remains missing in western Wyoming
PINEDALE, Wyo. (AP) — Authorities in western Wyoming say they continue to investigate the disappearance of a 28-year-old woman although the search for her has been suspended.
Aubree Corona, of Green River, was reported missing July 15 after she texted her friends that she was lost and didn’t come back to a campsite near Union Pass in Sublette County as planned. A search turned up nothing.
She was reported to have been last seen in the Dubois area.
The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office says multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Wyoming Highway Patrol and Wyoming Game and Fish Department, have continued a coordinated investigation into her case.
GUARD DEPLOYMENT
Wyoming National Guard unit deploys to Middle East
(Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming National Guard brigade is heading out for eventual deployment to the Middle East.
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that several hundred friends, family and leaders from across the state attended a ceremony Monday in Cheyenne for the 130 soldiers from the Guard’s 115th
Field Artillery Brigade. Gov. Mark Gordon was among the speakers at the ceremony.
The soldiers will spend the next several weeks training at Fort Bliss, Texas, before heading off to the Middle East.
This is the third deployment for the 115th since 2001.
