Wyoming News Briefs

Meeteetse annexation approved

CODY (WNE) — A proposed annexation that will increase the size of Meeteetse by more than 70% moved forward last week following a 3-2 vote by the Town Council on May 4.

The question of whether to annex 390.7 acres into the town limits proved divisive among council members. 

Mayor J.W. “Bill” Yetter and council members Eric Scott and Josh Blake voted for the measure, while Corey Guthrie and Dustin Taylor voted against it.

Yetter said the annexation would have significant benefits for the town.

“The benefit to the town is that we have room for development,” he said. 

“What I’m looking at is population growth, tax revenue, autonomy, school population [growth], housing improvement [and] housing development hopefully,” Blake said. 

According to calculations from Park County Assessor Pat Meyer, the annexation would generate nearly $6000 in tax revenue each year.

Taylor, one of the most vocal opponents of the annexation, said that number did not accurately represent the dollars coming into the town.

“While that amount of tax revenue may be generated by a property of this value to the state, the town of Meeteetse will only receive roughly $387 of this money,” Taylor said. “Further, this estimate is based on an estimate of developed property….[If it remains agricultural property as it is currently zoned] it will generate $172.20 for the state and bring in a revenue of roughly $5 per year to the town of Meeteetse.”

Taylor further said it would take years for the town to recoup its annexation costs, which are currently around $5800.

“If there is development and if there is housing out there, there will be people living here and they will be buying things in this town,” Yetter said. “They will connect water and sewer services to this town. They will be buying gas…and paying fuel tax and sales tax on that. Anything they purchase will create an economic return to the town.”

Teton Park to start watercraft inspections

JACKSON (WNE) — Boaters and anglers, remember these words: drain, clean and dry.

Grand Teton National Park is reminding people to follow all three steps with their vessels and fishing gear before using them in the park so as to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, like quagga and zebra mussels.

Watercraft inspections are another key part of the prevention effort, and Grand Teton’s start this Saturday.

“All watercraft entering the state of Wyoming, including Grand Teton National Park, must be inspected by an authorized AIS inspector prior to launch on waters within the state,” a park press release said. “Recreationists transporting any watercraft, including motorized and non-motorized vessels such as canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and inflatables, are required to stop at every inspection station in Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park.”

One Grand Teton National Park inspection station is in Moose, adjacent to the post office. The other is in Moran, north of the entrance station. Both will operate daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Sept. 10.

Besides mussels, the list of undesirables that will try to hitch a ride on rafts, kayaks and other gear includes burbot, rusty crayfish, curly-leaf pondweed and Eurasian milfoil, the park press release said.

“Aquatic invasive species often have widespread economic, recreational, and ecological impacts,” the release said. “They can cause millions of dollars in damage to boats, marina infrastructure, and hydropower facilities. Once an infestation has occurred, it requires costly cleaning regimens, repairs, and maintenance to infrastructure.

“A single boat or piece of gear that has not been properly drained, cleaned, or dried could introduce non-native species and have serious and irreversible ecological consequences.”

Some community concerns addressed at Wagon Box Q&A 

SHERIDAN (WNE) — It was standing room only on the second story of the Wagon Box in Story on Saturday, May 13, as members of the community gathered for a question-and-answer session regarding a plan for Decentralized Autonomous Organization ownership of the restaurant and resort.

Wagon Box owner and DAO founder Paul McNiel posted a rough draft of the DAO plan to the Wagon Box website, which sparked much conversation in the Story Community Facebook group. 

Concerns ranged from the impacts of the DAO on the community and historic restaurant to the potential exclusivity of the resort.

More than 70 people attended the Q&A, and concerns raised during it included the viability of a DAO in Story, cost of ownership, McNiel’s past and impacts on the community and environment.

Ownership in the DAO will require purchase of non-fungible tokens, which are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain. The current plan is to sell up to 150 NFTs, each of which will likely cost between $15,000 and $25,000, to pay off debts from the Wagon Box purchase and renovations.

“I’m not here to bamboozle anybody,” McNiel said, adding that he’s open to having community members help advise the DAO.

McNiel said multiple times the DAO plan is in the very early stages and he is open to making changes that would better accommodate the wishes of community members and local stakeholders.

“I kind of want to be liked by the community, too. I don’t want people hating me,” said McNiel, who spends some time in Story, but also time with family in North Carolina and tending to other properties he owns around the country.

McNiel said he hopes to host more Q&A sessions to remain transparent with the community.

Michigan man fined for making more than 100 false claims of Wyoming residency

SHERIDAN (WNE) — Michigan resident Michael J. Dupuis Sr. pleaded no contest in March to making false claims of residency to obtain resident Wyoming hunting, fishing and trapping licenses.

On March 20, 4th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Shelley Cundiff approved a plea agreement between the Sheridan County Attorney’s Office and Dupuis. As part of the agreement, Dupuis pleaded no contest to seven counts of false oath to obtain resident Wyoming hunting licenses. 

He will pay $35,070 in fines and will lose his hunting and trapping privileges for six years. 

Wyoming and 48 other states participate in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. If a person loses hunting or fishing privileges in one state, the revocation is also in effect in all other partner states.

Dupuis began illegally purchasing licenses as a Wyoming resident in 2008. Over the following years, he made 110 separate claims of residency on deer, antelope, elk, fishing, trapping, turkey and professional hunting guide licenses.

“There is no doubt in my mind this was a calculated effort to defraud the residents of the state of Wyoming,” said Sheridan Regional Wildlife Supervisor Dustin Shorma, who investigated the case.

“Mr. Dupuis was licensed as a professional guide with the Wyoming Board of Outfitters. He used family members’ post office boxes in Wyoming as a mailing address and was able to obtain a Wyoming driver’s license. He put a lot of effort into misrepresenting himself as a Wyoming resident.”

The public is reminded that for the purpose of receiving a resident hunting, fishing or trapping license, the applicant must have physically resided in Wyoming for at least one year prior to applying for or purchasing a license and not claimed residency in any other state, territory or country.

Jackson group hurt in collision

JACKSON (WNE) — A head-on car collision between Etna and Alpine Saturday night seriously injured six Jackson residents and killed the driver who struck them.

The injured residents, according to Wyoming State Police trooper Tyler Smith, include Daryl Peightal, 47, who was driving a Ford Expedition carrying her daughter. Catherine Holland, 42, was a passenger in the Ford along with her daughter and two other girls from the Jackson Hole Lacrosse Club’s girls 14-and-under team. 

They were returning from games in Salt Lake City.

Peightal was life-flighted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center on Saturday evening and was listed in good condition, according to the hospital on Sunday. Smith said one juvenile was airlifted to another medical facility in Salt Lake City with a femur injury.

Smith said that Forest Jensen, 31, of Star Valley Ranch, was driving the Chevrolet that struck the Ford. Jensen died at the scene in his vehicle.

Smith said it was estimated that Jensen was traveling about 75 mph when he hit Peightal in what he described as an “almost perfect head-on” collision. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The Star Valley Independent reported Sunday that a white Chevrolet heading south had entered the northbound lane. The driver of the Ford Expedition, trying to avoid collision, moved to the southbound lane just as the Chevrolet driver tried to swerve back into his designated lane, causing a head-on collision.

Road conditions were considered dry and clear and the pick-up driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

Man arrested for six felonies after fleeing law enforcement, carjacking truck Wednesday

GILLETTE (WNE) — A 31-year-old man was arrested on six felony charges after he fled from law enforcement and carjacked a truck Wednesday afternoon.

The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office received a call about the man, Coy Yellow, because he was a suspect in a domestic incident in Rozet. Deputies were headed east on Highway 51 when they saw Yellow headed west in a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis about 8 miles out of Gillette, said Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds. 

The deputies turned around and tried to stop Yellow, but he continued driving, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph, Reynolds said.

Spike strips were deployed three times, but Yellow was able to avoid them.

In the course of the pursuit, Yellow drove into oncoming traffic to avoid the spike strips, drove through a backyard in a subdivision and struck a patrol truck driven by a deputy. Reynolds said Yellow appeared to intentionally strike the patrol vehicle. 

Yellow finally parked in the lot of a Shell gas station and got out with a loaded 9mm handgun. He ran toward a white Ford F-350, which was occupied by a 53-year-old man, and held the man at gunpoint until he gave up the truck.

Yellow got into the truck, and deputies and a police officer entered the truck through the passenger side and grabbed the gun, said Sheriff Scott Matheny. A struggle ensued inside the cab, and Yellow was eventually placed into custody. 

He claimed to have used fentanyl, and he was taken to the emergency room to be treated. While at the hospital, a fentanyl pill was found in his sock, Reynolds said.

After Yellow was treated, he was taken to jail and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, felony destruction of property, felony interference, felony eluding and felony possession of a controlled substance.

Ikon meme account fires up Jackson Hole Mountain Resort rumor

JACKSON (WNE) — Minutes after a meme account broadcast a rumor, text threads about Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ownership had started and three reporters had called to ask: Did it sell?

The resort president says no.

“Very credible rumors are circulating that JHMR sold within the past 24hrs,” read the Instagram story from the anonymously run account @Ikonoftheday, posted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. “And no, I’m not joking with ya’ll.”

The account, with 6670 followers, pokes fun at Ikon pass holders and has taken swipes at the resort for serious topics like the local housing crisis.

While the Jackson Hole Daily wasn’t able to confirm the source, the buzz got the attention of people at the top.

Resort President Mary Kate Buckley relayed a message in a text to the Daily: “This year we at JHMR celebrated 31 years of Kemmerer ownership and confirm that we have not been sold and look forward to their continued stewardship/investment in our resort and our people,” she wrote.

Jackson Hole News&Guide editors estimate that the newspaper gets tips that one of Teton County’s three ski resorts has sold about every 18 months. 

Onlookers on both sides of the Tetons have wondered for years if any of the area’s resorts will sell to Alterra Mountain Company or Vail Resorts, two of the largest resort-owning ski companies in the country.

More than 1000 gallons of fertilizer, herbicide fall into water after crash

GILLETTE (WNE) — A crash ended with about 1400 gallons of liquid herbicide and fertilizer leaking into water Monday evening.

A 21-year-old man was driving a truck and trailer owned by TruGreen at about 6 p.m. when he allegedly missed the speed limit change near the intersection of Garner Lake Road and Highway 59. The man came to the intersection at about 65 mph and tried to brake but was driving too fast.

He tried to turn quickly onto Highway 59 and the trailer that was loaded with a tank of herbicide and fertilizer slid out and pulled the truck sideways into the ditch that leads to the waterway at the location, Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds said.

The trailer partially rolled on its side and the fertilizer tank broke open, spilling about 1,000 gallons. The herbicide tank flew out of the trailer and spilled 400 gallons into the water. Other containers of herbicide, pesticide and fertilizer also flew out of the truck.

Reynolds said hazmat responded but couldn’t contain the spill since it had soaked into the ground and ran into the water. Since the chemicals were water soluble there was no way to collect them and a Campbell County Fire Department battalion chief told deputies the Department of Environmental Quality would be notified of the spill.

Firefighters stopped the other containers from leaking more and remained at the scene until about 10 p.m., according to the fire department press release.

The man was ticketed for speeding 65 mph in a 45 mph zone, running a stop sign and no seat belt.

BLM updates wild horse management in southern Wyoming

CHEYENNE (WNE) — On Tuesday, the Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office issued a Record of Decision and approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for wild horse management within the Rock Springs and Rawlins field offices.

The amended plan resolves ongoing wild horse management conflicts between private and public land sections within the checkerboard land pattern, according to a news release.

The BLM prepared the amendment according to the terms of a 2013 consent decree with the Rock Springs Grazing Association, which required BLM to analyze certain wild horse management options as part of a new planning process.The approved plan amendment removes all checkerboard land from three Herd Management Areas.

As a result of this action, two of those Herd Management Areas will revert to Herd Area status and will be managed for zero wild horses. The third will continue to be managed as a Herd Management Area with the checkerboard lands removed.

Appropriate Management Levels under this plan amendment would be 464 to 836 wild horses, a roughly 60% decrease from previous AMLs of 1481 to 2065. Population management tools will be used to help manage wild horse populations and reduce the frequency of gathers.

The planning area for this Resource Management Plan Amendment includes the Herd Management Areas within the BLM Rock Springs and Rawlins field offices that contain checkerboard land and that are associated with the 2013 consent decree. 

Specifically, this includes the Adobe Town, Great Divide Basin, Salt Wells Creek and White Mountain Herd Management Areas, the release said.