Barnes takes over at CAEDA

Robert Barnes takes over as president and CEO of the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance (CAEDA) on Monday.

Barnes comes to Casper from Tennessee, where he served as economic development director of the Pulaski-Giles County Economic Development Commission in Pulaski, Tenn.

He was named by his peers as economic development professional of the year for 2005 in Tennessee.

Barnes replaces Chris Manegold, who resigned in February.

Bank reports earnings

Bank of the West had net income for the second quarter of $148.7 million, compared with $133.6 million in the second quarter of 2005, a press release indicates.

Bank of the West is the third largest commercial bank headquartered in the West. The bank has it 680 branch banking locations in 19 states, including Wyoming.

FMC teams wins mine rescue event

RENO, Nev. n FMC Wyoming's "White Team" from Green River is the national mine rescue team champion in the 2006 National Metal and Nonmetal Mine Rescue Contest, according to a press release.

The competition took place at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. FMC Wyoming's "Red Team" finished second, and the Morton Salt Co., team from Weeks Island, La., rounded out the top three.

Thirty-three rescue teams from around the country participated in the three-day event, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Mine rescue competitions are designed to test the knowledge of rescue teams who might be called upon to rescue their colleagues who may be trapped following a real mine emergency.

Michael Manor changes hands

Michael Manor Healthcare and Rehab Center in Douglas was recently sold to Aberdeen Healthcare of Billings, Mont., according to a press release.

It was one of the last independently owned facilities of its type in the state.

Michael Manor was built by Tom and Bev Wilson in 1968. The new owners have plans to add private rooms and an Alzheimer's wing.

It's new name is Douglas Care Center.

Wal-Mart work forges ahead

Construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Rawlins will begin this fall, according to Wal-Mart spokeswoman Marisa Bluestone.

Construction of a store in Worland should begin next spring.

In addition, a Supercenter on the west side of Casper is nearing completion, while a store in Laramie is being remodeled.

Vista Ridge holds open house

Vista Ridge at Blackmore, a housing development in east Casper, will hold a grand opening today.

Houses start in price at under $300,000, including a Centennial model at $285,000 and a Kaycee model at $293,500.

Women graduate from training programs

CHEYENNE - Twenty one women recently graduated from "wage disparity" programs developed by Central Wyoming College and the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

The Employment and Training for Self Sufficiency Program is geared to providing employment and training opportunities that help individuals develop skills to enter high-demand occupations offering better wages.

Participants in the construction trades program engaged in an eight-week course designed to train women to work in the traditionally male-dominated construction industry, with an opportunity to earn wages in the $10 to $25 per hour range.

The information technology office support program was a six-month course designed to train women in the technology industry, while the information technology system support program was an 18-month long course designed to train women in the areas of hardware maintenance, operating systems and Cisco systems certification.

Development group names director

WORLAND n Patricia Ullery of Kaycee has been appointed executive director of the Big Horn Mountain Country Coalition, according to a press release.

The coalition is an economic development district representing Johnson, Sheridan, Washakie and Big Horn counties, under the direction of the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

The coalition works to enhance economic activities and provide leadership, coordination and cooperation among local, state and federal entities.

Work begins on pipeline segment

RAWLINS - Construction has begun on a 192-mile segment of the Rockies Express pipeline that will export natural gas to eastern Ohio.

Last fall, U.S. Pipeline built a 36-inch line from the Meeker Hub in northern Colorado to Wamsutter, which will be the starting point for the 42-inch, west-east pipeline.

A crew has begun clearing ground east of Wamsutter in preparation for laying pipe eastward. Another crew will lay pipe west from Cheyenne, according to Rick Rainey, a Kinder Morgan Energy Partners spokesman.

The pipe is expected to be joined in the Arlington area this fall.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., and Sempra Pipelines and Storage, a unit of Sempra Energy, are partners in the $4.4 billion Rockies Express project, which will be one of the largest pipelines in North America.

A phase from Cheyenne to Audrain County, Mo., is expected to be completed next year. The final phase, which ends in Clarington, Ohio, is expected to be done in 2009.

The pipeline will carry up to 1.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.

Powell service station offers biodiesel

POWELL - With studies under way to determine if the Big Horn Basin can support the oilseed crops necessary for biodiesel production, a local service station has become the first retailer in the region to offer biodiesel.

McIntosh Oil already has biodiesel available to farmers, and plans to offer it in the regular pumps, Mike McIntosh said.

"The question isn't why did we start offering it - it's why wouldn't we?" he said.

Researchers at the University of Wyoming's Powell Research and Extension Center are conducting tests to determine which, if any, oilseed crops might be commercially viable as biodiesel ingredients in the Big Horn Basin.

Research scientist Abdel Mesbah, the center's interim director, said farmers already know they can grow crops like canola, soybeans, camelina and brown mustard, any of which can be used to make biodiesel.

"But the economic feasibility study will be the most important," Mesbah said. "Farmers want to know if it's worth it."