the Star-Tribune staff | Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:00 am
Super 8 names top general manager
Debbie Fox, general manager of the Casper/West Super 8, has received the motel chain's General Manager of the Year Award.
The honor recognizes the top general manager in the Super 8 system, which consists of more than 2,100 properties in the United States, Canada and China, a press release states.
Super 8 West of Casper is owned and operated by Timberline Hospitalities, LLC of Casper.
Orvis honors Pinedale outfitter
Two Rivers Emporium of Pinedale has been recognized as the Orvis Endorsed Outfitter of the Year for 2008, according to a press release.
Two Rivers Emporium offers float, wade and pack trips.
For 20 years the Orvis Company has recognized excellence in fly fishing lodges, fly fishing outfitters and fly fishing guides through its Endorsed Lodges Outfitters and Guides program.
WCDA tabs single family director
Wendy Kindel is the new director of single family housing at the Wyoming Community Development Authority.
Kindel came to the WCDA from Cody, where she was the vice president of the real estate department at Shoshone First Bank, a press release indicates. She has been in the banking industry for over 35 years.
The WCDA specializing in first-time homebuyer mortgage loan products.
Grants offered for grazing projects
The executive committee of the Wyoming Private Grazing Lands Team is accepting grant applications for projects focused on grazing lands.
The grants are primarily directed toward innovative educational projects that will demonstrate the importance and sustainability of livestock grazing to the environment.
Deadline for applications is Thursday. For more information, contact Bryce Reece at 307-265-5250.
Veal heads to hall of fame
Don Veal, whose research at the University of Wyoming expanded knowledge related to how icing, turbulence, downbursts and other severe weather patterns affect aircraft flight, has been named to the Wyoming Aviation Hall of Fame.
Veal was elected to the hall by the Wyoming Aeronautics Commission.
Veal is probably best known to Wyoming residents as UW's president from 1981 to 1987, but prior to that he brought world-class airborne atmospheric science research to the university, according to a press release.
National register includes Newcastle
An area featuring 23 buildings in downtown Newcastle was recently listed by the National Park Service on the National Register of Historic Places.
The register provides recognition of the property's historic significance; however, it does not restrict the right of the owner to use, develop, maintain or sell the property.
The 23 buildings in the Newcastle Commercial District are related to late 19th- and 20th-century growth and development of the city, according to a press release. Newcastle is the county seat of Weston County.
The district includes a variety of architectural styles featuring Late Victorian Italianate commercial buildings to Streamline Moderne, Neo-Classical, Beaux-Arts and Mission influences.
State awards highway contracts
The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded $39.1 million in highway construction contracts last week, including $38.2 million in projects that will be funded with federal economic stimulus program money.
The commission now has awarded $124.5 million in stimulus-funded construction contracts during the past two months, according to a press release.
The largest contract went to High Country Construction of Lander, which submitted the low bid of $10.2 million for reconstruction and widening of 3.85 miles of U.S. 14A about midway between Cody and Powell.
The highway section between Park County Lane 18 and Park County Road 18 will be widened from its current two lanes to five lanes to accommodate growing traffic.
All but $108,000 of the project cost will be funded with stimulus money.
Freshii plans Wyo locations
Freshii restaurants are coming to Wyoming.
There are currently 13 units in Chicago and Toronto, several new restaurants currently under construction, and 90 units in varying stages of development, according to a press release.
A new franchisee plans to open 20 Freshii restaurants, including both corporate stores and sub-franchised locations, in select trade areas of Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder and Colorado Springs, Colo., and Laramie and Cheyenne.
Kern River holds open season
Kern River Gas Transmission Co. is holding a non-binding open season through June 18 to determine shipper interest in firm year-round transportation service from receipt points in Wyoming and Utah to delivery points into California.
If sufficient interest is demonstrated and Kern River decides to proceed, any new expansion service resulting from the open season would be available by Jan. 1.
Kern River's non-binding open season is being held simultaneously with Pacific Gas and Electric's California gas transmission open season to expand its Baja Path.