From staff and wire reports | Posted: Sunday, February 8, 2009 12:00 am
Rancher receives conservation award
Arlington rancher Ralph Brokaw last week was awarded the Olin Sims Conservation Leadership Award at the National Association of Conservation Districts annual meeting in New Orleans.
Brokaw was chosen for his leadership and service in conserving natural resources, according to a press release.
He has served for more than 18 years as a conservation leader at the local, state and national levels.
Class highlights business plans
The basics of writing a business plan will be the focus of a class from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the Natrona County Public Library Crawford Room.
The class will introduce business plans, and discuss what they are and why a businessperson should write one, according to a press release.
Resources on business planning and contacts for free assistance in preparing a business plan also will be provided.
The workshop is free; however, pre-registration is requested. For more information call 577-READ, ext 2, or stop by the library's reference desk.
The class is sponsored by the Natrona County Library, the Small Business Administration and the Wyoming Small Business Development Center.
Wyo game warden recognized
The National Wild Turkey Federation has named Newcastle Game Warden Dustin Shorma as its Wyoming Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Shorma will receive the award during the federation's 33rd annual convention later this month in Nashville, Tenn.
In addition to playing a crucial role in helping convict wildlife criminals, many wildlife officers volunteer their time to help educate young people about the importance of wildlife, conservation and hunting traditions, a federation press release states.
Beef Expo slated for Riverton
Cattle from across the region will be showcased at the Mountain States Beef Expo March 14-15 in Riverton.
The event will be held at the Central Wyoming College Equine Center, a press release indicates. The show is open to the public. Past participants have come from Nebraska, Montana, Colorado and Wyoming.
For more information, contact event organizers Kent Haun at (307) 856-4030, Mike Fabrizius at (307) 857-3081, or Jerry Weliever at (307) 856-0541.
Verizon Wireless invests millions
Verizon Wireless invested $11.5 million in its Wyoming network in 2008, a press release states.
The company's ongoing network investment totals nearly $91.5 million in Wyoming.
Ag board seeks members
The Wyoming Board of Agriculture has four openings, according to as press release.
The vacant seats are in district 2 (Albany, Carbon and Sweetwater counties), district 3 (Lincoln, Sublette, Teton and Uinta counties), district 6 (Crook, Niobrara and Weston counties) and district 7 (Converse, Fremont and Natrona counties).
For this round of appointments, the board is seeking applicants from Sweetwater, Uinta, Niobrara and Natrona counties.
The vacancies will occur in March, and the terms are six years.
Study calculates uninsured drivers
An Insurance Research Council study estimates 9 percent of Wyoming drivers in 2007 were driving without insurance.
Nationally, the study predicts the percentage of uninsured motorists will increase from 13.8 in 2007 to 16.1 percent in 2010, as a result of the economic recession.
New hotel opens in Wright
The 71-room Wright Hotel in Wright is now open for business.
The hotel includes such features as a Jacuzzi Suite, Internet access in every room and complimentary breakfast.
The hotel is near the nation's largest coal mines and the 55,000-acre Durham Bison Ranch.
Candlewood Suites opens in Gillette
Timberline Hospitalities recently opened a Candlewood Suites hotel in Gillette.
The 83-room extended stay Candlewood Suites is the ninth Timberberline hotel in Wyoming, according to a press release.
The hotel includes an outdoor grilling area, a fitness center and an on-site convenience store. It is located on the corner of Country Club and Mitchell.
UFood comes to Rockies
The Boston-based UFood Restaurant Group {M7announced the opening of its first Rocky Mountain store in Draper, Utah, with franchise developer Greg Felder.
Felder has signed on to open 38 locations in the Rocky Mountain states. He has purchased the store development rights for Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, according to a press release.
Wyo loses five rigs
HOUSTON - The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States dropped by 73 last week to 1,399.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas lost 50 rigs, Oklahoma lost nine, Colorado and Wyoming each lost five, New Mexico lost four, North Dakota lost two and Alaska lost one. California added two, Louisiana added one and Arkansas was unchanged.
Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,104 were exploring for natural gas and 283 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. A total of 12 were listed as miscellaneous.
A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,755.