Schatz heads truckers group

Chris Schatz of C.R Schatz Co. in Worland has been elected president of the Wyoming Trucking Association.

Other officers elected were first vice president, Clint Feehan, Feehan Trucking, Evanston; second vice president, Dale Livermore, Hyland Enterprises, Rawlins; secretary, Clair Anderson, BTI, Riverton; treasurer, Roy Cohee, C&Y Transportation, Casper; ATA vice president-Wyoming, Louie Pfrangle, Admiral Transport Corp., Worland; immediate past president, Mike Hutton, ABF Freight System, Cheyenne; and managing director Sheila Foertsch, Casper.

Conservation deadline nears

Agricultural producers are encouraged to submit applications for fiscal year 2008 conservation funds to Natural Resources Conservation Service offices.

Applications on file through June 30 will be considered in the next round of funding for Environmental Quality Incentives, Ground and Surface Water Conservation, Wildlife Habitat Incentives, Wetlands Reserve and Agricultural Management Assistance programs, according to a press release.

Applications are available at local USDA service centers or NRCS field offices.

Real estate panel meets

The Wyoming Real Estate Commission is scheduled to meet June 11 by video teleconference, beginning at 1:00 p.m., according to a press release.

Interested persons can attend at the City Center Building, 1920 Thomes, suite 410, Cheyenne; Johnson County School Administration Building, 601 West Lott, Buffalo; and Western Wyoming Community College Outreach Center, room 201, Green River.

Questar receives award

Questar has received the 2008 Oil, Gas and Geothermal Development Environmental Best Management Practices Award from the Bureau of Land Management for development and implementation of a liquids gathering system, multi-well pads and subsurface well heads on the Pinedale Anticline in Sublette County.

The award is given to the company that showcases the best examples of responsible fluid mineral resource development on BLM-managed public lands, other federal agency lands, Indian trust lands, or on federal split estate lands where the surface is privately owned and the BLM manages the mineral estate, a press release states.

Qwest assists botanic gardens

The Qwest Foundation has donated $5,000 to the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, a press release indicates.

The grant will allow the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens to purchase technology equipment for a science discovery lab that will be a part of the new "Children's Garden."

Double Eagle hits record

Casper-based Double Eagle Petroleum Co. announced that for the third month in a row, it reached a record level of gross production from its Catalina Unit in the Atlantic Rim of Wyoming.

The Catalina Unit's total gross production for May 2008 from the 40 wells producing during the month was expected to exceed 510 million cubic feet, an increase of 237 percent over May 2007, according to a press release.

Togwotee Mountain Lodge sold

ARAMARK Parks and Destinations has purchased Togwotee Mountain Lodge, according to a press release.

The lodge is located on the eastern rim of Jackson Hole near Togwotee Pass. It offers both summer and winter vacation activities.

Wyo rig count unchanged

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States fell by 12 last week to 1,877.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas lost 14 rigs, Colorado lost nine, New Mexico lost two and California and Alaska each lost one. Louisiana added three rigs, Oklahoma added one and Wyoming was unchanged.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,479 were exploring for natural gas and 390 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Eight were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,774.

Baker Hughes has tracked rig counts since 1944. The tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981, during the height of the oil boom. The industry posted several record lows in 1999, bottoming out at 488.

Hospital will hold open house

Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas will hold an open house at 11 a.m. on June 7, according to a press release.

The event will showcase scheduled renovations funded by a USDA Rural Development Facilities Direct Loan of $2.32 million.

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso is among those expected to attend.