Center completes classrooms

The grand opening on a new classroom building at the McMurry Training Center will be held Friday, according to a press release.

The building will expand the training capacity at the center to accommodate an additional 320 students.

The center is located at 2220 Bryan Stock Trail in Casper.

Sage Creek building continues

Construction continues on a 12-unit condominium building at the Village at Sage Creek in east Casper, and Tara Carlson, one of the project developers, said the next generation of units could be targeted differently.

The condominium building under construction is expected to be completed by the end of this summer.

Subsequent units could take various forms, like condominiums or duplexes, Carlson said.

"It will be what the market demands," she said.

Additional units would continue to offer conveniences and amenities afforded by a homeowner's association environment, she added.

AAA expects fewer travelers

AAA predicts the number of Americans traveling during the Memorial Day holiday will drop slightly compared to last year.

AAA estimates that 37.87 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a decrease of nearly 360,000 travelers.

Nearly 31.7 million Americans, or 83 percent of all holiday travelers, are expected to travel by automobile, a 1 percent decrease from about 32 million people who drove a year ago.

"Many Americans are feeling a financial pinch this holiday weekend from record high gasoline prices and other factors in the economy," AAA spokeswoman Denice Harris said in a press release.

Occupational therapist honored

Sheri Montgomery of Evanston has been named to the American Occupational Therapy Association's Roster of Fellows.

The awards are given each year to occupational therapists who have made a significant contribution to the continuing education and professional development of association members.

Aeronautics panel will meet

The Wyoming Aeronautics Commission will meet Wednesday through Friday at the Holiday Inn in Sheridan.

The Aeronautics Commission approves grants of state and federal money for airport construction, maintenance, improvements, marketing and air service enhancements.

For additional information, call the WYDOT Aeronautics Division at (307) 777-3952.

Gillette slates job fair

Qualified people interested in construction work are invited to attend the Dry Fork Station Job Fair, to be held at the Clarion Inn in Gillette on Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dry Fork Station contractors are looking for carpenters, boilermakers, iron workers, sheet metal workers, pipefitters, operating engineers, electricians and laborers.

The Dry Fork Station is a Basin Electric Power Cooperative power plant near Gillette.

U.S. Energy makes deal

U.S. Energy Corp. of Riverton has entered into a joint exploration agreement with an undisclosed Houston- based oil and gas company.

U.S. Energy will participate as a 4.55 percent working interest partner in a south Louisiana oil and gas area, according to a press release.

U.S. Energy's initial commitment to the program will be about $1.3 million.

Anadarko signs foundation deal

Northern Border Pipeline Co. has signed an agreement with Anadarko Energy Services Co., to establish Anadarko as a foundation shipper on the proposed Bison Pipeline project.

Anadarko's commitment is for 250 million cubic feet of natural gas per day with a term of 10 years.

The foundation shipper commitment with Anadarko represents more than 60 percent of the expected project capacity, according to a press release.

The Bison Pipeline will take gas to several northern markets.

Workforce summit set

The Governor's Summit on Workforce Solutions will be held May 28-29 at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, according to a press release.

The summit is designed to help Wyoming businesses define the future of Wyoming's workforce.

The Wyoming Workforce Development Council, in partnership with the Department of Workforce Services, is sponsoring the event.

For more information, visit the Web site wyowdc.org.

Wyo gains two rigs

HOUSTON - The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by 16 last week to 1,862.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas added 13 rigs, while California, Wyoming and Alaska each added two and Colorado added one rig. Oklahoma lost five rigs, Louisiana lost one and New Mexico was unchanged.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,471 were exploring for natural gas and 381 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Ten were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,744.