Pawn shop gives back

It's like unexpectedly finding a dime on the sidewalk.

Except in this case, it's a dollar bill.

Its Depend A Pawn's way of saying "thank you" to customers.

When someone redeems a pawned item, the shop is discounting the payment due by a dollar.

"It may only be a buck, but it's free money," said D.J. Lyles, manager of shop, which is located at 1023 East 2nd St. in Casper.

Despite the energy boom, Lyles said many people in Casper still live paycheck to paycheck.

He said Depend A Pawn has about 6,500 customers, about half of whom are considered regulars.

Commonly pawned items are guns, tools and jewelry. Lyles said contrary to a widespread misconception, most pawned items are redeemed, usually with two weeks to a month.

Lyles said the dollar discount has been well received by customers: "We just kind of wanted to give them a pat on the back," he said.

AAA suggests travel budget

The 2008 edition of AAA's Annual Vacation Costs Survey says the recommended travel budget for two adults traveling together in North America is $244 per day for lodging and meals.

According to the survey, the average cost for lodging is $164 per night, double occupancy, based on the most recent published rates for accommodations listed in the AAA TourBook guides.

For two adults traveling and dining together, AAA travel experts recommend budgeting $80 a day for meals, not including tips or beverages. These costs are based on dining at full-service restaurants.

The most expensive city for vacationers is Honolulu, where the average published prices for meals and lodging for two adults total $673 per day, an AAA press release indicates.

IDES starts plastics network

IDES Inc. of Laramie has launch "The Plastics Marketplace," a listing of more than 5 million pounds of spot market resins for purchase from quality, reputable suppliers.

The goal is to provide buyers and sellers with a platform for buying and selling plastic materials, according to a press release.

Telecoms sign agreement

Qwest Communications International Inc. and Verizon Wireless have signed a 5-year agreement for Qwest to market and sell Verizon Wireless service beginning this summer. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, Qwest customers will have access to the full line of Verizon Wireless handsets, smartphones and BlackBerry devices, as well as high-speed broadband wireless services for e-mail, Internet access and multimedia services.

'Big Wyo' award presented

Chuck Box of Cheyenne has received the "Big Wyo" award for 2008, a press release indicates.

Box owns and manages Rocky Mountain International, which coordinates international tourism activities for the state tourism departments of Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana and Idaho.

It is the Wyoming travel and tourism industry's highest award.

Kum & Go sells Wyo store

A Kum & Go convenience store in Kemmerer is being sold as part of a companywide consolidation move.

Kum & Go spokeswoman Sara Wille says the chain has 25 stores in Montana and 18 in Wyoming.

The convenience store chain based in Hampton, Iowa, announced it is holding a sealed-bid auction of 21 stores, including 12 in Iowa, three in South Dakota, two in North Dakota and one each in Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and Missouri.

Anadarko posts year-over decline

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. reported its first-quarter profit fell 83 percent from a year ago, when results included nearly $1.7 billion in asset sales gains.

Anadarko, one of the nation's largest independent exploration and production companies, posted a profit of $286 million, or 61 cents a share, for the quarter ended March 31, compared with $1.7 billion, or $3.70 a share, a year earlier.

Revenue fell to $2.9 billion from $5.2 billion, the company said. Anadarko has substantial operations in Wyoming.

Job seminars set

The Wyoming Department of Employment is sponsoring free educational outreach seminars for Wyoming employers at five locations in the state starting June 3.

Seminar topics include such things workers' compensation appeals and claims, unemployment insurance taxes, and wage and hour information. Staff members will be available to answer employer questions at all locations.

The first seminars will be conducted in Casper (June 3), Rock Springs (August 19) and Gillette (September 24).

For registration information, call 877-733-3618 or 307-766-2124.

Wyo adds one rig

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by seven last week to 1,846.

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

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,475 were exploring for natural gas and 361 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Ten were listed as miscellaneous.

Payroll growth slows

Payroll growth in the state slowed somewhat in the third quarter 2007, when compared to the five-year average.

Total payroll covered by unemployment insurance grew by $198.2 million, or 7.9 percent, compared to the five-year average of 9.3 percent, according the to Research and Planning Section, Wyoming Department of Employment.

Average weekly wages rose by $29 or 4.1 percent, also slower than their five-year average (6.2 percent).

Employment increased by 10,039 jobs, or 3.7 percent, almost a full percentage point faster than the five-year average of 2.8 percent.