Hazen will be sentenced next month

A former Natrona County deputy coroner will be sentenced next month on possession of drug charges.

Gary Hazen, 53, pleaded guilty in July to unlawfully possessing hydrocodone and methadone and said he obtained the drugs from the coroner's office. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors have agreed to dismiss eight other charges against Hazen, including two counts of failing to account for prescription drugs received by virtue of his office.

If a judge approves the plea deal, Hazen would receive a four- to six-year suspended prison sentence and 10 years of supervised probation.

The sentencing is scheduled to take place on Dec. 11 in the Natrona County Courthouse.

Hazen was arrested in February after being charged with 10 felonies.

He worked full-time for the coroner's office from 2002 to 2008.

Crest Hill receives prizes from stores

Crest Hill Elementary School has been chosen by Sam's Club as its "School of the Year," according to a media release.

With this recognition, 10 Crest Hill teachers were selected at random to receive $500 and $100 gift cards to Sam's Club. Winners were Ann Cornell, Lois Distad, Mark Campbell, Lynne Murray, Rick Black, Meghan Bauers, Lori Cimburek and Paulette Hahn.

In addition, Wal-Mart also randomly chose 10 Crest Hill teachers to receive gift cards to its stores. Susy Urban, Tara Realing, Daria Dundas, Vicki Obermueller, Jennifer McIntyre, Cathy Quinlan, Kayla Bockman, Judie Sheets, Kathy Keefe and Amy Adams each received $100 gift cards to use to buy supplies for their classrooms.

KWHS DECA raises vaccine funds

The Kelly Walsh High School DECA Chapter recently partnered with the 5 Trails Rotary Club to promote World Polio Day, according to a media release.

Student members visited with their classmates last Wednesday and asked for donations in the fight against polio. Students who donated at least 60 cents were given the opportunity to have their pinky finger painted purple. In the countries where polio can still be found, when a child is immunized, one of their little fingers is painted purple to indicate he or she has received the polio vaccine. DECA members, joined by representatives from the 5 Trails Rotary Club, also visited Casper's elementary schools during parent/teacher conference times in this humanitarian effort to end polio worldwide.

For more information, contact Jill Thompson, KWHS DECA advisor, at 253-2082.