Casper man dies in wreck

A Casper man died after his 2008 Ford flatbed pickup was struck by an oncoming vehicle on Wednesday morning.

Brent Lee, 47, was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 191 2.5 miles north of Farson when he tried to avoid a 2001 Chevrolet pickup that veered across the center line, according to a Wyoming Highway Patrol report. The Chevrolet struck Lee's vehicle in the driver's door, and both vehicles stopped in the east ditch.

Upon impact, a 75-gallon diesel tank in the bed of Lee's truck caught fire, fully-engulfing the Ford and the front end and cab of the Chevrolet.

The driver of the Chevrolet, 19-year-old Rafael DeLoera-Villagrana, and two passengers were able to leave the vehicle before the fire reached the cab. DeLoera-Villagrana remains hospitalized in Rock Springs, while the two passengers were treated and released.

DeLoera-Villagrana told officials he fell asleep while driving. He was cited for no valid driver's license and failure to maintain his vehicle in a single lane.

The crash remains under investigation and additional charges may be filed.

Public skaing slides by tonight

Tonight's public skating session, scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at the Casper Ice Arena, has been cancelled due to the University of Wyoming's hockey game against Montana State.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and children under 5 are free. Spectators wearing hockey jerseys to the game will receive a $1 discount on admission.

Both regularly scheduled public skating sessions will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, call (307) 235-8484.

Paragon exec speaks at luncheon

G.B. Oliver, executive vice president of the Paragon Foundation will deliver the luncheon and banquet speeches at the Independent Cattlement of Wyoming's annual convention on Nov. 1 in Casper, according to a release.

The Paragon Foundation is a nonprofit created to promote the principals of the Founding Fathers, notably property rights in relation to ranchers and landowners.

The convention will begin at 9 a.m. and be held at the Agriculture Resources and Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Road. Other speakers include Bill Bullard, Taylor Haynes, Frank Eathorne and Frank Henderson.

The convention will also include a silent auction and a banquet at the Goose Egg Inn.

Rec Center closes early Saturday

The Casper Recreation Center's gymnasium will be closed the entire day due to planned special events on Saturday, according to a release. The women's locker room will close at 12:30 p.m. so set up for the Haunted Locker Room, part of the Family Fall Carnival, can begin. The Recreation Center will close at 5 p.m. for all drop-in usage.

The Family Fall Carnival is open to the public and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. The free event is designed for kids 12 and under and their parents.

For more information, call the Casper Recreation Center at (307) 235-8383.

Tickets for Madrigal available Tuesday

Tickets for the 14th annual Casper College Madrigal Feaste - a three-hour medieval dinner theatre - will go on sale at 8 a.m. on Tuesday in the south lobby of the Gertrude Krampert Theatre Complex, according to a release.

The event will be held Dec. 4-6 and 10-13 in the Krampert's Black Box Theatre. This year's presentatio is entitled "The Quest for the Holy Quail."

Tickets are $45 per person and $20 serves as a tax-deductible donation to the Casper College Fine Arts Endowment.

Tickets, priced at $25 each, will also be available for "First Knight," the event's dress rehersal scheduled for Dec. 3.

The event features the college's Collegiate Chorale, Men's and Women's choirs, and the Contemporary Singers.

To purchase tickets by phone, call (307) 268-3299.

Rec offers second session

Registration is open for the second session of classes offered through the Casper Recreation Center, according to a release. Classes start on Monday or later and are offered in a variety of areas. Most of these classes will run through the second week of December.

Classes include fitness, martial arts, health, sports, special interests, arts and camps.

Registration may be completed at the Recreation Center, 1801 E. Fourth St., by mail, by fax at (307) 235-8386, by phone with credit card at (307) 235-8383 or online at www.casperwy.gov.

For more information, call Rec Center at (307) 235-8383.

Library offers financial aid workshop

The Natrona County Public Library will hold a "Let's Talk College" event specifically to help students with the financial aid process at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a release.

The workshop, which is free, will cover where to find scholarships, how to apply for federal aid and the aid process.

For more information, call (307) 577-READ ext. 101.