Electrical malfunction starts fire

Casper firefighters extinguished a small fire that started Wednesday afternoon in the Parkway Plaza Hotel boiler room.

Crews managed to confined the fire, which broke out at about 12:10 p.m., to the boiler room, although smoke did travel to other parts of the hotel, said Casper Fire-EMS Fire Prevention Officer Justin Smith.

No injuries were reported, but occupants of a hotel elevator were temporarily trapped. The building was evacuated.

A preliminary investigation found the fire was caused by the malfunction of an electrical service panel.

Ear biting case moves forward

A judge Tuesday ruled the criminal case should move forward against a Casper man charged with biting off part of another man's ear at a bowling alley.

Jason Phillip is charged with aggravated assault stemming from a July 18 altercation at El Mark-O Lanes. Doctors were unable to reattach the man's ear.

The incident followed an argument between Phillips and the man, according to police.

Museum presents new wildlife displays

The Werner Wildlife Museum, 405 E. 15th St. [east of the YMCA] will display new exhibits at a free open house from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

"We want the community to stop by and see the new exhibits, updated graphics and more, said Tom Clifford. "It is pretty darn spiffy over here."

The museum features the Ullery collection of trophy animals, including antelope, big horn sheep, moose, a musk ox and a walrus head mount. It also offers an expanded fish display, and an extensive collection of birds and mammals, especially those found in Wyoming.

"The museum is used as a teaching tool for most of the biology, mammalogy and ornithology classes taught at Casper College, and Natrona County School District students tour the facility extensively during the school year," Clifford said.

The museum will serve refreshments including animal cookies.

WMC wins Heart Association award

The Wyoming Medical Center's staff and the Wyoming Neuroscience and Spine Institute for the second time in two years received national recognition from the American Heart Association for its protocols for timely assessment, diagnosis and treatment for strokes, according to a news release.

The hospital received the "Silver Performance Achievement Award" as part of a quality improvement program for providing stroke care consistent with the most recent scientific guidelines and evidence-based treatment and therapies.

"The protocols that our team follows means patients are getting a diagnosis, allowing us to start treatment within that all important 3-hour window," said neurologist Dr. David Wheeler.

Midwest woman named Hawaii's mother of the year

A woman who grew up in Midwest and graduated from the University of Wyoming has been named Hawaii's mother of the year, according to American Mothers Inc. of Hawaii.

Margaret "Nip" Ho was born in Waterloo, Iowa, raised in Midwest, and now lives in Pearl City. She and her husband, Winston, have raised three children.

After graduating from UW with a bachelor's degree in special education K-12, she received another teaching certification in special education from the University of Colorado. She moved to Hawaii in 1996.

She also has done extensive work with Special Olympics.

American Mothers Inc. is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, interfaith organization dedicated to strengthening the moral and spiritual foundations of the family and home.