Today

Uinta County Fair

* Now through Sunday, Evanston will host a six-day fair which will feature 4-H and FFA competitions, a livestock show and sale, an All Bull Rodeo, Draft Horse Pull Teams and more. Info: (307) 783-0313 or www.uintacounty.com.

Lincoln County Fair

* Now through Saturday, visit the Lincoln County Fair in Afton for some old fashioned country fun, great rides and outstanding entertainment. Experience big top entertainment, evening events in the grand stands, pro rodeos, demo derby, motocross arenacross, farm rodeo, horse pulls and concerts. Info: (307) 883-5636 or www.lcwy.org.

Niobrara County Fair

* Now through Saturday, the Niobrara County Fair will be held in Lusk. Enjoy animals, arts, crafts, and food. Info: (307) 334-3534.

Cheyenne City Council

* A press release is scheduled to be held today at 2 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 2101 O'Neil Ave., Room 118. Representatives from the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County will host a press release commencing the kick off for the County-wide needs assessment to study the impact of methamphetamine use.

Department of Health meetings

* The Wyoming Department of Health's Aging Division is planning a series of public meetings to hear from the public about the services provided for Wyoming's older people. Intended to gather input regarding the state's draft plan for 2006-2010, a regional meeting will be held today from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Herschler Building in Cheyenne, 122 W. 25th St., Room 1699.

Roller skating

* The IKON Center, 1530 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne now offers roller skating through July. Cost of admission includes regular skate rental: $6 for adults, $4 for kids up to age 12, $5 for military and seniors. In-line or hockey skates available for an additional $3. Info: (307) 433-0024.

On-line book group

* The Wyoming Council for the Humanities announces a free on-line book discussion this July, featuring Octavia Butler's novel {M3Parable of the Sower. Registration is available on the council's website at www.uwyo.edu/humanities. Limited copies are available for loan in Cheyenne at the Laramie County Library System, Green River at the Sweetwater County Library, Laramie at the Wyoming Council for the Humanities, and Sheridan at the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library. Info: (307) 721-9243 or wych@uwyo.edu.

Coming Up

Department of Health meetings

* The Wyoming Department of Health's Aging Division is planning a series of public meetings to hear from the public about the services provided for Wyoming's older people. Intended to gather input regarding the state's draft plan for 2006-2010, the regional meetings are scheduled for the following dates and times:

* Aug. 1, from 3-4:30 p.m. at the University of Wyoming Outreach Building in Casper, 951 N. Poplar St.

* Aug. 2, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Riverton Branch Library, 1330 W. Park Ave.

* Those unable to attend a meeting are asked to submit written comments by 5 p.m. on August 2. To provide comments or for more information contact: Ruth Davis, Wyoming Department of Health Aging Division, 6101 Yellowstone Road, Room 295B, Cheyenne, 82002, call (307) 777-7986 or (800) 442-2766.

Campbell County Public Library events

* Aug. 1, 7 p.m., The Campbell County Fair will host a Teens Bands Concert at CAM-PLEX. To book your band or for more info: (307) 687-9229.

* Aug. 3, 10, 14, & 24, at 2 p.m., Teen Craft Days in the Teen Room at the library. Design bracelets, candles, sun catchers, and more. Supplies and snacks will be available. Info: (307) 687-0009.

* Aug. 3, 1 p.m., The Teen Advisory Board will have a meeting in the Young Adult department. Junior high and high school students are invited to join to help plan young adult library programs and prioritize teen community services. Info: (307) 687-9229.

* Aug. 23, 5 p.m., First meeting of book discussion group, "Classic Views of American Life." Tonight's discussion will be over {M3The Way West by A. B. Guthrie. Info: (307) 721-9243, (307) 687-0009 or visit www.uwyo.edu/humanities.

* Sept. 20, 5 p.m., "Classic views of American Life" book discussion over {M3The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Info: (307) 721-9243, (307) 687-0009 or visit www.uwyo.edu/humanities.

* Oct. 18, 5 p.m., "Classic views of American Life" book discussion over {M3House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday. Info: (307) 721-9243, (307) 687-0009 or visit www.uwyo.edu/humanities.

* Nov. 15, 5 p.m., "Classic views of American Life" book discussion over {M3The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Info: (307) 721-9243, (307) 687-0009 or visit www.uwyo.edu/humanities.

Concerts in the Park

* Sheridan will host concerts in the park every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 22. Info: (307) 672-6804. Other performances will be held at the following dates and bands:

* Aug. 1, Down From the Mountain

* Aug. 8, The Big Horn Band

* Aug. 15, The Concert Band

* Aug. 22, The Concert Band

Hawk Springs hamburgers

* Aug. 2, from 5-7 p.m. The final summer hamburger fry will be held at the Hawk Springs Community Building. The public is invited to attend. There will be hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, chips, cake, beverages, and home made ice cream. Purchase a ticket for the quilt raffle to be held at 7 p.m. Info: (307) 532-3092.

Casper Autism Society

* Aug. 3, 6:30-8 p.m., The Casper Autism Society will have a summer meeting at First Baptist Church, 209 S. Fourth St., in Douglas. Guest speaker will be Jane Stearns. There will also be time for eating, visiting, networking, sharing, and supporting. Please bring a dish to share. Drinks and place settings will be provided. Usual meeting schedule resumes Sept. 7.

Wyoming Wilderness Association

* Aug. 5, 9 a.m., The Wyoming Wilderness Association will offer a free guided field trip into the Shoshone National Forest on the North Fork departing from Sheridan. Participants will hike into a roadless area that is prime grizzly habitat and learn about bear biology, ecology and habitat protection. This will be an all day moderate expedition. Space is limited and early registration is advised. Info: (307) 672-2751, betsy@wildwyo.org, or www.wildwyo.org.{M3

Cheyenne Heritage Quilters

* Aug 5 and 7-12, Quilters from around Wyoming and surrounding area are invited to enter quilts in the Cheyenne Heritage Quilters 22nd Annual Show. The show will be on exhibit at the Cheyenne Civic Center, open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily and will feature a Merchants' Mall on Aug 12, a silent auction, quilt raffle and cash awards for People's Choice. To request an entry blank and instructions call (307) 634-1954 or email tpreis@bresnan.net.

Art Festival

* Aug. 5 & 6, There will be an Art Festival on the Sheridan College campus. Everyone is invited to show their work there. Music and food will be provided. Info: www.bigwestartsfestival.com.

Wyoming Department of Education event

* Aug. 10, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., the Wyoming Department of Education, Services for the Visually Impaired will be hosting a support group, vendor exhibits, and luncheon at the Jeffery Memorial Center in Rawlins. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to meet with WDE consultants and other residents who have visual impairments, and try out the newest equipment for enhancing visual displays and audio output. Please RSVP to (877) 875-9467 or {M3jwhits@educ.state.wy.us by Aug. 7, 2006.

Campbell County Pool events

* Aug. 11, from 9-11 p.m., The Campbell County Pool in Gillette will host Dark Summer Nights with prizes for all ages given away throughout the evening. Tickets are $4 per person and can be purchased at the pool desk. There will only be 350 tickets sold. No special cards or passes will be accepted for this event. Info: (307) 682-5470.

Wyoming Outdoor Council events

* Aug. 12, Bridger-Teton Roadless Area Trip. Lunch provided. You are responsible for extra layers and sensible shoes. Info: (307) 332-7031, ext 13, or {M3andy@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.

* Aug. 26, Wind River Tour. A walking/driving tour of the Wind River. We will stop at various points along the Wind from Diversion Dam on down towards Riverton. In-stream flow issues on the Wind will be the main topic of discussion. Lunch provided. Info: (307) 332-7031, ext 13, or {M3andy@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.

* Sept. 2, Ranching in Coal-bed Methane Country. We will be gathering up at the Barlow family ranch in the Powder River Basin for a tour of the ranch, a discussion of the challenges of ranching in the middle of a coal-bed methane play, and a driving tour to view some of the coal-bed methane development in the area. Lunch provided. Info: (307) 332-7031, ext 13, or {M3andy@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.

* Sept. 9, Wyoming Outdoor Council Annual Meeting. The early part of the day will involve a trip into a roadless area of the Shoshone National Forest in order to discuss the legal and ecological issues surrounding the management of roadless areas. The evening will involve a dinner, speaker, and band. Info: (307) 332-7031, ext 13, or {M3andy@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.

* Sept. 16, Fifth Annual Ride the Red mountain bike ride. This year's ride will take place in the Jack Morrow Hills and is open to young and old alike. There will be route options for different ability levels, from moderate to strenuous, with snacks and rest stops along the way. Mountain bike, helmet, extra layers, and sensible shoes are your responsibility. Info: (307) 332-7031, ext 13, or {M3andy@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.

Gold Rush Days 2006

* July 15 & 16, South Pass City will host the 2006 Gold Rush Days. Admission is $2.50 for adults and children under six are free. Highlights include a vintage baseball tournament, comedy shoot-out, gold panning, fireworks show, and much more. Info: (307) 332-3684 or visit www.southpasscity.com.

Gillette soccer

* Now through Aug. 13, The Campbell County Parks and Recreation Department is offering fall recreational soccer for all youth four years of age through sixth grade. Five divisions will be offered including pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth and sixth grade. Practices will begin Aug. 23 and cost of registration is $21. Youth must be four years old by Aug. 31, 2006 to participate. Info: (307) 682-8527.

Central Wyoming College event

* Aug. 18-20. Central Wyoming College is bringing together a multi-talented group of Wyoming guitarists and songwriters, now through Sunday at the Sinks Canyon Center. The fee is $279 and includes group instruction, cabin or tent accommodations, meals, and use of the Sinks Canyon Center facilities. The Center is located about four miles from Lander. Info: (800) 735-8394 or (307) 332-3394.

Water for World Peace

* Aug. 20, from 5:30-9 p.m., Dr. Masaru Emoto will give a seminar on the power of water to act as a catalyst for personal, regional and world-wide peace at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson. Afterward there will be a dinner reception. Tickets are $60 in advance and $70 at the door. Seating is limited to 200 people. Info: (307) 332-2585, watershed@bresnan.net, or www.tetonwellness.org.

UPLIFT

* Aug. 22-23, Registration is happening now for Wyoming's Fourth Annual UPLIFT Children's Mental Health Conference, which will be held at the Best Western Inn in Lander. Guest speakers include Gary M. Blau, Ph.D, Sandra Spencer, Lorrin Gehring, and Rachel Nava. Scholarships for parents and youth, youth activities, STARS, PTSB and CEU credits are available. Info: (888) 875-4383 or (307) 778-8686.

Devil's Tower events

* Aug. 25-27, American Indian Heritage Weekend, a three day event to help visitors understand the cultural importance of the Tower to over 20 Northern Plains Indian Tribes.

Story Days

* Aug. 25, The town of Story will host a Dutch Oven Cookoff in the Fire Department lot located at Crooked St. and Ponderosa Dr. There will be a IDOS sanctioned three pot cookoff and a one pot free-for-all with prizes being awarded for both contests. Set up begins at 10:30 a.m., cooking begins at 12:30 a.m., judging begins at 4:30 p.m., and there will be a public tasting at 5:30 p.m. A $5 tasting fee will be charged and entries must be received by Aug. 12. They are available at the Piney Creek Store or at storywyoming.org. Info: (307) 683-3082.

Mount Rushmore Smoking Ban

* A Public Notice of the Smoking Ban at Mount Rushmore National Memorial has been issued and will remain in effect until rescinded in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, section 1.5. Due to very high fire danger, the Superintendent has determined it necessary to prohibit smoking anywhere within the memorial, with the exception of smoking within a privately owned vehicle, provided that no ignited material is placed anywhere outside of such vehicle.

Yellowstone Art Museum

* The Yellowstone Art Museum will be open seven days a week now through Aug. 28. Museum admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $3 for children ages 5-18. Admission is free with membership. Summer museum hours are Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thu., 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sun., noon-5 p.m.

Converse County Hospital Foundation

* Sept. 2, The Converse County Hospital Foundation's Third Annual Fund-raising Golf Tournament will be held at the Douglas Community Club Golf Course. The tournament is a four-person scramble open to all levels of players. Admission is $75 per player. A dinner will be held at 6 p.m. at the Douglas Community Club and the tournament will commence Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. Info: (307) 358-1903 or (307) 358-3947.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

* The Ok-A-Beh Marina will be open now until September 4, Labor Day. The marina at Horseshoe Bend will remain closed for the season. For current lake conditions, call the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center at (307) 548-5406 or park headquarters at Fort Smith, Montana: (406) 666-2412.

Japan-America Society

* Sept. 9, The Japan-America Society of Wyoming (JASWY) is having its first Festival of Japan at the Laramie High School auditorium featuring a free one-hour concert by the Denver Taiko Japanese drum group, a martial arts demonstration by the Kendo Club of Wyoming, and a demonstration of traditional Japanese dance. Doors will open at 1 p.m. with the main show beginning at 2 p.m. Info: (307) 721-5984 or {M7www.jaswy.org.

Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley

* Fully narrated historic tours of Cheyenne through Sept. 30. Tours are available Mon.-Fri. at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. Sat. at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Trolley and attraction passes are also available for $15 and allow entrance to area museums along with the trolley ride. Info: (307) 778-3133 or (800) 426-5009.

Stammtisch

* A new lunchtime group for German speakers or learners meets the first and third Tuesday of the month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Cheyenne. Info: (307) 771-8706.

Cheyenne water polo

* Now through Aug. 17, the Cheyenne Municipal Pool will host water polo on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-10 p.m. Info: (307) 637-6455.

Rock Springs Farmer's Market

* Every Thursday through July and August, a farmer's market will be held in Bank Court, between Broadway and S. Main St., from 4-8 p.m. Items being sold include produce, bath products, jerky and sausage, jewelry, and more. Booth spaces of 10' x 10' are available to vendors for free. To acquire a booth or for more information, call (307) 362-3771.

Parent-education seminars

* The Wyoming Children's Access Network provides parent-education seminars for divorcing, separated and never-married parents. The seminar is provided monthly in Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Gillette, Jackson, Lander, Laramie, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Sheridan and Torrington and provides information about the impact of parental conflict on children and teaches the parents skills to help with the difficult transition. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and other adults close to the children are welcome to attend as well.There is a nominal fee for the seminar that may be waived upon request, based on need. Pre-registration is required 24 hours in advance. Info: Wyoming Children's Access Network at 866-726-3700.

Sheridan County Public Library events

* In response to the popularity of book discussion groups, the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library has added book club kits to its circulating collection. Each kit contains multiple copies of the book, plus discussion questions, author biographies, and a list of suggested further reading. Each kit may be checked out for six weeks. Info: (307) 674-8585.

Wyoming State Museum exhibition

* Now through Aug 31, "America's Pastime: Baseball." The exhibit chronicles three centuries of baseball in Wyoming and contains artifacts from two Cheyenne teams, the Cheyenne Indians and the Cheyenne Grizzlies. Members of the Grizzlies will be at the State Museum from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to sign autographs. Info: (307) 777-7022 or visit http://wyomuseum.state.wy.us/.

Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition

* Now through Aug. 31, Cheyenne hosts the Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition, featuring 47 works of art by 41 Wyoming artists on display at the Wyoming State Museum. Purchase awards provided by the five elected officials, as well as other state agencies. Purchased pieces of artwork are then added to the Governor's Capitol Art Collection and are available for display in the offices of state officials. Pieces not purchased via purchase awards are available to the public. Info: (307) 777-7022.

Nicolaysen Art Museum

* Now through Sept. 3, Lynn Munns, "A Life of Making and Teaching" exhibit in Casper. Artist Gallery Talk at 6 p.m. and opening reception at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Nic members free, nonmembers $5. Kid's Corral available. Info: 235-5247.

Wilhelmi exhibition

* Now through Sept. 3, The Yellowstone Art Museum presents Gregory Wilhelmi: A Matter of Time. Wilhelmi's work comments on the passage of time and the pace of life in eastern Montana. The exhibition provides a glimpse of who we are and what we have done, circa 2006. The show opening on tonight will begin with the Museum's Annual Membership Meeting at 4:30 p.m., followed by the Annual Meeting Fund-raising Dinner at 5:30 p.m., and an opportunity to view the exhibitions, meet the exhibiting artists, and hear them speak about their work. The public is welcome. Admission is free to members, $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $3 for children ages 5-18. Dinner tickets are $17/person, for both members and nonmembers. Info: (406) 256-6804, ext. 224 or visit {M7{M7www.artmuseum.org.

Andy Warhol exhibit

* Now through Sept 24, Andy Warhol's "Endangered Species and Vanishing Animals," in Jackson. In 1983, Warhol created a portfolio documenting 10 species of endangered animals from across the globe, including the bald eagle, the Siberian tiger, the bighorn sheep, and the Grevy's zebra. Info: (307) 733-5771 or visit www.wildlifeart.org/.

"Thomas Moran" exhibit

* Now through Sept. 24, "Thomas Moran's Yellowstone: Watercolors from the Hayden Expedition," an exhibit at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson. In 1871 the Hayden expedition set out to survey the sources of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, the area that was soon to become the nation's first national park. Info: (307) 733-5771 or www.wildlifeart.org/.

Wyoming State Historical Society event

* Moorcroft Museum History Days. The Moorcroft Museum will focus on the history of the Texas Trail that passed through Moorcroft. The show will last until Sept. 26.

"A Woman's Place" exhibit

* Now through Jan. 28, 2007, Step back in time and learn how modern appliances changed the life of Cheyenne's homemakers at the turn of the century. Old West Museum, Cheyenne. Info: (307) 778-1413.