Sugar beet growers still digging

POWELL -- Western Sugar Cooperative growers in northern Wyoming are digging more sugar beets under the quota system that has been in place since a hard freeze damaged the beets in early October.

Western Sugar officials allowed growers to dig another 1.2 tons per contracted acre.

That should provide about a week's worth of supply to the Lovell beet processing factory.

Officials say the beets will be processed right away because the freeze damage causes them to spoil earlier than undamaged beets.

Sugar beets that have already been harvested and piled are checked daily to be sure they remain stable. If the piled beets start to go bad, that could halt the new dig while piled beets are delivered to the factory for processing into sugar.

Home sales data may go public

CHEYENNE -- The Wyoming Legislature's Joint Interim Revenue Committee has approved a bill that would make records of home sales open to the public.

Department of Revenue Administrator Marvin Applequist said homeowners want to see the home sales information used for property tax assessments to make sure they're being treated fairly.

Laramie County Assessor Brenda Arnold said under the current system, taxpayers who wish to see the sales data in their neighborhoods used for their appraisals may do so during a 30-day period to appeal their assessments. They do not have to go through the whole process to the county Board of Equalization.

But it is a misdemeanor crime to reveal the information to anyone else.

Big Horn route closes Dec. 2

SHERIDAN -- The Wyoming Department of Transportation plans to close U.S. 14-A west of Burgess Junction for the winter at noon on Dec. 2.

The department closes the 22-mile stretch of road over the Big Horn Mountains at the end of the fall hunting season. This year's hunting season ends Nov. 30.

Any winter weather could cause WyDOT to close the road early instead of trying to plow the road.

The highway will reopen in the spring. Crews usually spend three weeks removing winter snowpack from the road.

Ex-town clerk gets probation

LANDER -- A former Pavillion town clerk has been fined $1,000 for trying to cash checks she wrote to herself from the town under the guise of a severance payment.

District Judge Norman E. Young this week also ordered that 49-year-old Susan Taylor serve three years of probation for felony attempted larceny and misdemeanor official misconduct.

Last August, Taylor entered pleas that allowed her to admit guilt while continuing to maintain her innocence.

Charging documents say Taylor wrote herself two checks from the town worth more than $6,000 each after she was fired by town leaders in December 2007.