Jury's verdict: Manslaughter

RAWLINS - A jury in Rawlins has found a man guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of another man.

Forrest Bromley was on trial for a second-degree murder charge in the death of Jason Voss.

But the jury decided Friday night during seven hours of deliberation to convict Bromley of manslaughter instead.

Prosecutors had argued that Bromley deliberately shot Voss in the face with a shotgun on April 25, 2007, near Saratoga in Carbon County. But Bromley's defense attorney countered that the shooting was an accident.

Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

District Judge Wade Waldrip ordered a presentence investigation.

Wyo wolf-kill total reaches 16

JACKSON - Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials say 16 wolves have been legally killed in the state since the animals were removed from protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The latest wolf killing was reported by a hunter who shot a wolf May 5 near Daniel in Sublette County.

The 16 killed since late March include four wolves shot by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after they were seen preying on cattle.

All the animals were shot in the area of the state where wolves can be killed at any time using any means. People who kill wolves are required to report to Game and Fish within 10 days.

Boulder hits home, pickup

JACKSON - A large boulder bounced down a butte north of Jackson and broke into large pieces that smashed into a home and vehicle over the weekend.

No one was hurt.

The rock came loose early Saturday morning just after midnight, and broke into at least four pieces.

The largest piece smashed through a wall of the home of Teton County Commissioner Andy Schwartz, blew a 4- by 6-foot hole in the living room floor and landed in the basement. Members of the family were sleeping in their bedrooms at the time. The piece of rock was about 4 feet square and 3 feet thick.

Just below the Schwartz home, a second piece of rock about 3 feet square and 2 feet thick crashed into a man's Toyota pickup, which was parked outside his home.

Off-road vehicle plan advances

SPEARFISH, S.D. - Officials are continuing to work on off-road vehicle plans for the Black Hills National Forest in southwest South Dakota and northeast Wyoming and could release a draft environmental statement in late spring or early summer.

Tom Williams, a Black Hills forest travel management planner, said a 45-day comment period would follow release of the study.

Forest Supervisor Craig Bobzien will make a final decision this fall on the final off-road vehicle plan, and trail system maps will be available in early 2009.

On Nov. 2, 2005, the U.S. Forest Service changed its policy nationwide requiring that all forests be closed unless posted open to off-road vehicles.

The policy is the opposite of the total freedom Black Hills riders are used to, said Eric Hunt, president of the South Dakota Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition.