Rescuers save climber from Teewinot Mountain

MOOSE - A climber was rescued after hurting his ankle in a 12-foot fall while descending Teewinot Mountain.

Jeff Hopewell, 31, of Arlington, Texas, fell around 4 p.m. Sunday after he and six companions had tried to reach the summit, according to Grand Teton National Park officials.

After hearing about the accident from two others who hurried down, rangers decided to rescue Hopewell with a wheeled litter.

Nine rangers and two fire personnel reached him near the top of the Apex Trail, about 10,000 feet, around 7:30 p.m. They provided emergency care before lowering him to the valley, using a rope and anchor system over the steepest areas.

The rescue party reached Lupine Meadows at 10:40 p.m. and some of the people with Hopewell drove him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson.

It was the 13th major search and rescue effort in the park this year.

Teton road, bridge projects about to begin

MOOSE - Road and bridge replacement projects are expected to begin soon in Grand Teton National Park.

Paving is scheduled to begin Wednesday along the Moose-Wilson Road between the Moose Visitor Center and the Granite Canyon Entrance Station, according to park officials.

Delays up to 10 minutes can be expected Wednesday, Thursday and, if work continues, on Monday.

Three bridges are expected to be replaced: the Climbers Ranch bridge over Cottonwood Creek, near the Highlands housing area; the Lupine Meadows bridge over Cottonwood Creek, which provides access to the Lupine Meadows trailhead, just south of Jenny Lake; and the Lake Creek bridge, near the JY Ranch on the Moose-Wilson Road.

Work on the Climbers Ranch bridge begins Sept. 15 and on the Lupine Meadows and Lake Creek bridges Oct. 1.

The Climbers Ranch and Lupine Meadows bridges will remain closed, except to emergency vehicles, through April 30. The Lake Creek Bridge is expected to reopen after Nov. 30.

Rock Springs changes attendance policy

ROCK SPRINGS - Rock Springs High School is implementing tougher truancy penalties this year.

In the past, a student with four unexcused absences in a given class period would be given an in-school suspension, which is like detention during the class period in question.

Under the new policy, assistant principal Tony Holt said truant students could face Saturday school or after-school detention.

In addition, a student found wandering the halls 10 minutes after the bell could get a ticket for trespassing after the third offense.

Holt said the goal is not to take the truant students out of class but to make the penalty for truancy more unpleasant.

Bikers rumble in to UW tailgate party

LARAMIE - The tailgating party before Wyoming's 53-7 rout of Appalachian State had an "Easy Rider" flair Saturday.

Thirty-seven motorcyclists led by a leather-clad biker in a skull mask rumbled into the tailgating area between the Centennial Complex and Green Hill Cemetery.

They parked along 19th Street, where other tailgaters admired the Harley-Davidsons, Yamahas and customs.

"This is the first UW Bikers Stadium Rally," Laramie HOGS President Geoff Storey declared amid the rumble of engines.

Storey said it was part of a full weekend of activities for the group including a barbecue at the Alibi Pub after the football game and a poker run Sunday.

Wyoming defensive coordinator Mike Breske brainstormed the motorcycle rally idea, which had been planned since March, he said.

After parking their bikes, visiting with other fans and eating hamburgers and bratwursts, the bikers attended the game.