Refund checks await Wyoming residents

CHEYENNE - The Internal Revenue Service is looking for more than 300 Wyoming residents. But not because they owe money.

The federal tax agency said it has 315 income tax refund checks and advance child tax credit checks sent back as undeliverable, and agents can't find a way to contact the recipients.

"This isn't the government's money. This is their money," IRS spokeswoman Jean Carl said. "We want to get it back to them."

The total value of the checks is $162,153.

Recipients who update their addresses by next Friday can get their checks reissued by the end of the year. They can also claim the credit on their 2003 tax return, Carl said.

Taxpayers who believe they're owed money can also get online at www.irs.gov or call (800) 829-1040 to change their address or review their refund and tax credit status.

Forest snowpack deepest in 5 years

JACKSON - Early-season snowpack in parts of the Bridger-Teton National Forest is the deepest in five years.

The northwest Wyoming forest has received 81 inches of snow this month, resulting in a 39-inch snowpack. That is 13 more inches than in 2002, and more than double the snowpack depth in 1999-2001.

But avalanche forecaster Bob Comey said the region has recorded below average snowfalls since 1996, and this year's early total is only slightly ahead of a 37-year average.

"What we have right now is a little more snow than is typical in town," he said. "In the Tetons, we're right about average because we've had dry Octobers and Novembers for the last four years."

The snow has been wetter than normal, though, which Comey said will lessen the threat of avalanches by covering obstacles and stabilizing the snowpack.

Iowa man hurt after being hit by semi

CHEYENNE - An Iowa man suffered minor injuries after he stepped in front of a slow-moving semitrailer on an interstate ramp, authorities said.

David Anderson, 47, was taken by ambulance to United Medical Center-West about 11 a.m. Wednesday, then released in the afternoon, hospital spokesman Dave Hall said.

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Anderson was either standing or walking on the interchange ramp from northbound I-25 to eastbound I-80 when he stepped in front of a rig driven by Dwalid Shaba, 42, of Toronto, Ontario.

"The truck driver was going slow - about 5 mph - to take the ramp," Sgt. Steve Townsend said.

The driver told troopers that Anderson saw the truck before he stepped in front of it, but it remains unclear if he intended to do that, Townsend said.

Shaba wasn't cited, but Anderson could be ticketed for hitchhiking or walking on the interstate.

BLM managers seeking public comment

KEMMERER - Federal land managers are encouraging the public to continue commenting on revision of a management plan for Bureau of Land Management property in far western Wyoming.

"We want to hear from the people who live, work and recreate in the areas which will be impacted by our … revision process," said Arlan Hiner, acting field manager for the Kemmerer BLM office. "We have many avenues of opportunity where people can still give us their comments."

Among the topics raised during recent public meetings were access to public lands; oil and gas development in wildlife winter range; new roads and wind farms; corridors for pipelines and power lines; increased off-road usage; litter; weeds; grazing management; land exchanges; wildlife watching; protecting historic trails and protecting scenic views.

Comments can be mailed to the Kemmerer Field Office, BLM, Attention Don Ogaard, RMP Project Manager, 312 Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, WY 83101. Comments may also be submitted at (http://www.wy.blm.gov/kfo)