Charge: Man lied that child died

ROCK SPRINGS - A Rock Springs man was charged with obtaining property by false pretenses after he allegedly collected more than $1,300 from co-workers who thought his 2-year-old daughter had died.

Henry Eugene Bingham, 26, made his initial appearance Friday in Circuit Court. If convicted of the felony charge, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, fined up to $10,000, or both.

According to court documents, the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department was contacted by John Fassett of Snelson Pipeline Co. in Granger, who said his employees had chipped in when Bingham told them during an Oct. 16 safety meeting that his daughter had fallen ill, been flown to Salt Lake City and died. Fassett said employees contributed $1,319, which Bingham took. Fassett said the labor union gave Bingham money the next day.

When someone from the company's headquarters called Fassett's home on Oct. 19 to offer condolences, Bingham's wife, Angela Bingham, said the child was alive and well. Angela later told investigators that Bingham had come home with a large sum of money; she turned over $1,236 to the sheriff's department.

Bingham allegedly told a sheriff's deputy that he made up the story to try to get time off work, but didn't answer when asked why he took the money and continued to go to work.

First lady's mother takes ill

CHEYENNE - First lady Nancy Freudenthal's mother has been hospitalized, and Gov. Dave Freudenthal may need to alter his public appearances this week, the governor's office said Monday.

Shirley Castle is being treated for a "severe case" of pneumonia in West Park Hospital in Cody, according to a statement from Lara Azar, the governor's press secretary.

The Freudenthals spent most of the weekend with Castle and will likely spend significant time there in coming days, Azar said.

Freudenthal, who is seeking a second term in the Nov. 7 election, did attend a previously scheduled debate Monday night with Republican challenger Ray Hunkins in Casper.

Forest acquires 4,300 acres

SALT LAKE CITY - The Wasatch-Cache National Forest is getting 4,326 acres near the Wyoming border that have been privately owned but accessible to the public.

"It is interspersed with the national forest, and most people generally think of it as the national forest," said ranger Stephen Ryberg. "So people are using it for camping, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling - the full range of multiple uses."

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. sold the land for $3 million. Ryberg is grateful the land will be in public hands.

"Over the years that I've worked with them, they have been approached by a number of developers who were interested in buying the property," he said.

The Forest Service would like to acquire 7,265 additional acres owned by Anadarko, possibly in 2007 and 2008. The area south of Evanston is home to elk, moose, deer and trout.