Gillette man dies in rig accident

GILLETTE - A 26-year-old man was killed at about noon on Monday while he was working on a coal-bed methane gas rig on Christensen Road between Gillette and Wright, according to the Campbell County Sheriff's Department.

Joseph Kenneth Laster was reportedly greasing some equipment when his coat became entangled in a driveline shaft, sucking him into the shaft, Campbell County Sheriff Bill Pownall said.

Laster was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a contract worker for XTO Energy, according to the sheriff's report.

Bar owners could face charges

LARAMIE - The city attorney's office is contemplating whether to press criminal and civil charges against bar owners who have hosted poker tournaments in recent months.

City Attorney Peggy Trent said she would make a decision within a couple of weeks.

Potentially, bars could face a $750 fine and have their liquor licenses revoked or suspended.

"We would have to assess each tournament in each establishment and make a determination of whether it was illegal," Trent said. "In some places, the game of poker is played differently."

Trent said she would ask City Council members for direction before deciding whether to revoke or suspend liquor licenses.

Mike Hopkins, owner of the Cowboy Saloon and Buckhorn Bar, started hosting poker tournaments about six months ago. At the time, bars in Casper and Cheyenne also were hosting the games. Last November, Laramie police shut down a poker game at the Cowboy. Hopkins complied, and no tickets were issued.

But Hopkins continued hosting tournaments at the Buckhorn until Feb. 3, when police again asked him to stop. At the time, he said there was some uncertainty about the legality of poker, so he decided to continue the games, awaiting the city attorney's ruling.

State law prohibits professional gambling in Wyoming, and a state attorney general's opinion determined that the poker tournaments were professional gambling.

New law aids veterans' tax breaks

CHEYENNE - Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed a bill into law Tuesday that will make it easier for veterans to obtain tax breaks.

"This is just one of a series of bills that have come through this session to recognize and support the role of the military, both current and past," Freudenthal said.

The act streamlines state law so that veterans will automatically be eligible for a reduction in property taxes without the Legislature having to revisit the statute each time the United States becomes involved in a new conflict.

The new law continues the existing tax break of up to $800, but now applies to any veteran who received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or other service medal for fighting in a foreign country, was honorably discharged and has lived in Wyoming at least three years.

Earlier in the session, the governor signed bills extending from four years to five years a veteran's right to re-employment and loosening requirements for National Guard members to receive college aid. Several other veterans' bills await his signature.

Avalanche injures Jackson skier

JACKSON - Rescuers used a helicopter to pluck an injured skier from a canyon area after he triggered an avalanche that swept him 2,000 feet down a backcountry couloir outside Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Eric Rohr of Jackson triggered the slide Monday near the top of Mile Long Couloir, a north-facing chute in Grand Teton National Park that skiers access from the resort.

Rohr was taken to St. John's Medical Center on Monday night for treatment of leg and other injuries, according to a National Park Service news release.

Rohr was with four other skiers, who planned to carve turns down the more than 2,000-foot couloir, which is pocked with rocks, according to park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs. Rohr was the first skier down the run and cut off a small slab as he entered the top of the couloir. After he made two turns, the slide began at about 12:20 p.m.