Flight delays usually don't affect owls, who are generally accustomed to spreading their wings and taking off at a moment's notice.

But a burrowing owl born with a birth defect took a long, strange trip to a new home recently, courtesy of a plucky animal rescuer and some volunteers who wanted to see the bird in a new home, the Gillette News-Record reported in its June 22 edition.

The owl in question was born with a condition that has its left wing folded awkwardly over its back, that apparently occurred as the bird was in the egg or while it was hatching, the newspaper reported.

Nonetheless, the bird walked to wintering grounds when it was scooped up by a group of coal-bed methane workers, who contacted the sheriff's office, who contacted uber animal-saver Diane Morse, who sought out a home for the critter.

The bird was flown by Kent Potter in his charter plane to Salt Lake City, where it awaited a home at the Hogle Zoo.

"It's just one of those things we thought we might do. It's not going to cost anybody anything to help this bird out, so why not," Potter told the paper.

At the Salt Lake zoo, the owl will share space with a second burrowing owl.

Heroes all around

Stuff like this seems to happen every day in Wyoming, or so it appears. And when it does, there's an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

Robert Cofell of Douglas was awakened to the sound of crashing and popping and a bright, hot orange light, and it took the kindness of neighbors and a resourceful dog to save his life.

The Douglas Budget reported in its June 27 edition of a fire that engulfed Cofell's home the week before.

"I sat up in bed, so did my dog," Cofell, 38, told the paper. "I layed back down. I heard a crash and a pop, the next thing I know, those guys were pulling me out."

"Those guys" were members of the volunteer fire department in Douglas, although the paper hadn't tracked down exactly who did the heroic deed.

Neighbor Tom Haddenham helped too, spraying a garden hose on the blaze.

No one was injured, and Cofell's employers, who own a motel, gave him a place to bed down while he sorts out his next move.

A long, long time ago, in a place far, far away…

Well, not that long ago. And for some Pine Bluffs residents, well, Los Angeles is a long way away from the edge of the prairie.

But a group of uberfans trekked 1,200 miles away in late May to attend the 30th anniversary of the first "Star Wars" movie at the "Star Wars Celebration" in Los Angeles.

A half-dozen Pine Bluffs residents made the long trip.

Terry Steege said his favorite part of the convention was meeting Darth Maul (Ray Park) with his two sons, whom Park taught how to use light sabers.

Star Wars "was pretty much the first movie I remember watching," Terry Steege told the Pine Bluffs Post for its June 21 edition. "Then it just grew with every movie."

Steege and his family saw exhibits featuring upcoming toys and got a sneak peek at the new Indiana Jones movie, which is produced by George Lucas, whose imprint is all over the "Star Wars" films.

Mailing in some history

It's a history-making route that lasted barely a year, yet has plenty of significance to Wyoming residents.

For one day (June 16), the Pony Express rode through Uinta County, with actors handling mail, the Bridger Valley Pioneer reported in its June 22 edition.

Savannah Feehan has taken part in the re-enactment the past four years.

"I have a lot of fun riding with these people and each year you get to know them better," she told the paper. "…You get kicked by horses, have flat tires on trucks and trailers - good weather and bad, the ride continues," she said.

Kind of like the postal credo that suggests neither rain nor snow nor dead of night … will stop even the most colorful or talented actor from delivering packages, even if it's just for the feel of the Old West. The Pony Express, the paper reported, traversed 1,966 miles from St. Joseph, Mo., to Sacramento, Calif., in 1860-61, following a path that traversed through Sweetwater County.

Got an item or tip for this column? Contact night editor David Mirhadi at (307) 266-0616 or david.mirhadi@casperstartribune.net