Court delays coach's hearing

A preliminary court hearing for the former Lingle-Fort Laramie High School girls basketball coach charged with second-degree sexual assault has been delayed until Oct. 2 at 1: 30 p.m.

Buddy Patterson, 45, faces four counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of indecent liberties with a minor.

Court documents allege that Patterson used his position as coach to have sex with a minor four times in 2002 and 2003. He's also accused of taking indecent liberties with a minor in 2002 and 2003, according to court documents. A judge withheld other details to protect the identify of the alleged victim.

Patterson, who is out of jail on $10,000 bond, resigned from his job on July 5.

Patterson's lawyer, Wheatland attorney Cole Sherard, made the request on Patterson's behalf to postpone the preliminary hearing, which had been scheduled for Sept. 1 in Goshen County Circuit Court in Torrington.

An earlier Star-Tribune story gave incorrect information about the status of the case against Patterson. The newspaper regrets the error.

State sees more tularemia cases

CHEYENNE - Two people are believed to have contracted tularemia, an infectious disease that animals and insects can spread to humans, according to the state Department of Health.

Tularemia, also known as "rabbit fever" or "deer fly fever," typically affects rabbits, hares and rodents. Other mammals, including domestic animals, can also become infected.

A woman in Baggs who was bitten by a cat and a boy in Lovell who recently skinned a rabbit are both believed to have contracted the disease, according to a department news release Tuesday.

In addition, three cats, one foal and one cottontail rabbit have tested positive for the disease at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory.

"We've had reports this year of large rabbit die-offs in a number of areas around the state," said Jaime Snow, state public health veterinarian with the Department of Health.

Human symptoms of tularemia can include skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat and mouth sores.

"Tularemia can be fatal if the person is not treated," Snow said. "People who become ill after an insect or tick bite, after handling a sick or dead animal should contact their health care provider."

Jackson air travel sets record

JACKSON - Air traffic coming in and out of the Jackson Hole Airport hit a record high this summer.

In July, the number of air passengers soared to 41,663, a 15 percent increase from July 2005, according to numbers provided by the airport.

The July figure surpassed the 37,476 people who flew in during August 2003, previously the highest total recorded at the airport.

The strong air traffic may have been behind the optimism voiced by some Jackson retail, lodging and restaurant business owners about the summer tourist season.