Mom sues in rig death

GILLETTE -- The mother of an 18-year-old Gillette man killed in a rig accident is suing her son's employers for an unspecified amount in damages.

Beau Hess died in December 2007 while working on a drill rig about 20 miles north of Gillette.

Authorities have said Hess was struck by a large pipe and thrown against a truck. He died of skull fractures.

At the time, Hess worked on a rig crew for Trecoby Services LLC. In a lawsuit filed last week, Hess' mother, Katherine Scott Moore, contends the company's owners and a company supervisor were responsible for her son's death.

Petro-Canada Resources Inc., which controlled the well site, also was named as a defendant.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Trecoby Services $5,400 and issued four citations in Hess' death.

Student faces stalking charge

PAVILLION -- Fremont County police say a student at the Wind River junior high school in Pavillion has been cited for stalking rather than assault as previously reported.

It was first reported that Fremont County authorities said a 13-year-old boy grabbed another student from behind and held a knife to his throat and threatened to cut him.

However, Sheriff Skip Hornecker said no knife was involved. Rather, he said the student used a child's scissors to intimidate a classmate.

No one was hurt.

Man pleads guilty to child porn

LARAMIE -- A 21-year-old Laramie man has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children for the possession and distribution of child pornography through an online file-sharing network.

Joshua J. Blixt entered the guilty pleas Tuesday in District Court. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop two additional counts of sexual exploitation of children in addition to recommending probation and suspended prison sentences of five to eight years.

The possession and distribution of child pornography is punishable by imprisonment from five to 12 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

Blixt admitted he downloaded and distributed child pornography but said he did so accidentally while receiving various pornographic images and videos from other users through a file-sharing network.

Forest land sale plans set

JACKSON -- Bridger-Teton National Forest officials have released a draft plan to sell 10 acres that contain the current forest headquarters in Jackson in northwest Wyoming.

Forest Service officials have said proceeds from the sale of the property will fund construction of a new supervisor's office, employee housing and other facilities.

The sale would take advantage of a law that allows for the sale of some Forest Service lands, including administrative property.

The public has 30 days to comment on the proposal.