Disease lab headed for Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Another federal research lab dedicated to animal diseases is leaving Laramie and heading for Manhattan, Kan.

Congress earlier this fall approved $1.5 million to move the Arthropod-Borne Animal Disease Research Laboratory. The lab works with livestock diseases spread by insects and arachnids, such as ticks, midges and mosquitoes.

A group of federal, state and local officials will officially announce the lab's move today at a news conference in Manhattan.

The lab, which employs about 25 researchers and other staff, is expected to be operating in Manhattan by next summer, said Michael McGuire, associate area director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Laramie researchers will be offered positions in Manhattan, he said.

Tom Thornton, chief executive officer of the Kansas Bioscience Authority, said his agency is providing a matching $1.5 million to help with the move.

Refuge plans irrigation project

JACKSON -- The National Elk Refuge in Jackson has received $5 million for an irrigation project intended to increase natural forage for elk and reduce the need for supplemental feeding during the winter.

Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say $4.3 million is federal stimulus money and the rest is being paid for by the wildlife service.

Construction of the irrigation system is expected to last through August.

The system will increase the amount of irrigated land from 930 acres to 5,035 acres.

County may sell rec center

WRIGHT -- The Campbell County Commission has decided that the county's old recreation center should be put up for sale.

The commission is holding off on putting the building up for sale now because of the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service is still housed in the building. In addition, finding a buyer for the $3.8 million facility could be difficult now in the poor economy.

Commissioners say it could be a couple years before a buyer is found.

The commission is not against transferring the building to another government entity.

A new $52 million recreation center is being built in Gillette.

No prison for molester

GILLETTE -- A former day-care worker who molested a child he was in charge of watching has been given 10 years probation and no prison time.

Twenty-two-year-old Shawn Anthony Hart was sentenced Wednesday by District Judge Michael "Nick" Deegan. Hart was ordered to serve 10 years probation and to enroll in a treatment program for sex offenders who have mental disabilities.

Prosecutors say Hart molested the young girl in 2006 at the day care. He was fired December of that year.

Hart pleaded no-contest to a charge of taking immodest, immoral or indecent liberties with a child. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two other molestation charges.

Before the sentencing, the victim's grandmother told the court that the child still has lingering trust issues and will never be the same because of the crime.