New prison probes applicants

TORRINGTON - The Wyoming Department of Corrections will conduct testing for people interested in working as correctional officers at the state's new medium-security prison in Torrington.

The department says testing will be at Eastern Wyoming College at 9 a.m. Saturday and Monday, and on Friday, July 24.

The 720-bed Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution will employ nearly 180 correctional officers.

Testing will include an integrity evaluation, report writing, counting, reading, judgment evaluation, fingerprinting, interviewing and physical fitness.

Job applicants should bring a high school diploma, driver's license, birth certificate, social security card, credit bureau report, and any military or training records.

More information is available from the Department of Corrections.

Airport finds storage place

JACKSON - Grand Teton National Park has agreed to allow the Jackson Hole Airport to use a previously disturbed area for the stockpiling of construction materials and equipment.

The materials and equipment are needed for an airport terminal expansion project that will be getting under way soon. The airport is within Grand Teton's boundaries.

The stockpile area is located on the east side of Highway 26/89/191 and may be visible to passing motorists.

The park also plans to temporarily stockpile gravel and other materials at the same location for use on road improvement projects scheduled for July and August.

More help for uninsured kids

CHEYENNE - A Wyoming Department of Health official said state budget cuts have not affected coverage for participants in a state-federal health care program for uninsured children.

Kid Care CHIP provides health, vision and dental insurance to children from families that meet eligibility and income guidelines.

Program manager Patricia Guzman said Monday that the program has "plenty of room to enroll additional children" and is accepting applications.

The health departments says a family of four making up to $44,000 a year may qualify. There are now close to 5,500 children in the program, and its current capacity is 5,900.

The Wyoming House of Representatives this year defeated a bill that would have expanded Kid Care CHIP.

New Rawlins school on the way

RAWLINS - Construction is expected to start in August on a new elementary school in Rawlins that could to eventually replace three existing schools.

The Carbon County District 1 School Board budgeted $28 million for the project, but the architect said the actual cost may be less because of the recession.

The school will house nearly 690 students in second through fifth grades. It will have 36 classrooms and nearly 95,000 square feet.

Construction is expected to take 16 months.