Wyo forests get USDA money

CHEYENNE - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is following through on its recent promise to spend some federal economic stimulus money on national forest projects in Wyoming.

The agency on Tuesday announced that Wyoming forests will receive nearly $6.4 million. The money is part of the latest round of forest funding of nearly $95 million going to projects in 36 states.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal and the state's congressional delegation have complained this summer to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that the agency has awarded millions in stimulus funds to forests in surrounding states while denying funds to Wyoming forests.

Freudenthal said the latest funding won't address all the needs in Wyoming. But he says he's happy to see the funding.

Idaho counties back alternative

BOISE, Idaho - Five counties plan to back an alternative route for a proposed Wyoming-to-Idaho power transmission line Monday.

Idaho's Bannock, Oneida, Power, Cassia, and Twin Falls counties contend the path now favored by two utilities bankrolling the $2 billion project cuts a disruptive swath through too much private land.

The Bureau of Land Management is still deciding where the Gateway West project should go.

It's proposed by Idaho Power Co. and Rocky Mountain Power to run 1,150 miles from Glenrock to Melba in western Idaho.

The alternative, however, includes a detour further south along Idaho's border with Utah and Nevada that would add millions to the project.

Farmers say the existing plan would hurt agriculture; Idaho Power said it wants to work with counties and others to find a suitable route, but it fears the alternative will be too costly for rate payers.

Standoff leads to misdemeanor charge

CHEYENNE - A Cheyenne man faces a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangering after allegedly pointing a BB gun at a neighbor and then surrendering after an 8-hour standoff at his home last weekend.

Prosecutors filed the charge Monday against 52-year-old Richard S. Heideman.

Police say the confrontation with the neighbor occurred Saturday and Heideman surrendered early Sunday.

Initial reports said Heideman gave up after police shot tear gas into Heideman's home, but Police Sgt. Chad Seidel said no gas was used.

Seidel said Heideman surrender after police got a search warrant and began to enter the home at 1:30 a.m.

YNP road closes for construction

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - A section of Yellowstone National Park's Grand Loop Road has been closed for construction.

The road linking Madison and Norris on the park's west side has been closed to all traffic between Artist Paint Pots through Gibbon Canyon to the Tuff Cliff Picnic Area.

The work being done includes a new bridge across the Gibbon River and improvements to a bridge near Beryl Springs. Also, the road near Gibbon Falls is being realigned.

Park officials say visitors still will be able to travel to all major locations in the park, but it may take longer than usual.

The road will be open for snowmobiles and snowcoaches when the winter season begins Dec. 15.