Sublette County well-represented

by Cat Urbigkit

Veterinarians, legislators, ranchers and agriculture officials are among the members of the newly formed Wyoming Brucellosis Coordination Team. Four members are from Sublette County: Boulder rancher Joel Bousman, Pinedale rancher Albert Sommers, Pinedale outfitter Terry Pollard and House District 22 Representative Monte Olsen of Daniel.

Governor Dave Freudenthal's office has been developing the membership for several weeks, following requests from constituents to establish a group to work toward finding long-term solutions for the brucellosis problem in Wyoming.

"There remains much debate about whether, as a practical or scientific matter, brucellosis can be fully eradicated in the United States," Freudenthal said. "However, there can be no debate about the need to effectively respond to the current problem in Wyoming."

The task force will be chaired by Dr. Frank Galey, dean of the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture. In addition to the Sublette County folks on the team, other members include:

-Rob Hendry, a rancher from Lysite

-Bill Lambert, a rancher from Osage

-John Etchepare, director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture

-Brad Mead, an attorney and rancher from Jackson

-Terry Cleveland, director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department

-Dr. Jim Logan, Wyoming state veterinarian

-Cathy Purves, Wyoming Wildlife Federation

-Bob Wharff, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife

-Dr. Kenneth Mills, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory

-Dr. Tom Thorne, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory

-Shawn Madden, co-owner of Torrington Livestock Markets

-Dr. Bill Williams, a veterinarian and member of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission

-Dr. Karl Musgrave, Wyoming state epidemiologist

-Sen. John Hines, R- Gillette.

The group will have several technical advisors, including a representative of the Wyoming Attorney General's Office. While the list of technical advisors may grow in coming weeks, based on the needs of the task force, current technical advisors include:

-Scott Werbelow, Wyoming Game and Fish Department

-John Keck, U.S. Park Service

-Brent Larson, U.S. Forest Service

-Marty Griffith, U.S. Bureau of Land Management

-Dr. Bret Combs, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

-Dr. Donal O'Toole, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory

-Bill Gern, UW vice president for research

Freudenthal said he was grateful for the number of people who submitted their name for consideration. Although some were not ultimately chosen as team members, the governor said it demonstrated the amount of interest in the state in finding solutions.

"The work of the coordination team will be difficult and controversial," Freudenthal said. "Issues surrounding wildlife, livestock and brucellosis inevitably become the subject of public debate. I appreciate the willingness, on the part of team members and the advisory staff, to help develop recommendations for state and federal actions in this area."