Briefs

A paid administrator?

Should the Rural Health Care District hire an administrator to handle the overall day-to-day functions of the district, including overseeing the emergency medical services and clinics in the county?

That's what a special advisory committee appointed by the RHCD board is considering.

During the last month, the advisory committee has held five meetings in which it conducted private interviews with the county's medical professionals (including health care providers and emergency medical technicians) and senior citizen representatives to learn their views.

Expanding their efforts to learn how the public feels about the issue, the committee was slated for a public meeting in Pinedale Wednesday night, March 31. A public meeting set for Monday, March 29, in Big Piney drew no members of the public. Because the meeting had not been well publicized, the advisory committee has rescheduled the Big Piney session, now set for Tuesday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in the Big Piney Library.

RMP delayed

The Bureau of Land Management was scheduled for an April 2 release date of the draft environmental impact statement for revising the Pinedale Resource Management Plan, which sets the stage for management into the future. But the agency now reports that the release of the document probably won't occur until June.

Kellie Roadifer, project leader for the RMP, said there are numerous factors that have contributed to the delay, including the current problem of needing to recalculate air quality data.

Wolf attack

Merrill Dana reported that two or three wolves came into his yearling pasture in the Daniel region last Wednesday night, attacking a yearling steer and injuring it so badly that the animal had to be destroyed. The wolves came back to the ranch a second night, but did not attack any other animals. USDA Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves had attacked the steer, but control actions so far have proven fruitless.

Wolf litigation?

The board of directors of Sublette County Farm Bureau will meet in the Pinedale Farm Bureau office on Wednesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. to discuss the possibility of entering into litigation over management of wolves that prey on livestock. Farm Bureau members, as well as any livestock producers adversely impacted by wolves, are invited to attend and participate in the discussion.

Chamber to host marksman

The Sublette County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a presentation by well-known hunter and marksman Wayne VanZwoll, editor of Mule Deer magazine. The presentation, which will include hunting and shooting tips, will be held Monday, April 5, at 6 p.m. in the Pinedale Fire Hall. VanZwoll also contributes a column to Rocky Mountain's Elk Foundation's Bugle magazine.

Drought assessment

In the West, the drought forecast calls for improvement in the drought situation across northern Nevada, southeastern Oregon, southern Idaho and northwestern Utah. Winter storms have resulted in near to above-average snow pack in the mountains. This should result in higher stream flows and increased soil moisture.

Further south, some improvement is expected across central Nevada, most of Utah, western Colorado, western Montana and northern Wyoming. However, the drought is expected to remain ongoing through the spring. Snow pack across these areas is near to slightly below normal. However, the mountain snow pack is better this year than last year across most of the area. Therefore, there is a slow positive trend in the drought situation. There is a slight tilt of the odds in favor of a cooler than normal spring across much of Wyoming and Montana. This would be favorable for pastures and would reduce evaporation.

Source: U.S. Drought Outlook.

Maki Creek proposal

The Big Piney Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest has issued an environmental assessment evaluating the impact of vegetation management in the Maki Creek area of the North Cottonwood Creek drainage.

The EA examines four alternatives, including the agency's preferred alternative of treatment of 150 acres of conifer, 1,131 acres of aspen and 1,169 acres of sagebrush/grass in order to move the vegetation toward the agency's desired conditions.

The preferred alternative reportedly meets forest standards as well as lynx conservation strategy measures, would improve overall wildlife, watershed and vegetation conditions, and would provide the best conditions for effective prescribed burning operations in aspen and sagebrush.

The Big Piney Ranger District will accept public comment on the proposed action for 30 days. For more information, contact Greg Clark or Jeff Laub at 307-276-3375.