Reporter’s Notes

Reward offered in ecotage incidents

The Wyoming Wool Growers Association would like to make an offer to the citizens of Wyoming a $500 reward in either cash or a contribution to the charity of the recipient’s choice for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the recent rash of “ecotage” incidents in Sublette County.

WWGA would also hope that other state and local agricultural and/or multiple use groups in the state would match or exceed the offer in order that a substantial reward fund can be generated that will aid in bringing these environmental terrorists to justice.

For more information, please contact Bryce Reece, Wyoming Wool Growers Association at 307-265-5250.

Split Estate

The Joint Executive-Legislative Committee on Split Estate has announced that he committee will meet Oct. 14 at 8 a.m. at the Holiday Inn on the River in Casper.

The purpose of the meeting is to continue consideration of draft legislation and to consider a draft report to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee.

Western hired

Writer and journalist Samuel Western joined Governor Dave Freudenthal’s staff Monday as a human services policy analyst.

Western has been living and writing in Wyoming for more than 20 years. He has written for the Wall Street Journal, LIFE and the Economist of London and is most recently known for his book “Pushed Off the Mountain, Sold Down the River: Wyoming’s Search for Its Soul.”

“It’s a privilege for me to join the governor and his team,” said Western, a Democrat. “It’s a pretty exciting time.”

Western, 48, began a three-month trial period with the governor’s office Monday. Western will not be working on issues dealing with agriculture in Wyoming.

Green River BAG

The Green River Basin Advisory Group will hold its next meeting on Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. in the Lyman Town Hall. Topics on the agenda include Bridger Valley Joint Powers Board water development issues, winter season outlook, Upper Green JPB update, Flaming Gorge update and an update on Colorado River issues. For more information, contact the Wyoming Water Development Commission at 307-777-7626.

Brucellosis Update

Questions linger over the source of brucellosis detected in two Campbell County cattle, with doubt being cast on the accuracy of the South Dakota laboratory that conducted the tests, according to the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Apparently the DNA marker found in the two samples was similar to that found in a South Dakota bison herd. While the Campbell County herd had no contact with the bison herd, the lab had.

The Casper Star-Tribune reported that a federal review of the lab has been completed and no evidence of error was detected. However, detection would have been difficult since the tissue samples had been destroyed.

The Campbell County cattle herd has not been depopulated and questions over the accuracy of the tests arose after 2,000 more area cattle were tested and no further brucellosis was discovered.