Reporter's Notes

Elk control

One option being examined for controlling an overpopulated elk herd in Rocky Mountain National Park is the introduction of a wolf pack, according to an article in the Denver Post. The elk are reportedly damaging willow and aspen stands, so placing a pack of wolves in the park is being considered in attempt to reduce the elk population in the national park, located near Estes Park, Colo.

Second Amendment

The U.S. Senate passed a bill co-sponsored by Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, which would prevent frivolous lawsuits that threaten Second Amendment freedoms.

The senate passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, S. 397, by a vote of 65-31. Thomas and Enzi said it would block politically motivated lawsuits against gun manufacturers and sellers.

Over the past few years, dozens of cities have brought lawsuits against gun manufacturers and others seeking damages for the unlawful use of their products. The bill would prevent litigation brought against gun manufacturers for the criminal use of their products. The bill would not affect suits brought because of legitimate product failure. While the legislation does not grant blanket immunity to manufacturers, it does allow legitimate victims their day in court for cases involving defective firearms.

Daylight-saving time

Congress has finally seen the light and, because of it, we'll all be seeing more of it, said Senator Mike Enzi, who praised the extension of daylight-saving time and the efforts of some Wyoming elementary school students.

Sharon Rasmussen, a teacher at Sheridan's Highland Park Elementary School, and her students have been writing to Enz asking the senator to help them in their quest to extend daylight-saving time until Halloween to make it safer for kids to trick-or-treat.

Enzi has introduced the Halloween Safety Act at each session of Congress since 1999. Friday, the senate passed an energy bill that included language that would achieve the changes set forth in Enzi's act by extending daylight-saving time past Halloween to the first Sunday in November. The provision would also start daylight-saving time earlier, on the second Sunday in March instead of in April.

County Attorney

Sublette County Commissioners met Tuesday and accepted County Attorney Van Graham's letter of resignation, with an effective date of Aug. 31.

The commission declared a vacancy in the position, so County Clerk Mary Lankford will notify the Sublette County Republican Party of the vacancy. The party's central committee will meet and forward three names back to the commission. The commission will then decide from the three names submitted and make the appointment to fill the remainder of Graham's term.

LaBarge Creek

Commission Chair Betty Fear noted that there would be a tour and meeting involving the LaBarge Creek Road on Aug. 19 in LaBarge. Fear said the meeting would involve natural resource agencies with jurisdiction along the road, area property owners and commissioners from both Sublette and Lincoln counties. Fear said she hopes Sublette County will attend the meeting with model road easements in hand, so that if the five private property owners agree to the easements, they could be signed and notarized on the spot.

Golf Expansion Committee

The commission was approached from a group representing a proposal to expand Rendezvous Meadows Golf Course. Lee Lieberman explained that the golf course expansion committee wants to expand the course from the existing nine-hole course to an additional 18 holes.

The expansion would be accommodated by acquiring 280 acres from the Bureau of Land Management, provided the county would sponsor the application for the disposal of the property pursuant to the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. If the county would submit the application, the only fee involved would be the $10 processing fee.

The expanded course would involve installing a bridge across the New Fork River and obtaining a 30-foot easement from several private property owners.

County Commissioner John Linn asked the committee if it foresees any significant issues, such as migration corridors, posing as stumbling blocks.

In response, Levi Lozier introduced himself as a fourth generation landowner, rancher and avid golfer, and noted that wildlife do use golf courses. He pointed out that golf courses do actually attract wildlife.

Linn said he would support the county taking action to acquire the property from the BLM, adding that if the process worked well, there may be a need to create a group on the southern end of the county to follow the lead of this group. This group would attempt to acquire property on the southern end of the county as well. The commission agreed to pursue the matter.

PAWG

Sublette County Sheriff Bardy Bardin, representing the county oversight committee, and representatives of the Pinedale Anticline Working Group met with commissioners to discuss whether the oversight committee should continue to exist.

PAWG member Carmen Kail said while the groups might have some of the same discussions, no actions have been duplicated.

Kail pointed out that PAWG's job is to monitor and propose alternatives associated with natural gas development on the Pinedale Anticline.

Cyd Goodrich recommended that the two groups continue, noting that the information obtained by PAWG will eventually be submitted to groups like the oversight