Reporter’s Notes

Wolf hearing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has held all but one of its meetings regarding its proposal to delist the Northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves. FWS will hold one more meeting in Cody on April 19. Details have not yet been released.

Jonah projects

The Jonah Interagency Mitigation and Reclamation Office received 14 new project applications for review in its second round of off-site mitigation project proposals. Off-site mitigation projects are intended to enhance landscape areas impacted by Jonah Infill development.

In addition, two projects were deferred from the first cycle for consideration, bringing the total number of projects being evaluated to 16 with a potential expenditure of greater than $5 million. Project evaluation and selection should be completed in May.

The Jonah Interagency Office (JIO) was created by the Jonah Infill Project Record of Decision to provide overall on- and off-site management of field monitoring and mitigation activities. To perform these functions, the JIO manages a $24.5 million monitoring and mitigation fund donated by EnCana Oil & Gas (USA), Inc.

"We look closely at all of the applications to ensure they meet JIO’s off-site mitigation goals. If so, further evaluation is conducted to select the most appropriate projects within funding limitations," said Mike Stiewig, JIO Project Coordinator.

A 2007 Project Table (http://ww.wy.blm.gov/jonah_office/projects/2007project_table.pdf) is available on the JIO Web site that provides a summary of each of the project proposals being considered.

Republicans

The Sublette County Republican Party met in annual convention Monday night at the Sublette County Courthouse and elected new officers. Cat Urbigkit of Big Piney was elected chair, with Jim Latta of Pinedale as vice chairman. Dave and Mary Lankford were elected state committeeman and committeewoman.

Democrats

Officers for 2007-09 for the Sublette County Democratic Central Committee include: Dave Rachich of Pinedale – chair; Julie Land of Pinedale – vice chairman; Paul Jensen of Daniel – state committeeman; and Susan Kramer – state committeewoman.

Dean retires

Ron Dean, Elk Feedground Supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WG&F), has decided to call it a career after 32 years at the post.

“Ron’s experience spanned nearly every conceivable climatic condition and elk distribution combination on 22 feedgrounds for many years,” said Jackson/Pinedale Regional Wildlife Supervisor, Bernard Holz. “He could anticipate hay shortages and surpluses, and detail his experiences and recommendations for every contingency. I enjoyed working with him, and will miss having his advice and participation in the feedground program.”

Dean began his WG&F career at the WG&F research lab in Laramie. In 1974, he was promoted to his current position of overseeing the operation of the state’s 22 elk feedgrounds.

Prior to joining WG&F, Dean was a nutrition instructor in the Animal Science Department at the University of Wyoming. He has also worked for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the University of Idaho.

Dean is a Twin Falls, Idaho native. He attended Idaho State University before earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in range management from the University of Idaho. He then earned his doctorate in animal nutrition from Oregon State University.

Replacing Dean is Gary Hornberger, who previously held the position of feedground manager, and works out of the Pinedale office.