Grand Teton National Park had hoped to open most of its facilities this weekend….but….there’s still up to three feet of snow in spots. As a result, the opening of facilities at Jenny Lake has been delayed till May 22^nd.

The banana belt of the park…Gros Ventre Campground and a few RV camping sites at Signal Mountain will be open.

 

With high school prom coming up and graduation around the bend, the Jackson Police Department and Teton County Sheriff’s office are encouraging teens to keep it safe. Sheriff Bob Zimmer says alcohol doesn’t have to be part of it. He says that lesson begins at home…and encourages parents to communicate with youngsters to lay out rules and how to deal with any situations that might come up. (You can find some good ideas at    www.sadd.org/promplan     or   www.life.familyeducation.com/teen/prom/36471.html   )

 

The US Postal Carriers Union is conducting its 16^th annual Stamp Out Hunger Day in cities across America Saturday. They’re encouraging folks to leave non perishable, non glass food items out for collection.   Wyoming Food Bank Director Diane DeLozier says the summer months are a critical time. Holiday donations are dwindling and with more students home and school breakfast and lunch programs unavailable…need is rising.   The program was established by city letter carriers across the country. 

The Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee has sent the “Craig Thomas Snake Headwaters Legacy Act “ the Senate floor for a vote.   The bill…picked up by Thomas’ successor, Senator John Barrasso… would give wild and scenic river status to the Snake River headwaters.   Barrasso calls it a “pristine area” that is “the best of the best” and a valuable asset to the people of Teton County and western Wyoming and the state’s tourism industry. Specifically, the bill would designate 387 miles as wild, scenic or recreational with no designations south of the town of Alpine. The segments below Jackson Lake and Jackson Lake Dam would be either scenic or recreational, but not wild. 

 

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has sent Senator John Barrasso’s “Wyoming Range Legacy Act” to the full Senate for a vote.   The bill would set aside more than one point two million acres of the Wyoming Range and Bridger Teton National Forest from future oil and gas leasing. The bill doesn’t stop any production that’s currently underway and provides means for retiring oil and gas leases that already exist.

 

The federal Office of Surface Mining has decided to release 51 million dollars in abandoned mine land funding for use on projects approved by the Wyoming legislature. Wyoming’s Congressional delegation says its still working to eliminate that red tape altogether.

 

As gas prices continue upward, there is growing concern about the impact it’ll have on the region’s tourism economy.   But, Wyoming Tourism Department Director Diane Shober remains optimistic. She says her office is getting positive comments from inquiring tourists and is hopeful that will generate a positive summer season.   Even with the higher prices, Shober thinks Wyoming is still a pretty good tourism value.

 

This is “Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week” in Wyoming.   Signing a proclamation Wednesday (May 7), Governor Dave Freudenthal hoped we’d use the occasion to remove the stigma from mental health issues and encourage people who need help to go in a get it.

On a three to two vote, the Teton County, Wyoming Board of County Commissioners has approved a moratorium on new large development proposals. Commissioners Andy Schwartz and Bill Paddleford voted against the measure. The moratorium basically applies to developments of 20 acres in size or more. It takes effect immediately and will be in place till the end of December or after the county adopts a new comprehensive plan…whichever is earlier.    The moratorium includes Teton Meadows.   However, a public hearing on that project will be held as scheduled tonight (May 7).  

 

Does the white-tailed prairie dog warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act?   The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday it will evaluate all information regarding the status and distribution of the animal…including the potential impacts of human activities or natural causes.   The white tailed prairie dog is found across the western half of Wyoming, western Colorado, the eastern portion of Utah and a small part of southern Montana. In 2004, the Service determined there was not enough information to justify listing the species.

 

The Town of Jackson Planning and Zoning Commission will consider eliminating one of the bonus criteria in its mixed use development regulations. Director of Planning Tyler Sinclair says it would apply to planned mixed use development.   Basically, it would not allow the use of affordable or employee housing exemptions to meet bonus criteria to achieve housing exemptions. The planning board will consider the amendment tonight (May 7).

 

The Bridger Teton National Forest will bring a draft environmental impact statement to the public today…outlining five alternatives for off-highway route designations. Project co-leader David Wilkinson says areas of un-restricted use will disappear and replaced by designated routes only once the final rule is adopted this fall.

You can get a first hand look at a public meeting beginning at 4:30 today (May 6) in the Ordway Auditorium at the Teton County Library in Jackson.

 

The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce honored Mayor Mark Barron with its Citizen of the Year Award last week.   During its annual awards banquet, Wort Hotel GM Jim Waldrop won the Distinguished Service Award, the late Dr. Al Forbes was recognized with the Meritorious Service Award, and the Dick and Maggie Scarlett family was given the Power of Place Award. The chamber’s Western Hospitality Award went to the Bar J Chuckwagon and Wranglers.

 

Teton interagency fire managers have identified more than 29 hundred acres they’d like to treat with prescription fires this spring.   The work is intended to reduce fire loads.   They’re planned in the Granite Creek area of Grand Teton National Park, the Lava Creek area east of Moran Junction, and Hoback Ranches on the Bridger Teton.   All will have to meet specific conditions before they’ll be started.

 

Wyoming’s Senate delegation is backing a new bill intended to decrease fuel prices.   Among other things, Senator Mike Enzi says it would require six billion gallons of coal-derived fuels be produced by 2022 using coal to gas technology. It would also encourage construction of new refineries.

The measure would also repeal the federal government’s new provision that, according to Enzi, “steals” two percent of Wyoming’s mineral royalties.   That’s about 20 million dollars a year.

 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service expects to release a draft economic analysis this July estimating the potential cost of conservation actions to protect the Canadian Lynx. They’re reviewing a proposal to protect lynx habitat under the Endangered Species Act. The greater Yellowstone area of southwest Montana and northwest Wyoming are included in a total of nearly 43 thousand miles of habitat in the continental US.

 

The United States is commemorating the 75^th anniversary this weekend of President Roosevelt’s New Deal program that helped end the Great Depression.   WWCC History Professor Dr. Dudley Gardner says Wyoming has a unique relationship with the New Deal…being the last state to accept financial assistance.   He says the state was benefiting from a homesteading boom in the 1920’s and didn’t see the immediate need for federal help.   Ultimately, Wyoming was the last state to accept federal aid… a check for $44,620.    Wyoming will mark the occasion with a program at the Guernsey Park Museum Saturday (May 3).

 

Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal has named co-chairmen to the Wyoming Health Care Commission. Physician Larry Kirven and attorney Rex Arney will succeed Dixie Roberts.    Also Thursday, the Governor named retired Judge Gary Hartman of Worland as a special advisor on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

 

Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources will host a Historic Preservation and Main Street Conference May 14^th thru the 16^th.   The keynote speaker will be national Historic Preservation Advisory Council Chairman John Nau.   His message…that preservation is more than painting an old building. His motto, “if you preserve it, use it”. You can find more information on the upcoming conference on line at