JACKSON HOLE HEADLINES

A proposal to create a toll on Interstate 80 as it crosses Wyoming is gathering a good deal of not-so-favorable input from truckers across the state.   The Wyoming Department of Transportation has scheduled additional open house meetings in Casper and Gillette this month following up on five others held in June.   WYDOT estimates I-80 traffic will more than double over the next three years and it’ll need at least six point four billion dollars in new money just to maintain it.   However, the agency stresses…the toll idea is just that…an idea and that it’s still open to any other constructive ideas. 

One of the preeminent Independence Day events in the nation gets underway at 9 a.m. Saturday, with a “land rush” for seating at Alpine Field for the Grand Teton Music Festival’s “Music in the Hole”. Three hours of pre-symphony entertainment will begin at 3 p.m. along with a host of other family-type events with the Music Festival performance set to begin at 6 p.m.   

Folks are asked to avoid driving to the field if at all possible. START will offer several shuttles and Trails and Pathways will be there to help park bicycles.

START will also offer shuttles to and from the fireworks display.

You can find more details on-line at www.gtmf.org

A number of regional groups have won a share of $512 thousand in Wyoming Community Trust Fund grants.   Administrator Rene Bouvee says the program started in 1988 to support the state’s cultural heritage. Statewide, 34 projects will receive more than half a million dollars thru the program.

Over 100 thousand dollars went to Jackson based groups. Here’s the list:

 

Afton
CallAir Foundation, Afton, CallAir A-9 Flying Model Exhibit, $5,000

 

Jackson
Off-Square Theatre Company, Jackson, “Petticoat Rules” Musical Production/Touring, $15,000

Dancers’ Workshop, Jackson, Outreach Program and CDW Tour, $15,000

Art Association of Jackson, Jackson, Outreach Programs, $20,000

Jackson Hole Writers’ Conference, Jackson, Development Director, $12,000

Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum, Jackson, Collections Conservation
Equipment and Training, $6,454

pARTners, Jackson, Integrated Arts Curriculum, $20,000

Vista 360 Degrees, Jackson, Traditional Craft of Western Wyoming: A Cultural Conservation Project, $21,250

 

The son of Jackson Mayor Mark Barron was killed in a climbing accident Wednesday.   The Teton County Sheriffs Department says 26 year old Wesley Barron went climbing in the Curtis Canyon area around 4 p.m. Tuesday…but didn’t return home or show up for work on Wednesday. His car was found unattended in a parking area. At 10:50 a.m. rescue personnel discovered that Wesley had fallen from area cliffs during a solo free climb and died as a result of that fall…apparently from severe trauma.

 

Two nine year old Jackson girls suffered carbon monoxide poisoning while “teak” surfing behind an inboard boat on Jackson Lake Tuesday.  

Grand Teton National Park officials say the girls were transported to St. John’s Medical Center.   There they received highly concentrated oxygen treatment and were later released.   The two girls were on the lake with one of the girls’ family and their brothers and were taking turns holding onto a swim platform attached to the boat.   From there they were exposed to carbon monoxide gas from the boat’s exhaust ports.

 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is launching a study to determine if the western population of the northern leopard frog may warrant federal threatened or endangered species protection.   It’ll study the amphibian in 19 western states including Idaho and Wyoming. 

 

With recommendations for 39 fundamental changes, the Teton County, Wyoming planning and zoning commission has reversed a June 11^th decision and will now consider a proposed comprehensive plan.   They’ll take those recommendations to the Jackson Planning and Zoning Commission July 9^th and ask it to take similar action…along with any recommendations they may have. 

Some of the changes are significant. One would eliminate the concept of “nodes” but identify lands in those areas for work force housing.   Another would require wildlife be ranked as the #1 priority in every county district. 

Other proposals include renaming the planning office the Planning and Conservation Office to be guided by a Planning and Conservation Commission.

 

A good time was had by all attending the 15^th annual Jackson Hole Wine Auction last weekend. The two day event was a benefit for the Grand Teton Music Festival.   Against all economic indicators…the silent and live auction raised a record $218 thousand for the Festival’s education and outreach programs.

After months of preparation Jackson Community Recycling…a volunteer program since 1990…will officially become a Teton County operation this week. It’ll be called Integrated Solid Waste and Recyling and become part of the county Engineering Department.   JCR Executive Director Heather Overholser will oversee the new operation and staff will remain the same.

She says the overall operation should prove to be much more efficient. Teton County already performs well…diverting about 34% of its waste stream on a voluntary basis.  

Teton County, Wyoming county commissioners have named Bob Jasper as interim county administrator.   Commission Chairman Hank Phibbs says the Grand Junction, Colorado man is highly qualified with a reputation of “impeccable ethics, honesty and leaving organizations stronger than when he arrived.”   Jasper reports for duty July 6^th….replacing Jan Friedlund, who will stay on the job till July 10^th.   Jasper will be retained on a month to month contract for up to one year.   Phibbs stated the board decided to hire an interim administrator after failing to reach agreement on hiring terms with either of the two top candidates.

 

The economic stimulus money the Wyoming Department of Transportation District Three is receiving will bring a big boost to preserving the highways in southwest Wyoming.

 

John Eddins, District Engineer for District 3, which covers Sweetwater, Uinta, Lincoln, Teton, and Sublette counties said, “Rising construction costs and reductions in anticipated federal highway funds have caused needed highway projects to be delayed in an effort to balance the district construction and maintenance budget. Roadway construction costs increases, coupled with the rapidly rising prices of petroleum products and a cap on the revenue stream for the agency means that engineers and crews simply cannot respond and offset roadway problems as they have in the past.”

 

The contract for a pathway north of Jackson on US 89, is expected to be let in August for an estimated $1 million.

 

Some of the notable projects slid to balance the construction budget in District Three includes: the Snake River Bridge replacement and reconstruction of the Hoback Junction has been slid by one year to 2011.

 

Widening US 89 between Alpine Junction and Etna to five lanes has been slid two years to 2014. Resurfacing US 30 from Cokeville to the Idaho State Line was slid one year and is now scheduled for 2014.

 

Widening another section of US 89 between Etna and Thayne to five lanes was moved one year to 2016. Two projects at the Hoback Junction and South Park Loop were also slid into the 2016 STIP, the south portion was slid from 2012 and the north half of the project slid from 2014.

 

Other large projects that have slid out of the STIP is a project to mill and overlay with sidewalks on US 89, within the corporate limits of Afton, and a project on US 191, to reconstruct three miles coming into the Hoback Junction, along with a reconstruction project on WYO 22, west of Jackson and two projects on WYO 390, to Teton Village and a rest area on US 30 near Opal .

 

Jackson Hole, Colorado, Utah and Idaho ski towns have so far eliminated the use of an estimated 792 thousand plastic shopping bags.   Jackson Community Recycling spokesperson Alyssa Rousch says it’s part of a challenge that started in March and will continue into September. So far, the competition has eliminated an estimated 792 thousand plastic bags. Four to five trillion bags are used annually….which takes about 12 million barrels of oil to produce.  

The winner of the challenge gets a ten thousand dollar solar panel installation at a community school.  

 If you’re using a re-usable bag…make sure the clerk counts it!

How Jackson Hole ranks, so far, isn’t available. For info on the challenge or getting re-usable bags….contact Jackson Community Recycling at 733 7678.