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Photo courtesy of Rick and Susie Graetz
Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012
produced daily by Shellie Nelson
Page 2
More news from the Rockies
Community
Utah's fourth largest city begins work on rules for wind, solar energy projects
As more residents of West Jordan add or begin examining their options for wind and solar power installations, the Utah city's council has begun working on regulations for such installations.
Salt Lake Tribune; Aug. 23

Wyoming county OKs two more fire breaks on Casper Mountain
At a work session on Tuesday, the Natrona County Commission unanimously approved the Casper Mountain Fire Department's plan to create two additional fire breaks on Casper Mountain designed to remove fuels to slow wildfires.
Casper Star-Tribune; Aug. 23

LaHood pledges federal assistance for Idaho's capital city's transit plan
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in Boise on Wednesday, where he told Mayor Dave Bieter that federal transportation experts will be sent to work with the mayor of the Idaho city on his proposed transportation plans.
Idaho Statesman; Aug. 23

Utah county grants one-year permit for gypsum mine
Despite objections from residents near the site of a gypsum mine, Washington County commissioners will issue a conditional-use permit to Good Earth Minerals for the mine in the southwest corner of St. George, although the permit will be good for just one year, and the company will have to re-apply for a permit if it wants to mine beyond a year.
Salt Lake Tribune; Aug. 23

Environment
Crews light back burn fires to keep Idaho wildfire from Featherville
The 105,000-acre Trinity Ridge Fire is now just a couple of miles from Featherville, and crews spent Wednesday burning out areas around the Idaho town to keep the wildfire at bay.
Idaho Statesman; Aug. 23

Lightning-sparked wildfires in W. Montana prompt quick response
The thunderstorms that blew through western Montana on Tuesday sparked nearly a dozen new wildfires, most of which crews quickly extinguished.
Missoulian; Aug. 23

Sage grouse population holds steady in W. Wyoming
Data from this year's lek count indicate that the sage grouse population near Jackson Hole remained the same, and a Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologist said the bird's numbers in that area of the state has held steady for a decade.
Jackson Hole Daily; Aug. 23

Botulism kills thousands of pheasants at Wyoming bird farm
Last year, an outbreak of psittacosis forced the Downar Bird Farm in southeast Wyoming to destroy all its pheasants and eggs, and this year's dry conditions led to an outbreak of botulism that has killed 2,700 birds so far.
Casper Star-Tribune; Aug. 23

Politics
Montana women to speak at Democratic National Convention
Denise Juneau, the Montana superintendent of schools, is one of 10 additional women selected by the Democratic Party to speak at the national convention in September, and Nancy Keenan, who also served as Montana's schools chief, will also speak.
Flathead Beacon (AP); Aug. 23

Montana congressional candidate to speak at GOP national convention
Steve Daines, the Republican candidate running for Montana's open U.S. House seat, will speak at the Republican National Convention next week in Tampa.
Montana Standard; Aug. 23

Utah congressman slated to speak on opening day of GOP convention
Utah U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz is scheduled to speak on Monday, the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
Salt Lake Tribune; Aug. 23

Economy
Alberta farmers optimistic about this year's crops
While U.S. grain farmers have seen their crops withered by drought, Alberta farmers have had good growing conditions and estimates are that crop production will be 10 to 15 percent higher than normal this year in the Canadian province, and with prices for corn, soybeans and wheat substantially higher, a good year for those farmers.
Calgary Herald; Aug. 23

Flash fire at Wyoming natural gas plant injures four
On Wednesday morning a flash fire at ConocoPhillips Lost Cabin natural gas processing plant in central Wyoming injured four contract workers performing maintenance, with helicopters ferrying three badly burned workers to hospitals in Casper and Colorado, and the fourth was taken by ambulance to the hospital in Riverton.
Casper Star-Tribune; Aug. 23





Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
at The University of Montana.
"T hese are the largest non-conservation out-sales that I can remember Plum Creek doing in the last 10 or 15 years. I can't think of other large blocks in this 3,000- to 5,000-acre size that have gone up for private sale to anyone but groups like The Nature Conservancy."

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Jay Kolbe, about large parcels of land in western Montana that Plum Creek has recently put on the market.
- Missoula Independent

On The Bookshelf
Barbara Theroux gives readers a preview of books to be released this fall

6/12/2013

Mountain West Voices
Hear weekly stories from the Rocky Mountain West as gathered by Clay Scott

6/12/2013:  An Afternoon Cigar
5/29/2013:  Like A Small Family
5/22/2013:  This Little Journey
5/15/2013:  A Long Way
5/8/2013:  Making Roots


Mountain West News is a program of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West



at the

The University of Montana