Wyoming News Briefs

Six fatal crashes so far in Campbell County this year

GILLETTE (WNE) --- So far in 2024, 21 people have died in 18 fatal crashes in Wyoming. A third of those crashes, which resulted in six deaths, happened in Campbell County.

In 2023, there were 11 fatal crashes in Campbell County. In 2022, there were seven. 2021 had four fatal crashes, and 2020 had eight.

Campbell County Sheriff Scott Matheny said when it comes to these crashes, “it randomly spikes and sometimes it doesn’t.”

The first crash wasn’t until Jan. 30, then there was another one about two weeks later.

Of the five crashes, one was on Highway 50, one was on Interstate 90 and one was on Highway 51. Another was on Echeta Road, and a fifth was on Country Club Road. The most recent one, on Saturday, was on North Highway 59.

The winter has been pretty mild this year, and weather conditions were listed as a contributing factor in only one of the six crashes. Matheny said the nice weather means that “more people are out and about on the highway.” And the more drivers there are, the greater the risk for accidents.

Since 2020, there have been 36 fatal crashes in Campbell County. Fourteen of those had speed listed as a contributing factor, while driver inattention was an element in nine of the crashes.

Jason Roascio, public information officer for Wyoming Highway Patrol District 4, said many drivers have gotten comfortable with driving distracted.

“They’re taking their attention away from what’s already a very dangerous task,” he said. “We take it for granted, our speed limits in Wyoming are 80 mph. That speed is serious, and it can be done safely as long as you are paying attention to driving.”

“How do we make them more attentive?” Matheny asked. “I don’t know what to do.”

While an increased law enforcement presence may help drivers slow down on the highways, Matheny said speed traps “don’t do anything with distractedness.”

The numbers are concerning, he added, and “honestly, all law enforcement should be diligent in making sure people are paying attention.”

“Maybe it’s time for the police department, highway patrol and the sheriff’s office to do more,” he said.

Health Trust denial prompts indignant email from Rescue Mission

CASPER (WNE) --- The Wyoming Rescue Mission’s stance that it hires only Christians may have cost the group a $160,000 grant.

On Thursday, the non-profit organization’s director of development blasted the Natrona Collective Health Trust, another local non-profit, in an email to media outlets. In the email, Cheryl Austin alleged that three employees from the trust had taken a 1-1/2 hour tour of the mission the day before, and one had called her that day to tell her the mission would not be giving the group the $160,000 grant it had applied for.

Austin said she recorded the phone call, in which she was allegedly told that since not all Natrona County residents can work at the mission, the trust would not approve its grant application. There was no application date or deadline listed on the attachment Austin sent with her original email.

The Wyoming Rescue Mission is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that has a statement of faith, although Austin stresses in her email that it allows people of all faiths, genders and backgrounds to come into the mission and receive its services.

"We made it clear that ANYONE is welcome at the Wyoming Rescue Mission. We showed firsthand how we serve the homeless in our community, partner them with case management and back-to-work plans and provide long-term recovery programs," Austin wrote in the email.

She formatted the last sentence of the email in italicized, bold font: "I wonder how the county commissioners feel about the decisions of the Natrona Collective Health Trust to denying funding for human service agencies that serve residents of Natrona County."

Beth Worthen, CEO of the health trust, declined to comment on the dispute.

Austin, who previously worked as a reporter, later sent an apology email asking media outlets not to report the story as a favor, noting she understood that messages can't be unsent. In the email, which was carbon copied to mission Executive Director Brad Hopkins, she wrote she had "acted independently" and that Hopkins preferred private discussions with the trust.

The mission had applied for $80,000 per year for two years, the highest yearly amount the group could apply for, the grant application stated.

In the application, the health trust asked for a “statement of inclusiveness” to be included.

“Wyoming Rescue Mission is committed to ensuring that people in need from all backgrounds have unrestricted access to our services and interventions. WRM serves those in need without exclusion, applying and allowing no bias in our services. The Mission is inclusive of clients of any religion, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, economic status, physical ability, mental ability, resident immigration status, veteran status, marital status, or any other distinguishing factor for which discrimination might occur,” its response stated.

Its hiring practices, however, are not inclusive, and the group has fought to keep them so.

In 2022, the mission sued state and federal agencies after being threatened with punishment for refusing to hire a non-Christian for a clerk position at its Rescued Treasures thrift store in 2020. In a settlement, the state acknowledged the group held a religious exemption and could discriminate based on faith, according to media reports.

After explaining the current situation, Austin asked, “How discriminatory is the action of the Natrona Collective Health Trust?”

In 2023, the mission reported to the IRS that it had $15.1 million in assets and $4.9 million in revenue – including $4.5 million in contributions and grants, according to its GuideStar profile.

In the same year, the mission spent $4.09 million, including nearly $2 million in salaries and $1.5 million on programs at its Park Street Center in Casper, providing 36,000 nights of shelter, 72,742 meals and 11,180 weekly case management sessions. The organization’s second biggest expense was its Rescued Treasures stores, which cost it $1.4 million and had $1.9 million in sales. The mission reported no employees making $100,000 or more per year, and all of its board members were uncompensated.

Powell man imprisoned for child abuse, drug use

POWELL (WNE) --- As he appeared before the Park County District Court for sentencing on counts related to child abuse and drug use, Juan L. Marquez Jr. described it as a case of history repeating itself. Marquez noted his father had appeared before the same court on similar charges decades earlier. In that case, Marquez was the young victim, and he said the abuse he suffered at his father’s hands has stuck with him “forever.” But on this day in February, the now-42-year-old Marquez was in court as the perpetrator — having beaten and choked his own child in 2022. It was also far from Marquez’s first run-in with the law, as he entered the hearing with a long record of criminal conduct involving violence and drugs. Marquez asked District Court Judge Bill Simpson to break the cycle by giving him an opportunity to seek counseling and drug treatment, but the judge opted for the approach recommended by prosecutors. He imposed nine to 10 years of prison time. “I take no great pleasure in the imposition of this sentence, Mr. Marquez, but frankly … you’ve had plenty of second chances, regardless of the horrendous upbringing that you suffered from,” Simpson said. “Your family has tried to pull together, but unfortunately, the level of violence, anger, frustration, drug use and all that goes with that torment has haunted you just as it did your father, and perhaps his father before him.” The judge called the case “a tragedy in every sense of the word.”

Drug trafficker sentenced, another pleads guilty in federal court

GILLETTE (WNE) — A man accused of driving large amounts of meth and fentanyl to sell throughout Campbell County has been sentenced to prison while his co-defendant awaits sentencing in federal court.

Charles Jon Thompson, 41, was sentenced March 25 in District Court to concurrent four- to six-year sentences for counts of conspiracy to deliver fentanyl and meth, according to court documents.

District Judge James M. “Mike” Causey gave Thompson credit for 192 days served and a $525 fine.

Thompson’s co-defendant, Kieran M. Cowan, 33, pleaded guilty April 2 in federal court to counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and meth, and being a felon in possession of a gun.

He remains held in detention ahead of his sentencing scheduled for June 13 before U.S. District Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal in Cheyenne, according to court documents.

Cowan had been investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation throughout last summer for being a suspected supplier in Gillette and Campbell County, according to court documents.

That investigation led to his arrest in September when the vehicle he was in was found with large amounts of meth and fentanyl.

In the course of investigating Cowan this summer, Wyoming DCI agents covering northeast Wyoming interviewed a number of people who identified Cowan as a supplier for Campbell County, according to an affidavit of probable cause signed by Wade Dupois, DCI special agent.

Cowan faces up to life in prison for his federal charges.

Barrasso, Lummis working to overturn SEC climate disclosure rule

CHEYENNE (WNE) — U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, both R-Wyo., joined U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and their Republican colleagues in introducing a Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) climate disclosure rule.

The rule requires any public company to include climate- related disclosures in annual reports, including direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from energy sources. It also requires companies to disclose the potential impact of non-financial risks.

“These burdensome requirements will only add to costs for companies and ultimately, American consumers,” a news release from the Wyoming Senate delegation said.

“This rule exceeds the SEC’s authority and would bury public companies in paperwork, raise costs for consumers and stifle economic opportunity.

Rather than prioritizing businesses across the country, this rule only prioritizes a radical climate agenda.”

Barrasso said in the release, “The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should not be pushing Biden’s radical climate agenda. The SEC’s main responsibility is to protect American investors and maintain fair markets. Hardworking small business owners in Wyoming can’t afford to waste time and resources on fulfilling burdensome and unnecessary Washington requirements. Republicans will fight to stop this federal overreach.”

“The Securities and Exchange Commission’s climate disclosure rule is a big government solution in desperate search of a problem,” Lummis said in the release.

Skiing collision leaves longtime instructor in critical condition

JACKSON (WNE) — A 71-year-old Jackson man is in critical condition following a Sunday morning collision at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Peter Wuerslin was hit at 10:15 a.m. Sunday on Rendezvous Trail when a 34-year-old man collided with him, resort spokesperson Eric Seymour wrote in an email.

The two men were transported via ambulance to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson, Seymour wrote. Wuerslin was later flown to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

An EIRMAC representative told the Jackson Hole Daily that Wuerslin is in critical condition.

Jon Bishop, who manages risk and safety programs for the resort, said Wuerslin’s family has indicated that he has suffered “severe brain damage that is irreversible,” and he is on life support.

The younger skier sustained an injury, Bishop said, but was released Sunday.

The “local regional” man was skiing uphill of Wuerslin, Bishop said, and told Ski Patrol later that he saw Wuerslin and thought he’d given enough room to pass him.

“Wuerslin took a turn that was unanticipated and the [other man] couldn’t avoid Peter,” Bishop said.

Wuerslin is a longtime valley resident who has been a Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski instructor since 1978.

Sgt. John Faicco of the Teton County Sheriff’s Office said the incident is under investigation.

“Generally with skier collisions, there could be criminal charges,” Faicco said. “We can’t say whether or not that’s going to take place in this instance. We just don’t have that information yet.”

Whether the 34-year-old was out of control isn’t clear, Bishop said.

Wuerslin remained on life support at press time Wednesday as his family made end-of-life plans, according to a statement sent by the resort.

Man dies in rollover crash on Highway 51 west of Wyodak

GILLETTE (WNE) — Wyoming Highway Patrol is investigating after a 43-year-old Gillette man died Wednesday night in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 51.

Campbell County Coroner Paul Wallem said the man, Mark P. Christman, died from head and chest injuries.

At about 11:30 p.m., a deputy who was patrolling Highway 51 came across a 1997 Ford F-250 that had rolled over west of Wyodak on the south side of the road, said Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds.

The deputy walked down to the crash scene and found Christman dead on the ground. Wyoming Highway Patrol responded to investigate the crash, and firefighters showed up as well.

Deputies searched the area for any passengers that might have been in the truck, but no one was found, Reynolds said. There was dog hair on the seats and a tennis ball in the truck, leading deputies to believe a dog may have been there, but no dog was found in the area.

A call to Wyoming Highway Patrol was not returned by the time of publication.

Snowpack above median in southern Wyoming

SARATOGA (WNE) — In the lowlands of the Platte Valley, it may seem like winter has been gentle with regard to the amount of snow received this winter. As April speeds by, it may even seem like area residents could be looking at a dry summer.

Data from the Wyoming State Climate Office at the University of Wyoming, however, shows otherwise.

According to Director Tony Bergantino, at the National Resources Conservation Services (NCRS) snowpack levels in sites in the Snowy Range and Sierra Madre ranges vary from 80% to 110% of median.

Additionally, runoff will be looking close to or above median for the two rivers in the Platte Valley.

“For runoff, they have two prediction sites. One at the North Platte River at Northgate and one at Encampment River at Encampment,” said Bergantino. “The 50% chance of exceedance—which is to say there is a 50/50 chance that value of flow will be above this—puts the April through July volume of water right about the median.”

Bergantino further clarified the Platte River runoff is looking at about 94% of median.

“For the Encampment River point, that 50% point is at 123% of median, so flows would be expected to be above normal there,” said Bergantino.

He added the timing of the runoff can have a lot to do with how the snowpack melts, and any rainfall which would cause it to come off much quicker.