Officials report low voter turnout

Voter turnout for the primary election was far less than expected as of Tuesday afternoon, said Natrona County Clerk Renea Vitto.

"It's very slow," she said. "We haven't heard very much from the polling places. There's not much turnout, so they're not having many problems or a reason to call us."

At least a few precincts, she said, reported only about a 10 percent turnout of registered voters. She expected the absentee ballot count to total about 1,180 by the end of Tuesday, an even worse turnout than the 2006 primary, which included 1,609 absentee ballots.

Vitto said the overall turnout may be lower than in 2006, when 43 percent of registered voters came to the polls.

"That was poor, and if it doesn't pick up, it could be even worse," Vitto said. "We usually see a spurt between 4:30 and 7 p.m., so we're hoping for that."

Auction will benefit CDC

Galles Greenhouse/Hepp Landscaping, 3225 S. McKinley St., will host an auction on Thursday to benefit the Child Development Center of Natrona County. Refreshments and silent auction begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the live auction at 7 p.m.

The Center serves special needs children up to age 5 and offers a preschool program for children ages 3-5.

For more information, call John Starnes at (307) 235-5097 or Chris Hepp at (307) 265-6290.

Wednesday Night Live -- it's a wrap

The Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Center will host its final Wednesday Night Live summer concert series tonight at 5:30 with a performance by The Fireants.

The Sheridan-based band plays Caribbean Basin, Cajun, Creole, Zydeco and TexMex.

The concerts, which are staged just behind the museum, are free and listeners are encouraged to bring chairs or blanket. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase from local vendors.

For more information, call the NIC at (307) 235-5247.

Sign up, learn to skate

Registration for the Casper Ice Arena's fall Learn-To-Skate classes opens Thursday. Classes begin the week after Labor Day and will be offered to skaters ages 3 and older in basic skills, beginning hockey, figure skating power stroking, curling, freestyle, adult skating, coffee club, totcicles, and a home school class.

Classes meet on Saturday mornings or weekday mornings and afternoons depending on the class. Scholarships are available to those who qualify. Participants can register at either the Casper Recreation Center, the Casper Ice Arena, online at www.casperwy.gov, or by phone with a credit or debit card.

For more information, call (307) 235-8484.

Metro hosts Adopt-A-Thon

Metro Animal Shelter will hold its summer Adopt-A-Thon from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Metro Animal Shelter, 2392 E. Metro Road.

Popish Veterinary Clinic will offer microchips and vaccinations for an additional cost from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Refreshments also will be available.

Comedy lecturer speaks at CC

Comedy lecturer Preacher Moss will present his "End of Racism" tour at 8 p.m. Friday on the McMurry Mainstage in the Gertrude Krampert Theatre Complex at Casper College.

"We need to realize our differences, but we also need to live together. We all have a common bond, and not that much is different," said Barb Meryhew, student activities director, in a release from the college. "Instead of a lecture, Moss brings in the element of humor to get his message across,"

The event is free and open to the public.