Arson suspect pleads not guilty

An Idaho man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he set fire to two cars and broke out the windows to several downtown Casper businesses during a night in June.

Police arrested Thomas Joe Avila on June 10 after allegedly finding him in some high weeds near the scene of one of the car fires. They were responding to car fires behind the KTWO-AM radio building on Nichols Avenue and on the 300 block of West BC Street.

Avila is charged with two counts each of third-degree arson and burglary, along with one count of property destruction.

Man pleads guilty to sexual abuse

A Casper man pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor and sexual exploitation of a child.

William Joe Scott, 52, also pleaded no contest to a third sex crime during an appearance in Natrona County District Court on Wednesday.

A sentencing hearing for Scott has not been set.

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.

City schedules area cleanup

The city of Casper will work in conjunction with the Restoration Church to clean up the neighborhood from McKinley to Sycamore and 15th to Collins streets on Saturday.

The church will provide volunteers to assist residents. The city's Solid Waste Division will provide a rear-end loader that will target the alleys to remove junk and litter that can be safely compacted in the truck.

Roll-offs will be located at the fields on 13th Street for residents to dispose of junk, litter and tree limbs that have accumulated on their properties and in the alleys. People are asked to take concrete and other large items to the Solid Waste Facility on Bryan Stock Trail for disposal.

Information on the cleanup will be handed out throughout this area that addresses nuisance violations such as dangerous trees, weeds, junk, litter and recreational vehicle parking.

Star Lane sets orientation sessions

Star Lane Center will host a back-to-school night orientation for students on Aug. 28 at the school.

Two sessions will be available for students and families to attend: 5 to 6 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Students only need to attend one of the sessions.

A complete list of back-to-school nights for Natrona County schools is available online at www.natronaschools.org.