Grant targets energy jobs gap

GILLETTE - The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year, $850,000 grant to community colleges in Gillette and Sheridan.

The Northern Wyoming Community College District will use the money to provide education for advanced technicians in the energy sector. Advanced technicians perform a variety of jobs in the energy field.

Another focus of the grant is to look to the future of the state's energy workers. As part of the grant, a pilot summer camp project will be created for fifth- through ninth-graders to introduce them to the energy industry through education and hands-on activities.

State enhances Internet site

CHEYENNE - The state on Wednesday announced the launch of its redesigned Internet site, which features a format similar that of Gov. Freudenthal's official Web site.

Officials said the new state Web site is more user friendly, and offers citizens a greater access to state government sites. The site also features links for tourists and those seeking to move to Wyoming for work.

"We created this site from a citizen's perspective, keeping in mind where citizens often look for information," said state spokesman Bob von Wolffradt.

The site is located at {M7http://wyoming.gov.

Officials: Snow will finish fire

CODY - The Gunbarrel fire west of Cody is 78 percent contained, but U.S. Forest Service officials say full containment will only be reached when snow snuffs out the fire.

The fire has burned more than 67,000 acres, or about 104 square miles, of mostly beetle-killed timber between Cody and Yellowstone National Park.

District Ranger Terry Root says that reports of small smoke plumes from the fire are still coming in, and Forest Service personnel have responded to those reports.

The fire began from lighting back in July and was managed to burn off dead trees.

Root notes that the $10 million cost of controlling the fire was a relative bargain compared what it would have cost to totally suppress it.

BLM issues firewood permits

Firewood and post and pole permits for the Muddy Mountain area will be issued by the Bureau of Land Management Casper Field Office beginning September 17 and ending September 26. Permits are limited and will be issued on a first come, first serve basis.

Actual cutting will be September 18-21, and September 25-28. Permits must be obtained at the Casper Field Office located at 2987 Prospector Drive between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

There will be a three-cord limit of firewood per individual and the cost will be $15 per cord plus $1.50 road maintenance fee. All available areas and individual trees will be designated and marked by BLM prior to the sale. Firewood can be cut in these areas and only those marked trees are available for firewood use.

For more information, contact the BLM Casper Field Office at (307) 261-7600 or visit the office.