State Rep. Alan Jones will retire

POWELL - State Rep. Alan Jones is retiring from the Legislature.

The Republican from Powell has represented House District 25 over five terms since 2000.

He was appointed to the position in July of 1999 after the death of Rep. Denny Smith.

Jones will officially conclude nearly ten years in the statehouse on Dec. 31.

Legislative service is a Jones family tradition. Tom Jones, Alan's younger brother, also served five terms in the Wyoming House of Representatives. Their father, Dick Jones, served 19 years in the Legislature.

Virtual school is now reality

GILLETTE - The Wyoming Virtual School will become an official school next year and will be open to students across the state.

The Campbell County School District has funded the virtual school since it opened in the 2006-2007 school year. Under direction from the Wyoming Department of Education, enrollment has been limited to Campbell County residents.

The school was in danger of shutting its virtual doors at the end of this year if it did not get state funding.

After a state task force studied the issue, the just-completed state Legislature decided to allow and help pay for "distance education" learning, which includes several methods of learning online. Any school district can open a virtual school and also receive state funding.

The next step is for the State Department of Education to enact rules and regulations for virtual schools, Wyoming Virtual School Principal Roger Larsen, a member of the task force, said. Based on his conversations with education department employees, he said that should happen soon.

Larsen and virtual school teachers are excited about expanding the scope of the school, both in distance and grades.

"There's a lot of interest around the state," Larsen said. "A lot of people contacted me.

"The school is K-6 right now, and we're exploring the possibility of expanding up to eighth grade next year."

Attorney says water plan isn't legal

RAWLINS - A request by the Bureau of Reclamation to use water from Pathfinder Reservoir for wildlife habitat and municipal uses doesn't comply with Wyoming law, an attorney for water users groups says.

Fritz Holleman, who represents the Upper North Platte Valley Water Users Association and the Upper North Platte Valley Water Conservation Association, said because Pathfinder was authorized for irrigation in 1904, the bureau requests are for new uses. New uses for the water aren't allowed under Wyoming law, he said.

Holleman's remarks came during a public meeting last week attended by more than a 100 people, most who own irrigated acreage in the Platte Valley.

The meeting was held on the BuRec's request that Pathfinder be raised to allow for an additional 54,000 acre feet of storage. Of that amount, 34,000 acre feet would be dedicated to benefit animals in Nebraska listed as endangered species. The other 20,000 acre feet would be placed in a municipal account managed by the state for use as the water development office sees fit.

"We need this to comply with Wyoming law in all respects regarding the change of use," Holleman said. "And we need there to be no taking of water rights."

Wyoming Rep. Jeb Steward, R-Encampment, agreed with Holleman's argument on the change of use.

"If they're successful they are operating with a set of rules you and I don't have to recognize," Steward said.

Holleman said a crux of the North Platte groups' opposition to the proposal is that the BuRec wants the new water to have a 1904 water right attached. Because it's a new use, it should have a 2008 water right, he said.

Granting new uses a senior right puts those uses at the front of the line, he said.

"The question is if there's enough (water) why aren't they going to the end of the line?" Holleman said.

Holleman questioned how an already overappropriated reservoir can have an additional 54,000 acre feet of water to be allocated to anyone.

The water users have asked for another hearing on the BuRec's petition to be held in Saratoga.

Federal officials haven't yet responded to that request, Holleman said.