Officials: Plant could run by 2010

CHEYENNE - General Electric and University of Wyoming officials said Wednesday a coal research plant could be operating by 2010 in Wyoming.

The $100 million plant is proposed to be built in Albany County, home to UW and its School of Energy Resources. Plans call for the state and the company to split the cost of the project, with the company contributing both cash and in-kind technical services.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal, who has signed off on the letter of intent with GE officials, has proposed that the Legislature approve spending an initial $20 million on the project.

Freudenthal told reporters Wednesday that he hopes the research plant creates opportunities for UW students. He said the nation has only begun to address the issues of how to use coal more efficiently and manage the associated carbon emissions.

"I suspect that, in one form or another, research institutions, utilities and the private sector are going to be confronting this for at least a decade," Freudenthal said.

Officials with GE said they intend to build a small-scale plant in Wyoming that would allow testing of how to transform coal from the state's vast reserves into gas.

John Lavelle, general manager of GE Energy's gasification business, said that building the test plant would allow research into the use of coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin.

"This is a big venture - we've had interest from other countries and other states," Lavelle said.

Child helps save mother's life

WORLAND - A 5-year-old kindergartner is being credited with saving his mother's life when he dialed 911 after she choked on a potato chip.

Mathew Rissler dialed 911 at 8:22 p.m. Monday. He said he learned at school how to dial the emergency number.

His mother, Sandy Rissler, said she was eating nachos when a chip got stuck in her throat during a sneeze.

"Mathew came downstairs and said, 'Mommy? Mommy, are you OK?' and I shook my head no," she said. "And then he asked, 'Do you need help?' and I nodded my head yes."

Rissler said she handed her son the telephone.

"Then he said, '911?' and I nodded my head yes."

He talked to the 911 operator, opened the door for two police officers and led them to her, she said.

An officer performed the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the chip.

G&F board starts two-day meeting

CHEYENNE - Wyoming Game and Fish commissioners will hear a report on the first bison hunt on the National Elk Refuge in 17 years when they meet here today and Friday.

Also on the two-day meeting agenda are updates on the state's wolf management plan, chronic wasting disease surveillance and research, and sage grouse conservation.

The commission will review the 2007 Jackson bison hunting season and proposed Jackson bison herd population objectives at 9:35 a.m. Friday.

The meetings begin at 9:20 a.m. today and at 8:20 a.m. Friday at the Hitching Post Inn. Public comments on non-agenda items will be accepted at 2:10 p.m. Friday.