Posted: Monday, September 18, 2006 12:00 am
Enrollment down, but housing full at CWC
RIVERTON - Enrollment is down, but Central Wyoming College's campus housing venues are full, leaving some families without housing.
CWC President Jo Anne McFarland said overall enrollment was down 2 percent this year to about 1,600 students; full-time equivalency is down about 4 percent to about 1,200 full-time equivalents.
But that hasn't relieved pressure on the school's three housing facilities: the Residence Hall, a traditional dormitory; Mote Hall, with suite-style rooms; and the apartment complex.
"It's kind of an anomaly," said Lance Goede, director of student life. "Enrollment has leveled off, and we are down for this year, but we have higher occupancy this year."
Goede said college officials were helping people find other housing options in the community.
"We've really been trying to think outside the box for solutions," Goede said. "There has been talk of hotels and possibly bringing in trailers, but I think those will cause more problems than they will help solve."
Tribal wildlife agency begins study of Wind River grizzlies
RIVERTON - The Wind River Indian Reservation's wildlife agency trapped, radio-collared and released seven grizzly bears in the Crow Creek area southeast of Dubois this summer as the first step toward accumulating data on grizzly numbers and migration habits.
"The primary purpose was to collect data in the event the grizzly is ever delisted so the tribes will have information," said Larry Makeshine, head of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Fish and Game Department.
State officials are working on a plan to have grizzlies removed from the endangered species list in Wyoming, but because the reservation isn't under the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's jurisdiction, studies on the reservation have to be undertaken by the tribal agency.
Makeshine called the state agency "very helpful," saying state wildlife officials helped train tribal officers for the operation and were participated in some of the captures.
State Public Defender's body recovered; interim replacement named
CHEYENNE - Terry Rogers was named interim state public defender, replacing his former boss Ken Koski, who died in a climbing fall in the Wyoming Range.
Meanwhile, emergency workers recovered Koski's body from the southeast side of Mount Bonneville, a 12,585-foot peak near Pyramid Lake in Sublette County.
Lara Azar, spokeswoman for Gov. Dave Freudenthal, said Rogers was appointed to run the state public defender's office until the governor can choose a permanent replacement. That position does not require state Senate approval.
Koski ran the state public defender's office for six years, but on Sept. 9 failed to return from a solo backpacking trip in the Bridger Wilderness. His body was found Thursday morning and recovered later that day with the help of helicopters and professional mountain climbers.
Undersheriff Jim Whinnery said it appeared Koski fell 400 to 500 feet, but said he couldn't say what caused Koski to fall. Coroner Don Schooley said there was no need to perform an autopsy.