YNP receives lake research funds

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Yellowstone National Park is receiving $1 million to study various life forms that live in Yellowstone Lake and its hydrothermal vents.

The National Park Service is providing $500,000 for the project, and the Yellowstone Park Foundation is using a donation from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to provide a matching $500,000.

Scientists will study water samples from the lake and from the hydrothermal vents on the lake's bottom and shoreline.

The park says the project is expected to reveal unknown species and new information on the biological diversity of the park.

Public and private partners will do the research. They include the park, the U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Oceanics LLC, Montana State University's Thermal Biology and Big Sky Institutes, and the J. Craig Venter Institute.

Nonprofit plans ski area fundraiser

POWELL - A nonprofit seeking to revitalize the Sleeping Giant ski area west of Cody is planning a fundraising event.

Bryant Hall, executive director of the Yellowstone Recreation Foundation, said the event will be held either in Cody or at the ski area probably in early February.

The State Loan and Investment Board last week approved a $500,000 grant for renovation of the ski area. One stipulation: The Yellowstone Recreation Foundation must raise $800,000 by April 30.

The Sleeping Giant ski area closed in 2004 amid a slump in business. The renovation project is expected to more than quadruple the area that can be skied.

The foundation expects to reopen the ski area by Thanksgiving.

Crews demolish old theater's roof

LARAMIE - Crews have demolished the roof of the decrepit Fox Theater in downtown Laramie.

Full demolition of the old theater is planned this spring or summer.

The city decided to demolish the roof amid concerns that it could cave in.

Laramie Community Development Director Peter Wysocki said Monday's roof demolition went well and there were no surprises. Crews wetted down the theater beforehand to keep down dust.

After the demolition, a structural analyst inspected the building from a crane to make sure the structure was still sound.

The Fox Theater was built in 1912 and has been vacant since the 1970s.