Cattlemen oppose meat-processing merger

CASPER - During its Wyoming Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association decided to oppose the proposed sale of additional U.S. meat-processing facilities to Brazilian giant JBS S.A.

"Our position was that we would oppose the merger until such time as the Justice Department completes its review," said Jim Magagna, who heads the Stock Growers Association. "Once that review is complete, we would take a look at that and decide."

For more on the merger, see "Ranchers fear market squeeze" on page C1.

Child porn convict loses brothel license

VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. - Northern Nevada brothel owner David Burgess, who was convicted by a federal jury in Wyoming for possessing and transporting child pornography, has failed in an effort to win his license back.

A panel comprised of Storey County, Nev.'s three commissioners and sheriff voted Friday to uphold the suspension of Burgess' brothel, liquor and escort licenses for the Old Bridge Ranch just east of Reno.

The action leaves his estranged wife, Ingrid Burgess, who has run the business, out of work, the Nevada Appeal reported.

The same panel suspended Burgess' brothel license on May 9, three weeks after he was convicted of the child pornography charges. Sheriff Jim Miller then suspended Burgess' liquor and escort licenses.

In Wyoming, prosecutors said two hard drives seized from Burgess' motor home last July during a traffic stop in the state contained a vast collection of child pornography images.

Parole board mulls rule changes

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Board of Parole is considering new rules that would encourage more convicts to successfully complete their paroles.

Among the proposed changes discussed by the board were new rules that would allow convicts to continue to accrue 10 days a month of good time while on parole as they do while incarcerated without violations.

"I believe it will be a very effective tool," said Patrick Anderson, executive director of the Wyoming Board of Parole.

The board also considered "intermediate interventions" for parolees. Rather than having parole taken away for violations, the parolee could be sent to county jail for up to 30 days or be placed in a community corrections program for up to 60 days. For less serious violations, parolees could lose privileges, be assigned community service or have personal liberties restricted with such things as curfews or house detention.

If the Wyoming Department of Corrections endorses the proposed rules, they will be sent to the governor for his review. Gov. Dave Freudenthal will have the option of approving them in their entirety or in pieces or rejecting them altogether.

Jackson Lake releases increased

JACKSON - The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has begun increasing releases from Jackson Lake Dam two weeks earlier than expected.

The lake near Jackson was 79 percent full as of Friday morning because of melting snow from the heavy snowpack in northwest Wyoming.

With more water coming into the lake, water managers increased releases to 800 cubic feet per second, with plans to increase those releases to 1,300 on Monday. A tentative schedule calls for an increase to 2,000 cubic feet per second on Tuesday, 2,800 on Wednesday and reach 3,500 next Thursday.

The Bureau of Reclamation estimates the lake will fill around June 20.