Posted: Friday, February 8, 2008 12:00 am
Dems invite public to caucus
CHEYENNE - Democratic legislators are inviting members of the public to attend their pre-session caucus Sunday at the Hitching Post Inn in Cheyenne.
The caucus begins at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m. people who attend will be invited to briefly address the legislators, caucus chairmen Rep. Ross Diercks and Sen. Mike Massie said in a release.
The Republican legislative caucus traditionally has been closed to the public. This year apparently will be no different. But Sen. Kit Jennings, R-Casper, chairman of the Senate Republican conference, said he will put the question on the agenda for discussion Sunday and see if the Republican legislators want to open the caucus next year.
Rep. Tom Lubnau, R-Gillette, chairman of the House Republican caucus, said he was polling House Republicans on the issue but said the caucus probably will remain closed.
Gov. Dave Freudenthal will talk to the Republican caucus at 1:45 p.m. Sunday, followed by a 2:15 p.m. address to the Democrats.
UW dean takes North Dakota job
FARGO, N.D. - University of Wyoming health sciences dean Robert Kelley has accepted the job of University of North Dakota president.
The 63-year-old Kelley will succeed Charles Kupchella, who is retiring. Kelley will sign a three-year contract worth $300,000 a year.
Kelley's wife, Marcia, is a lecturer in the department of communication disorders at UW.
"It was a big step for my wife and myself," Kelley said in a telephone interview Thursday. "We're leaving a very secure deanship and faculty position to move into a very challenging role at another university. Both Marcia and I are very excited about the opportunity."
Kelley has been at Wyoming since 1999.
Coroner identifies angler who died
A fisherman who died at Glendo State Park on Wednesday morning has been identified as 50-year-old Michael Eisenbeisz, according to Platte County Coroner Tina Crites.
The Cheyenne fisherman was riding an ATV on the frozen reservoir when he hit a thin patch of ice and broke through into the water around 8 a.m., Wyoming State Parks spokesman Gary Schoene said.
Rescuers used an underwater camera to locate Eisenbeisz beneath the ice. He was pulled out about an hour and a half after the accident, Schoene said.
Eisenbeisz was declared dead at Platte County Memorial Hospital in Wheatland.
Inmate apparently kills himself
RIVERTON - An inmate at the Wyoming Honor Farm in Riverton has apparently committed suicide.
The Wyoming Department of Corrections says Honor Farm staff members found 55-year-old John Blankinship around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. Corrections officials say Blankinship apparently attempted suicide.
Blankinship was pronounced dead at a hospital around 7:30 p.m.
Corrections officials have asked Riverton police to investigate the death. An autopsy is planned.
Blankinship was sentenced in 1997 and was serving a four-and-a-half- to six-year sentence for taking indecent liberties with a minor.