Posted: Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:00 am
Cody airport boardings down last year, but still good
CODY - Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody saw a drop in airline passengers last year, but airport manager Bob Hooper says the airport is still thriving.
In 2007, about 26,800 people got on planes at the Cody airport, compared to 28,500 in 2006.
However, Hooper points out that both of those years were significantly higher than 2003.
He said that 2007 was the fourth busiest year ever for passenger boardings at Yellowstone Regional Airport.
And Hooper noted that fuel sales were up at the airport 25 percent in December 2007, as compared to the December before.
Chief still unsure how fire in Powell motel began
POWELL - Powell Fire Chief Joey Darrah says investigators are not ready to say how a fatal motel fire started in late October.
A fire that started in the early morning hours of October 27 burned much of the Super 8 Motel and killed one guest.
Darrah said he still does not know when the final report on the fire will be ready but he's hoping it will be soon.
He said the Powell fire department doesn't have the resources or technical capability to conduct all the required testing, so the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation are helping.
Comments sought on coal application
The Bureau of Land Management is asking for public comment on a federal coal lease application by Kiewit Mining Group Inc.
The Hay Creek II tract is a "maintenance" tract to extend operations at Kiewit's Buckskin coal mine north of Gillette. The tract includes about 148 million tons of recoverable federal coal reserves.
A public scoping meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 31, at the Gillette College presentation hall.
BLM has identified several potential impacts of mining the tract if the lease is approved for competitive bid, including impacts to big game herds, sage grouse, human health impacts of blasting operations and other cumulative impacts of other coal leasing in the region.
Written comments or concerns should be sent to the BLM Casper Field Office, Attn: Teresa Johnson, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604.
Comments or questions may also be faxed, attention of Teresa Johnson at 307-261-7587, or submitted electronically to casper-wymailblm.gov.
Comments are due March 29.
Cody economic group celebrates nearing fundraising goal
CODY - Though they are still "just a few thousand dollars" short of their $1.7 million funding goal, Forward Cody leaders held a "victory party" Thursday to thank donors and announce a transition to the program's next phase.
Retaining and expanding existing businesses will be the initial focus, said James Klessens, the nonprofit economic development group's new director.
"It's been like drinking from a fire hose," Klessens said of his first two weeks on the job.
Formerly principal of the Community Matters consulting firm based in Joliet, Mont., Klessens also served as director for the Two Rivers Authority, Hardin's economic development arm
The four-year Forward Cody program seeks to expand and retain existing business, recruit new businesses, create high-wage jobs, train and recruit workers and expand affordable housing options.