Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 13

star Wyoming Bl Tuesday, May 19, 1992 Star-Tribune, Casper, Wyo. Sublette judge asked to open murder case here, don't let the city boys rush i open," Krampner said, during a one-hour hearing before Cramer. Robert Brodie, a state public defender and defense counsel for the youth, asked the justice to separately consider access to the court file, and the question of whether the preliminary hearing should be open to the media and public. Cramer, in comments during the hearing, said he generally treats all cases regarding juveniles as confidential, regardless of the fact that they are in adult court. The Weiss' bodies were found near the remote Ponderosa Lodge, which they had owned and operated for the past 10 years.

An 18-year-old youth was arrested the following morning asleep in the Weiss' truck on a hill overlooking Rock Springs. Krampner argued that secrecy provisions of the state's Juvenile Court Act no longer apply once the county prosecuting attorney has charged a youth as an adult in adult court. In this case, prosecutors brought an action against the defendant in the justice court a court of record, he noted. He asked the court to open the court record and any further proceedings. No preliminary hearing has been held or scheduled.

Krampner also said that if defense attorneys want to make a case for closing the preliminary hearing on the basis that an open hearing would violate the fair trial rights of the accused, they must "put on evidence showing a clear and present danger" to the accused of an open hearing. Brodie asked Cramer to "hold off on a decision about releasing the court file until a preliminary hearing is scheduled. At that point, Brodie reasoned, the court would rule on any defense motions to close the hearing on the basis that it could endanger the defendant's fair trial rights. "If the court decides the preliminary hearing is to be open, it has then made a decision on opening the file," Brodie said. "Brodie wants two bites of the apple, one today and one in the indefinite future," Krampner countered.

"He's asking the court not to make a decision. He's saying, "It's only been five or six weeks, we move at a slow and relaxed pace Basin man apparent BASIN (AP) Big Horn search for a Basin man believed the weekend. David Wood, 39, slipped off ing creek while fishing at the junction of Shell and Cedar creeks, ac cording to the Big Horn County Sheriffs Department. Authorities fear Wood didn't survive the 44-degree water and swift current of the creek, which is running high, a Big Horn Coun ty Sheriffs spokesman said on Rescue workers will continue authorities said. OHSA probes death CHEYENNE The Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety agency is investigating the death of a Cheyenne man last week from injuries he incurred during excavation of a line to a septic tank, the agency's director said Monday.

Charles Eichorn, 39, of Cheyenne died May 12 at a local hospital from internal injuries, said OHSA administrator Stephan Foster. Eichorn was injured May 1 1 while installing a septic tank at a res idence in north Cheyenne, he said. In Sweetwater, Honaker bows out; Plant runs ROCK SPRINGS Rep. nounced Monday he will not seek Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Plant, eran, has filed for re-election.

The two men, who have opposing views on abortion rights, would have faced each other in the same Honaker chosen to run. "While I have enjoyed my legislative service. I must now devote additional time to my family Monaker said in a release. Honaker consistently polled during the three primary and J. Tusk, tusk among a field ot live to represent Sweetwater County.

"I've been one of the few consistent liberal voices in this deeply conservative state, nam saia champion of the working people control their bodies and destinies. Plant said because of the real the public will miss out on the "contentious but informative forum" the race would have afforded. Tippets declines to RIVERTON (AP) State Rep. run drowning victim i County authorities are continuing a to have drowned in Shell Creek over a rock and fell into the swiftlv flow Monday. to make regular checks of the area.

of Cheyenne worker Dick Honaker. D-Sweetwater. an a fourth term. Sweetwater, also a three-term vet newly created House district had and to my career as a trial lawyer," a larger number of votes than Plant general elections when the two ran a nice to continue to be a and of the right of females to differences between the two men. again in Fremont Dennis Tippets is the third mem to run against his friend or wage an is a neighbor and a friend and he in the Legislature would take more another House term in House District Five, savs programs like Medicaid.

see the state cut back spending in County Democratic incumbent 5 seat. Lummis. a Republican, has in the House for eight vears before librarian, has filed as a Republican House District 9. Republican candidate in the new who has been a legislative intern has announced intentions to House District 43. Dick Erb.

who retired in 1990 as inmate serving a life sentence place the name of a candidate on D.C., said Deputy Secretarv of I .1 By KATHARINE COLLINS Southwestern Wyoming bureau PINEDALE Justice of the Peace Bill Cramer said he will decide "probably by the end of this week" whether Sublette County prosecutors are acting within state law in closing case files and hearings in a double murder case. Sublette County Attorney John Crow last month filed two counts of first degree murder against an 18-year old youth in the April 9 shooting deaths of Gary and Sue Weiss. But while charging the youth as an adult, Sublette County authorities have said that state juvenile court law allows them to protect the identity of the accused youth as a juvenile. Michael Krampner, an attorney for the Casper Star-Tribune which is seeking full public disclosure of proceedings and files for openness Monday, saying there is an "exceedingly low chance the case will ever be a juvenile case." "Either this is in juvenile court and everything is secret, or it's an adult felony and everything is Jackson antler sale nets less this year 1 By LAUREN McKEEVER Star-Tribune correspondent JACKSON The annual antler auction in Jackson netted $61,761, officials said. Antlers at the weekend sale sold for an average of $9.47 per pound, with 6,514 pounds sold, according to sale figures.

Vic Lindeburg, antler sale chairman, noted that last year antlers sold for $1 1 per pound. Money raised from the antlers is shared by local boy scout troops and the National Elk Refuge, "which uses the funds for elk feeding. Only 29 buyers showed up Some craftsmen, others collectors or buyers for Asian clients who in turn use the antlers for traditional medicines and aphrodisiacs. The most paid for one rack of antlers was $577.50 for a six point skull cap. The largest buyer of antlers was Don Schaufler, owner of Tridon, Inc.

a wholesale antler dealer from Montana who purchased $39,120 worth of antlers, according to Lindeburg. Because of the mild winter, the estimated 9,800 elk who came to refuge began migrating off earlier, thus shedding their antlers off the refuge, Lindeburg said. That resulted in 300 pounds of antlers less this year than in 1991, he said. James Griffin, assistant manager of the elk refuge, said people also illegally take antlers from the refuge. "Fifty percent of the antlers walked," he said.

Penalties for taking antlers illegally range from $15 to 5 years in jail andor a $250,000 fine, Griffin said. Last year a Riverton man arrested for illegally taking 70 pounds of antlers received two fnonths in jail for the felony conviction, he said. Adjacent to the Jackson antler auction, merchants from Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, sold antlers, furs and trophy pieces. Bill Long, game warden in the Jackson office of Wyoming Game and Fish Department, said officials watched for several pairs of unique antlers, not found on the refuge, but did not spot them in any of the antlers at the auction. Restaurant burns in Rock Springs ROCK SPRINGS (AP) State and Rock Springs fire officials are investigating an early-morning fire that destroyed a Hardee's restaurant in Rock Springs.

Rock Springs Fire Department Brad Sarff says firefighters received the call at midnight Sunday and it took seven hours to put out. Authorities aren't sure of the total monetary loss. Only the restaurant's four walls are standing. Sarff says the building's ceiling aved in shortly after firefighters went inside. No one was injured.

Dan Abemathy What is now desert in central Sweetwater County was once an active volcanic region. Boar's Tusk is an eroded remnant of that past volcanic activity. ber of the Fremont County legislative delegation to bow out of this you. But "we're here today for a decision on these issues, and it's in appropriate not to make a deci sion, Krampner said. Sublette County Deputy Attor ney Van Graham argued that the Wyoming Legislature has decid ed certain classes of defendants and offenses are entitled to some measure of confidentiality." In some cases, he said, "the ac cusation itself carries conse quences to the individual." He said he interprets state law to mean that minor defendants are entitled to protection "until it is clear that a crime has been committed.

"It's the feeling of the state that the intent or the Legislature was to protect the identity of minors until the finding of probable cause that the minor had indeed com mitted a crime, Graham said. "We would ask the court to look at the statute with that in mind." Before adjourning, Cramer said his ruling would deal only with- the case file, not whether the preliminary hearing in the case will be open or closed. i grazing was forwarded to Washington last week after scrutiny by state BLM officials. Barnes said it could be two weeks before Lujan's office approves the decision. If not for Lujan's new stipulation, "we would have been done already," according to Barnes.

"We're getting fairly close here," he said, adding that he feels the BLM has done a good job of "taking public concerns into account." Barnes said the Worland District decision is "one of the first" to test Lujan's new policy. The Worland office received almost 900 letters about its ADC proposal, the majority of them disapproving of the proposed use of M-44 devices on public lands. "I think they (the public) are going to be happy with it (the decision)," Barnes said Monday. Teton wildlife art museum in planning stages JACKSON (AP) Developers have unveiled plans for a new wildlife art museum and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visitor center overlooking the National Elk Refuge.

The Wildlife of the American West Art Museum presented the plans to Teton County commissioners during a recent meeting. John Bradley, planning administrator, said the building could be as large as 56,000 square feet. Commissioners said they supported the venture but issues such as increased traffic and lighting must be addressed before they approve it. Museum Executive Director Dan Provo said the museum needs more space than is available at its current Jackson location because its collection has grown from 250 pieces in 1987 to 700 now. year election.

1 he four-term Republican representative announced his decision Monday, saying he doesn want other expensive campaign. I he state new reapportionment plan places Tippets in the same district as Democratic Kep. tli Bebout, Fremont County top House Worland BLM mum on secret predator proposal vote-getter. Tippets said Bebout doesn want to run against him. Tippets also said another term time away trom his appraisal business.

Hageman says yes to TORRINGTON (AP) Republican Jim Hageman of Fort Laramie is seeking re-election to the Wyoming House of Representatives. Hageman has served in the House for ten years and is chairman of tne Mouse Education committee. Hageman, who is seeking he decided to run again because he is concerned about education. He says it will be a real battle to adequately fund education because of By CAROLE CLOUDWALKER Star-Tribune correspondent WORLAND Officials from the Bureau of Land Management's Worland District won't release a decision on a controversial Animal Damage Control proposal until it has been approved in Washington, a spokesman said Monday. A year ago such a decision on ADC would already have been made public, according to Darrell Barnes, Worland District Manager for the agency.

But because of a recent decision by Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan to bypass the usual Interior appeal process, all ADC decisions must be formally approved in Washington, D.C., before being made public or implemented, Barnes said. "We've got an internal docu ment that isn't approved it isn't final," he said. Barnes said he "doesn't have any problem" with Lujan's rule, which he said was made because there are "a number of ADC decisions being considered (nationwide)," and "in order to be decided uniformly across the bureau," Lujan wished to have the final word. "We're still signing all records of decision out here," except those dealing with ADC, Barnes said. A decision made at the Washington level can only be appealed by filing a lawsuit, rather than through an administrative process that involves letter-writing, officials have said.

Barnes' decision on the ADC proposal which includes the use of cyanide M-44 devices to control coyotes on public lands leased for demands on the state's budget by Hageman says he would like to other areas so education isn't left in the lurch. Incumbents, newcomers eye legislative bids CHEYENNE (AP) Laramie Sen. Liz Byrd will face a familiar Republican challenger if both candidates emerge as winners in the primary. Byrd is running in Senate District 5, which includes part of Cheyenne. Rep.

Cynthia Lummis, a longtime Laramie County legislator, al so has filed for the Senate District served in the House of Representatives for 12 years and heads the House Revenue Committee. Byrd, a retired teacher, served her election to the Senate four years ago. Wayne Johnson of Cheyenne, the planner-grants manager for Laramie County and former state candidate for the newly created lm Conner ot Pine Bluffs, owner of the weekly newspaper the Pine Bluffs Post, has filed as a House District 10. In other filings, Sandra Rounds, and aide to Sen. Jim Geringer, run as a Republican candidate in Campbell County Republican Western Nebraska faces extremely dry conditions LINCOLN, Neb.

(AP) Sugar beet and corn seed isn't sprouting and ranchers are looking for ways to stretch feed for cattle who should be grazing on parched pastures in the Nebraska Panhandle, officials said Monday. State Climatolo-gist Al Dutcher said a possible drought is in the making and the state's drought assessment team is monitoring the situation. Weekend storms dropped more than 4 inches of rain on parts of the state, but bypassed the far western counties. Irrigation districts are saying they can guarantee only a 35-to 50- day supply of water for thirsty crops. "That means farmers have to decide what they want to plant and when they want to water it," Schild said.

Dutcher said the Panhandle received no significant rain from weekend storms. Reports from the area to the Agricultural Climate Situation Committee meeting on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus Monday indicated that crops are dying in the fields with sugar beets in the worst shape. "Winter wheat, in the best shape of all the crops, is deteriorating with a new threat from Russian aphids adding to the woes caused by lack of moisture," Dutcher said. While parts of Lincoln reported more than 2 inches of rain during the weekend, the rainfall in a 15-mile radius of Clay Center, in south central Nebraska, varied from 0.2 to 2 inches, Dutcher said. manager of real estate and ranch operations for AM AX Coal said he will run in House District 53.

The 63-year-old Erb, whose district encompasses southern and eastern Gillette, said his first priority will be to control the growth of state government. Amin tests political waters from prison cell CHEYENNE (AP) A prison might try to challenge U.S. Rep. Craig Thomas in the Republican primary if his candidacy is considered legal. Abdullah K.ru Amin, who was convicted in a 1988 hostage-taking incident at the Wyoming State Penitentiary, sent a letter to Secretarv of State Kathy Karpan last week requesting material to run as a Republican for Congress.

I he question is why we should a ballot, who, because he is incarcerated" cannot leave the state of Wyoming to work in Washington, State Margy White..