Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 15

S) star Wyoming I. Bl Wednesday, June 28, 1 989 Star-Tribune, Casper, Wyo. Study says selenium not a health problem in Wyo By SCOTT FARR1S Star-Tribune capital bureau CHEYENNE Selenium a naturally-occurring element that can be toxic in massive doses has not been proven to be a health problem in Wyoming for humans or livestock, a state study released Tuesday says. But the report says more study is needed, and suggests some Wyoming residents may be receiving a high dosage of selenium from drinking water obtained from underground wells and from locally-grown vegetables and livestock watered by the wells. The study, completed by the Governor's Task Force on Selenium set up by Gov.

Mike Sullivan in August 1987, said selenium was found in varying concentrations throughout Wyoming. Selenium is an essential nutrient in the diet of humans and animals, the study notes, and problems develop when the daily intake of selenium for humans drops below 10 micrograms per day. Too much selenium, however, can be toxic, the study says. Excessive selenium concentrations are danger of selenium in drinking water may have been overemphasized in the past, and the greater danger lies in selenium that has been concentrated in plants and the animals which eat those plants. "Individuals using water with high concentrations of selenium may also be using the same water to irrigate gardens and to water livestock," the task force says.

"With the uptake and concentrating effect characteristic of some plants and animals, individuals in Wyoming may be receiving a high total selenium dosage through a combination of locally grown food and drinking water sources." However, selenium has not yet proven to be a problem for livestock either, the study says. The task force says the accuracy of reports that thousands of Wyoming sheep died from selenium poisoning at the turn of the century are now questioned. Selenium toxicity in livestock has never been confirmed by state laboratories, the study says, and the greater problem is a selenium deficiency in the diets of Wyoming livestock. blamed for the deaths of numerous birds and fish in a California wildlife refuge, it notes. But how much is too much is not clear, the report says.

The National Academy of Science recommends a daily ingestion rate of less than 200 micrograms per day, while studies in China indicate intakes of 5,000 micrograms per day have caused no health problems. Because selenium occurs naturally, it "cannot be removed from an area in the manner that hazardous waste can be addressed," the report notes. The best approach, the study concludes, is to educate Wyoming residents about the danger of selenium; how to recognize when selenium is present in plants, soil or water; and to then take the necessary precautions to protect human and animal health. Sullivan, in a statement issued with the report, said he recognized the need for further study, but added, "The continued work in this area need to take into account the limited financial resources available to the state and focus first on the highest priority needs." Sullivan said he will wait for a staff recommendation before deciding how the task force should be restructured to create a smaller work group to coordinate ongoing activities with state and federal agencies. Selenium has not been shown to be a problem in Wyoming public water supplies, the study says.

The Environmental Protection Agency has recommended that safe drinking water contain selenium concentrations no greater than 10 micrograms per liter, the study says. The task force found that level was exceeded in Wyoming public water supplies only once, during a single sampling period on the North Platte River near Casper. However, excessive selenium concentrations were found in groundwater along the North Platte River and in coal mining areas of the Powder River Basin, the study says. Most residents using groundwater from private wells have never had those wells tested for selenium and are unaware of the quality of their drinking water, the report says. Yet, the report concedes the Wyoming's Taiwan trade office officially opened 1 f.

I I iV if! I. 7 a 1 i. 1 ir- 1 Imam By SCOTT FARRIS Star-Tribune capital bureau TAIPEI, Taiwan Sens. Malcolm Wallop and Alan Simpson joined Gov. Mike Sullivan Tuesday for the official grand opening of Wyoming's new foreign trade office in Taipei, the capital city of the Republic of China.

the opening of the office in the Taipei World Trade Center is the focal point of a six-day trade mission to Taiwan by the governor, seven other state officials and representatives of three Wyoming businesses. The delegation met with a variety of Taiwanese political and business leaders. University of Wyoming President Terry Roark was also present for the grand opening to promote continuing cultural and education exchanges with Taiwan. "In Wyoming, we have a very valuable relationship called a partnership," Sullivan said at Tuesday's dedication ceremony. "The Republic of China and the State of Wyoming are not twins, but I think our differences will make for a very good and maybe even a better partnership." Sullivan said he remains optimistic Wyoming companies can find a market for their goods in Taiwan, and that Taiwanese investors and tourists will come to Wyoming.

"We, next year, will celebrate the 1 iffMEF lii- Another earthquake rattles Jackson JACKSON (AP) A minor earthquake rattled Jackson Hole on Tuesday, the latest in a series of aftershocks from a temblor that caught area residents' attention on Saturday. Tuesday's quake registered 2.9 on the Richter scale and struck about 12:25 p.m., according to Chris Wood of the Bureau of Reclamation. On Saturday the Jackson area was hit by two quakes ranging between 3.7 and 4.1 on the Richter scale. The first struck at 3:25 a.m., and the second an hour later, according to officials with the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo.

While the USGS measured the quakes at 4.1, BuRec monitors had them at 3.7. An earthquake of 3.5 can cause slight damage in the local area, 4 moderate damage, 5 considerable damage, and 6 severe damage. Wood guessed that the latest string of temblors was related to a fault on the east side of West Gros Ventre Butte, and not the larger Teton fault. Uinta district accused of age discrimination DENVER, Colo. The Uinta County School District No.

1 is being sued for alleged age discrimination because it did not renew Elizabeth Leigh's teaching contract, allegedly because of her age, according to a release. The Denver District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is alleging that the district violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act when it did not renew Leigh's contract. The commission, in its suit filed in U.S. District Court, is asking that Leigh and other alleged victims of age discrimination be reinstated and receive back pay from the district. The commission is also seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the school district from engaging in any employment practice which discriminates on the basis of age.

Man pleads guilty to firearms charge CHEYENNE (AP) A man accused of possessing 10 pipe bombs and two rifles in his car has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of possessing a firearm. Court officials said Monday the plea of Johnny Wayne Colacino was part of a bargain with the prosecuting attorneys. Colacino, who has yet to be sentenced, faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Colacino, 33, and Jeffrey Stumpf, were apprehended by police on March 20 near the Rodeway Inn, just east of Cheyenne, court documents say.

The men were found with home made pipe bombs, a semiautomatic rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun. The two were indicted April 14. Court officials say Stumpf has been sent to Springfield, for a court-ordered psychological evaluation and has made no plea. Court upholds prison term CHEYENNE The Wyoming Supreme Court Tuesday upheld the 60- to 75-year prison term given a man for the 1987 robbery of a Gillette convenience store and the rape at gunpoint of the store's clerk. Leonard B.

Clouse, who committed the crimes just months after completing a six-year prison term on an earlier armed robbery conviction, had appealed his sentence on the grounds it was excessive and provided no opportunity for him to be rehabilitated. He argued the sentencing court did not take into account that he had been an abused child, and that his guilty plea to the charges indicated he felt remorse for the crimes. The court, however, said the 60-to 75-year sentence was within legislatively proscribed limits and was merited by several factors in the case, including Clouse's past criminal record, the "particular cruelty" with which he treated the victim and the "slim possibility" that he could be rehabilitated. Candidates lining up for Turner's scat JACKSON (AP) Candidates are lining up to replace John Turner as the state senator representing Teton and Sublette counties, and the vacancy still isn't official. Turner must be confirmed for the job of U.S.

Fish and Wildlife director by the U.S. Senate. Party officials say after confirmation Turner will resign his state Senate job. Turner was named to the job earlier this month by President Bush during his visit to Jackson. The head of the Teton County Republican Party said the confirmation could take until fall to accomplish.

Jackie Montgomery said the process of selecting a successor will begin after Gov. Mike Sullivan notifies the commissions of both Teton and Sublette counties that there is a vacancy. Both counties' Republican parties will jointly screen candidates and pick three finalists. The two county commissions will pick the new senator from the party list. "We have had people officially express their interest in the position.

Among those locally we have Bob La Londe, Grant Larson, Rod Everett, from Sublette County, John Perry Barlow and Paul Scherbal, Montgomery said. "Right now we're in the process of organizing to figure out how we are going to screen the candidates, what type of information we're going to require from them, what ouf procedure will be when the central committees get together to meet," she added. Thomas denounces land legislation CHEYENNE (AP) A U.S. House bill that would provide for massive land acquisitions and spend an extra $1 billion a year is damaging to the West and fiscally irresponsible. Congressman Craig Thomas says.

Wyoming, in particular, would be adversely affected by the American Trust Act, he said on Monday. "Half of our land in Wyoming is already owned by the federal government. The land acquisitions authorized by this bill would direct money into federal purchases of private lands as opposed to responsible development," he said. The bill simply adds to the federal bureaucracy and takes land and money away from the states, he said. The $1 billion would not be appropriated, but rather would be provided for acquisitions without congressional oversight, he said.

Runyon sent to pen for violating probation GILLETTE -The father of two infant girls who were allegedly murdered by their mother will be sent to the Wyoming State Penitentiary for violating his probation. Sixth District Court Judge Timothy Judson revoked Daniel Runyon's probation Friday, according to Deputy Campbell County Prosecuting Attorney Alan Masscy. Runyon originally was sentenced Dec. 7, 1987 to one to three years in prison and assessed a $1,000 fine for conspiring to deliver metham-phetamines, Massey said. The sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation, Massey said.

Massey said Runyon admitted in court Friday to having smoked marijuana six times in the last six months and to having alcohol in his home both violations of his probation, according to Masscy. He said Runyon told the judge the last time he smoked marijuana was April 24 the day that his wife, Laura Lee Rice, allegedly decapitated their children, 15-month-old Daniell and 4-month-old Joan Rice. Runyon's violations were uncovered as a result of the Rice murder investigation, Massey said. Runyon must serve his original one to three year sentence in prison, minus 15 days he spent in jail for a previous probation violation, Massey said. Three youths sentenced for Gillette kidnapping incident centennial of our state," Sullivan told a crowd of 100 who attended the dedication.

"We invite you to come see it, we invite you to share the hospitality of our people." Sullivan added he hopes the office, which will cost $125,000 per year to operate, will be open "for many years." The state's share of that cost will be about $65,000 per year, Sullivan said, with the remaining expense split among the Taiwanese government, In-Situ of Laramie, and Y.F. Wang, a Taiwanese businessman and benefactor. The office will be operated by Dr. Shao-Chih Way, a Taiwanese native and vice president of In-Situ. The opening of the office in Taiwan coincides with the state's decision to close a full-time trade office in Australia, although the Wyoming Travel Commission and In-Situ both plan to continue to act as a liaison with Australian businesses and tourists.

Sullivan has said the state believes Taiwan holds greater potential for economic trade than Australia, which already produces many of the commodities Wyoming would hope to export. The cost of the trade mission to the state is expected to be slightly more than $10,000 state officials said. Sullivan and most of the delegation is scheduled to return to Wyoming late today. the documents. The three males allegedly tried to force night supervisors Lori Led-ford, 26, and Jill Yates, 24, to give them the keys to the facility.

When the women refused and attempted to get away from the youths, the juveniles allegedly chased after them, grabbed the keys, and forced the two women into a basement closet and blocked it with a pool table, according to the documents. The youths then allegedly escaped and broke into a motorcycle store, according to court records. When police surrounded the store, one of the juveniles walked out of the store. The other two were apprehended when a police dog found them hiding above the store ceiling, according to police reports. The female was charged in the incident because she knew about the three males' plot to escape from the facility but failed to notify authorities, according to Edwards.

In addition, when police responded to the YES house, the other residents, including the female juvenile, ignored the supervisors' screams and did not let police into the facility, according to police records. Cheyenne workers calls for benefits cuts and no raises for three years, along with "language that would allow the employer to terminate an employee for violating any company policy or procedure," according to a union announcement. That would mean "dismantling the grievance and arbitration language as it relates to terminated employees," according to the A hand pump stands idle Mountain View By VIRGINIA GIORGIS Star-Tribune correspondent MOUNTAIN VIEW A training and evaluation program for Mountain View's two police officers has prompted criticism from some residents. The six-month program, begun earlier this month, is being conducted by the Unita County Sheriff's Department. Mountain View officials defend the program, saying it will bring needed training for the officers.

But some residents say the program was implemented without adequate public notice and input The Mountain View Town Council last week approved the contract for the evaluation, partially to point out department shortcomings, Town Attorney Bruce Barnard said. Mountain View has "a real problem two policemen and no chief," Barnard said, before the program was approved. He also said the officers' training in "some areas" had lapsed. But town resident Leanna Slagowski questioned the decision, saying the council had indicated Dennis Davis in front of a Daniel school cop program hit earlier they would hold a public meeting before "any changes" were made. Councilman Roger Kesterson said Slagowski had "misinterpreted" what was said.

Kesterson said the Council had said they would hold a public hearing before doing away wiih the police department. The department had not been eliminated, he said. Mayor Wes Harvey defended the council's decision to contract with the sheriffs department for the evaluation. He said the officers needed "discipline, supervision and education in some programs." In response to questions about how quickly the sheriffs department responds to calls, Councilman Pat Moon noted that Sheriff Leonard Hysell had said the county's response time last year averaged five minutes. Another concern expressed was that police protection would be less without officers patrolling the town.

Of the town's total $746,400 budget for fiscal year 1989-90, the amount allocated for the police department was about $74,000. in Casper when their contract expires next month, they too may consider striking, according to United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 Director Bob Bender. The 50 union employees at the Albertson's and at the Albert-son's-owned Grocery Warehouse stores in Cheyenne have been working without a contract since May 6, according to Bender. By SHARI MERRILL Star- Tribune correspondent GILLETTE Three juveniles were sentenced Tuesday in connection with a kidnapping and burglary incident in Gillette June 7, according to Deputy Campbell County Attorney Michael Edwards. Another youth, Michael Runyan, 17, has been charged as adult with two counts of kidnapping and burglary for his alleged involvement in the same incident, according to court documents.

Runyan's preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for June 23 but was continued and has not yet been rescheduled. All four youths were residents of the Youth Emergency Services house a facility for troubled youth. Officials would not release what charges the other three, two males and a female, were sentenced on because they are juveniles. According to a court documents, Runyan and the two other male juveniles, during a planned runaway attempt, forced two night supervisors into a closet and blocked it with a pool table. The juveniles then escaped and allegedly burglarized a motorcycle store in downtown Gillette, according to But the company has honored the terms of the expired contract since then, Bender said Monday.

Mike Schwarzkopf, Albertson's labor relations manager for the territory that includes Wyoming, would not comment on Bender's claims. "I don't comment for the record on the process of labor negotiations," he said. "I don't find it productive." The company's offer to the Albertson's meatcutters, grocery clerks threaten to strike ByTOMREA Star-Tribune staff writer CASPER Meatcutters and grocery clerks are prepared to go on strike against Albertson's stores in Cheyenne if the company doesn't retreat from a new position eliminating grievance procedures, a union spokesman said. And if the company takes a similar position with union employees.