Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 3

star Casper Area Wednesday. January 6. 1 988 Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo A3 County changes vacation policy for employees commission that the county should save money by limiting the accrual of vacation time. "We still concur with you that we don't want to carry a large debt," Ketchum said.

But he added that the officials "didn't initiate the action of taking away vacation." Also at Tuesday's meeting, the commission approved the submission of a grant application to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation for $60,000 to fund a joint drug enforcement effort between the county and the city of Casper. The commission also approved donating funds generated by fees charged for a special license plate to the Casper Centennial KENDRA 1 NSOR Star-Tribune stuff iter CASPER Saying Natrona County should provide incentives to its employees, the County Commission again changed its vacation policy Tuesday to give employees more days f. But one of the commissioners is worried that changing the policy hallway through the fiscal year could cause legal problems. The revised policy icstotes some of i lie vacation days taken away when the commission adopted a new plan in June, but still limits the amount of vacation that can be accrued by county employees. While the revised policy does not restore all the vacation days that were available before June, it docs give two extra days per year to em retirement after the June policy was put in effect.

Now that the June policy has been revised, Sutherland said, those six employees have "lost" a combined total of $6,041 worth of paid vacation days. "My concern is the six people and the possible discrimination liability we will have," Sutherland said. "If we would have kept (the June policy) for one full year, we wouldn't have this problem." Sutherland, who voted against the policy revision, suggested that the commission keep its policy unchanged until the end of the current fiscal year. County Attorney David Drell, however, said he thought any risk to the county involving liability was "minimal." The county's original vacation policy gave full-time employees 18 vacation days a year alter ten years of employment with the county, and 24 vacation days after 20 years of work. Under that policy, employees also could accrue and then be paid for an unlimited number of vacation days.

The June policy revision changed the program to give all employees 10 days of vacation a year and limit accrual to 20 days. The latest policy revision keeps the acuual limit at 20 and gives employees 15 vacation days a year after 10 years of employment and 20 days a year alter 15 years of employment. The resolution changing the vacation policy was requested by the county's elected officials. Sheriff Ron Ketchum said the officials have agreed with the State considering charging rent for Capitol space to news organizations fori im 0 i Ipl A fr" ll I By JOAN BARRON Slur-Tribune capita bureau CHEYENNE The five elected state officials delayed until April a decision on whether to charge rent to new- media organizations that have permanent offices in the Capitol. East April, the officials, sitting as the Capitol Building Commission, voted 3-2 against charging $3 per square foot per month to KTWO-TV of Casper and the Casper Star-Tribune, the only news organizations that have office space on the third floor of the Capitol year around.

During Tuesday's commission meeting, Carl Occhipinti, general manager of KGWN-TV of Cheyenne, told the officials that KTWO-TV entered the Cheyenne news and sales market Sept. 1 and is now in direct competition with his television station. Occhipinti said that allowing KTWO-TV free space in the Capitol is tantamount to a stale subsidy to a free-enterprise operation. The Cheyenne television station occupies office space adjacent to 7 i Stroock plans to bow out in 1990 CASPER State Sen. Tom Stroock.

R-Nutrona, said Tuesday that he has decided not to run tor re-election when his term expires in three years. Stroock told the Wyoming Association of Petroleum' Landmen that he will have served 16 years in public office and turn 65 when his term ends. Me reminded his audience that he is the only member of the Senate with "roots" and direct ties to the oil and gas industry. The industry, which plays such a major role in the state, needs representation, he said, urging others to consider running when he vacates his post. Downtown theaters being remodeled CASPER Casper's only two downtown movie theaters are closed for remodeling and will not be open until at least February, an America and Rialto theater projectionist said Tuesday.

Darrcll Poisson said repairs are being done at both theaters, which have been closed since Jan. 1 Poisson said bringing out the stage in the America to make the house suitable for small concerts will be included in the renovation. Work is expected to last one month, but it could take longer, he said. Theater owner Fred Schultc could not be reached for comment. Another applicant for City Council CASPER A second person, James W.

"Tim" Monroe of 5010 E. 15th, has filed with the city of Casper to fill the City Council seat that Kaye McCrary will vacate Jan. 19. East week, the city announced that Michael Reid had applied for McCrary's council post. The city is accepting resumes from people interested in serving on the council in McCrary's Ward III seat until Jan.

15. Council members have said they hope to select a new councilman Jan. 19 after conducting interviews ith the candidates. Police investigating club embezzlement CASPER The Jefferson School Parent Club informed Casper police Monday one of its members allegedly embezzled S5.000 between Nov. 1 arid Monday, Chief Dick Fields said Tuesday.

The chief said no arrest has been made in connection with the disappearance of the money, which is still under investigation. But, he said, police have a suspect. A police report shows the funds were in a Hilltop National Bank checking account. Assault report filed 11 months after fact CASPER Casper police received a report Monday of an alleged aggravated assault that occurred in the 1100 block of West 1 1th Street last February. Steven L.

Propes, 19, was treated at Wyoming Medical Center for a broken jaw and nerve damage he suffered in a Feb. 13 fight, the report he filed shows. Police Chief Dick Fields said Tuesday that Propes and his attacker were acquainted, and the incident occurred at 10 p.m. during a party at the alleged assailant's home. The incident was not reported immediately because "apparently the guy that was assaulted was unfamiliar with complaint procedures," the chief said.

"There was some doubt in his mind whether he could file a complaint." Motel reports damage to room CASPER Motel 6, 1150 Wilkins Circle, informed Casper police Monday that $1,000 in damage was done to Room 126 Dec. 10, a report shows. A while male in his early 30s with dark hair and a beard, about 5 the KTWO-TV office only during the legislative sessions. Occhipinti said his station can do without the office space entirely. Secretary of State Kathy Karpan said government benefits from the presence of the news media in the Capitol.

She pointed out that other news media organizations can use the space available. Karpan also said an earlier survedy showed 25 other states give the news media free space while 12 others charge rent. Susan Anderson, news director for KTWO-TV, said the station's government stories are carried year around, not just during the legislative sessions. Although the station is carrying more Cheyenne news, the focus of the Capitol office still is what goes on in state government, she said. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lynn Simons said she feels the free-space policy violates the constitution, and she would be more comfortable if KTWO had another television office in Chey- enne.

But Simons said the policy ques of the Great Western Network, will make its proposed changes public later this month. The reason for the station's action is "partially" budgetary, he said, "but it's also regarding the news it's a utilization of our Cheyenne staff as well as those that will remain in Casper." ''What we are doing is. the news resources in Casper and Cheyenne to present a new newscast," Calvert said. The end product should "improve. of the information that will be coming from Cheyenne," he said.

For example, during the legislative session there will be "more live reports" and "the information coming from that area ill be more timely." In April, KGWC replaced some of its local operations, including its weathercast, with broadcasts from Cheyenne, and "this is a little bit more," he said. Channel 14 television plans ployees who have been with the county between 15 and 20 years. Under the new policy, employees who have been with the county for three yeais can save their allowed vacation days and lake about a month off 30 working days. Before voting lor the policy change, commission Chairman I rank "Pinky" I His said, "I'd like to restore the incentive to have the county be a good place to work." Commissioner Joe Shickich, who also voted for the change, added, "I think the old-timers deserve it." But according to Commissioner Joan Sutherland, revising the policy before the year is up could present a problem with six county employees who signed up for early Slar- I'rihmic Mike Mammon Community service programs are included in each college's budget authority the amount WCCC has approved for each college to spend. But Randolph said the programs, which include such non-credit courses as gymnastics for children, fly fishing or cake decorating, are supported entirely through student lees.

Since the community service courses by law are not funded by the state, WCCC wants to eliminate the program from each college's budget authority to give local boards more responsibility. Currently, if more students sign up for community service programs than is allowed for in the WCCC-approved budget authority, colleges must first receive commission approval before expanding their course offerings. The total community service program for the seven community colleges is projected to cost $600,000 in the upcoming bien-nium. assault conviction from a book describing torture techniques. "Although the sadomasochistic material was inflammatory, it was not more so than the offenses themselves," Justice Walter Ur-bigkit wrote lor the court.

During the trial, Marker maintained his innocence and blamed the boy's mother for the youth's injuries. Marker and the mother lived in separate households, but Marker was visiting his son on the evening of the assaults in 1986, according to court records. "There was no question in the instant case that Robert had been assaulted by cither his mother or father," Urbigkit wiote. ir-i it- I 4 111 I II Christmas past In a move signaling the end of the holiday season, city of Casper employees Ken Barber (in bucket) and Steve 1 oyt lake down Christmas decorations uesday on Center Street. College Commission will talk about cutting service programs tion involved too many media organizations to be decided at Tuesday's meeting.

State Auditor Jack Sidi made a motion to charge $3 per square foot for each of the ten months a year the Legislature is not in session for the three rooms on the third floor of the Capitol Building, with the space to go to the "highest bidder." Nick Mirich, director of Central Services for the Department of Administration and fiscal Control, said he finds space in the Capitol for nine to ten news media representatives from around the state who come to Cheyenne each year to cover the legislative sessions. After Sidi's motion died for lack of a second, Gov. Mike Sullivan said he favors charging rent to commercial operations that work out of the Capitol. But the governor added that the commission needs to know first which news organizations have "dedicated" space. Sullivan asked DAI officials to that information to the commission at its meetinc in April.

staff layoffs The use of weather broadcasts from Cheyenne was discontinued when "we started having microwave problems this summer," Calvert said, but the station is now. "finishing up a project that will completely re-do the microwave line" between Cheyenne and Casper. He said the link ill be operable Feb. 1. The implementation of the plan to combine the newscasts would have happened earlier if "technical problems" had not interfered, Calvert said.

KGWC news director Kim Sherwood confirmed that the station will maintain a Casper office, will have a local news staff and "to a certain extent" will broadcast from here. The six OWN stations are located in Casper, Chevenne, Scottsbluff, Sterling, Lander-Rivcrton and Rock Springs, Calvert said. a third-degree arson, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine under state law. However, Harvey said, he believes the perpetrator could be charged with first-degree arson, which carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. Police Chief Dick Fields said investigation of the fire has been turned over to his department by fire officials.

"The ire Department is classifying it as arson," the chief "And we have a multiple of people who were silting near (the plant) at the time it all took place and it caught on fire. we're in the process at this point of interviewing." if deposit not paid town says if payment is not received by 5 p.m. Feb. 14, individual water meters will be cut off and padlocked, residents said. A newsletter sent by the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency says the town has agreed to work with individual residents on wavs 10 pay the deposit. Evansville Mayor Lois Ann Nation could not be reached for. comment Tuesday. after patron ignites flowers By EMILY QUARTERMAN Star-Tribune staff writer CASPER KGWC-TV Channel 14 in Casper is planning to lay off an undetermined number of employees as part of a plan initiated nearly a year ago to combine news resources with the television station's Cheyenne station, the station's general manager said Tuesday. Robert Calvert said he doesn't know how many people will lose their jobs, or whether the layoffs will affect more than the news department.

He said some of the station's staff members will be moving to Cheyenne, "there will be some layoffs," and some cuts "may be handled through attrition." "We're talking about something that's not going to happen until next month and all the details are not formulated," he said. Calvert said KGWC, a member Bar flooded By EMILY QUARTERMAN Star-Tribune staff writer CASPER Roughly 200 gallons of water spewed on Drake's Lounge in the Casper Holiday Inn Monday night when a bar patron set a floral arrangement ablaze, triggering the ceiling sprinkling system, a Casper Fire Department spokesman said Tuesday. the incident occurred at 10:24 p.m., and the lounge was forced to shut down because of the fire and ensuing mess, fire inspector Dave Harvey said. Harvey said someone sitting in a booth at Drake's "proceeded to ignite the decorations" with a match or a cigarette lighter. The Evansville to shut CASPER Brookhurst residents say the town of Evansville has notified them that their water service from the town will be shut off if they do not pay their entire $50 deposit to the town by Feb.

14. The move has prompted some subdivision residents to say they will hook back up to their well water. Orpha Piel, who said the town CASPER After meeting with the Joint Appropriations Committee, Wyoming Community College Commission members will discuss eliminating community service programs from community college's budgets at their meeting in Cheyenne Jan. 12. WCCC Board Picsidenl Bill Kidd will present the state's seven community colleges' budget requests to the JAC the same day, WCCC Executive Director Jim Randolph said.

don't know how (legislators) are going to react" to the budget requests, Randolph said. "Our feeling is they're going to be very conservative." While budget issues will be the main topic at the WCCC meeting, a final fall enrollment report, a revenue and expenditure report on how much the community college system costs the stale and the community service discussion are also on WCCC's tentative agenda, Randolph said. Court upholds sex CHEYENNE (AP) A trial court was correct in admitting evidence used to convict a man accused of sexually assaulting his son, especially considering the nature of the offense, according to the Wyoming Supreme Court High court justices Tuesday upheld Thomas Marker's 7th District Court conviction on two counts of aggravated assault of his 3-year-old son Robert. Marker had objected to use of sadomasochistic publications seized in a consensual search of his apartment, saying the evidence unfairly prejudiced the jury against him. Publications seized included a magazine called 299 Bound Boys and two photocopied excerpts fire flashed and produced enough heat to spark action from a sprinkler system unit directly above the burning decor.

The fire inspector said each individual sprinkler outlet is heat activated, so the whole system did noi 30 off. But the one unit that was set off gushes 15 gallons of water per minute and released about 200 gallons altogether, Harvey said. He said the sprinkler put the fire out, but there was smoke and water damage. Firefighters helped put the sprinkler system back in operation and clean up the water. Thc.e were no injuries associated with the brief blaze, Harvey said.

He said police have a suspect. The fire has been labeled off Brookhurst water had told her she could pay the fee over several more months, added, "I'll probably have to go back to my well water." Another resident, Carol Leslie, said she and her husband have decided they would be safer and better off hooking back up to their water well. Results from the Leslie well have not yielded contamination, she said. In its memo to the residents, the feet 2 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds, broke a window and damaged a door, table, chair, television stand, carpet and walls in the room with his hand and foot, the report says. Casper police Chief Dick Fields did not know Tuesday why nearly a month passed before the property damage was reported to his department..