Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 10

Wednesday, April 1, 1998 A10 Casper Star-Tribune Mexican WOlveS rilll tO Uncertain ftlture BIRTHS: Environmental factors can cause harm Continued from Al born with defects or a susceptibility to cancer. Other studies have suggested environmental factors can cause harm even before gender has been determined and may block embryos from developing into males. Although the death rate for males tops that of females at nearly every age, the worldwide human sex ratio hovers around 106 male births for every 100 female births. That is, about 51.5 percent of births are males. In the United States, the percentage dropped from about 51.34 percent to 51.21 percent between 1970 and 1990, the researchers reported.

That's a decrease of one male birth per 1,000 live births, or 38,000 males over the 20-year period, the researchers reported. In Canada, the loss was 2.2 male births per 1,000 live births, or 8,600 males, during the 20-year period. Similar declines were noted in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Finland and Germany; some began as early as 1950 and lasted into the mid-1990s. The authors are conducting research to see if the U.S. trend continued beyond 1990.

once paid trappers to kill wolves because of the threat they posed to ranchers. Many ranchers remain hostile to the release. A federal lawsuit was filed last week by the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association, aimed at preventing the release. "Our primary concern is the loss of livestock. To turn a predator loose and give it protection is going to be detrimental to the livestock industry in New Mexico and Arizona," said Caren Cowan, spokeswoman for the New Mexico cattle growers.

Arizona's state ranching group declined to join the lawsuit because of financial considerations, but the lawsuit does include the Greenlee County Cattle Growers and five other New Mexico ranching groups. rival in January. Their actual release was more secretive, with wildlife officials juggling the public's curiosity with a desire to keep the wolves isolated from people and a goal of setting them free when elk herds migrated through their release sites. But their survival is anything but ensured. Unlike their larger cousins, the timber wolves which were transplanted from the wilds of Canada to Yellowstone National Park the Mexican gray wolves all were raised in captivity.

They all are several generations removed from the wild, and biologists don't know how long it will take for them to recover their killing instincts, if at all. It's a complete turnaround for the federal government, which OIL: Clinton administration opposes mandatory RIK program By STEVE YOZWIAK The Arizona Republic Endangered Mexican gray wolves are today running free in the wilds of Arizona after a nearly three-decade disappearance from the Southwest and almost certain elimination from their historic range in western North America. The last of 11 wolves left holding pens Tuesday morning and loped off into an uncertain future, bounding through the snowy Blue Wilderness between Alpine and Clifton in eastern Arizona. After the walls of their cages were opened, they devoured road kill elk left by biologists. They began exploring, moving up to 1 12 miles from the acclimation pens, where they have been kept since their fanfare ar OHMAN: Urged to Continued from Al when she ran successfully for state Superintendent of Public Instruction on the Republican ticket.

She stunned four candidates for the 1994 Republican nomination for secretary of state when she jumped into that race shortly before the filing deadline. Ohman won the GOP primary and went on to be elected to the number two state office over Democrat Nick Deegan, 129,069 votes to 65,274. Ohman's decision to exit elected politics this year triggers a scramble for the secretary of state's job. It also opens in earnest the 1998 political campaign season. Steve Cranfill, Cody lawyer and former legislator, said Monday he is interested in entering the Republican primary for secretary of state.

Cranfill already has visited half the counties in the state and is raising money for his statewide campaign. Joe Meyer, former attorney general, longtime Legislative Service Office official and now assistant to University of Wyoming President Philip Dubois, said earlier he also is interested in the GOP nomination but would not run against an incumbent. But House Speaker Bruce Hinchey of Casper said Tuesday he has decided against entering the GOP primary for secretary of state. "I think there's plenty in the race," Hinchey said, mentioning Cranfill and Meyer. Hinchey said he will run for the state Senate instead if incumbent Gail Zimmerman of BECHTEL: Fremont Continued from Al from the publication of Bech-tel's photo in Tuesday's Sarasota Herald-Tribune, which reported the possible sighting of Bcchtel, King said.

Bechtel disappeared July 24 from the Loop Road in the mountains south of Lander. King said he is currently debating whether to go to Florida to assist local law enforcement officials there in interviewing those who've reported seeing Bechtel. In Florida, local TV, print and broadcast media were reporting CY HARDER SHOP 44 CY Ave. M5-5S54 Reg. Hair Cuts '8 Style Cuts '10 I 1 Men Shaves '10 Razor, Cut Style 10 Our Saviour's Lutheran Preschool Child Care 531 S.

Durbin Now enrolling children, ages 2 12 to 6 yrs old (must 3 by 1199) for fall preschool childcare. Canng teachers and staff. We are NAEYC accredited. For more information, please call: 6, 577-4006 MEMORIAL DAY SPECIALS! Call NOW for Details! fe 3 3 1 1 9 I i i i vases on your existing memorials. Granite, Bronze, Marble, and Metaltraft It ata.

LtiLiLLHi a 4 1 The MMS and the Clinton administration strongly oppose a mandatory RIK program, claiming that it could cost the federal treasury more than $500 million per year. Despite a threatened presidential veto, "We plan on making this law before we're finished this year," Thornberry said. Sen. Mary Landrieu, promoted a bill that would divert more than 25 percent of the $5 billion collected annually from offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere to the coffers of coastal states. Currently, that money is sent to the federal treasury and to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Landrieu argued that Louisiana and other coastal states should be reimbursed for oil and gas production off their coasts. In an admitted effort to garner wider support, however, she proposed dividing the money among all coastal states including those that border the Great Lakes -without regard for whether those states actually have offshore production. Despite the enthusiasm for the bills, Domenici was candid in his assessment of their feasibility at a time when everyone in Congress must cope with spending caps. "Most of the relief we need is found on the tax side of the ledger. We have a 60-vote problem everywhere we turn," Domenici said, referring to Senate rules mandating a three-fifths majority to waive any provision of the budget act.

"There's severe competition for eliminating loophole closures (in the existing tax code) to pay for the bill, some of which would affect the very industry we're trying to help," he added. Wcdc.with natural solutions to hot flashes, creaky pints, insomnia, HUE IN THE WAIT Natural Foods 473-2992 $FOff UPS or Federal Exprnts Shi witn coupon-expire ur 490FAX oer Daee incoming or outgoing-domestic only wun coupon-expire 1 3fo APRIL FOOLS DAY Today Only 4-6 pm All Yellow. Green. Blue Tags 12 Price Ynu 'd he a fnnl to mv this sole' ijwi GLASSHOUSE jir234 S. David 234-2013 Opmn 10-4 Trave I MANAqCMENT AqtNcy Up to 55 OFF FARES FOR CHILDREN fOfA adult fatt tnablct 2 thildrtn fan 117) to fool up to 8 Off! Travel April 14 Sept.

8 14 day advanced notice Last day to purchase, April 3 Other restriction may apply WHTMHF IIIIVNKIVN IIIVINNIi (IIIITI I I HIVI 7f-tl4l 4Y Continued from Al barrels per day, prices remain low and are predicted to fall again after rising on news of the agreement. In response to the current situation, House and Senate members from oil producing states stepped forward at Tuesday's meeting. Together with industry lobbyists, they unveiled and promoted a half dozen measures designed to expand tax breaks for the industry, simplify royalty collections and make it easier to drill and explore on federal lands. They called on oil and gas industry representatives to help them lobby other members and provide information they can use in coming debates. "In order for them to work, you're going to have to lobby for them," said Sen.

Frank Murkows-ki, R-Alaska, of the various measures. But despite sympathizing with those goals, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici, cautioned that revenue to pay for those tax cuts and regulatory changes will be hard to come by. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, introduced an amalgam of several previous bills that contains a series of tax, regulatory and royalty provisions. The bill, cosponsored by Republican Sens.

Don Nickles of Oklahoma and Murkowski, would create additional federal tax credits for marginal "stripper" wells that produce small quantities of oil and gas or that produce less desirable grades of oil. The "National Oil and Gas Security Enhancement Plan" also would waive federal income taxes on profits earned from recovering abandoned wells and putting them back in production, while allowing producers to deduct other expenses from income. It would compel the federal government to accept its share of royalty payments "in kind" as a share of actual product, and trans- Attention Prom Goerh ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR PROM NIGHT OPEN Fri Sat. 5:00 -9 AS am I infhnriVS lues -I nun iuu-yuupm aw" 11 Flavors to I I must i From! 0417981 I Yogurt Plus Ice Cream Spring is coming, just like a song. Come on over and join the throng.

BREAKFAST, LUNCH I and DINNLR you'll find lln ncimcr lummy or rjfl wallet in a bind! iL BreaWasf Starts 6 1040 N. Center TTTTTTTTTTTTTrrr Hot Water Holiday of the Voters HOT ST4TE PARK I hrrmnpoll. vomln '129 per couple im liuti-s 2 nights lodging, txrtlle (t champagne, prime nh dinner tor 2. hot mineral acui pool rnUlren under If tree I xtrav Kacquethiill. exercise rooms.

massages, saunas, private hot mineral tubs and tanning booths 1 -KOO HOLIDAY or (307) K64 3131 I Ik -m IS 3 1 fc7 1 ME I fer most oil and gas inspection and approval functions now performed by the federal Bureau of Land Management to states. Hutchison conceded that the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the abandoned well provision alone would cost $55 million per year. In response, she argued that increases in production as a result of reduction in taxes would show no net loss to the treasury. Hutchison, Murkowski and Nickles all vowed to press hard for language rescinding a requirement in the current budget that the federal government sell millions of barrels of oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Selling the oil at today's prices could result in a loss of as much as $550 million, Hutchison claimed.

Rep Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, touted his royalty-in-kind bill, which also has been cosponsored by Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo. Thornberry reiterated his belief that without an across-the-board RIK mandate, the federal Minerals Management Service would have no reason to cut staffing and administrative costs. The Thornberry-Cubin bill would require federal government to take its share of federal oil and gas royalties in actual barrels of oil or cubic feet of gas. The government then would contract with a private marketer to combine the production and sell it for the best possible price on the open markets.

Supporters of in-kind royalty collection view it as a way to avoid litigation with oil and gas producers over the legitimate value of their production. Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer and others also see it as a way to cut the MMS' administrative costs, which are de- ducted from states' share of mineral royalties. Those deductions cost Wyoming about $7 million per year. Whtre you find mm ft hug diffrrrtu PERFECT FOR EASTER 2 Piece Dress Teal Unique Patchwork HMDnhwt 577-1023 TufrF 104 S1M One Try Our Super Size Caramel Cinnamon Nut Rolls This Week! Ak Enjy Our Ittwm I Coff Shop 1347 S.

Wisconsin265-6298 M-F 6: Warn Sal vl pik Month of Moonlight t.iquotyp,. i Purchase by 4398 First Day to Trgvel 41498 Trtvei by 9898 (All el th tbon ufccl lo chingt) 5omp wu Horn cow wi Sublet ft) uwgw liw Travrl lav-Norn Mm thru NiHm Thurs 1 4 Dav Advancr Mav fim Satunlav niht Adh Mint Afrfimpanvfhikl -m rtndaHawninikdiffrrrnt Airjwffi frr ur extra Other HcMrirttnmaprtrv All Sithfrd toChanRr OPEN SATl R)AY YOl (, EMI Mf 1-800-426-8663 266-4550 Sat 9-3 Hilltop Shopping Center v- total in 330 5.WM 473.1844 VWfm Sim run for governor Casper decides not to seek another term. Wyoming house speakers traditionally step down after serving in the top leadership position. On the Democratic side, state Sen. Jayne Mockler of Cheyenne said Tuesday she will announce her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state by April 15.

Treasurer Stan Smith reiterated Tuesday his decision not to seek another term this year. Cynthia Lummis, a former legislator and former aide to Gov. Jim Geringer, announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination for treasurer during the Laramie County Republican convention Saturday, Smith said. Auditor Dave Ferrari said Tuesday he will announce his political plans by mid-April. If Ferrari doesn't seek a third term, as expected, it will create three open seats among the five elected officials up for election this year.

Geringer has yet to make a formal announcement of his intention to seek a second term, but he is expected to do so. Superintendent of Public Instruction Judy Catchpole last week launched her campaign for second term. Prospective candidates for state auditor include Senate President Bob Grieve of Savery and Tom Jones, a former deputy auditor, legislator and small business lobbyist. Jones, who lost the Republican primary election for auditor eight years ago to Ferrari, said Tuesday he is interested in run- investigator may go the Bechtel story, and King spent Tuesday returning numerous calls from reporters there. The media blitz is expected to prompt more calls today, he said.

Sarasota County sheriff's Lt. Bill Stookey said a couple of calls to Florida law enforcement 19TH HOLE oun OPEN TODAY 3 Now taking reservations for Yj Easter Buffet rf 237-9470 Get Shredded Again with Taco John Shredded Beef tCurritos, Flautas 1 jilteJitaffit. ning for the auditor's office again. During the past three and a half years, Ohman and Ferrari have been at odds with other members of the Board of State Lands and Investments particularly Geringer over state lands policies. The two often have cited the board's constitutional responsibility to get the most money possible from state trust lands for the trust beneficiaries, primarily the public schools.

Ohman said those clashes on the five-member all-Republican board played a role in her decision. "It's a factor but it's only one of lots of thing that a guy thinks about," Ohman said. "There have been a lot of good things these four years have been fun so I can't say it's a negative experience. I just think it's time to move on." The next secretary of state must define his or her trust responsibilities as one of the five members of the state board, she said. Ohman had scheduled a news conference in February to announce her intention to seek reelection, but then cancelled the event.

"I thought about it but I chose not Ohman said. Ohman said many people had urged her to run for governor and she did consider it. "There are some issues out there that aren't settled and aren't solved and they are looking for someone to do it," she said. Ohman said she is not foreclosing running for elected office in the future. to Florida agencies about the case came in Tuesday.

Stookey said there are several such thrift stores in the Sarasota area, and that Goodwill workers were cooperating with the investigation Tuesday. Tuesday Night Special ROAST LEG OF LAMB Sedar'S Ktaurant Sunrise Shopping Center 2368M A THE FAMILY CLINIO Dana R. Ideen, M.D. Drew Woodward, M.D. 1315 East A 235-8552 We are pleased to accept new patients and their families including infants, children ami uilults.

Alstt accepting new Nursing Home patients. All types of insurance accepted. Accepts Medicare Assignment, f'uyment pluns designed if insurance not mailable. Blue CrossBlue Shield and WinHealth preferred providers Casper husband mo. In A In '97! IT WAS SO EASY" Lwry Stoucn I mini 1 without Drugs Jit! Staucfi kt i Kn vtfwut Dmgs flwus nor tyDKal I cost of meals Tim "iL-'Ournj ICSfAUTHf PAY ONLY run ivnw as ma i II PTWfntim 1 and Tocos.

A WHOLE LOT OF MEXICAN. Ctrprr Milli and DouM KIVtRION ro m-nn.