Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 13

cm Kickin' back Car baby Thomas: Gun control also 'war on West' 7. SHERIDAN Craig Thomas says gun control is Hhe latest weapon the Democrats are using in the "war on the West." While ostensibly aimed at a largely urban prob- lem, gun control legislation is really another manifestation of an attack on Western values by a Demo-I erotic administration and Congress, Thomas told work release from ers at a Sheridan sawmill this week. idSDita Mother out on bond "It infringes on a culture in the West of people having guns and using guns and feeling comfortable with Iguns," Thomas, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, said his discussion at the sawmill. "And it adds to the "sort of attack on the way we live in the West and the restriction of personal freedom that people here enjoy." And despite being a self-described fiscal conservative, Thomas, told the mill workers that below-cost timber sales are an instance when government subsidies are appropriate.

"Some of the things going on in Washington are mighty difficult and one of them is the budget," Thomas said. Because "the (Bighorn National) Forest considers most of these sales to be below cost," Congress is less likely to appropriate money which would allow those sales to go through, Thomas told the workers. Thomas says he has "contacted the regional forester and we've contacted the deputy chief (of national est systems) Greg Reynolds about funding timber sales to the extent that management prescribes for the cutting." Sullivan formally enters Senate race CHEYENNE Gov. Mike Sullivan filed for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate Wednesday afternoon, making official his candidacy for retiring Republican Sen.

Malcolm Wallop's seat. The two-term chief executive is the first Democrat to file for his party's nomination for the U.S. Senate. The only Republican candidate to file for Wallop's seat so far is U.S. Rep.

Craig Thomas. The deadline for candidates to file with the secretary of state's office was 5 p.m. Friday. Sullivan said in a release that, if elected U.S. senator, he will be known for being "independent, fair and for representing all the people of Wyoming," 'J, i.

i r' By DE1RDRE STOELZLE Star-Tribune staff writer CASPER Korry Clark, the 1 6-day-old baby left alone in a car nine hours one day last week after police took his mother into custody, was released Thursday from the Wyoming Medical Center, a hospital official said. Korry was admitted to the hospital on May 26 reportedly suffering from dehydration. He was in good condition when he was released by the hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said. His mother, Tammy Clark, 37, was charged with felony child abuse after she allegedly neglected her newborn son, wandering around the 900 block of South Jackson Street in an apparent state of intoxication while he lay alone in a car from about 1 1 :55 a.m. when his mother was arrested until 8:40 p.m.

Thursday, May 26. Clark was released from the county jail Thursday, Natrona County Sheriff Dave Dovala said. Also charged with public intoxication in Municipal Court, Clark's bond was set at $3,000 last Friday in county court. A proceeding regarding the "welfare of the child" is scheduled in juvenile court in Casper, according to District Attorney Kevin Meenan. Clark will not have custody of the child at this time, Meenan said.

Officers arrested Clark at 920 South Jackson Street for being publicly intoxicated. She was reportedly incoherent and responded to officers' questions with "totally unrelated chatter," officers wrote in their reports of the case. At one point, however, Clark reportedly told the officers, "the child over there, somebody take him." Officers reported that they "saw no child in the area." But Police Lt. Jack Watters said the father of the newborn found his son in Clark's car, parked in the 900 block of South Jackson the same block in which Clark was arrested. The father began his search about 6 p.m., after Clark called him from the jail and asked him to post $60 bond so she could be released.

He asked her where her children were and she did not know, according to police. The father then called the Department of Family Services and began searching for Korry. He found his son in the front seat of the car in a car carrier with one of the windows down, police said. The baby appeared to his father to be in shock and was taken to the hospital. He was treated there for seven days.

Deputy Police Chief Art Washut declined to comment on what liability if any the officers have in regard to the plight of Korry. Washut said, "I guess I'd prefer not to comment about anything that would have this tied to any potential civil liability, and I'd refer you to the city attorney." Casper City Attorney Bob Mullen said he did not "have enough details, really, to express an opinion." Meenan said Friday that the case is pending, in part, in juvenile court because it pertains to the neglect of a juvenile. He said that proceedings in juvenile court are confidential. Clark's case is also set for a preliminary hearing in Natrona County Court. Rick SorensonStar-Tribune Herschler: Open VA hospitals to public CASPER Veterans Administration hospitals should open their services to the public, Jon Herschler, the Democratic candidate for Congress says.

Herschler, a veteran of six years in the Navy medical corps, said his plan to reform health care would allow veterans to choose their own physician in their own community rather than have to travel to VA facilities in Cheyenne and Sheridan. The Veterans Administration Herschler said, should pay health care premiums for veterans. "My message really resonates with veterans," Her-' schler said. Herschler, who spoke in Gillette on Memorial Day at a ceremony honoring Wyoming's lone Gulf War fatality, said the federal government's support for veterans has eroded since the 1970s. Herschler accused the federal government of denying relationship of veterans' illnesses to their time in military service.

"This was the case with Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam veterans and now appears to be happening again with those suffering from "Gulf War syndrome," Herschler said. "Our government in rejecting the validity of veterans' claims, has sounded like the tobacco companies denying the association between smoking and lung cancer." There are "bad actors" among veterans who use the system to their own gain, Herschler said, "but we still owe these people." Herschler added his belief that the Vietnam War was particularly "psychologically destructive," to those veterans because they returned home to a nation hostile to them. Kerry of Casper sits on his tackle box and enjoys fishing at Harry Yesness Pond all by himself Friday afternoon. Assessor, commissioner races crowded Nobody files for Ward II council seat By DANIEL WISEMAN Star-Tribune staff writer CASPER Nobody has filed to run for Casper City Council in Ward II and the race to succeed Tom Sutherland as Natrona County assessor has a crowded field. City Councilman Mike Corrig-an and George Fetter did not file for re-election, according to the city.

According to the Natrona County Clerk's Office, three Republicans Susan DeWitt, Jim Hageman, and John Sloan have entered the assessor's race and on the Democrat side, Jeff Larson will challenge P.J. Rose in the primary. Both parties will hold primaries on Aug. 16. In the race for Natrona County Commissioner, Republicans Marion Bouzis and Bill Braucr are seeking re-election as is Democrat Terry Wingerter.

Other Republicans trying to win seats on the commission are Donn Kuhn, Donna Obert, Rod Robinder, Harry Strohecker, Wade Sutphin and Ken Wilson. Democrat Ruth Garrett also is running for the commission. The City Council race has five candidates in Ward the central part of the city. They are Jeffrey Eckhart, Diane Broadway, J.W. "Tim" Monroe, Everett L.

Molyneux, and Carol Crump. In Ward III, six candidates are seeking two seats on the City Council. George Parks and Ed Opella both filed for re-election. Opella was sitting in his truck up until the 5 p.m. Friday deadline deciding whether or not to run.

The other candidates in Ward III, generally the eastern part of Casper, are George Kohl, Dean E. Bauer, Cynthia "Cyd" Grieve, and Leslie Michel. By not filing for re-election, Fetter has effectively set up a scenario where a write-in candidate could possibly win the seat. Challenging Republican Natrona County Clerk Mary Ann Collins will be Democrat Mary Jo Burgess. Running uncontested in county races are Sheriff Dave Dovala, Treasurer Gary Widup, Clerk of the District Court, Sue Pate and District Attorney Kevin Meenan, all Republicans.

Running for mayor in Evansville are Doyle Davidson and Velma Jackson. Seeking an Evansville council seat is Mellody Patceg. Running for mayor of Bar Nunn are Chuck Anderson and Crystal Mueller. Seeking four-year seats on the Bar Nunn council are Bill Christensen, Roger Hill, Larry Keffer, Paula Kincheloe, and Jeffrey Petty. Deegan: 'It's all about jobs.

GILLETTE (AP) A former Campbell County judge on Thursday officially launched his campaign for the secretary of state's office. Democrat Nick Deegan, 43, said his platform for the office will focus on jobs. "It's all about jobs," Deegan said during a news conference. "Period." Deegan, who has served as a judge for 12 years, said i the secretary of state is in a unique position to help 1 communities lure companies to create jobs. He added he decided to seek the Democratic nomination for the office because of problems he believes are caused by unemployment.

"(I have) stood witness to the tragedy of able-bodied men and women who have not been able to find steady, gainful employment," he said. "(The result is janj incredible human toll that loss of employment ex- acts on all walks of life." Scott: Improve state telecommunications LARAMIE (AP) A Republican candidate for governor believes the state of Wyoming should take a tougher approach when it comes to improving telecommunication services. State Sen. Charles Scott of Casper said Wyoming could learn from other states about improving telecommunications to be competitive in the information age. "Other states, and Idaho is often cited as a prime example, have done a much better job than Wyoming has in getting good, modern telecommunications at a fair-.

Iy reasonable price on a statewide basis," Scott said. "It's a matter of using the carrots, because the state does spend a fair amount of money on that sort of thing, and the regulatory sticks that are necessary." He said he believes it's a matter of the governor making telecommunications a high priority and push- ing it. A problem, Scott said, appears to be that the state Paseneauix seeks second term in House A By DANIEL WISEMAN Star-Tribune stajf writer CASPER State Rep. Carolyn Paseneaux announced Friday that she is seeking re-election in House District 38. In a statement, Paseneaux said she believes Wyoming residents should be allowed to decide whether Riverton should host a nuclear waste storage facility.

"I believe that the people do not want the governor taking away their choices from them," she said. "A good debate on the issue is healthy." Paseneaux, a Republican, represents the west side of Casper and rural Natrona County to the Carbon Coun- 3i line, north to Midwest, west to Power River, Hiland, Arminto, Moneta and Natrona, as well as a small portion of Fremont County including Lysitc and Badwater. Paseneaux said she sits on the be vigorous in developing its water or other states will claim it. Paseneaux said she sponsored a bill last session to recognize an "individual's right to acquire, own and enjoy property as a fundamental civil right." "We have come to a place in history where we as citizens must decide whether we want to regain our basic freedoms or whether we want to give up our decision-making prerogative to government," she said in a prepared statement. "I hope individuals will choose less government." Paseneaux said she also sponsored and got passed a bill that enables poor people with terminal illnesses to use Medicaid insurance to participate in Hospice programs.

Paseneaux, who has served one term in the House, is the former executive director of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association and now campaign director for Jim Magagna, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress. House Revenue Committee that is reviewing sales tax exemptions. She also sits on the Travel, Recreation, and Wildlife Committee. She said that she opposed charging a fee to use Edness Kimball Wilkins Park.

Paseneaux calls herself a fiscal conservative. Asked why she supported funding the $30 million Sandstone Dam that will benefit about 80 agriculture users in southeastern Wyoming, Paseneaux said a previous Legislature made a promise to build it. Estimates from environmental groups said the state of Wyoming would likely receive only $1 million in return for its investment. "We have an obligation not to go back on our word," she said. The state diverted water out of the Little Snake River basin to supply water to Cheyenne, she noted.

Wyoming, Paseneaux said, must Public Service Commission lacks some of the regula- tory authority to take a harder line with utilities. An tempt was made in this year's legislative session to give the PSC more authority, but Scott said the effort failed in part due to lack of support from the executive branch. CAROLYN PASENEAUX 'To regain our basic freedoms A.