Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 12

Friday, September 20, 1996 ni(ir. Border to Border State group to study power export potential STEA says plant here could send power to distant sites Fremont County works to boost tourism B2 Casper Star-Tribune 'This is an industry just waiting to happen and we want Wyoming in on the ground PAT NEARY, DIRECTOR, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY ENERGY AUTHORITY TRICIA MelNROYSter-TrlbiiM ar, Boysen Reservoir near Shoshonl is one of Fremont County's top attractions, but other sites statewide are a bigger tourist draw. By the Star-Tribune staff CHEYENNE Wyoming could help solve the West's power problems and boost its own economy by developing new electric transmission technology, the head of the state's Science, Technology and Energy Authority (STEA) believes. "This is an industry just waiting to happen and we want Wyoming in on the ground floor," said STEA Executive Director Pat Neary, who announced the state agency will conduct a six-month study that examines the market potential and other aspects of using High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power lines to transmit Wyoming-generated power to distant sites. Such power lines could be an alternative to the current western power grid that had many outages this summer, Neary said.

Neary said the new technology could potentially bring in a multi-billion power plant with 360 new jobs, plus provide severance taxes and royalties to the state. He indicated coal and gas companies have already expressed interest in the project. "It is a huge capital investment on the part of the industry," Neary related. "In most cases, if it is solar or wind-powered, it can be located anywhere in Wyoming. If it is coal or gas-fired, it would be located closest to those Wyoming natural resources." Neary said the market will drive the HVDC project.

"Many areas are in need of Over, president of the Wind River Visitors Council. "People pass through and take advantage of the restaurants on the way through to, say, Dubois or Jackson." The study said lodging accounted for 0.9 percent of the county's travel revenue, compared to a 1.8 percent state average. Recreation services made up 0.6 percent of travel revenue, compared to the state average of 0.8 percent. The UW study also found RIVERTON (AP) A recent University of Wyoming economic study of Fremont County backed one tourism official's take on the industry: Fremont County is not a top tourism destination in Wyoming. The study showed that a significant amount of the county's tourism earnings are from eating and drinking revenue, while lodging revenues lagged behind the state average.

"It's a symptom of us not being a destination," said Ernie that a majority of visitors to Fremont County are from elsewhere in Wyoming. About 30 percent of tourists that traveled through the county in 1995 were from Wyoming, while Colorado was second-highest with 12.5 percent and California third with 9.2 percent. Over said prior to the study, the visitors council relied on information from the Wyoming Division of Tourism, which showed that most tourists to Wyoming came from Califor College settles free nia and the Midwest. "We now know the regional i visitor is very, very important to us, he said. Over said Fremont could attract more tourists as people tire of the popular" tourism destinations in Wyotii, ming, including the Jacksonj area, Yellowstone and Grand! Teton national parks mountain towns in Wyoming.

"They're looking for' something new, and I think we're poised to be it," he saidm ft 4' I speech lawsuit NI i nrr commodate religious use of the site by American Indian tribes that consider the area sacred. The plan also banned commercial climbing of the tower during June. The Mountain States Legal Foundation, in a lawsuit filed for the Bear Lodge Multiple Use Association and Wyoming climbing guide Andy Petefish, asked for a preliminary injunction to block the plan. The lawsuit argued the closure of a national monument to commercial climbing for religious purposes would violate the constitutional requirement for the separation of church and state. Downes in early June prohibited the ban from taking place until he could review the lawsuit.

The Park Service then asked for time to reconsider the ban and accept further comments on its climbing plan. CHEYENNE (AP) Sheridan College officials have agreed. 16 pay two professors $27,000 to settle their free speech lawsuit against the college. The Wyoming Education Association, in a release, an- o-nounced the settlement had been reached in the lawsuit against the college filed by Sue and Dick Birkholz. i-o u- The lawsuit stemmed from the college's decision in 1994 to renew the contract of Sue Birkholz.

The two argued the college did not follow procedure in to renew the contract, noting evaluations for Sue Birkholz been good and that there was no reduction in force at the college; The two argued that the college did not renew the contract n. of Sue Birkholz in retaliation for statements made by Dick Birkholz, president of the college's Faculty Senate. When the college's board denied a grievance from Sue Birkholz, the WEA filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court. Devils Tower climbing ban ruling delayed CHEYENNE (AP) No action will be taken on a lawsuit filed over a climbing ban on Devils Tower until the federal government can complete its review of the ban, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge William Downes granted the federal government's request to halt proceedings in the lawsuit until Dec. 1, when an administrative review of the ban is expected to be completed. The lawsuit stems from a climbing plan for the tower that asked private climbers to avoid climbing the tower in June to ac- A. primary power sources, including Texas and the Gulf Coast," he explained.

Neary said the deregulation of the electric power industry and the demonstrated need for additional energy sources in the West could spur development of an HVDC plant in Wyoming. He noted the United States imports a significant share of its annual energy consumption, and using Wyoming's energy resources to produce inexpensive alternatives could decrease the nation's dependence on imported energy. The STEA study will explore the technical and economic feasibility of phased construction, prepare detailed plans with projected costs for siting, prepare an estimate of the cost of required environmental studies, and investigate forming a cooperative effort between public and private organizations to develop Wyoming's power generating capabilities. Neary said the study should be completed by February 1997. Two other award winners -Bob Leathers, principal of Evansville Elementary School, and Velma Linford Elementary first grade teacher Minerva Van Arsdale of Laramie were notified of their awards Wednesday.

The four will be honored at a banquet in Cheyenne Oct. 30, and will be flown to Los Angeles in June to receive their $25,000 checks at a glitzy awards ceremony. Since the foundation began the awards in 1985, it has granted $25.5 million to teachers in 32 states including $350,000 to 14 Wyoming teachers in the past three years. Winners are named by a panel Catchpole selects. There is no selection process or nomination procedure.

A story in Thursday's Star-Tribune incorrectly described foundation founder Michael Milken's current status on the foundation board. Governor Mike Sullivan are serving as co-chairs for the campaign, while Ken Ulman will be the Wyoming state director. The phone number is LUuu Educators: Smaller classes expensive RIVERTON (AP) A legislative recommendation to reduce class sizes in public schools could be effective but expensive, according to school officials around Wyoming. The Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee this week recommended limiting core classes for kindergarten through third-grade to an average of 15 students and higher grades to 18 students. Most districts in Fremont County have class sizes above the proposed numbers.

The Riverton school district has an average of 25 students in kindergarten classes, 24 in first- through fifth-grade classes and 24 to 26 students in each secondary classroom. "I don't know if the district could financially stand to take on that cost," Superintendent Mike McClaren said. McClaren said the recommendation would require building more classrooms and hiring more teachers. He estimated an additional $150,000 in personnel costs alone. The proposal also would affect smaller Fremont County school districts, where enrollments also are above the recommended limits.

Cody, Wilson educators win $25,000 Milken awards WHIRLPOOL eJtaiev I If.UVJH I Guilty verdict in CSU CASPER A Cody principal and a teacher in Wilson Thursday learned they had won $25,000 grants from the Los Angeles-based Milken Family Foundation. The awards were presented to Nancy Martin, principal of Cody's Eastside Elementary School, and Kathy Milturn, a fifth grade teacher at Wilson Elementary School in Teton County, Thursday by state Superintendent of Public Instruction of Judy Catchpole. In a prepared statement, Catchpole praised Martin's creation of new report cards linked to districtwide student performance standards, and her work in 1990 to celebrate Wyoming's Centennial by building a school playground reflecting state history. The superintendent lauded Milburn for her creativity in integrating history, language, music and dance programs in her class. FREE DELIVERY A NORMAL INSTALLATION "A truttid nam In Cttptr line UJ2" 20 i I 4 I izizzzz- FORT COLLINS, Colo.

(AP) A Cheyenne, man was convicted of attempted murder and assault charges Wednesday in the beating and stabbing of a 22-year-old Colorado State University student. The Larimer County District Court jury deliberated about seven hours before finding Frank D. Vlahos guilty of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated robbery and first-degree assault. He was found innocent of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of first-degree assault. Judge William Dressel scheduled Vlahos' sentencing for Oct.

21. Two other Cheyenne men Orlando Cruz, 20, and Brian Cal-cari, 26 still face charges in the case. Justin Loewecke, 22, was attacked in an alley in downtown Fort Collins on April 11, robbed, beaten and stabbed six times in the chest with needle-nosed pliers. He is still being treated and undergoing therapy for a brain injury. student beating 602; e-mail sUtefttrib.com; or call 27" Super Capacity Plus Automatic Washer in White-on-White Styling Model LSR7233 7 Automatic Cycles 2 WashSpin Speeds Xtra Roll Action" Agitator' Piomotes Rollover to Get Clothes Clean MAGIC CLEAN1 Self-Cleaning Lint Filter Never Needs Manual Cleaning Manufacturers List Price Manufacturers'1 Mail-In Rebate ow.

Low Price 9t KAdio Supply TV AliMet, 642 E. 2nd 234-9159 Whirlpool-1 JjjQ Clinton-Gore opens headquarters BBHG Patrons Ball Saturday CODY Three luxury vacations, original art work and a custom-crafted children's playhouse are among the prizes to be awarded at the annual Buffalo Bill Historical Center's Patrons Ball Saturday. The theme for the 20th anniversary of the annual black-tie fund raising event is "Twenty Years of Magic, according to a release. Musical entertainment will be provided by Joe D'Elia and the Allstar Band, an eight-piece ensemble from Stamford, Conn. CHEYENNE The Clinton-Gore '96 re-election campaign has opened its Wyoming headquarters at 1001 East Lincolnway in Cheyenne, according to a release.

Bob Schuster and former 0M Edited bv Judy Hamilton. For information, questions and news tips about this page, call 1-800442-6916, ext. Border to Border reporter Jeff Gearino at.