Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 16

Gisjxt Star VMnine Tuesday, December 8, 1998 fJ4 VUUJJm JL JUL jA. Excess funds aimed at water, streets Public hearing set on how to spend $4.27 million in extra sales tax revenue NCHS tops state drama competition 'At some point, the council has to have the courage to stand up to people and say, "It doesn't make KEN DARAIE, CASPER CITV COUNCILMAN City Manager Tom Forslund told the council during a Monday work session that It makes "no economical sense to have five outdoor pools" operating less than three months a year. He also warned the council that people will pack the City Council chambers to object If the city decides to close pools. City Councilman Paul Bertogllo pointed out that the pools might not have to be closed, but the city has committed to removing two pools from the city budget. Money for swimming was a small portion of the city's Please see FUNDS, B2 For the most part, city staff advised spending the money on basic services that were requested to the 1-percent committee this year but weren't approved.

Darale was hesitant to spend $300,000 on community assisted swimming when other recreation Is available. "If the community Is looking to leadership to support recreation for children and adults, how can anyone say we haven't done that?" Darale asked. "At some point, the council has to have the courage to stand up to people and say, 'It doesn't make By DEBORAH DAVIS Star-Tribune staff writer CASPER It's like a wound that keeps bleeding. That's how City Councilman Ken Darale described the city's community assisted swimming program during a Casper City Council discussion on how to spend $4.27 million In anticipated, excess money from Optional One Percent Sales Tax No. 10.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on Dec. 15 before voting on how to spend the extra revenue from 1-percent No. 10, which continues to accrue through February 1999. Without program funding, the city would have to either Increase Its subsidy through the general fund, raise fees considerably or close pools. Wyoming State High School Drama Tournament In River-ton on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Events Included proscenium one-act plays, arena performance, duet acting, monologues, realistic and fantasy makeup, scene design and costume design. NCHS performed "Why the Lord Came to Sand Mountain" by Romulus Linney for their one-act play performance. The tall tale set In the Appalachian Mountains starred Amanda Gilbert, Jon Schroeder, Eric Allen, Trevor Trujlllo, Lucas Chrlstensen, Charity Naquln and Monica Leotta. "Mrs. Barbe worked our butts off for this," said Gilbert, a senior who also earned an All-State medal for outstanding Individual performance.

"And I'm really glad she did." Trujlllo, another senior who earned similar honors, also praised the Casper coach. "I'm walking on air right now," said Trujlllo, who also placed second for his Please see DRAMA, B2 By SONJA LEE Star-Tribune staff writer CASPER Phone calls to the Natrona County High School Drama department were answered Monday with the message, "NC Drama, number one In the state, may I help you." The NCHS drama team took home first-place trophies for both Its one-act play and arena performance at the Wyoming High School Drama Tournament. It Is the first time NCHS has won top honors In both areas In the same year. "What It means Is that we were able to win In the two most difficult and complex events," said Jaime Barbe, NCHS drama coach. Barbe said the two events are the most challenging because they require students to setup for a performance In 10 minutes and then perform a flawless show on a completely new stage.

"The whole crew really made this happen," she said. Students from 25 high schools competed In the Sky lights 0 I) no" WW- I3D 7 JV- State Drama Tournament Top places In 1998 Arena Performance Place School Play First Natrona County High School "Blood Guilty" Second Cheyenne East High School "A Shayna Maidel" Third Campbell County High School "A Game" vV, OO rJD Play "Why the Lord Came to "Rosencrant? and "The Tempest" Proscenium Place School First Natrona County High School Sand Mountain" Second Cheyenne East High School Guildonstern are Dead" Third Jackson Hole High School Readers Theatre Place School First Green River 0 Play "Stop" "Family Portrait" "Arthur Makes a Difference" Second Laramie Third Rawlins SfEPHtN BUStMfcYlRStat Trlbunt The flagpole in front of Kelly Walsh High School supports a tree of lights during the holidays. In Brief Residents collect for Guatemala Couple plans to deliver disaster relief supplies EROM STAEE AND WIRE REPORTS By DEBORAH DAVIS Star-Tribune staff writer J- '0 SJPV-- STEPHEN BUSEMEYERStf Trlbun Patty and Richard Anderson are planning a trip to Guatemala before Christmas to help with relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. Five other roundtable groups representing various sectors of Wyoming's economy also plan to make recommendations at Thursday's summit. Casper police make arrest after chase CASPER A high-speed chase Friday night started at Wyoming Boulevard and CY Avenue and ended after the Casper Police Department threw spikes on the road to stop an Evansville man.

Randy Hampton, 19, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, eluding police, and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Natrona County Sheriff's Cpl. Mark Sellers. The highest speed recorded was 120 mph on Highway 20-26, and the chase ended on First Street near Amoco Park, Sellers said. Natrona County Sheriff's Deputy Corey Davison was waiting at a red light on Wyoming Boulevard at CY Avenue, facing south, according to the police report. Hampton, driving a brown 1979 Chevy two-door with Colorado plates, was eastbound on CY, and was making a turn to go north on Wyoming Boulevard.

The Chevy slid sideways and barely missed the front of Davison's patrol car, and that's when the chase throughout Casper streets ensued, Sellers said. The Casper Police Department and Wyoming Highway Patrol joined the pursuit. Middle level meeting tonight CASPER The second of four forums to discuss the middle level initiative in Casper junior high schools will be held tonight. The community input meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Dean Morgan Junior High School.

A series of meetings, the first of which was held at Centennial Junior High School last month, will be used to identify the benefits and challenges of changing grade combinations at local junior highs. The school board in the fall of 1997 called for junior high pilot programs to be in place for the start of the 199N academic year, with the entire junior high system Ix'ing changed bv the fall of 1999 or 2IMHI Sullivan sworn in today WASHINGTON Former Gov. Mike Sullivan will be sworn in this afternoon as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland at a ceremony in the Indian Treaty Room of the Old Executive Office Building. Sullivan, 59, confirmed by the U.S.

Senate in October as President Clinton's designate to succeed Jean Kennedy Smith in the Dublin diplomatic post, will be inaugurated at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, according to a release from the U.S. Department of State. The governor of Wyoming from 1987 to 1995, Sullivan is now a partner at the Casper law firm Brown, Drew, Massey and Sullivan. He takes up his diplomatic assignment in early January with a formal presentation of his credentials to the Irish government.

Mineral industry airs grievances to VVBC CHEYENNE Mineral officials are looking to the Wyoming Business Council to advance their concerns, particularly about the industry's tax burden. "Wyoming is one of the highest tax states for mining, and it is second only to Montana for coal," said Marion Loomis, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association. In addition, Wyoming has one of the longest lead times for issuing state permits, according to Loomis. "Time is an expense," Loomis said. "The longer the lead time, the more expenses and the more uncertainties in trying to get products mined." The Business Council could advocate a broader-based tax system and help the permitting process hy encouraging cooperation among agencies, State Geological Survey geologist Gary Glass said.

The state Minerals and Energy Roundtable met Nov. 10 in lira.nie. About 40 industry, state and federal representatives assembled recommendations they will present Thursday at the state economic summit in Casper. In addition to cutting taxes, regulations and costs, roundtable members discussed the need for advocates on the Business Council and governor's staffs CASPER The day Patty Anderson heard how the Guatemalan poor were struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, she kissed her four children good night, reflecting on how lucky they are to even have a bed. Anderson's uncle, Carlos Amaya, told her horror stories of women and children sleeping in the streets on top of mud-soaked newspapers.

As a doctor in Guatemala, he knows the big towns are receiving help from American armed services, but he also sees how the small villages are suffering. In one town of 10.000. the army supplied soup cans, rice and beans to people who had nothing, but those people also didn't have a way to open the cans or cook the rice. He said he could hear people's teeth crunching on the raw rice as he walked around the town One mother was hammering a rock against a can to try and pry it open for her children. And after a couple days of that diet, people's stomachs looked like swollen balloons as they coped with dehydration and diarrhea Hearing those stories from her Casper home nderson knew she had to do something And she knew she needed to go there Both Anderson and her husband Richard plan to drive to Guatemala with a truck full of donated items that Amaya told her people needed It's a five-day trip, and the ndersons want to arrive shortly before Christmas Once there, they want to travel through villages.

'So, hopefully we can break out of that rut and have a giving Christmas where we give more than we RtTHARD AVOrRSOV CASPER RE-StOFNT American Red Cross who helped her find storage space to collect donated items at the Salvation Army. The city of Casper wrote a letter of endorsement to support their effort, hich the Andersons say will help them travel safely through Mexico with a truck load of possessions. The one glitch In the plan is the Andersons are still looking for a truck or bus to haul the donations more than 3.000 miles away to Guatemala But. they remain focused on the unique Christmas ahead of them. For Patty, the trip may rk-aw see Gl ATKMAIA B2 giving the donated items directly to the people instead of the government or a church During their trip, they will eat and sleep next to Guatemalan residents on the streets or in tents.

It doesn't matter to the Andersons. "Our kids are stuck in the commercial Christmas." Richard Anderson said "It's mostly about getting So. hopefully we can break out o( that rut and have a giving Christmas -where we give more than we get She contacted staff at the Natrona County Chapter of the For inf.TTTTWtion. questions and comments aNwit this pas'1 call the n-w desk (307 1 2fvOX; or fKi) W-MIt, email n'wstribcom. fax (307 JWiV'vX.