Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 13

StarIYibune Index Obituaries Weddings Weather B3 B4-5 B8 SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2007 State editor Chad Baldwin can be reached at (307) 2660583, (800) 5590583 or SECTION MAT WYOMING Drilling critics get DoC. hearin News Tracker I Last we knew: Some sportsmen's groups have expressed concern about the pace and scope of energy development in Wyoming and elsewhere in the West. I The latest: The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources plans a hearing Tuesday on conflicts between sportsmen and energy developers on federal lands. What's next: Congress may consider legislation to minimize drilling's impact on federal lands.

ernment bureaucracy frustrate the streamlining process and bog down development. Dan Gibbs, a Democratic state representative from Colorado, plans to be at the hearing. He's sponsoring legislation to minimize drilling's impact on state and private land and hopes Congress will do the same for federally owned land. Gibbs is a former staffer for Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo.

"It's a big part of our Please see HEARING, B2 By JUDITH KOHLER Associated Press writer DENVER Congress is asking Westerners to talk about their efforts to protect wildlife and the interests of hunters and anglers in the face of the energy boom cascading through the Rockies from Montana to New Mexico. A Wyoming man is among seven people, including an energy company official, invited to speak Tuesday before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. The topic: Conflicts between sportsmen and energy developers on federal lands. Rollin Sparrowe of Daniel, a former chief of wildlife research for the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, plans to testify Tuesday. He said he thinks it's time "to give wildlife a break." "I think there is a lot of interest in Congress in what's going on," Sparrowe said. To boost domestic energy production, the Bush administration has tried to streamline approvals for drilling on Last trip over Sylvan? I rn If IN BRIEF FROM STAFF WIRE REPORTS Snow causes travel problems CHEYENNE -Heavy, wet snow hampered travel Saturday on a 20-mile section of Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie where it reaches 8,600 feet in elevation. Multiple crashes and stuck vehicles slowed traffic to a crawl or stopped it altogether throughout the day, according to the Highway Patrol. The interstate was closed on two separate occasions, backing up traffic for miles, according to a patrol dispatcher who declined to give her name.

Elsewhere, Wyoming 210 between Laramie and Cheyenne was closed, and no travel was advised at times west of Laramie on Wyoming 130 and 230 because of icy roads and poor visibility. Winter storm warnings were posted for the Laramie Range, which runs north to south between Laramie and Cheyenne. Up to 8 inches of snow was predicted in the higher areas of the range. Streaker has to help at county fair JACKSON A man arrested for streaking during the Teton County Fair's annual demolition derby must volunteer 40 hours of service to this year's fair, under a plea agreement a judge approved. Seamus McKinney, 25, also will be placed on a year of supervised probation.

The demolition derby is always the last event at the fair. A rash of streaking at the derby over the last couple of years has led to arrests and warnings from police that anyone caught streaking would face severe penalties. In 2005, a sheriff's deputy used a Taser to subdue a man who was running naked through the arena with a fire extinguisher. In 2006, the same deputy repeatedly punched a streaking man after the man lowered his shoulder and ran into the officer. McKinney was arrested at last summer's derby and charged with three misdemeanors and a felony.

Under a plea agreement, McKinney pled guilty to one misdemeanor charge of interference with a peace officer. Steve Peck to seek father's seat RIVERTON- Steve Peck, son of the late state Sen. Bob Peck, announced he would seek appointment to fill the remainder of his father's term in the Wyoming Senate. Peck, 46, of Riverton, is the publisher of Riverton Ranger which owns the daily Ranger, twice weekly Lander Journal and weekly Wind River News. In addition to the younger Peck, the list of known candidates includes former Wyoming House Speaker Eli Bebout, the 2002 Republican nominee for governor, the current House Appropriations Committee chairman, state Rep.

Frank Philp of Lysite; and former state Rep. Marlene Brodrick of Riverton. Brodrick was named to a vacancy briefly in 1990, but was defeated in the general election before actually serving at a legislative session. The Fremont County Republican Central Committee plans to interview the interested candidates next Wednesday, then forward three finalists to the Fremont County Commission for the final selection. Bob Peck died March 6 in Cheyenne during the 2007 legislative session.

He was 82 years old and had served since 1991. His four-year term expires next year. the environment, while companies complain that environmentalists' lawsuits and gov Amy Tripe, Star-Tribune correspondent staffed year-round. "I can't imagine a time we wouldn't have staff at the East Entrance," he said. "We still have visitor and resource protection issues, whether there's one person or 100 or 1,000." The small group of skiers I clung to throughout the day made its way into the park to that point where you get your first fleeting glimpse of Lake Yellowstone.

Anyone who's ever driven this road headed west knows this view, where on a clear day it is as if you're looking out over a massive interior ocean. If you're lucky, you may even spot the Tetons in the shadowy distance. On this silent, winter day, we were graced with a momentary visage of the lake before the dense clouds descended and started to unleash the snow from within. Fortunately, the snow did not last long, and we were able to enjoy mostly clear skies and sunshine for our much speedier return ski to Pahaska. Once back at the parking lot of the historic lodge, we were amazed at the warmth, the mud and the vanishing snow.

Spring had come to the valley while we were enjoying winter up above. Exhausted, we loaded our vehicles to return to Cody while the peacefulness and solitude of the day remained as a gentle reminder of the unique opportunities we have literally "in our backyard." The snow-muffled sound of my skis slicing through the slightly frozen crust still ringing in my ears, and the aches of a not-easily-forgotten adventure, carried me home. federal land. Conservation and outdoor groups say streamlining amounts to steamrolling ridor under the proposed plan could require a backcountry use permit similar to those visitors are required to obtain before any overnight stay along the park's trail system, according to Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash. At a meeting earlier this winter in Cody, Nash briefly explained the backcountry issue yet did not outline details on how and where interested parties would procure the permits or whether they would be required to view a safety video similar to the grizzly bear version for summer backcountry visitors.

Nash did expect to have "places where interested people can call us or talk to us about conditions," but he did not envision the Park Service installing a logbook to track winter visitors along the entrance road. He also said the gate would continue to be -t i 1 Snowcoach driver Chino Godinez unloads skis after transporting members of the Park County Nordic Ski Association and others over Sylvan Pass into Yellowstone National Park earlier this month. Snowcoach excursions would end under plan The Whole Town's Talking David Mirhadi STAR TRIBUNE Protecting their honor They are there in part to protect the honor and dignity of fallen soldiers. They are there to help pay their last respects. Marlin and Sharon Minske are there to protect a soldier's friends and family from the protests that might spring from those who oppose the war in Iraq and conflict in Afghanistan.

"We are a protective barrier against the attacks and harassment," Marlin Minske told the Cody Enterprise for its March 12 edition. Minske said protests, like the ones staged by the West-boro Baptist Church, whose members believe the military is aiming to progress the acceptance of a same-sex lifestyle by promulgating its "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The Minskes are two of approximately 145 Wyoming members of the Patriot Guard. Marlin Minske believes the presence of the group helps comfort family. "The war is turning into another Vietnam," Marlin Minske told the paper.

"And we saw how poorly the vets in Vietnam were treated." No mountain high enough Bill Allen plans to do more with two weak legs this weekend than others with healthy legs might try. An accident at a tire shop four years ago caused three discs in his back to blow out, he told The (Riverton) Ranger for its March 22 edition. His condition worsened, to where he suffered nerve damage that caused his spine to become inflamed. After a nine-hour surgery in 2004, he told the paper, he had six titanium screws placed in his vertebrae and a carbon fiber cage placed around his spine to keep it in place. "I tell my wife I'm worth more in parts," he told the paper.

He walks with a cane, he said, and his condition appears to be deteriorating. But that's not stopping him. Please see TALKING, B2 i Amy J. Tnpe, Star-Tribune correspondent Participants in the Yellowstone excursion enjoy a snack before some crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing. By AMY J.

TRIPE Star-Tribune correspondent YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK As we rolled up to the gate, all 15 of us packed into the snowcoach properly attired and outfitted for the day's adventure, a slight foreboding and a few concerned remarks circulated about the possible historical significance of this trip. Spirits were enlivened, however, by the entrance ranger's offhand comments of not being "too worried" that this could be the last snowcoachskiing opportunity up Sylvan Pass. Yellowstone National Park officials' preferred alternative for winter use calls for closing the pass to all over-snow traffic, including any administrative travel as well as public excursions such as this third annual trip sponsored by the Park County Nordic Ski Association. About 30 skiers and snow-shoers embarked by snowcoach to the top of Sylvan Pass, where we were dropped off to travel farther into the park for those most hardy before returning down the road to Pa-haska Teepee. The ski-powered trek earlier this month took adventurers anywhere from six to 16 miles into the park on a clear, late-winter day.

National Park Service staff previously explained that if their preference becomes the winter plan, the road through the East Entrance 53 miles west of Cody up 8.530-foot Sylvan Pass through numerous avalanche fields under the shadows of daunting peaks like Top Notch, Hoyt and aptly named Avalanche would be designated backcountry. All travel by ski or snowshoe across this area would be "at your own risk." As I glided through this winter wonderland, a creeping thought reoccurred in my mind of just how big that risk would be without avalanche controls, groomed roads or the concerned park staff members who now routinely patrol the pass checking on snow depths, wolverine traps and the well-being of their customers. Although the trip may seem beyond most people's scope of a good time, a handful of diehard Nordic skiers make the trip up and over the pass each winter, skate skiing through pristine surroundings. One of them, Ray Gimmeson, who farms near Powell, usually makes the trip several times a year. This winter, however, he only made it twice.

Wmter travel along this cor March 27, 3-7 p.m., at the Eppson Center for Seniors, 1560 North Third Laramie. March 28, 3-7 p.m., at the Riviera Lodge, 104 East Saratoga, Saratoga. Info: (307) 745-2371 or www.fs.fed.usr2mbrprojects. Cheyenne Municipal Pool Through May 30, the Cheyenne Municipal Pool will have Family Night every Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. Admission will be $5 per family up to five swimmers.

Additional family members are $0.50 each, (immediate family members only). Info: (307) 637-6455. Your Events More events, Page 12 Snowy Range Open House Meetings The public is invited to Open House Meetings with the Medicine Bowl National Forest to gather information for the development of a Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. The open houses are casual; come when you can, and leave when you want. Panic Relief inc.

A panic and anxiety group is now forming in Newcastle, featuring programs every Monday from noon-1 p.m. and every Wednesday from p.m. The program is geared to help anyone suffering from pank, anxiety, and agoraphobia to cope with these disorders. Info: (732) 40-9658. ion.