Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 3

Saturday, June 28, 2003 A3 Casper Area Old irehouse renovation in works Station will be converted into office space 8S1 IIS 811 Nil BBS velopment and benefit lo the corridor." With CURA's backing Schmidt, Kilmer and architect Randy llein presented their plan to the Casper City Council on Thursday It was received with great enthusiasm. I think it is an excellent plan and it shows real creativity in keeping the old and putting in the new uses," said Mayor Barb Peryam during a Friday telephone interview. "I really had hoped that we would be able to keep the fire Please see STATION, A4 By BRENDAN BUKKF. Star '-Tribune stall wrilei A brick and mortar heirloom handed down lo the city Irom generations of lirelighters pasi, the old Fire Station No. 2 build ing has waited in a vac ant stale 15 years for someone lo conjure up a feasible use for it that would preserve its historical integrity.

The building's wait may now be over List month, a partnership led by local businessmen Philip Schmidt and Karl Kilmer came to the Caspei Urban Renewal Agency (CUKA) with a plan to i oiivert the old lire house on David Mrret into an ollu spai that would integrate modern amenities with I he antique spir it ol the building. The CUKA board loved the pi. hi "They presented it (the ren ovation plan) lirst lo CUKA, just like everyone else has who has had a proposal for the fire house," CURA Chairwoman Carroll rump said. "We reviewed it, decided it was perfect in that it met with all of the criteria thai we had established for historic pieservatiou. anil onomic de COURTESY The east facade of the fire station, seen here in an artist's rendering, will retain the original look of the building.

Celebration of life KTWO TV signs ABC contract Station will be independent until June 2004 DAN CEPEDA Star-Tribune Tiera Rimmer, 10, keeps her 1-year-old cousin Octavia Edwards busy during the Juneteenth celebration Friday afternoon at Pioneer Park in Casper. Wyo's first official Juneteenth almost By TARA WEST REICHER Star-Tribune staff writer KTWO-TV in Casper and sister station KKTU in Cheyenne have acquired a contract with ABC, the stations' General Manager Tom Shannon said Friday. Both stations are currently affiliated with NBC and will continue to air its programming until the stations' contract with the network expires Aug. 31. At 12:01 a.m.

Sept. Shannon says, Cheyenne will switch over to ABC. KTWO, however, will Operate as an independent station until June 5, 2004. when the network's current contract with Casper's KFNB-TV, Channel 20, expires. As an independent station, Shannon said.

KTWO will continue to air programming that appeals to its older viewership. like "Oprah" and "Jeopardy." The station will also acquire "Judge Judy" on Sept. 8. All three syndications will continue to air after KTWO makes the switch to ABC KTWO broadcasts on channel 2 and cable channel 6. While ABC typically receives lower ratings than NBC, Shannon says he doesn't think the station's affiliation change will dampen its viewership.

"We're just trying to just stick with our core audience and give them some programming that they're going to enjoy and hopefully tune in for until we get to ABC," said Shannon. Mark Nalbone, KFNB's general manager, says his station is still in the planning stages in regard to its future affiliation. Equity, a broadcasting company bas'd in Little Rock, purchased KTWO and KKTU in the spring of 2001 with the knowledge that its 30-year affiliation with NBC affiliation would expire this year. Shannon said. Sunbelt Communications of lxs Vegas, the parent company of Casper's KCWY, Channel 13, will acquire I lie NBC affiliation.

KCWY, which has aired PAX programming while awaiting the transfer, will compete against KTWO Television in the local news market, according to Bill Sullivan. KCWY's vice president and general manager. In addition to the affiliation switch, Shannon announced Friday that KTWO and KKTU will also substantially increase their local news programming Both stations will begin airing a noon newscast July 7, he said In addition to that, Casper's early morning news program will be extended by one hour and a 9 newscast will be added Sept. 1. "Report to Wyoming," the station's longstanding, local news magazine, will still be aired Saturday evening, Please see KTWO-TV, A4 Kenn Gilchrist, who offered a song for the ceremony, said he enjoyed the educational aspect of Juneteenth, where kids could learn about black heroes and black history.

Getting black history into schools stood In stark contrast to what he learned in whitewashed school-books of his youth. "A lot of change has come since the 1950s since the racial struggles," Gilchrist said. At least one member of the Platte River Detachment color guard, who were flying the flags at the event, was introduced to a new aspect of American history. "We do this stuff all over Wyoming," said Rhys McDonald over a plate of ribs, "but I actually like Juneteenth, I haven't heard of it before." book "Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom" into local schools. Pierce then introduced Dr.

Randy Sprinkle, the new director of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention, who offered a benediction. Then it was time for food and some socializing, something student Alicia Chamberlain said is lacking in Casper's black community. "This is a college town and there are a lot more black people in town than people would think." said Chamberlain, a Missoula, Mont, native. She hoped to see more events in Casper like Juneteenth. Pierce said he hoped to stage various events, such as the Juneteenth Jazz Jam that happened earlier in the month with visiting Rev.

Ronald Myers, M.D., closer to the actual holiday. Walsh, R-Casper, sponsored a bill to make the third Saturday in June the Juneteenth state holiday. It was a blustery day in Casper as politicians, police, firefighters and Mr. Wyoming Juneteenth himself, Rev. William Pierce, showed up for a brief ceremony followed by a good feed.

"The richness of Wyoming is that diversity is a reality here," Freuden-thal observed in ins speech. "But how do we respond to it?" Pierce said acknowledging the history of slavery was a first step. He also urged blacks and Latinos to think beyond the historical wrongs done to them. He was also working on the crowd, particularly Natrona County School District No. 1 Superintendent Jim Lowham, to get the children's By MATTHEW VAN DUSEN and JESSE SCOTT Star-Tribune staff writers If one was feeling picky, one might point out that since he law making Juneteenth a state holiday does not take effect until July 1, the first official Juneteenth would be next year.

In that case, Gov. Dave Freuden-thal said, Friday's celebration in Casper's Pioneer Park was proof that "in Wyoming, values govern over law." Juneteenth, originally June 19, IS(i5, was the day 250,000 slaves in Texas learned of the emancipation proclamation and the end of the Civil War In this past year's leg-, islative session. State Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper. and State Rep.

Tom Owner says Twelfth Street Texaco to close shop will add U-Haul rentals to its list of services. The new name will be Leo's Beverly Street Auto Repair and U-Haul. Maddox says. Bentz Town Pump on Collins Street downtown lias agreed to accommodate Maddox 's elderly, handicapped and commercial gas charge customers, according to a sign posted at the 12th Street location. Maddox contends his station's demise is due to his inability to compete with Caser's larger gasoline retailers, who he claims are illegally selling their gasoline below cost.

Their practices, he says, have put nine, locally-owned gas Please see TEXACO. A4 By TARA WESTREICHI Star Tribune staff writer On Monday, the Twelfth Street Texaco gas station will be no more, says owner Leo Maddox. Maddox. who has operated the lull-service repair and gas station at 2205 12th Street for more than two decades, savs he has decided not to renew Ins lease with Dooiev I til I ompauv Inc That decision, in part, is due to Maddox inability to make a reasonable prolil on his gaso line sales, he says. "Its a real sad day," Maddox said Tuesday, after breaking tin news of his station's closure to long-time customer Brenda Brusacoram.

Her family has gassed up and had heir vehicles serviced at the 12th Street location since 19X7, she said. "He took good care of us all these years," said Brusacoram. This is small town service right Brusacoram was relieved to hear that Maddox will still operate a service station up the street at 1303 S. Beverly, but that station will not sell gas I his is a terrible loss says Brusacoram. whose daughters are also patrons ol the station We know his gas is good." she said "He'll lx sadly missed Maddox Beverly Street SARAH BETH BARNETTSlar-Trlbune Leo Maddox talks to a customer on the phone Wednesday afternoon in his Twelfth Street Texaco gas station.

Cltv FclHoi IVirttre stm'lle For int innation. questions and comments about this page, call the city desk 307 1 266)582 or (800) 442-6916; e-mail editorstrib.com: fax (307) 2660568. i.