Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 15

star Wyoming Bl Tuesday, September 27,1 988 Star-Tribune, Casper, Wyo fl 1- Tourists return as Yellowstone fires cool hi Yellowstone fires slow, but Gover-Mist grows YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL FOREST (AP) Firefighters in Yellowstone National Park got little help from the weather in their continuing efforts to contain fires burning there since June. And to the north in the Shoshone National Forest, the warm weather combined with erratic winds to push a finger of the Clover-Mist blaze across Vi miles in just a day. However, the fire threatened only four unoccupied hunting cabins on Kersey Lake, noted fire information oficer George Bo wen. Firefighters were kept busy Monday chasing spot fires sparked by winds carrying hot embers a quarter-mile ahead of the main fire. "What we're getting is Oust) single trees torching, but the speed that they're torching and then the spotting that occurs is whak's causing the problem," Bowen said.

The Clover-Mist fire has crossed the Wyoming border and burned 20 acres in Montana by Monday, according to fire officials. Fire Information Officer Mark Engler in Crandall said infrared photos taken Monday morning indicated that the fire burned near the state line in an area of high mountain lakes. Engler said one of the Kersey Lake homes has been fireproofed, or protected with lines and other measures, and the other two cabins are defensible. Approximately 140 firefighters, including seven 20-person crews and five fallers, were working in the lakes area Monday, according to Engler. The approximately 1,000 firefighters on the blaze were relying on water ferried in by helicopter to keep the fires in check, but dry conditions were complicating the job.

"As soon as the water from the helicopter water bucket slows it down enough, we're rushing crews in there to at least contain that part of that advance. It's a run in, and then when it torches off we have to back off, wet it down again and then go in again," Bowen said. The forecast for the next few days held little hope for relief from the warm, breezy conditions as it called for low humidity, higher temperatures and no more than a trace of precipitation. "The last two days it's been doing this on us. We are getting a little frustrated," said the official.

Nonetheless, there were no plans to call in reinforcements. "We're getting to the point where the fire is so intense, but so localized, we can't put any more people in there," said Bowen. "There's not enough room for them to work safely." In Yellowstone, park Dennis DavisStar-Tribune Trees are still burning on Wyoming-Montana border Vinich advises caution on fed forest fire aid I ut -if management, Vinich said in a prepared statement. On the other hand, Vinich said fires were successfully fought on state lands this summer because of his support of the Wyoming State Fire Training Academy in Riverton and of additional appropriations for the state fire suppression account last legislative session. Vinich outlined three things which he said went wrong in Yellowstone, two of which could be corrected with "responsible leadership on the federal level." First, he said, there is need of a "more flexible fire plan," including prescribed burns or intentionally set fires, particularly near developed areas.

Secondly, Vinich said, there should be better coordination of fire policy between the park and forest services since "fire doesn't care about imaginary boundaries. Vinich said the third problem, weather, was beyond human intervention. 'A established prior to the fires, the timing would have been perfect," he noted. He said there are reports of grizzlies standing over the fire-felled carcasses of elk and deer, the same prey wolves would seek if they were in the park. The fires, which destroyed a million acres of timber, also may stand in the way of the controversial wolf program.

"My guess is we aren't going to have time to do much but assess the impact of the fireon the park for quite awhile," Robinson said. "I'd guess such projects as the wolf reintroduction will be pushed onto the back burner." Timber wolves historically roamed the mountains of Yellowstone, but were exterminated 'ili iW--f SS. i By MATT WINTERS Star-Tribune staff writer CASPER Noting that Yellowstone forest fires may have actually helped some gateway businesses, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Vinich said Monday that government aid should be carefully targeted for those actually harmed. The state senator also placed part of the blame for the fires on his opponent, incumbent Sen.

Malcolm Wallop, who he said neglected the issue of fire policy as ranking Republican on the Senate subcommittee responsible for forest and park lands. Wallop campaign spokesman Kevin Bohnenblust responded that Vinich "is walking a pretty thin line," in that he has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, which supports the "let-burn" policy. "Malcolm Wallop has been overseeing the Yellowstone fire policy since long before 1988," but never held hearings on fire uavivuiiu Camping Opens YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (AP) As the fires in Yellowstone National Park begin to calm, the park is returning to its usual business as one of the West's most popular tourist attractions, officials say. Tourism figures for September aren't available yet, but park spokeswoman Marsha Karle says the smoke has cleared for the most part and the country's first national park is open for business once again. "There have actually been quite a few people coming into the park again," she said.

"Plus, they've opened it up for people to collect firewood and that has increased the number of people along the roadways." Earlier this summer, when fires raged over much of the park, Yellowstone's backcountry was closed to the public. Now Yellowstone Superintendent Bob Barbee has announced that some backcountry areas have been reopened for overnight camping and day use. "Mild weather conditions and periods of some rain have abated fire activity to allow more access through the park," Barbee said in a news release. "Visitor services are again open for the remainder of the fall as well." Backcountry areas opened to the public for day and overnight use include the Bechler area in the park's southwest corner, the east shore of Yellowstone Lake and the east shore Promontory sites along the lake. A number of areas were opened for day use only, including the Daly Creek, Skyline and Black Butte trails.

Lewis Lake also has been reopened, the park said, but only to fishing and boating. State begins investigation at Wyoming Downs track Trozen' bank account probed EVANSTON (AP) Wyoming's attorney general's office is investigating possible criminal and civil wrongdoing at Wyoming Downs as a means of obtaining a judgement against the track for $50,000. Assistant Attorney General Terry Armitage declined to be more specific about the crminal action. But he said the horse track, where racing was suspended earlier this month, failed to pay the state the required 1.5 percent of all bets in its last two weeks of operation. The week before that, the state received a late payment only after a representative of the Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission traveled to Evanston to get the check, Armitage added.

Money owed for the track's last two weeks of operation, along with other funds owed the state from breeder's awards and an employee age reimbursement amount to about $50,000, according to the attorney. The track's operating license has been suspended while the investigation continues into the payments. Wyoming Downs had been scheduled to run through Oct. 9. Armitage was in Evanston last Wednesday to meet with bank officials who have frozen one of Wyoming Downs' bank accounts.

That account, according to Armitage, grew through payments horse owners made to make "the pot sweeter for a last race." Wyoming Downs also was to have contributed to the account. Horsemen now are charging that the frozen account is their money, but the bank is claiming it as funds to pay off other debts the track owes. Armitage said his office is trying to determine the origin of the funds in the account, "which we contend are the horsemen's and rightfully should go to them because they paid into it." The official has said the track also owes money to winning ticket holders and that the state likely will go over the track's books. Charges filed against Wyo man in stabbing LANDER (AP) A 22-year-old Burlington man was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated robbery Monday in connection with the stabbing of a Cheyenne couple. State District Judge Robert Denhardt set Scott G.

Edgemon's bond at $100,000, and a preliminary hearing was expected to be set within the next 10 days, a court spokeswoman said. Fremont County authorities said Shane and Leslie Fox remained hospitalized at Riverton Memorial Hospital on Monday following Friday night's incident. The two were stabbed several times at the Sweetwater Station rest stop, authorities said. Edgemon was found driving the couple's car in Rawlins about 2 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Comments due soon on air rule changes CHEYENNE Friday is the last day for public comment on proposed air quality standards which would allow industry to emit a greater level of visible particulates, such as dust. The existing state standard regulates total suspended particulates (TSP), while the proposed standard called PM-10 would regulate only particulate matter that is 10 microns or less in diameter. The federal Clean Air Act states there must be a "primary" air quality standard to protect the public health. In addition, there must be a secondary National Ambient Air Quality standard that will protect the public welfare from any known or anticipated adverse effects associated with the presence of an air pollutant in the ambient air. In setting the PM-10 standard, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) experts made a determination that the PM-10 standard would protect the public welfare as well as public health, and therefore eliminated TSP as a secondary standard.

The deadline for comment was extended from Sept. 4 to Sept. 30 after some Wyoming residents said they had not been given enough time to comment on changes in the standard. Written comments which officials say carry as much weight as comments taken at public hearings should be sent to Randolph Wood, Director, Department of Environmental Quality, 122 West 25th Street, Cheyenne WY 82002. Bonanza predicted in Wyoming beans SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.

(AP) -Strong prices and good yields are making the 1988 dry edible bean harvest a double treat for growers in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska, according to industry officials. Bean dealers and growers said the bean harvest, which began in mid-August, was two-thirds to three-quarters done in the region. Prices, propped up by lower bean production in other areas, have risen an average of $3 to $37 a hundredweight higher than a month ago. The prices are $11 to $15 higher than a year ago. Gary Kelley, president of Kelley Bean Co.

attributed the strong prices to the drought, a poor crop in Argentina a foreign rival for world markets and a federal program that buys beans to feed third-world nations. Gifts to UW at record levels LARAMIE (AP) Both the number of gifts to the University of Wyoming and their total value of $5.1 million hit record levels for the fourth year in a row, university officials say. From July 1, 1987 to June 30, 1988, the university received 9,951 gifts with a value of $926,952 more than the previous year. The receipts included $4.5 million in cash and $588,069 in gifts in kind. "The gift spectrum is broad, ranging from contributions by national foundations and major corporations operating within the state to the private donations of individual resident citizens and UW alumni located around the world," said Peter K.

Simpson, university vice president for development, alumni relations and university relations. Layoffs hit Seminoe mine near Hanna HANNA The work force at the Seminoe No. 2 mine operated by Arch of Wyoming was cut in half Friday with the layoff of 50 miners, a company spokesman said. Citing a lack of orders, Arch laid off 42 hourly and eight salaried employees effective friday, according to Ruth Olney, administrative supervisor of the legal department of Arch Mineral Corp. in St.

Louis, Mo. Olney would give no further details about the action. Steve Wilcoxson, president of the local United Mine Workers of America said the miners were laid off last week because of a "flat market" for the coal. He said miners received little information about why the layoffs are necessary. The layoff leaves 48 miners on the job at the Seminoe No.

2 operation, Wilcoxson said. He said the operation has reduced production with only one dragline now operating, as compared with two prior to the layoffs. Kansas Power Light Spokesman Hal Hudson, said a contract that utility has with Arch remains intact. And he said has made two spot market purchases, although he did not know the volume of the contract or the spot purchases. One of the spot market purchases was filled last spring with another to be filled later this fall, Hudson said.

finalized the current three-year contract with Arch last year. Contractor punctures Cheyenne gas line CHEYENNE (AP) A natural gas line was ripped open Monday afternoon by a backhoe operator working on Laramie County's new jail facility, authorities said. However, a shutoff valve near the leak sealed the line shortly after the accident occurred about 3:30 p.m., said Capt. Rod Bottoms of the Laramie County Sheriff's Department. "The situation is in hand," Bottoms said about 4 p.m.

"There was a shutoff valve very near the break and the (gas company) was able to secure the line." No injuries were reported, although before the line was sealed several businesses along Thomes Avenue were evacuated, said the captain. Fed recreation funds given to communities CHEYENNE (AP) Wyoming's Recreation Commission has voted to give local communities the entirety of its fiscal 1989 federal Land and Water Conservation Fund monies. The official notification of the dollar amount of the funding has not been released yet, the commission said in a news release. But when notification is received, invitations to apply for the money will be sent to all eligible project sponsors. Under the Land and Water Conservation Fund program, public agencies must be able to establish that proposed outdoor recreation facilities are needed and that they will be well maintained.

Projects receiving program funds will be reimbursed by the conservation fund for half the project's total cost, the release added. Sudanese in Wyo on wheat trade mission ENCAMPMENT Four members of a wheat trade team from Sudan toured wheat fields here Monday to learn more about production methods. The trade team was in Wyoming as part of a tour that includes vists to Texas, Kansas, Colorado and Washington, D.C., Hassan Abdel-Ghaffar, senior marketing specialist with U.S. Wheat Associates, in Cairo, Egypt said. The team observed productive fields and harvesting at Anderson Farms and the Cherokee Ranch south of Encampment Monday morning.

A tour of the Grand Encampment Museum and a barbecue also were included in Monday's activities, Wyoming Wheat Commission Chairman Bob Helmer said. Participating in the tour with the Sudanese were members of the Wyoming Wheat Commission. spokeswoman Sandy Robinson said work that fire crews have been able to do on reinforcing containment lines had helped keep gusty winds there from stoking the fires. "They have been able to make so much headway on these fires here, building containment lines, I think that's why the weather hasn't had such an adverse effect in this area," she said. Officials estimate that since the fires began, as much as 60 percent of an area coveripg more than 1.6 million acres of Yellowstone and surrounding national forests has been affected.

Ryckman robed in Green River Monday GREEN RIVER After 15 years as district judge, Judge Kenneth G. Hamm passed his robe to Jere Ryckman of Green River, who assumes the judgeship for Sweetwater County in the Third Judicial District. Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Cardine, flanked by two other Supreme Court Justices, presided at the robing cermony Monday in district court in Green River. Justice Richard Thomas praised the Wyoming system of choosing judges, which was instituted about 20 years ago. A judicial nominating committee selects three names of qualified applicants, and the governor makes the final choice.

Thomas contrasted Wyoming's system with two other states, where state supreme court justices mount expensive campaigns to seek the office. "As the elections (in Louisiana and Texas) are largely financed by practicing attorneys, one is forced to wonder whether there might be at some time a quid pro quo for a handsome contribution to a judge." Star-Tribune file photo Wolf reintroduction: on hold due to Yellowstone fires? Expert: fires could put wolf return on park 'back burner' DENVER (AP) A controversial plan to reintroduce wolves in Yellowstone National Park may be stalled because of the forest fires there, the chief naturalist for the area believes. George Robinson said the fire turned the park into a sort of carnivore's smorgasbord, removing much of the dense forest and deadfall cover that protected mice and other small rodents. "1 don't ever remember having seen so many hawks in the sky before," he said. Robinson said since the fires, park predators have been feasting on elk, moose, deer and smaller residents of the forest that roam new ranges to seek new hiding places.

"Had the wolves been re.