Episode Details

An Alpine-area man died in a wood chipper accident Tuesday.

Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the machine had to be disassembled to release the body of the man, who was not identified - and the first responders who arrived said it was a grisly scene.

"They were clearing debris for wildfire mitigation there outside of Alpine. And I know that the wood chipper was brand new, according to the fire chief. So he wasn't sure that the wood chipper had malfunctioned, though I suppose anything could happen."

The victim had been working as part of a contract program to clear debris to prevent wildfires, and died while still in the machine.

The town of Wheatland got another $1.06 million to fix a failing water tank Thursday, but not before Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Chuck Gray argued over plans for the money and Gordon's recent veto of money from the Legislature to help fix the tank.

The crux of Gray's issue with Gordon about Thursday's approval was what he saw as the governor flip-flopping his support on the project, according to politics reporter Leo Wolfson.

"This prompted a rather strong response from Governor Mark Gordon. He developed a more aggressive tone, and essentially told Secretary Gray, 'Fine, I get it. You think I'm a jerk? But you know what, we have a business to do here and let's move on.'"

Gordon said when the State Land and Investment Board addressed the Wheatland water tower last winter, the board had every intent to fully fund the project - eventually.

The Natrona County Commissioners voted Tuesday to pull back a May 7 decision to contribute $600,000 to extend the SkyWest Delta connection flight between Casper and Salt Lake City through June 30, 2025.

Cowboy State Daily's Dale Killingbeck reports that without the funding, the Casper/Natrona County International Airport will be down to one airline option and destination.

"That withdrawal of funding for the county, $600,000, and other entities, the city and Fly Casper Alliance, that also pitched in money. So that means that there may not be a flight between Casper and Salt Lake City in the near future."

Commission Chair Peter Nicolaysen said his understanding was that the airport board looked at the size and type of aircraft not being cost effective, not even "breaking even," and that there were no plans for that to change. He also said ticket prices are another issue.

Explosive chemical sales are down significantly at the Cheyenne-based Dyno Nobel plant because of declines in coal production in northeastern Wyoming.

Energy reporter Pat Maio says the company's sales to coal markets has fallen significantly, mainly due to power units switching from coal to natural gas.

"The company is, actually, it's profitable, the Dyno Nobel chemical plant here in Cheyenne. However, it's taking a hit on its explosives that it sells to the coal industry up in the Powder River Basin. In fact … the revenue has fallen like 19%, year over year for the first half of 2024."

Dyno-Nobel's parent firm sold off a chunk of the company's property in western Cheyenne to Microsoft Corp. for a data center. The $18 million earned in the real estate transaction was used to help offset the falling cash flow at the local operation.

A trio of kids are suspected of setting a railroad bridge in Rock Springs ablaze Wednesday afternoon, sending a column of thick, black smoke high over Sweetwater County.

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