Poll: 80 Percent of Wyomingites see public lands as economic key

From the Wyoming News Service

Intro: Most Wyoming voters think you can protect land and water and have a strong economy at the same time. That’s according to a new poll of attitudes throughout the Rockies. Lori Weigel with the Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies also found near-unanimous support among Wyoming voters from both parties that national parks, forests, monuments and wildlife areas are “essential.”

Tag:  The report notes Wyoming is home to three of the top 10 U.S. destinations for snowmobiling, with skiing, camping and hunting also big for the state. Two more points from the survey – voters support energy development on public lands, and also support industry regulations to protect land, water, wildlife and quality of life.

UPDATE: SLED DOG RACE

Local musher Bath remains in top five

By KVOW/KTAK News Director Leslie Stratmoen

JACKSON, Wyo. – Musher Jerry Bath of Lander is still staying with the pack leaders running in this week’s International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race in Wyoming. After moving into fourth from 20 place the second day of the race, he’s now dropped back to fifth.

Winning yesterday’s leg along the Continental Divide near Pinedale and Cora was Blayne “Buddy” Streeper of Fort Nelson, British Columbia. He ran it in three hours, 21 minutes and 51 seconds. Bath was a little shy of 12 minutes behind. Streeper’s time put him covering about 12.8 miles per hour. He’s now the leader, overall. The world title holder won the Wyoming race the past two years and back in 2004.

The race has become known as the largest in the lower 48 states and draws mushers from all over the world. This year they’ve come in all the way from Alaska, Canada and Scotland. The race started Saturday in Jackson and ends Saturday in Park City, Utah. Today the mushers head south into the Bridger Tetons through the Big Piney and Marbleton areas.

COUGAR CAPTURED

1 young cougar captured; 2nd still at large

By The Associated Press

JACKSON, Wyo. — Over in the Jackson area, state wildlife officers have caught one of two young cougars that had eluded them since their mother was captured last week.

The 7-month-old female was captured Sunday. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says she’d been feeding on a moose carcass and was in good condition.

Officers plan to use some of the meat from the carcass as bait for the second young cougar.

The Game and Fish Department decided to trap and move the three cats after they killed deer in a residential area. Officials say they will probably be released in Fremont County, near Lander.

The mother cat was captured on Jan. 23. She and the female kitten are being kept at a wildlife research center in Sybille (se-BILL).

CANCER FUND RAISER

Lander hosts Daffodil Days

By KVOW/KTAK News Director Leslie Stratmoen

LANDER, Wyo. – It’s once again that time for the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days, which is a national fund-raiser that strives to find a cure for the disease.

A bundle of daffodils can be ordered for $10 from the Lander Chamber of Commerce through Feb. 24. That’s at 160 N. 1^st Street. The number is 332-3892. A special bundle that includes a Boyds Bear can be had for $25. Payments are due when ordered. Deliveries will be made around mid March.

Last year, the community of Lander raised about $3,000. This year’s goal is to bring in at least $1,000 more.