Lummis says Romney will be GOP nominee

Wyoming's Congressional Representative, Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., hasn't made an endorsement in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but last week she did make a prediction.

Speaking with KGWN TV in Cheyenne, Lummis named former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney the favorite.

"I do believe that eventually we're going to see Mitt Romney emerge as the Republican nominnee," she told interviewer Rylee DeGood.

Lummis said it's "been wonderful to watch these candidates grow on the campaign trail and hone each others' (economic) plans" and that the "great" Republican debates have better prepared the eventual party nominee (which, according to her prediction, will be Romney).

Another Wyoming political powerhouse, former U.S. Sen. Al Sipmson declined to pick a winner while speaking to the Cheyenene station on Thursday.

"I have irritated so many people in the world that at this point, if I were to pick one, I would again rain boulders on my bald dome and I'm not going to do that," Simpson said during a joint interview about his recently-published biography.

"However," Simpson said, "there are some real nutcases in the race, I just would throw that in. You pick them out."

While not naming any nutcases, Simpson did laugh off the chances of one would-be presidential contender -- himself.

The Cody Republican said an effort to draft him into the 2012 Presidential race (www.alsimpson2012.com) "gives me goosepimples all over."

"Those guys got together over 18 beers and put together this YouTube thing [Note: PG13 language] ... I nearly died laughing when I saw it because they had quoted one of my great phrases which I don't use here," Simpson said.

The "great phrase" Simpson is apparently referring to is, well, we won't use it here, either.

The Smith Mansion's paranormal activity

The Smith Mansion's strange, pagoda-like frame can look a bit spooky from the Cody-Yellowstone highway near Wapiti.

In March, the Powell-based Wyoming Area Paranormal Society investigated whether the spirit of the structure's inventive creator, Francis Lee Smith, was present at the site; Smith died while working on the landmark home in 1992.

Tribune reporter Gib Mathers tagged along with the W.A.P.S. team at the Smith Mansion and wrote about it for the paper, but we never shared the footage the paranormal investigators eventually posted. It being Halloween, now seems like a prime time do so.



On the website she's set up to help preserve her father's creation, www.smithmansion.org, Sunny Smith Larsen wrote of the Wyoming Area Paranormal Society's work:

"This was an amazing experience and I cannot believe what was caught on W.A.P.S. equipment. A lot of things have happened over the years, strange things. 

I have experienced many questionable things within the house, along with my mom, Linda. Friends and even strangers have told me about their experiences with "something" in that house. 

I am glad to know that spirits do haunt the mansion, but I am left with even more questions."

A follow-up W.A.P.S. investigation had been scheduled for the night of Nov. 11, but recently had to be canceled.

Former Yellowstone spokesperson honored for conservation

Former Colorado National Monument Superintendent and Yellowstone National Park spokesperson Joan Anzelmo has been honored by the National Parks Conservation Association for "her commitment to preserving the integrity and open access of the park for all visitors."

The National Parks Conservation Association gave Anzelmo its Stephen T. Mather Award -- named after the first director of the National Park Service -- on Friday. In giving the award, the environmental group specifically cited Anzelmo's December 2010 decision to prohibit a professional bicycling race from going through the Colorado National Monument.

Organizers and elected officials in Colorado had said the event would be an economic boon to the area; Anzelmo and Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said it would have gone against policy, adversely affected the monument and temporarily shut off access to the public.

"Her (Anzelmo's) actions in the last year at Colorado National Monument, in preventing the overt commercialization of the park by a privately-sponsored competition, despite personal attacks and political maneuvering, are merely the latest examples of her dedication to the principles the National Parks System is built upon,” said NPCA Southwest Regional Office Senior Director David Nimkin.

NPCA's senior vice president for government affairs, Craig Obey, said Anzelmo -- who retired in July after 35 years of park service --  is "exactly the type of person we want in charge of our national treasures."

"Throughout her career she remained focused on the proven policies and science that she knows are needed to retain the character and spirit of the National Park system for the future," Obey said.

Anzelmo previously served as chief of public affairs for Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks -- including acclaimed work during the 1988 Yellowstone fires. She later headed up public affairs for the entire National Park Service. Anzelmo also worked for the Park Service's unified area command in May 2010 following the BP oil spill.

Former Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Bob Barbee, who was Anzelmo's boss at the park, called her a top-flight professional.

"Her principled dedication to the values embodied in the national parks is unrivaled -- and when faced with pressures to compromise those values, Joan (Anzelmo) can be counted on to hold the line," Barbee said.

Anzelmo has received numerous awards, including from the Department of the Interior, honors in Congressional Record and in White House commendatory documents.

She called the NPCA's Stephen T. Mather Award the "honor of a lifetime"

"I am so grateful to have the National Parks Conservation Association as a steadfast partner and leader in helping to protect our nation's most precious natural and cultural resources and serve the vast visiting public to America's national parks," Anzelmo said.

She now lives in Jackson.

Economic official irritated by "Occupy" movement

The "Occupy Wall Street" protests and their cry against corporate power have spread to other parts of the United States -- and that includes Wyoming.

I haven't heard of any events locally. Update: An "Occupy Powell" protest is planned from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, according to organizer Faith Wicks.

"We're going to be loud, but we're going to be peaceful," Wicks said on Friday, while protesting in downtown Powell.

It seems to be a safe bet that local economic development officials won't be joining any local "occupy" protests.

In Forward Cody's latest newsletter, the organization's business development specialist, Scott Wagner, wrote that he is "truly irritated" with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Wagner's take:

"Hundreds of chronically unemployed people are out pitching a fit about their situation and wanting someone to fix it for them. Speaking out for your rights is a good thing, however, I think that the best thing for these people to do is to help solve this high unemployment and stagnant economy is to take the proverbial bull by the horns and become an entrepreneur. Small business is what makes our economy the world powerhouse that it is, and starting a business is a great way to solve the unemployment issue..."

Wagner goes on to say many people he talks to don't know where or how to start a business; he says the solution is as simple as seeking help from Forward Cody.

Police chief's retirement letter

As you may already know from reading the Tribune, Powell Police Chief Tim Feathers is retiring at the end of the year -- officially on Wednesday, Dec. 28. That will conclude roughly 30-and-a-half-years of service with the Powell Police Department.

In case anyone's interested, here's some of what Feathers wrote in his official retirement memo to City of Powell Administrator Zane Logan, dated Sept. 29:

It has been my privilege to serve the citizens of Powell for over 30 years as a Police Officer. I would like to thank the City for the many opportunities I have been afforded through my employment with the City, it has certainly been a blessing to me and my family. I am grateful for a fulfilling career in which I was given every opportunity to make a difference for my neighbors. However the time has come where a candid assessment of the leadership needs of the Police Department clearly indicate it is time for a Chief with a different skill set, a fresh vision and more energy than I possess. I leave with fond memories of my years with the City of Powell and the many friends I made here. I would like to personally thank you (Logan) for being the model of a 'good boss', I have cherished our working relationship. I wish you the best, may God bless you and your leadership of the City in the days ahead.

Feathers asked that his successor be in place and assume responsibility for the department's operations at the end of his shift on Dec. 23.

Food-conditioned wolf killed in Yellowstone

A habituated gray wolf believed to be conditioned to human food was killed by Yellowstone National Park staff Saturday.

Since July, the 110-pound male wolf had approached staff and visitors at close range at least seven times and had been unsuccessfully hazed each time from developed areas at Fishing Bridge.

The estimated 2- to 4-year-old wolf was a member of Mollie’s Pack from the Pelican Valley area.

The decision to remove the wolf came following a history of fearless behavior in the presence of humans, repeated visitation to developed areas within the park and numerous unsuccessful hazing attempts. Each of these factors was indicative of the wolf’s potential habituation to human food, which posed an increased risk to park visitors and staff.

Efforts to relocate food-conditioned animals generally have proven unsuccessful because the animals simply return to the areas from which they were removed.

Park visitors are reminded that intentionally feeding or allowing animals to obtain human food is a violation of park regulations, and may ultimately lead to the death of the animal involved. Park rangers vigorously enforce these regulations, which are designed to protect both people and animals. Visitors also are reminded to be vigilant at all times with proper food storage by keeping food, garbage, coolers and other attractants stored in hard-sided vehicles or food storage boxes.

Park rules require people to remain at least 100 yards from wolves at all times. Visitors also are advised to stay on designated trails, hike in groups of three or more people, be alert for wildlife and make noise in blind spots.

The best defense against attacks is to maintain a safe distance from wildlife and use binoculars, spotting scope or telephoto lens to get a closer look. Never feed, approach, disturb or entice wolves in any way. Bear spray may be an effective last resort should a wolf approach too closely.

Sightings of wolves in close proximity of humans and developed areas may be a dangerous situation developing and should be reported to the nearest visitor center or ranger station as soon as possible.

A reporter's wild goose chase ends

One of the Tribune's longest-suffering and most inconsequential investigations has come to an appropriately frivolous end.

One of these things is not like the others.

Ever since we ran a photo of the County Road and Bridge Department performing some Bitter Creek culvert repair on Lane 7 last month, I've been trying to learn what a plastic goose was doing at the scene.

On the north side of the road, a faceless goose decoy had been strategically placed alongside the roadside cones warning oncoming travelers of the narrowed roadway.

I'd originally hypothesized the fake gander was some inventive technique to, say, keep road-undermining varmints away from the construction site. But Road and Bridge brass quickly kiboshed my bird-brained notion that it was there per department policy.

"We don't stockpile geese cones," said an amused County Project Manager Mike Collier a couple weeks back. Collier helpfully added that the set of national engineering standards used by the county "doesn't say anything about reflective geese."

The decoy stoically supervised the arrival of soil to the project.

Tonight, however, Powell Road and Bridge employee Clarence Anderson confirmed the goose was placed on the road not for any practical reason, but as a practical joke. The decoy was apparently found bobbing in Bitter Creek and the crew working on the road and culvert placed it alongside the cones for a laugh.

The goose has since taken up residence at the pond outside the Powell Road and Bridge Shop on Lane 9 West.

"I think it's still floating out there," Anderson said. "I think."