980-K2-Radio11
loading...

AN EXPLOSIVE ARTICLE IN FORBES MAGAZINE ALLEGES THAT THE NATRONA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD CREDIT CARD CHARGES LAST YEAR THAT TOTAL ALMOST TEN MILLION DOLLARS.

THE ARTICLE OUTLINES THE CHARGES FOR TRAVEL, RESTAURANTS, LUXURY RESORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN GREAT DETAIL INCLUDING DATES, AMOUNTS AND DESTINATIONS.

THE AUTHOR, ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI, DID THE RESEARCH WITH THE GROUP OPENTHEBOOKS.COM, AND SUMMED UP THE ISSUE THIS WAY..."DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2017, THE SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WYOMING, THE NATRONA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CASPER, RACKED UP $9.6 MILLION IN CREDIT CARD EXPENDITURES. SCHOOL OFFICIALS CHARGED OFF NEARLY 28,000 INDIVIDUAL TRANSACTIONS, AVERAGING 76 CHARGES PER DAY FOR $27,400."

NATRONA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT STEVE HOPKINS MET WITH REPORTERS SATURDAY TO TALK ABOUT THE FORBES MAGAZINE INVESTIGATIVE ARTICLE .

HOPKINS, AND BUSINESS SERVICES DIRECTOR RYAN KELLY HELD THE NEWS CONFERENCE SATURDAY MORNING WITH LOCAL PRESS, AND BY PHONE, THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE, ADAM ANDRZEJEWSKI.

HOPKINS EXPLAINED THAT 3 YEARS AGO, THE DISTRICT WENT FROM ISSUING PURCHASE ORDERS FOR ANY ITEMS OR TRAVEL THE DISTRICT NEEDED, TO THE USE OF CREDIT CARDS. KELLY SAID THEY AREN'T CREDIT CARDS IN THE USUAL SENSE IN THAT THEY DON'T ACCRUE INTEREST CHARGES, BUT ARE AKIN TO A DEBIT CARD. ALBEIT, A CARD THE DISTRICT PAYS OFF WEEKLY FROM IT'S ACCOUNTS.

THE TONE OF THE MEETING THOUGH, WAS NOT DEFENSIVE, AND HOPKINS ADMITTED THE AUTHOR HAD A POINT IN THAT THE DISTRICT HAS NOT BEEN TRANSPARENT ENOUGH WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS. TO THAT END, HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE WEEKLY TOTALS OF EXPENSES, AND CHARGES ON THE CARDS, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.

THE LIST OF CHARGES SHOULD BE ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE STARTING TODAY.
================================

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK STAFF WILL USE A FISH TOXIN THIS WEEK TO FURTHER ELIMINATE NON-NATIVE TROUT SPECIES IN THE ONGOING EFFORT TO RESTORE NATIVE TROUT.

PARK STAFF WILL USE THE FISH TOXIN ROTENONE TO REMOVE NON-NATIVE RAINBOW TROUT AND BROOK TROUT IN THE UPPER GIBBON RIVER DRAINAGE.

ROTENONE IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING CHEMICAL COMPOUND DERIVED FROM THE ROOTS OF TROPICAL PLANTS.

BIOLOGISTS THEN WILL ADD POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE TO THE WATER TO REMOVE THE EFFECTS OF ROTENONE AND PREVENT IMPACTS TO DOWNSTREAM WATERS.

THESE TREATMENTS WILL BE REPEATED IN 2019 AND, IF NEEDED, 2020.

ONCE NON-NATIVE FISH ARE REMOVED, BIOLOGISTS WILL REINTRODUCE NATIVE FISH SPECIES TO THE STREAMS IN THIS AREA IN 2021.
THE UPPER GIBBON RIVER DRAINAGE IS IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK AND INCLUDES STREAMS THAT FLOW OUT OF GREBE, WOLF, AND ICE LAKES.

THE WOLF LAKE TRAIL AND VIRGINIA CASCADES DRIVE WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC DURING THIS PROJECT.

THE HISTORIC STOCKING OF NON-NATIVE FISH NEARLY ELIMINATED THESE SPECIES FROM YELLOWSTONE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S WEBSITE.

More From K2 Radio