K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For June 14th, 2018 – Morning

A PROPOSED CUT TO BALANCE CASPER'S BUDGET THAT TARGETS THE LOCAL NONPROFIT TRANSIT SYSTEM COULD BY SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT SOME OF THE DISADVANTAGED RESIDENTS WHO USE IT.

MARGE COLE IS THE LONGTIME DIRECTOR OF THE CASPER AREA TRANSPORTATION COALITION, OR CATC [ CAT-SEE].

THOSE CUTS WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDING, SO THE CUTS WOULD HAVE A GREATER IMPACT.

THE COALITION OFFERS THE GENERAL TRANSIT SYSTEM KNOWN AS THE BUS WITH SIX FIXED ROUTES THAT SERVE CASPER, MILLS AND EVANSVILLE.

THE OTHER TRANSIT SYSTEM, JUST CALLED CATC, OFFERS DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY, DISABLED, BLIND, DEAF AND MEDICARE PATIENTS TRAVEL FROM THEIR RESIDENCES TO DOCTORS AND STORES.

AARON KLOKE, THE SUPERVISOR OF THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, SAID ONE OPTION WOULD ELIMINATE 44 PERCENT OF TRANSIT SERVICES AND SAVE $290,000.

THE OTHER WOULD CUT ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF SERVICES AND SAVE ABOUT $160,000 A YEAR.

MOST COUNCIL MEMBERS DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF CUTTING A NECESSARY SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDIEST PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ALREADY DECIDED TO KEEP FUNDING AMENITIES SUCH AS THE FORT CASPAR MUSEUM.

MIKE HUBER SAID THE BUS ROUTES NEED TO BE LOOKED AT FOR EFFICIENCY, BUT PUBLIC TRANSIT IS IMPORTANT.

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A COLORADO RESIDENT IS DEAD FOLLOWING A TWO-VEHICLE CRASH IN EASTERN WYOMING LATE LAST WEEK.

THE WYOMING HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS IN A CRASH REPORT THAT IT'S UNKNOWN WHETHER 28-YEAR-OLD CHEA JOHNS, THE PERSON WHO DIED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH, WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT OR OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT AT THE TIME.

ACCORDING TO A CRASH REPORT FROM THE PATROL, A GMC PICKUP WAS SOUTHBOUND ON U.S. 85 NEAR LUSK AT MILEPOST 179.8, WHILE A RAM PICKUP WAS NORTHBOUND, SHORTLY BEFORE 2 P.M. THURSDAY, JUNE 7.

THE PATROL SAYS THAT EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE AND WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATED THE GMC PICKUP CROSSED INTO THE NORTHBOUND LANE. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER JOHNS WAS AN OCCUPANT OF THE GMC OR THE RAM PICKUP.

AFTER THE GMC CROSSED THE CENTERLINE, THE DRIVER OF THE RAM STEERED TOWARD THE DITCH IN ORDER TO AVOID A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE GMC PICKUP FIRST CONTACTED THE RAM PICKUP NEAR THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR, IN AN OPPOSITE-DIRECTION SIDESWIPE COLLISION.

AS THE GMC CONTINUED DOWN THE SIDE OF THE RAM PICKUP, IT HIT A LARGE SLIDE-IN CAMPER IN THE BED OF THE RAM. THE FRONT EDGE OF THE CAMPER THAT EXTENDED OUTSIDE THE BOX OF THE RAM HIT THE GMC PICKUP AND SIGNIFICANTLY INTRUDED INTO THE GMC.

DRIVER INATTENTION AND CELL PHONE USE ARE LISTED AS POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. TWO PEOPLE WERE NOT INJURED IN THE CRASH.

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THE BADGER CREEK FIRE TRIPLED IN SIZE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, FROM 2,300 ACRES TO 7034 ACRES, WITH GROWTH PRIMARILY TO THE EAST.

THE FOREST SERVICE SAID ADDITIONAL RESOURCES CONTINUE TO ARRIVE. CURRENTLY THERE ARE FOUR HOT SHOT CREWS AND TWO TYPE 2 CREWS. AIR RESOURCES TUESDAY INCLUDED TWO TYPE 1 HELICOPTERS TO ASSIST WITH RETARDANT AND WATER DROPS, ONE TYPE 3 HELICOPTER FOR RECONNAISSANCE, AND ONE AIR ATTACK PLANE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FIREFIGHTER INJURIES REPORTED TO DATE.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION’S BLACK INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL ASSUME COMMAND OF FIRE OPERATIONS ON WEDNESDAY. THE INCIDENT COMMAND POST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT THE HARMONY SCHOOL, WEST OF LARAMIE, ON HIGHWAY 230.

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JACKSON, WYO. (AP) - OFFICIALS SAY A STRETCH OF THE SNAKE RIVER IN WYOMING IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY HAZARDOUS AS EROSION, FALLEN TREES AND OTHER NATURAL EFFECTS CONTINUE TO TAKE A TOLL.