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AP-US-GRAND-TETON-GOATS

Grand Teton goat shoot suspended after stern governor letter

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Grand Teton National Park officials have suspended efforts to shoot mountain goats from a helicopter after Wyoming's governor criticized the program and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt intervened. Park spokeswoman Denise Germann says Friday's operation was effective but doesn't know how many goats were killed. Grand Teton officials want to eradicate about 100 nonnative mountain goats to help about 100 native bighorn sheep. They say the goats compete with sheep for food and habitat and can spread diseases. Gov. Mark Gordon called the helicopter shooting a “farce.” That prompted Bernhardt to tell park officials to suspend the effort.

GRAND TETON RESCUE

Rescuers in helicopter aid injured skier in Grand Teton

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Rescuers used a helicopter to to get an injured skier out of the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park. A ranger and two Teton County Search and Rescue volunteers flew to help the 30-year-old Vermont woman Saturday. She hurt her leg skiing on Olive Oil, a 10,000-foot (3000-meter) peak in the Teton Range. The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports rescuers flew the woman suspended beneath a helicopter to Teton Village, where she was taken by ambulance to a hospital. Park officials didn't release the woman's identity.

WYOMING WEATHER

Blowing snow closes highways in southern Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Blowing snow is closing highways in southern Wyoming. Routes closed Monday include U.S. Highway 30 north of Laramie, Wyoming Highway 789 north of Baggs and U.S. Highway 287 north of Rawlins. Happy Jack Road is closed west of Cheyenne. Interstate 80 is open after large stretches between Cheyenne and Rock Springs were closed for a time. The National Weather Service posted winter weather advisories for much of eastern Wyoming, including the areas around Cheyenne, Sheridan, Douglas, Rawlins and Gillette. Snow with gusts over 50 mph (80 kilometers per hour) are in the forecast. A winter storm warning is in effect for the Black Hills, where forecasters expect up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) of snow.

WEST YELLOWSTONE HOMICIDE-VIGIL

Vigil held for Montana boy who was beaten to death

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (AP) — About 200 people attended a weekend vigil for a 12-year-old Montana boy who was beaten to death this month. James “Alex” Hurley of West Yellowstone died on Feb. 3. His grandparents and his 14-year-old uncle face deliberate homicide charges. An autopsy found injuries all over Alex's body and he died of head injuries. Speakers at Sunday's vigil read scripture and poems and expressed their grief, anger and regret over the boy's death. Toni Brey says Alex always greeted her with a smile and a hug and that people feel like they came up short in protecting Alex.

VETERAN BURIAL

WWII Marine veteran without family to be buried in Wyoming

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A Marine Corps veteran who served during World War II and died at age 101 with no known family is expected to be buried in Wyoming. The Casper Star-Tribune reports Cpl. Remigio "Ray" Barela is scheduled to be buried at the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery in Casper at 10 a.m. Friday. Born in 1918 in Colorado, Barela served in the Marines from 1942 to 1946. Wyoming Patriot Guard Capt. Mike Byers says Barela's funeral would likely include full military honors. The Patriot Guard motorcycle group escorts fallen service members, veterans and their families through the funeral process.

LAND BUY BACK

Buy back program meant to return reservation land to tribes

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Land owners on a Wyoming Native American reservation will be able to sell their property to the federal government through a program meant to return ownership to the reservation’s two tribes. The Casper Star-Tribune reported the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Land Buy-Back Program for tribal nations will enable the purchases on the Wind River Reservation. Participation is voluntary and only tribal members with allotments will be eligible to sell their land. Much of the property was allotted to tribal members by the government but is often underutilized due to a tangle of generations of ownership.