Cheyenne City Councilman Jim Brown (Amy Richards/TSM)

The Cheyenne City Council held a work session on the proposed Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Friday.  Mayor Rick Kaysen told the council that the total General Fund Budget as proposed for FY 2013 is $49,560,879 a 1.8 percent decrease from the original  FY 2012 budget.

Kaysen said a challenge in the FY 2013 Budget was the loss of approximately $1.1 million from the state as a direct distribution. In addition to the reduced amount, the 2012 budget session of the Wyoming Legislature added language that limited the use of the direct distribution funds. Councilman Jim Brown said it’s an “austere” budget, but he is pleased with it. Councilman Jack Spiker says he is concerned the budget cuts a little too much in some areas such as in the Cheyenne Police Department.

Riverton, Wyoming (Courtesy Riverton Chamber of Commerce)

Riverton’s water supply is being cut by nearly 40 percent because of drought conditions. Doug Randall reports. Charges are pending against several individuals after Wyoming Game and Fish Department game wardens conducted increased law enforcement efforts on southwest Wyoming crucial big game winter ranges, before the May 1st antler season opener. Click past the jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.

Diane Kaysen, left, reads a proclamation from her husband, Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen, at the Step Up Cheyenne kickoff Friday, April 13. (J. Green/TSM)

Cheyenne is becoming a city which weights less, thanks to the help of Step Up Cheyenne.  Over 2,000 pounds have been lost.  It’s still not too late and there are many ways you can lose weight and get healthier.

Next week is the last Thankful Thursday for the summer and we start all over with 106 bottles and 2 $500 prizes.

See you there!!

Deputy Chance Walkama, Sheriff Danny Glick (Doug Randall/TSM)

The Laramie County Sheriff’s Department recognized several agency members for outstanding service on Friday. That included a Purple Heart Award for Deputy Chance Walkama, who was shot by a suspect at the Fairfield Inn last November.

Walkama has since recovered and is back on active duty at the department. Sheriff Danny Glick recalled that Walkama had refused pain killers at the hospital and continued to be concerned about his fellow deputies and even the man who shot him. Glick said Walkama’s performance made him proud to lead such a group of people. Other award recipients were recognized for such things as saving the lives of prisoners who attempted to commit suicide at the jail as well as long-time service to the department. Glick himself received an award for 30 years of service at the award ceremony.

(Justin Sullivan/Getty)

Wyoming Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) voted with the majority this week to pass a bill that reauthorizes the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Grocery store workers in Wyoming and Colorado have reached a contract agreement. Doug Randall has the details on that story. Click past the jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.

Councilman Jimmy Valdez (Amy Richards/TSM)

Cheyenne Ward 1 Councilman Jimmy Valdez says he is running for a fourth  term on the city’s g0verning body. Valdez, a local businessman, says if he is re-elected he would like to work for better planning of city projects as well as completion of those which have already been started. He cites the city’s legal battle to obtain a part of the Hollywood Video parking lot as the sort of situation that should be avoided.

Valdez says rather than the current situation, where city officials are invoking eminent domain and awaiting the outcome of a November court hearing on the issue, planners should have dealt with the issue ahead of time or had an alternative plan available. He says another example of unfinished projects is the tennis courts in Martin Luther King Jr. Park, which remain uncompleted despite the project having been started several years ago. Valdez has commented that he feels the city treats that park differently than parks in other areas of the city.

jimmywayne, flickr

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday re-affirmed it’s decision to deny a re-hearing on a Preliminary Permit Application for Colorado Millionaire Aaron Million’s Flaming Gorge Pipeline Proposal. Governor Matt Mead signed a Memorial Day Proclamation Thursday urging residents to take a moment on Monday May 28 to remember those who have served this country and those who have sacrificed their lives, as well as their families. Click past jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.

(Courtesy of http://www.courts.state.wy.us/)

An attorney for a Sheridan teenager serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for a 2009 home invasion killing urged the Wyoming Supreme Court to find the teen’s sentence unconstitutional. Doug Randall has the story.  The Wyoming Department of Health is changing the way substance abuse and suicide prevention funding is managed and distributed across the state.  Click past the jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.

The Premiere of Cheyenne Autumn at the Lincoln Theatre in 1964. The film returns to the Lincon Saturday morning.

Tonight is the kickoff of the Cheyenne International Film Festival, with a community reception at the Depot from 5-7 pm. Events continue through Sunday night; a full schedule is after the jump.

Our own Jon Green will be photographing the event and posting updates throughout the three-day event. Tickets are required for most events and are available online or at Phoenix Books & Music, 1612 Capitol.

Thursday, May 17:

5-7 pm, at the Depot: CIFF Community Reception, Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours. Free and open to the public.

7-9:30 pm, at the Frontier 9 Theatres: a special screening of “Bully.”

Friday, May 18:

6:15-7:15 pm, at the Atlas Theatre: Reception with music from the Peat Bog Mysteries.

7:30-9:30 pm, at the Atlas: The Wyoming Showcase with the winners of the Wyoming Short Film Contest and Wyoming Student Film Festival. Program I.

Saturday, May 19:

9:15 am – 12:30 pm, at the Lincoln Theatre: Women and Film with a screening of “Cheyenne Autumn.” Program II.

1-3 pm, at the Lincoln: Art of Misery with a screening of “Cafeteria Man.” Program III.

4-6 pm, at the Lincoln: Relationships & Voices of Women, with screenings of several shorts. Program IV.

6:30-7:30 pm, at the Plains Hotel: a reception for Daniel Junge, Cheyenne native and 2012 Academy Award winner. Prorgam V.

8-9:30 pm, at the Lincoln: Woman, Social Change and the Power of Film. Screening of two short films. Program V.

Sunday, May 20:

10 am – noon, at the Atlas: Screenings of “Packed” and “Age of Champions.” Program VI.

12:30-2:30, at the Atlas: Screenings of “Flashback” and “Meherjaan.” Program VII.

3-5 pm, at the Atlas: Relationships & Voices of Men, with screenings of several shorts. Program VIII.

6:15-7:15 pm, at the Atlas: Filmmaker’s reception, with music from the Peat Bog Mysteries. Program IX.

7:30-9:30 pm, at the Atlas: Screenings of “Shy Anne from Cheyenne” and “Oh, You Cowgirl!” Program IX.

(Courtesy: Wyoming Highway Patrol)

The Wyoming Highway Patrol will be participating in the national “Click it or Ticket May Mobilization” campaign to step up enforcement in the area of seat belt use. Wyoming Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Troy Mclees says the campaign will begin on Monday, May 21st.

Mclees says Wyoming statute requires all vehicle occupants to wear a seat belt, and all children under the age of 9 must be secured in a properly installed restraint not in the front seat. All Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers have been issued new decals to install on their vehicle which display the message “Don’t Risk It. Click it or Ticket.“  The campaign will run through June 4th.

Team U.S.A. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty)

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead is joining with governor’s from across the country to support America’s Olympic athletes. A federal wolf specialist says a gray wolf found dead on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation came from Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Doug Randall has the details. Click past the jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.

Dr. Mark Stock, LCSD#1 Superintendent

Laramie County School District 1 Superintendent Mark Stock says the district continues to face a challenge in finding adequate space for district classes and programs. Stock says one common misconception is that such problems could be solved simply by moving all 6th grade classes into the district’s Junior High Schools. Stock says those schools barely have enough space to hold the grades already housed in them.

For example, Stock says Johnson currently has only 50 students fewer than it housed when three grades were based there–and currently Johnson houses only 7th and 8th grade classes. Stock says one reason the problem is likely to be on-going is that even when new schools are being built–such as the new Prairie Wind Elementary School north of Cheyenne–by the time the construction process is completed, the district’s enrollment has grown.

A smoky sunset. (Eric Thayer/Getty)

The Wyoming Department of Health is reminding residents, especially those with heart or respiratory problems, to avoid breathing in air contaminated by smoke from wildfires. Spokeswoman Kim Deti says small children are also susceptible to such air contamination. Deti says for the most part people should simply observe common sense guidelines, such as avoiding wildfire smoke if they find it makes them sick. She says generally people should avoid heavy outdoor exercise on smoky days, and people who are especially smoke-sensitive may want to try to stay indoors. She also says people may want to avoid even some indoor activities on such days, such as vacuuming or smoking.

flickr creative commons by stefou

We all know the national fast food chains but it seems everyplace has a favorite local fast food place. You know, the place you have to take family and friends when they visit. You grew up in a town then moved, but when ever you come back you have to stop by this place and get your favorite.

When I was in Texas, I was taken to “What A Burger”, in Nebraska, they have “Runza”, and here in Cheyenne and all of Wyoming, we have “Taco Johns”.

What are some other places across the country you have tried and how was the food?

This video is still great to watch. We’ve all left our marks on our hometown.

(Courtesy of the U.S.D.A.)

The Federal Reserve says the average value of farmland in several midwest and western states grew by over 25 percent in the first quarter as farm income remained strong. Amy Richards has a report. Wyoming native filmmaker Daniel Junge will present his Oscar-winning short film ”saving face” on behalf of Safehouse at the Cheyenne International Film Festival this weekend. Click past jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.

CPD Logo Contest Winners (Amy Richards/TSM)

The winners of the Cheyenne Police Department’s were announced Wednesday. The contest was to design a “logo” that sends the message of zero tolerance for graffiti in the community. Over 150 qualifying entries were submitted from Cheyenne Junior and Senior High School students. The winner selected by a panel of judges was Drew Snow. The winner selected by the community was designed by 15 year old Tyler Landy. One of the two winning logos will be placed on T-shirts, banners, websites and other highly visible locations.  The Cheyenne Police Department partnered with Verizon Wireless to put on the logo contest.

Pathfinder Reservoir (Wyoming Travel and Tourism)

Despite A Natural Resources Conservation Service report that says the water tables in most of the west are at or slightly above average, a U.S.D.A. official says the reservoir levels may still pose a problem. The Wyoming High School Activities Association has taken on the issue of social media. Doug Randall has the details. Click past the jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.

Gov. Mead with EMS personnel (Amy Richards/TSM)

Governor Matt Mead declared May 20th-May 26th Emergency Medical Services Week in Wyoming.  Gov. Mead says Wyoming residents can take comfort in knowing that well trained, caring men and women are only a phone call away. He says emergency medical technicians (emts), paramedics, and first responders, many of them volunteers, devote countless hours to keeping their communities, including very rural areas safe.