PAGE A4 MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014 S GILLETTE NEWS RECORD S GILLETTE, WYOMING WYOMING / RECORDS Sheridan cyclist killed, wife injured in crash SHERIDAN — A man is dead and his wife is critically injured after they were hit by a vehicle while cycling in Sheridan. Sheridan Media reports that longtime Sheridan resident 65-year-old Larry Hurst was killed in Saturday’s crash. His wife, Sarah, was taken to a hospital in Billings. Ronda Holwell, a spokeswoman for the Wyoming Department of Transportation, says they were hit on U.S. Highway 87, about a half mile south of Sheridan College. She says they were riding single file in the emergency lane when they were hit by a vehicle that was also headed southbound. By BRIELLE SCHAEFFER JACKSON HOLE NEWS & GUIDE NEW MEXICO Stock Growers endorse Gov. Mead County to fight rare grouse listing CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Stock Growers Association has endorsed Gov. Matt Mead’s bid for re-election. Executive Vice President Jim Magagna says Mead has stepped forward at critical times to address challenges faced by Wyoming ranchers and noted the successful delisting and state management of wolves as a highlight. Magagna went on to cite Mead’s support of Wyoming agriculture and his consistent open discussion about ag and its contributions to our state. The Wyoming Stock Growers Association was formed in 1872 and is Wyoming’s oldest trade association. It has over 1,000 members statewide. PORTALES — An eastern New Mexico county is suing the federal government in an effort to stop the listing of a rare grouse as a threatened species. The Roosevelt County Commission will meet in special session Tuesday to give notice of intent to file a suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The county also is joining an Arizona/ New Mexico coalition in combating the lesser prairie chicken listing. Ranchers and oil companies believe the listing will have a negative effect on the ranching, oil and gas and wind farm industries in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. That’s where the chicken’s habitat is known. The federal government said those states had fewer than 18,000 lesser prairie chickens in 2013, down almost 50 percent from 2012. Federal officials say the bird has lost more than 80 percent of its traditional habitat, mostly because of human activity such as oil and gas drilling, ranching and as power lines and wind turbines were built. Roosevelt County Manager Charlene Webb said the listing will hurt the county’s road budget. That’s because every time the road department has a project that is federally or state funded, they have to have an environmental consultation, Webb said. Evacuations stressed as Poudre rises GREELEY — Greeley is suggesting that some residents evacuate because of high water along the Poudre River. About 200 homes and businesses got a reverse 911 call telling them of the voluntary evacuation just before midnight Sunday. Television video on Monday morning showed an irrigation ditch filling up close to the edge of a major road and a park covered by water. Other flood advisories and watches are in effect in western Colorado as the warm weather melts the mountain snowpack. The Elk River in Routt County and most rivers and streams in Jackson and Grand counties are among the waterways at risk of flooding. MONTANA State musicians to play at D-Day event KALISPELL — Some Montana musicians will be taking part in the commemorations in France marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Seven members of the Flathead Valley Community Band are joining about 100 community band members from throughout the United States to perform during a memorial concert marking the June 6 landings in Normandy. The concert will take place at the American Cemetery and Memorial near Omaha Beach. Many of the band members had fathers who served in World War II and consider it an honor to be a part of the 70th anniversary commemoration of D-Day. NORTH DAKOTA Second pipeline summit planned BISMARCK — Gov. Jack Dalrymple is meeting with industry leaders later this month in Bismarck to push for more oil and gas pipelines in North Dakota. The summit is slated for June 24 at Bismarck State College’s National Energy Center of Excellence. Dalrymple hosted a similar event last year that was attended by more than 100 industry and government officials. North Dakota is the nation’s No. 2 oil producer behind Texas. The state is producing about 1 million barrels a day but about 70 percent is being moved by rail, as producers increasingly have turned to trains to reach U.S. refineries where premium prices are fetched. Dalrymple says more pipelines will reduce truck traffic, curb natural gas flaring and create more markets for the state’s oil and natural gas. — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS What’s going on? MONDAY SCHOOL’S OUT PARTY: 1 p.m., Campbell County Public Library. TEEN DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: 4-6 p.m., Campbell County Public Library. TUESDAY STORYTIME: 10:30-11:30 a.m., Campbell County Public Library. Children’s section, for children ages 3-5, 687-9225. TEEN CARD CLUB: 4-5 p.m., Campbell County Public Library. ADULT GAME NIGHT: 6:307:30 p.m., Campbell County Public Library. JACKSON — How do you say hello in Chinese? Bruce Simon can tell you. The broker and owner of Prime Properties of Jackson Hole is catering to an emerging tourist market with his recently opened East Meets West Chinese Information Center in Jackson. Simon’s center provides translation as well as language and cultural lessons to businesses around town. For visitors, the post offers tour booking, ride-along Chinesespeaking guides and more. “Jackson is falling behind in its tourist marketing or business for foreign visitors,” he said. “And since the Chinese visitor is a huge portion of the population, I thought it would make sense. Chinese tourism is changing the world tourist economy.” The center opened May 1 and is managed by Li Wang, who teaches Mandarin Chinese at Jackson Hole Community School, Simon said. She is originally from Xian, China. “We’re testing the market, but we’ve gone viral already, there’s been so much interest in FIZZ! BOOM! KICK OFF WITH SKIPPYJON JONES: 10:30 a.m., Obituary Death notice Ellen Cowen Mass of Christian burial for Ellen Cowen, 87, of Gillette will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Blanche Beck Memorial Chapel at Pioneer Manor in Gillette. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Thursday ELLEN at Custer COWEN Cemetery in Custer, South Dakota. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Gillette Memorial Chapel. Mrs. Cowen died Thursday, May 29, 2014, at Pioneer Manor from natural causes. She was born Feb. 22, 1927, to Henry and Nettie (Horton) Raetz. She grew up in Dalzell, South Dakota, and graduated from New Underwood High School. She married Donald Cowen in 1946, and they made their home in Enning, South Dakota, before moving to Rapid City, South Dakota. After Donald’s death Ellen moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, and then later moved to Gillette. Ellen was on the school board in Meade County, South Dakota, for many years. She also enjoyed playing bingo and doing arts and crafts while living at the Pioneer Manor. She is survived by sons, Tom and Jim Cowen, both of Gillette; daughters, Nancy Langford and Sue Cowen, also of Gillette; nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; sisters, Wanda • Consultations • Botox injections • Filler injections Monthly at the Womens Healthcare Center Dr. Becks Office • 1402 W 4th St. For Appointment Please Call 605-343-7208 Barry Koch Barry Koch, 42, died Saturday, May 31, 2014. Arrangements are pending with Gillette Memorial Chapel. Wilbert Williams Wilbert Williams, 85, of Gillette died Sunday, June 1, 2014, at Close to Home Hospice. Arrangements are pending with Walker Funeral Home. Brandon Lee Montgomery Brandon Lee Montgomery, 26, of Gillette died Friday, May 30, 2014. Arrangements are pending with the family. Service times Courts STRANGULATION JESSE J. VEATCH, 36, 4000 Nepstad #15, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment May 2 to strangulation. His live-in girlfriend came home and found him in bed with another woman. She pushed him and he grabbed her by the throat and forced her to the ground, and she briefly lost consciousness. When she eventually got away, he chased her and punched her in the mouth with a closed fist, according to court documents. ENDANGERED CHILD SHAWN R. NIKKILA, 31, 12 Jayhawker, waived his preliminary hearing in Circuit Court on May 19 and was bound over to District Court on a count of endangering a child by allowing him to be in a house where methamphetamine was stored. State and local law enforcement agencies searched the home on Feb. 9 where he and five others lived. Officers found 52.5 grams of meth, with 50 grams of it stored in the bedroom he shared with Holly Hatch, according to court documents. There also were toys in the room. DRUGS TYRONE COOKS III, 18, 2801 Sandalwood Drive, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment May 20 to possession of methamphetamine, his third offense within 10 years, making it a felony. He was arrested April 26 after police were asked to do a free-air sniff at Arbuckle Lodge with a drug dog because there was an unusual amount of foot traffic in and out of a room. The dog indicated drugs were present near a light bulb made into a meth pipe that was sitting on a nightstand. It contained crystal meth, and 1 gram of meth was George Shepard: Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Upton Community Center in Upton. found elsewhere in the room, along with 15 syringes, a meth pipe, a safe and plastic bags. All three residents of the room were arrested, according to court documents. DRUNKEN DRIVING BRADLEY TAYLOR, 29, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment May 8 to driving while under the influence of alcohol, his fourth or more offense within 10 years, making it a felony. He was pulled over about 2 a.m. Feb. 21 on Second Street for an illegal turn and told officers he’d had eight Bud Lights since midnight. BATTERY ANDREW L. MORIN, 24, 707 Vivian Apt. 6, was found guilty May 29 of battery. Circuit Judge Terrill R. Tharp sentenced him to three days in jail (all served) and fined him $420. Adults & Children over 12 $12 Ages 6-12 $6 Under 6- Free - - Friday • June 6 • 7 p.m. CAM-PLEX, Gillette, WY Advance Discount Tickets Available at CAM-PLEX Ticket Ofice • 682-8802 For rules and information call 686-1171 • Specialized Teaching Supplies TODDLERTIME: 9:30-10:30 a.m., Campbell County Public Library. Children’s section. will be available for the following appointments Anders and Bernice Chord of Sturgis, South Dakota, and Gloria Roberdeau of Brandon, South Dakota; and brother, Bill Raetz of Matador, Texas. She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald; parents; a son, Donnie; two grandchildren; and one brother. The family asks that memorials be sent to a charity of one’s choice in Mrs. Cowen’s name. Memorials and condolences can also be sent in Mrs. Cowen’s name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. Fifth St., Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be sent via its website at www.gillettememorialchapel. com or attached to the obituary on the News Record’s website at www.gillettenewsrecord.com. These are service times released by area mortuaries. Full obituaries will follow: Campbell County Public Library. STORYTIME: 10:30-11:30 a.m., Campbell County Public Library. Children’s section, for children ages 3-5, 687-9225. SUPER SUMMER PARTY: 2-5 p.m., $25, AVA Community Art Center, 509 West Second Street. Blanche Guernsey will be hosting this SUPERhero themed class where the kids will get to make SUPERhero canvas art, create their own SUPER mask and so much more! FIZZ! BOOM! KICK OFF WITH SKIPPYJON JONES: 2:30 p.m., Campbell County Public Library. Dr. Robert Schutz and Dr. Mary Snyder book tours. “We really know what the best activities are for them,” Simon said. Jackson Hole Shooting Experience is popular because civilians in China can’t own or even touch guns, he said. Wildlife tours and Western experiences such as the Bar J Chuckwagon are also popular. Simon has also set up a real estate and investment tour for visitors. “Chinese are buying real estate all over the U.S.,” he said. “In China, when you own real estate, you own the building above the land but the government owns the land.” The center also offers ridealong guides for visitors who want a tour of the parks. “I’m just trying to be a part of the world economy,” he said. Simon also thinks his business will provide better relations between Americans and the Chinese. “There is stress between the two countries on a political and military level,” he said. “Part of what I’m doing is building bridges on a person-to-person level.” The East Meets West Chinese Information Center is open daily. QUESTIONS OR TIPS? Call 682-9306, ext. 203 or email [email protected] Please Welcome Black Hills Plastic Surgery ■■■ p sively in China and knows a lot about the economy and culture, he said. “When I travel as a tourist in China I always feel very welcome,” he said. Visitor centers there have people who speak English and Mandarin, he said. “They’re set up for tourism,” Simon said. “The converse is what we’re trying to accomplish.” Several businesses — including Barker-Ewing River Trips, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Haagen-Dazs and Knobe’s Radio Shack — have used the center’s translation services, he said. “All the businesses have been smacked in the face by the Chinese,” he said. And it’s important for valley businesses to better understand the culture to be able to market to the Chinese visitor, Simon said. “Their culture is so different than ours,” he said. “It’s very helpful for local businesses to understand their culture. For instance, the Chinese are used to negotiating prices. That’s their culture. They negotiate, but our culture is things are priced as marked and firm.” East Meets West also helps RECORDS THURSDAY WEDNESDAY it,” he said. China’s population is 1.2 billion, and most Chinese people have heard about Yellowstone National Park, Simon said. Chinese people typically visit big American cities such as Los Angeles and New York City on their first trip to the United States, he said. “The second time they come they all want to see Yellowstone, so all the gateway communities see an influx of Chinese tourists,” he said. “It’s projected to continue and grow.” This year, Simon said, 60 million Chinese are expected to travel overseas. In five years that number is projected to reach 100 million. The Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce has been following the numbers, too, communications manager Kate Foster said. “It’s certainly a target market for the chamber,” she said. Especially in the offseason. “As people may have noticed, there’s been lots of tour buses in the spring,” she said. “It’s helping to fill our rooms in a traditionally quieter time of the year. It helps businesses and the community as a whole.” Simon has traveled exten- m a S WYOMING COLORADO e l Jackson center welcomes Chinese visitors Around the region • Unique Learning Toys & Games B 15 FREE HEARING TEST! Wednesday, June 11 by appt. only • 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. FREE SERVICE ON ALL MAKE AND MODELS Wednesday, June 4 no appt. necessary • 9 a.m. - 11 am New Location!!! Come See Our Teacher’s Corner/Kid’s Mart Your only specialty toy store & education center! 213 S. Gillette Ave. • 686-9231 • Mon.-Fri. 9-6 • Sat. 9-5 Hampton Inn 211 Decker Court • Gillette Wy 1211 Grand Ave # 2 Billings, MT Wyoming Farm Bureau • American Hearing Beneits Bozeman Deaconess • Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield Three Rivers Communication • NRA ■■■