Olsen in serious condition in Idaho Falls hospital

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

By PJH Staff

Olsen in serious condition in Idaho Falls hospital
State Rep. Monte Olsen, R-Daniel remains in serious condition in the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center on Monday after his wife allegedly ran over him with an SUV.
As a result of the incident, Lisa E. Glenn, 37, was charged with reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, according to a statement from the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office.

In the news release, Sublette County Undersheriff Jim Whinnery said officers responded to a call about a “domestic situation.” Arriving at Olsen’s Daniel, Wyo., residence, deputies found Olsen, 50, trapped beneath a Chevy Suburban.

A story in the Casper Star-Tribune quotes an affidavit filed by Sublette County Sheriff’s Deputy Nathen Gorternaker, who said Glenn told him that she and Olsen had had an argument and that she had run him over as she was attempting to leave. Gorternaker wrote, however, that tire tracks in the gravel and grass suggested the Suburban had “peeled out.”

Olsen was lifeflighted to EIRMC in Idaho Falls, Idaho where he was admitted to Intensive Care in critical condition. Cindy Smith Putnam, director of community relations at the hospital, could not release details about the extent of his injuries.
The case remains under investigation.
Olsen’s legislative district includes northern Sublette County and Wilson.
— PJH Staff

Town Square facelift begins with elimination of bushes
If you saw the state of the Town Square at noon on Monday, you may have thought the apocalypse was upon us all. Three men armed with chainsaws cut down every lilac bush surrounding the square and were feeding the budding bushes into a chipper.

No, they weren’t under direct orders from Lucifer himself, just the saints on the town council.

One worker explained that the town council had voted to cut down the bushes to increase safety in the Square, noting the woman who was raped there two summers ago. He also added that in the world of landscape architecture, high bushes such as lilacs are no longer planted in public places because they decrease visibility in the area and therefore safety.

A call over to the town offices confirmed his statements. Information Officer, Shelley Simonton, said the cutting of the lilacs is part of a comprehensive plan to revamp the Town Square. The program includes new landscaping, replacing of wooden walkways, new trash cans, added lighting, and the replacement of the southwest elk antler arch.
“One of the main goals is to address the public safety issue,” said Simonton.

“The ability for the police – everyone – to look through the park is important.” The lilac bushes were tall and dense, obstructing the view across the park, especially at night. After the stumps are removed, lower lying bushes will be put in place, as well as flowerbeds. Work on the Town Square will be completed by the fall.
— Sam Petri

Wyo. Dems vote Gierau out, Millin in as Chairman
On Saturday in Casper, the Wyoming Democratic Central Committee voted Cheyenne ophthalmologist John Millin as the new Wyoming Democratic Party Chairman, replacing Jackson’s Mike Gierau, owner of Jedediah’s House of Sourdough.

Although elections were held on schedule, they were not particularly timely for Gierau, who was recently arrested for his third DUI since 1987, according to court documents. Despite his arrest, Gierau continued to run for the Chairman position, but lost. It is thought his arrest directly affected Central Committee voters.

Millin has plenty of experience with the Wyoming Democratic Party, having served as the Democratic Chairman in Laramie County, the state party secretary, and most recently, the state party treasurer, according to Wyoming Dem. Party Communications Director Bill Luckett.

Teton County Democratic Chairman Chuck Herz was voted State Party treasurer to fill the shoes of John Millin. Vice Chair Nancy Drummond of Sheridan was re-elected, as was Secretary Mary Hales of Casper. All of the positions are two-year terms.

“I want to see our party energized and competitive in every single corner of the state,” Millin said in a press release. “I think it’s important that we don’t take any part of the state for granted, and that we also don’t write off any part of the state simply because of party registration…Wyoming is so red at this point that any improvement is worth the effort.”
— Sam Petri

Old Bill to run in Teton Valley
On Monday, the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole announced that its board had voted to create an affiliate community foundation in Teton Valley, Idaho to address the charitable needs and concerns of that community.

As an affiliate, the Teton Valley foundation will not have to hire its own staff or carry out its own administrative duties immediately. The new community foundation will provide grants for organizations and nonprofits in Idaho and will also offer a fundraising event similar to CFJH’s Old Bill’s Fun Run.

This major fundraising event, perhaps modeled on Old Bill’s, will not take place until 2008, giving the affiliate community foundation time to prepare a successful event.
“The recent decision by The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole Board of Directors opens the door to many avenues for enhancement of charitable giving in Teton Valley,” said Michael Whitfield, one of the Teton Valley nonprofit representatives. “We are very excited about this opportunity to foster philanthropy with an eye to the long-term charitable needs of our valley.”

The organizational structure, operating guidelines and fees for the Teton Valley community foundation will be developed over the coming months, culminating in a formal affiliate agreement.

For more information, contact Brendan McDermott at CFJH, (307) 739-1026, bmcdermott@cfjacksonhole.org or Michael Witfield, (208) 354-8939, mike@tetonlandtrust.org.
—PJH Staff

Mulligan Stew Pet Food forced to recall
Local pet food company Mulligan Stew Pet Food has been notified by its manufacturer, American Nutrition, that the Food and Drug Administration has issued a recall on two of its formulas: Chicken Mulligan Stew and Turkey Mulligan Stew. According to a recent press release, beef and salmon formulas are not affected by the recall.

American Nutrition, of Ogden, Utah, added small quantities of rice protein to the chicken and turkey recipes to achieve the protein levels required by the American Association of Feed Control Officials. Toxic rice protein has been the culprit in several pet food poisonings in the past month. Because of this, the FDA has issued a recall on all American Nutrition products that were manufactured with rice protein.

When American Nutrition had its rice protein tested by Midwest Labs, no detectable toxins were found. Mulligan Stew Pet food is having its food tested independently. The FDA has not tested the rice protein, but has still issued this broad recall.

“The rice protein introduction is a direct violation of our company’s patented formula and was done without our knowledge or consent,” said Mulligan Stew President Kevin Meehan on their website. “I cannot stress how important it is that our product be formulated to the strict guidelines I put forth. It is the foundation of our product and our company.”
— Sam Petri

Police still hunting for vehicle arsonist
The Jackson Police Department may be closing in on a suspect in the case of suspected arson involving three separate vehicle blazes all responded to on the morning of April 26.

Investigating officer, Det. Andy Pearson, said he had a gut feeling the department would resolve the case soon thanks to recently uncovered evidence. Pearson would not say whether certain evidence tied the three fires together but did acknowledge, “Three vehicles don’t just burn up by themselves in one night, all within about an hour of each other.”

Jackson Police and Fire/EMS responded to a report of a vehicle on fire at 2:50 a.m. on the morning of April 26. A second call of a vehicle on fire came in at 4:15 a.m. Pearson said the third call, placed to 911 at 6:01 a.m., was in the close vicinity of the first fire. Pearson believes all three fires were set within an hour of each other.

Pearson would not say whether there were any similarities or links between the three burning vehicles, saying that information could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

There were no injuries in any of the fires. All three vehicles involved were a total loss.
— Jake Nichols
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Olsen in serious condition in Idaho Falls hospital | Planet JH News Article: General News

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