With less than one week before the 2008 General Election, do you know who you are going to vote for and why?

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Here is an interesting Widget I found to help you calculate how your 401(k) might do with the various plans that are out there to improve the US economy.

Being last or near the bottom is not always bad!

According to a Fact Sheet just published by The Wyoming Department of Administration & Information on July 23, 2008, Wyoming ranks at or near the bottom in many categories.  In addition to Total Population and Population per Square Mile (50th and 49th, respectively) the state's lowest point is higher than that found in 48 other states, and it is 2nd in Mean Elevation.  Other items of interest near the bottom include Crimes and Robberies per 100,000 (47th and 50th, respectively); New AIDS Cases per 100,000 (50th); % of Population in Poverty and % of Population Receiving Food Stamps (46th and 50th, respectively); Unemployment Rate (46th); and Gasoline Tax Rate (49th).  Items with which Wyoming is at or near the top include 1st National Park (Yellowstone); 1st National Monument (Devil's Tower); Average Wind Speed (1st); Per Capita State/Local Government Expenditures for Higher Education (3rd); Community Hospitals per 100,000 (5th); Per Capita Personal Income (6th); Coal Production and Natural Gas Production (1st and 2nd, respectively); and % of Households Headed by Married Couples (3rd).

In the last week, Wyoming has had the destinction of being in the news twice for its favorable business climate.  On April 8, 2008, Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc. ranked Wyoming in the Top Ten Pro-Business States.  Polina's study examines twenty-nine factors relative to states’ efforts to be pro-business.  Wyoming has been in the top ten for at least 5 years now, and was Number 5 for 2008.

On April 10, 2008, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) published the "Business Tax Index 2008.  The Index ranks the states according to the costs of their tax systems for small business start up and growth.  Wyoming is Number 3, behind South Dakota and Nevada, respectively.

The first week of the 59th Wyoming Legislature has been completed.  Wyoming remains one of the few states having a true part-time citizen legislature.  Although this is a Budget Session, there are several bills that may be of interest to Wyoming residents. 

• HB 0055 Water well drilling and pump installation.  AN ACT relating to water well drilling contractors and water well pump installation contractors; providing for licensure; providing certain exemptions; establishing licensing procedures; providing for fees; providing for examinations and continuing education requirements; providing for reciprocity; providing for license revocation and suspension; providing penalties; making conforming amendments; providing a sunset for certain provisions; repealing certain reciprocity provisions; and providing for an effective date. 
  
  This bill will require water well drillers and pump installers to be licensed.  Wyoming is the only state that does not require licensing of these professions.

• HB 0009  Campaign Finance Reporting.  AN ACT relating to campaign finance reporting; amending restrictions on contributions from individuals; modifying persons required to file campaign receipts reports; requiring reporting from political action committees and candidate's campaign committees; requiring amendment of campaign finance reports as specified; providing and modifying penalties; and providing for an effective date. 
  
  This bill increases individual contributions to a political campaign from $1000 to $3500 per election.  It limits the amount a PAC can contribute to $3,500 except for state wide candidates and that limit is $7,000. 

• SF0019 Clandestine drug laboratories-remediation.  AN ACT relating to public health and safety; providing that the discovery on property of hazardous material related to clandestine laboratory operations constitutes an incident requiring response under the Wyoming Emergency Response Act; providing for rules and regulations setting standards for remediation of clandestine laboratory operations; providing for securing of incident sites as specified; restricting transfer of property declared uninhabitable; providing for reimbursement of response costs; creating a clandestine laboratory remediation account; providing for reimbursement of response costs through the crime victims' compensation account; providing for notice and time for private remediation; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date. 
  
  This bill currently holds an unknowing property owner to only 1% of the Fair Market Value for the clean up costs, and limits that 1% to the actual contaminated site.  If the land is not contaminated, it is only 1% of the value of the improvements where the lab was located.  

There are many other bills being considered in this session including: SF 0011 Subdivisions-large acre parcels, SF0044 Residential Mortgages Practices Act, and SF 0004 Foreclosure-redemption period; so be sure to check out all the 2008 Bills and their status.  You might find others that are of interest to you.  Stay Informed and Speak Up so your Senator or Representative knows your wishes on the various bills.

Casper was named one of the “Top Ten True Western Towns of 2008” by True West magazine. True West magazine was launched in 1953, and is published ten times per year. This annual award is given to towns that “have made an important contribution to preserving their pasts.”

Casper has always been proud of its history. Nearly 500,000 pioneers traveled through Casper on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails between 1840 and 1870. The Pony Express also dashed though Casper on its route between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California during its short history in 1860 and 1861. Several of the reasons it did well are Fort Caspar and its brand new expanded museum and reconstructed Cavalry fort and the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center which commemorates the largest voluntary human migration in history and how the majority of those pioneers passed through the Casper area on their way to their destinations.

      Casper, WY – Home Sales are STRONG in the Casper area. Despite negative data regarding the housing market nationally, Casper continues to have one of the strongest markets in the country.

      The Casper housing market has seen steady growth even through this past year when national statistics, higher interest rates and the sub-prime debacle have caused concern and pessimism in the general public. The following information represents the Year to Year growth reported in the MLS Statistical Report:

      As reported in the fall addition of the 9/28/07 Wyoming Business Report written by David A. Robateck, “Wyoming’s rate of appreciation in home values last year more than doubled the national average and ranked second in the nation trailing only Utah.” He also stated in the article that “statistics from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight show that Wyoming house prices increased by 14.29 percent.”

      It’s no secret the strong economy in Wyoming and Casper brought on by a booming energy industry, has a great deal to with our strong Real Estate Market. 2008 LOOKS TO BE A GREAT TIME TO BUY, SELL, OR BUILD A HOME IN CASPER!!! 

      For more information on the Casper Housing Market please contact Casper Board of Realtors, Attn: Angie Evans at 307.237.1670

• Utah:  17.0 percent
• Idaho: 12.3 percent
• Montana: 11.7 percent
• Washington: 11.6 percent

Nationaly, home prices rose 4.3 percent during this period, while prices of other goods and services, excluding shelter, rose only 1.6 percent.

The Cowboy State Games has become a tradition that is in its 21st year in Wyoming . This years sports festival will feature 21 sports over seven weekends in January, February, and March.  There will be something for everyone.  Events will include  basketball, volleyball, karate and judo, alpine and Nordic skiing, power lifting, archery, arm wrestling, fencing, equestrian, gymnastics, and more.  All events with the exception of gymnastics will take place in Casper.  Douglas will host gymnastics.

When the Games first began, events were staged during the summer, but over the last six years this has changed.  Now the major portion of the Games are scheduled during the winter, with President's Day weekend being the busiest.  The Games have become extremely popular with people from all over the state, but they are not intended to be a large media event.  The games present an opportunity for both young and old to compete just for fun.

The Games are open to all Wyoming athletes of all ages and skill levels. Entries are now being accepted.  For more information, log onto their website or call the Cowboy State Games office:

Eileen Ford
Executive Director

400 East First Street, Suite 315 (Wyoming Financial Building)
P.O. Box 3485
Casper, WY 82602

(307) 577-1125 voice
(307) 577-8111 fax
csg@tribcsp.com

In August, an event occurred for which we had been preparing for years, but hoped would never occur. A major fire burned on Casper Mountain.

On Friday evening, August 11, a dry thunderstorm blew through Casper. Several fires were ignited in the county, but one lay dormant on the west end of Casper Mountain until Monday morning, August 14, when it burst into flames. The dry conditions following a prolonged drought and winds caused the Jackson Canyon Fire to become a major incident. By that afternoon, Governor Dave Freudenthal had declared a state of emergency for the area and a Type 1 Incident Management Team was ordered.

By Wednesday, hundreds of residents had been evacuated and commercial properties and communication towers were threatened. Structure protection was a high priority. Rough terrain hampered containment efforts, as well as extreme fire behavior with wind driven runs, spotting, and group torching. Flames reached into the sky as high as 250 feet.

At the peak of the fire, 588 total personnel, 13 crews, 35 engines, and 7 helicopters as well as aerial tankers were assigned to the incident. A total of 55,000 gallons of red fire retardant and about 340,000 gallons of water were used to contain the blaze.

By the time it was over, almost 12,000 acres of timber, brush, and grass had burned, along with ten structures and one vehicle. Fortunately, no one was hurt and no permanent residences were destroyed.

Local resources were quickly overwhelmed. On September 15, a community fundraiser took place to help the agencies that offered support during the fire. Over $60,000 was raised to help the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming, the Humane Society and more.

The Casper Mountain Fire Department, of which I am a volunteer, also had a fundraiser. We have compiled a collection of some of the most dramatic photographs of the Jackson Canyon Fire incident 2006. These include shots by firefighters on the line, aerial photographs, and others. They were donated for use in our 2007 calendar by some of the areas best photographers. All proceeds from this calendar go to the Casper Mountain Volunteer Fire Department and will be used for purchasing equipment. The first printing quickly sold out and more were printed. These are available for $15 each, but they aren’t expected to last long. Let me know how many you need. Quantity discounts are available.  For more info on the fire and calendar, read an article in the Casper Journal .

The 18th annual “Festival of Trees” to benefit Special Olympics Wyoming was held this week at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming.  The festival began on Sunday with the “Teddy Bear Tea”, a fun event for children of all ages.  The only cost to attend was one new teddy bear per family.  The donated bears were used to decorate the “Teddy Bear Tree” which is auctioned at the festival and usually brings the highest dollar amount.  In addition to hot cider, cookies, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, a “People’s Choice” tree was voted on.

The festival continued on Tuesday.  The evening featured spectacularly decorated trees for the live auction, a silent auction, great food from local vendors, entertainment, cocktails and more.  The event was one of the most reasonably priced events of the Christmas season.  Last year, more than $127,000 was raised for the Special Olympics Wyoming.

For more information, or to donate, call Special Olympics Wyoming at (307) 235-3062 or (800) 735-8345 or visit them online at http://www.specialolympicswy.org
 

If you are interested in investment properties, Wyoming might be a good place for you. If you don’t see anything on our website that interests you, just let us know. We have access to any property in Casper and most around the state, including farms and ranches.