Rescuer Dies From Crash Injuries

The Teton County Coroner has confirmed that there was a fatality of a Search and Rescue member who was on board the helicopter that crashed shortly after 3:00 pm Wednesday while responding to a snowmobile incident near Togwotee Mountain .  The name of the victim is still being withheld pending notification of family members.  Meanwhile, the other two on board the helicopter have been transported to St. John’s Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. The county’s search and rescue contract helicopter crash-landed about 6.7 miles south of Togwotee Mountain Lodge.  The helicopter, with pilot and two rescue personnel on board, was responding to the report the snowmobile incident at the time. Due to the remote location, information and details regarding the incident are slow to become available for release.  Law enforcement and rescue crews are still on scene in the Togwotee pass area, but crews hope to be returning from the scene tonight. Teton County Sheriff Jim Wahlen who is in Cheyenne to speak with legislators says he plans to return to Jackson immediately.

SAR Helicopter Down

Details are still sketchy regarding a rescue operation in Teton County gone bad.  County Spokesperson Charlotte Reynolds has confirmed that the county’s search and rescue contract helicopter crash-landed about 6.7 miles south of Togwotee Mountain Lodge.  The helicopter, with pilot and two rescue personnel on board, was responding to the report of an injured snowmobiler at the time.  Reynolds says all three on board survived the crash but suffered undisclosed injuries.  Personnel from the Teton County Sheriff’s Department and Grand Teton National Park Search and Rescue have joined forces to aid the stricken rescue team.  Two additional helicopters — one from Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho and the other from Heli-Express helicopter skiing have also joined in the rescue efforts.  Reynolds says the Heli-Express aircraft flew with members of the Grand Teton National Park rescue team to the scene.  No other information including the cause of the crash was available at the time of this report.

GTNP Launches First Rescue of the Winter

Two New Jersey snowboarders became the subjects of a multiple agency search and rescue Monday.  The two reportedly left the boundary of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort at about 3:00 pm, intending to access Rock Springs Bowl to the north.   Shortly before 6:00 pm, Jackson Hole Ski Patrol was notified that … Continue Reading

YNP Scopes Winter Plan

Representatives of Yellowstone National Park last night provided anyone in Jackson interested in the redrafting of a winter use plan, the opportunity to view proposed revisions and provide additional input on the seven alternatives to be proposed.  As yet, there is no preferred alternative.  Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk says … Continue Reading

Mead Gives Focus To Less-Traditional Businesses

During his State of the State address, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead pointed to the various industries around the state that contribute to make the state strong.  He included those industries depicted on the state seal: agriculture and minerals, as well as … Continue Reading

Mead Touts Wyoming as ‘Strong’

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead presented his second state of the state address to the legislature this morning, emphasizing the need to support those industries that keep the state sustainable.  Not surprisingly, he pointed to Agriculture, Tourism, Energy and Small Business as the state’s economic focal points.  However, he made a special point to … Continue Reading

Winterfest Begins

The 2nd Annual Jackson Hole WinterFest is under way in Jackson hole from now through Monday, February 20th. The event is intended to … Continue Reading

Willoughby Not Guilty

“Not Guilty.”  That was the verdict today of a seven-man, six-woman jury after only five hours of deliberation.  With that, Troy Dean Willoughby – accused in the 1984 murder of Jackson Waitress Elizabeth Ehlers – is free.  District Court Judge Timothy Day had … Continue Reading

IPSSSDR Announces Friday Schedule

Timeline race start at Town Square Friday, January 27, 2012:

• 4:30 pm Live remote-5:30 on Jackson Hole Radio
• 5:00 pm Music on the sound system, food and booths
• 5:00 pm  Storm Show’s 2011 ski/ride film “Action Jackson” playing on the jumboTron’
• 6:00 pm  Frank Welcome
• 6:30 pm IPSSSDR Team number 1—RACE START
• 7-9 pm Pedigree Party at Snow King
• 8  pm Torchlight Parade
• 8:30 pm  Fireworks

Get Ready To Race

The annual International Stage Stop Sled Dog Race steps off from the Jackson town square Friday evening.  Race officials have released the schedule for the ceremonial start for what will be a nine-day race taking 22 sled-dog teams through nine western Wyoming towns before … Continue Reading