Missing woman home after secret road trip

CHEYENNE -- Saying she just needed a break, a woman who took an unexpected trip to Colorado returned home after her disappearance panicked friends and family.

Kathy Ellis' mini-mental health break created much worry and fear, her husband Ron Ellis said Wednesday, a week after he filed a missing-person report.

She returned on her own Sunday night after a five-day stay with an ex-sister-in-law in Fort Morgan, Colo., a woman she hadn't seen in 10 years.

"That's why we didn't think to look for her there," Ron Ellis said, noting that she assumed word of her whereabouts would trickle back to her husband and sister.

Ron Ellis reported Kathy missing March 10 after she failed to show up for her shift at a Pershing Boulevard dry cleaner -- unusual behavior for the 38-year-old mother, her family said.

Such cases of missing people taking a mystery vacation aren't unusual, Laramie County Sheriff's Office Lt. Pat Branigan said.

Old North Fork lodge destroyed by fire

CODY -- One of the oldest lodges on the North Fork of the Shoshone River was destroyed by fire Friday morning.

An investigation into the cause of the blaze at Crossed Sabers Ranch was under way. The preliminary indication was that it started in the kitchen, fire officials said.

The original lodge, built in 1898 by Tex Holm, anchored one of the first dude ranches in America and was the second stage stop on the way to Yellowstone National Park via the East Entrance.

The Holm Transportation Co. had a contract to transport visitors to the park. The original lodge burned in 1914.

Campbell County ponders smoking ban

GILLETTE -- County employees might no longer be allowed to light up at work, even in currently designated areas.

Campbell County's current policy, enacted in 1993, prohibits smoking in all facilities except designated areas.

Some county buildings including a children's center are already completely smoke-free.

"We have one room for jury members where they can smoke because of the stress of sitting on the jury," County Commission Chairman Chris Knapp said. "Other than that, I think we're a smoke-free building."

Shoshone forest plans five burns

CODY -- Five intentional burns covering more than 3,400 acres will be conducted in the northern part of the Shoshone National Forest beginning the third week of March.

The burns are to reduce buildup of dry vegetation and dead wood that could fuel a large fire, and to protect both the forest and adjoining private properties, North Zone Fire Management Officer Clint Dawson said.

Controlled fires will be conducted on the southern part this spring, officials said. Those burns will be conducted later due to a heavier snowpack.

BLM sets oil and gas lease sale

CHEYENNE -- The Bureau of Land Management will offer more than 47,000 acres of lease minerals at an oral auction beginning at 8 a.m. April 6 at the Holiday Inn in Cheyenne.

Leases are issued for a primary term of 10 years, and are typically continued beyond that time as long as oil or gas is produced in paying quantities.

Auction rules call for a $2 per acre minimum bid in bonuses on any parcel in addition to a standard $1.50 per acre rental on the lease. The BLM also charges $75 per parcel to help cover administrative costs.

For a complete list of the parcels, conditions of sale and lease stipulations, write to: BLM, Att: Copy Work, P.O. Box 1828, Cheyenne, WY 82003. Copies may also be purchased at the state BLM office at 5353 Yellowstone Road in Cheyenne.