Gillette loses child psychiatrist

GILLETTE -- When Jim Rusnak packed his bags and moved to Texas, he did more than just contribute to Wyoming's doctor shortage. He made left Wyoming with just two child and adolescent psychiatrists -- a specialty some say the state "desperately" needs more of.

Jean Davies, executive secretary of the Wyoming Association of Psychiatric Physicians, said psychiatrists are in demand across the country, and that child psychiatrists are particularly sought after.

In Gillette, Rusnak worked with patients at Campbell County Memorial Hospital, at YES House through the Board of Cooperative Education Services, or BOCES. Many of those patients were children and teens who needed regular monitoring for their psychiatric medicines.

There is a child psychiatrist in Casper, but his patient list comes from all over the state, and his schedule prevents him from seeing many of the BOCES children.

"We need another child psychiatrist in this state desperately," said Janis Fender, a registered nurse at BOCES.

Niobrara GOP plans candidate forum

LUSK -- The Niobrara County Republican Central Committee will host a public forum for all the candidates for state superintendent of public instruction to succeed Trent Blankenship, the county state committeeman announced Monday.

The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds Auditorium.

"This forum is the first opportunity for the GOP Central Committee members and public to get to know the individuals as candidates, to hear them respond to questions on their educational philosophy and the experience which will guide them as they lead this crucial agency," said Niobrara County State Committeeman Paul Kruse.

The Republican Central Committee, which includes three elected members from each of Wyoming's 23 counties, will meet Aug. 13 in Casper to select three nominees for the job.

Sheridan hires national consultant

BILLINGS, Mont. -- A national law enforcement consultant hired earlier this year to investigate Billings Police Chief Ron Tussing has found similar work in Wyoming.

Lou Reiter, of Lou Reiter and Associates, has been hired by the Sheridan Police Department to review its policies and procedures following an incident July 9 in which Mayor Dave Kinskey was pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving.

Detective Sgt. Tom Henry said the Sheridan City Council directed the department to hire an independent investigator to determine whether police officers followed procedure when Kinskey was stopped and questioned after an off-duty officer reported seeing the mayor stumble on his way to his car. Kinskey was released and did not receive a citation after passing a field sobriety test.

Reiter, a former Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief who now owns a law enforcement consulting company, was hired to conduct the independent investigation in Sheridan, Henry said. An associate of Reiter, Jack Ryan, is scheduled to arrive in Sheridan on Wednesday to conduct interviews, and the investigation is expected to be complete within about two weeks.