Court rules against former UW coach

DENVER -- A federal appeals court has ruled against a former University of Wyoming cross country coach who filed a civil rights lawsuit against the university after he was fired.

Former coach James Sanchez had sued UW claiming that his firing in November 2003 damaged his reputation and breached his one-year contract. A federal judge in Wyoming dismissed Sanchez' lawsuit and he appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

Tuesday's ruling by the Denver appeals court upholds the dismissal of Sanchez' lawsuit. The appeals court says Sanchez couldn't prove that UW officials violated his Constitutional rights.

Crews clear Snake River section

JACKSON -- Crews have removed a large tree that had obstructed a stretch of the Snake River and blocked boats from heading down the river.

The river was closed Monday between the West Table Boat Ramp and the Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp. The tree had blocked more than 80 percent of the river channel and resulted in one flipped boat on Monday.

Members of the Star Valley Search and Rescue used a jet boat to take members of a local Forest Service engine crew into position to cut the tree into small segments.

State rep collars shoplifting suspect

POWELL -- A state representative helped to capture a shoplifting suspect in Powell after a pursuit that lasted several city blocks.

State Rep. Alan C. Jones was loading groceries into his car last Wednesday outside Blair's Market in Powell when a young man came sprinting out of the store. The store owner told Jones that the man was a suspected shoplifter.

The 67-year-old Jones got in his car and drove around looking for the man.

Jones saw the suspect duck into the back door at the Skyline Cafe. When a cafe patron told Jones that the man had ducked into the bathroom, Jones leaned on the door and held him inside until police arrived.

Police cited the suspect on charges of shoplifting and tobacco possession and released him to a parent.

Man dies in ATV accident

ROCK SPRINGS -- A Rock Springs man has died in an ATV accident near Flaming Gorge.

Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell identified the victim as 39-year-old William Foster.

Haskell said Foster died Saturday afternoon after his ATV rolled over on him. Haskell said the accident happened after Foster called his girlfriend to say that he had been in an earlier crash that had damaged his ATV's steering gear.

Haskell says Foster's girlfriend found him dead when she followed his directions and drove out to pick him up. Authorities said the damaged steering gear may have contributed to the fatal crash.