CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – The president of Laramie County Community College is resigning.      The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that Darrel Hammon resigned Monday night and that the board of trustees has agreed to pay him $360,000.      Hammon earned $184,000 a year and had 2 1/2 years left on his contract.      Hammon said he’s leaving because he thinks it’s time for the college to go in a different direction. He also said he doesn’t have the full support of the board of trustees.      Two newly elected trustees have said that having Hammon leave would be best for the college.      Faculty have also questioned whether the school had too many administrators and not enough instructors.      Hammon’s resignation is effective Dec. 31 but he plans to take vacation during the month of December.      —      Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle – Cheyenne, http://www.wyomingnews.com … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – The Wyoming Department of Corrections has named Ruby Ziegler as deputy warden at the state’s new medium-security prison in Torrington.      Ziegler will start at the Torrington job in December. She succeeds Michael Pacheco, who was promoted to warden of the Wyoming Honor Farm in Riverton in September.      Ziegler started as a correctional officer with the state of Iowa in 1993. She held several posts there before moving to Wyoming in early 2006 to serve as housing and classification manager.      Ziegler is a former president of the Wyoming Criminal Justice Association. She is working on a Ph.D. in public services with an emphasis on leadership. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – The Wyoming Veterans Commission has a new chairman.      Herm Emmett, of Worland, was recently selected to serve as the chairman of the commission.      Emmett is a U.S. Air Force veteran and is active in his local American Legion Post. A retired Wyoming Highway Patrol lieutenant, he previously served as the mayor of Worland and is currently the deputy coroner for Washakie County.      Emmett has reappointed Commissioner Lee Alley, of Wheatland, as the vice chairman and Commissioner Pete Quinnell, of Gillette, as the parliamentarian.      The Wyoming Veterans Commission works with the governor and state Legislature to study state and federal legislation and make recommendations.      Service officers also help Wyoming veterans connect with their benefits, health care and assist with filing VA disability claims. … Read entire article »

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) – A 67-foot-tall Englemann spruce from northwest Wyoming has arrived in Washington, D.C., to be this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas tree.      The tree arrived by truck on Monday morning and Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Michael Enzi were on hand to receive it.      Workers cut off some of the tree’s stump before raising it on the West Front of the Capitol. It will be decorated with ornaments made by Wyoming residents, and the lights will be switched on Dec. 7.      It’s the first time the Capitol tree has come from Wyoming.      A search began a year ago in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the Capitol superintendent of grounds made his choice in July.      It was felled in November and loaded on a truck for a winding journey of nearly 5,000 miles with stops for 35 … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis says President Barack Obama’s proposed federal pay freeze doesn’t go far enough.      The Wyoming Republican says a commitment to austerity can only be taken seriously if Washington halts the unchecked growth of government in addition to a freeze on pay.      Lummis has introduced legislation that she says would result in a smaller, leaner federal work force and save taxpayers about $35 billion over 10 years.      Her proposal reduces the size of government by attrition. For every two federal workers that retire or leave service, the government would replace only one. … Read entire article »