(TSM photo)

After getting a call about a possible drunk driver, the Laramie Police Department says they arrested a Centennial resident for Felony DWUI and other charges. An alert citizen made the REDDI report after seeing a drunk man staggering around a vehicle trying to start it at 12:25 p.m. on Thursday and police responded to the area near 1st and Ivinson.

By the time officers arrived, the LPD reports that the vehicle was started and driving in traffic. Poor driving actions were witnessed and authorities say Patrick Gierhart was arrested for Felony DWUI, Driving without Interlock Device, Driving under Suspension, and ‘Failure to Pay’ Warrant for a previous DWUI.

Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately (REDDI) is a program at the state level that allows for citizens to help in combating drunk drivers by providing them toll free numbers to contact authorities when a drunk driver is suspected. Commander Mitch Cushman with the LPD says that although Laramie does not have a specific number like the Wyoming Highway Patrol, local dispatchers can take information through the emergency 911 number or the non-emergency number of 721-2526, and put out the call to include description of the vehicle, driving actions, and a description of the driver. From there, Cushman reports that officers go the the area to look for the vehicle and if they observe violations, the vehicle is stopped.

“As you know, not all people driving poorly are intoxicated,” Cushman said. “If no alcohol is detected, it is possible that they are having a medical emergency. In my experience, I stopped a diabetic who was having an insulin reaction and was driving exactly like a drunk driver. In either case, drunk or medically impaired, it was good to get them off the road.”

Cushman calls REDDI a “tried and true program” and reports that in 2010, travelers throughout the state made 9,654 reports of suspected impaired drivers, an increase of 33 percent from 2009. Since the inception of the program 210,380 reports have been made resulting in 48,459 contacts and 19,071 arrests state wide.

Authorities say DWUI on 3rd offense resulting in a conviction within 10 years is considered a felony and can be fined up to $10,000, punished by up to two years in prison, or both. Driving a Vehicle without an Interlock Device is a graduated jail and fine from 7 days in jail on first offense to 30 days minimum to 6 months of jail on second offense. Fines range from $200 on first offense to $750 for second offense.

Spring brings with it vibrant colors, among these delightful sights and sounds is the annual Laramie Dance Center Spring performance this Saturday at 1PM on the University of Wyoming Campus in the Arts and Sciences auditorium. This wonderful performance is absolutely free to the public. Assembled are over 318 costumed dancers of all ages performing cleverly choreographed, well rehearsed, beautifully executed dance pieces. ” The costumes are incredible this year” commented avid dance enthusiast Judy Jones last night at the tech rehearsal.

Laramie Dance Center owner Kathy Vreeland has dedicated her life to dancing, training and performing with the country’s finest professionals. Along with an accomplished team of experienced and talented instructors she has put together an incredible show highlighting her students. From Classical and Contemporary Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz, Hip Hop,Tap, Irish Step Dance, and Children’s Musical Theater there is a style that will appeal to everyone in the entire family.

(Fotos_von_Carlos via flickr)

The Encampment-Riverside Lions Club is making their final preparations for the 2012 Woodchopper’s Jamboree and Rodeo that takes place in a little less than a month. This will be the 52nd running of the event as it has become a tradition in the community that lures in competitors from all over the United States to compete for the title of Rocky Mountain Champion Lumberjack. One thing’s for sure, the event makes for a fun, action-packed day not only for those trying to win the title but for spectators as well.

This year we are told that everything kicks off on June 16th at 9 AM with a parade that starts in Encampment and winds its way through to Riverside.The actual wood-chopping events get going at 10 AM on Saturday the 16th and continue on to the 17th, picking back up at 9 AM on Sunday. Using power saws, axes and hand saws, the men and women competing in a variety of events cut down “trees”, chop logs, and saw squared wood blocks in half with one goal in mind; achieve the fastest time. Wood-chopping events include the following, for which there is a purse of over $2,000 on the line:

Not only does the Jamboree include wood-chopping events, but also a unique Wyoming twist. On both Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th, there is a rodeo that starts at 1:30 PM; the rodeo includes the following, for which there is a purse of $400 per event on the line:

Admission for each day of events is only $7 per adult, and children 12 and under get in FREE! No coolers are allowed inside the Lion’s Club Arena, but Barbeque concessions will be available starting at 11:30 AM each day. All proceeds from the Jamboree go to support local civic projects. For more information on this event you can contact organizers via e-mail.

by Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious via Flickr

A lot of people that live in Laramie enjoy the outdoors, and particularly all the activities you can do outside that are in and around the Gem City. One popular way to exercise or simply just get out and about is bicycling.

Whether competitive or not, our community has numerous cyclists who delight in being able to go for a casual ride, train for specific events or utilize their bike to get them wherever needed. In fact, Wyoming is rated 17th in the National Bicycle Friendly State Rankings. Did you know there’s actually a national “Bike to Work Month” and a national “Bike to Work Week?” Hey, there’s even a national “Bike to Work Day,” which just happens to be today. Laramie also has its own cycling organization, Cycle Wyoming, where you can find plenty of information on various cycling events and clubs. So if you do own a bicycle, it got us thinking about how you use it. Gem City, we want to know…

We want to reward you just for answering this poll! Enter your answer to this poll in the Laramie Rewards Program for your chance to win some great prizes like gift cards, DVDs, and four great summer quick tips!

Paramount Pictures / Universal Pictures / Lionsgate

This weekend, you’ll have your choice between a goofy comedy, watching things blow up, and a tale about the joys and perils of new parenthood. For more on all of the movies playing in Laramie, head to the Laramie Movie Scope website.

In ‘The Dictator,’ Sacha Baron Cohen stars as the title character who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

Based on the classic board game, ‘Battleship’ is an epic action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force.

And ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting,’ inspired by the self-help book of the same name, tells the story of a group of expectant parents dealing with the surprise demands of pregnancy.

Here’s a sneak peek.

‘The Dictator’

Directed by: Larry Charles
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Jason Mantzoukas
Get Tickets & Showtimes

‘Battleship’

Directed by: Peter Berg
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Tadanobu Asano, Hamish Linklater, Liam Neeson
Get Tickets & Showtimes

‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’

Directed by: Kirk Jones
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Ben Falcone, Anna Kendrick, Matthew J. Morrison
Get Tickets & Showtimes

Photo from Flickr via USFWS Mountain Prairie

Chalk up another holiday to the category of “bizarre.” International Migratory Bird Day, observed in the United States on the second Saturday of May, will be in Laramie this Saturday (the second Saturday of the month).

Ok – maybe bizarre isn’t the right word, but uncommon seems fair at the very least.

According to birdday.org, International Migratory Bird Day (or IMDB- not to be confused with the movie website) celebrates and brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas – bird migration.

The holiday will be celebrated Saturday morning in Laramie’s Optimist Park with bird walks on the Greenbelt at 8 AM and 10 10AM. Booths & activities will also be setup in the park from 9 AM until 1 PM. On hand will be live raptors and the activities list includes the chance to experience the hazards of migration, test your own wingspan and learn about some of the best places to see birds.

The group behind birdday.org, Environment For the Americas, says the holiday is worthy of celebration because “Public awareness and concern are crucial components of migratory bird conservation.” Citizens who are enthusiastic about birds, informed about threats, and empowered to become involved in addressing those threats, can make a tremendous contribution to maintaining healthy bird populations. By modeling what can be done and involving people, their interest and involvement in stewardship can grow.

One of the most successful vehicles for public education on migratory birds is International Migratory Bird Day.”

International Migratory Bird Day was created in 1993, and today, nearly 500 events are held yearly from South America to Canada.

(Photo Courtesy of Adam Porter)

Your Question:

When is the City of Laramie planning on opening Grant Street between Snowy Range Road & Wyoming Avenue?

The City’s Response:

Generally, the City opens streets when requested by the adjoining landowners. Adjoining  landowners have been required to bring the street up to City standards with utilities and gravel travel surface installation. Additional specific information can be obtained by calling Public Works at 721-5320 or the Street Division at 721-5277.

Please remember that you are free to make comments below about this question or submit your own question.

One of the teachers at Linford Elementary School in West Laramie, Colleen Worman, told us a little bit about the art headed to the gallery as it comes from students attending the elementary school. Teachers at the school instructed their students to take pictures that demonstrated the culture surrounding them and they did just that, with the display in Gallery 234 being the culmination of their combined efforts. The whole idea behind the project was to share the unique and beautiful culture of West Laramie through the eye’s of it’s children. Some took pictures of their families while others focused more on symbolic objects. You can take a look at a selection of the photos on display in our gallery below.

This week in other related news, a separate group of students from Beitel Elementary School successfully lobbied Laramie City Council for a new “Welcome to Laramie” sign in West Laramie as well.

David Humphreys Miller (American, 1918-1992), Fish Wolf Robe, c. 1946-1955, pastel, tempera, conte, pencil, artboard, 22 x 15 inches, courtesy of the Sandra L. Solomon Trust

Five summer exhibitions will open at the University of Wyoming Art Museum during a public reception on Friday, May 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. The free event will be the first chance for visitors to check out “Francisco Goya: Los Caprichos,” “Drawn from Life: Northern Plains Indian Portraits by David Humphreys Miller,” “Linda Fleming: Modeling the Universe,” “Journeys along the Sepik River: Tribal Art from Papua New Guinea,” and “Through the Looking Glass: The Portait of the Artist.”

All five exhibits will close in August, so this summer is the only time to view them in Laramie. The museum is located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Drive in Laramie.  Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Here’s a deeper look into each of the summer exhibits from the UW Art Museum:

Francisco Goya  (Spanish, 1746-1828) is recognized as one of Spain’s most important and influential artists. His “Los Caprichos” suite, which he began in 1799, established him as the father of the Modern movement in Europe. In the 80 allegorical etchings of the series, Goya explores creative freedoms that were not acceptable to the conventions of art in his time. The exhibition closes Aug. 4.

In 1935, at the age of 16, David Humphreys Miller (American, 1918-1992) arrived in South Dakota and began interviewing and drawing the Northern Plains Indians who were at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. “Drawn from Life: Northern Plains Indian Portraits by David Humphreys Miller” presents portraits of Native American men and women whose interviews contributed to his research and eventual publications as well as those who had connections to the early Hollywood film industry. The exhibition closes Aug. 11.

“Linda Fleming: Modeling the Universe” presents more than 60 maquettes that provide insight into Fleming’s (American, b. 1945) creative process and inspiration. The small-scale models are in a variety of mediums including cut paper, laser-cut plywood, cast bronze, and felt and combine architectural structures with patterns found in nature. This exhibition closes on Aug.  4.

“Through the Looking Glass: The Portrait of the Artist” explores the tradition of self-portraits and portraits of artists in a variety of mediums including drawings, prints, and photography. Curated from the Art Museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition is available for statewide tour through the Touring Exhibition Service following its close Aug. 4.

“Journeys along the Sepik River: Tribal Art from Papua New Guinea” tells a story about three travelers who ventured to Papua New Guinea and the objects they acquired. Objects include skull racks, canoe prows, and items of adornment. The exhibition closes Aug. 18.

Photo from Flickr via MSVG

One of the greatest things about Townsquare Media Laramie, is our commitment to you for following us online or listening to us over the radio. Whether it’s our LaramieLive Rewards program, the Mighty 1290 Club, or the Y95 Country Corral, there are many great opportunities for you to receive prizes just for frequenting our websites.

Every few weeks, we have a new list of items that you can be eligible to win, and very recently, we released a list of summer trips that you can win just for participating through our websites. All of the trips are great deals for you and a friend (or friends) to enjoy some great summertime activities and though some of them might be valued higher than others, all that truly matters is which trip is most appealing to you…

We want to reward you just for answering this poll! Enter your answer to this poll in the Laramie Rewards Program for your chance to win some great prizes like gift certificates, DVDs, and this month a whole slew of prizes to get you ready for summer!