Archive - Sep 2, 2010

Justice for Robert Ernst in the first of three trials, as Dennis Poitra, Jr. is found guilty September 2, 2010 on all three counts for which he'd been charged.

It took the jury just under three hours to render three guilty verdicts in the State vs. Dennis Poitra, Jr. case in 4th Judicial District Court Thursday evening.

At 2 o'clock, the jury convened to hear instructions from Judge John Fenn. Among the instructions, he explained the three counts and the subtexts of each.

Crews clean up an acid spill on Interstate 90 this week.

It has been a very eventful week for Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers to say the least. The unusual events began Tuesday when Troopers were called out to a report of a tractor trailer that had a tire on fire at the west Gillette interchange on Interstate 90.

While the last 3rd Thursday Street Festival in downtown Sheridan is still several weeks away, it's not too early to get signed up for the Chilifest chili cook-off. Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janelle Anderson explains a few of the particulars of the contest.

U.S. Senator John Barrasso

Twenty six families and their corresponding farms and ranches were honored with a 2010 Centennial Farm and Ranch award at a recent ceremony in Douglas. The families were recognized for owning and operating the same agricultural property for 100 years or more. 

Dennis Poitra, Jr. took the stand Thursday morning in his trial.

The State vs. Dennis Poitra, Jr. trial began at 10 o'clock this morning, with more people in the gallery than had been up to that point. Before bringing in the jury, Judge John Fenn said to Poitra that he'd been advised by the defense counsel that Poitra would like to testify.

After the State rested Wednesday afternoon in Dennis Poitra, Jr.'s trial, the Defense called three witnesses to the stand.

Dr. Trent Holmberg of Salt Lake City, UT took the stand as the Defense team's expert witness. Dr. Holmberg is Board Certified in Adult and Forensic Psychology, and has done hundreds of psych evaluations in Wyoming on inmates, as well as criminal responsibility evaluations.

The final witness for the Defense was Shawna Laffitte, the Health Information Management Specialist at Sheridan Memorial Hospital.