Week of July 23, 2026
Week of July 23, 2026
Last Wednesday night, a flood swept through East Thermopolis in the area of C Avenue resulting in significant damage. An estimated 4 inches of rain fell in roughly an hour, causing a surge of water that submerged the area and stranded at least one resident in their home. Once water levels began to decrease, Thermopolis Police Chief Pat Cornwell made his way to the woman's home to evacuate her, a dog and a pet rabbit. The water relocated the woman's vehicle that was found some distance from it's...
The Hot Springs County Commissioners held a public meeting on Monday, July 20 to take comments and questions on the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget. The meeting was heavily attended, with standing room only in the room in the County Annex building. Of primary concern to those in attendance was the proposed reduction in funding to the 4-H program in the UW Extension office. For many years, Hot Springs County has provided funding to cover one-half of the expense of an on-site educator working out of the Extension Office in the old Carnage...
The 2026 Hot Springs County Fair will kick off with a few events this week, followed by a full line up of events for the following week. This week, shooting sports competitions on Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 24 will be at the Bob Milek Range with a start time of 5 p.m. both days. All other events will be held at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds unless otherwise noted. The youth horse show is on Saturday, July 25 beginning at 8 a.m. The Thermopolis FFA Alumni Ranch Rodeo will be held Saturday, July 25 with the Calcutta starting at...
Republican Party candidate debate The Hot Springs County Republican Party is hosting a candidate debate on Thursday, July 23 at 6 p.m. at the Hot Springs State Park Pavilion. Farmers and Artisans Market Every Saturday into October the Farmers and Artisans Market is at 5th and Broadway from 8 a.m.-noon. For more information, email Kim at ThermopolisFarmersMarket@gmail.com Airstream Club coming to town Members of the Wyoming Airstream Club will be in Thermopolis from July 29-August 2 to celebrate the Gift of the Waters. Over a dozen iconic...
The Hot Springs County School Board met on July 9 to consider the adoption of a budget for the upcoming school year. The trustees approved the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 following an executive summary presentation by business manager Jessica Benefiel. The budget takes into account several factors, which will impact the upcoming school year. Included among those factors are an anticipated decrease in the Average Daily Membership (ADM) of students attending the school system; on-going adjustments to a four-day week; and planning...
From Wyoming News Exchange newspapers Food Bank of Wyoming launches To-Go Volunteer Projects CHEYENNE (WNE) — With food insecurity rates at a more than 10-year high, Food Bank of Wyoming is introducing new ways to get involved, making it easier than ever for supporters to help ignite the power of community and nourish neighbors facing hunger — no matter where they live. “We received a lot of requests from people and businesses throughout the state who want to volunteer, but don’t live near our distribution center in the Casper...
The annual Gift of the Waters Parade will be held in downtown Thermopolis on Saturday, August 1 beginning at 10 a.m. For more information or an entry form, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 864-3192. There is no official pageant presentation planned this year. There will be traditional dancing at the flag pole downtown after the parade and at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Big Spring in Hot Springs State Park. There is a Bah-gue-wana program being planned for August 1 and 2 at the Pavilion in Hot Springs State...
Jessica Poe paddles through a fast-moving section of the Bighorn River during the Rebel Triathlon last Saturday. Dr. Mattson Mathey won first place in the 15-39 age bracket with Dr. William Robinson and Christian Eagles tying for first place in the 40-60 bracket. The relay team called Respect your Elders made up of Darren, Jadeth and Jacoby Elder won first in their...
The Cul De Sac Cowboys perform during a special benefit concert at the Hot Springs County Senior Center in Thermopolis on Sunday at Hot Springs State Park. The live entertainment event raised awareness of Alzheimer's disease while bringing the community together through...
Doris Ann Ready, right, leads a museum tour for Bud Webber - class of 1973, Richard Jackman and Kelly Webber - class of 1976 and Rees Ready at the Hot Springs County Museum last...
An American goldfinch holds a dandelion seed in its bill while perched among summer vegetation near Thermopolis last...
Participants in the Hot Springs County FFA Alumni River Float arrived at Hot Springs State Park on Sunday, July 19, after floating the Bighorn River. The event concluded with a barbecue in the...
The Hot Springs County Commissioners have voted not to provide county funding for the 4-H Extension Educator position. This decision has been presented as a funding issue, but the facts tell a different story. The University of Wyoming pays approximately half of the Extension Educator’s salary and covers the cost of the employee’s benefits. Hot Springs County is responsible for contributing approximately $27,000. This partnership with the University of Wyoming has been in place for decades and has allowed our county to provide...
It is Hot Springs County Fair time. Be sure to see the story and ad on page 3 of this paper, the ads on page 7 and the insert with information on all the upcoming events during our county fair. There is something for everyone to see and do. Your support of the county fair is...
In recent days, our community has been witness to a historical event dubbed “Trail Blazer Days: Opening the Last Frontier.” This event, sponsored by the Hot Springs County Board of County Commissioners, The Learning Center, and Hot Springs County Pioneer Association, funded through the Governor’s Semiquincentennial Task Force, provided a glimpse of a bygone era where horses and mules served as the power and transportation required to open the Big Horn Basin to settlement and the successful development of towns and industry. The...
Questions Which two U.S. National Parks are located at least partly in Montana? Name the five countries that suffered the most military deaths during World War I. What percentage of the corn grown in the United States is sweet corn? What are the athletic nicknames (mascots) of the Ivy League schools Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania? Put these extinct animals in order from the most recent extinction to the oldest: Tasmanian tiger, passenger pigeon, dodo, woolly mammoth, and saber-toothed tiger. Fun Facts The Voyager...
Barbara Joan Daniels was born January 27, 1943, in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Merle and Carrie Oneyear. She grew up with her siblings, Linda West, Gloria Rushing, and Fred Oneyear. Barbara spent her childhood in Portland, Ore., where she learned to ride a unicycle and the value of hard work, responsibility, and family. On December 17, 1960, Barbara married her high school sweetheart, Billy Max Daniels, in Thermopolis, Wyo. Together they raised two children, Delbert Wayne and Darlene Marie, and built...
Wayne Frederick Bentel, 81, of Whitewater, Wis., died Monday, July 13, 2026, in Janesville, Wis., following a long illness. He was born in Chicago on December 13, 1944, to Adolph and June (Madsen) Bentel. He spent his childhood in Antioch, Ill., where he graduated from Antioch High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving four years at Wethersfield Air Base, England. Upon his return, he worked in the family heating and air conditioning business before...
Patrick "Gene" Eugene Boehmke, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, was welcomed into heaven on July 12, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Gene was born on July 3, 1943, in San Diego, Calif. Following his service in the Army and graduation from San Diego State University, Gene enjoyed a successful career with CATERPILLAR, ultimately serving as Director of Human Resources. He took great pride in his work and in the people he served. His career not only...
Lee Bert Snyder, 88 sadly passed away on July 14, 2026, at his home with his grandson, Brandon and his wife, Ashley by his side. Lee was born in Basin, Wyo., to Bert Elmer Snyder and Nina Louise (Mosley) Snyder. He attended school in Greybull for 11 years and graduated from Thermopolis High School in 1956. He was active in 4-H livestock. He went to 4-H camp and State Fair. He was a Golden Glove Boxer. He went into the Marines in 1957 and was stationed in Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. He married...
Carol Jane Jaussaud went home to Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Carol was the youngest of six children, born to Herbert and Lucille Christman, on November 19, 1940. She grew up on the family ranch in Poway, Calif. She married her high school sweetheart, Albert Jaussaud in 1957. They had four children and as the children grew, so did the population of California. Carol’s sister had moved to Cody, Wyo., and after their first visit to see her they were hooked on clean air and beautiful mountains. In 1979 the family was...
On the Record policy It is the Thermopolis Independent Record’s policy that all people arrested or cited under the “Sheriff’s office” or “Police department” in the On the Record section are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We print the names of all people upon their initial arrest. Names of minors are not printed. Correction Cheryl Aguiar was incorrectly identified as being affiliated with the Communities Over Cuts PAC in last week’s page 7 article on HSC Loss of Revenue. We apologize for the error....
