Week of February 19, 2026
Week of February 19, 2026
An out of control planned burn in the area of 2500 Owl Creek Road was quickly contained by Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department members when they arrived on scene Sunday afternoon. Land owners are reminded to be mindful of conditions as they plan burn...
The Thermopolis Police Department recently investigated a number of break-ins, reportedly 15-20, of unlocked vehicles in Thermopolis. Early in the morning of Monday, Feb. 16, law enforcement officials began their investigation as the break-in reports rolled in. They requested any camera footage residents had in the area of Fremont St., Johnson Ave., Clark St. and South 12th St. Later in the day, officials announced they had identified juvenile suspects in the burglaries. Officials encourage residents to always close their windows and lock...
At their February 3 meeting, the Hot Springs County Commissioners renewed a discussion of what was to be done with the building, located at 124 North 5th Street, which houses The Learning Center program. The building had been donated to the county in the past and was then transferred to Behavioral Health to be used as a counseling center. When Behavioral Health acquired their new building, the North 5th Street property was no longer being used for counseling services and was then returned to the county under a reverter clause in the deed, by...
Anyone who has ever lived in a big city knows - living in a small town is different. The size of the community, the number of people, and the amenities are certainly different, but it’s more than just that - the people are different. And yes, there is always that old joke about everyone knowing everyone’s business. But for all the positive’s about a small town - that’s a small price to pay. In a small town we don’t have the luxury of a full-time, paid, fire protection and prevention force. Instead, we more than get by with the help...
by Carrie Haderlie Wyoming Tribune Eagle via Wyoming News Exchange A panel of lawmakers voted Monday to add millions of dollars to a controversial K-12 school funding recalibration bill. The Senate Education Committee voted 5-0 to send Senate File 81, “K-12 public school finance-2,” back to the Senate floor with an additional $127.1 million in education funding, spread out over the next two years and across the state’s 48 school districts. SF 81 tackles recalibration, which is a constitutionally mandated process required every five...
by Maya Shimizu Harris, WyoFile.com via WNE Lawmakers have just begun scratching the surface of their main duty this session: putting together a balanced state budget for the next two years. A key focus of the negotiations starting this week is funding for the University of Wyoming. Last week, the Senate and House each walked through the Joint Appropriations Committee’s budget recommendations. Lawmakers had the opportunity to ask questions and debate the committee’s proposals. At the heart of the debate over UW’s budget was the...
From Wyoming News Exchange newspapers Lovell teen missing since Feb. 11 CODY (WNE) — Kourtnee Roper, 17, has been missing since last week, and family is concerned for her physical well being. Roper, a Lovell native, suffers from bipolar disorder and recently started a new medication regimen that her mother, Sarah Pitt, says she’s struggled to adjust to. Roper left her home on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in a red Buick with a black front bumper and Wyoming county 9 plates. She was last seen wearing grey Nike sweatpants and a camo sweatshirt. Pitt...
Jayci Basse BA, Savana L. Budd BA, Ann Delay MA and Kaden Zink BSCP earned their degrees from the University of Wyoming at the completion of the 2025 fall...
Bien meet and greet A meet and greet with Republican Gubernatorial candidate Brett Bien will be held at Storyteller on Friday, Feb. 20 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. HSC Republican Caucus The Hot Springs County Republican Party Caucus is set for Saturday, Feb. 21 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Thermopolis Fire Hall, 400 South St. Delegates to convention will be selected and current platforms, resolutions and bylaws will be discussed. For more information, contact chairman Bradyn Harvey at 921-0089. LGBTQ+ Allies group Big Horn Basin Pride is hosting a...
Submissions are being accepted for the Jessie C. Thompson writing contest. The contest is open to Ralph Witters Elementary, Thermopolis Middle School and Hot Springs County High School students as well as Risen Son Christian School students and home schooled students. The contest is currently sponsored by the Hot Springs County Pioneer Association. Jessie C. Thompson was the Superintendent of Hot Springs County School District from 1943 until her death in 1966. Her son, JC, reached out to the Pioneer Association in 2011 to set up a memorial...
The #1 ranked Hot Springs County High School Bobcat basketball team continued with conference play last weekend. Coming into the week, the Cats were undefeated in the 2A Northwest Conference, with a record of 5-0. The Cats traveled on Friday night to meet up with the Wranglers in Shoshoni, and were back home on Saturday afternoon to face off with Greybull. Friday night’s contest with Shoshoni was never in doubt, as the Bobcats led at the end of every quarter - putting up 78 points to Shoshoni’s 38 points. Up by 13 points at the half, the...
The Hot Springs County High School boys and girls wrestling team hosted the Worland Warriors last Thursday night for a dual on senior night and then traveled to Buffalo on Friday for some duals for the boys and some matches for the girls. Against Worland, the Lady Cats won the dual 11-0, while the Bobcats won their dual by a score of 29-6. For senior night, Haeden Blair and Alix Sorensen were each recognized for their four years of contributions to the Bobcat wrestling programs. Haeden ended...
Thermopolis 215-pound wrestler Ryan Axtell works for control against Luciano Vazquez of Worland during a match at the Hot Springs County High School gym as Vazquez attempts to build a base on the...
As they near the end of a long season, the Lady Cats Basketball Team faced off with two of their 2A Northwest Conference opponents last week. On Friday night, Thermopolis faced the Lady Blue in Shoshoni, and then on Saturday afternoon the team hosted the Lady Buffs of Greybull. Both games were rematches of games played just two week prior. Having defeated the Lady Blue at home in the prior game by a thirty point spread, the Lady Cats knew Shoshoni would be looking to even-up. Shoshoni has not had a great season, having won just one game in...
Thermopolis Wrestling Club had another outstanding performance at the Worland Wrestling Tournament last Saturday bring home the team championship with a total of 958 points, well ahead of second place Riverton with 693.5 points. Nineteen total teams were in attendance. Individual placers include: 6U 43 - Ridge Deromedi, 2nd 6U 49 - Ryker Paxton, 5th 8U 40-43 - Rylee Donahoo, 1st 8U 45 - Konnor Simpson, 2nd; Levi Gard, 4th 8U 49 - John Ryan, 3rd; Konnor Simpson, 5th 8U 53 - Tytus Bowker, 1st; Caden Metz, 5th 8U 56 - Greyson Hill, 3rd 8U 62 -...
Two Canadian geese share a sunset swim on Valentine's Day in Hot Springs State...
Foster Lewis carefully places heart stickers onto his valentine envelope during Sandy's Storytime held at the Hot Springs County Library last...
Unseasonably warm weather has buds showing up on a cottonwood tree branch weeks before the usual spring season, leaving them vulnerable to freezing...
by Lily Hayes This series of Trailblazing is to share stories about those who pioneered in what is now Thermopolis, Hot Springs County, Wyoming. If there are errors, I stand corrected, but please know this is my grandmother and I am one of about forty grandchildren, so as stories go, there are many versions. Some of the information is from my mother and aunt’s stories. I would like to introduce you to Mary Agnes Peoples White. She was born of Irish/Scottish parents, in Glendive, Montana, on September 11, 1898. She and her husband, Jaque Bob...
After watching and listening to two Thermopolis officer’s (a sheriff deputy and police officer) dash and body cams where one did weaponize his cruisers’ iron cowcatcher, used a PIT manuever grill gaurd to chase a man in a field, striking him hard enough to toss him over the hood - then calling “needed” backup since it didn’t faze the pedestrian - I won’t call Good’s light, WOKE-approved vehicle a weapon. The ICE agent was maybe swished a bit from the side, if touched at all, by her barely-moving-from-park SUV. He deftly fired...
Trailblazing means introducing new ideas or methods, innovative or pioneering. We are happy to bring you a new guest column about Hot Springs County Trailblazers, the first of which appears to the right of this editorial. This year, Hot Springs County will be home to Trailblazing Days June 12-14. The event will celebrate the early trailblazers who traversed the difficult terrain to settle in the Big Horn Basin. The event will feature a chuckwagon dinner, concert, cowboy poetry, parade, area treks, BBQ and more. Some arrangements are still be...
Back in 2017 while addressing a group in Laramie, my mentor, the late Al Simpson said: “Money’s dominance over politics is the number one problem our nation faces. It is a growing crisis that prevents us from tackling anything else. We have now reached a turning point: Either we are a country that makes decisions based on the common good, or one where the size of your wallet determines the worth of your ideas. Either we uphold the values of a representative democracy, or we allow greed and wealth to destroy the great American experiment...
Michel Gordon Sutherland was born October 5, 1947, in Worland Wyo., to Chancy and Iona Sutherland. Mike and his brother, Steve, grew up on a farm near Ethete, Wyo., and graduated from Lander High School. He married out of high school and had a son, David. He worked for various oil and gas companies in Wyoming prior to being drafted in 1970 for the US Army as a mechanized infantryman. He was deployed to Germany for several years and out processed at Ft. Carson, Colo., in 1974 and relocated to...
Bartley (Bart) Lynn Wilder, age 67, of Thermopolis, Wyo., peacefully transitioned from this life to his eternal home on February 11, 2026, surrounded by family and close friends. Bart and his twin sister Brenda were born in Pinedale, Wyo., to Wilma Newsom and Ralph Wilder on February 6, 1959. Bart grew up in Pinedale and graduated from Pinedale High. He met his lifetime partner Barbara Chidsey when he was 18. After graduating in 1977, Bart attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie to obtain...
Teresa Michelle Fields (Miller), 58, of Thermopolis went home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 10, 2026. Teresa was born on March 15, 1967, in Gallipolis, Ohio, to Jim and Sarah Miller of Thermopolis, Wyo. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother (Gram), daughter, and sister. She will be remembered for her big heart, how hard she worked and how good her cooking was. If you were hungry after leaving her table, it was your fault because there was always plenty and it...
With a warm embrace of love all around her, Mari Beth Skelton Riggs passed away on February 5, 2026, in Charlottesville, Va., after a 7-year battle with cancer. Even in her final hours, she remained loving, appreciative, compassionate, funny, and deeply concerned for those around her. Mari was born May 10, 1954, to James and Crystal Skelton, who instilled in her a lifelong devotion to family. She adored her siblings: Jimmy Skelton, Jacque Johnson, Sandi Halone, Bill Skelton, Bonnie Miller, Lily...
Janice Marie Shumway Cluff, 82, passed away on Feb. 12, 2026, in Manti, Utah. Services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. in Manti, Utah, at the tabernacle. A full obituary will appear in next week’s Independent...
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. Sheriff’s office Monday, Feb. 9 2:03 p.m Agency assist for the fire department. Tuesday, Feb. 10 11:19 a.m. Agency assist for emergency medical services. 4:16 p.m. Report of attempted fraud. No...
