Week of October 15, 2026
Week of October 15, 2026
At the Hot Springs County Commissioner’s October 6 regular meeting, Commissioners Bob Aguiar and Paul Galovich were presented with a written request that they recuse themselves from any action to be taken by the County Commission with regard to the Tipi Retreat land use matter, which is currently making its way through the Land Use Planning Commission. The written request was prepared by attorneys representing neighbors of Michael and Michele Stevens, who are pursuing a land use change for their glamping business on Coyote Run. Commissioner...
The 2026 Bobcat Roundtop Yearbook earned the Golden Pony ranking and All-state Honors with a runner up placing in the 1A/2A division at the 2026 Wyoming Student Media Association (WSMA) Convention held at Northwest College in Powell on October 20. The Bobcats captured these honors with last year's book, which was published through Walsworth Publishing with the theme "Hot Stuff." It was the fifth consecutive All-state finish for Bobcat journalism. Bobcat Yearbook is advised and taught by Lyle...
by John Bernhisel In Thermopolis, the return of legal beer was an occasion worth staying up for. As Wyoming prepared to allow low-alcohol beer in May 1933, local sellers readied their businesses for midnight customers. The Thermopolis Independent Record reported that trucks loaded with beer were waiting at the state line, ready to begin deliveries as soon as the law allowed. "During the early hours this morning citizens of Hot Springs county enjoyed the privilege of drinking beer legally for...
via Wyoming News Exchange The Thermopolis Independent Record will be running candidate information throughout October leading up to the 2026 Wyoming General Election, November 3. Information will come from a variety of sources, including the Wyoming News Exchange. The Wyoming News exchange allows papers throughout Wyoming to share stories through a paid subscription. Note: The Northern Wyoming News emailed questionnaires to both U.S. Senate candidates: current U. S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (Republican) and former state legislator James Byrd...
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has been studying the long-term safety and reliability of Wind River Canyon, one of the state’s most important and challenging transportation corridors. Built nearly a century ago, this scenic byway is also a hard-working route that carries commuters, freight, tourists, and emergency services through some of Wyoming’s most rugged terrain. With few alternate routes available, closures from rockfall and severe weather have major impacts on communities, travelers, and the regional economy....
From Wyoming News Exchange newspapers Average gasoline prices up 2.6 cents per gallon in Wyoming in past week CHEYENNE (WNE) — Average gasoline prices in Wyoming have risen 2.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.44 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy.com’s survey of 494 stations in Wyoming. Prices in Wyoming are 4.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago, and stand $1.44 per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 5.9 cents compared to a week ago, and stands at $6.248 per...
by Jen Sieve-Hicks, Buffalo Bulletin via Wyoming News Exchange Wyomingites could be in for a price shock this winter, according to a prediction of upcoming winter heating bills released by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association that forecasts the costs of natural gas, electricity, propane and heating oil will rise significantly from last year. “U.S. home heating costs are projected to rise by 8.7% this winter, more than twice the rate of inflation, driven primarily by higher electricity and heating oil costs,” NEADA said in...
Candidate debate A Hot Springs County General Election candidate debate will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Thermopolis Middle School Commons, 1450 Valleyview Drive. All candidates from contested offices have been invited and a representative from each side of the ballot initiative to reduce residential property taxes by 50%. Book and bake sale Hot Springs County Friends of the Library is hosting their annual book and bake sale on Friday, Oct. 16 from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17 from 8 a.m.-noon at the armory. Books...
The Thermopolis Town Council held a Regular Meeting on October 6. The council approved a street closure requested by the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce for the Lighted Christmas Parade planned for December 4 from 6-7 p.m. A public hearing was held to consider a liquor license transfer for Maverik, which has undergone a change of name to its parent company. No actual change in the entity holding the permit, nor in the location of the retail sales is a part of the transfer. Town engineer Anthony Barnett reported that the chip seal...
The Hot Springs County High School cross country teams headed to Powell last week for their final meet before conference finals in Burlington on Friday, October 16. As with so many of the cross country meets this season, Class 2A teams like Thermopolis were underrepresented in Powell, with the majority of the harriers hailing from Class 3A schools. In the girls division, the team from Cody took the team championship with an average time of 20:12. With just two runners representing Thermopolis, the Lady Cats did not figure in the team...
The Hot Springs County High School varsity Bobcats had their “bye” last week. To most teams that would mean a week of light practices and a chance to heal up from any nagging injuries the season may have inflicted. To coach Boone Bowker and the Bobcats, a bye week is certainly that - but it’s also a chance to see how the JV team is coming along. With that in mind, the Cats traveled to Pavillion last Thursday night to pit the Thermopolis JV team against the varsity squad from Wind River. The Cougars play in Wyoming’s 9-man league, so...
The Hot Springs County High School Lady Cats volleyball team hit conference play hard last week. On Tuesday, October 6, the team played in Wind River in a match that had been rescheduled from the week before, and on Friday, October 9, the team was again on the road playing in Shoshoni. Against Wind River, the Lady Cats looked really strong - sweeping three sets, by scores of 25-22, 25-20, and 25-21. In Shoshoni, Thermopolis did not come away with a win (losing three sets - 25-12, 25-16, and 25-16), however, they gritted their way through the...
Thermopolis Rodeo Club members had some impressive times and placings during the fall rodeo season. The season is short with competitions only in September. High school In Laramie, in round one Cooper Agar and his partner Louie Nicholas had a time of 20.75 in team roping. In round two Agar and Nicholas had a time of 10.95 in team roping to earn 4th place. In Riverton, in round two Hoyt Peil and his partner Kasen McConnaughey had a time of 7.28 to earn 3rd place. In Rawlins, in round one Agar and Nicholas had a time of 10.17 to earn a 6th...
Assistant football coach Chris Delay lead the varsity team up to T-Hill for some time spent in community exercise. The varsity players gave the "T" a much needed face...
Sutton Vezina admires her hand-painted pumpkin during the Thermopolis Fall Festival held last Saturday on the River Walk behind...
Witches take to the Bighorn River on Saturday, Oct. 10 to celebrate Thermopolis Witches Paddle Day. What started in 2013 as an informal California birthday outing has expanded into a coast-to-coast Halloween tradition of revelers in witch and warlock costumes floating on harbors, rivers and lakes across the country. From Sleepy Hollow to Seattle to Thermopolis, costumed flotillas are gathering this month and the movement continues to...
Late fall is the time of year most ranchers are pregnancy checking their cows. Along with doing that, a common practice is "mouthing" the older cows. They do it to help determine the cows age but mainly to assess its capability to graze effectively. Because cattle do not have top front teeth (they have a hard dental pad instead), ranchers inspect the incisors on the bottom jaw. They check to see if teeth are worn, missing or all gone (a gummer). The condition of their teeth will determine if...
We are a little over three weeks into the fall season and it is starting to show in the leaves on the trees and the crisp temperatures. This week we had a drastic change in day and night temperatures and we received a fair amount of much need moisture. No snow, yet, at our elevation but the higher elevations are receiving good blanketing. For many of us, a favor sight of fall is the color that comes out in leaves. As days grow shorter and temperatures drop, trees stop producing chlorophyll. As green chlorophyll fades, underlying carotenoids...
by John Bernhisel Questions: 1. Name the French philosopher credited with saying, “cogito, ergo sum,” or “I think, therefore I am.” 2. Which blood type is the rarest in the United States? 3. There are seven countries in Africa that begin with the letter M. Name them. Hint: Two are island nations. 4. Give the names of the Grease movie characters played by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. 5. What classic book contains the characters Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, Lucie Manette and Madame Defarge? Fun Facts: Although China spans...
Alicia, born on May 18, 1985, in Rock Springs, Wyo., departed this world at home in her sleep on October 3, 2026, after a brief illness. Her passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Alicia was the cherished daughter of Sarah Bowers and the late Brett Pickerel. She was the beloved sister to Jesse Pickerel and Cassie Pickerel, and a devoted granddaughter to Bonnie Wilson and Keith Banks. She is fondly remembered by her...
Norma Jean Allen, 91, was called to eternal peace on October 5, 2026, while in her home as independent as ever! Norma was born on September 7, 1935, in St. Louis, Mich., to Clarence and Clara (Meyer) Feltman. On July 4, 1953, at seventeen, she married FD Allen. Over sixty-five years, they built a life of children and adventure, moving to Wyoming in 1981 to buy a hotel and farm. Norma continued the adventure after her husband passed away in 2018. Norma loved her family! She found great joy in...
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. Sheriffs office Monday, Oct. 5 2:05 p.m. Report of harassment by neighbors. Tuesday, Oct. 6 7:41 p.m. Agency assist for emergency medical services. 11:34 p.m. Report of suspicious activity outside...
