Week of June 18, 2026
Week of June 18, 2026
by Maya Shimizu Harris, WyoFile.com, via WNE The beginning of the plaintiffs’ response in a case alleging abuse at a state facility for delinquent boys features two video footage stills. In one, a boy cowers in the corner of a solitary confinement room. In the other, a boy is strapped to a restraint chair with a white mask over his head. Above the photos is a quote attributed to one of the defendants, staff member Thad Shaffer: “[The] best part of the chair is watching the kids cry and scream like a fucking child . . . that’s what makes...
Our local legacy story of Henry Johnson, also known as 16-Mule Team Johnson, is a grand example of how much effort, strength and grit it took to be a pioneer on the frontier. To survive and thrive, settlers collaborated efforts and worked toward the common goal of building a sustainable community. Last weekend, Thermopolis celebrated Trailblazer Days with a weekend packed with activities showcasing the spirit of our past. Locally, settlers would not have achieved their goals without the...
As the river winds its way through the Wind River Canyon, it reaches a point at which the Wind River becomes the Bighorn River. That place is known as The Wedding of the Waters. There, locals and travelers alike are welcomed to access the river, for a fine day of angling for trophy size brown and rainbow trout; or to simply spend a relaxing day floating the river in a boat, in a kayak, or on a tube. The Wedding of the Waters is a quiet and peaceful place, where the tranquil sound of the moving...
“Invasive Annual Grasses” - there’s a term no one wants to hear. Whether your brain is not wired in a manner to comprehend the hard sciences - like chemistry or biology; or whether you have never worked in some form of agricultural endeavor; or whether, perhaps, you actually do make your living working in the agriculture industry - the subject of invasive annual grasses will never bring a warm feeling to your heart. Today, in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming, Hot Springs County maintains a “Declared Weed List.” Identified on the list...
A fast moving grass fire near the Hot Springs Sate Park Water tower last Wednesday was quickly contained by Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department. There was a flare up several hours later, which was also contained quickly by the fire...
The 2026 state convention of Epsilon Sigma Alpha was held in Thermopolis on June 5-7 at the Senior Citizen Center. Members of Alpha Phi Chapter #1148 attending were: Carol Andreen, Kim Enis, Belle Flinn, Jenifer Grimm, Michelle Herring, Stefanie Ireland, Brenda Larson, Cindy Magelky, and Linda Ziegler. The following awards were received. FIRST PLACE Outstanding Member of the Year—Michelle Herring Outstanding Chapter 6-15 Members Distinguished Athenian Award for Educational Director—Stefanie Ireland Gold Link Award for Educational...
Recently, weekends in Thermopolis are packed with events that offer something for everyone. This weekend is no exception. The Hot Spot Car Rally Cruise-in and Poker Run events kick off on Friday, June 18 beginning at 4 p.m. at the Kiwanis Shelter in Hot Springs State Park. For the poker run, there are raffles at each stop. Food, by donation, will be available at the last stop at Hot Springs County Senior Center where the evening wraps up at 7 p.m. Proceeds go to the senior center building fund. On Saturday, June 19 registration for the Hot...
by Maggie Mullen, WyoFile.com, via WNE Local and state officials responsible for administering Wyoming’s property tax system are in uncharted waters. A recently adopted state law has skewed assessed values across the state, creating significant disparities between how one home may be taxed compared to another down the street. The Wyoming Constitution requires all taxation “be equal and uniform” and all property be taxed at its “full value.” And it’s the constitutional duty of the State Board of Equalization to ensure equal and...
Cornhole tournament Hot City Cornhole is hosting a Flag Day doubles cornhole tournament to be held on Saturday, June 20 at Thermopolis VFW Post #2281, 302 Broadway St. Warm up is at 9 a.m. with auction starting at 10 a.m. Players must have the Scorehole App. Proceeds will go toward the new roof project and veterans in need. Circus coming to town The Jordan World Glow Circus is stopping in Thermopolis for a performance at Hot Springs County Fairgrounds at 6:30 p.m. on Wed., June 24. Tickets are available online at jordancircus.com. Pride in...
The Legion Baseball team extended their winning record to 8-6 with a win against Otto on Monday, June 9, and two wins against the Powell Pioneers on Friday, June 12. Coming into the week’s contests, the Bobcats were hitting .451 with runners in scoring position. In Otto on Monday night, the Cats put up an impressive 24 runs - to just 5 for their opponents - and reached double digits in hits, with 19 in the game. Good eyes at the plate were not limited to hits, as the Cats totaled up 16 walks in the game, to significantly increase the...
Allen Hogg, candidate for Wyoming House District 28, talks with Buck Braten during a meet and greet event held at One Eyed Buffalo last...
Pvt. William Dawkins of the Sons of the American Revolution replaces a worn American flag located in Hot Springs State...
To defend the Declaration of Independence is to defend the American people, because as Thomas Jefferson (its author) maintained, the Declaration is “an expression of the American mind.” And never before in our nation’s history has a full-throated and unapologetic apologetic been needed to protect and preserve the Declaration of Independence for our children and their posterity. The core American ideals of self-evident truth, human equality and the divine endowment of inalienable rights, have been incrementally upended by an alien...
For years, Wyoming has talked about economic diversification. Governors have talked about it and legislators have argued about it. Business leaders have dreamed about it, and editorial writers have written about it. Meanwhile, Wyoming has continued to struggle with the same challenges that have haunted the state for decades. Our young people leave, our communities age, and our economy rises and falls with commodity prices. Then we wonder why our children and grandchildren cannot find enough opportunities to stay and build their futures in the...
We were fortunate enough to attend the Saturday parade in downtown Thermopolis. Not only was the parade one of the most outstanding we have ever witnessed, all the entries were very happy to be part of the event. The flags leading the parade brought tears to almost everyone’s eyes, hats off and hand over their hearts showing great pride in America. The other thing that made it wonderful was the attendance. It has been a long, long time since we have seen such a great crowd all the way through the route. Even the little children were very...
Cindy Kay Miller passed away peacefully on June 5, 2026. She was born January 25. 1964 in Thermopolis, Wyo., to Marjorie "Rene" Bain and John Kilgore. In her youth Cindy enjoyed playing volleyball. She loved hunting, fishing, and camping. She adored spending time with her grandkids. Cindy found comfort in her relationship with her lord and savior Jesus Christ. Cindy was preceded in death by her late husband, Alfred Miller; and parents, Marjorie "Rene" Bain and John Kilgore. Cindy is survived by...
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, June 8 2:52 p.m. Investigation into theft on Highway 20 South. 10:36 p.m. Noise complaint on Red Canyon Road. Friday, June 12 10:34 a.m. Investigation into a possible...
