Daniel Powell

The Hot Springs County School Board met for their regular monthly meeting on June 18. In monthly celebrations, the trustees took time to acknowledge the outstanding work of Laura Stam, who was recently named as Hot Springs County School District Teacher of the Year. Ralph Winters Elementary Principal, Nichole Ciz, described Stam as “an advocate for children, a teacher who is supportive of staff, and a believer in the science of learning.” The trustees reviewed the proposed 2026-27 budget for the Recreation District. District director...

Big Horn Basin Pride will be hosting the 4th annual Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Hot Springs State Park. The event will include games, live music, vendors, food trucks and more. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket to sit on. For more information, contact Lara Shook (307)...

Daniel Powell

At their June 16 meeting, the Thermopolis Town Council took up the third and final reading of a proposed budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year. Council member Rachel Hughes again took issue with the proposed bonus provision for the Thermopolis Police Department. Hughes stated that she felt the monthly reports of activities filed by the department doesn’t show a need for four patrol officers in addition to the chief and sergeant. Mayor Adam Estenson stated that he supports the inclusion of the hiring bonus, as it is designed to assist...

by Maggie Mullen, WyoFile.com, via WNE The State Board of Equalization must certify residential property tax values in Wyoming, a Laramie County District Court ruled Friday. Gov. Mark Gordon filed a lawsuit against the board Tuesday, after the panel concluded earlier this month that it could not certify the results due to disparities created by a 4% tax cap on residential properties enacted by the Wyoming Legislature two years ago. Gordon also asked the court to require certification while the case proceeds, which a judge agreed to do. A...

Freedom Fest Freedom Fest 2026 will be held on July 4 from 5-10 p.m. in Hot Springs State Park in the lawn area near the horse shoe pits. Celebrate America with live music, food, a beer garden, family fun and more. Bring lawn chairs to watch the fireworks at dark. The event is hosted by Discovery Days. Amphitheater event Agape Church/Set Free Ministries is celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary with live music, food and fireworks viewing from their amphitheater, 245 Hwy. 120 W., on July 4 beginning at 7 p.m. Ice cream social An ice cream...

A warm winter means more ticks, and more ticks increases the risk of a tick bite, along with associated illnesses like Colorado tick fever. The American Red Cross of Wyoming is reminding Wyomingites to be alert and take safety precautions when outdoors to prevent against tick bites. According to health departments across the region, the number of ticks in the wild this year is higher than normal due to a record-warm winter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported in April that weekly rates of emergency room visits for...

The Canyons and Chrome Bingo Run will be Saturday, June 27. Registration is from 8:30-10 a.m. at Wyo Tees with kickstands up at 10 a.m. Participants will receive a full list of stops at registration. Towns on the route include Shoshoni, Pavillion, Lander, Hudson and Riverton. Prizes will be awarded at each stop with a silent auction at the final stop in Thermopolis at 7 Lazy S. A meet and greet will be held on Friday, June 26 at 7 Lazy S from 5-7 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Crisis Prevention and Response Center. The event is hosted by the...

From Wyoming News Exchange newspapers Average Wyo. gasoline prices down 10.6 cents a gallon in the past week CHEYENNE (WNE) — Average gasoline prices in Wyoming have fallen 10.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.04 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy.com’s survey of 494 stations in Wyoming. Prices in Wyoming are 46.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, and stand 92.9 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 19.2 cents compared to a week ago, and stands at $4.99 per...

Daniel Powell

The Legion Baseball team was busy this past week - playing three double headers, with four on the road, before returning to play two against Powell at Whitt Field on Saturday, June 20. On Monday the 15th, the team carried their 8 - 6 record into a two-game series with the Chiefs (7-19). The Cats took the win in game one by a score of 13 - 8, tallying 12 hits and 12 walks on offense. Kacey Mackay drove in 8 runs on three hits to lead the hitting for Thermopolis, including a single, a double, and a grand-slam. Tate Roberts got the win on the...

If you are tempted to believe the abuse allegations against WBS’, please consider the total picture.WBS exists to help teenage boys change their behaviors so they can build decent, successful lives. The school is the last chance stop for kids who have been troubled and disruptive their whole lives. At WBS classroom disruption, tossing furniture, destroying equipment, hitting and cursing teachers, other students and staff is not allowed. If students choose to do such things they are isolated from others until behaviors stop. WBS provides...

I’ve lived in Thermopolis for about 18 years and I read the police report every week. Since we’ve had less police, we’ve had less crime - at least reported crime; but I believe if a real crime happened, it would be reported. Some people are under an assumption that police can prevent crime, but according to the constitution, they can’t do until a crime is committed. In our community we also have a Sheriff’s department which assists the city police occasionally, and also have a highway patrol when necessary. In the years I have been...

A few of our readers have asked if we are planning to write a story regarding the June Hot Springs County Republican Party meeting. We are holding off at the moment. After the meeting, an agency covering the meeting made the announcement that the Thermopolis Independent Record was one of the businesses that is owed money by the party. In an effort to be fully transparent, we will acknowledge that is correct. So, yes, the walk out and lack of quorum to approve and pay bills at the June meeting created a bit of a conflict of interest for us on...

by Kim Bartlett The Thermopolis Farmers & Artisans Market is looking forward to the month of July! Celebrate July 4th, America’s 250th Semiquincentennial, with the freshest, healthiest, locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats, cheese, eggs, dairy, breads, desserts: whatever your July 4th menu, celebrate America by celebrating our local farmers’ and producers’ harvest. We are excited to begin our Harvest Bucks program, generously sponsored this year by Hot Springs Health and Gottsche Performance & Longevity Centers, on Saturday, July...

It was 1831, and the community of Albany, New York, was preparing to celebrate the fifty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Two French dignitaries were present to witness the entire event. As the pair of notables left their hotel that summer morning to the sounds of ringing church bells, patriotic celebration and the sights of gathering crowds, they were welcomed by the lieutenant governor to the state capital’s Fourth of July parade. Frenchmen Alexis de Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont, were asked to be...

Questions Tom Brady’s 649 career touchdown passes is the NFL record. Name the next four leaders. What is the name of the pig in the book Charlotte’s Web? What country is named after another name for Jesus? What year did the Battle of the Little Bighorn take place? How many countries are participating in this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament? Fun Facts New Mexico and New Jersey are the only states with unique letters in their names: X appears only in New Mexico, and J appears only in New Jersey. The Latin word for silver is argentum....

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 15 Unknown time: Austin Paxton was arrested for alleged sex offender failure to disclose change of employment. 12:55 p.m. A deputy assisted a motorist who was...