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  • Snow water percentages explained

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Jun 1, 2017

    In order to stem any alarm over numbers, Hot Springs County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Gordon recently explained what is happening with the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) percentages in the Wind River Mountains. The SWE is the amount of water contained in the snowpack. As of May 15, the SWE was 210 percent. On May 22, is was 304 percent, and on May 29 it was 410 percent. It is important to understand the climbing percentages does not reflect increasing snow depth or SWE amounts. Though...

  • 3-on-3 sees increase in teams from last year

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Jun 1, 2017

    A brief downpour helped cool things down at the 2017 Hot City Summer Slam 3-on-3 basketball tournament this weekend. During the course of the event, bumping music and plenty of action on the courts kept things lively, and a number of vendors kept players and spectators fed, hydrated and entertained. Though 1994 was the first year for the tournament, this was the second year the event has been hosted by the Bobcat Boosters; the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce previously hosted it....

  • Adult softball underway

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Jun 1, 2017

    by Mark Dykes The Hot Springs County Recreation Department Adult Softball league started May 9 this year, and is currently in its fourth week. Recreation Director Brad Morrison noted there are a total of seven teams this year. Among the competing teams are One-Eyed Buffalo, Slide One In, Sons of Pitches, One Stop Sparkplugs, Risen Son, Robin Batsman and Merit’s Nicest Team Ever. Scores from this past week include: May 23 — One Stop Sparkplugs – 20, Slide One In – 5; Robins BatsMan – 7, Sons o... Full story

  • Hospital board to send proposal requests

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Jun 1, 2017

    Tuesday evening, the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees approved sending out requests for proposals to five construction firms, in regard to the large renovation and expansion project. The firms selected are Sletten, Groathouse, Erdman, Sampson and Layton; Sletten and Groathouse are out of Cody, Sampson is out of Cheyenne, and Erdman and Layton are from out-of-state. Two additional firms — Dick Anderson of Sheridan and FCI of Cheyenne — were not chosen. The board also app...

  • New ordinance cleans up town code

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    The Thermopolis Town Council has approved the first two readings of an ordinance to make all operating hours and days uniform for all liquor licenses. The ordinance repeals town code sections 3-105 and 3-106. Section 3-105 reads, “Any club holding a limited retail liquor license shall be subject to the schedule of operating hours provided in Wyoming statutes, except that said club may extend its hours of operation to 12:00 midnight on Sundays.” Section 3-106 reads, “On all days except Sunda...

  • Rock cleanup, slope repairs begin in Canyon

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    Two contractors began cleaning up May rockfall inside Wind River Canyon on Monday, including stability and rockfall emergency repairs of existing canyon walls about 10 miles south of Thermopolis in the area of Big Windy Curve. The estimated cost of the cleanup effort by Wilson Brothers Construction of Cowley and GeoStabilization International of Grand Junction, Colo., is $653,000. Wilson and GSI are scheduled to begin work on the rockslide cleanup effort and slope stabilization beginning Monday...

  • Flags to fly on Memorial Day

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    Monument Hill Cemetery will once again be home to Hawk’s Avenue of Flags this Memorial Day. The memorial was created in 2016 in memory of Airman First Class Donald L. “Hawk” Hawkins by his wife Betty Hawkins and daughter Julie Lehman, but it is for all veterans. The flags flown are the casket flags used at funerals for servicemen and women, but those who want to keep their casket flags can order a 9’x5’ flag. Each flag is displayed on a 15-foot pole, and each pole has a plaque engraved...

  • Hospital district board approves property offer

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    Following a 21-minute executive session on May 12, the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital District Board of Directors approved an offer to purchase property across from the hospital and contiguous to existing hospital property. Acceptance of the offer is contingent upon splitting of the closing costs. There was no information available as to the purchaser’s name or how much was paid for the property, which consists of four lots and a mobile home. The next Hot Springs County Memorial H...

  • Plea change filed in burglary case

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    A filing for a change of plea was recently submitted in a case against Kristy Samples, who was scheduled for trial May 18 and 19 in District Court. Samples is charged with burglary, which stems from a Sept. 20 incident during which Samples allegedly stole money and notebooks from her employer after she was relieved of her duties. According to court documents, on Sept. 24 Samples’ former manager met with an officer, and said two other employees had discussed some missing money. The manager f...

  • Time for the transition

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    This past week I saw my oldest son graduate from his pre-school program, and dealt with a barrage of “why” as I tried to break down why he couldn’t go straight to kindergarten the next day. He has yet to grasp this concept of summer vacation, and I only hope his love for school holds out longer than it did his father’s — I lost it around third grade. For those students who recognize what we’re on the cusp of, it can mean a switch from learning to lounging or, in some cases, working through the...

  • Girls take first in relay at state track

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    The 2017 high school track and field season wrapped up this past weekend, with the State Championships at Casper. The girls team was among those in a three-way tie for fifth place at 43 points, and Jules Ward, Chandra Maddock, Haley McDermott and Makayla George were named All-State in Outdoor Track by the Wyoming Coaches' Association. The four girls took first in the 4x400 relay with a time of 4:14.02, coming just short of breaking the 4:13.22 school record. Ward, Maddock and McDermott had...

  • Ready for launch

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    Reagan Huckfeldt gets ready to throw a rocket as far as she can during the Ralph Witters Elementary field day on Friday. Students enjoyed several activities at the stadium, including bubble blowing, a tug-of-war, hurdles, long jump, playing with a parachute and a race involving rubber chickens....

  • In bloom

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    The Red Dirt Master Gardeners selected Eileen Johnson for the first Garden of the Month this year for the month of May. Among the blooms at Johnson's home are various colors of tulips and iris....

  • Young grads

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 25, 2017

    Several preschools saw graduation this past week. At the Children's Resource Center, Brailynn Asay receives her diploma from Lincoln McPhie....

  • Plan ahead for major river flow increase

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|May 18, 2017

    by Mark Dykes The Bureau of Reclamation issued its forecast of the April through July runoff predicted for the Bighorn Basin. According to the report, inflow to Boysen Reservoir is forecast to be 1,500,000 acre-feet (af), which is 278 percent of the 30-year average of 540,000 af. Approximately 132,800 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Boysen during April, leaving approximately 1,367,200 af of inflow forecasted for May through July. Releases from Boysen Dam to the Wind River are scheduled...

  • Sentencing continued in Dumas case

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 18, 2017

    A sentencing for Darren Dumas scheduled for Monday has been continued. On April 19, Dumas was found guilty of strangulation of a household member and domestic battery. The charges state he beat Christy Dumas from Sept. 23-26, and impeded her breathing on Sept. 26. During the trial, the jury heard testimony regarding the couple’s relationship, as well as the injuries Christy received, though two different scenarios were presented as to how things got to the point of physical injury. The prosecuti...

  • Shop local group updated on buildings

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|May 18, 2017

    by Mark Dykes During Friday’s Shop Local meeting, Economic Development Company (EDC) CEO and Main Street Board Member Amanda Moeller spoke with regard to the former Fair Deal Furniture building and two neighboring store fronts. The properties have sat empty for a number of years, and while structurally sound for the most part there is plenty of junk and debris that needs to be cleaned up, water damage to address and a roof that needs replacing. Moeller said there are two options regarding the b...

  • Keeping vaccines current

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 18, 2017

    Jennie Blakesly holds onto a Husky mix Shi Shi, owned by Todd Davis, as Bill Williams vaccinates the dog during the Hot Springs Veterinary Clinic vaccination clinic last week....

  • Chamber decides to turn over Hessenthaler billboard

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|May 18, 2017

    Thursday evening, the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce approved a motion to gift the Hessenthaler billboard south of town to Hot Springs County Travel and Tourism. The billboard had been an issue of discussion among the two entities over the past couple months. The chamber leased the ground for the billboard from Kent Hessenthaler, and then leased out the billboard to Travel and Tourism. However, the five-year lease with Hessenthaler is up this year so discussion began as to what was...

  • Hospitality training this month

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|May 18, 2017

    While there were not enough board members to provide a quorum during the Hot Springs Travel and Tourism board’s Tuesday meeting, Director Amanda Moeller spoke with regard to the upcoming hospitality training, May 31 at Hot Springs County Museum. Moeller has been working with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Meri Ann Rush to provide the intensive training, presented by Ginny Garner, a hospitality instructor from Casper College. There will be two three-hour sessions, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1...

  • Rodeo plans taking shape

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|May 18, 2017

    It’s still a few weeks before the Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo, scheduled for June 23-24 this year, though the days of bucking and roping will be here before we know it. Gayla Mead-Ellis said this year’s rodeo theme is “Live the Legacy,” and speaks to the rich history the rodeo has here. The first known rodeo took place in 1895. Four men from Big Horn country decided to take a trip to the hot springs, horses packed with fiddles and a telesco... Full story

  • Several TMS tracksters finish in top 10 at Best of the Best

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|May 18, 2017

    The Thermopolis Middle School track and field season wrapped up Tuesday with the Best of the Best meet in Lander. Several Bobcats placed in the top 10 in events. For the seventh grade, Julie Johnson placed second in the long jump at 13’9.75”, and ninth in the 400 meters with a time of 1:08.21. Johnson and Mariah Brooks were among those tying for sixth in the high jump, at a height of 4’2” The seventh grade girls 4x200 meter relay team of Bronwyn Dobbins, Caydence Becher, Johnson and Brooks place...

  • Relay team shatters school record held for 31 years

    Mark Dykes, Reporter & Photographer|May 18, 2017

    The 3A East Regionals track meet, hosted here Friday and Saturday, saw the 4x800 relay team of Chandra Maddock, McKenna Bomengen, Haley McDermott and Jules Ward shatter a 31 year school record. The team finished with a time of 10:04.19, compared to the previous record of 10:09.00 set in 1986. Another feat for the Lady Cats was nailing the top three spots in the 3200 meters, with Ward in first at 11:55.09, Tahja Hunt in second with 12:45.56 and Bomengen in third at 12:55.63. A number of students...

  • Pitch, hit and run competition results

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|May 18, 2017

    Hot Springs County Recreation District held its Pitch, Hit and Run competition last week at Whitt Field, with 12 competitors. Kids were scored in the various events, with results as follows: 7-8 Boys Trysten DeVries - Pitch, 50; Hit, 50; Run, 220; Total, 320 Dallyn Griffin - Pitch, 50; Hit, 120; Run, 190; Total, 360 Baer McPhie - Pitch, 75; Hit, 104; Run, 200; Total, 379 9-10 Boys Hayden Overfield - Pitch, 75; Hit, 136; Run, 150; Total, 361 Kolby Wall - Pitch, 150; Hit, 164; Run, 150; Total,...

  • Haire decision reversed, remanded for new trial

    Mark Dykes, Editor|May 11, 2017

    A verdict in a case against Anthony Haire was reversed, and the case itself remanded for a new trial, following a decision by the Wyoming Supreme Court on Monday. Haire was sentenced about a year ago to 8-10 years with the Wyoming Department of Corrections, on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. He was also given a one-year probation sentence on a reckless endangerment charge. The charge itself states on April 13, 2015 Hair shot and killed his stepfather-in-law, Jamye Don SoRelle, following... Full story

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