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Articles from the February 2, 2017 edition


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  • Men sentenced to prison on heroin charges

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    On Jan. 20 in the United States District Court of Wyoming, Darrel Demas, 27, and Justin Dvorak, 30, formerly of Thermopolis, were sentenced to prison terms for providing heroin which resulted in the death of Alexander Herdt in Thermopolis. According to court documents, Demas was sentenced to 48 months and Dvorak was sentenced to 24 months on individual charges of distribution of heroin resulting in death. The two were also charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin resulting in death, though...

  • School funding deficit hits small schools hard

    Cindy Glasson, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    If House Bill 233 (HB233) should pass this legislative session, teachers on all levels, from local educators to the University of Wyoming and community colleges could be facing a salary and benefit reduction across the board beginning July 1, 2017. According to the bill, the Board of Trustees in each school district shall “require any employment contract with a school district employee to provide that the employee's salary and benefits are subject to reduction as part of any general compensation...

  • Mathewson found guilty on multiple charges

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    The afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 26 in Hot Springs District Court, following almost three hours of deliberation, a jury returned a verdict of guilty on six charges against Paul Mathewson. The trial began Monday, Jan. 23. Among the charges on which Mathewson was found guilty were two counts of possession of methamphetamine, use of meth and possession of marijuana, stemming from a May 1, 2015 incident; trespassing from a Sept. 16, 2015 incident; and driving with a suspended license, stemming from...

  • Agar staying focused at legislature

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    Tuesday morning, Senate District 20 representative Wyatt Agar attended a Corporations Committee meeting. The meeting was to hear testimony on Senate File 71, regarding electricity production standards. Additionally, he noted there was debate regarding SF 17, dealing with extra-territorial jurisdiction. Regarding this latter, he said the important thing to keep in mind is this is a bill that deals with counties that have planning and zoning “so while there are some worries around it for our m...

  • On the record

    Feb 2, 2017

    On the Record policy It is the Independent Record’s policy that all people arrested or cited under the “Accidents,” “Sheriff’s office” or “Police department” in the On the Record section are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Fire department Tuesday, January 24 11 a.m. Vehicle fire at 4011 Gooseberry Creek Saturday, 12:15 p.m. 12:15 p.m. Structure fire in the 100 block of South D. Sheriff’s office Tuesday, January 24 12:23 p.m. A welfare check was requested on a subject who lived north of town. The subject was found...

  • Prop money spotted at local business

    Feb 2, 2017

    Thermopolis Police Chief Steve Shay recommends people keep their eyes open when accepting large bills, as they may not be legal tender. The bills, which look, at first glance, like actual money, are in fact prop money. They read “motion picture use only” on the front and back, and have a notice they are not legal tender. Shay noted the bills are printed on regular paper, which has a different feel and weight than mint paper, and they don’t have any security features. Shay said one of the bills was presented at a business, though the cashi...

  • Staring out the window

    Feb 2, 2017

    “People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” –Rogers Hornsby Like “The Rajah”, player, manager and coach of 23 seasons in major league baseball, we are at that time in Wyoming when we’re teased with a few nice days filled with sunshine then just as quickly plunged back into the gray doldrums of winter. “Icky Season,” dominated by slush, water, ice and mud, followed by spring’s renewal, green grass, bursting blossoms and yes, the occasional snow squal...

  • Free speech should remain free

    Feb 2, 2017

    Last Thursday HB 135 “Government Non-Discrimination Act” was withdrawn from consideration at the legislature. This is truly sad. ACLU talking points claimed that HB 135 came from out-of-state interests. They are false. Interested Wyomingites, like me, have been working on this for months before the ACLU swooped in just in time for our legislative session. These talking points are dismissive of the myriads of Wyoming citizens who care about free speech. I appreciate those legislators who did not dismiss our concerns. Once, the First Ame...

  • Taking a closer look at the hills

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    I’ve been spending a lot of time on the river lately. I don’t mean I’ve taken up ice fishing or I’m making plans to take on the Polar Bear experience. It’s just I find myself, in my everyday routine, drawn more and more to the Big Horn and Wind River. I know, it’s kind of hard to avoid since it weaves through town, but even when I’m nowhere near the banks the river seems to find me. Case in point — Thermopolis Middle School has an incredible display in their hall regarding a artist-in-resid...

  • Ellen Roden

    Feb 2, 2017

    Ellen Roden, 81, passed away suddenly on January 23, 2017, at the Roden Ranch in Thermopolis. In 1929, Dan and Julia (Jukich) Skoric immigrated to America from Yugoslavia. On March 26, 1935, a little girl, Ellen, was born in Gebo, Wyo., to Dan and Julia. She was raised in Kirby, Wyo., and attended Kirby Rural School. She graduated from Thermopolis High School in 1953 after which she attended the University of Wyoming where she studied nursing. Her degree was cut short when she and John “JB” Roden were wed on May 2, 1954, they moved to Lar...

  • Nelda Cable

    Feb 2, 2017

    Nelda Frances Cable, 66, of Altus, Okla. died peacefully at home on December 21, 2016. She was born in Perryton, Texas, on April 17, 1950, to Clyde and Frances Cable. She was the oldest of seven children. Nelda resided in Altus for the last forty-six years of her life, where she was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She earned her associate’s degree from Western Oklahoma State College and attended Cameron University. Although she worked for several businesses (Sears, 7-11, Roberts Drive-In, and Jackson County Memorial Hospital), h...

  • Patricia 'Pat' Ornsbey

    Feb 2, 2017

    Patricia Annette “Pat” Ornsbey, 61, passed away Sunday in Casper at the Wyoming Medical Center after a period of declining health. Born April 16, 1955, in Cody, Wyo., she was the daughter of Franklin and Kathleen (Russell) Talmage. After obtaining her GED she attended a Truck Driving School in Riverton. In 1983 she and her children lived in Thornton, Colo. where she was employed as a CNA in a Colorado hospital, then worked as a caregiver in a nursing home. In Denver she drove bus for the RTD. Upon returning to Thermopolis she drove the school b...

  • Berthe Bonnand

    Feb 2, 2017

    Berthe Bonnand passed January 30, 2017, at Worland Healthcare, where she had been a resident for five years. Bonnand was born in France, Sept. 11, 1922. In 1945 she married Ernest Bonnand in Bohas, France and they were married 63 years. In 1952 they immigrated to Canada, then to the U.S. in Illinois. From 1956-1987 they made a home in Southern California where they raised their family. Moving to Grass Valley, Calif. in 1987 among the pine trees, Berthe tended her flowers and garden. They moved to Thermopolis in 2006. She was a loving, caring...

  • Event funding applications being accepted

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    Hot Springs Travel and Tourism is currently requesting funding applications for special events in the coming fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. Director Amanda Moeller explained the process generally begins in mid-January. Applicants must complete an application for each event for which they are requesting funding, and the application must be accompanied by a budget. Moeller noted the money provided by Travel and Tourism must be used, 100 percent, for advertising, and...

  • Annual seedling sale going on through April

    Feb 2, 2017

    In the depths of winter we all dream of spring and the renewal it brings, flowers and trees and warmer weather. That makes this the perfect time to get your seedlings through the Hot Springs County Conservation District office or the University of Wyoming Extension Office. Their annual seedling sale is going on now through the end of April with a variety of items available, from trees to flowers and shrubs. As an example, a box of wildflower seedlings containing 30 plants will cost $76. If trees are more what you’re looking for, dependent on t...

  • Encore Talent Show Saturday

    Feb 2, 2017

    The Second Encore Talent Show is set for Saturday, Feb. 4 in the fair building. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with a taco dinner. The talent show begins at 6:30 p.m. Twenty-three acts are scheduled to compete in four different age divisions including kindergarten-second grade, third-fifth grade, sixth-eighth grade and ninth-12th grade. $400 in prize money will be up for grabs at the event. Audience members will have a chance to vote for their favorite competitor to win the popular vote prize. Votes will be $1 each. Audience members will also...

  • Relay for Life daffodil sale starts

    Feb 2, 2017

    Relay For Life is currently taking orders for their annual daffodil sales. Pre-order deadline is Feb. 17 After some reorganization, the Thermopolis chapter of Relay is now combined with those in Worland, Ten Sleep, Basin, Hyattville and Manderson. The 2017 Relay event is scheduled for July 8 from 6 p.m. until midnight at Warrior Stadium in Worland. According to information from the American Cancer Society, daffodils are “a universal symbol of hope and life.” Daffodil prices are: one bouquet for $10, five for $40 and 10 for $70. Proceeds fro...

  • Fireman's Ball set for February 18

    Feb 2, 2017

    Pull out your dancing shoes and get ready to dance the night away at the 2017 Annual Fireman’s Ball, Saturday, Feb. 18. The Ball will be held at the VFW from 9 p.m. til 2 a.m. with music from the Sundowners, featuring a wide variety of traditional country music. You should have received an invitation and pack of tickets in the mail. Simply fill out and return the ticket stubs with your donation in the provided envelope. They will accept the tickets and your donation any time between now and the night of the dance. Proceeds from the ball help w...

  • Banquet tickets sold out

    Feb 2, 2017

    Tickets are sold out for Brenna’s Banquet set for Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Risen Son Baptist Church gymnasium. The event is in recognition of Brenna Rankin, who passed away at two years old after a battle with cancer. Proceeds will go to the Brenna Rankin Memorial Scholarship. As one of Brenna’s favorite things was going to school to pick up her brother, the scholarship will pay for a full year’s tuition for a current student at the Risen Son Christian School....

  • Boots and Buckles Ball

    Feb 2, 2017

    The 4th Annual Boots and Buckles Ball is right around the corner, a perfect night out for the entire family. The ball will be held on Feb. 11 at the Hot Springs County Fair Building, featuring pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw and baked beans for just $5 per plate. Families of four or more pay a fixed price of $20 for the family. A major fundraiser for the Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous PRCA Rodeo, it is not just a cowboy gathering, but a great event for the whole family. There are some exciting silent and live auction items throughout the...

  • HSSP named one of the best state parks

    Feb 2, 2017

    Hot Springs State Park has been named to Wide Open Spaces picks for the top 25 best state parks in the U.S. According to their website at www.wideopenspaces.com, state parks don't get quite as much love as national parks, but there are still some absolute gems out there if you do a little research. They have this to say about HSSP, "When it comes to thermal features, Yellowstone National Park is king in the U.S. and Wyoming. But there's another cool and lesser-known thermal area in Hot Springs...

  • Lady cats building from losses

    Cindy Glasson, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    The Lady Bobcat basketball team split their time between home and the road last weekend as they dropped a home court game to Rawlins on Friday and an away game to Douglas on Saturday. Friday's game against the Lady Outlaws was a close one, the Cats losing 45-40. Coach Cory Sova said Rawlins hit some big shots throughout the game to keep a slim margin on the scoreboard most of the game. "We had many good looks at the basket throughout the game," he said, "but didn't shoot well, especially near...

  • Bobcats bring the energy over weekend

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    It was another busy weekend for the Thermopolis High School boys basketball team, hosting Rawlins Friday night, then taking things on the road at Douglas on Saturday. The boys fell to the Outlaws 61-49 in their first match, and 58-38 to the Bearcats. Coach Kevin Gerber noted the Rawlins game was a tough one. The team had a good first quarter with the Bobcats trailing by only a point. Gerber noted Will DeVries and Noah Schwalbe hit some big shots for their 11 points in the first, and the team...

  • TMS wrestlers have impressive showing

    Mark Dykes, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    On Saturday, the Thermopolis Middle School wrestlers were on the road at the Worland Invite, and racked up 107 points. Coach Toby Emery stated, “The past couple of weeks have been tough. The boys have been battling, trying to stay healthy. With that said, the ten wrestlers that we brought to Worland really did wrestle well. I was especially impressed with our younger, less experienced wrestlers this weekend. They seem more comfortable on the mat and have been on the attack more. “All the boys ha...

  • Bobcat wrestlers struggle in Greybull

    Cindy Glasson, Reporter Photographer|Feb 2, 2017

    Hot Springs County High School's wrestling team spent Saturday in Greybull at their Memorial Invitational. Unfortunately, it was a rough weekend for the Bobcat matmen with much of the team nursing injuries or absent with the nasty strain of flu running rampant through the district. The Cats came away Saturday with an eighth place finish and just 39 team points. At 106 lbs., Josh Lackey (3-14) scored four points for the Cats, making it all the way to the consolation semi-final where he was...

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