Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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Tuesday evening, Thermopolis Town Council approved a motion to split overages, with the one percent sales tax budget, with Hot Springs County in regard to a recent update to the Law Enforcement Center communications area. The project was initially bid at $3,324. Police Chief Steve Shay explained a big part of the update involved some electrical work. Part of that was moving an analog box that operated doors within the center. The work was done in a professional manner, Shay said, but Brad Basse...
Emma Lea looks over the fire damage that ruined her childhood home and destroyed a lifetime of memories in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The home belongs to her mother, Pam Stevens, who not only lived there for the past 30 years, but ran a day care out of the home. Firefighters were on the scene around 2:30 a.m. and spent four hours attempting to save the home while winds whipped the flames and smoke filled several blocks. A fund has been set up by the Day care Association to help Stevens... Full story
State Representative Nathan Winters began his first day back after the President’s Day Holiday in the judiciary committee. While in committee, they passed a bill, 8-1, that covers sexual assault from a position of power, creating stiff penalties for offenders. Winters said they heard heart-wrenching testimony from women who have suffered this type of assault, generally from a coach or a teacher when they were younger. “This happens more than we think,” Winters said. A similar bill was propo...
Hot Springs County’s Land Use Planning Commission met last week to consider a land use change from residential to commercial on a plot of land near Kirby Creek. The land in question is owned by Leslie Branin on the northeast side of East River Road. Branin built a duplex on the property that is advertised as “cabins” for short-term rental, otherwise known as the Kirby Creek Cabins. Branin had the cabins built, held a grand opening and has rented them out occasionally before asking for the land u...
The first of two public meetings regarding the Hot Springs County-Thermopolis Municipal Airport re-use study has been scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27 at the Hot Springs County Annex starting at 7 p.m. Many community members have been tossing around different ideas as to what could be built on the site or what it could be used for to best benefit Thermopolis and Hot Springs County. The old airport has officially been closed to any air traffic in or out. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and give their input on possible future uses...
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. Sheriff’s office Tuesday, February 14 10:02 p.m. Deputy responded to a report of an issue between a mother and son on East Sunnyside. The matter was deemed civil. Wednesday, February 15 7:18 p.m. A civil standby was performed while a subject removed property from a residence. Thursday, Februar...
This past week saw multiple reports of items stolen from vehicles, as well as a number of vandalism reports including a fire extinguisher being set off inside a vehicle. Many of the reports came in Wednesday and Thursday. Police Chief Steve Shay said an opportunistic individual in a residential neighborhood did the incidents in one night. The matter is under investigation, and Shay recommends people take precautions to protect their valuables, such as making sure their vehicles are locked and...
Thursday afternoon, the Big Horn Basin Nature and Discovery Center Joint Powers Board scouted a couple possible sites to build a children’s discovery center, deciding ultimately on the fenced in parcel east of the Chamber of Commerce, known as the Rio Drive In area. Board Chair Toddi Darlington said the next step is to meet with Park Superintendent Kevin Skates to look at the land, start the process of getting utilities to the spot and determining where best to build the center. Darlington expla...
In 1979, AARP founded “55 Alive” to help keep older drivers independent, safe and confident while on the road. While the mission hasn’t changed since then, other things have, including the program name. Today, AARP Driver Safety continues to meet the needs of older drivers through educational programs led by more than 4,000 volunteers and myriad resources. But they aren’t the same programs and resources available more than 35 years ago. AARP Driver Safety has continued to evolve with the times,...
The Hot Springs County Senior Citizens Center is currently taking orders for cinnamon rolls. Executive Director Chanda Waddell said the rolls will be made on two Saturdays — March 4 and 11 — and Monday, March 13. Orders must be in at least a day prior to the “bake days.” This means orders must be in by Friday March 3 for the March 4 bake day and by Friday, March 10 for both the March 11 and 13 bake days. Waddell explained the kitchen staff makes the rolls, and the Golden Age Club pays for ing...
The Thermopolis Volunteer Firemen held their annual banquet on Saturday night, prior to the Fireman's Ball at the VFW. During the banquet, fire chief Mark Collins presented service pins to those firefighters on the team from five to 25 years....
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...
This past weekend saw members of the Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department enjoying themselves during their annual ball and banquet, Saturday evening at the VFW. Awards were given out, each with its own prestige, including Fireman of the Year and Master Chef, along with pins for years of service with the department. It was a night for the firefighters, along with their significant others, to enjoy themselves. Just a few days later put them to work with an early morning house fire which took 20 personnel and four hours to extinguish. It’s in the...
We all have childhood memories we cherish and sometimes a certain smell, a particular song or even a “comfort food” will bring those memories rushing forward. For me, it seems to always be that comfort food. That also might explain the three different sizes of jeans in my closet, too. I didn’t grow up in a financially prosperous household, but I grew up in one with a lot of love and three generations, so dinners together in the kitchen are some of my most vivid memories. When my grand...
Proposals to turn Medicare into a voucher system would take health care in precisely the wrong direction – pushing up costs for current and future retirees, and eroding protections that Americans have earned through many years of hard work and taxes. Yet, in a short-sighted attempt to save money, vouchers are being promoted on Capitol Hill as an answer to rising costs. Unfortunately, they are the wrong answer. Vouchers pose troubling risks for 89,345 Wyoming residents who are currently in Medicare, not to mention the 118,734 age 50 and older wh...
It is difficult to read many of the facts below specific to Hot Springs County Schools, unless you realize what we may lose as a community. Can we live with fewer teachers, fewer bus drivers, without sports and activities, without agriculture programs, music programs, computer programs? Can we live with large class sizes in our younger grades? How about adding to an economic downturn in our community by reducing the number of educational professionals who make their home here, buy goods and services here? While these questions are yet to be...
Marcial "Scott" Martinez, 41, passed away on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Scott was born on Sept. 8, 1975, to Mikki and Vidal "Marty" Martinez. Scott was a very loving, kind person. He never met a stranger. He could make friends very fast. A lover of music he taught piano and gave voice lessons. He worked as a medical transcriptionist, at Finishing Touches, and, for a while, as a landscaper. He loved camping and fishing with his family in the Big Horn Mountains. Scott had a soft spot in his heart for... Full story
Larry Edward Gureski, 55, passed away suddenly Feb. 14, 2017, at his father’s residence in Shoshoni. Born October 3, 1961, in Thermopolis, Wyo., he was the son of Larry D. and Donna Mae (Apland) Gureski. He graduated from Shoshoni High School in 1980. He married Zelda Blumenshine in 1979 and the couple was later divorced. For most of his life he was a heavy equipment operator until injured on the job. His last employment was with Mel’s Water Service. His interests included hunting, fishing and building racecars. In the late 90’s he marri... Full story
Duane G. Manfull, 88, passed away on February 5, 2017, in Laramie, Wyo. He was born July 23, 1928, in Laramie, Wyo., to Dora (Shultz) and Gardner Manfull. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with his bachelor's in Civil Engineering in 1950 and completed his master's the following year in 1951. Duane married Virginia (Canaday) on June 6 1951. During the Korean War he was stationed in Ulm, Germany, as a commissioned officer with the Army, a first lieutenant. Virginia and Duane moved to... Full story
Edward William Mudge Jr., 85, of Thermopolis, passed away on Feb. 5, 2017. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27 at the Chapel of Mount Hope in Hudson’s Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow visitation with burial following at Mount Hope Cemetery in Lander. Online condolences may be made at: www.HudsonsFuneralHome.com... Full story
Risen Son Southern Baptist Church held their annual Men's Outdoorsman Banquet Saturday, providing food, fun and a variety of silent auction items for gentlemen in the community to bid on. Many brought their children to enjoy the fun....
Tuesday afternoon, the Hot Springs Travel and Tourism Board passed a motion with regard to the deadline for special event funding requests for the coming fiscal year — July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. According to the motion, organizations with special events funded in previous years must have their requests in this year by the March 1 deadline or they will not be considered. Director Amanda Moeller noted she received only two applications as of Tuesday. She noted there is a line item in the b...
The Hot Springs County Commissioners are considering a draft resolution that would be in effect from Aug. 15 to Aug. 31, 2017 only, covering the timeline for the upcoming solar eclipse. The draft, which may be amended before approval in March, would allow for short-term rentals, such as private homes, apartments, bedrooms and similar residential units during the listed time frame. In addition it would allow for short-term rental of recreational vehicle sites for self contained RV’s and allow f...
Tuesday at the former Kwik Mart location, gas tanks are dug up and removed. Though the business closed five years ago, the tanks are actually 30 years old....
According to the February snowmelt forecast for the Bighorn River Basin, issued by the Bureau of Reclamation, Boysen Reservoir could see an inflow of 850,000 acre feet (af), 157 percent of the 30-year average of 540,000 acre feet. Mahonri Williams, the resources management division chief for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Wyoming area office, explained the bureau prepares monthly forecasts for the spring runoff, noting runoff typically occurs from April through July. As for the forecasted increase in runoff for Boysen, Williams said the snowpack h...
