Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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by Mark Dykes Following a ruling Monday afternoon, there will be no new trial in a case against Matthew Schwan. After a three-day trial, on March 15 Schwan was found guilty of aggravated homicide by vehicle. The charge is from a May 14, 2016 incident during which Reilly Schwan was struck by a vehicle driven by Matthew following a night of drinking with others and an extensive argument between the couple. A motion for a new trial and evidentiary hearing was filed in the case. In that motion,... Full story
Releases from Boysen Dam to the Wind River are currently at 5,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). Based on current operating projections and the expectation of near record runoff, Boysen Reservoir will be lowered approximately another ten feet to near elevation 4,700 feet in May. Once the snowmelt runoff begins, Boysen Reservoir will be managed to fill the reservoir to an elevation of 4724.5 feet in July. As the reservoir experiences peak run-off, releases from Boysen Dam to the Wind River are...
It was a wild few days in Wind River Canyon as Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) crews fought rain, snow and falling rock last week. WYDOT Maintenance Engineer Lyle Lamb of Basin said last Wednesday that quite a few big rocks had fallen in one particular area due to increased moisture and asked that folks not stop in the Windy Curve area. When asked about the possibility of closing the road at that time, Lamb said, "If it gets too western tonight, we're going to pull out of there and...
by Mark Dykes Following a three-day trial, and about three hours of deliberation, a jury returned a verdict of guilty to the charge of incest in a case against Justin Spence. The charge states he molested a juvenile on July 4 or 5, 2014. In a trial that had already seen plenty of emotional testimony, when the verdict was read tears were shed by Spence himself, as well as by both those supporting him and those on the opposing end. It was a long road to the verdict, as the trial had seen a couple...
by Cindy Glasson It was something of an informal night at the Main Street Thermopolis meeting last week as three of the board members were absent, attending a Main Street America meeting out of state. With their absence, there were not enough members to have a formal meeting, so the members there simply chatted about Main Street and some of the things they have done or have coming up. One member, Amanda Moeller, who is also CEO of the Thermopolis Hot Springs Economic Development Company (EDC),...
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, April 25 4:19 p.m. Subject reported his vehicle had been tampered with. Upon further investigation, it was determined the lug nuts were loose, but it was unclear if this was due to tampering by another or mechanical failure. 4:41 p.m. Report of an vehicle believed to be ab...
by Mark Dykes May 1 was the first day for Lisa Pierce as the new director at the Hot Springs County Senior Services Center. Outgoing director Chanda Waddell, who will still be at the facility through the month, explained her husband Lance got a job in Fort Wayne, Ind., so they are moving there. Waddell, who has been director of the facility for the past 2.5 years, feels like she learned a lot while in the position, and she is leaving a cohesive, driven and skilled team. She added she has no...
People should expect to see bags in their mailboxes on Wednesday, May 10, as the 25th annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers gets underway. People will get three days to fill the bags with non-perishable food items, and should set them out by their mailboxes on Saturday, May 13, prior to their mail carriers’ regular delivery time. Carriers will collect the bags and the food within will be distributed to local food pantries provided through People for People, the Community Federated Church, R...
Students, parents, community members, Hot Springs County School District No. 1 staff, as well as home school and private school parents are invited to the 2017-18 consolidated grant planning meeting on Tuesday, May 9 at noon, at the district boardroom in the Administration Building. A light lunch will be served. The meeting provides an opportunity to give input for how the district will use the federal funds of the consolidated grant. Those unable to make the meeting can call 864-6515 or email kandreeen@hotsprings1.org with input or...
by Cindy Glasson The Federated Community Church is happy to announce the dedication of their new Community Hall on Sunday, May 7 at 9 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend the dedication and take a tour of the new facility. The building is located behind the church itself and includes a large hall, kitchen, store room and a meeting room large enough for at least 30 people. The mission of the new hall is to provide space for multi-use purposes including dinners and children and youth activities....
Everyone is welcome to come by the Community Garden, just east of Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital, beginning at 1 p.m. Friday, May 5, to help get the garden ready for the summer. Those interested in helping with the cleanup should bring along shovels and rakes, if they have them. Work will include planting bushes and flowers, putting down mulch and getting beds ready to go. There are currently three beds still available, at $20 each. The Master Gardeners will also be at Thermopolis Hardware & Mercantile this Sunday, May 7, from 1-3 p.m....
Hot Springs Dance will present “Dancing Through the Decades,” beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, May 8 at the high school auditorium. The show will feature all of the dance students performing ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop routines. Tess Williams, the artistic director for Hot Springs Dance, said there are nine groups of students, including: ages 3-5 in two classes, jazz and ballet; ages 6-9 in jazz, ballet and tap; ages 10 and up in all three classes; and a adult jazz class. In keeping with the title of the program, dancers will perform numbers spa...
Unless you’ve sworn off any type of media this past week, you’re well aware of the impact the recent moisture has had on Wind River Canyon and the impediments facing those trying to travel into and out of Thermopolis. True, there were alternate routes for those who wanted to dare them, but there comes a point when you have to consider your own safety against getting to your destinations. Satellite navigation systems are all well and good for giving you another way to get to where you’re going, but they’re not a substitute for your own senses;...
I am always amazed at how smart animals really are. For instance, elephant mommies will stay with their babies if they’re in trouble and the rest of the herd gathers around to help. Sea turtles on Roanoke are hatched on the beach and the babies somehow know how to use their tiny little flippers to move across the sand to the ocean. Domestic animals are pretty smart, too. Dogs are brilliant escape artists as evidenced by the number of them running happily about town according to page two of this...
John Junior Schmidt, Jr, 73, died suddenly at his residence in Red Lane, Thermopolis, April 23, 2017 Born December 10, 1943, in Rushville, Neb., he was the son of Walter and Margie (McGuire) Schmidt. He grew up on a ranch near Hay Springs, Neb., until fourth grade when the family moved to Pine Bluffs, Wyo., then Mitchell, Neb. John entered the Army in 1965 serving in Vietnam and was discharged in 1971. He was employed by Pathfinder Mines at Shirley Basin, Wyo., until moving to Thermopolis in... Full story
Gladys Iola McKiernan Milek, 99, passed away in Missoula, Mont., on April 17, 2017,5 days shy of her 100th birthday. Gladys was born on April 22, 1917, in Carpenter Creek, Mont., a mining town near Roundup. She spent her childhood years in Timberline, Mont., and the Wyoming towns of Gebo and Thermopolis. Carpenter Creek, Timberline, and Gebo no longer exist. She attended Colorado Women's College and the University of Nebraska. She interrupted her education to marry C.A. "Bud" Milek and become a... Full story
Douglas O. Larson, 60, passed away April 26, 2017, at Mease Countryside Hospital in Clearwater, Fla., after a courageous battle with COPD. He was born on Sept. 12, 1956, at Hopewell Hospital in Thermopolis, Wyo., to Leonard H. Larson and Ruth E. (Petersen) Larson. He was the third eldest of six children. He grew up on Owl Creek and spent most of his life in Thermopolis and Casper, Wyo. He attended Hot Springs County High School and Natrona County High School (he was a member of the wrestling... Full story
Vern Hammond passed away peacefully in his sleep in Centennial, Colo., at the home of his daughter, Vernita, on April 21, 2017. He was born December 7, 1922, in Aurora, Neb., to Carl Glen Hammond and Leota (Turner). His family moved to Midwest, Wyo., in 1923 where his dad worked in the oil fields. The family moved to Thermopolis in 1932 where they live on Owl Creek and the children attended the Middleton School. Some of his fondest memories where "cowboying" as a young man at what was then the P... Full story
Donna Jean Moore, 80, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2017, at her residence in Thermopolis, surrounded by family after a short battle with cancer. Born February 13, 1937, in Sturgis, S. D., she was the daughter of George and Inez (Anderson) Blake. She graduated from Sturgis High School. She married Jerry Merritt and to this union was born five children. The couple moved to Thermopolis in 1967. Mr. Merritt died in 1968 in a car accident. Donna later married Gene Moore and the couple resided in Thermopolis until 1992, at which time they moved... Full story
Longtime Thermopolis resident, Phillip Newel Sessions, 67, passed away at the Billings Clinic Sunday, April 30, 2017. Born December 4, 1949, he was the son of Newel and Daisy (Phillips) Sessions. Following high school he was a heavy equipment operator for most of his life. He was employed by McGarvin-Moberly Construction, Sessions Mobile Service, H.S. County Road and Bridge and lastly, Canyon Concrete and R&C. Phil was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His interests included hunting, fishing, camping, visiting with... Full story
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services recently released the unemployment numbers for the month of March across the state. In Hot Springs County, our unemployment rate dropped by .3 percent to 4.4 percent, which amounts to eight fewer citizens being unemployed in March compared to February. The department also reports our labor force was down by 12 in March, but 20 more people were able to find work. That leaves 109 people still looking for work during the month. We still remain about in the middle when it comes to unemployment with the...
Due to adverse weather late last week, the high school track team’s meet in Meeteetse on Friday, as well as the middle school team’s meet in Lander on Saturday, were cancelled. The high school will host the Bobcat Invite this Friday, beginning at 1 p.m. It will be their final meet before the 3A East Regionals May 12 and 13. The middle school tracksters will also see action at home this weekend, hosting the conference meet beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. The middle school will finish out its season at the Best of the Best meet at Lander on Tue... Full story
Weather has not been a big help to the Bobcat golf team this spring as they were rained out again last Friday for the second week in a row. Coach Jacob Smith said he’s hoping this week will be different as the team is headed to Riverton on Thursday and the weather forecast, so far, is looking good....
The 2017 Thermopolis Gymkhana Series kicks off on Sunday, May 7, with an enter time of 9 a.m., at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds. Events will include barrels, poles, goat tying, flag racing and dummy roping, as well as a fun event which will be different each day. Additional series dates and enter times this year will be June 4 at 9 a.m., June 30 at 5 p.m., Aug. 11 at 5 p.m. and Sept. 16 at 9 a.m. Rides will be one hour after the enter times. Age groups for events are: Lead Line — ages 5 and under, Pee Wee — ages 6-8, Junior — ages 9-13...
Wyoming’s first state-level look at the economic, health and community benefits of bicycle and pedestrian pathways and natural surface trails continues at 10 a.m., on May 9, when Gov. Matt Mead’s Wyoming Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force convenes for a phone meeting. The public is encouraged to listen in and offer its thoughts by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/480466045 or calling 1-571-317-3112 and entering the access code 480-466-045. The 2016 Wyoming Legislature formed the 13-member task force to help Wyoming become a pla...
