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Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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The bright blue summer sky dimmed quickly, shortly after 1:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. As the town sirens sounded and a rapid series of alerts was issued across radio and cell networks, it was clear that this particular thunderstorm wasn't just going to skirt around the town and was gunning for Thermopolis. Winds estimated at 50-60 miles per hour and a severe temperature drop were the first signs of the storm's arrival. Warnings advised people to remain indoors, which of course sparked a natural... Full story
During some of the summer events in town, security will look a bit different with Thermopolis Police Officer Bobbi Byrd on horseback. Byrd explained when she lived in Tennessee, she had a close friend in law enforcement who did the mounted patrol. "It sort of perked my interest, watching him do that." She and Officer Ken Smith went to a class last year and got certified on their horses, then kept going. In June, Byrd finished her 2019 certification during a weeklong training in Riverton. The...
GILLETTE — After years in legislative limbo, Hot Springs State Park could be set for some changes. At last Thursday’s meeting of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation, Recreation and Cultural Resources, officials with the Department Of State Parks And Cultural Resources unveiled the next steps in a long-awaited plan to update one of the crown jewels of the state parks system. Though no immediate actions were announced, the agency updated committee members on a new law sponsored by the committee chair – Sen. Ogden Driskil...
Monday night the Thermopolis Town Council approved a bid from Dave Loden Construction, in the amount of $82,885, for a new roof on the old fire hall, with the condition that the completion date be extended from Oct. 30 to Nov. 30, though in a letter to the council Erick Loden stated he is 90 percent sure he can have it done before Oct. 30. Also during their meeting, council approved a bar and grill liquor license for the property at 942 Shoshoni Street, most recently known as the Raptors...
On the Record policy It is the Thermopolis 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. Correction/clarification In the July 27 edition story regarding Father Joe Galligan, he is incorrectly referred to as Jim, and it should read he has spent 23 years with Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. The Independent Record apologizes for the errors. Joe was raised in the Episcopal Church i...
Following a two-day trial last week, Raymond W. DeVries Sr. was found guilty of five misdemeanor counts of theft and one misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing. The charges are from an Aug. 30, 2018 incident in which DeVries brought onto the property of Linsey Brooks a truck and forklift, marked to his company, with the purpose of taking five large landscaping rocks. During removal of the rocks, one of them cracked and a portion of it was left on Brooks’ property. Brooks’ pasture was als...
The Fourth of July is celebrated by friends and families nationwide. It’s a time for Americans to fire up the barbecue, hoist the flag and grab a seat for that spectacular fireworks display. But before you head out for the celebrations, make sure you plan a sober way home. Hot Springs County law enforcement is taking part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign during the holiday to help put an end to drunk driving. In support of law enforcement’s dedication to protecting lives, you’ll see increased enforcement on the roads with zero...
Those who stop in at the Hot Springs County Senior Center on a Friday might spot Mary Jo Mason off of the main dining area, providing blood pressure readings. "I come every Friday," Mason said, "and I'm here from 10 until noon." She described the center as "the neatest place. The food is good and the people are wonderful. They have all kinds of events." Born in Arlington, Texas, Mason moved to Thermopolis in 1991. She had a portrait studio here - Picture This Photography - for seven years, and...
Community members and others from out of state gathered at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church to celebrate Fr. Joe and Ellen Galligan's retirement....
During the weekend of May 31- June 2, eight members of the Alpha Phi No. 1148 traveled to Wheatland for the State Epsilon Sigma Alpha Convention. Attending members were Brenda Barnes, Kim Enis, Ruth Galovich, Jenifer Grimm, Michelle Herring, Stefanie Ireland, Cindy Magelky and Linda Ziegler. They enjoyed a Friday night mixer where each attending chapter performed a comical skit. The following awards were received: First place: Outstanding Woman of the Year —Herring; Outstanding Chapter of the Year 6-15 Members; Cold Link Award for Excellence in...
The next installment of the Sounds of Summer Concert Series is coming up on Tuesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. in Hot Springs State Park. The concert features “High Country Cowboys,” a three-man group out of Red Lodge, Mont. who take you back to the good old days of Western music with songs from Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and the Sons of the Pioneers. Since their inception in 2014, the group has been named Music Group of the Year by the Pro Cowboy Country Association for 2017 and 2018. They also received Album of the Year in 2018 with their album tit...
July 4 is here, a day filled with barbecues, heading to the lake and of course, fireworks. And while there is plenty of fun to be had, it’s also a time for reflection. Independence Day commemorates the Declaration of Independence, a day when the original 13 colonies stated that they were no longer subject to the rule of Britain. Though not the first step toward becoming our own country, it certainly was the most significant. In today’s world, 243 years following the signing of that document granting our freedoms, it’s not hard to imagine the f...
Without a doubt, the political climate in our nation has been rocky at best over the past 10 years. Left, right, Republican, Democrat, it matters not which side of the aisle you’re on there is unrest in our country over which side is right. I have seen burning effigies of presidents. I have seen giant balloons depicting a presidential baby. Rumors and innuendo about both parties have run rampant during this last decade. In polite society we were taught not to discuss two things: religion and p...
The good news is Hot Springs County’s valuation has grown by 6.13% for 2019 over the valuation for 2018. In 2018, the county was valued at $143,770,630. In 2019 it rose to $152,593,199. These numbers are just an estimate and should become final by the end of the week according to County Assessor Daniel Webber. The locally assessed number came out to just a bit above $50.9 million for 2019. State Assessed Utilities show $7.166 million, railroads are $4.65 million and hard minerals topped in at $3.7 million. Oil production came in at $85.9 m...
Hot Springs County High School’s annual All Class Reunion is just around the corner, July 20-21. While all graduates are invited to attend, this year features classes ending in four and nine. Registration and picnic ticket pick up will be at the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center on Saturday, the 20th from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Blackwater will be the band for Saturday night’s dance at the VFW, which starts at 9 p.m. A fried chicken picnic is scheduled from 11 a.m. til 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Kiwanis Shelter in Hot Springs State Par...
CASPER — The first week of July is often a slow one in state government, shortened by a federal holiday and marked by a light legislative schedule. However, the first week of July also means something else in Wyoming – the time many of the laws passed by the Legislature this winter finally go into effect. As the clock hit midnight on Monday, more than 200 laws passed during the 2019 legislative session went into effect, impacting the lives of Wyoming residents in some ways major, some ways not. A common centerpiece in many homes around Wyo...
Hot Springs County’s unemployment rate rose by .2% from April to May according to numbers recently released from the Research and Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. The labor force, or number of people able to work, rose by 10 from April to May, however, only four of those people were employed, leaving six of them still looking for work in May. The labor force is down considerably from what it was this time last year, losing 37 workers over the year. There are also 29 fewer people employed from 2018. The c...
Summer is officially here, and though travel plans are often made for those days around July 4, consider sticking around and making a contribution to help others. A Thermopolis Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Monday, July 8 from 3-7 p.m. at the Hot Springs County Senior Center. All blood types are needed. To make an appointment call Vitalant at 800-365-4450 and use sponsor code “Thermopolis” or contact Melene Mierzejewski at 307-240-1414. Walk ins are welcome, and donors should eat well and drink plenty of fluids before donating. Don...
July 1 marked the official effective date for Senate File 57, establishing requirements for the release of public records, as well as designation of an ombudsman by the governor to receive complaints for violations of the public records act. Under the law, official public records include “all original vouchers, receipts and other documents necessary to isolate and prove the validity of every transaction relating to the receipt, use and disposition of all public property and public income from all sources whatsoever; all agreements and c...
The Red Dirt Master Gardeners' Garden of the Month for June is at the home of Ruth Clare Johnson. Among the blooms at the house there are lilies, piennes, blue allium and even a few poinsettias...
June 23-28, Jeff Clark, Will Clark and Remington Ferree, along with Dillon Romero of Cody, took aim at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships in Grand Island, Neb. Participants can only compete once in their career in a particular discipline, Kari Ferree said, and the boys competed in shotgun, with her husband Charlie coaching. They were selected by the state 4-H, Ferree said, and they had to fill out applications including whether they shot at the state shoot and how they did, and essay... Full story
Runners of all ages enjoyed the second annual Buffalo Bash 5K Saturday in Hot Springs State Park. Proceeds went to The Shop Gym for equipment and maintenance....
An estimated 10 percent (14,000 total) of Wyoming’s kids, double the national average, do not have health insurance according to the 2019 KIDS COUNT® Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Data Book assesses child wellbeing using 16 measures that represent the domains of health, education, economic well-being and family well-being and community. The 2019 Data Book report found that Wyoming’s child health system was weak when compared with the rest of the nation, ranking 49th out of 50 states. While these findings were disa...
Everyone could use a little help from time to time and the Thermopolis Church of Christ may have just what you’re looking for. The church will be hosting a youth group that is looking to help members of the community during their stay in Thermopolis, July 13-17. If you have a project, whether its yard work, clean up, small painting projects, general repair or something along those lines, the youth will come, at no charge to you, to get it done. All you have to do is supply the materials. If you need some help, please call Pete Coggi at 3...
A great way to help our deployed troops is to take part in the 6th Annual Freedom Run with the Big Horn Basin Riders. A meet and greet will be held on Friday, July 5 at 7 p.m. at the Oasis Motel and RV Park in Meeteetse, with kickstands going up on Saturday, July 6 at 9 a.m. The first draw for the run will be in Thermopolis, followed by Worland, Ten Sleep Greybull and then back to Meeteetse. Bingo cards will be $2 each or three for $5 and there will be prizes at every stop along the way. Blackout cards are $10 each with a grand prize of $500....
