Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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The IR Community Chatter columns that appear on this page are submitted to us by a variety of local community members. Recently, we were asked if our Community Chatter is affiliated with one that has been started by a local resident and appears online. The short answer is no. For several years we have been using the Community Chatter heading for community generated guest submissions. They come from a variety of sources and involve many different topics. We don’t own rights to the name Community Chatter. We just want to clear up any confusion s...
As a concerned citizen, I understand that the decision is out about the shooting of a mentally ill person in Thermopolis that resulted in death. Patrick LeBrun wrote the decision, but there’s several things that were left out. I don’t understand why there was so many shots fired even when the victim was still on the ground and couldn’t do anything. I also don’t understand why other methods weren’t used to detain Jared, who was a long time resident of Thermopolis and graduated from the high school there with virtually no record of criminal...
by Laura Phagan, HSH After working for Hot Springs Health for five years, Mackenzie Engel was ready for a challenge and decided earning a certificate to enhance her skills was the best way to do it. Her only setback was the distance to a local college to earn that certificate while also being a full-time employee and a mom. So, when the offer to complete the clinical medical assistant certification through the National Healthcareer Association, Engel made the easy decision to enroll. Since its inception, the NHA has awarded more than one...
by Debra Johnston, MD Recently, I had a gentleman come for an annual wellness visit. He hadn’t had one for quite some time, and I could tell he was a little uncertain about what to expect. He was patient while we reviewed his family history, and tolerant while we talked about diet and exercise, but he’d had enough when I asked about the last time he’d been to the dentist and the eye doctor. “What is this about?” he asked me, somewhat exasperated. I suppose people don’t usually expect to go to their primary care doctor and have her nag them abou...
We are happy to see this page full of local community chatter. The purpose of the page is to allow people to express their opinions, without being offensive or attacking someone’s personality. Both of these pieces follow those guidelines. Typically, we do not allow submissions of the length of the two featured on this page. However, given the importance of these issues, an exception was made. To be clear though, we will also allow the same amount of space for well written rebuttals to either or both of these Community Chatter pieces. If you h...
Dear Representative Winter and Senator Cooper and fellow members of the Wyoming Legislature: I hope this finds you well. As the legislative session is now in full swing, the HSCSD#1 Board of Trustees has held a work session to discuss several bills currently under consideration, specifically in relation to education. After taking public comment from numerous patrons, a clear theme emerged: many of our community members believe that Wyoming can do better when it comes to these proposed legislative changes. The voices we heard in the room echoed...
This week, House Bill 298 did not get considered for introduction, therefore it is dead for this session. As it should be. House Bill 298 would have created a centralized electronic public notice system for Wyoming which would have ensured the watchmen would be in charge of watching themselves. The bill was intended to create a centralized electronic notice system maintained by the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office. In short, the government would then be in charge of keeping an eye on the government. Yes, you read that correctly. Under H...
A message from Jen Cheney of the Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition In a world full of opportunities to connect and uplift one another, kindness has the power to shine brightly. What if we made kindness the norm—the foundation of how we live and interact every day? Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 9–15, 2025, is a perfect reminder of how thoughtful gestures can spark joy, inspire change, and create lasting impact. Let’s celebrate this week as a chance to embrace kindness as a daily habit and a way of life. 1. Kindness Builds Stron...
by Bryan Golden Persistence is the foundation of success. Although there are many ways to describe success, there is only one definition of failure – giving up. Whatever your meaning of success, you will only achieve it through persistence. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” - Cal...
The power of unity is a rare prize and can be costly. This unity has various assailants that can thwart its existence. The greatest foe of unity is offense. For the past few years, residents of Thermopolis and Hot Springs County have found themselves divided bitterly over a variety of contested subjects. There have been deaths, lawsuits, and social media has been a vehicle for quite a few beatings on different matters. Can Thermopolis survive these and enter into prosperity? The old adage, “A house divided will surely fall” is shouting quite lo...
“Age is the price of wisdom.” It’s an ancient proverb. One that has been passed down through the fog of time - in cultures spread across the globe. But what does it mean? Benjamin Franklin said: “At 20 years of age, the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment.” Fair enough. I’ll concede that the passage of time can help one to have a more complete perspective of the world, of people, and even of one’s own life. Franklin lived to be 84. I wonder if he had any words of wisdom about what rules at 50? Or 60? Guess he was keeping that wisdom...
Wyoming’s 67th Legislative Session began on Jan. 14. The Wyoming Legislature alternates between a 40-day General Session in odd-numbered years and a 20-day Budget Session in even-numbered years. Gov. Mark Gordon delivered his State of the State message last Wednesday. There are hundreds of Bills listed on the Wyoming Legislature website for the 2025 year. Not every Bill will or deserves to hit the Governors desk. The Senate includes 31 members and the House of Representatives has 62 members. Our Legislatures will be very busy over the next f...
by Debra Johnston, MD Lately I’ve been reminded of a blockbuster movie from my youth. It contains a scene that even those who never saw the film are likely to recognize. A sleeping family is jolted awake, and from the foot of the bed the young daughter sings “they’re here!” One might wonder why I’m thinking so much about Poltergeist. That quote started ringing in my brain during our last monthly clinic meeting, when our lab director reported on the previous day’s influenza statistics. Nearly 90% of the tests were positive. Respiratory...
The temporary closure of the Star Plunge this week is a much discussed and controversial topic in our community and elsewhere. The facility, located in Hot Springs State Park, closed on January 14. A legal dispute between C & W Enterprises and Wyoming State Parks needs to be settle before a new operator can take over. Without a resolution to that ongoing litigation, or a finalized sale, the temporary closure will proceed. Many have shown the Luehne family an outpouring of support, others look forward to an updated, modern facility. Regardless...
submitted by RYTE Rehabilitation As Americans prepare their health goals for 2025, we want to share tips to help individuals create sustainable exercise habits. They have combined current research with practical strategies to help people maintain their fitness resolutions beyond January. Therapists say that starting exercise isn’t usually the problem, it’s sticking with it. Key tips to remember are: Research showing that exercising four times weekly for six weeks is the minimum for habit formation Schedule exercise into your calendar Treat it...
Because National Martin Luther King Day is the 20th of this month, I asked one of my sons what he can remember about Martin Luther King’s dream, and he immediately responded “I saw it fulfilled when I was in Milwaukee. I saw little children of all races happily playing on the playground at a park!” His dream that one day people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by their character lives on! We can live with people of different sociology; we can be non-judgmental, and we can treat everyone as a brother or sister because we all a...
by Lara Love If you are a subscriber, this week’s edition of the Thermopolis Independent Record will be delivered one day later than normal. We apologize for the inconvenience. The National Day of Observance statement next to this editorial explains all the Postal Service particulars. On our end, the date was set to honor the 39th President of the United States too late for us to plan for an early deadline, which would have gotten subscribers their paper a day early. That is our typical policy when there is a Thursday holiday. Thank you for y...
by Daniel Powell Well, the Broncos managed to outperform all expectations for this season, and have secured the seventh seed in the AFC playoffs. I am sure there are some hard-core Broncos fans that were not surprised - and no doubt, there are many, many, more Broncos fans - who will, adamantly, claim to not have been in the least surprised. After all, everyone loves a bandwagon. Having grown up in the suburbs of Denver, I can truly claim to have been a Broncos fan – long before the team was ever considered to be competitive. In those early d...
by Teri Gergen First Day Hikes are coordinated by the National Parks Service to encourage people to “get outside and connect with nature” on New Years Day. I had completed a couple hikes in Middle and East Tennessee before moving to Wyoming and was glad to see that they happened here as well. January 1, 2025 marked my fourth New Year in Thermopolis and the third time I participated in the annual hike. In 2022, the group met at the visitors center and hiked through the Frisbee/Disc Golf course. The winter of 2022-2023 was especially brutal. The...
I was so happy to read that the fluoride ordinance was passed. I’ve read quite a few times that fluoride was a by-product of a manufacturing process and not a favorable addition to our drinking water. I’ve hoped for years that it would no longer be added to our water and finally it has happened. Thank you to all the supporters for getting this accomplished. Linda Kalli...
We have compiled the year in review and it is featured in this edition. 2024 has been an interesting year in Hot Springs County. The year in review features a small look at 52 stories, one for each week, that ran in the IR. We have had some amazing accomplishments by our residents, both adults and youths. As a community, we have suffered the loss of some of our residents, some in tragic ways. The election has put new faces on a few of our local boards, bringing with them new ideas and new focus. We hope you enjoy this first edition of 2025 and...
by Bryan Golden The New Year is a time of resolutions. It’s a time when people commit to making a change in their life. Losing weight, changing jobs, saving money, making money, a new relationship, getting in shape, going back to school, or giving up smoking, are just some of the goals people set for themselves on January 1st. Although it’s possible for anyone to make a change or a new start, it takes determination, commitment, and persistence. A new goal must be your own. You have to really want it. Without a burning desire, your mot...
As we approach the year 2025, let’s look forward to maximizing our community’s potential and putting our unused or under appreciated resources to use to bring greater prosperity to Hot Springs County. Imagine those who are waiting in the wings, the unseen, who have talents and abilities that go above the status quo. It is up to us to be self aware and recognize where talent and giftings can be put to their full achievement. There are so many of them that bring much to the table. Diminishing them diminishes the overall possibilities for gre...
by Bryan Golden Among other things, the holidays are a time of giving and receiving gifts. The question most often asked of people is, “what did you get?” Much less frequently asked is, “what did you give?” Invariably, the inquiries concern material gifts. Purchasing a gift can certainly be thoughtful and a wonderful gesture, especially when it’s backed up by your actions. However, the most valuable presents are those that aren’t sold in stores. When you give your love, your time, help someone in need, aid another in solving a problem or...
As of the date of this edition, I have been working for the Independent Record for 26 years, 7 months and 26 days (yes, I counted). I have a lot of issues behind me, in more ways than one. This particular issue, the one that includes the Letters to Santa and the Christmas Greetings, is one of my favorites each year. You’ll find them in the B section. Both of my sons were raised in Thermopolis and attended RWE. I’ve looked through the back issues from their youth and read their letters. Its a f...
