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Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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The first day of spring is today, Thursday, March 20. As we were preparing this paper to be sent to press on Tuesday, a storm including wind and snow was raging outside the IR office door. It was a doozy, a last, blast winter storm before the calendar says it is officially spring. That in no may means it is our last storm before summer, just our last official winter storm. The scanner traffic included information about vehicle slide offs and news that Highway 20 South was closed through Wind River Canyon due to road conditions and for a semi...
by Jennifer Cheney, Community Prevention Specialist The Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition, in partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), is proud to recognize March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). This year’s theme, “Seeking Understanding,” focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition. The campaign seeks to foster greater awareness and empathy, break down barriers to treatment, and provide support for individuals and families impac...
by Daniel Powell (totteringtimes@gmail.com) Here’s the thing about being old: Times change, people change, knowledge and understanding changes – but I am not really a big fan of change. I understand that change will happen – but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Recently, I have discovered that some political terms – the meaning of which, I had always thought I had learned and understood – seem to have altered, to such an extent, that I find myself wondering if I now know their meaning – or if, perhaps, I had never correctly understood th...
Media derives from the Latin, “medium,” which is neither rare nor well done. What better time to drag out this old joke than Sunshine Week, when newspapers across America remind their readers of the First Amendment? Sunshine Week is celebrated yearly in March. This year the 16-22 is set aside to shine a light on the importance of public records and open government. Like a religious text, the Constitution of the United States, and its amendments, are forever subject to interpretation. But the press, in particular, has sustained singular ins...
by Bryan Golden You have no control over other people’s actions. But you do have total control over your response. Someone else can’t upset you unless you empower them to. “They make me so mad,” “they make me so upset,” and “they make me so unhappy,” are statements based on the false premise that other people have power over your emotions. Don’t empower others to upset you. Don’t make excuses which justify your becoming upset. Comments such as, “I have every right to be upset,” don’t help you. Anger, bitterness, and resentment, are all self-...
Wyoming’s 67th Legislative Session began on Jan. 14 and is set to adjourn on Thursday, March 6. The Wyoming Legislature alternates between a 40-day General Session in odd-numbered years and a 20-day Budget Session in even-numbered years. The Senate includes 31 members and the House of Representatives has 62 members. A number of bills have been passed and have made it to Governor Mark Gordon’s desk. To see the status of this year’s bills, visit wyoleg.gov. If you want to reach out our local Senator for District 20, Ed Cooper, his email is Ed.Co...
by Christina Young, Director for the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment When businesses support working parents, they’re not just boosting their bottom line – they’re helping prevent child abuse and neglect. Research shows that workplace policies like flexible scheduling, paid family leave, and childcare assistance significantly reduce major risk factors for child maltreatment by decreasing parental stress and providing essential economic stability. When parents have the flexibility to attend school events, care for sick child...
With the extended sunlight during our days, we can look to nature with hope and improvement. Spring is on its way and soon the trees will show their green leaves. There are indeed brighter days again and to see them takes a little adjustment in our perspective. This doesn’t mean it is all Pollyannaish, but using our true Wyoming grit for good, we all will persevere into the next months. Residents of Hot Springs County can be a bit stubborn. Let’s use that powerful opportunity to see the future in a positive way and be determined to see the goo...
by Kelly Evans-Hullinger, MD Atrial fibrillation is probably a diagnosis you have heard of, if not because a friend or family member has it, because it has been mentioned in a public advertisement or pharmaceutical commercial. Atrial fibrillation (or “A-fib”) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, a condition estimated by the American Heart Association to be present in more than five million Americans. A-fib happens when abnormal electrical signals occurring throughout the cardiac atria (upper chambers of the heart) override the normal intrinsi...
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...
