Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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To all the candidates who attended the Thermopolis School Board Candidate Forum hosted by the Republican Party: “Thank you for your courage to come and answer the questions asked of you.” The position of school board trustee is incredibly important to our schools, our teachers, our students and our community. This forum provided a very public opportunity in regard to where each candidate stood on various subjects. Sometimes these forums ask questions that may cause frustration or may cause people to be uncomfortable. However, the goal was to...
by John Malmberg The old adage “Don’t put the cart before the horse” may certainly be applied to the push to get electric vehicles on our nation’s roads. Don’t get us wrong. We are not against electric vehicles. We just hope Wyoming keeps ahead of the curve so that electrical generation and distribution infrastructure can keep pace with the increased demand for electricity. Wyoming could take a lesson from California on how not to handle this situation. Just weeks ago, the California Air Resources Board set a policy requiring all new cars sold...
by Barbara Anne Greene A few weeks ago, Cynthia Johnson called to “plant a seed” in my thoughts. Her granddaughter was making plans for the upcoming livestock judging and livestock showing season and if she misses more than 12 days of school she will be in violation of the school policy. Chloie doesn’t play sports. Instead, she shows livestock and competes in livestock and meats judging in Wyoming and surrounding states. In the eyes of that school district, these are unexcused absences. Chloie’s mom, Emily, pointed out that students that pl...
One of the most highly contested races in the general election for Hot Springs County voters is the eight person fight for three positions on the Hot Springs County School District #1 Board of Trustees. Two incumbents and six challengers all want to have a seat on the board for the next four years. The school board district positions are nonpartisan offices. Candidates do not run under the merits of any political party affiliation. Awhile back, a committee made up of HSC Republican party members sent out questionnaires to the eight school...
by Tom Lealos, Vice President Wyoming Council of the Blind The use of long sticks and staffs by blind and visually impaired pedestrians has evolved over the years. They are simply an extension of the arm and allow the user to identify upcoming hazards by utilizing their senses of touch and sound. These sticks, referred to as white canes in modern times, are used both as tools and symbols in the blindness community. White canes allow blind and visually impaired individuals to travel safely over all types of terrain and around unseen obstacles....
This week is National Fire Prevention Week. On pages 8 and 9 of this paper you will find a salute to our local Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department members, including their names and photos. These individuals put in hundreds of hours each year serving our community. They respond to calls 24/7, while they are sleeping, celebrating with their families and working their jobs. They sacrifice their own time and risk their lives to protect and serve their fellow community members. They attend trainings and host community events such as their recent...
by Jill Pertler, part 2 of 2 Last week, I touched on the importance of choosing the best and most functional grocery cart. I attempted to use wise words to not only define refined grocery cart features, but to outline their importance as well. Now we address part two of this worthwhile and much needed endeavor. (As judged from some of my fellow shoppers who seem to be completely oblivious to the basics of cart civility and decorum.) Let’s say you’ve chosen the perfect cart. No rust, no squeaks, no dents or abnormalities. You might think you...
by Tom Silvestri, The Relevance Project It’s been more than two years since I received my last paycheck from a newspaper company. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to advocate for local newspapers that remain relevant to their communities. That advocacy keeps running into tiresome arguments that are as yellow as old faded newsprint. No matter what facts you use to extinguish them, they find a way to flare up later. During National Newspaper Week, consider the following collection of statements that numb the mind, along with a sug...
by Jill Pertler I’ve addressed grocery store conduct in the past, but today I address a topic so immense and life-changing that it spans two weeks worth of columns. It’s a specific facet of grocery store protocol which is (or should be) of paramount importance to us all. Shopping carts. Shopping carts are a necessity because toilet paper, bread, milk and bananas take up real space and it’s paramount for the user to choose the very best one. (Yes, that’s actually a thing.) When arriving at the super store (or any store with aisles, check o...
On Monday, the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau Federation held their second Meet the Candidate forum at the Thermopolis Middle School. The event was less attended than their first event, held prior to the primary election, but there was still a solid turnout. Also, the event was live streamed and the replay video can be found on the Chamber’s social media page. A full recap of the information from the event will be included in the Oct. 27 General Election section of the Independent Record. In that section we w...
by Judy Carswell The silent heroes that exist within our community are so amazing! I am talking about our friends and neighbors that have been volunteers for the People for People Programs, providing meals here in our community since 1988 (34 years). Every Sunday they prepare meals (sometimes paying for the meal) and deliver to our friends that may need a helping hand. They speak with each person they deliver a meal with a smile on their face, while checking to make sure they are doing okay and tell them to have a nice day. Also, the Backpack...
Secure elections are the cornerstone of a thriving republic. The right to vote in a free and fair election is the most basic civil right, one on which many of the other rights of the American people depend. Election integrity means the will of the voters prevails. Unfortunately, some in the Wyoming State Legislature are again questioning the wisdom of Wyoming voters. In the August Republican primary, voters chose Rep. Chuck Gray as their nominee for secretary of state. Gray beat Sen. Tara Nethercott by 8 points in the primary. He does not have...
by Bill Sniffin, Cowboy State Daily Wyoming has an almost over-abundance of “natural” wonders ranging from Yellowstone National Park to the vast Red Desert. Plus, the towering Devils Tower and the even more towering Teton and Wind River Mountain Ranges. My first coffee table book, published in 2012, was an attempt to document these 7 Greatest Natural Wonders + 33 Other Fascinating Places. But soon after it was published folks would come up to me and me: What about Wyoming’s Seven Greatest Man-Made Wonders? That got me thinking about doing...
The Independent Record staff has been contacted by several individuals wanting to do research on a variety of topics. No problem, we’ve got you covered. There are a few ways to access the IR archives. The easiest way to research through the last seven years of papers is using our website at thermopir.com. Subscribers have access to review full pdf versions of our paper dating back to April 2015. For stories printed in the IR from the beginning of 2016 until present, the key word search feature is available. If you are interested in r...
by Jill Kruse, D.O. People often talk about having a “gut feeling” when they know something is wrong. What feelings come when there is something wrong with the digestive system itself and how do you differentiate between “butterflies” acting up and a serious gastrointestinal problem? There are many different organs that can cause GI problems and may include the esophagus, stomach, the small intestine, and the large intestine. The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The most common issue people have with the esophagus i...
Everyone loves a great deal from your fellow community members. What better place to find one than at your local Farmers Market? Every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. until noon in downtown Thermopolis on 5th Street between Broadway and Pinnacle Bank, local vendors sell their wares. The options are varied and of high quality. Customers can find freshly grown local vegetables, baked goods, flavored peanut butter, custom handmade jewelry, smoked cheese, freeze-dried fruit, locally harvest meats, jellies and jams and many, many more items. Don’t forg...
On our winter visit from Wyoming to Arizona, I picked up a volume of Louise May Alcott’s “Jo’s Boys” at an estate sale. Published in September of 1868, this book was found to be first edition. Included in this precious book were some hand-written notes that seem to be connected to the Thermopolis and Embar areas of Wyoming. My curiosity is pushing me to find if there are any relatives of the original owner of the book still in the area. The name inscribed is: Elizabeth Punteney. She gifted the book to Robert Price, Embar, Wyo. on Decembe...
by John Malmberg With the death of Jim Angell a few weeks ago, a powerful voice for openness and transparency in government fell silent. Angell, who served for many years as the executive director of the Wyoming Press Association, kept a vigilant eye on any bills to come before the Wyoming Legislature that might have restricted the public’s access to information. He made trips across the state for years conducting many workshops educating elected officials at all levels of government, reporters and anyone who would listen about Wyoming’s ope...
Over the past several days, I have fielded an extraordinary number of phone calls asking me to run for Wyoming Secretary of State. I am not running for Secretary of State. I first learned of the effort to draft me to run, as an Independent, from news sources. I spoke with the authors of the petition and expressed that even if the required number of signatures were gathered, I would not run against the Party’s nominee and split a Party I love so dearly. I believe strongly that the Republican Party must unite around the shared principles of h...
by Amber Steinmetz Did you see the video earlier this month of the Little League batter consoling the opposing team’s pitcher? During the Little League Southwest Regional final Aug. 9 in Waco, Texas, right-hander Kaiden Shelton of Pearland, Texas, was facing batter Isaiah Jarvis of Tulsa, Okla., when an 0-2 pitch got away from him and slammed into Jarvis’ helmet. Jarvis fell to the ground and was surrounded by concerned coaches and other staff, but was able to walk unaided to first base a short time later. He noticed Shelton on the mound sta...
by Jill Pertler This weekend I spent time at a class reunion with friends I don’t see every day (but wish I still did.) They were the friends who knew me when. And I knew them in the same way. We were innocent and young. Not yet adults, but on the budding cusp. Growing up together creates an enduring bond that can only come from experiencing pivotal years together. This bond we created has only grown stronger through the years, and I think it is now like a snowball rolling downhill: only getting bigger and stronger. It’s pretty amazing whe...
We have come to the “Dog Days” of summer when the mornings are cool and the afternoons so hot you just want to sit on the porch with the pups and enjoy something cool to drink. It also marks the start of school and before long it will be crisp leaves, flannel shirts and football. These are some of the days we can cherish the most as we kiss the summer good-bye to welcome the beauty of fall. We really have been lucky in Hot Springs County this summer. We have had a number of grass/range fires, but they have been contained fairly quickly. We are...
Do you think your voice is not powerful? Think again. There is a concept called “The Power of One”. One person can make all the difference in life and in situations. One person can move mountains and that same single person’s power is expressed in voting. Famous leaders of our nation’s past provide us with their sage wisdom. Thomas Jefferson, Former President and one of our Founding Fathers said, “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” It’s election season and many candidates fr...
by Tracy Renee Lee Most people do not expect anxiety to be a consequence of loss. After 20 years in the funeral profession, I have come to realize that anxiety is a natural response to loss. Whenever a person undergoes change, anxiety rears itself. A few examples of experiences that cause anxiety would be moving, changing jobs, starting school, taking tests, divorce, loss, and other things that cause a change in your life. Loss is the ultimate life changer and therefore, naturally causes anxiety. I have a dear friend who lost her husband a few...
The Hot Springs County Fair is finishing up but you still have the chance to enjoy some of the final events. The Chili Cook Off is tonight (Thursday) at 5 p.m. at the MP Building. Come hungry to sample all the different chili creations and then vote for your favorite. The beef show begins at 6 p.m., also in the MP Building. On Friday the Judges’ Choice Silent Auction Bake Sale starts at 5 p.m. followed by the Junior Livestock Auction beginning at 7 p.m. in the MP Building. Youths of our community work hard on their projects and you can s...
