Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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This week, with all the political hubbub going around, take a break and take in the annual Hot Springs County Fair. Fair gets underway with the Pee Wee and 4-H and FFA Youth Horse Show this weekend, and there’s certainly plenty to see and do over the next few days. Of course, there will be plenty of critters to see when the fair buildings are open, but it’s also important to support our local youth as they show their skills and knowledge about their animals during the week’s shows. There...
The political races are set and the primary election is coming up on August 21. Next Monday, voters will have the opportunity to bring forth their questions and concerns during the candidate forum at Thermopolis Middle School. But though an election year is a great time to ask question of our elected officials and those running for office, keep in mind there is plenty opportunity throughout the year to speak up and let your concerns be known. Just this past week, a town ordinance was halted in its second reading by just a few voices, but those...
Please think again before taking the asphalt off Missouri Flat Road. I have lived here most of my life and we were glad when an asphalt road was finally put in. Gravel is muddy and dangerous in the snow besides being hard on cars and trucks. The bentonite trucks go by, tractors, dump trucks as well as local traffic and the school bus. With a gravel road the rocks would be kicked up, breaking our car and house windows. We also have a hill to go over and gravel would make that road more dangerous than it already is. It is needing guard rails now...
We’ve been talking around the office this week about businesses which have come and gone here in Thermopolis and its funny how I remember so many of them, but most I couldn’t tell you exactly which storefronts they were once in. For instance, we had a bakery on the south side of Broadway. They would decorate their windows with delightful goodies every week, but the best were the holiday displays of treats they featured. My favorite was Easter. They would fill the windows with these amazing hollo...
While nature’s light show on Sunday night was more spectacular than any man-made fireworks, it is a strong reminder of just how dry the conditions are here in Hot Springs County. With days and days of high temperatures, reaching over 100 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, grasses have dried out to the point of being highly combustible. That became very apparent Sunday night when the Thermopolis Volunteer Firemen were forced to split themselves among three grass fires burning in the county, all in different directions. They weren’t alone, how...
Well, the PRCA Rodeo and fireworks show have come and gone, and both drew a crowd, but the summer activities here in Thermopolis are far from over. Coming up next for big events we’ve got the reunion weekend, providing a chance for classmates to get together and reminisce about school and share memories of our town, while also visiting about what they’ve been up to since graduation. Always a busy place, the fairgrounds will be active in the last couple weeks of July with the WJRA Rodeo, 4-H...
Last week saw the killing of five people at the Capital Gazette in Maryland, as someone opened fire with a shotgun in what was referred to as a “targeted attack.” Our hearts grieve the loss of our fellow newspaper staffers. We wish comfort and peace for their families, friends, co-workers and all who have been touched by this heartbreak and healing to those who are recovering. It’s a sobering reminder to us here at the Thermopolis Independent Record, and in the news industry as a whole, that we are often the target of people who feel stron...
What a show our volunteer firemen put on every year. Whenever I see fireworks it always takes me back to two times in my life – my grandfather and Disneyland. When I was growing up, grandpa used to order in fireworks from some company out of state. I was always so excited to see that huge box arrive. It was like opening a pirate’s treasure chest with all the things that sizzle and boom. Come 4th of July, since we lived on a corner, grandpa and my mom would set the fireworks off in the int...
I thank my mother and father that I am not a white supremacist racist. Thanks Mom and Dad....
There is an old addage that says, “Don’t believe everything you hear.” Its a perfect reminder during this political season that its better to hear things from the “horse’s mouth” than what you may hear on the streets or through social media. Luckily, you have opportunities to actually talk one on one with the local candidates almost any time. They’re more than happy to fill you in on what their thoughts are about the issues facing Thermopolis and Hot Springs County as well as their vision of the future. Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questi...
This past weekend saw the annual PRCA Rodeo, and Thermopolis truly shined in terms of showing off our town. The nightly performances at the fairgrounds were well-attended, with supporters of breast cancer awareness Friday night and an amazing tribute to our Armed Forces Saturday. At the Chuck Mead Memorial Pack Horse Race the crowd cheered on everyone, whether local or not, and encouraged them through the challenges of capturing their horses, securing the packs and leading the animals in the...
We have only lived in Thermopolis a few years but love it here and deeply care about the community. We certainly don’t want Thermopolis to change dramatically but want it and its businesses to thrive. Nearly every week the newspaper has a story about tourism struggling or a business closing. Through our travels around the country, a few recommendations come to mind that we would like to pass on. We hear about our beautiful location and tourist attractions but rarely hear about how beautiful our little town is. Basically, all we have to worry a...
As June starts to creep closer toward July, thoughts naturally turn to Independence Day and, of course, fireworks. However, before you start lighting the fuses it’s important to keep in mind the town ordinances. Under Section 11 of the Town Code, “It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale at retail or wholesale, or sell at retail or wholesale, or give away, use, discharge or detonate any fireworks in the Town, or within five miles of the corporate limits of the Town.” However, the code also allows for displays and sale of firew...
It seems as though we jumped from winter right into summer this year with the high temperatures we’ve been experiencing the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, with those high temps and the wind that appears to go along with them, comes a faster drying out of grasses and a higher potential for fires. Today, Wyoming has just one forest fire raging, the Badger Creek fire in the WyColo area by Laramie. It has grown in just a few days to more than 2,300 acres within the Medicine Bow National Forest. Surrounding us are six fires in Idaho, two in U...
Some time ago, I was surprised by a question from a young friend (actually a teenager): What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in the loooong life you’ve lived? Before I considered the question, I informed my young friend that long had only four letters and none were to be stressed. Only then did I wonder at the nature of the question from one so young. I’ve spent the largest part of my life dealing with the young, and I couldn’t remember ever being queried in such a serious manner by one so young. Frankly, I was at a loss for a moment...
Recently, my oldest son started playing tee ball through the Hot Springs County Rec Department. It’s been a learning experience on many levels. I’ve had to remind myself that I am not a coach, and Mike’s been learning about the game – although he isn’t quite ready to let go of the bat when running to first base – and more importantly about being a good sport and teammate. With the whirlwind of the 2018 election just really starting to get a good spin on it, we can take some of those lessons abo...
The official June 1 deadline for filing for local elected positions has now passed, and the coming months look to be an exciting time as we have several candidates in the running for the town and county races. Moving forward through this election season, we at the Independent Record will provide the fairest coverage we can for those on the ticket. That means we are happy to provide an initial story on the candidates’ reasons for filing, information on their position and other pertinent information. Some of these have already run in our pages, a...
“Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the heck happened.” I do think about this on occasion, like getting out of bed in the morning, knees popping, or when I try to do something I’ve done all my life and suddenly realize its not as easy as it used to be. I’m looking out the office window this morning and started thinking about what I would have been doing 40 years ago at this time. Wildcat Band. We were up and on the streets at 7 a.m., marching and twirling flags, blowing...
For most students, its one of the most wonderful times of the year. Summer break from school is upon us. Children are able to take a break from the books and be outside running, playing, biking, skateboarding, etc. As they fill the streets and sidewalks this summer, remember to be on the lookout for them. When you see them playing outside, be thankful they are not inside glued to a TV, video game or phone. Show a little patience as they enjoy their freedom. Our children are one of the most precious things in our lives. We will fight to protect...
To whom it may impact (directly) In March, I presented a plan and a path to provisionally allow chickens within a restricted area of Thermopolis to the city council, since then (supposedly) “numerous” anti-chicken phone calls have been received and thus, the hesitation on making a decision, apparently a few phone calls still outweigh 50 to 100 pro chicken signatures. The five members of the elected council seem to be scared to even make a motion toward progress because of these calls, let alone vote on allowing chickens within town limits her...
Thermopolis was recently designated as an “opportunity zone.” In essence, this means people – whether they live here or not – can invest money from the sale of companies into our community if they so choose. True, to be designated an opportunity zone it does mean our community is in something of an economic “low spot.” That is an unfortunate reality, but rather than making that a focus point let’s instead concentrate on the word “opportunity.” There are plenty in Thermopolis if you take the t...
This weekend there’s plenty going on. School is letting out for the summer, the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament is happening and temperatures are expected to be high enough to make plenty of plans for outdoor activities for a three-day holiday weekend. But remember to keep in mind what we are celebrating on Memorial Day. While we should make time to honor all members of the military for their service, this day is set aside specifically for those who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in active service. According to the U.S. Department o...
Its time to pull out the shorts and tank tops! No, wait, jeans and a sweatshirt. Oh, let me grab my raincoat while I’m at it. Fickle Mother Nature in the spring, letting us wonder until the last minute what we need to bring with us when we leave the house in the morning. Having been born and raised here, I have realized keeping at least a sweatshirt and probably a rain jacket in my car year-round is a sound idea. And while we may be a tad frustrated at picking out a cute outfit the night b...
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week. We are fortunate in a small town to know each of our officers, both police and sheriff’s department, if not by name, then by face, even when we run into them at the grocery store or a school function. Small town officers don’t often get the respect or recognition they deserve because crime rates are so low and its not very often something ‘exciting’ happens. However, they have shown, especia...
The IR printed an ad(?) in a box with Abraham Lincoln’s picture listing “The 10 cannots…”. This is false. Abraham Lincoln never said these words. But just over 50 years after Lincoln died, in 1916, The Rev. William John Henry Boetcker, a Presbyterian minister and notable public speaker, did. He made a booklet of ‘nuggets’ that came from his lectures, of which these axioms of misquotations are derived. Author Ralph Keyes has said that “Famous quotes need famous mouths”, hence how over the years these words were mistakenly attributed to L...
