Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Sorted by date Results 851 - 875 of 1353
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...
Sixty years ago (Oh my gosh, can it be that long ago?), Cody hosted Torrington in the state championship 3A football game in a November blizzard, 38” deep snow and 10 degree temperature. Most who braved the conditions have ever after described the conditions as the worst ever for a championship game. As a Blazer, I was doubly miserable because though we had the better team, the conditions took us out of our game. There were a total of two passes thrown that day...both incomplete. The canyon was closed and we spent a miserable night in Thermopol...
This Sunday, we celebrate the ones who brought us into this world, the matriarchs, the ones who kissed our booboos, read us stories, gave us treats and toys when we were good but whose wrath knew no bounds when crossed. It’s a day for moms. When considering Mother’s Day presents, there is plenty to take into consideration. Flowers, candy and jewelry top the list, but it’s important to make sure the blooms are her favorite color or type, the chocolates are extra sweet and the gemstones and setting are the ones the special lady of your life...
National Stuttering Awareness Week begins May 7. Did you know more than three million Americans stutter? That’s more than the populations of Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, and Washington, DC…combined. One percent of your readers stutter, and up to five percent of children stutter for a time during their early developmental years. In the spirit of spreading awareness, the most important thing you and your readers can do for someone who stutters — or for anyone you are speaking with — is listen. Listen to what they have to say rather...
I would like to send a big thank you to members of the Thermopolis Police Department and the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office for their help and compassion over the last few weeks with regard to my property that was stolen. I really appreciate your help and dedication to the citizens of this community....
You can go on the internet and find a special day or special week for almost anything these days, from National Hamburger Day to National Coloring Book Day, but for all of us, one of the most important should be Teacher Appriciation Week. Let’s face it, without a teacher you wouldn’t be able to read this. Without a teacher, I wouldn’t be able to write this. I have had four special educators in my life that I appreciate on just about a daily basis, not just for what they taught me in the class...
The past few weeks have shattered our complacency in Hot Springs County. No longer can we say, “It can’t happen here” after an attempted murder just 15 miles from the center of town and the apprehension of a fugitive wanted for attempted murder at the back doors of residents along Arapahoe last Friday. Thermopolis has always been a quiet little town where not much in the way of crime happens other than a speeder here and there or shoplifting or once in a blue moon, a home gets broken into. We’ve been very lucky. It was a bit dishear...
May is officially here, and among the various celebrations coming in the next few weeks graduation and the end of the school year are certainly among the more prominent. Since I’m still 12 years off from celebrating my own kids’ graduation, I typically enjoy attending ceremonies for the children of friends and family. But, before all the festivities begin it’s good to hear what senior students are going to be up to next year. That’s what I got when I attended the signing day this week. Watching...
I have been going to write this for some time now. Today is the day. On Monday evening of the 30th it was raining pretty hard, that is for Wyoming. I would guess no more than 50 percent of cars and pickups had their headlights on. I don’t mean parking or clearance lights. Also, a Wyoming State Patrol car and local police car was in that group. In some areas of Wyoming there are highway signs that say to drive with lights on for safety reasons. Why not everywhere? I have driven all over the U.S.A. in my 60-plus years of driving and don’t und...
Things have certainly got a little crazy in town since Friday the 13th, with regard to crimes and dangerous individuals in the area. We’ve already had subjects charged with attempted murder as well as several drug and alcohol-related incidents. At The Independent Record, we make every effort to keep the public informed not just about the fun activities happening around town and accomplishments of our schools, organizations, businesses and individuals. But, we also know not everything can be sunshine and rainbows, and we report on much of the d...
I’m going to give you a little tip. Go see the high school Drama Club’s spring production, “The Villian Wore a Dirty Shirt” tonight or Friday night. Director Mary McGillivray has once again taken our super talented kids and created an evening that will have you laughing, groaning (at the awful puns), hissing the bad guys and cheering on the hero. Poor sheriff Jack B. Nimble (Tyler Kay) just can’t talk to girls even though he’s in love with Sweet Sally (Shianne Yarrington) and instead mak...
My husband and I attended the Zaniac comedy show at the HSC high school auditorium and we were delighted to see so much audience participation. Adults as well as children were filled with enthusiasm and excitement. The Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation has done a phenomenal job of providing Thermopolis residents with great cultural and learning opportunities which we have very much enjoyed. We look forward to the upcoming auditorium events scheduled in May and September. The only thing that was somewhat disturbing was some of the jokes,...
We want our county to know our county treasurer was very helpful in helping the Webelos in our Cub Scout troop learn about our government office. It helped us get one of our badges too. She took time to help us and we liked that....
It certainly seems like Mother Nature can’t make up her mind, giving us days in the 70s followed by snow and rain before teasing us with another little warm spell. You would think, with all the moisture and the green grass that spring burning would be fine, and in most instances, it is, but we’ve also been having wind which can dry out those grasses pretty quickly. Calm winds in the morning can lull you into a sense of security and then here comes the wind in the afternoon. Add a controlled burn to a windy day and its a recipe for dis...
This past week saw members of the Wyoming Tourism Board visiting for a familiarization tour and their regular board meeting. During a dinner with our visitors, a comment I heard over and over was that we have a real gem here in Thermopolis, a “hidden treasure.” This next week, our town will be home to the Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce. As they will also be receiving a tour of the businesses and other locales in the county, I expect many will have the same opinion of our town as a hidden tre...
As with any month, there are a number of celebrations happening in April. Among them is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The local Department of Family Services office and Public Health, are providing opportunities to help the children in our community. On Thursday, April 12 at 6 p.m. there is a free Love and Logic parenting class, and on Monday, April 16 from 5-7 p.m. there will be a Community Café at Hot Springs County Library to discuss the resources and services that are available to children or families. Whether you plan to attend these...
Occasionally thoughts more profound than, “What’s for dinner?” and “Are you washing clothes tomorrow?” cross my mind. I visualize happenings such as running into an acquaintance who asks, “What do you think about eternity?” or “What are we going to do about the at-risk dams around the country?” It’s at times like these that I remove my glasses, making sure I point at least one bow at the person who would dare ask such a question on a nice spring day, and reply, “Now there’s a question for one to ponder.” I do that in hopes that by the time I...
I finally finished a project last weekend that has taken me literally two years to accomplish. I now have a “Heritage Wall” in my home filled with a panoramic photo of Gebo surrounded by photos of my Burnell and Stewart relatives. Its good, sometimes, to remember where you came from. While going through the old family album to pick out the photos I wanted to use I found a photo of my grandfather with his first car near the tunnels in the canyon. Although in his 20s, the photo brought back mem...
As a country we are preparing ourselves for midterm elections on a national scale with 435 seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives and 34 of 100 seats on the line in the U.S. Senate. Here in Wyoming we are looking at the election of a new Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and State Treasurer along with a Superintendent of Public Instruction. Senator John Barrasso and Representative Liz Cheney are also up for re-election this cycle. Speaking with the various candidates is an excellent way to see where they stand on the...
Over the spring break, my wife and two sons took one heck of a road trip, travelling from Thermopolis down to Arizona to visit their aunt Mandie. Everyone was excited about the trip, even me as it meant a little peace and quiet around the house and time to get some long put off projects done. Of course, four days into the experience I had run out of things to do and was wanting — just a little bit — for the return of my two young men and our regular WWE matches in the living room. Likewise, eve...
