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Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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Its actually rather typical that young people begin getting a little more rambunctious as summer starts drawing to a close, but it seems like this year it has gotten out of control, moving into the realm of destruction. Generally, its small things like vehicles being egged or planters knocked over, but this year they’re hitting us all with complete disregard. Fish feeders in the State Park, which were put up to help pay for some extra things in the park – destroyed. It wasn’t enough to just pry the money out of them, they went the extra mile...
Wondering who to vote for? Here’s what I’ve always told candidates. If you run, don’t do negative advertising, mailers or letters. They will and should come back to cost you votes. Here’s been my formula for how I choose a candidate. To vote, disregard those who focus on negative rhetoric. Look at the person’s own background and ideas. Whatever a person has done before they will keep doing, especially after they win. Blaming another person or distracting by pointing out another’s flaws can become a habit and wastes time. Something positive co...
One of the political races that has seen more commentary than others is the five-candidate race for Hot Springs County Sheriff. In the various campaigns and forums, a topic that sees a lot of discussion is what is being done about the drug problem in Hot Springs County, and rightly so. If there’s one problem that doesn’t seem to have a solution, it’s drugs. As soon as one method of dealing with the issue is found, dealers and users seem to find 10 other ways to get around the law. It can feel...
It seems that more and more political signs continue to pop up all over town, supporting one candidate or another for local, state or federal offices. But though the lawn decorations have been going up since candidates announced they are running, the past couple weeks have seen incidence of signs being marred or even yanked out of yards and placed in dumpsters. While hoping everyone shares your opinion, no matter the topic, is something of pipe dream, it doesn’t have to get to the point where vandalism or worse crimes come into play. Not o...
Vandalism is not protected by the government. Free speech, freedom of the press and the right to protest is. To the woman who vandalized my place, please come and talk to me and I will drop this....
As I get older, I realize more and more how everything eventually comes full circle in your life. This weekend is a prime example for me. I remember as a kid, selling programs at the Gift of the Waters Pageant for 50-cents through the Girl Scouts. Granted, at the time it was one of those fun things, meeting people from all over the world, but honestly, other than the fancy Native dancers, I didn’t get much out of it. Later on, it was the Saturday parade. This was the only parade the Wildcat Band...
While watching an old rerun of a late 50’s TV show, I happened upon an old commercial about a soap product that was 99 & 44/100 percent pure. (I always wondered what that .56 percent impurity was and why if it could be measured. Why it couldn’t be removed to reach the totally pure mark?) My memory took me back about 70 years to my last meeting with that particular product. The event started with the words, “I didn’t . . . “ and things went sharply downhill from there to the point that “pure “ had nothing to do with taste. Polite society today...
Its time to start asking the big questions. We are in the midst of election season with the primary just a few weeks away. We’ve heard what the platforms are for candidates on both sides of the aisle, locally, state-wide and federally, but we’re still seeking answers. The reality is, these are people seeking election to become public servants and we are the public they’ll be serving. Locally, you’re bound to run into a candidate or two on almost a daily basis and its fine to ask them specific questions. Many candidates are more comfort...
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...
