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On June 14, we celebrate Flag Day. Ever since Sept. 11, 2001 we have seen more American Flags displayed at any time since World War II. Yet, if we asked the average citizen as to how Flag Day came about, he most likely would draw a blank. I thought I would take this opportunity to write this with the help of information from the Northwestern University Alumni Magazine, about how Flag Day came about in hope readers would enjoy learning about something that has long been forgotten. It all started with Bernard J. Cigrand (1866-1932), the son of Lu... Full story
Well, we finally made it. Those few weeks where the temperatures are right in the “comfort zone,” and any moisture we get doesn’t come in flake form. It’s also a brief moment in the calendar when we get to stop complaining about the cold temperatures, before we switch gears and complain about the heat. Summer in this part of the world typically comes with at least a couple weeks’ worth of some mercury-rising days, but just because those high temperatures are no excuse to stay indoors when there’s plenty happening around town. Last weekend saw...
There is a lesson to be learned from the recent near-catastrophic failure of the Oroville Dam in California. That dam is of similar construction as our Boysen Dam. Extended heavy rains filled the reservoir behind the dam to the extent that the spillway was activated to prevent overflow and breaching of the dam. The spillway itself began to erode and fail. An emergency evacuation of 180,000 people below the dam was instituted because the dam was in danger of failing. I had an enlightening experience about rain potential in Colorado. A good frien...
Pageant Weekend is an annual event that happens the first full weekend in August, this year Aug. 5-6. It is centered around the Gift of the Waters Pageant, a play written by Marie Montabe in 1925 that celebrates the transfer of the Big Spring from the Native Americans to the United States government in 1896. Prior to that, Thermopolis was located about seven miles north of the present day town, near the confluence of Owl Creek and the Bighorn River. When the land became available to settlers, the town moved closer to the Big Spring, which at th...
by Rex Clothier In 2003 when when my bride and I decided that this piece of Wyoming would be a good place to retire, and we found a cute little place that seemed to be calling our names, and somehow, as fate would have it, circumstances worked amazingly well to allow us to enter into home ownership a couple of years before the magic date of leaving our jobs (teaching) for the idyllic life of retirement. We met the friendly older gentleman whose home bordered ours, and looked forward to becoming neighbors when we actually moved onto the property...
This map of Thermopolis indicates the area of the current Bighorn River floodplain inside the red line (4340' elevation) and the potential 80-foot fill line in green (4400' elevation) above which is safe ground. For more information, see the opinion piece by Daniel Wychgram on page 4....
Green grass, green leaves and beautiful flowers are all definite and welcomed signs of spring in Wyoming, however, in order to get all those delights for the eyes, we need to have plenty of moisture. Unfortunately, there has been an abundance of rain this spring, which added to the copious amounts of snow we had over the winter, means a lot of flooding danger. We’ve watched and waited as Wind River Canyon has suffered from the rain and the start of the run-off with boulders, some the size of houses, sliding from their precipice. Emergency m...
This past week I saw my oldest son graduate from his pre-school program, and dealt with a barrage of “why” as I tried to break down why he couldn’t go straight to kindergarten the next day. He has yet to grasp this concept of summer vacation, and I only hope his love for school holds out longer than it did his father’s — I lost it around third grade. For those students who recognize what we’re on the cusp of, it can mean a switch from learning to lounging or, in some cases, working through the...
I hope that the title of this column got your attention! It is an ill-kept secret that Thermopolis has a lot going on, and there are several different versions as to what the facts are. In an effort to communicate with the public, and put out the true facts of what is happening around the community, this column will be a weekly opportunity for nonprofits and clubs to toot their horns and inform. The basic rules will be simple: keep your column between 200-400 words, and keep it clean. This is NOT Thermopolis Confessions! To kick things off, I i...
Graduation is set for this weekend, a time for our seniors to reflect on memories made over the past 12 years and look forward at what’s to come. But, before the caps and gowns are put on and those familiar notes of Pomp and Circumstance play, keep in mind there’s still some school activities to finish up — among them the track season. Despite the gloom and doom brought on by the recent slides in the canyon and the forecast of weather which is more like late fall than middle of spring, the Track and Field State Championships are still slate...
We’re dealing with typical “Springtime in Wyoming,” with 80 degrees for two days, rain for three or four, and then the threat of snow before its all over. Along with that come issues with rocks falling in Wind River Canyon, something we’ve dealt with for generations. I always hear folks talking about the time when Chimney Rock will come falling down across the road, but for me, I never worry about that. When my grandmother was young, the canyon was blasted out to create the road and the railway across the river. I remember her telling me about...
We’re nearing the middle of May with tourist season right around the corner. The Town of Thermopolis has proclaimed May 22-25 our Spring Clean-up, encouraging residents and businesses to do a little sprucing up to put on our best face for our incoming summer visitors. It is amazing how something as simple as sweeping a sidewalk can make a tourist walking through downtown think we are about the prettiest place they’ve ever seen. Perception is a big part of bringing visitors back to Thermopolis, again and again. We have always been a burgh fil...
I wish to comment on your article in the latest edition of the IR. I believe reports are spot on, as far as what is going on, and what will continue to happen. I was one of those affected by the latest road closure in the Wind River Canyon. Unfortunately, it seems as if WYDOT is just putting band-aids on a major wound. While I realize that any major fixes are going to be expensive, I believe that WYDOT needs to step up, do the right thing, and take care of the problems NOW! It is only going to get more expensive the longer we wait! There needs...
I can’t speak for all senior citizens, but I think many would agree that the two services we most value are those of the senior center and the library. The senior center offers the best lunch deal in town, along with various activities and transportation for those who can’t or don’t drive. The library offers both education and entertainment, with the staff always being friendly and helpful. Once a month they even provide a free dinner along with a classic film. My thanks to all of those who help in some way to keep both of these insti...
We’re officially within two weeks before graduation — 10 days to be exact — and there’s a flurry of activity at the schools, not just in these last few days but the entire month of May as spring sports wrap up their seasons, school programs take to the stage and students go on field trips near and far. Though the last few days feel like a time to be a bit more lax in the classroom, with summer vacation within sight, I’d encourage students to keep their academic, athletic and extracurr...
Unless you’ve sworn off any type of media this past week, you’re well aware of the impact the recent moisture has had on Wind River Canyon and the impediments facing those trying to travel into and out of Thermopolis. True, there were alternate routes for those who wanted to dare them, but there comes a point when you have to consider your own safety against getting to your destinations. Satellite navigation systems are all well and good for giving you another way to get to where you’re going, but they’re not a substitute for your own senses;...
I am always amazed at how smart animals really are. For instance, elephant mommies will stay with their babies if they’re in trouble and the rest of the herd gathers around to help. Sea turtles on Roanoke are hatched on the beach and the babies somehow know how to use their tiny little flippers to move across the sand to the ocean. Domestic animals are pretty smart, too. Dogs are brilliant escape artists as evidenced by the number of them running happily about town according to page two of this...
The month of May is nearly upon us and with it comes a lot of activities that will keep both parents and students very busy. Actually, it can keep everyone busy, between all the fabulous school concerts on tap, prom, the district track meet, graduation and everything else, it may seem a bit overwhelming at times. Some of the planning going on goes all the way through summer. For example, don’t forget to attend the public meeting regarding the solar eclipse on Monday night at 6 p.m. in the middle school commons. A big night at the middle s...
This weekend, I had the fortunate chance to be part of history in Thermopolis as I attended the groundbreaking for the Wyoming Dinosaur Center’s new location on Saturday. Having a love of dinosaurs that goes back as far as I can remember, and having two boys, I find just about any reason to make a trip over to the center. Every time I’m there I think about the center’s future, and I can’t wait to see the actual construction start south of town and, of course, to walk through those new doors f...
Next month, Thermopolis will host a hospitality workshop conducted by Ginny Garner. Described as instruction in intensive hospitality, the workshop will include training in topics such as the importance of tourism and how a person’s experience at one business or event might sour their opinion of the whole town. While this workshop is an important event, and board members were encouraged to have their employees attend, it’s not the only opportunity to make a good impression on people passing through. Though there are still plenty of gray, rai...
Last week’s letter to the editor from Bill Williams about the “Special Use Tax” or “1% Additional Sales Tax” was informative, yet it raises a few further questions. At one percent of taxable sales in this county, how many years can we expect to have this tax in effect before the 1.64 BILLION dollars is spent within our county to raise this amount? Bear in mind that not all money spent is subject to sales tax. Minerals and petroleum, as well as livestock, which are our greatest products, leave the county for resale and as such are not subject t...
by Rex Clothier “How much do you love me?!” Not having been asked that by any doctor before, but detecting good news arriving, I responded with “A goodly amount, but I suspect more after today.” Beaming broadly, she smiled and for the first time in nearly two months became the first person to assure me that I would leave the hospital with both feet, even if one was now smaller than the other. One the joy of knowing the tide had turned, and the enemy was in retreat had abated somewhat, I began to appreciate what a job my case manager had don...
As we come to the end of this Holy Week, you will be able to find a complete listing of services available at each of our local churches on the front page of this edition. Along with church services, throughout these pages you will find all kinds of things to do, from egg hunts to a 5K walk/run and the Second Friday ArtStroll, plenty of things for everyone in the family to do as they gather for the weekend. Whether your heart turns to a higher power or not, one thing is certain, life is renewing around us, from the new shoots of green grass to...
Regarding the “Our View” published in the April 6, 2017 edition of the IR on the opinion page, anyone who thinks the “sales tax” might continue indefinitely is in need of a refresher course. The “sales tax” is in fact a Special Purpose Tax and by definition is put in place after approval by the voters to raise monies for a “Special Purpose”, in this case the remodeling and replacement of the hospital. Once the funds have been raised to the maximum amount of $16.4 million for the project, the Special Purpose tax goes away. When that happens it...
Easter weekend is here once again, and the holiday means different things to different people. Having been raised Catholic, for me — as I’m sure it does for plenty others — the day itself and the weeks leading up to it go beyond the chocolate bunnies and marshmallow birds and into the spiritual. One thing I think is common among everyone, though, is the sense of newness, of rebirth or life taking a new direction. I hope that has more to do with the springtime being when baby animals are born,...
