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by Daniel Powell (totteringtimes@gmail.com) I became a “grown-up” when I was ten years old. When you take on the responsibilities of a being a grown-up – at a time when you are really just a child – one gets the benefit of a jump start on learning, and understanding, concepts like “duty” and “responsibility.” Now that I truly am “old” - I wish I had taken more time to “smell the roses.” While it is possible, I suppose, that I am unique in that regard – I seriously doubt it. My guess is, I am among the vast majority of “old people” when it come...
by Barb Love The Thermopolis Farmers Market has been around, off and on, for many years. Last year (2024) was our last season operating under the auspices of the Red Dirt Master Gardeners organization. Starting with the 2025 season, we will be our own nonprofit entity, with the name of Thermopolis Farmers and Artisans Market. As stated in our bylaw, the purpose of the Market is to: Provide an economic marketplace for any farm or business actively engaged in the production of agricultural products, scratch-made baked goods and prepared foods,...
submitted by Red Dirt Master Gardeners The “Grow a Little Extra” program is back again this year in Thermopolis, asking home gardeners to “grow a little extra” in your vegetable garden, specifically for donation. In our community, Grow A Little Extra donations will go to church food pantries, People to People, the Senior Apartments and the Senior Center, Big Horn Enterprises, Thermopolis Head Start, BOCES, the Philips Help Center and the Pioneer Home. Kelly Strampe from the Red Dirt Master Gardeners, along with Angela Michel, UW Cent$ib...
by Daniel Powell (totteringtimes@gmail.com) Someone asked me, the other day, if I have any regrets. Apparently, to others, I look old enough to have answers for that kind of question. Honestly, I never really thought about it. So, does that mean I don’t have regrets – or does it mean, that I just haven’t yet taken the time to focus on those needling issues - back there in the recesses of my mind? I suppose, I like to think I have tried to live my life in a way that regrets wouldn’t be part of my old age. Despite that effort, however, I do know...
by Kelly Strampe, Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition Member March’s Mental Health and Community Resources Fair raised awareness for the importance of mental health and provided an opportunity to learn more about helpful community resources. The Hot Springs Democrats hosted the Fair as part of their Annual Mid-Winter Community Dinner and asked the Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition to partner with them in planning the program for the evening. Local community organizations and service providers had tables where attendees could make c...
by Dale Horkey, chairperson The Hot Springs County Democrats met in monthly session on Wednesday, April 2nd at 6 p.m. in the Hot Springs County Annex building. Fifteen members were in attendance. A discussion was held regarding our plans for 2025 activities. Items included growing our general membership. Our visibility and community engagement activities include our plans for participating in local events including Discovery Days, Pride in the Park, and our July 4th Ice Cream Social in Hot Springs State Park. We are seeking to lift up more...
by Daniel Powell (totteringtimes@gmail.com) Do we value our Veterans? It seems like a simple question, but when we look close, the answer, or perhaps “answers,” become opaque, at best. As Americans, we always say that we honor those who have served. When we stand for the National Anthem, at least in part, that action is meant to show respect for those who have served in our armed forces. Each November we celebrate Veterans Day, and in May we celebrate Memorial Day - although those days, like so many other holidays, seem to have become more of...
by Jennifer Cheney, Community Prevention Specialist The Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition, in partnership with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), is proud to recognize March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). This year’s theme, “Seeking Understanding,” focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition. The campaign seeks to foster greater awareness and empathy, break down barriers to treatment, and provide support for individuals and families impac...
by Daniel Powell (totteringtimes@gmail.com) Here’s the thing about being old: Times change, people change, knowledge and understanding changes – but I am not really a big fan of change. I understand that change will happen – but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Recently, I have discovered that some political terms – the meaning of which, I had always thought I had learned and understood – seem to have altered, to such an extent, that I find myself wondering if I now know their meaning – or if, perhaps, I had never correctly understood th...
by Laura Phagan, HSH After working for Hot Springs Health for five years, Mackenzie Engel was ready for a challenge and decided earning a certificate to enhance her skills was the best way to do it. Her only setback was the distance to a local college to earn that certificate while also being a full-time employee and a mom. So, when the offer to complete the clinical medical assistant certification through the National Healthcareer Association, Engel made the easy decision to enroll. Since its inception, the NHA has awarded more than one...
Dear Representative Winter and Senator Cooper and fellow members of the Wyoming Legislature: I hope this finds you well. As the legislative session is now in full swing, the HSCSD#1 Board of Trustees has held a work session to discuss several bills currently under consideration, specifically in relation to education. After taking public comment from numerous patrons, a clear theme emerged: many of our community members believe that Wyoming can do better when it comes to these proposed legislative changes. The voices we heard in the room echoed...
A message from Jen Cheney of the Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition In a world full of opportunities to connect and uplift one another, kindness has the power to shine brightly. What if we made kindness the norm—the foundation of how we live and interact every day? Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 9–15, 2025, is a perfect reminder of how thoughtful gestures can spark joy, inspire change, and create lasting impact. Let’s celebrate this week as a chance to embrace kindness as a daily habit and a way of life. 1. Kindness Builds Stron...
“Age is the price of wisdom.” It’s an ancient proverb. One that has been passed down through the fog of time - in cultures spread across the globe. But what does it mean? Benjamin Franklin said: “At 20 years of age, the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment.” Fair enough. I’ll concede that the passage of time can help one to have a more complete perspective of the world, of people, and even of one’s own life. Franklin lived to be 84. I wonder if he had any words of wisdom about what rules at 50? Or 60? Guess he was keeping that wisdom...
submitted by RYTE Rehabilitation As Americans prepare their health goals for 2025, we want to share tips to help individuals create sustainable exercise habits. They have combined current research with practical strategies to help people maintain their fitness resolutions beyond January. Therapists say that starting exercise isn’t usually the problem, it’s sticking with it. Key tips to remember are: Research showing that exercising four times weekly for six weeks is the minimum for habit formation Schedule exercise into your calendar Treat it...
by Daniel Powell Well, the Broncos managed to outperform all expectations for this season, and have secured the seventh seed in the AFC playoffs. I am sure there are some hard-core Broncos fans that were not surprised - and no doubt, there are many, many, more Broncos fans - who will, adamantly, claim to not have been in the least surprised. After all, everyone loves a bandwagon. Having grown up in the suburbs of Denver, I can truly claim to have been a Broncos fan – long before the team was ever considered to be competitive. In those early d...
by Teri Gergen First Day Hikes are coordinated by the National Parks Service to encourage people to “get outside and connect with nature” on New Years Day. I had completed a couple hikes in Middle and East Tennessee before moving to Wyoming and was glad to see that they happened here as well. January 1, 2025 marked my fourth New Year in Thermopolis and the third time I participated in the annual hike. In 2022, the group met at the visitors center and hiked through the Frisbee/Disc Golf course. The winter of 2022-2023 was especially brutal. The...
As another year comes to a close, we begin to focus on the events, and the atmosphere, of the holiday season. Certainly, the holidays can be hectic – stressful even. It is important, however, that we always try to overlook those aspects of the season, and focus instead, on the more joyful things – especially, how we look forward to time spent with friends and family, in celebration of the season. Understandably, our thoughts may turn to holiday seasons of the past, and to happy times spent with some loved ones, who are no longer with us. Thi...
by Trenda Moore, HSC Senior Citizens Center Director Being informed and involved is so important in our community. I’m going to touch on things you may not have heard about recently or at all. We are constantly reminded – until someone has a need or comes through the door, they don’t know what we do or all the services we offer daily. It takes every entity and partnership we have to make things all work. Following our recent Veteran’s Day lunch, we need your help to spread the word to veterans and their families. Please bring your militar...
As many of you know, our beloved Memorial Avenue of Flags, a cherished tribute to those who have served our country, suffered significant damage during the recent windstorm on Flag Day. The flags and poles, which stand as symbols of honor and remembrance, were torn and displaced, leaving our community’s heart a little less bright. The Memorial Avenue of Flags has always been a place for reflection, gratitude, and pride. It is not only a tribute to our veterans but also a gathering point for commemorative events that bring us together as a c...
by Jennifer Cheney, HSC Community Prevention Specialist September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time for us to come together, raise awareness, and demonstrate that no one has to face their struggles alone. Let us use this month as an opportunity to engage in open conversations about mental health, to offer our support to those in need, and to work towards preventing suicides in our community. During this month, and throughout the year, we can create hope in our families and in our community by educating ourselves about...
by Allison Wrye, WPH Activities Director Wyoming State Library, Lifetime Arts, Creative Aging and the Wyoming Pioneer Home (WPH) is pleased to announce our 2024 Program “Storytelling through Clay”. There are still a few spots left to participate in this 8-week course for individuals 55 years and older will draw inspiration from personal narratives and craft their own artistic creation. The final product will be displayed at the culminating art show. This class is offered free through a grant by Califa, Wyoming State Library and Lifetime Art...
by Allison Wrye, WPH Activities Director Wyoming State Library, Lifetime Arts, Creative Aging and the Wyoming Pioneer Home (WPH) is pleased to announce our 2024 Program “Storytelling through Clay”. This 8-week course for individuals 55 years and older will draw inspiration from personal narratives and craft their own artistic creation. The final product will be displayed at the culminating art show. This class is offered free through a grant by Califa, Wyoming State Library and Lifetime Arts. We ask that attendance be a priority as each cla...
by Tori Robbins, Communications Manager for Vitalant in Wyoming We have a blood drive coming up in your community and we are looking for some extra support. Appointments are low going into this blood drive and there is currently a critical need for Type O+ and O- donors, as well as an urgent need for all other blood types. The Thermopolis Community Blood Drive is Tuesday, September 3 from 2-6 p.m. and Wednesday, September 4 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hot Springs County Senior Citizens Center, 206 Senior Ave For an appointment contact Annie at (406)...
by Mike Berry The VFW Post 2281 is in need of “a few good men” and/or women to serve as staff in the dining and kitchen theaters. We have been successful in securing the front lines on the financial sector by expanding into a bar & grill zone and thereby being able to serve a larger segment of the public. Unfortunately, this has had the effect of increasing the strain on our staff. While they are dedicated to the Post and their service to it, they are only human! Perhaps Super-human to some degree, but basically human like the rest of us. In...
Members of our community work hard to put on all sorts of worthwhile events that attract a variety of groups and subject matter. Different organizations hold fundraisers, fun activities and other amazing opportunities to gather together. People need to know your event is happening. There are a variety of ways to get the word out, but please consider your local newspaper as an effective way to promote your event. People pay for this newspaper, which means they read it. Please know we here at the Independent Record do not get our news from...