Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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by Jill Pertler If the fire alarm went off in your home or workplace and you had to evacuate quickly, what would you grab on your way out? Besides pets, spouses, chapstick and an extra change of underwear, I’m guessing most of us could agree on one item: our phones. Our phones have become an extension of us. We wouldn’t consider leaving home without them. I didn’t see it coming - this reliance I have (we have) on our phones. They’re our communication link to the outside world, but that’s only the beginning. They are calendars, calculato...
Editor’s note: This information originally ran in the June 17, 2021 Independent Record on this page. We are running it again to help answer questions now being raised since the wooden park has been torn down. After multiple years of consideration, the Hot Springs County Board of Trustees approved going out for bid on a new bus drop off that will serve Hot Springs County High School and Ralph Witters Elementary students next fall. The new bus drop off lane would encompass the school district property on the south end of the track that is c...
by Jill Pertler Grief teaches me new lessons every day. I think writing about them is important, because grief is a topic many of us shy away from. It’s uncomfortable. It’s beyond that. It’s terrifying. Because here’s the truth that none of us wants to hear: If you love someone, there is a very huge chance one of you will grieve the other at some point. Love culminates in grief. We pretend this isn’t true, but there is no dodging the bullet. Grief is a sniper. And that sniper got me. But, if my experience and insight can help one person, t...
The undersigned members of Wyoming’s business community ask the 66th Wyoming Legislature to pass a bill to expand the state’s Medicaid program during the 2022 budget session for the following reasons: Lower Healthcare Costs: The Wyoming Hospital Association reports that its members lose at least $100 million annually in uncompensated care costs. These costs result when uninsured people receive medical treatment for which they cannot pay. Hospitals pass these costs to consumers. The impact ripples through Wyoming’s economy, driving up the price...
Medicaid is a state-administered program that currently supports the medical needs of Wyoming citizens who are both low income AND blind, disabled, pregnant, or elderly. Low income is defined as under 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) which is currently $12,880 for an individual and $21,960 for a family of three. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides subsidies for private health insurance to anyone who earns 138% or more of the federal poverty level which in 2021 was $17,774 for an individual or $30,305 for a family of 3 etc. Anyone who...
The People for People program and other local volunteers will be preparing a Thanksgiving meal this year. We will not have eat-in meals at the church. We will be preparing the food, packaging and delivering the meals to our People for People family and anyone that needs a meal. We will have sign-up sheets at the Help Center and Thermopolis Chamber of Commerce. Could we please have volunteers to help? You may prepare dishes at home. We will not have enough room in the kitchen to be able to cook everything there. Please call me or email me, if...
National Preparedness Month is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. The 2021 theme is ‘Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.’ During National Preparedness Month and throughout the year, Hot Springs County encourages all community members to take a proactive approach in personal preparedness. As the nation continues to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time to be involved this September. Wyo...
As predicted, COVID has spiked again both here in Hot Springs County and in the rest of the country. Those falling ill, being hospitalized, and dying are mostly those who are not vaccinated. Those who are vaccinated may still get COVID again, but the course is generally milder. Masking, social distancing, and other measures were all we had until vaccines were available. We now have three effective COVID vaccines in this country. No vaccine of any sort is 100% safe and effective, but these COVID vaccines are remarkably safe and effective. The... Full story
Greetings HSCSD #1 Patrons, On August 4, I participated in a ZOOM meeting with all superintendents in the state of Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Education, and State Epidemiologist Dr. Alexia Harrist. Communities throughout Wyoming have been anxiously awaiting information regarding which precautionary measures will be in place for the 2021-2022 school year in regards to COVID- 19. Masks: Masks will not be required as a public health order for the start of the school year. The Centers for Disease Control has again recommended masks indoors...
A fire ban was put in place in Hot Springs County as of June 30. Please read the order for your protection. If you have any questions please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (307)864-2622. Rules and Regulations Board of Land Commissioners Chapter 9 Governing Fire Danger Closures Section 1. Authority. This chapter is promulgated under the authority of W.S. 35-9-303. Section 2. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (a) “Closure” means the imposition of restrictions on, or prohibition of, designated activities within a defined area under the autho...
After multiple years of consideration, the Hot Springs County Board of Trustees approved going out for bid on a new bus drop off that will serve Hot Springs County High School and Ralph Witters Elementary students next fall. The new bus drop off lane would encompass the school district property on the south end of the track that is currently the wooden play park and would increase student safety, reduce traffic congestion in the current bus drop off, and improve bus traffic flow to main streets. Other benefits would include reduced maintenance...
by Suzanne Samelson Spring and being outside continues to be on our minds. Think Wyo Wednesday on June 2. Think Thermopolis Brewfest on Saturday, June 5. The June Wyo Wednesday theme from the Wyoming Business Council is “Outside Opportunities” and the month of June is shaping up with many outside opportunities and events locally. June 2 is a perfect day to stroll and shop in downtown and all around the town and Hot Springs County. Enjoy the results from the town-wide clean-up efforts this past week, which included Main Street Thermopolis vol...
by Meri Ann Rush Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Foundation On August 13, 2020 the Board of Directors for the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce voted to create a foundation. The work began to establish a board of directors, bylaw, articles of incorporation and on October 8, 2020 the paperwork was submitted to the IRS to create a non-profit. On April 12, 2021 the foundation received a letter confirming the creation of the 501(c)3, which allows the foundation to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers and gifts....
by Suzanne Samelson Spring is on our minds and in the air. Think Wyo Wednesday on May 5. Think Downtown Cleanup on Wednesday, May 19. Wyo Wednesday is part of the Wyoming Business Council’s state-wide campaign to promote shopping local. The first Wednesday of this month is a perfect day to visit our shops and restaurants and be on the lookout for ideal gifts for Mother’s Day. Whether it is a gift certificate or Chamber Bucks, a unique locally crafted item, special food and drink offerings, or gardening supplies, explore and find something spe...
by Suzanne Samelson Main Street Thermopolis has plans for the spring season, starting with Wyo Wednesday on April 7. The first Wednesday of the month is a perfect day to take a look at the shopping here in Thermopolis. As we move into the spring season, there are many reasons to celebrate this time of year. Among some of the special items available at our local businesses, I have seen the new quilting and related supplies along with a sweet line-up of Easter chocolates and cards at some of the wonderful downtown businesses. Gardening supplies...
CyberWyoming releases information on recent scam activity. Residents and businesses are reminded to never give out information over the phone regarding identity, bank account into, social security numbers, etc. Unusual Sign On Activity Business Alert: A Sheridan company reported an email spoofed as their own mail administrator claiming that ‘unusual sign-in activity’ was occurring for an employee. However, the link did not lead them to their Microsoft account but instead to https://main.d2ifct1tuplnsi.amplifyapp.com/index.ht...
The Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce has been working on our strategic plan. We have identified three areas to focus on; Member Relations-Retention and Expansion of our membership, Organization-Our staff, board and volunteers to serve our mission, and Operations-Practice good stewardship. Each focus area meets once a month and each board member serves on one of the focus areas. Focus Area #1 - Member Relations have worked on a list of some of the chamber benefits. This list has been sent out in one of our newsletters last fall and ca...
by Bill Sniffin, Cowboy State Daily Using both tight budgets and a Covid pandemic as excuses, the dumb idea of limiting printed public notices in Wyoming newspapers has reared its ugly head again in the Legislature in Cheyenne. Wyoming citizens should be both outraged at this proposal plus the fact that their taxes are paying for the lobbyists who are pushing for it. Crazy. Here is a fact: There are some people in government who like working out of the public’s eye. They do not like reporters or, worse yet, pesky citizens poking their noses i...
by Catelyn Deromedi RWE Principal Ralph Witters Elementary school would like to expound on last week’s article written in the Independent Record titled “RWE students struggling”. First and foremost it’s important to recognize that it’s not just our youngest students that COVID closures have impacted. Students across the country have been affected. The important piece to highlight though is, what are schools doing to close the learning gaps that have been created? This fall CNBC wrote an article titled “Half of U.S. elementary and high school...
Thermopolis VFW Post 2281 marked Veteran’s Day last Wednesday at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month with words from the post Quartermaster, Tobi Johansen, as well as the raising of the American Flag with honor guard. “I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to everyone for joining us, and for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today. “For the world, for our country, and for our community, 2020 has been an unusually difficult year. From facing the stress and fears of the Coronavirus pandemic, to overcoming the isola...
by Kelly Evans-Hullinger, M.D. As a primary care physician, I commonly encounter patients who smoke cigarettes. Most people, including those who smoke, are aware of the long-term health risks posed by smoking. Of course, as a physician who cares about their current and future health, I want these patients to embrace the goal of smoking cessation. As someone who has never been a smoker myself, I admit I cannot fully understand the struggle of this task. However, the data suggest that quitting smoking can be extremely difficult. I find it...
It’s a battle that’s been waged for a long time now and it doesn’t show any signs of letting up. There’s a movement amongst state legislators to have the legal notices published by municipal and county governments in their local newspapers instead published solely on their governmental websites. At a time when the state and its city and county governments have been hit hard by a sluggish minerals industry and the impacts of a pandemic, it makes sense to cut costs wherever they can be cut -- at least that’s the surface argument. There’s s...
by Kelly Evans-Hullinger, M.D. It is a classic presentation: The middle-aged man who develops a painful, swollen, great toe the morning after indulging in a steak dinner with a few beers. The savvy clinician will immediately identify this diagnosis, and I imagine much of the general public might recognize it as well. It’s “The Gout.” Gout is a unique type of inflammatory arthritis in which a substance called uric acid, accumulating in too-high amounts in the bloodstream, forms crystals within a joint. The presence of those microscopic cryst...
The 2020 Bobcat Homecoming week activities will be held throughout next week. In the three schools of Hot Springs County School District, various dress up days are being scheduled. Other activities include a movie that can be watched from the football field, a parade and the high school Mardi Gras Festival. This year there are fewer activities than usual because of COVID restrictions. Fans and businesses can still support the Bobcats by decorating, attending the parade downtown Friday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. and the home football game Friday night...
The editorial that appears to the right of this editorial ran in the September 13, 2001 Thermopolis Independent Record following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In reprinting this past editorial, we hope to remind readers of the feelings that spread throughout the nation, including Hot Springs County, after the attacks. Nearly 3,000 people were killed and injured during the attacks that created outrage nation wide. Phrases like “If there is one thing Americans have shown in the past when they are under attack, it has been a stubborn, almost h...
