Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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Hot Springs Health has recently been made aware of our main hospital number (307) 864-3121 being used in an attempt to scam members of the community. The caller ID shows the call coming from the hospital. During the call, the person on the phone misrepresents themselves as an employee or representative of the hospital, and asks for personal information including Social Security Numbers, Medicare ID numbers, and other personal information. The caller may attempt to use an unpaid hospital bill as an excuse to gain this information. While the...
by Andrew Ellsworth, MD If you ever played baseball, you may have been told to “keep your eye on the ball.” When batting, a baseball player is taught to watch the ball the entire time from when it leaves the pitcher’s hand to when, hopefully, their bat smacks the ball for a hit. It may sound simple, but some pitchers can throw fast and sometimes they throw a curveball. Great hitters use their vision and spot the difference, helping them get a hit. Lose focus, and in the blink of an eye the pitch has whipped past them for a strike. Like keepi...
by John Stanford The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced the first 10 drugs that will be subject to Medicare’s new price controls. More drugs will follow each year. Industry is grappling with the effects this change will have on new drug development -- and it’s clear that lawmakers need to enact at least one adjustment to eliminate a distortion they introduced in the development pipeline. The good news is that it’s an easy fix. In crafting the legislation, lawmakers saw the need to strike a balance between lower price...
From NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Health, submitted by Jennifer Cheney, Community Prevention Specialist Community is not just a group of people; it is a feeling. It is a feeling of being connected to others, accepted for who you are, and supported by others. At its heart, community is all about connection. As social creatures, community is essential for human beings to thrive. In times of distress, being able to lean on a community can be an essential aspect of self-care. Community is important for so many reasons – it provides us with a...
Self-measured blood pressure monitoring kits are now available for checkout at the library in Thermopolis. The kits are offered through a collaborative pilot project involving the Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program and the Hot Springs County Library. The kits, available in both English and Spanish, include an automated home blood pressure cuff; blood pressure logbooks; educational materials from the American Heart Association; information on what b...
On behalf of Hot Springs County and the Board of County Commissioners, the Hot Springs County Attorney’s Office would like to make the following statements: 1. The Tipi Retreat, LLC, a Wyoming Limited Liability Company, Michelle Stevens, individually, and Michael Stevens, individually, brought suit against the Hot Springs County Board of County Commissioners on or about January 19th, 2022, Docket No. 2022-03 in the District Court, 5th Judicial District. 2. The Defendant (Hot Springs County BOCC) filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgement o...
Dear Rusty: I’m nearing 68 years old, have never signed up for Medicare but thinking that I should look into it. I’m currently covered by my wife’s health insurance through her employer. I would greatly appreciate some simple guidance regarding Medicare. I’ve tried watching some videos about the subject, but it was always so boring that I never finished watching. I get lost in all the Part This & Part That. I would just like some solid insight into the coverage that I truly need & the cost. Signed: Confused Dear Confused: Medicare is, indeed,...
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the American naval facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. According to History.com, the goal of this attack, which claimed the lives of more than 2,400 Americans, was to destroy the Pacific Fleet. Though the attack crippled or destroyed roughly 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes, the Pacific Fleet was not destroyed. All of the Pacific Fleet’s aircraft carriers were elsewhere on December 7, 1941. Within a day of the attack, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt declared war on J...
by Judy Carswell The silent heroes that exist within our community are so amazing! I am talking about our friends and neighbors that have been volunteers for the People for People Programs, providing meals here in our community since 1988 (34 years). Every Sunday they prepare meals (sometimes paying for the meal) and deliver to our friends that may need a helping hand. They speak with each person they deliver a meal with a smile on their face, while checking to make sure they are doing okay and tell them to have a nice day. Also, the Backpack...
by Andrew Ellsworth, M.D. Recently our family went on a camping trip. Our kids loved how we canoed our supplies across a lake and set up our campsite. My wife and I were reminded how much work it is. Soon our children were experiencing more mosquitos, flies, caterpillars, and ticks than they had ever seen before. On one of our lovely hikes, nearly every time I looked down, I found another tick crawling on my shoe or leg. Ticks love tall grass, wooded areas, and other moist and humid environments often close to the ground. Although you may find...
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...
