Week of January 29, 2026
Week of January 29, 2026
Paisley Worley rode in the mutton bustin at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver on Wednesday, January 21 . She scored a 90 point ride winning her the mutton bustin championship belt buckle and a trophy. Paisley is shown with Miss Rodeo Idaho Kyleigh Davis, Miss Rodeo Florida Rae Lynne Kempfer and Miss Rodeo Wisconsin Shannon...
Hot Springs County High School senior Cody Bomengen signed his commitment to play basketball for the Pronghorns at Gillette Community College. He will matriculate to Gillette this fall to study physical education and secondary education, and is considering a long-term goal of becoming an athletic...
by Alex Hargrave Buffalo Bulletin Via Wyoming News Exchange Property tax cuts appear to be a priority issue again for the Wyoming Legislature as it prepares to convene its 2026 budget session in February. Several proposals are on the table, including a resolution seeking a constitutional amendment to eliminate assessment of residential property taxes altogether. A companion bill would increase sales and use tax by 2%, as currently written. Other bills are more measured, including one based on a constitutional amendment passed by voters in...
CHEYENNE (WNE) — The Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources is proposing to amend Chapter 1, Rules and Regulations (State Parks & Historic Sites Program), of its rules. The amendments update and expand definitions, remove redundant recitations of statute, and eliminate obsolete or unnecessary provisions. In addition, the proposal introduces several substantive changes, including the following: Drone use allowed with prior written permission from the park superintendent Parks remain open after 10 p.m. for non-camping visitors...
by Carrie Haderlie Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange With just over two weeks until the 2026 budget session, the Wyoming Legislature’s Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration voted Friday to sponsor a 95-page, estimated $1.8 billion bill covering K-12 public school funding. For two days, the committee listened to members of the public express concerns about potential decreased funding for classroom teachers and increased class sizes, among other proposed changes. The draft bill is largely intended to achieve...
Have you driven through the stunning Wind River Canyon (WRC) lately? This iconic Wyoming route on US 20/WY 789 is a breathtaking drive for locals, tourists and everyone in between, but it is also the only main path connecting communities north and south of the Wind River Range. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is studying the long-term safety and reliability of WRC, one of the state’s most important and challenging transportation corridors. Built nearly a century ago, this scenic byway is also a hard-working route that...
Members of the Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department recently mailed out books of raffle tickets to addresses in Hot Springs County for their annual fund drive. The letter with the tickets explains the annual fund drive’s importance to the department and that funds raised will go toward the replacement, repair and purchase of new equipment. The packet included an envelope to mail your tickets and donation in or it can be dropped off at 400 South 14th St. by February 10. Raffle prizes range from $50 to $300 in gift...
The Travel & Tourism Board met on January 20 for their first regular monthly meeting of the new calendar year. The board reviewed the status of their on-going projects, and discussed other future projects. Director Angie Guyon reported that the December, 2025, income to the organization from the lodging tax had been in the sum of $15,651.42, which represents an increase of more than 56%, over the same time period in 2024. Guyon met with WYDOT on January 14 to identify the physical locations for each of the wayfinding signs which the Board...
The Hot Springs County School Board met for their first meeting of the new calendar year on January 15. With a relatively light business agenda, the board enjoyed some time acknowledging some well-earned accolades of the student body. Superintendent Dr. Jason Fuss gave a quick update to the board on the status of the recalibration legislation, which is set to work its way through the Wyoming State Legislature this year. He reported that, at this point, the Joint Appropriations Committee has not agreed to follow the funding recommendations of...
The University of Wyoming Extension will offer a pesticide safety education program for private applicators in Worland on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The program will take place at the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center, located at 2200 Big Horn Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants are asked to RSVP by contacting the Washakie County extension office at (307) 347-3431 or dvanderp@uwyo.edu. Private applicator licenses are required for anyone who purchases and applies restricted use pesticides (RUPs) to their own property or properties they manage....
The Hot Springs Speech and Debate Team finished first place in 1A/2A at the annual Riverside Jurassic Classic Speech Tournament held at Riverside High School in Basin, Wyoming, on January 24, 2026. Coaches Lyle Wiley and Riley Jeffs traveled with a team of 15 Bobcats to compete with 6 teams an over 100 entries. The one-day, dinosaur-themed Riverside tournament excluded debate events, so Bobcat debaters had a weekend to focus on interpretative and platform events. The only debate event held at the tournament was the hybrid-debate event,...
Unplug with music Holy Trinity Episopal Church, 642 Arapahoe St., is hosting an evening of service in the Celtic tradition on Sunday, Feb. 1 beginning at 5:30 p.m. This month’s Unplug service with feature Folk Americana musicians Ann and Any Lowe. A feast of pork roast, homemade sides and desserts will be offered afterward. Calling all chocolate lovers Friends of the Hot Springs County Library are hosting a chocolate lovers fundraiser to support the library. On Saturday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m.-noon you can buy a box of chocolate treats for $5...
The Lady Cats basketball has seen some ups and downs this season, however, the "downs" have never been allowed to stand in the way of the "ups". Led by senior Jayssie Owsley, the team has battled competitively in each and every outing on the court. On Friday, Owsley led her team to a new level - one that is a personal accomplishment, certainly, but also, an accomplishment for her team. Kicking off conference play, the Lady Cats hosted the Lady Blue of Shoshoni on Friday and began the game...
The #2 ranked Hot Springs County High School Bobcat basketball team has spent the first half of the 2025-26 season competing in non-conference action with teams from around the state. As the second half of the season got under way last weekend, the Cats were finally pitted against some of their in-conference opponents. As the Cats work to defend their state title, every Class 2A clash becomes increasingly significant at this point in the season. On Friday, January 23, the unranked Wranglers of Shoshoni came calling - carrying with them an...
Thermopolis Wrestling Club competed at the Windy City Winter War held in Casper last weekend in a three-style tournament offering folkstyle, freestyle and greco divisions. Thermopolis brought home third place in the team standings with 738.5 points, behind two teams from Casper. Windy City Wrestling Club was first with 774.5 points and Casper Wrestling Club was second with 751.5 points out of the 30 teams in attendance. Competing at the Border Battle at Torrington tournament was Kannon Bomengen who placed 2nd in the 12U, 52-58 lbs. division....
The Hot Springs County High School Bobcat wrestling team competed in the Lander Invite Tournament last weekend - placing two grapplers, with another three of their teammates finishing just one win away from placing. In the team standings, Thermopolis placed 11th out of 27 teams competing, and finished in the top three among the 2A teams appearing at the event. Junior Cannon Boren continued his effort to dominate the 144 lb. weight class, pinning his way through another tournament including a one-minute pin in the championship round. Fellow...
The Hot Springs County High School Lady Cat wrestlers traveled to Lander last weekend for the two-day Lander Invite Tournament. Twenty-six teams from around the State of Wyoming were joined by the Thunder Ridge team from the State of Idaho. Cody won the team competition with 216.5 team points. With a team of just four competitors, the Lady Cats put three into the semi-final round and finished the event with two individual championships. The Lady Cats placed 11th in the team standings, with 76.5 team points, just one-half point ahead of Lyman....
The photographer captured this photo of the northern lights last Tuesday from near the Hot Springs County Airport northwest of...
Tracy Hergert raises her hand after winning a game of Bingo last Saturday at the Hot Springs County Senior Center as Brenda Unverzagt shares in the...
Hannah Lee-Crain performs on violin, accompanied by Joan Stetler, during the Winter Recital presented by Tiffany's Suzuki School of Violins at Risen Son Church on January...
Steam rises from the hot springs as subzero temperatures gripped the area and begin freezing the cooling ponds at Hot Springs State Park on Monday morning. The cold temperatures did not last long in Hot Springs County with Tuesday seeing a high near 40. Predicted weather through the week, weekend and into Monday of next week will remain warmer than normal locally, although well below normal temperatures continued for the eastern half of the lower...
by John Bernhisel Questions: What event in April 1815 led to frost appearing on plants in New England during June and August of 1816? Which Ohio city was named in honor of a Roman general and dictator? Which of these actors appeared in Saving Private Ryan: Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck, Ted Danson, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel? Name Wyoming’s four northernmost counties that touch the Bighorn Mountains. Name the three countries in Africa that begin with the letter L. Fun Facts: There is a rare condition in which some people with dementia briefly regain...
We are constantly in the process of improving the Thermopolis Independent Record. A new weekly column appears on this page. It ran for the first time in last week’s edition. We find it fun and interesting but would like to know what our readers think. Please take the time to read the column and let us know your thoughts. The column will be ran on a space available basis. Letters to the editor and community chatter submissions will take precedence when we have them. We welcome our readers comments or suggestions on all topics. You can stop...
Mike Chimenti, 72, of Thermopolis Wyo., officially retired from life on January 22, 2026. Mike was born on December 12, 1953, to Peter and Beth (Carson) Chimenti in Riverton, Wyoming. He grew up in Dubois, causing mischief which would give him insight for his future career. Following high school graduation in 1972, he went to work in the timber, despite claiming to be allergic to pine trees. He would continue to use this excuse to never fulfill his daughters' dreams of having a REAL Christmas...
Frances Darlene Richins passed away on January 21, 2026, in Thermopolis, Wyo. She was born in Henefer, Utah, on June 6, 1940, to Ordell John Stephens and Della Mae Stephens. As a young woman, Fran was active in sports, clubs, and church activities. She played on the 'Coalville Cubs' softball team, which finished second in the state tournament. She was also a cheerleader and tap dancer at North Summit. Fran graduated from North Summit High School in May 1958. Fran married Roy C. Richins on...
On the Record policy It is the Thermopolis Independent Record’s policy that all people arrested or cited under the “Sheriff’s office” or “Police department” in the On the Record section are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We print the names of all people upon their initial arrest. Names of minors are not printed. Sheriff’s office Monday, Jan. 19 4:16 a.m. Agency assist for highway patrol for a two vehicle accident on Highway 20 South near mile marker 128. There were no injuries, only property damage....
