Week of February 5, 2026
Week of February 5, 2026
When you enter the home of Allen and Martha Thurman it is warm and inviting, much like the couple who lives there. The Thurman's are celebrating 70 years of marriage on February 5, 2026. I was recently invited to their home for an interview, my first time meeting them, and what a treat it was. The two moved to Thermopolis 12 years ago to be near their son, John Thurman. According to Allen, back then the house was a little less inviting but he knew it's potential. Today the home is filled with...
by Karla Pomeroy, Northern Wyoming Daily News Washakie County emergency crews responded to a head-on collision Wednesday night, Jan. 28, on U.S. 20 south of Worland that resulted in the death of two young Thermopolis men. According to a press release from Washakie County Sheriff Austin Brookwell, the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office, Worland Police Department, Worland Fire Department, Cody Regional Health Ambulance, Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Washakie County Coroner responded to a two-vehicle head-on collision 2 miles south of Worland...
Following on the heels of a contentious Town Hall meeting held in Casper on January 27, U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman came to Thermopolis on Thursday, January 29 for a local event. While reports of the Casper event appear to indicate that it was less than civil, attendees in Thermopolis attempted to follow “The Thermopolis Way,” and tried to be a bit more polite, albeit with a few exceptions. Representative Hageman spent the morning in town last Thursday meeting with Thermopolis Mayor Adam Estenson and other Town Officials and...
U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman visits with Sam Khalsa during the Town Hall meeting held at the HSC...
After serving as a practicing acupuncturist in the State of Colorado for over fifteen years, Robin van Maarth and her husband relocated to Thermopolis this past year. The move was precipitated by a need to help care for her parents, who live in Thermopolis, but also because they were ready for a change. Robin worked as a massage therapist before taking on the education needed to become a licensed acupuncturist. She began her career studying science at Seattle Central Community College and secured her Certificate in Massage Therapy from the...
Rep. Mike Yin has introduced House Bill 71 to set clear rules for cash sales as pennies become harder to find. The federal government stopped making pennies in November 2025. The Federal Reserve has also cut back on sending pennies to banks. This has left Wyoming stores slowly decreasing their access to pennies. Without clear rules, businesses and shoppers get different treatment at different stores. “Ending penny production was the right call. It cost nearly four cents to make a one-cent coin,” said Rep. Yin. “But now Wyoming...
The Hot Springs County Library will host a free public memoir workshop, Rooted in Legacy: Stories Worth Keeping, led by Jackie Dorothy on February 10 from 6-8 p.m. at 344 Arapahoe. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Hot Springs County Library. This two-hour guided workshop invites participants to save your life experiences and begin capturing personal stories through writing prompts and discussion. No writing experience is required, and sharing is always optional. Designed for adults and older adults, the workshop offers a space...
by Alyssa Tolman Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange The Wyoming Business Council is facing an uncertain future after lawmakers on the Joint Appropriations Committee passed a 59-page draft bill to dismantle the entity at a meeting Jan. 15. Since then, some members of the public have had questions regarding the WBC’s future, including what could be done to keep the entity going and what would make it more effective in the eyes of legislators. On Thursday, WBC CEO Josh Dorrell held the council’s first open mic virtual meeting,...
Austin Slagle, Jayci Basse, Max Larson, Chloe Mascorro, Sydney Shaffer and Jean-Luc Willson were named to the University of Wyoming 2025 fall semester President’s Honor Roll. Aidan Freeman, Lexi Garrison, Seth Needham, Lexi Overfield, Morgan Slover, Brody Sorensen, Rosalie Willson and Kaden Zink were named to the University of Wyoming 2025 fall semester academic Dean’s and Dean’s Freshman Honor...
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 and bid on silent auction baskets. Bidding ends at 11:30 a.m. The library is located at 344 Arapahoe St. Bighorn Basin geology presentation The February meeting of the Hot Springs County Historical Society will feature Myron Cook and a presentation on Bighorn Basin geology. The meeting will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14...
The Commodity Food Give Away once a month at the VFW will now be on Wednesdays from 11-2 p.m. This month it will be held on Wednesday, February 18. Please note this new date and time. The give away is hosted by River of Life Fellowship members. The food is provided from the USDA in coordination with the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies. Upcoming food give aways will be held on the third Wednesday of the month. Please keep watch in the Community Calendar in this paper for updates. To volunteer to help distribute food, be at the VFW at 9...
Bobcat Tanner Delay won his match against Powell's Forest Kleinfeldt during a dual held at the high school on January...
The Hot Springs County High School Lady Cat wrestlers headed to Riverton last week to match up in the annual Ron Thon Memorial Tournament. The Ron Thon is a huge tournament, drawing forty teams in competition this year and operates on an all class basis meaning wrestlers compete in their weight class against opponents from all levels of schools in Wyoming. Although the Lady Cats team is thin this year with just five wrestlers, Thermopolis had three placers in the finals and a tournament...
Bobcat wrestling was busy last week with a dual at home on Thursday and then a trip to Riverton on Friday and Saturday for the annual Ron Thon Memorial Tournament. Last Thursday night the team hosted the first of their two home duals of the season, matching up with the Panthers of Powell. The Cats are thin in numbers this year and consequently they give up a lot of open weights in a dual. Against Powell, those open weights amounted to nine matches, which led to 54 team points for Powell - enough to win the dual. The Cats, however, won all...
The Hot Springs County High School Lady Cats basketball team played two games to the north last weekend - a conference game against Rocky Mountain on Friday and then a non-conference match up with 3A Lovell on Saturday. The team played exceptionally well on Friday night but repeating a pattern of late, they suffered a let up on Saturday. For the first time since last season’s state championships in Casper, on Friday night the Lady Cats met up with the Lady Grizz of Rocky Mountain. No doubt both teams went into the game with memories (either...
The Hot Springs County High School Bobcats were on the road last weekend facing 2A Northwest foe Rocky Mountain on Friday night, and then matching up with Class 3A Lovell on Saturday. The Grizz of Rocky Mountain came into the game with a five hundred overall record of 8-8 (compared to the Cats 11-3 record), but were 2-0 in the 2A Northwest quad just like the Bobcats. The Cats played a very aggressive defense throughout the game, which led to some fouls but which did not result in any foul outs. Although Thermopolis was up by just three points...
Hudson Southworth plays with a chunk of ice at the Tepee Fountain in Hot Springs State Park last Saturday. Constructed in 1909, the Tepee Fountain was designed to release steam from hot mineral water piped through the park. As the water spills over the structure and cools, it gradually forms layers of...
A full Snow Moon rises above colorful hills as seen from T-Hill late Saturday afternoon. The moon earned its name from seasonal conditions, as February is often the snowiest month, making travel and hunting...
The Hot Springs Speech and Debate Team was crowned the Small School Champion at the Big Horn Speech and Debate Tournament held at Big Horn High School on January 30-31. Coached by Lyle Wiley and Riley Jeffs, the Bobcats brought 17 students to compete in the tournament that hosted 10 schools including large teams from South Dakota. Senior Dean Bihr built on his strong season, capturing the champion medal for Congressional Debate for the fourth consecutive year in a heavily populated field. Bihr also finished seventh overall in Program Oral...
A tragic car crash took the lives of two young members of our community last week. Two other community members were also involved in the wreck. From those four people, the far reaching effect to our small community is large. Family members, friends and acquiescences feel the effects of a tragedy long after it happens. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to all involved. When tragedy strikes, we are reminded of how fragile and short life is. Hug your people, tell them you love them. Life can change in the blink of an...
To the editor: It seems there is a lot of division and confusion around economic development currently in the recent Wyoming state legislative sessions. I don’t have all the data and I certainly haven’t been in on all the conversations, but I feel it is my responsibility to share my personal business experience and perspective. It is the voters that I want to share with. I have already shared with the legislators but it is your turn to speak to your legislators on this topic. Hopefully it will help steer our state to continued and greater...
Questions: Q1. Which college has produced the most players who later made the NFL Hall of Fame? Q2. Nineteen of the 20 most-watched television broadcasts in history are Super Bowls. What is the only other show to crack the top 20? Q3. Name the most recent Wyoming-born football player to be on a Super Bowl-winning team. Q4. What two NFL teams have started a season and won at least 17 straight games, including the postseason? Q5. Name the only athlete to have played in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. Fun Facts: Tom Brady holds the NFL...
Roberta "Bobbi" Ann France Miller, 79, of Thermopolis, Wyo., passed away peacefully on January 31, 2026, after a valiant fight against cancer. She was born on January 20, 1947, in Rawlins, Wyo. Bobbi once said in her high school commencement speech "Make it a good life, or don't. The choice is yours." She certainly lived her life that way. Bobbi was a woman deeply rooted in her community and devoted to the people she loved. Early in her life she owned and operated a western store in...
On October 27, 2025, Peter (Pete) Michael Rygwalski gave up his fight against many health challenges in a Las Vegas hospital with his wife, Lola, grandson, Dr. Schon Roberts and granddaughter-in-law, Lowen Roberts in attendance. He has been cremated and his ashes will be scattered at a later date. Pete was born in Offenbach, Germany, to Frank and Lisa Rygwalski. They moved several times, but ended up in Grand Junction, Colo. His sisters, Barbara Griffin and Monika Hedglin, and brothers, Steve...
Peggy Ann Lunt, 86, passed away on January 27, 2026, at Deer Trail Assisted Living in Rock Springs, Wyo. She was a resident of Sweetwater County for 42 years. Peggy was born on September 8, 1939, in Thermopolis, Wyo., the daughter of Carl and Alta (McGarvin) Johnson. She graduated from Hot Springs County High School. Following graduation she began working as a telephone operator and also waitressed. Peggy married Jim Thornburg on October 26, 1956, in Billings, Mont., and together they had four...
Doris A Hurlburt (Ruffer), age 94, passed away peacefully after a full life on January 31, 2026, in Thermopolis, Wyo. Born on March 23, 1931, in Wauseon, Ohio, Doris was the daughter of Ben and Helen Ruffer. The family moved from Ohio to Adrian, Mich., where she spent her early years and graduated. With a passion for education and dedication to learning, she went to attend Bowling Green College in Ohio, graduating in 1953 with a teaching degree. Doris devoted her professional life to teaching...
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. 26 7:22 a.m. Investigation of a misdialed 911 call. Tuesday, Jan. 27 6:45 a.m. Report of a disturbance at a gas station. Wednesday, Jan. 28 10:09 p.m. Agency assist...
