Week of August 6, 2026
Week of August 6, 2026
On Wednesday, July 29, Cody Stewart, 37, was granted an early release from a 24 to 30 month sentence to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. In October of 2024, Stewart was charged with twelve felony counts of theft, and fraud by check, arising out of moneys that had gone missing from the bank account of the FFA Alumni group in Thermopolis. At the time, Stewart was serving as the organization’s treasurer. On February 19, 2025, pursuant to a plea agreement reached with Special Prosecutor, Dan Itzel, Stewart entered pleas of guilty to six...
The Board of Directors of Hot Springs Health held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 28. The board welcomed its newest member, Jennifer Cheney, who attended her first meeting. Cheney will serve the remainder of the term previously held by Melissa Johnson. The board also welcomed Dr. Stephen Asay as the hospital’s new chief of staff. Dr. Megan Winger will serve as the new Vice-Chair. The board was presented a video, which was a project completed by the high school summer interns to wrap up the inaugural session of the new...
The 2026 Junior Livestock Auction and Judges' Choice Bake Sale is a wrap. Once again, business owners and private citizens came out and showed their support for our Hot Springs County youth. This year's sale brought in $197,696. A total of 22 beef sold at $102,145.05 for an average of $3.92 per lb. The Grand Champion Beef, sold by Meadow Moline, weighing 1,316 lbs., sold for $5 per pound for a total of $6,580 paid by winning bidder McCumber Well Service. The Reserve Champion Beef did not sell....
Pig wrestling The Bobcat class of 2027 is hosting a pig wrestling fundraiser on Saturday, August 8 at Hot Springs County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 5 p.m. with a calcutta at 5:30 p.m. and action beginning at 7 p.m. Entry forms are available at the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce office. Tickets are $20 with kids 2 and under getting in for free. Tickets are available at Storyteller, Carquest, A Cut Above and Double R Store. Proceeds benefit the class of 2027. Summer concert A free Sounds of Summer Concert featuring Roger Lee will be held at...
Under tentative agreement, state will reimburse longtime concessionaire Luehne for capital and business interests. by Katie Klingsporn, WyoFile.com, via Wyoming News Exchange Wyoming State Parks has reached an agreement with Star Plunge owner Roland Luehne that signals an end to two years of litigation and the long-term closure of the popular Thermopolis aquatic facility. The tentative settlement still needs final approval from the Wyoming attorney general’s office. If approved, it will conclude all litigation and stipulate that the state...
The first phase of the Wind River Canyon Study is complete. Community feedback is helping the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) better understand how people experience one of Wyoming’s most important transportation corridors and is being used alongside technical analysis to develop potential recommendations. The project team is currently evaluating roadway operations, traffic safety, geology, rockfall hazards, and long-term corridor resilience, while incorporating valuable feedback from residents, Tribal Nations, businesses,...
The Hot Springs County Travel & Tourism board held their monthly meeting at the State Park office on July 29. It was announced that board member, Tabatha Vandegrift had recently advised that she would be resigning from the board, creating another opening for the county commissioners to fill. In her financial report, treasurer Audra Dominguez announced that the moneys received from the lodging tax for the month of July were down substantially from the amount received in July of last year, representing just $4,567.84 this year. Dominguez stated...
From Wyoming News Exchange newspapers Wildfires caused Devils Tower to close over the weekend GILLETTE (WNE) — The Devils Tower National Monument was closed last weekend due to a nearby wildfire. At 10:40 a.m. Saturday, the Left Creek Fire was reported about 1 mile from Devils Tower. Given the proximity of the fire and its path toward the monument, the park ordered an immediate evacuation for visitors’ and employees’ safety at approximately 11:30 a.m., according to a press release from Devils Tower. The fire grew to 225 acres by...
Pure excitement shows on Christopher Bander's face as he enjoys an inflatable slide during Hot Springs County Fair's Family Fun Nite, which offered inflatables, games and plenty of...
Colton Blakesley plays along with the photographer by making his best "spicy chili face" while sampling chili during the Thermopolis FFA Alumni Chili Cookoff. Some entries packed plenty of heat, while others stood out for their creative use of different meats and seasonings. Barb Kissel won for green chili and people's choice and Holly Turbyfill won for red...
Last Saturday, the Bighorn River was filled with floaters participating in the annual Hot Springs County Search and Rescue Poker...
This Saturday, August 8, the Thermopolis Farmers & Artisans Market is excited about this year’s Back to School Supply Drive. We will have tubs to drop off your donations for Ralph Witters Elementary, Thermopolis Middle School, Hot Springs County High School, and The Learning Center. For Hot Springs Co. public school supply lists, visit www.hotsprings1.org under the Students & Parents tab. The Learning Center requests pens, pencils, paper and art supplies. Also, this year’s raffle to benefit Thermopolis Farmers & Artisans Market has begun....
Title 9 – Administration of Government Chapter 8 – Land Use Planning All local governments must develop a local land use plan and may cooperate with the county to develop such a plan. All counties must develop a countywide land use plan that incorporates the land use plans of all incorporated cities and towns within the county (Wyo. Stat. § 9-8-301–302). According to a June 2018 document, “As required by law, all 23 Wyoming counties have adopted a county comprehensive plan or land use plan to help guide them into the future.” Even...
Questions: 1. What is the highest paved highway mountain pass in Wyoming? 2. Who are the subjects of the five best-selling biographies since 2020? 3. Why does the Eiffel Tower weigh 700 tons more than it did 130 years ago? 4. Name as many of the eight European capital cities with five letters or fewer as you can. 5. Which movie contains the line, “I’ve gotta go, Julia. We’ve got cows!!” Fun Facts: About 3 percent of Californians live in the northernmost third of the state. Thirty-two percent live in the middle third, and 65 percent...
In this edition of the IR, we have the Hot Springs County School District informational pages on page 8 and 9. They are full of useful information for all three schools, buses and more. Next week, we will have a special primary election section featuring local and state candidate information and sample ballots as we head to the polls on August 18. All six of our local county commissioner candidates are running as republicans and the primary will narrow that down to the top two. This is a very important election for our county. The week of...
Edwin "Eddy" Alan Cole, 79, passed away at Hot Springs Health in Thermopolis, Wyo., on July 29, 2026. Eddy was born on March 24, 1947, in Rapid City, S. D. He was the third of five children born to Alan W. and Dealda Alberta MaDill Cole. Eddy could often be found at the rock shop, telling stories to anyone who would take a few moments to listen. His knowledge of many subjects was impressive! He always made time for the kids, trying to spark interest in rocks and minerals and how they relate to...
Sunrise: May 28, 1935, Albany, New York Sunset: July 31, 2026, Tucson, Arizona A full obituary will be available in next week’s Independent...
A beloved father, friend, and brother completed his life's journey on July 25, 2026. Michael "Mike" Clifford Walter passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family, at a retirement home in Thermopolis, Wyo. He will be remembered as a devoted father and grandfather, loving husband, avid outdoorsman, skilled craftsman, and a talented artist. Mike was born on the first day of spring in 1952 to Virginia and Otto Walter. Life on Foster Lane in Billings, Mont., was everything a young boy in the...
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 July 27 5:01 p.m. A deputy investigated a traffic complaint. No other information was provided. 9:48 p.m. Report of THC vape pen being used by a minor. It was reported...
