Week of March 26, 2026
Week of March 26, 2026
Last Friday night, community members filled the fair building to support and acknowledge one of our own. A man who has given much to our community and who has never sought any kind of recognition for his efforts. That man is John Gerrells. Those who are privileged to live in this community for any length of time quickly become aware of a thing called the Cookie Jar Auction. An event which is periodically held in Thermopolis, at which funds are raised to assist a community member in need. While...
On March 17, the Thermopolis Town Council held a regular meeting taking up a number of routine matters, and welcoming the newest hire for the police department. Local resident Casey Fisher was sworn in by Mayor Adam Estenson and will be heading for training at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in Douglas in April. Her training is set to be completed by the end of July, when she will take up her duties with the department. Chief Pat Cornwell advised the council that another hire is in the...
by Mark Davis Powell Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange POWELL — Bears continued to dominate Wyoming large carnivore conflict reports in 2025, accounting for nearly six times more warden-confirmed conflicts than wolves and mountain lions combined. Bears were involved in 412 conflict reports (220 grizzly bear, 192 black bear) last year, while mountain lions and wolves combined were only involved in 71 confirmed conflicts (36 mountain lion, 35 wolf), according to a report made in front of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission this past week....
The Hot Springs County School Board met for their regular monthly meeting on March 19. While taking up their usual matters on the agenda, the board took time to acknowledge, and to applaud, the hard work and the success of several athletic and activities groups from Hot Springs County High School. The board happily relished in the achievements of the high school students, who participated on the wrestling team, on the boys and girls basketball teams, on the speech and debate team, and in the choir, all of whom reached highs this year. The...
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon (R) announced his decision last week declining to move forward with the removal of Hot Springs County Commissioners Paul Galovich and Robert Aguiar. Governor Gordon received a complaint on September 10, 2025, from six qualified electors of Hot Springs County containing numerous allegations of misconduct and malfeasance by the Hot Springs County Commissioners Galovich and Aguiar and requesting their removal from office. In his review, the Governor pointed out several decisions by the commissioners that showed...
The Thermopolis - Hot Springs County Chamber Board held their February meeting to discuss upcoming events and projects. The chamber will be sponsoring the Regional Civics Bee event in Thermopolis on April 14. The chamber is a sponsor for Trailblazer Days scheduled for June 12- 14, as part of this year’s 250th Anniversary Celebration of the United States. The Board accepted the resignation of Tia Gillespie at their January meeting. It was suggested that director Meri Ann Dorman reach out to anyone who has shown an interest in filling that...
From WNE newspapers Don’t miss April 30 deadline for winter heating assistance SHERIDAN (WNE) — Only a few weeks remain for Wyoming residents to apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program for the 2025-2026 season, with the deadline set for April 30. The Wyoming Department of Family Services urges residents to apply as soon as possible to get help with winter heating bills and emergencies. LIEAP is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their winter heating bills. The program also provides...
Writing workshop Local historian and storyteller Jackie Dorothy will host a free memoir writing workshop on Thursday, March 26 at the Hot Springs County Library. Two sessions are available at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Participants will receive writing prompts and practical tips to help turn memories into short stories that can be shared with family members and future generations. No registration is required. For more information, contact the library at 864-3104. HSH Foundation Gala The Hot Springs Health Foundation will be hosting their fundraiser...
The Hot Springs County High School track and field team kicked off their spring season in Pavillion last Saturday. Unusually warm temps, azure skies and a slight breeze, combined to make the Wind River Ice Breaker a bit of a misnomer. While the venue was small, the event was anything but. Seventeen schools sent teams to match up at Wind River - making the meet feel both a bit crowded and more than a bit challenging for the competitors. While the thinclads lined up on the track, parents and other family members shed layers of clothing in the...
Member of the Thermopolis Wrestling Club once again split ways last weekend, with some attending the Showdown at the Casper Classic 3-style tournament while the majority of the team participated in the North Big Horn Rams Rumble Freestyle/Folkstyle Tournament held in Lovell. Next weekend will be the long-awaited annual Montana Open, where wrestlers from across the country meet in this highly competitive tournament to battle it out for the Bison Head trophy. For others choosing to stay closer to home, tournaments will also be held in Pavilion,...
Red Dirt Master Gardeners Director Kelly Strampe speaks during a seed-starting workshop at the county library last week. Rachel Miller also shared her vegetable gardening experiences, and Tom Judy shared his experiences of his flower beds, including deer-resistant...
Branches frame a painted Thermopolis sunset in streaks of orange and...
Trevin Shaffer and his grandmother, Shannon Shaffer, smile while participating in the senior class bingo event at the fairgrounds last Saturday. Funds from the event go to the senior class committee to use for the graduation party and...
Students from the Thermopolis Middle School Big Springs FFA chapter traveled to CWC last weekend for horse judging and livestock judging. The livestock team placed first with Logan Stewart leading the team as second high individual overall. The horse judging team placed second with Blakeley Postma leading the team. Top, livestock team members Brayden Jones, Logan Stewart, coach Dawn Peil, Hot Peil, Teagan Allen and Blakeley Postma. Bottom, horse judging team members Jessi Moore, Kylie Geis,...
by Terri Geissinger John Dwight Woodruff lived an intriguing life, full of adventure and risk. Little did he know then, that his name would be listed among the most influential pioneers of Wyoming. He is credited for building the first cabin in the Big Horn Basin in 1871 which was dedicated as a State Historic Site in 1940. The handsome historic monument bears his name but says little of his remarkable legacy story. Born in New York in 1847, he was the fifth child of eleven and his father’s namesake. Before he was two years old, the family...
Readers across the Big Horn Basin will soon have more than trivia to look forward to. Beginning in April, John Bernhisel’s weekly column Please Don’t Call It Trivia! will feature a Basin-wide treasure hunt, with two one-ounce silver bars hidden somewhere in the region. Each column will include clues that, when pieced together over time, lead to the prize. Not every trivia item will be a clue, but any could be. Much of the puzzle can be solved from home, though finding the treasure will require getting out and following the trail. This...
Props to the Hot Springs County community members who turned out in force last Friday to support one of their own. Once again, you proved just how wonderful, and unique, you are. For a community of this size to raise that much money in one evening is something to be proud of. Seeing people come together for a good cause is something we will never grow tired of witnessing. Just like many of you, a member of the IR staff has been at nearly every cookie jar auction for the last 30 plus years. And just like many of you, we are consistently...
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, March 16 10:49 a.m. A trespass notice was served in the Sessions Lane area. 12:07 p.m. Deputies initiated a traffic stop for expired registration. The vehicle was towed...
