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Articles from the January 15, 2026 edition


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  • Property tax exemption sign up deadline is March 1

    Daniel Powell|Jan 15, 2026

    For the tax year 2026, there are two important property tax exemptions available to residential property owners in Wyoming. The exemptions are not automatic and require the filing of documentation with the county assessor’s office in order to have the exemptions become applicable to individual properties. Homeowner Tax Exemption The Homeowner Tax Exemption, which was passed by the Legislature in 2025, takes 25% off of the first one million dollars of the Fair Market Value of a single family structure and associated improved land. This e...

  • Ice and algae

    Jan 15, 2026

    Emerald-green algae grows along the hot springs runoff at Hot Springs State Park, while ice clings to the mineral terraces above....

  • Berries for breakfast

    Jan 15, 2026

    A crow feeds on berries among bare branches beneath a vivid blue sky in Thermopolis....

  • County takes first step toward collecting fines in Tipi Retreat case

    Daniel Powell|Jan 15, 2026

    ​In the continuing case of the Tipi Retreat matter, Hot Springs County has filed a request to set aside a Satisfaction of Judgment, which had been submitted to the Hot Springs County District Court in February of 2025. ​The Satisfaction of Judgment was filed in the court case which had been commenced against Hot Springs County by Michael Stevens, Michele Stevens, and the Tipi Retreat. A Satisfaction of Judgment is a court pleading, which has the effect of advising the court that a judgment, which the court has entered against a party, has been...

  • Purple and gold

    Jan 15, 2026

    Purple and gold lights illuminate the Swinging Bridge over the Bighorn River at Hot Springs State Park. The colors represent Hot Springs County School District #1 official school colors....

  • On the record

    Jan 15, 2026

    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. 5 9:34 a.m. Agency assist for probation and parole. Nathan David Andrew was taken into custody for a probation sanction hold. 2:30 p.m. Report of a suspicious substance fou...

  • Chili feed

    Jan 15, 2026

    Danny Miller helps himself to some chili during the HSC Historical Society meeting and chili feed at the Hot Springs County Senior Center last Saturday....

  • News briefs

    Jan 15, 2026

    Meet and greet Eric Barlow will be in Thermopolis for a meet and greet on Friday, January 16 at Storyteller from 8-10 a.m. Barlow is running for Governor of Wyoming. Open house Ginko Acupuncture is holding an open house on Saturday, January 17 from 10 a.m.-noon at 316 Broadway St., Suite 3. Hosting the event is Robin van Maarth, L.Ac. For more information, call (307) 213-9778. Gun Show The Stars and Pipes Gun Show is set for Jan. 16 and 17 at the Hot Springs County Fair Building, 627 Springview. Hours are 3-7 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m....

  • Apply now for veteran's tax exemption for 2026

    Jan 15, 2026

    Hot Springs County Assessor Daniel Webber announced that currently qualified Hot Springs County veterans or their surviving spouse should contact the assessor’s office by telephone to renew their Veteran’s Exemption for 2026 on their property taxes. If the applicant will be using the exemption for vehicle licensing, they will need to let the Treasurer’s Office know when they come in the courthouse to renew their registration. The exemption can only be used in one county in Wyoming for the tax year and if you are using it on your property taxes...

  • Opinions welcome here

    Jan 15, 2026

    We appreciate receiving letters to the editor and regard them as our readers’ opportunity to improve our community, express their beliefs and communicate through the Thermopolis Independent Record. We want to give the people of Hot Springs County the opportunity to read those views as well as voice them. The letters, columns, community chatters and editorials that appear on this page are the opinions of the individual writers. We do not accept anonymous submissions of columns, letters or chatters so names are always included. If an editorial d...

  • School superintendent shares updates

    Jan 15, 2026

    Thermopolis Community, As your Superintendent, I am pleased to share some updates regarding our district, our commitment to students and staff, and the broader legislative landscape affecting our schools. Enrollment Stability: A Positive Trend I am happy to share that our current district enrollment this year has held steady and has increased slightly from last year. While many districts across Wyoming are currently navigating significant enrollment losses, our numbers provide a preliminary indication that our district has stabilized. This...

  • World' largest mineral hot spring

    Jan 15, 2026

    I like the letters to the editor page here in the Thermopolis Independent Record! Internet quips are fun, but there’s nothing like a hometown newspaper’s letters to the editor page. My mother was a big time Republican, but it didn’t stop her from chuckling along to Will Rogers, the humorist who often joked about being a Democrat. And who doesn’t like Mark Twain - and a big whopper? So let’s talk about one, a whopper that’s as big as the sky! I love it, the arrows really make it, the whitewashed stone sign on Monument Hill, it’s been there my...

  • I've only lived here for 76 years

    Jan 15, 2026

    I had a friend come to visit. After a few trips through town, he asked, “When was the last time the city replaced a street ?” I said, “I don’t know, I’ve only been here for 76 years.” Mike Ramsey...

  • Response to previous letter

    Jan 15, 2026

    It is totally inappropriate to call someone hateful and ignorant, and then claim his arguments are not worth responding to. You have responded and here is my answer. You have drawn the conclusion that Islamophobia=Hate. It is only reasonable to be apprehensive of an ideology that calls America the Great Satan, and Israel the Little Satan. Mr. Lambrick, knowledge and love will win in the end; ignorance and hate will not. I invite you to get a copy of the Quran and read it for yourself. It does NOT teach the peace loving religion some say it...

  • Emory Robert Blakesley

    Jan 15, 2026

    Emory Robert Blakesley, 71, of Thermopolis Wyo., passed away on January 9, 2026. Emory was born on April 24, 1954, to Audrey (Brunk) Blakesley and Alvin "Johnny" Blakesley in Thermopolis where he lived all of his life. He was a devoted husband to Debbie Blakesley and loving father to his children, Brandon (Jennie) Blakesley and Megan (James) Diekemper. He was also a devoted and loving Grandpa to his grandsons, Jayden, Mason and Colton, and as he put it his beautiful granddaughter, Morgan. Emory... Full story

  • Dominguez wins boxing match

    Jan 15, 2026

    Ro "The Dawg" Dominguez of Thermopolis stepped into the ring on Saturday, January 10, in Sheridan, Wyo., competing in the main event of the Blood of Heroes – The Blood of One Saved Us All Saturday Night Fights. Dominguez faced undefeated Sheridan heavyweight Cutter "Cutthroat" Silcox in a highly anticipated bout that went the distance. Silcox, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 230 pounds, presented a significant size advantage over Dominguez, who stands 5-foot-8 and weighed in at 223 pounds. D...

  • News briefs from around the state

    Jan 15, 2026

    From Wyoming News Exchange newspapers Fiery crash kills Casper man CASPER (WNE) — The Wyoming Highway Patrol is investigating an I-25 crash that left a Casper man dead. Authorities identified the man as Gavin Stanek, 55. At around 9:15 p.m. on Jan. 5, troopers were dispatched to a crash at the 156 mile marker of I-25, roughly 10 miles east of Glenrock. According to the initial investigation, a 2004 Cadillac Escalade was northbound on I-25 when it exited the road and into the median, striking a retaining wall. The driver’s side of the veh...

  • Wrestlers have packed schedule

    Daniel Powell|Jan 15, 2026

    The Hot Springs County High School Bobcat wrestling team met opponents at venues across the state last week. With a dual in Glenrock on Thursday, the Shane Shatto in Glenrock on Friday and Saturday, and finally, hosting their own tournament at home on Saturday, the squad was split up into smaller segments in order to test metal in each event. Junior Cannon Boren was the squad's lone representative at the Shane Shatto Invite in Douglas over the weekend. Having an outstanding outing, Boren came...

  • Lady Cats split squad

    Daniel Powell|Jan 15, 2026

    Splitting the squad, the Hot Springs County High School Lady Cats wrestling team competed at three different venues this past week. On Thursday night part of the team was in Glenrock for a dual. Matching up in only two weight classifications, sophomore Izzy Hetzel pinned her opponent early in the second period while junior Lilly Quintanilla moved up a level and found some tough competition taking on the 4th ranked wrestler at 125 lbs. Being ever impressed with his young multi-champion, Coach Travis McDermott said, “Lilly dominated her match, g...

  • Youth wrestlers bring home hardware

    Jan 15, 2026

    Several Thermopolis youth wrestlers participated in the HAVOC in the Heights tournament held last Sunday in Billings, Mont., giving them the opportunity to see new competition in our neighbors to the north. With 18 teams in attendance and only 13 wrestlers representing Thermopolis, the team placed 8th with a total of 249 points. Thermopolis brought home five individual champions: Carter Enis (8U 60), Erik Polson (10U 50), Gabriel Ryan (12U 70), Trenton Enis (14U 130-140) and Briar Lahoe (16U & 19U Girls 130-135) and two runners-up: Konnor...

  • Bobcats go 2 for 4 on the road

    Daniel Powell|Jan 15, 2026

    The #2 ranked Hot Springs County High School Bobcat basketball team kicked off the 2026 side of their 2025-26 season last week at Wyoming Indian. As in too many past years, the Chiefs are once again fielding a quality team in 2A basketball, and came into the contest ranked #1 among Class 2A teams. Playing in the sometimes unfriendly confines of Wyoming Indian High School, the Cats led the scoring through the first three quarters of the game. In the final seconds of regulation and with the score tied at 50 apiece, the Bobcats pulled down a...

  • Lady Cats off with top ranked contenders

    Daniel Powell|Jan 15, 2026

    Fresh off their holiday break, the #5 ranked Hot Springs County High School Lady Cats basketball team were back in action last week meeting up with the four top-ranked Class 2A teams in the state. On Thursday, January 8, the team traveled to Wyoming Indian to take on the #4 ranked Lady Chiefs. In a venue which is always tough to negotiate, the Lady Cats played well but were not able to keep up with Wyoming Indian - losing by 15 points (66-51). On Friday the team took an early morning bus ride to Big Horn to compete in the 2A East Smackdown....