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Articles from the April 1, 2021 edition


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  • Speed limits set based on road type, traffic flow

    Jurri Schenck|Apr 1, 2021

    Hot Springs County Road and Bridge Supervisor Shane Rankin provided information on how speed limits are determined on county roads and elsewhere. Rankin said, “Mainly the county doesn’t set the speed limits. The speed limits are an engineered study. Basically, in layman’s terms, setting a speed limit must be established by a WYDOT study. When the speed limit is posted, it should be within five miles per hour of the 85% of free-flowing traffic.” WYDOT puts counters across the roads, which a...

  • Kite flying fun

    Apr 1, 2021

    Fifth-grader Lucy Wiley chases a kite in Hot Springs State Park while her mother, Amie, holds tight to the string in the windy weather. It was a delightful day for people to get out and about....

  • Volunteers help out local veterans

    Jurri Schenck|Apr 1, 2021

    Monday, March 29, is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. In 2017 President Trump made March 29 the National Vietnam War Veteran's Day. Veteran Tobi Johansen of the local VFW Hall Post 2281 held a volunteer help day for our local veterans to commemorate the day. Johansen said, "It's based on one of the final battles in that war. It wasn't officially over until another couple of years later, 1975. But in 1971 was one of the bigger battles. To commemorate that we wanted to start...

  • Permission needed to fly drones in Wyoming State Parks

    Apr 1, 2021

    Hot Springs State Park Supervisor Kevin Skates provided information regarding members of the public flying drones in the park properties. Skates said, “We have a park rule that is state-wide. Drones at this point are prohibited in state parks, including Boysen and Hot Springs State Park. However, people can get permission by contacting our office at 864-2176.” Skates added, “Generally, we will give permission for educational, research or tourism advertising videos. We have seen and heard on social media that people are buying more drones and t...

  • Sales tax increase removed from school funding bill

    Apr 1, 2021

    by Kathryn Palmer Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange CHEYENNE — A proposal to address a $300 million shortfall to Wyoming’s K-12 education funding model is headed to the Senate floor, but a sales tax hike won’t be a part of the possible solution. “Frankly, I don’t think we can get 16 votes on the floor of the Senate with a bill that has a tax increase in it,” Senate Education Committee Chairman Charles Scott, R-Casper, said Monday. The committee voted 4-1 to advance House Bill 173, which proposes to cut more than $50 million from K...

  • Zebra Mussels invasion prevention

    Jurri Schenck|Apr 1, 2021

    The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture recently convened a meeting of Wyoming's Invasive Mussel Response Team. The team, formed by Gov. Mark Gordon, is a multi-agency effort to stop the spread of and limit impacts from invasive zebra mussels in Wyoming. Hot Springs State Park Superintendent Kevin Skates said that Game and Fish are really concerned about the zebra mussel invading the cooling ponds of the park and elsewhere. Skates said, "It's an invasive sp...

  • On the record

    Apr 1, 2021

    On the Record policy It is the Thermopolis Independent Record’s policy that all people arrested or cited under the “Accidents,” “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. Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, March 23 4:44 p.m. An agency assist where a deputy observed a urinalysis for the Department of Family Services. 7:58 p.m. A medical call where a deputy helped stabilize a patient until emergency medical...

  • Get ready, get set, go!

    Apr 1, 2021

    The Shop Gym held the Buffalo Bash 5k race as a fundraiser in the Hot Springs State Park. The turnout was great and they ran, walked and strolled with their dogs through the buffalo pasture....

  • RMEF Banquet set for April 10

    Apr 1, 2021

    The local chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is holding its banquet April 10 at 5 p.m. at the Fair Building. The event is a fundraiser and committee chair, Anthony Barnett, said they want to get members back together now that COVID has died down. Barnett added, “We had to cancel our event last year. As far as a local community, we wanted to have an event for the community. With proceeds from this local event and the Women for Wildlife events our chapter does in Greybull, Worland and Dubois throughout the year our chapter h...

  • Do the right thing

    Apr 1, 2021

    In the six years since former Gov. Matt Mead began championing expanding Medicaid in the state, much has changed – including the state’s financial house and the hearts and minds of some state senators and representatives. In opposing previous attempts to expand Medicaid coverage in the state expansion, many state lawmakers were fearful that the federal government would pull out of its 90% federal match for newly covered individuals, leaving Wyoming with the bill. The latest attempt at expansion ensures the state would withdraw from the fed...

  • Get ready for Wyo Wednesdays

    Apr 1, 2021

    by Suzanne Samelson Main Street Thermopolis has plans for the spring season, starting with Wyo Wednesday on April 7. The first Wednesday of the month is a perfect day to take a look at the shopping here in Thermopolis. As we move into the spring season, there are many reasons to celebrate this time of year. Among some of the special items available at our local businesses, I have seen the new quilting and related supplies along with a sweet line-up of Easter chocolates and cards at some of the wonderful downtown businesses. Gardening supplies...

  • Twila Wood

    Apr 1, 2021

    Twila Wood, 89, soon to be 90, passed on March 23, 2021 at the Thermopolis Rehabilitation and Wellness. She was born on May 18, 1931 near Holt, Wyoming at the homestead of her parents, Frank "Friday" and Edith (Reed) Rathbun. Twila graduated eighth grade then quit school to help on the family ranch and care for a younger sibling with a disability. On July 10, 1949 she married Harry "Buzz" Wood. They had three children. The couple later divorced. Twila held numerous jobs in Thermopolis... Full story

  • Dean Ernest Benson

    Apr 1, 2021

    Dean Ernest Benson passed away March 15, 2021. He was born on February 8, 1938, in Thermopolis, Wyo., to Gus and Nina Benson. The family lived near Meeteetsee until he was 6 years old. Many of the family's summers were spent on Hess Creek living in a sheep wagon or the Dickey Ranch where his dad was the sheep operation foreman managing 10,000 head of sheep. Dean played football at his high school in Thermopolis, Class of 1956. Dean attended the University of Wyoming where he met Corky and was... Full story

  • Evelyn A. Sutherland

    Apr 1, 2021

    Evelyn A. Sutherland, 68, died on March 28, 2021 in Billings, Mont. A full obituary will appear in next week’s Independent Record.... Full story

  • Margaret Ellen Bleak

    Apr 1, 2021

    Margaret Ellen (Pickett) Bleak passed away at her home surrounded by family on March 23, 2021. She was born on January 22, 1939, to Charles William "Pap" and Esther May "Es" (Clendenning) Pickett in Lander, Wyo. Margie grew up on the HM Ranch at the head of the Dunoir Valley west of Dubois, Wyo. After graduation, she married Henry Louis Butler on June 29, 1957. Together they operated the ranch for a year before moving to a ranch on the South Fork of the Shoshone River in Cody Wyo.; then to... Full story

  • Online sports wagering legalization clears Legislature

    Apr 1, 2021

    CASPER (WNE) — A bill to legalize online sports wagering in Wyoming for the first time cleared both the House and Senate. House Bill 133 directs the Wyoming Gaming Commission to regulate the activity by setting up rules and imposing fees and penalties. The commission will have until September to draft the rules. Supporters of opening up online sports betting have said the activity already occurs in the state illicitly; Wyoming is simply missing out on needed money. “(The bill) tries to stop the black market that is taking place now, put con...

  • Sketch Club started

    Jurri Schenck|Apr 1, 2021

    A new Sketch Club has been started here in Thermopolis that allows artists to meet fellow creative people. It was formed by Joe Moon and Josh Rathbun, who happened to discover their shared artistic interests by chance during jury duty. Moon saw Rathbun's iPad Pro digital drawings and was immediately struck by his ability. Moon told Rathbun that he has an art background as well. Moon said they were, "trying to think of something to get artists together, to just hang out and be creative without...

  • Look, Ma, no hands!

    Apr 1, 2021

    Jenny Deromedi powers her way on her hoverboard in the wonderful weather of the Hot Springs State Park....

  • Wrestlers face tough competition in Montana

    Apr 1, 2021

    The Thermopolis Wrestling Club had 23 wrestlers attend Montana Open last Saturday and Sunday. There were approximately 1,800 wrestlers at the tournament and the Thermopolis competitors had several tough matches. Some wrestlers had brackets with as many as 39 wrestlers. Results include: Girls 10 & Under 73 - Brayli Price, 5th place, 2 team points. Girls 10 & Under 77 - Briar Lahoe, 5th place, 2 team points. Girls 10 & Under 113 - Jesalyn Blair, 4th place, 3 team points. Girls 15 & Under 144 -...

  • Medicaid expansion bill wins final House approval

    Apr 1, 2021

    by Tom Coulter Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News Exchange CHEYENNE — In an unprecedented vote, the Wyoming House of Representatives gave its final support Wednesday to a bill authorizing the expansion of Medicaid coverage to an estimated 24,000 low-income residents in the state, marking a level of support among lawmakers that has not been seen since the program was first offered to the state nearly a decade ago. House Bill 162, which won approval from the body by a narrow 32-28 vote, would direct state officials to pursue a plan to e...

  • Bill protecting gun rights from federal rules passes Senate

    Apr 1, 2021

    by Ellen Gerst Casper Star-Tribune Via Wyoming News Exchange CASPER — A bill intended to exempt Wyomingites from future federal restrictions on gun rights passed the Senate floor Wednesday with a 24-6 vote. Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, sponsored Senate File 81 in an attempt to provide proactive Second Amendment protections for “law-abiding citizens” in anticipation of federal restrictions on guns coming from the Democratic administration. After a series of amendments overhauled Bouchard’s original version of the bill, the sponsor voted n...

  • Taking flight

    Apr 1, 2021

    An elegant pair of Sandhill Cranes take flight from a field along West Sunnyside Lane north of Thermopolis. Several Sandhill Cranes have been in the area filling the air with their distinctive loud, rattling calls....

  • IRS extends additional tax deadlines for individuals to May 17

    Apr 1, 2021

    The Internal Revenue Service announced that individuals have until May 17, 2021 to meet certain deadlines that would normally fall on April 15, such as making IRA contributions and filing certain claims for refund. This follows a previous announcement from the IRS on March 17, that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year was extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. Notice 2021-21 provides details on the additional tax deadlines which have been postponed until May 17. Time to make contributions to IRAs...