Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 28
April 28, 2023. A tragic day for the little town of Thermopolis. A local resident dead. A well respected law enforcement officer gravely injured. The day brought bright sunshine, the warmth of a spring thaw, and both pain and suffering to many in our community. The many repercussions of that fateful day have rippled through this tight knit community - with a wealth of sorrow and anguish to go around. Last week, a settlement was announced in the case filed by the heirs of Buck Laramore against the Town of Thermopolis and former police Sargent Mi...
Mara Jennings makes a throw at the Thermopolis Disc Golf Course near Hot Springs State Park. The scenic 9-hole or 18-hole course is located at 117 North Hwy 20....
The Thermopolis Town Council prefaced their regular meeting on Tuesday, August 18 with a work session to discuss several issues facing the town. In the work session, the council continued to fine-tune the town’s proposed employee survey, seeking to gain insight into how the town may go about recruiting, and retaining, experienced and knowledgeable staff. The discussion then turned to a consideration of various methods of enforcing the town’s code provisions, in a way which will encourage compliance, without a resort to some form of enf...
The Town of Thermopolis has kept downtown and Bicentennial Park looking beautiful with an array of colorful flowers....
Wyoming State Parks has announced an agreement with Big Springs Spa, Inc., current operator of the Hot Springs Hotel, formerly the Days Inn Hotel, in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Under the agreement, the State will pay Big Springs Spa, Inc. $1,175,921.05 for the appraised value of its capital investment and ongoing business interest in the hotel. The agreement follows an appraisal process conducted pursuant to Section 335 of Enrolled Act 27 of the Sixty-Eighth Wyoming Legislature, also known as the 2027 Budget Bill. Section 335 required Wyoming State...
On April 28, 2023, an incident that began as an investigation and ended with a shootout at Buck Laramore’s residence on Canyon Hills Road. Laramore died in the exchange of gun fire and former Thermopolis police Sargent Michael Mascorro was seriously injured. The recent completion of a settlement agreement wraps up years of various actions since April of 2023. Last week, the Town of Thermopolis publicly released a copy of the official settlement document on their website at thermopoliswy.gov. The...
Thermopolis Mayor Adam Estenson welcomes Daniel Assman as the newest Thermopolis Patrol Officer....
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, Aug. 17 10:35 p.m. Deputies made contact with the driver of a suspicious vehicle. No other information was provided. Tuesday, Aug. 18 Unknown time: Angela Henry was arrested for...
Ryan Miller cleans freshly harvested onions for sale during the Saturday Farmers and Artisans Market in downtown Thermopolis. The market is on Saturdays from 8 a.m.- noon....
Early childhood fair The Early Childhood Fair will be Friday, August 28 from 10 a.m.-noon at the Washakie Shelter (Kiwanis Shelter) at Hot Springs State Park. The event will feature both resource information and interactive booths with a variety of fun activities, goodie bags, snacks, drawings and more. Kids outdoor day Hot Springs State Park will be hosting a kids outdoor day on Saturday, August 29. Families with kids ages 6 and up are invited. See the ad on this page for more information. Smoking Waters Derby The Smoking Waters Demolition...
Smashing and crashing is returning to the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 29 with the Smoking Waters Demolition Derby. Five action packed classes of Chain Up, Truck, Weld Up, Light Weld and Super Mod will be offering a huge payout of up to $20,000. Gates open at 4 p.m. with the derby starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate for $20 for adults, $10 for ages 6-12 and 6 and under get in free. There will be food trucks on site along with a beer garden offering up a variety of food and beverages. The event is now...
The Smoking Waters Demolition Derby is set for Saturday, August 29 at the fairgrounds. The total payout to drivers for the night is expected to reach $20,000. That’s some serious money and, hopefully, means we will have a full night of smashing and bashing. The event is now sponsored by the Hot Springs County Fair Board and is a fundraiser for fairgrounds upkeep. Get your tickets at the gate for this action packed event. For more information and a QR code to scan, see the ad on page 2 of this paper....
I would like to see if anyone else is concerned about the Pronghorn migration around Sage Valley, Red Canyon Road outside of Thermopolis in particular. Heading into Thermopolis, 70 mph speed limit, no migration signs anywhere to let people know to look out for the Pronghorns. Any chance to lower the speed limit heading into town? Or do we have to keep speed trapping the tourists, for our police/sheriffs to survive our lousy economy. There is no reason to drive 70 miles an hour into Thermopolis. I just don’t like seeing dead Pronghorn on the h...
by Bryan Golden The largest brick building is constructed one brick at a time. A long journey by foot is completed one step at a time. A home is built one board at a time. The most monumental accomplishments are achieved through a series of small, manageable steps. Any goal is achieved by taking enough small steps. You start where you are and then take just one step. Taking action initiates your forward progress. If you want a new job, begin by applying to one job posting. If you want to get a college degree, sign up for one course. If you...
Questions 1. What disastrous event occurred on August 24, A.D. 79? 2. Who started the expedition that Juan Sebastián Elcano finished? 3. Are each of these a unit of volume, length, or time: hand, acre-foot, shake, sol, chain, cord? 4. Which car company’s name roughly means “Listen!” in Latin? 5. Give the mascots for these Big 12 teams: Utah, Iowa State, Kansas, Colorado and TCU. Fun Facts The Voyager space missions were so successful in part because of a rare alignment of the outer planets. When President Richard Nixon was asked to approve the...
Nina Lee Hammond, daughter, beloved wife, cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, went to be with Jesus on August 18, 2026. "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." - Proverbs 31:29 Born to Ardon and Shirley Merrill on April 11, 1943, Nina grew up as an only child full of spirit and fearless curiosity. She could often be found racing her bike at full speed, exploring the world alongside her cherished dog Tippy. From her mother and her...
Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Arts Council invite the public to attend the final Artist in Residence programs of the 2026 season, taking place throughout September at Wyoming State Parks. As part of Wyoming’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the 2026 Artist in Residence Program expanded to include 19 artists at nine state parks. Throughout the summer, artists representing visual art, music, dance, performance art, and creative writing have engaged visitors, developed original works inspired by place, and explored Wyo...
Bill Franklin Hayes, 73, passed away at the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Worland, Wyo., on August 22, 2026. He was born on September 17, 1952, in Jenkins, Ky., to Bill Franklin Sr. and Cleo (Hibbitts) Hayes. Bill grew up in the hollers of rural Kentucky. As a young man, Bill decided to try out his entrepreneurial skills as a kite salesman. He fondly nicknamed himself "Curly the Kite Man." He bought a van, grew out his afro, and lived his best hippie life, driving up and down...
The Hot Springs County High School golf teams played in Worland on August 17 and 18. With a squad of just eight players - four boys and four girls - the linksters were up against some tough competition. At the end of the two-day tournament, the Lady Cats placed fourth out of eight teams, with a team score of 597. The Bobcats finished tenth out of 13 teams, with a combined score of 767. For the Lady Cats, Ruth Needham shot a 185, which aplaced her tied for tenth in the individual standings. Reagan Huckfeldt shot an even 200; Courtney Heiman...
Ah, August. The time of year when the thoughts of Bobcats faithful turn to Friday nights under the lights, football and chasing championships. Once again, the Hot Springs County High School Bobcats are preparing to take the field and to give their level best to bring home a state championship. In pre-season polls, the Cats are slated in a tie with Cokeville for a fifth place ranking. In the early going, Big Horn is favored to win it all. Practices began last week with 39 players out for the team. Coach Boone Bowker said the masters of the...
The Hot Springs County High School cross country team began practices for its new season last week. New head coach Ashley Clare takes the helm this year and looks to improve upon the teams past success. The team will kick off their season this Friday, August 28 with the Bear Trap Invite on Casper Mountain, and the following week, the Cats and Lady Cats will compete at the state preview in Cheyenne on September 4. There’s no let-up in the schedule after that as the competition moves to Wyoming Indian on September 12, Lander on September 17, W...
Following graduation from Hot Springs County High School this past spring, and for the second year in a row, local rodeo standout Bridger Peil competed in the National High School Finals (NHSF) held in Lincoln, Neb., on July 19 through July 25. Peil finished second in average in calf roping at the Wyoming State Rodeo Finals earlier this summer and earned his way into the national competition,where he came away with some jackpot winnings. Peil left last week to attend his first year at Sheridan C...
The Lady Cats of Hot Springs County High School will kick off their 2026 season this Friday night at the Lander Invite. Practices began last week, with 32 girls out for the team, including 12 varsity players, and 17 freshmen. New head coach Desiree Egger will now bring her experience with the middle school team to the high school ranks and will enjoy the benefit of coaching again, many players with whom she became acquainted at the middle school. The new season is loaded with competition and will see the Lady Cats facing off with many high...
A beautiful sunset appears behind the old water tank along the edge of Thermopolis.... Full story
by John Bernhisel Under the new federal plan Arizona will lose 760,000 acre-feet of water annually, California 440,000 acre-feet and Nevada 50,000 acre-feet. At first glance, the Colorado River crisis would seem to have almost nothing to do with the Big Horn Basin. The Colorado River doesn’t flow anywhere near Cody, Powell, Lovell, Worland or Thermopolis. Neither do Wyoming’s major tributaries that eventually feed it. Water leaving the Big Horn Basin flows north through the Bighorn River into Montana, eventually joining the Yellowstone, Missour...
