Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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According to Thermopolis Fire Chief Mark Collins, the number of fires in the area is pretty normal at this time, according to the five-year average, though these first couple weeks in August are typically the start of the wild land fire season. Collins said the farmers in the area have been very good about their controlled burns, watching them to make sure they don’t get out of hand. The fires that the department has had to respond to, he said, they’ve been able to get right on top of and get...
The rock slides in Wind River Canyon this spring and into part of summer are one of the top priorities for the Wyoming Department of Transportation according to the state director, Bill Panos, who met with the county commissioners on Tuesday. Panos said this was the first year they had brought in the state’s geology department to take a look at the canyon walls, even before the slides started happening, to get a better idea of where they may occur. Fortunately, they were already in the area w...
Tuesday evening, Thermopolis Town Council approved the use of Bicentennial Park for vendors during Aug. 18, 19 and 20, the weekend before the eclipse. Council heard from Michelle Lue, who noted the ArtStroll has already been rescheduled for the same weekend and there’s expected to be an influx of people, and allowing vendors to set up in the park could help to draw them downtown. Jerry Fields added they’re not looking to charge anyone, but they want to invite people to come down and set up. Deb...
A motion for a new trial in a case against Justin Spence was denied Monday in Hot Springs District Court. Spence was found guilty of incest on April 27, following a three-day trial. According to the charge, he molested a juvenile female on July 4 or 5, 2014. A motion for a new trial was filed in early May, and prosecuting attorney Marcia Bean noted the hearing on the motion was not within the allowed timeframe — 15 days from the motion filing and 60 days from the conviction —so it would be aut... Full story
By now, most everyone understands that Boysen Reservoir and the Wind and Big Horn Rivers were full and fast for the past two months. Several river rescues were required during that time, ruining the chance of floating the river for most. What we didn’t realize at the time, however, was the water flows this summer have broken a 50-year old record. The record was first set in 1967 when 1.3 million acre feet of water flowed into the reservoir. As of Wed., July 26, 1.67 million acre feet flowed i...
In District Court Monday, Tiffany Seymour Brown was sentenced to a period of six to seven years at the Wyoming Women’s Center. The sentence covers five felony charges in two cases, including two counts of possession of meth with intent to deliver, two counts of endangering a child — exposure to meth — and one count of possession of meth. Prior to sentencing, she pleaded guilty to the charges. According to court documents, on April 6, 2016 a deputy was informed by the Washakie County Sheri...
On Tuesday, July 25, the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees was introduced to three new directors joining the staff. Director of Nursing Services Phillip Reintz attended Northwest College for a time, later transferring to the University of Michigan and earning a bachelor's in nursing. From there, he worked a few years in intensive care units in the Detroit area before furthering his education through the Masters in Anesthesia program at Wayne State. Reintz said the Hot... Full story
When it comes to civil cases in the court system, the number of charges, replies and other filed motions filed can take a considerable amount of time to get through. Case in point, the lawsuit filed Dec. 28, 2015 by Joe and Barbara Campbell against the Tri-county Telephone Association, Inc. (TCT). The most recent filing came on Wednesday, July 19, as Chief United Stated District Judge Nancy Freudenthal signed an order denying the Campbells motion for disqualification of counsel. The original...
Law enforcement, along with fire and emergency personnel, respond to a fatal accident shortly after 5:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon about five miles west of town on Highway 120. The accident occurred when an eastbound vehicle, driven by fatality Michelle Jimerson, attempted to pass a semi and struck a westbound truck and trailer driven by Wyatt Agar. A juvenile in Agar's vehicle was transported to the hospital from the scene. According to information from Wyoming Highway Patrol, Jimerson was not... Full story
A couple of unexpected mishaps with the sheriff’s department needed explained to the commissioners at their meeting last week, mishaps that will hopefully be covered by insurance. A new truck purchased by the sheriff’s office was recently hit while it was parked, culminating in over $5,000 worth of damage. The commissioners gave the go-ahead to have the repairs done with any monies over the insurance amount to be covered out of the department’s repair budget. The second issue is a jet ski used...
Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Gordon began Monday night’s final public meeting before the eclipse by saying we’re pretty much going to be outnumbered. “A whole lot of people from around the planet want to see this,” he said. “We’re probably going to be outnumbered, but the hospital, police and fire have done everything they can to be prepared.” Gordon went on to let folks know the ins and outs of allowing people to camp or use their property short term. If you have rented out your home...
Wyoming State Park, Historic Sites and Trails recently released their 2017 survey, which is available at the Hot Springs State Park Bath House. The survey asks whether people would be willing to support an increase in the entrance fee at the park. Currently, there is no entrance fee. Park Superintendent Kevin Skates said there are surveys every other year which ask people about the amenities in the park, and what they do or don’t like about it. This is the first time he’s seen the survey abo...
The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) provides emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and to implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought. The following counties are eligible for ECP assistance: Hot Springs County For land to be eligible, the natural disaster must create new conservation problems that, if untreated, would: •be so costly to rehabilitate that Federal assistance is or will be needed to return the land to productive...
Next week, T.J. Schoenewald will travel to Laramie to compete in the 2017 State Senior Olympics. It's far from a first-time experience for him, having competed in the games 11 years. Schoenewald first heard about the event at a presentation for the Kiwanis given by Marion Bishop, who has also competed at the games in multiple years. Schoenewald, a Kiwanis member, decided he would give it a try when he hit 50 years old, the minimum age for competing. Prior to that, he had been participating in... Full story
The group organizing everything for the upcoming eclipse in August held their monthly meeting last week, going over a few details. The IT Department for the county has created a hotline number that will be available during the period just before, during and just after the eclipse. The hotline will allow people to call with non-emergent questions such as where to get a tire repaired or what time a particular event begins. Of course, emergencies will be forwarded to 9-1-1, but having the hotline...
There was plenty of food and fellowship at the open house for the Federated Community Church's community hall. The building is available to use for events such as dinners and youth activities when church events are not being held....
This weekend the Wyoming wing of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) utilized the Thermopolis airport as its home base, as CAP cadets practiced their search and rescue skills. The airport also was the camping site for cadets, with many sleeping in tents while others chose to lay out under the stars. Major Tera Cowles explained CAP provides help to any county agency or mutual aid that requests their assistance. The cadets learn leadership skills and also train in aerospace education, so at the same time they'...
At their meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Hot Springs Travel and Tourism Board accepted the fiscal year 2017-18 budget. Prior to the regular meeting, there was a public hearing regarding the budget. According to the budget, the forecasted revenue is $175,120, with $175,000 from total operating revenues and the remainder from interest. The administration budget is $13,555, which includes: $6,500 for administrator, $1,200 for accounting/auditing, $3,500 for website, $748 for office supplies, $52...
Tuesday evening, the Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees approved the operating and capital budgets for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. According to the budget, total operating revenues are $18,165,214, which includes $27,453,598 in gross patient revenue, deductions of $9,406,564 and other revenue of $118,180. Deductions include discounts, allowances, write-offs and prior year settlements. Total expenses come in at $18,144,888. Those expenses include salaries, contract...
Estimates for oil and gas sales and taxable values for the first quarter of 2017 are all over the board, both up and down, from the first quarter of 2016. Jan. 2016 saw an estimated sales volume of oil at 188,075 barrels while Jan., 2017 saw sales estimates of 174,364 barrels, down slightly by 13,711 barrels. Feb. 2017 brought a slightly bigger dip, going from 165,515 barrels in 2016, down 5,565 barrels in 2017 for a total volume of 159,950 barrels. The biggest drop was seen in March 2017, when...
A helicopter prepares to drop his bucket in the Wind River for a water drop on the east rim of Wind River Canyon on Saturday afternoon. The Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire early that morning before it was turned over to BLM personnel....
by Cindy Glasson The Hot Springs County Commissioners held their final public meeting Monday, approving the final budget for 2017-2018. General Fund requirements for the fiscal year amount to $10,519,320.55, up $412,563.50 from last year. At the start of the budget session there was some worry that employees would have to be eliminated, but with the help of Federal PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) monies amounting to $800,000, that threat was held off for another year. Some lines that changed...
Hot Springs County Commissioners, based on the recommendations of the County Fire Warden, have implemented a fire ban, effective immediately. Any open fire or discharge of fireworks is prohibited on all unimproved State and private land, including all land owners in Hot Springs County. Trash or refuse burning must be done between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. inside containers equipped with spark arrestors in a cleared area at least 10 feet in radius. Other exceptions include camp fires contained within an...
Tuesday evening’s Town Council meeting was certainly one of the more active in terms of citizen participation, as several voiced their opinion with regard to a couple issues in town. A topic that received much discussion was the road that encompasses 14th Street and Canyon Hills Road. Beverly Ward first brought up the issue, though by the end of discussion the council would also hear from Karen Slocum, Sam Starnes, Mark Collins, Linda Hughes and Matt Hughes among others. Ward noted she has b...
The Hot Springs County Democratic Committee welcomed Democrats from across the state for the Wyoming Democratic Party's central meeting in Thermopolis on Saturday, July 15. The Wyoming Democratic Party meets quarterly to discuss party business and hold a fundraiser. Former Democratic presidential candidate and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley was the keynote speaker at the Wyoming Democratic Party's fundraiser event. A potluck dinner hosted by the Progressive Caucus kicked off festivities on...
