Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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Our community has a lot to be thankful for this Christmas. We may have more than some and less than others, but ultimately we all make a choice to continue to live in, or care about, our little one stoplight town. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you, near and far, who are reading this. Thanks to those of you who are serving in the military and giving up your holidays, your years of living in Hot Springs County and Wyoming, to try to make the world a safer, better place. Thanks to the many volunteers who put in countless hours to put on...
Dear Rusty: I’m nearing 68 years old, have never signed up for Medicare but thinking that I should look into it. I’m currently covered by my wife’s health insurance through her employer. I would greatly appreciate some simple guidance regarding Medicare. I’ve tried watching some videos about the subject, but it was always so boring that I never finished watching. I get lost in all the Part This & Part That. I would just like some solid insight into the coverage that I truly need & the cost. Signed: Confused Dear Confused: Medicare is, indeed,...
by Stephen Dow Talk is cheap, as the saying goes. But when talk is not followed up by actions, it becomes quite costly. Such is the case of Wyoming’s property tax system. The good news is Wyoming’s state legislators have known for years that the current system is broken. The bad news is their efforts to fix the system haven’t gotten very far. Just this past session, legislators considered a bill that would have studied how the state could switch from the current market-value-system of determining property taxes to an acquisition-based syste...
A long time ago in the distant future, a cloud of gloom hovered beneath the North Pole. The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) went South for the Winter, reversing the Magnetic Poles and causing a chain reaction of bizarre circumstances. Suddenly, Mrs. Santa was on the twelfth day of menopause. Everything she baked fell flat or burnt. As she grew grumpier by the day, there were no decorations or festive aromas nor cheerful atmosphere. AS NOT ENOUGH – Rudolph was suffering with a serious head cold. He sneezed so hard that his nose popped off a...
Thermopolis and residents from surrounding areas have been working their way into the Christmas spirit. Lights and decorations are going up at houses and businesses, school Christmas concerts and programs are scheduled, special sales are going on at local businesses and craft fairs and more are being held. This Saturday, the annual Lighted Christmas Parade. Bundle up and line the streets to see some fabulous entries make their way through downtown beginning at 6 p.m. Following the parade, Santa Claus will be at Hazel-n-Pearls so be sure to...
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the American naval facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. According to History.com, the goal of this attack, which claimed the lives of more than 2,400 Americans, was to destroy the Pacific Fleet. Though the attack crippled or destroyed roughly 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes, the Pacific Fleet was not destroyed. All of the Pacific Fleet’s aircraft carriers were elsewhere on December 7, 1941. Within a day of the attack, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt declared war on J...
by Dave Bonner, Powell Tribune Passage of Constitutional Amendment A by Wyoming voters in the Nov. 8 general election doesn’t put cities, towns and counties — and other political subdivisions of the state — on an overnight route to money in the bank. It does provide investment possibilities to local governments that haven’t existed before. That, in itself, is a big step forward. In fact, the heretofore limited earnings opportunities have been a vexing problem to local governments. The City of Powell’s experience with an endowment to provide f...
Each Thursday the IR arrives in the mail, and I typically go right to “On the Record” and the Obituaries to confirm I’m not mentioned in either. Lately, however, I’ve been focusing on the Record, aka the Police/Sheriff/Court blotter. I’m seeing a lot of family issues there, far too many for such a small community. And yet this trend now affects communities all across America. It includes domestic abuse, rebellious teens, drug use, alcohol abuse, and recently our little town had the threat of a teen brawl over drug paraphernalia. That’s a...
by Jill Pertler Lately I’ve been interested in happiness - scientifically speaking, of course. That sounds counterintuitive, oxymoronic even. How can the cut and dried factual-based world of science have anything to do with something as instinctive and emotional as happiness? Turns out they have more in common than I originally thought. Happiness causes physiological changes within us that science is able to use to identify, quantify and even predict happy. I’ve always thought of happiness as external – something that happens to me. Happi...
However you spend your Thanksgiving, take a moment to give thanks for someone or something. Be thankful for friends, family, fur babies, a roof over your head, food on your table, your job, etc. Even if all these do not apply, be thankful for the ones that do. As Friday rolls around, we enter the Christmas shopping season, full steam ahead. Locally we have our own Merry Christmas Market giveaway going on. Black Friday is Nov. 25 followed by Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26, a relatively new American tradition. While Black Friday has been an...
by Tom Emery Americans have endured some tough years of late, which is nothing new in our history. One example is 1918, when people found plenty of reason to celebrate Thanksgiving. Seventeen days before the holiday, the Armistice had been signed, ending World War I. But the nation was still in the throes of the influenza epidemic, which still lingered as Americans sat down to give thanks. The flu epidemic had shut down many American cities throughout the fall, with death tolls in alarming numbers. An estimated 195,000 fatalities from the...
Thermopolis has a full schedule of events coming up starting this Saturday with the Backpack Program Fundraiser and Holiday Affair Craft Show at the Thermopolis Middle School. Saturday night, 4-H Achievement night will be held at the fair building to celebrate the accomplishments of youths in the county. The Annual Christmas Bazzar will be Nov. 26 at the fair building. Nov. 25 is Black Friday and kicks off the Merry Christmas Market shopping. Shop Small Town Saturday is Nov. 26. Watch for ads from businesses in next week’s edition. The Ducks Un...
The 2022 General Election is over other than canvasing write-ins, dealing with any requests for recounts and making voting numbers official. Let’s now look forward to welcoming new faces in our places of local, state and federal government as they prepare to take their seats in a few months. Some have said this is one of the most important midterm elections our nation has faced. Local politics have a national impact and every vote counts. Locally, citizens have campaigned and supported their candidates with passion and vigor, debating the i...
Compiled by Jurri Schenck The Misfit seeks to make you chuckle or groan in delight! In times like these, we all need a chance to lighten up and enjoy life a little. Going forward The Misfit Column will provide you with tidbits of humor to make you smile or shake your head. Feel free to share these with your friends. BREAKING NEWS! Engineers have just made a car that can run on parsley… Now they’re hoping to make buses that run on thyme! Just finished writing my book on how to fall down the stairs, It’s a step-by-step guide. To the person that...
Tuesday, November 8 is 2022 General Election voting day. Some will vote absentee prior to Tuesday, but many will be voting that day. Locally, we have a few very important races that will be decided. We have two candidates running for Town of Thermopolis Mayor, three candidates running for two seats on the Thermopolis Town Council, two candidates running for the single House District 28 seat and eight candidates seeking three seats on the Hot Springs County Board of Trustees. Kirby and East Thermopolis also have a few important races going on...
I was disappointed with a few of our candidates who are running for school board trustee. They seem to feel they do not have to answer questions from the public because the questions came from Republicans. Interestingly, many of the candidates who would not answer questions publicly stated they would be willing to answer them privately. Why is that? I realize the school board trustee is a non-partisan race, but people who run for public office answer to the public. Republicans are voters, many are taxpayers and all are obviously part of the...
In the October 20 issue, the newspaper ran an editorial about the local school board race. First off, I would like to make clear that I am addressing some issues about that race that involve a committee from the Hot Springs Republican party. I am a Democrat and have nothing personal against Republicans. I have been married to one for over 40 years. And in my 35 years of living in Wyoming, I can say I like and respect many Republicans and have voted for some. I think we can disagree and have civil discussions without being hateful or divisive. I...
To all the candidates who attended the Thermopolis School Board Candidate Forum hosted by the Republican Party: “Thank you for your courage to come and answer the questions asked of you.” The position of school board trustee is incredibly important to our schools, our teachers, our students and our community. This forum provided a very public opportunity in regard to where each candidate stood on various subjects. Sometimes these forums ask questions that may cause frustration or may cause people to be uncomfortable. However, the goal was to...
by John Malmberg The old adage “Don’t put the cart before the horse” may certainly be applied to the push to get electric vehicles on our nation’s roads. Don’t get us wrong. We are not against electric vehicles. We just hope Wyoming keeps ahead of the curve so that electrical generation and distribution infrastructure can keep pace with the increased demand for electricity. Wyoming could take a lesson from California on how not to handle this situation. Just weeks ago, the California Air Resources Board set a policy requiring all new cars sold...
by Barbara Anne Greene A few weeks ago, Cynthia Johnson called to “plant a seed” in my thoughts. Her granddaughter was making plans for the upcoming livestock judging and livestock showing season and if she misses more than 12 days of school she will be in violation of the school policy. Chloie doesn’t play sports. Instead, she shows livestock and competes in livestock and meats judging in Wyoming and surrounding states. In the eyes of that school district, these are unexcused absences. Chloie’s mom, Emily, pointed out that students that pl...
One of the most highly contested races in the general election for Hot Springs County voters is the eight person fight for three positions on the Hot Springs County School District #1 Board of Trustees. Two incumbents and six challengers all want to have a seat on the board for the next four years. The school board district positions are nonpartisan offices. Candidates do not run under the merits of any political party affiliation. Awhile back, a committee made up of HSC Republican party members sent out questionnaires to the eight school...
by Tom Lealos, Vice President Wyoming Council of the Blind The use of long sticks and staffs by blind and visually impaired pedestrians has evolved over the years. They are simply an extension of the arm and allow the user to identify upcoming hazards by utilizing their senses of touch and sound. These sticks, referred to as white canes in modern times, are used both as tools and symbols in the blindness community. White canes allow blind and visually impaired individuals to travel safely over all types of terrain and around unseen obstacles....
This week is National Fire Prevention Week. On pages 8 and 9 of this paper you will find a salute to our local Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department members, including their names and photos. These individuals put in hundreds of hours each year serving our community. They respond to calls 24/7, while they are sleeping, celebrating with their families and working their jobs. They sacrifice their own time and risk their lives to protect and serve their fellow community members. They attend trainings and host community events such as their recent...
by Jill Pertler, part 2 of 2 Last week, I touched on the importance of choosing the best and most functional grocery cart. I attempted to use wise words to not only define refined grocery cart features, but to outline their importance as well. Now we address part two of this worthwhile and much needed endeavor. (As judged from some of my fellow shoppers who seem to be completely oblivious to the basics of cart civility and decorum.) Let’s say you’ve chosen the perfect cart. No rust, no squeaks, no dents or abnormalities. You might think you...
by Tom Silvestri, The Relevance Project It’s been more than two years since I received my last paycheck from a newspaper company. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to advocate for local newspapers that remain relevant to their communities. That advocacy keeps running into tiresome arguments that are as yellow as old faded newsprint. No matter what facts you use to extinguish them, they find a way to flare up later. During National Newspaper Week, consider the following collection of statements that numb the mind, along with a sug...
