Your source for news in Hot Springs County
Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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On Monday, the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau Federation held their second Meet the Candidate forum at the Thermopolis Middle School. The event was less attended than their first event, held prior to the primary election, but there was still a solid turnout. Also, the event was live streamed and the replay video can be found on the Chamber’s social media page. A full recap of the information from the event will be included in the Oct. 27 General Election section of the Independent Record. In that section we w...
by Judy Carswell The silent heroes that exist within our community are so amazing! I am talking about our friends and neighbors that have been volunteers for the People for People Programs, providing meals here in our community since 1988 (34 years). Every Sunday they prepare meals (sometimes paying for the meal) and deliver to our friends that may need a helping hand. They speak with each person they deliver a meal with a smile on their face, while checking to make sure they are doing okay and tell them to have a nice day. Also, the Backpack...
Secure elections are the cornerstone of a thriving republic. The right to vote in a free and fair election is the most basic civil right, one on which many of the other rights of the American people depend. Election integrity means the will of the voters prevails. Unfortunately, some in the Wyoming State Legislature are again questioning the wisdom of Wyoming voters. In the August Republican primary, voters chose Rep. Chuck Gray as their nominee for secretary of state. Gray beat Sen. Tara Nethercott by 8 points in the primary. He does not have...
by Bill Sniffin, Cowboy State Daily Wyoming has an almost over-abundance of “natural” wonders ranging from Yellowstone National Park to the vast Red Desert. Plus, the towering Devils Tower and the even more towering Teton and Wind River Mountain Ranges. My first coffee table book, published in 2012, was an attempt to document these 7 Greatest Natural Wonders + 33 Other Fascinating Places. But soon after it was published folks would come up to me and me: What about Wyoming’s Seven Greatest Man-Made Wonders? That got me thinking about doing...
The Independent Record staff has been contacted by several individuals wanting to do research on a variety of topics. No problem, we’ve got you covered. There are a few ways to access the IR archives. The easiest way to research through the last seven years of papers is using our website at thermopir.com. Subscribers have access to review full pdf versions of our paper dating back to April 2015. For stories printed in the IR from the beginning of 2016 until present, the key word search feature is available. If you are interested in r...
by Jill Kruse, D.O. People often talk about having a “gut feeling” when they know something is wrong. What feelings come when there is something wrong with the digestive system itself and how do you differentiate between “butterflies” acting up and a serious gastrointestinal problem? There are many different organs that can cause GI problems and may include the esophagus, stomach, the small intestine, and the large intestine. The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The most common issue people have with the esophagus i...
Everyone loves a great deal from your fellow community members. What better place to find one than at your local Farmers Market? Every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. until noon in downtown Thermopolis on 5th Street between Broadway and Pinnacle Bank, local vendors sell their wares. The options are varied and of high quality. Customers can find freshly grown local vegetables, baked goods, flavored peanut butter, custom handmade jewelry, smoked cheese, freeze-dried fruit, locally harvest meats, jellies and jams and many, many more items. Don’t forg...
On our winter visit from Wyoming to Arizona, I picked up a volume of Louise May Alcott’s “Jo’s Boys” at an estate sale. Published in September of 1868, this book was found to be first edition. Included in this precious book were some hand-written notes that seem to be connected to the Thermopolis and Embar areas of Wyoming. My curiosity is pushing me to find if there are any relatives of the original owner of the book still in the area. The name inscribed is: Elizabeth Punteney. She gifted the book to Robert Price, Embar, Wyo. on Decembe...
by John Malmberg With the death of Jim Angell a few weeks ago, a powerful voice for openness and transparency in government fell silent. Angell, who served for many years as the executive director of the Wyoming Press Association, kept a vigilant eye on any bills to come before the Wyoming Legislature that might have restricted the public’s access to information. He made trips across the state for years conducting many workshops educating elected officials at all levels of government, reporters and anyone who would listen about Wyoming’s ope...
Over the past several days, I have fielded an extraordinary number of phone calls asking me to run for Wyoming Secretary of State. I am not running for Secretary of State. I first learned of the effort to draft me to run, as an Independent, from news sources. I spoke with the authors of the petition and expressed that even if the required number of signatures were gathered, I would not run against the Party’s nominee and split a Party I love so dearly. I believe strongly that the Republican Party must unite around the shared principles of h...
by Amber Steinmetz Did you see the video earlier this month of the Little League batter consoling the opposing team’s pitcher? During the Little League Southwest Regional final Aug. 9 in Waco, Texas, right-hander Kaiden Shelton of Pearland, Texas, was facing batter Isaiah Jarvis of Tulsa, Okla., when an 0-2 pitch got away from him and slammed into Jarvis’ helmet. Jarvis fell to the ground and was surrounded by concerned coaches and other staff, but was able to walk unaided to first base a short time later. He noticed Shelton on the mound sta...
by Jill Pertler This weekend I spent time at a class reunion with friends I don’t see every day (but wish I still did.) They were the friends who knew me when. And I knew them in the same way. We were innocent and young. Not yet adults, but on the budding cusp. Growing up together creates an enduring bond that can only come from experiencing pivotal years together. This bond we created has only grown stronger through the years, and I think it is now like a snowball rolling downhill: only getting bigger and stronger. It’s pretty amazing whe...
We have come to the “Dog Days” of summer when the mornings are cool and the afternoons so hot you just want to sit on the porch with the pups and enjoy something cool to drink. It also marks the start of school and before long it will be crisp leaves, flannel shirts and football. These are some of the days we can cherish the most as we kiss the summer good-bye to welcome the beauty of fall. We really have been lucky in Hot Springs County this summer. We have had a number of grass/range fires, but they have been contained fairly quickly. We are...
Do you think your voice is not powerful? Think again. There is a concept called “The Power of One”. One person can make all the difference in life and in situations. One person can move mountains and that same single person’s power is expressed in voting. Famous leaders of our nation’s past provide us with their sage wisdom. Thomas Jefferson, Former President and one of our Founding Fathers said, “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” It’s election season and many candidates fr...
by Tracy Renee Lee Most people do not expect anxiety to be a consequence of loss. After 20 years in the funeral profession, I have come to realize that anxiety is a natural response to loss. Whenever a person undergoes change, anxiety rears itself. A few examples of experiences that cause anxiety would be moving, changing jobs, starting school, taking tests, divorce, loss, and other things that cause a change in your life. Loss is the ultimate life changer and therefore, naturally causes anxiety. I have a dear friend who lost her husband a few...
The Hot Springs County Fair is finishing up but you still have the chance to enjoy some of the final events. The Chili Cook Off is tonight (Thursday) at 5 p.m. at the MP Building. Come hungry to sample all the different chili creations and then vote for your favorite. The beef show begins at 6 p.m., also in the MP Building. On Friday the Judges’ Choice Silent Auction Bake Sale starts at 5 p.m. followed by the Junior Livestock Auction beginning at 7 p.m. in the MP Building. Youths of our community work hard on their projects and you can s...
Dr. Martian Luther King, Jr. was right when he said we should judge a person by their character, but it seems good ethics has fallen out of favor. There are more and more people saying it doesn’t matter if they cheat, steal, lie or even kill if the right outcome is achieved. Watch out voting for someone who is willing to compromise good character in order to win, gain power, or get rich. Chuck Cooper...
We are heading into a few weeks packed with a busy schedule of events in Hot Springs County. The Wagonhound Off-road event will be held July 29-31. See the article on page 5 of this paper for more information. Saturday morning from 8 a.m.-noon a variety of goods will be available at the Farmers Market downtown next to Bicentennial Park. The County Fair kicks off Saturday with the Youth Horse Show. Next week is filled with other animal shows, building exhibits, shooting events, a ranch rodeo, family fun nite, a chili cook off, the livestock...
by Kelly Evans-Hullinger, M.D. As a clinical professor at my state’s medical school, I frequently have medical students seeing patients with me in clinic. While the majority of patients are happy to allow student involvement, some decline. This makes me wonder what misconceptions lead patients to be averse to trainees participating at their clinic visits or hospital bedsides. In my experience, the presence of learners has a positive influence on our work in the clinic and hospital. Medical education is a complex, highly intensive program t...
Hot Springs County and its residents are at a crossroads. What is our vision for our community’s future? If someone moves to our area and tries to get plugged into our community, they quickly find out one of our greatest cultural difficulties: division. Over the years and generations, factions have formed over offenses, misunderstandings and miscommunications. And at the same time, it is safe to say all of us have had the best of intentions. What is the solution? We must remember that a house divided against itself will surely fall. Right n...
by Bill Sniffin, Cowboy State Daily Here is a way to get “looped” this summer by enjoying Wyoming’s highways and byways. My definition of a “loop drive” is where you set out for a destination and after you get there, you return home by a different route, forming a loop. The state of Wyoming tourism division along with all the various county lodging boards have set up interesting loop drives. They are everywhere. A favorite loop drive that includes Lander is going to Dubois and Moran Junction, down to Jackson and on to Pinedale. Then you go so...
by Kevin Killough If you traveled over the Fourth of July weekend, you felt the sting of filling up before your trip. Gas prices were down slightly from what they were earlier in June, but they remain painfully high. While most people feel the impact of high energy prices most directly when they pay at the pump, the greater pain of this problem will be gradually increased in the coming year. Energy is the industry that powers all other industries. If energy costs go up, the cost of all business goes up. Adding to inflationary pressures that...
Visitors to Thermopolis and Hot Springs County can select between a large variety of attractions. Our crown jewel is Hot Springs State Park with its large green grass lawns and trees for shade, along with many places to relax and play. There are two swimming pools that contain the hot spring mineral waters, the Star Plunge and Hellie’s Teepee Pools. Don’t miss the good eats at the new Tipi Concessions located nearby. The State Bath House features free short soaks in the healing waters. Visit the Big Spring to see where the water comes from deep...
by Andrew Ellsworth, M.D. Recently our family went on a camping trip. Our kids loved how we canoed our supplies across a lake and set up our campsite. My wife and I were reminded how much work it is. Soon our children were experiencing more mosquitos, flies, caterpillars, and ticks than they had ever seen before. On one of our lovely hikes, nearly every time I looked down, I found another tick crawling on my shoe or leg. Ticks love tall grass, wooded areas, and other moist and humid environments often close to the ground. Although you may find...
Thursday morning last week, we awoke to find the stock markets opening down over 2% again, and 401k accounts down 30% or more. Since this is directly due to the policies of the current administration, and no fault of senior 401k investors, I believe it is time for you, my Representative and Senators, to introduce legislation to waive the required withdrawal of a given percent of 401k accounts for those over 70 1/2. Seniors living on fixed incomes are suffering from 8.6% inflation, $5.00+ gasoline prices, 30% losses to their 401k’s and food c...
