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Your source for news in Hot Springs County
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Ms. Picket’s letter to the editor in last week's Independent Record deserves a follow up to clarify a few statistics she included in her letter. The board, medical staff, and public are not considering building a 16 bed hospital. The actual number will probably be 10, with two additional OB/delivery rooms. The management company (Health TechS3) fees are considerably less than the $750,000 quoted by Ms. Picket, and those fees include not only the management services and CEO salary, but ancillary services such as recruitment of professionals w...
Thermopolis has amazing paleontological and geological wonders and is host to the 6th best dinosaur museum in the world. This last nomination was made by CNN.com and over the past few years we have been given many accolades, including 100 of the world’s best vacations by LIFE Books. Thermopolis is very lucky to have such a world-class treasure. What makes us unique is the proximity to our dig sites. With one of the wealthiest dinosaur bone finds in the world, we offer many digging programs such as Dig for the Day and Shovel Ready digs. The W...
The State Parks Department has been gracious enough to haul the recycle trailer (located in the armory parking lot) for the last five years. Starting in February, they will no longer be able to take the recycling trailer to Riverton to be unloaded. Riverton is the only viable option to haul our recycling. The Hot Springs County Recreation District does not have the means to transport the trailer, but would hate to see the community without a recycling option. Many people use the trailer daily. If you, someone you know, or an organization you...
I appreciate the opportunity to rebut recent letters regarding my letter concerning the movie The Hateful Eight. Obviously we, and many others who contacted us, were not the target demographic represented by letter writer Mr. Burrows. Having reached senior citizen status, I am familiar with the work of Q. Tarantino. I have chosen not to see any of his previous films save one (From Dusk till Dawn – vampires were all the rage back then). No research was needed as suggested by Mr. Burrows; I was familiar with Tarantino’s work. As stated in my pre...
It doesn’t make sense to build a 16-bed hospital when the average daily census is two or three. That is a little over 10 percent utilization of the space. A business would go broke fast if they only stocked 10 percent of their shelves. And yet, the hospital board wants us to believe that a new 16-bed hospital is just what this community needs. The trend is not toward inpatient stays, but away from them. People are often sent home the day after surgery, whether they are ready or not. Most surgeries are done as outpatient. Urgent Care and 24-hour...
Thanks for supporting our local theatre. I hope the last letter to the editor in the IR criticizing the movie “The Hateful Eight” actually makes someone want to watch it. Next time please do your research before watching a movie by a director known for his explicit and shocking films. Tarantino doesn’t apologize for exercising freedom of speech and he won’t apologize for offending someone with a movie. Some people like George Carlin and Lenny Bruce felt it was their job to offend. Tarantino has never made movies so he can pat himself on the bac...
This past weekend our town had the opportunity to support our hard working students by showing up to the basketball games. I was so impressed with the players, they showed such sportsmanship while playing. I was impressed with our cheerleaders, they have clearly been working hard and it was apparent. I was impressed with the band, as they too have been working hard. What did not impress me was the blatant lack of school spirit or school support for the students from some of the school administration and teachers. I was shocked and saddened...
Anticipating ignorance surrounding Quentin Tarantino, I printed out an article from perhaps the most conservative source available, National Review. I did so for those easily pandered to who would inevitably question seeing, “The Hateful Eight”. In it the author correctly points out, “Conservatives ought to support Tarantino — not because they like him or his movies, not because they agree with any of his political positions or because they are anti-police, but because Tarantino did not call policemen murderers.” The letter in the IR regarding...
In response to the recent letter to the editor titled “Tyranny of the Spirit”, I would suggest that the esteemed gentleman please reread and reconsider the points I made regarding freedom. The validity of the points made are ill-refuted through the use of misrepresentation, straw-man arguments and ad hominem attacks. Addressing some of the points raised in the response: I did not question cultural values but rather reserved my observations for the actions of a government that has made every intent to bend the free individual to the will of the...
To support our local movie theater, we saw “The Hateful Eight.” I wish I had back the three hours and ten dollars wasted on that effort. I wish I had heeded the boycott called for by supporters of police officers nationwide. The movie’s director, Quentin Tarantino, had called officers involved in recent shootings “murderers.” It is surprising that the usual protest groups have not condemned this movie: the NAACP (for using Mark Twain language hundreds of times); NOW (for male violence against women); The Obama administration (for gun violence)...
If Harry Hughes and the “Citizens for Common Sense Health Care” (which is code talk for “Health Care we don’t have to pay for”) is serious about “sustainable” healthcare in our community, then they and the hospital board, and most of the citizens of our community are in agreement. The differences lie in what constitutes “common sense” health care. I suggest that you ask Harry or any member of the PAC what they envision for “common sense, sustainable” health care for our community. Based on their letter and a previous one, it seems to me that th...
Recently the IR printed a column by Victor Morales defining freedom as the absence of any oversight by any individual, organization, or governmental agency. In his essay he questioned both cultural values and economic policies as infringing on our “freedom”. The arguments he puts forward are not new; they’ve been used by anarchists for centuries, and by teenagers (as parents know) since there were teenagers. That tendency to rebel against any control in the name of freedom seems somehow to be a siren’s call to those who see their own personal i...
T’was the night before Christmas in a sleepy little town The delivery driver was taking the last presents around Amazon confirmed what I had hoped in my heart That my great nieces and nephews’ gifts were delivered, and Christmas had a great start! But wait, what is this? Unlike St. Nick and his eight tiny reindeer None of the confirmed delivered gifts ever did appear Where did they go? How could this be? What is the reason for this deceit? Then using all the clues, the answer became increasing clear The Grinches from across the way rec...
I am interested in instating a law for helmet use when riding recreational vehicles. I’m currently staying in Thermopolis with family. I had a very bad off-road accident in August that could have killed me. I was on a 4-wheeler, not wearing a helmet, flipped it, rolled it and I landed 30 feet away in a grove of trees. I sustained massive injuries, broke several bones, collapsed a lung, and have what is called a diffuse axonal injury (aka shaken baby syndrome.) I am 38 years old. I cannot walk, talk and comprehend the same as I did before the a...
Thank you to whomever plowed the road leading up to Spiller Butte the other day. Even though you cannot go past the gate anymore, it is still a special place for people to remember things and what Cal King tried to do. It is nice for people to help maintain things. Thanks again. K.D. Jacobs...
Our Political Action Committee (PAC), focusing on common sense health care for our community, is searching for sustainable health care alternatives. I recently met with a physician and the Vice President of Operations at the Billings Clinic. We discussed the current health care/hospital situation in Thermopolis. The Billings Clinic is actively involved in hospital care at 14 sites in Montana and Wyoming, including 10 critical access hospitals. Their role/level of involvement varies to best match the needs of the local population. I briefed the...
I received the Independent Record of November 26 and was interested to read the letter regarding Syrian refugees written by Ron Jones. I would like to comment on his article. I think Americans have "put their chins into the wind" enough regarding Muslim visitors, students, and refugees. I was able to observe the Boston Marathon Bombings as they happened. I also viewed the Twin Towers take-down as it happened. One of my fellow New Hampshire residents was beheaded on video by these loving people. Do you realize the Paris bombing was centered on...
Regarding a recent letter concerning Syrian refugees, I do not agree with, or accept, the liberal mantra “We are better than that!” My knees are certainly not “knocking in fear of the possibility that a terrorist may be among the Syrian refugees.” That possibility has already become reality, a fact pooh-poohed by the liberal left. I do not fear for myself, as the Second Amendment allows me to arm and defend myself and my family. I do fear for some of my family living in sanctuary city San Francisco, inhabited by gunless, hapless, liberals inten...
On Friday, Oct. 30 your Bobcats came to Lovell to play the Bulldogs in the first round of state football playoffs. I was very impressed by your players. They were sure tacklers and good blockers. But what impressed me more was that after each hard block or solid tackle, your players offered a hand to help our players stand up. That shows a great level of sportsmanship. I noticed that when the game began to wind down and it appeared as though Lovell was going to win, your young men continued to help our team stand back up. They may have lost...
As someone who utilizes the recycle trailers weekly I am greatly appreciative of those who have made recycling a possibility for Hot Springs County residents; thank you! In recent months numerous articles have appeared in our local and area newspapers concerning diminishing landfill space and what can or will be done to alleviate this problem. Recycling is part of the solution and numerous communities throughout the Big Horn Basin have implemented this successfully. Given our distance from major recycling facilities and other cost prohibitive i...
This year I have the privilege of working with three extraordinary students as they tackle various work opportunities throughout town. After two months they have developed an opinion that they want to share with the residents of Hot Springs County. Because they are minors working in the special education program at the high school, they cannot sign their names to any letter. I have signed my name in their place. The following is their opinion: This school year three of us empty garbage cans and pick up garbage in the state park. We go to the...
I was privileged to be among the educators from various school districts to hear Dr. Anthony Muhammad during staff development day on Monday, October 12. I would like to invite the public to join in with all of us for his challenge to take a 30-day moratorium on complaining in order to make a real difference not only in our schools, but also in our community. We can begin within the walls of our own homes and bring it into our places of work and of worship. We can develop a healthy culture of problem solvers and leave behind the toxic culture o...
Wow! What wonderful community support I witnessed during the high school homecoming parade and activities last week. The parade was especially well attended. A big thank you to business owners, parents and relatives, Ralph Witters Elementary students and staff, Thermopolis Middle School students and staff, and ex-Thermopolis Bobcats. The high school students, staff, and HSCSD #1 sincerely appreciated your presence and support. Also, a big shout out to our community emergency departments for providing man-power, vehicles, fire trucks, and...
Thank you for your editorial noting the celebration of the United States Constitution on Constitution Day, Sept. 17 and during Constitution Week Sept. 17-23. As a member of Washakie Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, I had asked you to publish notice of this celebration. Perhaps you were also contacted by our Chapter Regent as well as other members. The appreciation of this special time written by different members of the 5th grade taught by Jessie Rode show, in general, how much freedom is provided...
Recently the Wyoming Department of Transportation installed edge-line rumble strips on a section of Highway 20 N. For those living along the highway that have accepted the very high volume of traffic with the accompanying noise, the addition of the rumble strips has drastically elevated the noise level. Three of my neighbors added their names to a complaint I made to WYDOT. WYDOT’s answer was basically that rumble strips have proven to reduce traffic accidents due to inattention and resulting off-road excursions. Basically, we are supposed t...
