Wyoming Rural Electric News February 2026

WINTER WAYS OF LIFE

WE’RE READY TO POWER WHAT’S NEXT

Tri-State, together with your local electric cooperatives, is proud to power Wyoming’s homes, farms, and businesses— and we’re ready to power new opportunities too.

We welcome responsible growth that supports our communities. We’re not just keeping up with change—we’re planning for it, with a commitment to reliability and affordability.

So that the grid we’re building today is strong enough for tomorrow’s ideas. When Wyoming grows, we all grow.

Winter Ways of Life

STORY BY NEVA BODIN

THE UNITED SPORTS OF AMERICA

I know we’re a month into 2026, but I hope everyone has had a great start to the new year. There is a lot going on in the energy and utility industry right now and no doubt I’ll be writing about all of that in the coming months. But for this issue I wanted to write about all that is happening in our country – the political, personal and ideological differences that seem to grab all the headlines and have driven a wedge between elected officials, their constituents, communities and even families. If you buy into everything you read, watch or listen to, you’d think our country is going to hell in a handbasket, and it’s hard not to think that.

However, over the past few months I’ve watched several sporting events and attended a few in person and I gotta tell ya, my faith in the American spirit was buoyed at these events. Now before you accuse me of being naïve, I don’t have blinders on to what’s happening in our country, but bear with me.

Sports have always carried an outsized influence in American life, but in a moment when division feels like the country’s default setting, the unifying power an athletic event can have stands out even more. A stadium, a gym or a dusty high school field can become one of the few places where people who disagree on nearly everything else still cheer in the same direction. That shared emotional current—joy, heartbreak, pride—cuts through the noise in a way few other institutions can manage.

Here are a few of my favorite examples to help prove my point. I had the pleasure of attending the Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills playoff game. A lifelong Broncos fan and, like many in Wyoming, a recent convert to Bills Mafia because of Josh Allen, it was a blast to go to the game and see a mix of Broncos, Bills and UW fans get along and have fun. No politics allowed.

Then there was opera singer Jim Cornelison’s performance of the StarSpangled Banner at the Chicago Bears vs. Los Angles Rams playoff game. Cornelison, who normally performs for the Chicago Blackhawks, blew the socks off the entire stadium! Players, coaches and fans were seen shedding a tear during the performance. It was awesome.

My last example is more recent, and while tragic, it helps prove my point. I saw a story the other night of a California youth girls hockey team traveling to Denver for a tournament. While traveling on I-70 there was an accident that claimed the life of a parent and injured several players. The team decided to play in the tournament and the support from the other teams was overwhelming. Other teams were cheering for the girls from California, bringing them flowers and putting their hockey sticks on their front porches and hotel room doors to show solidarity and support.

But the deeper power of sports comes from the stories they generate. Teams become symbols of resilience, cities rally around underdogs and athletes turn personal triumphs into shared inspiration. Think about how often a community devastated by disaster finds its footing again through a local team’s success. The wins don’t fix the underlying problems, but they remind people that they still belong to something larger than themselves. That reminder can be enough to restart a sense of collective purpose. That’s the United Sports of America.

SHAWN TAYLOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Waiting to Ride

At Basin Electric, we understand that life doesn’t stop when the going gets tough. No matter the season or storm our members face, reliable and affordable electricity for our members’ homes, schools, and businesses is our mission. We’ll do everything we can to keep fans running, the lights on, and the coffee brewing. RELIABILITY BASIN ELECTRIC

POWER YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON

Coal and wood-burning ranges revolutionized 19th-century home life, transitioning from traditional heating and cooking using an open hearth to the first “stoves,” which were set into the wall, to more efficient cast-iron, then to flue-vented units and the preference for coal over wood before being replaced by gas/electric ranges in the early 20th century.

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the first metal wood-burning stove is said to have been invented in 16th-century Europe, but the stove didn’t become common until nearly 200 years later, during the Industrial Revolution.

Initially, wood was most commonly used for stoves, however in the 1740s, a wood shortage in Philadelphia inspired Benjamin Franklin to improve upon the existing, inefficient hearth. His three-sided iron box, aptly named the Franklin stove, was a metal-lined fireplace designed to stand in the middle of a room. With rear baffles for improved airflow, it provided more heat and less smoke than an open fireplace, and used less wood. This cast-iron furnace would radiate heat from the middle of the room in all directions, and the iron walls even absorbed heat, providing warmth to the room long after the fire went out. The design was further improved by another American, David Rittenhouse, who added a stovepipe shaped like an L to vent air to the chimney.

The transition from wood to coal stoves through the 1830s–1890s was driven by industrialization, deforestation and the need for higher-efficiency, longer-lasting, hotter fuels. Coal surpassed wood as the primary U.S. heating fuel by the 1860-1880s, enabling more consistent, high-intensity heat, as well as creating a solution for the fuel crisis the U.S. faced. Eventually, open-hearth, wood-burning stoves were replaced with cleaner-burning cast iron models.

One issue with the use of coal burning stoves in the 1800s, however, was the limitations of storing the material over time. Many families could not afford to store the volumes of coal needed to heat homes for long periods of time, and these difficulties eventually helped push the use and development of gas stoves.

HEAT COMES ON

A wood stove burns wood in a sealed firebox, using controlled airflow (primary and secondary) to ignite wood gases for efficient heat, which radiates from the stove body and travels up the chimney, heating a space through convection and radiation, with modern designs featuring baffles and catalysts for cleaner, hotter burns.

Coal stoves burn coal on a metal grate, with air drawn from below to fuel an efficient, hot, long-lasting fire. They require establishing a hot fire with kindling first, followed by layering coal.

PARTS OF A WOOD STOVE

RIGHT SAFEGUARD YOUR WEALTH

American Gold Reserve is releasing Government issued $5 Gold American Eagles completely free of dealer mark-up for only $459 each. These beautiful $5 Gold American Eagles are a perfect way to enter the gold market. They are set for immediate public release and will sell out fast.

• Teach the importance of wealth preservation.

• Great way to pass on wealth to children and grandchildren.

• A symbolic act of the commitment to your family.

• Gold provides your children and grandchildren with a built-in safeguard during times of financial instability.

Wyoming Centennial Farm & Ranch Program Applications Open

THE WYOMING CENTENNIAL FARM & RANCH PROGRAM HONORS FAMILIES WHO HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED THE SAME FARM OR RANCH FOR 100 YEARS OR MORE.

Every two years, the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office and its program partners host a celebration to honor these families. More than 300 families have been honored through the program since it was reestablished in 2006. A yearbook is published following each celebration that features the histories and photos of the honored Centennial families.

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION

CASEY WOSTER

307-777-7530 • cassandra.woster@wyo.gov

RENEE BOVEE

307-777-6312 • renee.bovee@wyo.gov

Families interested in participating in the Centennial Farm & Ranch Program are welcome to apply. Applications for the 2026 program are open and due July 1, 2026. For more information about the program and the application, go to wyoshpo.wyo.gov and follow the Centennial Farm & Ranch Program link.

The Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office partners with the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Rural Electric Association, Wyoming Business Council, Wyoming Wool Growers Association and Wyoming Livestock Roundup to honor Centennial families at a ceremony each year during the Wyoming State Fair. Families receive a framed certificate signed by the governor and a large Centennial sign to display on their property. The honorary award does not place any requirements or expectations on the family.

The stories and histories of Wyoming's Centennial Farms & Ranches are published in the Centennial Farm & Ranch yearbooks. Yearbooks have been published since 2006 by the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office to celebrate and highlight our state's agricultural heritage. Each Centennial family is invited to submit their family history and photographs and is provided with a free copy. All yearbooks are available to download for free. Printed yearbooks can also be purchased at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation office in Cheyenne or by mail.

The history of Wyoming's farms and ranches is the history of Wyoming, and its people and Centennial families have played a key role in preserving Wyoming's heritage. A Centennial farm or ranch embodies the story of a landscape that is uniquely tied to a family's history. These farms and ranches are not just a part of history; they remain vital today and hopefully well into the future.

Cody Hotline School T-Shirt Drawing Contest

IT’S TIME FOR THIS YEAR’S DRAWING CONTEST FOR ELEMENTARY-AGED KIDS!

Cody Hotline School is looking for drawings from elementary-age children’s perspective, depicting line workers performing work safely. The first place winner receives $200 and their drawing is featured on the Cody Hotline School T-shirt. The second place winner will be awarded $100 and the third and fourth place winners receive $50 each.

The instructions for children who wish to participate are:

Please draw your ideas of a person safely working on your electric lines and power poles. Use whatever drawing material you like. Write your name, address, age and phone number, as well as your service area or power supplier’s name, on the back of your drawing.

DRAWINGS NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 15, 2026

MAIL DRAWINGS TO:

Cody Hotline School, LLC PO Box 697, Lusk, WY 82225 or turn them in to your local electric cooperative.

The Rural Community Mourns the Loss of Julie Kilty

JULIE KILTY SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF WYRULEC COMPANY, THE WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION AND TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.

Find more information about Cody Hotline School at CODYHOTLINESCHOOL.COM

Kilty was born November 18, 1958 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota to Irene and Edwin Gardner. She attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where she met her future husband, Kerry Kilty.

Having grown up on a cattle and sheep ranch, she was well prepared for her new life on the Kilty Ranch in LaGrange. Julie and Kerry raised two sons together –Brennan and Kyle; Kyle continues to run the ranch today.

Kilty was also a successful businesswoman as owner of Farm Girl Boutique in downtown Torrington. She previously owned several other businesses in Torrington and Chugwater.

Her strong voice and love of the co-op community will be sorely missed.”

WREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHAWN TAYLOR

Besides her entrepreneurial spirit, Kilty was passionate about volunteerism. She was a member of the Torrington Rotary, Goshen County Economic Development Corporation (GCEDC), the Goshen Chamber of Commerce, the LaGrange Bear Creek Library, Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), Goshen Cattlewomen and the First Presbyterian Church. She also served on the board of trustees for Eastern Wyoming College.

Most of all, Julie Kilty was known for her warm smile, impeccable style and willingness to listen and engage in enlightening conversations.

11, 2025 at the Emporium Restaurant in Hawk Springs. She and her husband were frequent customers and they always sat at table 6, the restaurant shared.

Winter Ways of Life

BY NEVA BODIN

Winter descends on mountain peaks above 13,000 feet and on the lowest point in Wyoming at 3,125 feet, affecting everyone in some way. It’s how they choose to react, adapt and lean into the challenges of the season that make it a way of life, and not an acquiescence to the weather.

Wyoming people greet Old Man Winter in whatever condition he appears—stinging cold that freezes nostrils shut, blinding blizzards, warm winds that blow semis over or calm, sunny days. Despite the elements, everyone continues to work, play and carry on living.

On the Ranch

Ranchers rev up tractors in belowfreezing weather to accomplish the daily task of hauling hay to their cattle, perhaps needing to move snow out of the way first. Chopping a hole in an icy creek and stock tank so water is available to the animals, said Shelly Trumbull, owner of The Banner Ranch, located in the Laramie Mountain Range, is a daily chore.

Ranchers like Trumbull spend part of the summer harvesting hay to feed the livestock they own. She feeds 3,000 pounds of hay a day.

“Getting enough feed stockpiled,” is a challenge, said Trumble. “We had to buy hay last fall.”

cows home in March for spring calving. She adds mineral tubs to supplement the cattle's diet in winter to support their health and reproduction.

In Moose, nestled near the Teton Mountain Range, lies the Triangle X Dude Ranch. Robert Turner, a fourth-generation ranch owner/manager, keeps it open from January through March and from May through September.

In the fall, Turner moves most of his horses and mules to lower-elevation feeding grounds, where they also put up the hay needed for winter feeding. He keeps 15-20 younger animals at the ranch for breeding and training. Winter visitors are typically couples or groups of friends. They snowshoe, ski and enjoy the scenery. “In winter, the business model is a little bit different,” Turner said. “It’s kind of a weekend retreat.”

Trumbull moves some cattle to a lower elevation winter camp, bringing young In

winter, the business model is a little bit different. “

foam mat in the bottom of his work bucket to keep his feet from freezing.

Also in winter, days are shorter, changing work hours, but the linemen are always on call for storm work. Careful not to damage the landscape with their vehicles, they have “a bigger problem” with mud than with snow this year, said Chafee.

Lineman Randy Himle is a crew chief with Powder River Energy Corporation. “For winter, we use a side-by-side with tracks. We have one ready to go,” Himle said, used for their emergency calls on difficult winter terrain. “Drivers carry survival pack items in the trucks, in case they get stranded in the middle of nowhere,” he said.

In the cold, Himle said, “Climbing is more dangerous; you’re more bundled up and restricted. Your hands get cold, and your gloves get moist and freeze on you.” They keep track of how long a person has been working on a pole and “switch guys” to prevent the worker from getting hypothermic.

In

the Mine

Winter increases the danger for heavy equipment operators in coal mines. Jerry Jandreau of Gillette, an equipment operator for 31 years, remembers winters with temperatures as low as minus 30 or 40 degrees. “At 20 below, we go to half loads,” he said. “We load the bucket and truck to half full.” Steel and cast-iron equipment becomes brittle. “The shovel operators spin the shovels in a circle and back and forth to lubricate the house rollers. At 35 below, we shut the mine down,” Jandreau said.

Neal Smith, who works at a coal mine as a production technician and is also on

the Rescue team, said, “Our mechanics at the mines are really the tough people, trying to keep that diesel equipment running in the cold. You don’t realize how cold you’re really getting until you step inside a warm place.” Smith said hypothermia is a real threat.

Accidents can be deadly in a mine when ice and cold are added. “Someone needs to know where you are. There are so many different ways you can get in trouble, especially on the night shift. People don’t realize dehydration becomes a factor, and because you are cold, your body becomes more brittle,” said Smith. This can cause more injuries, he added. “Also, steam coming from the ground gets to be like a really thick,

heavy fog; it rises and mixes with the dust, and it's hard to see what you’re doing. Visibility decreases, making working in that really dangerous.”

Perhaps less visible are the pipelines that transport natural gas through the state, a fuel used to heat many homes and businesses. Brian Voss of Worland, District Manager for WBI Energy, said, “Components and equipment can freeze,” disrupting the flow of gas to companies that sell it to customers. Voss said companies stay attuned to weather patterns to anticipate customers' upcoming needs. To meet those needs, WBI Energy employees must respond to equipment breakdowns or pipeline issues regardless of the weather.

dangerous. “

In the cold, climbing is more

In the Classroom

In Moran, at an elevation of 6,749 feet, a rural elementary school retains three staff members, two of whom commute from Jackson. Charlotte Reynolds, Executive Director of Communications and District Services for Teton County School District, said the school can close, at times, due to impassable roads.

Students at Moran Elementary School wear “the big five— hats, gloves, coats, snowpants and snow boots,” said teacher Caroline Ryan. “We go outside if it’s above zero, depending on wind chill and things like that,” Ryan said. “They kind of just play in the snow most of the winter.”

As for the teachers, “we all have snow tires on our cars for winter and all-wheel drive,” Ryan said. Teachers in Moran “often have to shovel the walkways in the mornings.”

The school offers cross-country and downhill skiing lessons for students as part of its winter sports program.

With the Animals

Morris Carter of Historic Trails West wagon train, a seasonal attraction, transports his draft horses and mules to a pasture on Casper Mountain near Casper for the winter, typically in November. He provides water and hay, checking on them frequently, while he remains at his trailhead camp in the valley, repairing wagons and harnesses, and receiving reservations for wagon train trips that typically begin again in May.

Wyoming Game and Fish is busy in winter monitoring ice fishing sites and managing wildlife issues. They collaborate with other agencies and send out safety messaging to the public, said Amanda Fry, Public Information Officer. Collaring projects to track migration and survival rates of big game are done during the winter months.

Out to Play

Skijoring, or “cowboy skiing,” is one way that Wyomingites play. A horse and rider pull a skier along a course that has jumps, slalom gates, and ring pickups. Popular in several Wyoming cities, it was canceled in some this year due to a lack of snow. Cowboys and skiers! A Wyoming mix.

In Wyoming it might be said that the weather is a way of life – it plays a big part, anyway. Skill, grit, determination, preparation and adaptation are all necessities for a Wyoming winter, from operating heavy equipment that can freeze up and climbing tall snow-covered power poles to caring for our wild and domestic creatures, letting nothing get in the way of a good education and, of course, going out to play. Resourceful people thrive and survive in Wyoming, no matter the season. W

ENDANGERED IN THE DUNES

Fun Facts about Blowout Beardtongue

BLOWOUT + BEARDTONGUE

One of these plants is called Penstemon haydenii, or Blowout Beardtongue. They are named this because they only grow in very specific parts of sand dunes, the “blowouts” that are near the top of the dune and are sandy and deep. They are called beardtongues because they have a hairy staminode, which is like a long, thin tongue inside the flower that is covered in very small hairs. They have pink/light purple flowers and thick green stalks, with long, pointed leaves.

Endangered

Blowout Beardtongues are at risk from many things. Because they only grow in a very specific place and are very rare in that place, if the dunes are destroyed by weather changes or by humans then they won’t have anywhere else to grow. It is important to keep an eye on these plants so that we don’t lose them. You can help protect these plants by making sure you are careful when you play in the sand dunes, and by telling other people about these cool plants!

wyobiodiversity.org

Do you know what “endangered” means?

If an animal or plant is “endangered” it means that it is rare and might go extinct. Many people can name endangered animals, like elephants, pandas, rhinos and whales. Here in Wyoming, we have our own endangered animals, including black footed ferrets and Wyoming Toads. But did you know that Wyoming is also home to endangered plants?

SAND DUNE SPECIAL

Blowout Beardtongues are only found in Wyoming and Nebraska sand dunes. They only live in sandy soil, where most other plants can’t. This is a hard place to live! Plants often get totally buried by the sand dunes and have to try and grow up to the surface again. Sometimes, they can be buried by several feet of sand! While this seems like a bad place to choose to be, Blowout Beardtongues don’t grow anywhere else in the world.

JOHN DENVER

Out here, love songs tend to come with a little dust on them. They’re about heartache, memory, devotion and the people we never quite forget. This month’s puzzles feature lines from a few of those classics many of us know by heart … if you can piece them back together.

BY DIXIE LIRA

HOW TO SOLVE:

Use the letters in each vertical column to fill in the empty boxes below and uncover the lyric, reading left to right. The letters are not in order and red hearts show where words end. The artist is listed above each puzzle.

DOLLY PARTON

WILLIE NELSON

The Cabbage Patch Cow

BY JERRY PAXTON

If there’s a cowboy heaven then there’s a cowboy hell.

And that, my friends, is the subject of the story I will tell.

In this fiery afterlife for passed-on cowboy sinners, Is a cow herd to look after that ain’t fit for no beginners.

Every fence jumpin’, horse hookin’, turn back cow that ever ate, Has come a snortin’ and a blowin’ through Satan’s cuttin’ gate.

Only them that’s led a life of extreme cow crime and buckaroo frustration, Is picked to roam that blazin’ home on the range of eternal damnation.

If we had the right to pick these cows under the cowboy constitution, It might be a real good chance for some good old cowboy retribution.

I can think of quite a few that’s crossed my trail I’d like to nominate.

In fact, I’d even pay to assure they would meet this final fate.

I know there’s lots of candidates, so I reckon I’ll pick just one, There ain’t no doubt in my mind she’s a deservin’ son of a gun.

I bought her from a neighbor when the bank gave him the word, He was runnin’ out of money and would have to cut his herd.

We found ‘em on the feed ground and cut out twenty of the best, Mothered up the calved ones and headed them all west.

Things were goin’ pretty well for the first half mile or so, Until old forty-seven decided it was time fer her to go.

She dove into a willow patch to throw us off her track, Jumped a fence, crossed a ditch and she was headed back.

I should have known then this match was meant to fail.

The others took the herd on, and I lit out on her trail.

It took a couple hours to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion, But only after I had suffered lacerations, abrasions and multiple contusions.

This was only the beginning of her mental and physical abuse, She mauled, maimed and embarrassed me for any little excuse.

Her disrespect for horses, dogs and fences was downright obscene. What I’m tryin’ to tell you boys, is that this old gal was mean.

Why didn’t I just ship her, give her that one way ride?

Some might call it stupidity but I like to call it cowboy pride.

I just couldn’t let her get the upper hand or have the final laugh. I’d always use the old excuse, “She’s got a real nice calf.”

But then she committed the crime that finally brought her down. It happened back in August when she snuck off to town.

She started on a rampage that left the town aghast.

Her psychotic behavior was even worse than in the past.

She started the church yard with an act of malicious desecration.

She ate the grass, left her tracks and great piles of defecation.

She undid the work of thirty women in the Garden Club.

She ate the flowers and the trees and ruined every shrub.

Her destructive crime wave was not quite yet complete, This work had made her hungry and she wanted more to eat.

She looked around a little ‘til a cabbage patch she spied.

She had no way of knowin’ that it belonged to Clyde.

She checked things out, ate her fill and proceeded without haste, But before she left she felt the urge and left a pile of waste.

Her heinous crimes were discovered with the morning sun.

The police were called and a serious investigation was begun.

Clyde demanded justice. He said, “No cow is above the law.”

He was simply horrified by the destruction that he saw.

The clues were few and far between. The police were stupefied. They couldn’t track the culprit down no matter how they tried.

Then a breakthrough came, they’d use some new technology. An expert was brought in from out of town to do some feceology.

He took a little sample from the cow’s last crime scene, For he could unlock the secret from this little dab of green.

He gelified and liquified and rectified and centrifuged for hours, Until he knew everything she ate, including the color of the flowers.

He started out upon his quest armed with all he needed,

To insure he’d find that cow and justice would be heeded.

He tested every cow within five miles of that cabbage patch, And then one day it happened, he found the perfect match.

They arrested her immediately and hauled her off to jail.

I had to use her calf for collateral so I could get her bail.

The trial was very short for the evidence was conclusive, The judge found her guilty, and Clyde was quite abusive.

The judge gave her a lecture and two hundred she was fined. I had to pay it all, ‘cause the cow was in a bad financial bind.

Everyone knew about the trial, much to my dismay, For the news was reported on NBC, CBS and USA Today.

After all the embarrassment she caused me and all of my mistreatment, Perhaps it’s only fittin’ that she was caught by her own excrement.

And so, in Satan’s herd book I’d like to enter now, Old number forty-seven, the Cabbage Patch Cow.

So, if you’re a cowboy sinner you’d better listen carefully to me, Or you could end up herdin’ old Cabbage Patch, for all eternity. W

Jerry Paxton is a fifth generation Wyomingite and former U.S. Army Military Policeman. He taught agriculture in Encampment for 27 years, served as Carbon County Commissioner, was elected to the Wyoming State Legislature and served House District 47 for 10 years.

A Ranch Year: Cowboys of the West

BY ISABELLE ARNON (PHOTOGRAPHER)

ORDERING INFORMATION:

Year Published: 2025

Publisher: teNeues

Where to Purchase: Amazon

“A Ranch Year-Cowboys of the West” is not just a book of photographs – it is an emotional journey through rugged Wyoming, visually documented by French photographer Isabelle Arnon. Her book shows the authentic life of today's cowboys and cowgirls, who live off the beaten tourist track in the untouched nature of the American West, and do their hard work every day. The photographs offer a rare glimpse into ranch culture and the everlasting beauty of the landscape, characterized by the majestic Big Horn Mountains and vast prairies.

Arnon, an avid horse photographer, spent several years in Wyoming and Montana capturing the ranchers' lives in black and white fine art photography. Her images tell more than just isolated stories – they reveal the deep connection between people, animals and nature that the photographer encountered there. Through her years of experience, Isabelle Arnon was able to capture moments that take the viewer right into the heart of the West.

“A Ranch Year-Cowboys of the West” is a tribute to a unique culture deeply rooted in the traditions of the Wild West, providing an intimate insight into life on a ranch – far removed from clichés and touchingly real. This illustrated book is indispensable for photography and nature lovers alike.

NOVEMBER 2025 ISSUE IN THE VALLEY OF WARM WINDS BOOK WINNER: BOOK GIVEAWAY

“

PEPPERS

RED JALAPEÑO PEPPER JAM

1 1/2 CUP RED JALAPEÑOS SEEDED* AND CHOPPED

1 GREEN APPLE, CORED AND CHOPPED

1 CUP SWEET RED BELL PEPPER

1 CUP VINEGAR OR APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

2 CUP CANE SUGAR

*Wear disposable gloves. Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes.

No canning required. In food processor, combine red jalapeños, seeds (fewer seeds produces mild flavor, more seeds increases the heat), red bell pepper and green apple and pulse until coarsely smashed. In medium pan, add the processed mixture, vinegar and sugar. Stir well and bring to a boil. Cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring often until the jam reduces and thickens. Ladle jalapeño jam into clean, sterilized jars. The jam will be thicker after 24 hours. Store in refrigerator for up to one month. Serve with crackers, cream cheese, goat cheese or any kind of cheese.

WREN STAFF

2

CREAM

2 CUPS (8 OZ) SHREDDED CHEDDAR JACK CHEESE 11-12 6" CORN TORTILLAS

1/2 CUP CHOPPED JALAPEÑO PEPPERS (6-8)

1 CUP CHOPPED BELL PEPPERS (3-4)

2 TBS HOT RED CHILES

6 1/2 CUPS SUGAR

1 1/2 CUP WHITE WINE VINEGAR

2 POUCHES CERTO

Remove seeds from peppers. Rough chop in blender with water (drain). Mix everything else but Certo in large kettle. Boil 1 minute. Cool for 5 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent floating peppers. Bring back to near boil. Add Certo. Pour into hot jars, lids and rings to seal.

Great appetizers – spread Triscuits (or your favorite) cracker with cream cheese. Spoon on a dab of jelly.

REE REICH BELLE FOURCHE, SD

GREEN CHILE CHICKEN DIP

1 8 OZ PKG CREAM CHEESE

1 1/2 CUPS SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE OR MEXICAN BLEND CHEESE

1 7 OZ CAN CHOPPED GREEN CHILES, UNDRAINED

1 TSP GARLIC POWDER

1 TBS CHILI POWDER

1/2 LB. (8 OZ) BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST, COOKED AND CUBED HOT SAUCE (OPTIONAL)

Beat cream cheese, 1 cup of the shredded cheese, chiles and seasonings with electric mixer until well blended. Stir in chicken. Spread into 9-inch pie pan. Bake at 350° for 20-30 minutes until dip is slightly browned. Sprinkle with remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese. Cool 5-10 minutes. Serve with Wheat Thins, Club or Triscuit crackers. For extra heat, add 5 shakes of Tabasco or Texas Pete or diced jalapeño peppers.

VALERIE GOOD SUNDANCE

Spread ½ cup salsa in bottom of 11x8 glass baking dish. Mix most of 16oz of salsa with chicken, sour cream and cheese with electric mixer in a bowl. Spoon mixture in each tortilla, roll, place seam side down in baking dish. About 8 fit across the dish in a row. Squeeze 4 more at bottom of the row. Top with full jar of salsa, covering tortillas. Back 35 minutes at 375°.

VALERIE GOOD SUNDANCE

Perseverance, Community Critical to Author Career

Cody Resident Finds Success in Fiction Writing

Linda Rae Sande began her author and publishing career in 2013 and works as a fulltime fiction writer from her home in Cody. She credits perseverance and community, including a family of readers and other authors, with her success. She says although others may want to embark upon such a career, the pathway is more difficult these days.

“You need entrepreneurial instincts to be an authorpeneur,” she said. “You need perseverance and a thick skin. What you create is not going to appeal to everyone.”

BY GAYLE M. IRWIN

Sande crafts historical romance, primarily Regency, set in England. A former technical writer, she discovered joy for writing fiction after researching her genealogy and discovering “stories” of her European ancestors and imagining other tales that could have taken place.

Conducting research also takes fortitude, and anyone who writes historical books needs to be accurate, including the words and phrases used.

The dress and architectural styles also need to be accurate, and therefore researched.

“After 1800, everyone was in the industrial revolution,” Sande said. “Fashion totally changed basically overnight. They went from these giant, wide skirts and the Georgian era to these slim Grecian styles. Men's wear changed a little bit too, but women's fashion just overnight. They were fascinated with the Greeks, not only in fashion but also in architecture.”

She is considered a hybrid author, independently publishing some

“Historicals are frequently flagged when characters say or do things they couldn’t have said or done, mostly because the words hadn’t yet been invented or because a word had an entirely different meaning back then,” Sande said. “Early on, I was guilty of this and was called out for it in an editorial review.”

works and working with publishing companies to get other stories into the world. Sande said she writes and publishes four to six books a year. That also requires perseverance, including a routine.

“I generally write 1,500 words a day, and I spend time marketing as well,” she said.

Gathering Community

Although writing can be an isolated career, having a team, including strong relationships with other authors and connections with readers, is critical, she said.

“In this business you do have to have a team,” Sande stated. “I have a team that is made up of an author critique group. They're essentially my beta readers. I have a team of advanced reader copy people, an ARC team who also reviews. I have an editor, a proofreader, and of course my audience.”

Bringing readers and authors together is another aspect of her life. She’s involved in several events, including the Park County Library Winter Fest, which happens in Cody each January, Wild Deadwood Reads in Deadwood, South Dakota every June, and the Cody Romance Roundup, which happens each August. She serves on the library board and is also a member of the statewide writers’ group, Wyoming Writers, Inc. Last year during the annual June conference, she served as faculty. She also taught during last month’s Park County Library Winter Fest, and she plans to teach at least one class during Wild Deadwoods Reads this summer.

These events benefit book authors and readers and the communities in which the activities are held, she said.

“For example, the Cody Romance Roundup is supported by our local travel council because we bring people into the city,” she explained. “They're in motel rooms, they're eating at local restaurants and they're bringing their fans. So the economic impact is really important for the town.”

She added, “Readers love meeting authors – it’s sort of like meeting their

favorite celebrity. It’s fascinating to watch readers get to meet authors for the first time, and for the authors it’s an opportunity to meet readers. A lot of authors are introverts – writing events are really important ways … to get them out in the public for a few hours and meet people who are reading their books or who might be interested in reading their books.”

Resources for Writers

Operating an author business requires a lot of learning, including the craft of writing. Such also requires fortitude, and Sande said there are three primary ways to learn: lecture and classroom style, such as offered by community colleges and writers’ conferences; online opportunities through various organizations, which one can find through an internet search; and by reading non-fiction books about writing.

“It depends on how people like to learn as to which one of those options is going to work for them,” Sande said.

Learning from and with others leads to improvement, and being part of a local or online writers’ group helps one grow in the craft, contributing to a persevering spirit and a thick skin.

For those who desire to make a living as an author or writer, Sande cautioned that the road isn’t easy.

“It’s much harder today to get started. There are so many books released each month, by independent authors, small publishers and the big publishers,” she said. “The competition is fierce.”

Fortitude is a strong characteristic in all aspects of life, including a career, and for those who want to join the numerous authors who make Wyoming home, she offered another piece of advice: Write.

“A backlist is gold. The more books you have in your backlist, the easier it is to make a living at writing,” Sande said.

She also believes reading is critical, for authors who write and for people in general.

“Read voraciously,” she said. “I want people to just love reading. I think we really need to encourage people to read more. It’s such a great escape and another form of entertainment. What's better, especially during the winter, than to cozy up with a nice fuzzy blanket and a cup of hot cocoa and your pajamas and read a book or listen to an audio book and just absorb the new world?” W

Just Five More Steps ... Backpacking in Cirque of the Towers

David Merkley, Wellington, CO

Snowy Mountain Steps

Melody Posey-Harris, Saratoga

Just Steps

Toby Sheets, Powell

Street Steps in My Hometown of Alma, WI

Cyndy Jahn Thomas, Powell

Steps Toward a Water Tank

David Zimmerer, Lingle

Owl Resting on Staircase

Gina Marie Burns, Urie

Front Steps Leading to Willa (Zimmerer)

Proffitt’s Home

Nancy Zimmerer, Lingle

Lookout Duty

Denette Price, Newcastle

Painter’s Helper

Denette Price, Newcastle

Sun Casting Shadows on the Fort Laramie Tanks

Rob McIntosh, Torrington

Stepping Out at the Beach

Melody Posey-Harris, Saratoga

WINTER’S LAST BLASTFREE COMMUNITY WINTER RECREATION DAY

CASPER  MARCH 7

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and community partners are excited to announce the return of Winter’s Last Blast, a free, family-friendly celebration of winter recreation, outdoor education and community engagement. Pre-registration is encouraged. Event registration is open at bit.ly/WintersLastBlast.

Time: 10am-3pm

Cost: Free and open to all ages

Location:

Casper Mountain Biathlon Center, 1110 East End Road

Information: Austin Burgess centralwyomingtrails@gmail.com 307-262-6923

01 | SOUTHEAST

CENTENNIAL

THURSDAY-MONDAY

Nici Self Historical Museum: 12-4pm. Explore museum grounds and exhibits. Free. Info: niciselfmuseum.com.

CHEYENNE

MARCH 7-8 AND 14-15

Delta Kappa Gamma 42nd Annual Used Book Sale: 8am-5pm on 7th and 14th; 9am-4pm on 8th; 9am-2pm on 15th. The former Joann Fabrics in Frontier Mall, 1400 Dell Range Blvd. Info: 307-630-3682.

CHUGWATER

THURSDAYS

Acoustic Jam Session and 4-Piece

Chicken Dinners: 5:30pm. Stampede Saloon & Eatery, 417 1st St. Thursday night pickin’ and grinnin’ and fried chicken...while it lasts. Call to reserve your chicken so you don’t miss out! Music venue open for jam sessions. Info: 307-422-3200, stampedefun@aol.com.

ONGOING

Live Music: Stampede Saloon & Eatery. Weekend performances. Info: 307-422-3200, stampedefun@aol.com.

ENCAMPMENT

TUESDAYS-SATURDAYS

Grand Encampment Museum: 10am-4pm. Main Gallery and GEM store open. Info: 307-327-5308.

MEDICINE BOW

ONGOING

Museum and Gift Shop: 8:30am-4:30pm. 405 Lincoln Highway. Info: 307-379-2383.

RAWLINS

MARCH 1-28

Apres-Ski: 4-6pm. The Saloon at Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch. Après-ski gathering featuring cocktails, light bites and fireside relaxation in the Saloon after skiing a private mountain. Contact for pricing. Info: 307-840-9377.

MARCH 3

C.J. Box Book Signing: 5pm. Carbon County Museum. Annual C.J. Box Book Signing is back! He will be signing his new book, “The Crossroads.” The Carbon County Museum will have “The Crossroads” available for purchase, which will directly benefit the museum. Info: 307-328-2740.

MARCH 9-27

Spring Break Vacation: Time varies. Brush Creek Ranch. Spring Break in Wyoming with mountain scenery, outdoor adventures, family activities and luxury accommodations on 30,000 private acres. Contact for pricing. Info: 307-254-9973.

MARCH 12

2026 WyPA Pipeline Safety and Emergency Response Seminar: 5:30-7:30pm. Jeffrey Center. WyPA invites local First Responders and Public Officials to attend. Free.

MARCH 14

Baggs Ball 2026: 5pm. Valley Community Center. Night in Rio at the Baggs Ball. Get ready for an evening filled with fun, delicious food and plenty of dancing! $80 per person or $600 for a table of 8. Info: 307-383-2166, vcc@valleycommunitycenter.org.

MARCH 19-22

Snowfest: Time varies. Brush Creek Ranch. Winter getaway at the Ranch featuring a private mountain, snowcat skiing and snowmobiling in Medicine Bow National Forest. Contact for pricing. Info: 307-840-9377.

02 | NORTHEAST

BUFFALO

MARCH 2-28

30th Annual Quilt Display: Johnson County Library. Info: 307-684-5546.

THURSDAYS

Bluegrass Jam Session: 6:30pm. Occidental Saloon. Free. Info: 307-684-0451.

CLEARMONT

ALL OF MARCH

6th Annual Quilt Show: 10am-3pm. Clearmont Historical Center, 1250 Front St. The Clearmont Historical Center welcomes everyone to visit during March (weather permitting) and view our amazing collection of quilts and quilted items ranging from traditional to contemporary! Free. Info: 307-758-4685, clearmonthistory@gmail.com.

GILLETTE

MARCH 14

51st American Legion MidWinter Fundraiser: 5pm. 200 Rockpile Blvd. Doors open at 5pm. Dinner at 6pm. $5,000 cash grand prize! Prime rib dinner for two! Need not be present to win. $120/ticket. Only 200 tickets available. Thank you for your donation! To purchase tickets: 307-682-3232.

MARCH 17

St. Paddy’s Day Corned Beef & Cabbage at American Legion: 1pm. 200 Rockpile Blvd. Celebrate in Irish tradition with festive eats and green beer. Thank you for any donations. Info: 307-682-3232.

MARCH 26

Northeast Wyoming Career Fair: 10am-3pm. Gillette College Pronghorn Center. Connecting People with Careers. Employers $85-$125. Free to Job Seekers. Info: Committee member Tammy Maxted or Jamie Spiker, 307-682-9313.

ONCE A MONTH

Open Mic Nite: 5-10pm. Frontier Auto Museum, 205 S Ross Ave.

Once a month, we are hosting live music under the neon light. Bring your instrument, family and friends. No early sign ups. To perform you must show up to get on the list. Free to anyone who would like to perform or listen. We provide the stage, mic and PA system. Commodore Cafe will be serving food and drinks. Upcoming dates will be posted on Frontier Auto Museum's Facebook page. Info: 307-686-5667.

ONGOING

Ava Community Art Center: Exhibits and workshops. Info: 307-682-9133, avacenter.org.

HULETT

TUESDAYS

Children’s Storytime: 10:30-11:30am. Hulett Library. Info: 307-467-5676.

MONDAY-THURSDAY

5 Mile Walking Exercise Class: 4:45-6pm. Hulett Library. Info: 307-467-5676.

MONDAY-FRIDAY

Senior Exercise Class: 9-10am. Hulett Library. Info: 307-467-5676.

ONGOING

Hulett Museum and Art Gallery: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm. Sat. 12-4pm. Free. Info: 307-467-5292.

MOORCROFT

WEDNESDAYS

Moorcroft Branch Library Activities: 10am storytime, 4pm afterschool craft, 7pm AA meetings. Please use the downstairs entrance. Info: 307-756-3232.

THIRD THURSDAY OF MONTH

Adult Book Club: 1pm. Moorcroft Branch Library. New book each month. Stop by the library for your copy. Info: 307-756-3232.

MONDAY-FRIDAY

West Texas Trail Museum: 9am-5pm. Info: 307-756-9300.

ONGOING

Senior Center Events: 9am coffee and rolls on Wednesdays. 9am toenail clinic and 6pm dinner every fourth Thursday. Info: 307-756-9550.

NEWCASTLE

THIRD SATURDAYS

Weston County Democrats: 2pm. Weston County Library. Info: 307-941-1822, weston.wyodems.net.

FRIDAYS

Bingo: 7:30pm. VFW Hall. Free.

SECOND AND FOURTH

WEDNESDAYS

Gigi’s Closet: 9am-1:30pm. First United Methodist Church. Gently loved clothing available for babies to adults. Info: 307-746-4119.

ONGOING

Anna Miller Museum: 8am-4pm. Closed on holidays. 401 Delaware Ave. Free. Info: 307-746-4188.

SHERIDAN

MARCH 8

Free Concerts at Sheridan College: 4-5pm. Whitney Center for the Arts, 1 Whitney Way. Join us for a free concert by the Sheridan College Symphony Band and Trombone Choir. Free. Info: sheridan.edu/arts.

MARCH 11

Free Concerts at Sheridan College: 7-8pm. Wyo Theater, 42 N Main St. Join us for a free concert by the Jazz at Sheridan College. Free. Info: sheridan.edu/arts.

MARCH 12

Spicy Pickles Concert: 17pm. Whitney Center for the Arts, 1 Whitney Way. Get ready to swing! The Spicy Pickles, with Hannah Rodriguez on vocals, bring vintage jazz and big-band energy for a night of danceable rhythms and lively grooves. $25 for adults; $21 for seniors or veterans; $16 for students. Info: bit.ly/SpicyPickles.

MARCH 13-15

Big Horn Home Builders Home and Garden Show: 5-8pm on March 13; 9am-6pm on March 14; 10am-3pm March 15. Ramada Plaza Sheridan, 1809 Sugarland Drive. Absolutely something for everyone and for all of your home and garden needs at this annual spring show! Free. Info: bhhba.org.

MARCH 14

Bighorn Mountain Snomads

Lodge Hop Ride: 10am. Elk View Inn, 4622 W US Hwy 14, Dayton. The daylong snowmobile ride starts at 10am from Elk View Inn. Free. Info: Diane Mitchell, 307-752-7645.

Jackalope Jump: Registration at 10am; jump at 12pm. Sheridan Ice, 475 E Brundage St. The Jackalope Jump is your chance to be FREEZIN’ FOR A REEZIN’ by jumping into an unforgettable experience that directly impacts the lives of Special Olympics Wyoming athletes. Free. Info: bit.ly/JackalopeJump.

MARCH 22

Jukebox Saturday Night: 2pm. Wyo Theater, 42 N Main St. Travel back to the golden era with Jukebox Saturday Night, a lively tribute to Big Band hits from the ’30s–’50s, full of swing, romance and fun for the whole family. $32 for adults, seniors, veterans; $25 for students. Info: bit.ly/JukeboxSaturdayNight.

MARCH 24

Free Concerts at Sheridan College: 7-8:30pm. Whitney Center for the Arts, 1 Whitney Way. Join us for a free recital by adjunct faculty Amanda Allyn. Free. Info: sheridan.edu/arts.

MARCH 26

Dale Watson and His Lone Stars Concert: 7pm. Wyo Theater, 42 N Main St. Dale Watson and His Lone Stars bring authentic honkytonk and Texas country, blending originals and classics for a heartfelt, high-energy night. $28 for adults, seniors, veterans; $22 for students. Info: bit.ly/Dale-Watson.

SATURDAYS

Landon’s Farmer’s Market: 10am. Landon’s Greenhouse, 505 College Meadows Dr. Info: 307-672-8340.

SUNDANCE

FOURTH THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Lunch Brunch Book Club: 11:30am. Crook County Library. Join us for an adult book discussion. Free. Info: Shannon, 307-283-1008.

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime: 10:30am. Crook County Public Library. Info: Tonia, 307-283-1008.

UPTON

SECOND TUESDAYS

Veteran Breakfast: 8am. Upton Senior Center. Free. Info: Gary Barnes, 307-468-9251.

FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS

Bingo at Senior Center: 6:30pm. $10 for 10 cards. Info: 307-468-9262.

ONGOING

Senior Center Activities: 1113 2nd St. 12pm lunch Mon.-Fri. for $4. Call for reservation before 9am at 307-468-2422 or 712-400-9056. 9am coffee and treats on Tuesdays. 9am exercise program every Tues. and Fri. 5:30pm card elimination and potluck every third Mon. Info: 307-468-9262.

ONGOING

Red Onion Museum: 8am-4pm. Closed holidays. 1920 HWY 16. Free. Info: 307-226-2873, redonion@gmail.com.

03|NORTHWEST

CODY

MONDAY-SATURDAY

Cody Country Art League Gallery: 9am-5pm. 836 Sheridan Ave. Info: 307-587-3597.

DUBOIS

MARCH 6

Life In Crowheart Featuring The Haslam Family: 6:30pm. Dubois Museum. Meet Lloyd Haslam, Delores Haslam (Winchester)

and daughter Laura Arnold. They will share stories and talk about their long family history in Crowheart, their historic Crowheart store and cattle in Dubois for this Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series. Free and open to the public. Info: 307-455-2284.

MARCH 12

Crowheart Store and Haslam Ranch Trek: 9am. Dubois Museum. The Haslam’s will guide us through their historic Crowheart Store, see beadwork and the family ranch while telling stories of their long local history. This is part of the Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series. Please bring a sack lunch. Spaces are limited. $25 per person. Advanced registration required, no exceptions! Info: 307-455-2284.

MARCH 14

Kids Corner: Saddle Making & Leather Carving with Steve Mecum: 10am. Step into the world of traditional craftsmanship with master saddle maker and leather carver Steve Mecum. Kids will get an up-close look at saddle making and leather carving are created — a hands-on art form that has changed very little over the years. These timeless skills are still used today, and Steve brings them to life in a way that sparks curiosity and creativity in this Bailey’s Tire & Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series program for children ages 6-18. $3 per child, Advanced registration required, no exceptions! Info: 307-455-2284.

MARCH 21

New Homesteading Series: “High Altitude Bread Baking” with Barb Lorentzen: 6pm. Dubois Museum. Join us for the exciting launch of our Homesteading Series! Learning essential skills that helped pioneer families thrive—and still matter today. Baking at high altitude can be challenging because most recipes are designed for sea level.

Atmospheric pressure changes affect how bread rises and bakes, adjusting crucial for success. Born and raised in Dubois, Barb is self-taught and her recipes are crafted to our altitude and weather influences. She is renowned for her baked goods, jams, jellies and fruit leather amongst her many talents. She will guide you through the process of making bread at high elevation. You can expect hands-on instruction in the historic Leota’s Kitchen at Dennison Lodge and can take home two loaves of bread or dinner rolls you bake yourself. Ingredients provided, just bring a large mixing bowl and loaf pans or 9x13 rectangular baking pans. Don’t miss this chance to master a timeless skill in a historic setting! For this Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series. $30 per person. Space is limited to 7 people. Advanced registration required, no exceptions. Info: 307-455-2284.

THURSDAYS

Farmer's Market: 4-6pm. Headwaters. Info: Twila Blakeman, 307-851-0785.

FRIDAYS

Family Story Time: 11:30am. Dubois Branch Library. Free. Songs, stories and crafts for ages birth to 5 years. Older siblings are welcome to join the fun. Stay and play in the Children’s Library after story time. Info: 307-455-2992.

THIRD WEDNESDAYS

Wyoming Health Fairs Monthly

Wellness Screen/Blood Draw: 7:30-10am. Dubois Medical Clinic. Appointments encouraged. Info: 307-455-2516, whf.as.me/dubois.

GREYBULL

SECOND SATURDAYS

Greybull Ladies Coffee: Greybull Library. Info: 307-765-2100.

JUST RELEASED!

Prized Last-Year Coins

Collectors love “lasts” as no collection is complete without the last coin struck. Last year coins are often hard to find and always in demand. Little did master engraver George T. Morgan know the legacy he was creating when he designed what has become known as “The King of Silver Dollars” but it came to an end 104 years ago with the last-year 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar, the most beloved coin in American history.

Hold 104 Years of American History

Struck in 1921, each coin is one hundred and four years old. Each coin has its own unique history and you can hold 104 years of American history when you buy yours today!

A Miracle of Survival

Coin experts estimate that only 15%-20% of Morgans are still surviving today due to multiple mass-meltings over the years. The Pittman Act of 1918 melted over 270,000,000 coins, that’s almost 50% of all coins produced at the time.

Sold Nationally for as much as $141

This same 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar sells elsewhere for as much as $141. But thanks to Rarcoa’s buying power and numismatic expertise, you can own one for as little as $94, in quantity while supplies last. That’s a difference of up to $47!

GIVE 'EM ROOM TO WORK! DON'T CROWD THE PLOW

Because the precious metals market is always active and dynamic, prices may adjust to re ect the latest market opportunities.

1921 Morgan Silver Dollar Brilliant Uncirculated

1-4 coins - $99 each

5+ coins - $94 each, Save $25 or more FREE SHIPPING on 2 or more

Offer Code LMDP225-3

Please mention this code when you call.

LANDER

MARCH 21

Women’s Tea: 1-3pm. Pioneer Museum. Join us this Women’s History Month for an afternoon of women’s tea and women’s history of Fremont County. This Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series program will focus on the history of women’s extension groups and clubs. Free and open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged. Info: 307-332-3373.

SATURDAYS

Acoustic Music Jam: 11am-1pm. Lander Bake Shop. Info: 307-332-3237.

ONGOING

First Friday: 5pm art show reception. 6pm music. Middle Fork Restaurant. New artist and local musician each month. Info: 307-335-5035, facebook.com/MiddleForkCafe.

RIVERTON

WEDNESDAYS

Acoustic Music Jam: 6:30-8:30pm. Holiday Inn Convention Center. Free. Join in or listen as musicians and dancers perform. Info: 307-856-8100.

PreK Tales & Tunes: 10:30am. Riverton Branch Library. Ages 3-5. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

Starlight Storytime: 5:30pm. Riverton Branch Library. Ages birth to 5 years. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

THURSDAYS

Toddler Move & Groove: 10:30am. Riverton Branch Library. Ages birth to 2 years. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

LEGO Club: 4-5pm LEGO Club. Riverton Branch Library. Grades 2-5. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

MEETEETSE

MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS

Yoga: 10:30am. Meeteetse Recreation District. Info: 307-899-2698, meetrec.org.

MONDAYS

Toddler Storytime: After school. Meeteetse Library. All kids grades 1+ not in school. Legos, board games, crafts, stories, songs and more. Info: 307-868-2248.

POWELL

TUESDAY-FRIDAY

Homesteader Museum

Winter Hours: 10am-4pm. Private tours available by appointment. Info: 307-754-9481, homesteader@parkcounty-wy.gov.

THERMOPOLIS

MARCH 14

Chamber of Commerce Banquet "Our Roots Run Deep": 5:30pm. HSC Fair Building. Dinner will be served at 6pm followed by music and awards. Info: 307-864-3192 or 877-864-3192.

MARCH 15

Barrel Racing: 11am. HSC Fairgrounds Multi Purpose Building. Exhibitions start at 11am with Pee Wee immediately following. Dash-N-Do over format. Info: 307-864-3192 or 877-864-3192.

MARCH 19-21

CWCC Cutting: Friday begins at 2pm. Saturday and Sunday begin at 8am. HSC Fairgrounds Multi Purpose Building. Info: 307-864-3192 or 877-864-3192.

SECOND SATURDAYS

Great Until 8!: 4-8pm. This event showcases the businesses who are staying open until 8pm or later in town. Shop after 5pm and enter in for a chance to win $100 gift certificates valid at the business with the winning receipt. Info: 917-589-7852, mainstreetthermopolis@gmail.com.

04 | SOUTHWEST

LYMAN

THURSDAYS

Storytime: 11am. Lyman Branch Library. All ages welcome. Free. Info: 307-787-6556, uintalibrary.org.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

MONDAYS

Cub Scout Pack 7798 Meeting: 3:45pm. Presbyterian Church on 3rd Street. We are always accepting new boys who are in grades 1-5. Info: MarNae, 307-677-2566.

SUBMIT AN EVENT

Send events occurring in May by

MARCH

15!

Be sure to include the date, title, description, time, cost, location, address and contact information for each event.

Photos are always welcome.

Learn more about the WREA community at wyomingrea.org/community.

ADDRESS UPDATE!

QUESTIONS & SUBMISSIONS:

wren@ wyomingrea.org

 [307] 286-8140

 2312 Carey Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82001-3627

 wyomingrea.org/ wren-submissions

THIRD WEDNESDAYS

Food Assistance Program: 8:3010am. 325 West St. Free food assistance for local individuals and families. All are welcome-no questions asked. Info: facebook. com/BridgerValleyFoodAssistance.

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime: 11am. Uinta County Library. Info: 307-782-3161.

ONGOING

Community Classes: Valley Learning Center. Fitness, computer, workforce and kids’ classes are available. Times and prices vary. Info: 307-782-6401, valleylearningcenter. coursestorm.com.

WANTED

We Pay Cash For Mineral & Oil/Gas Interests producing & nonproducing. 800-733-8122.

WANTED CJ or Wrangler reasonably priced. Any condition but rusted. 800-316-5337.

Frontier Auto Museum Looking For Oil Company Gas Pumps, Globes And Signs, and general antiques for our antique shop. Located in Gillette, Wyoming, our passion is to preserve Wyoming history and the nostalgia of the past, especially Parco, Sinclair, Frontier, Husky and any car dealership along with all brands. We are also always looking for neon motel or store signs, WY license plates, WY highway signs and State Park signs. www.frontierautomuseum.com. Please call Jeff Wandler 307-680-8647, wandlerfrontier@gmail.com, or relics@frontierauto.net.

JOHN DENVER

SONG”

DOLLY PARTON

WILLIE NELSON

The First

PERFECT STORM

Blizzard of ’49

I was 5 years old and have many memories of the Blizzard of 1949, or if the title hadn’t been used it was the “perfect storm.” It was a confluence of gale force winds, record cold and an enormous amount of snow.

After the divorce Mother and I went down to live on the ranch with my uncle and grandmother some time in 1948. Well, on Saturday night, December 31, 1948, we were up to Burge school house for a dance. Coming home about midnight it was snowing and blowing hard. The blizzard continued to rage, high winds, bitterly cold with a heavy snow fall. In the morning the cows didn't come into the wind breaks so my uncle George walked out from the house and he got a few into the corral but most of the herd drifted on past, later to be found in a fence corner a mile away all frozen to

death. Some time that morning Ord Ansity, at that time Frank Lewis' hired man, came walking in as his jeep got stuck when he went over to check on their cattle east of our place. The storm raged on for two more days, most of the time we were huddled by our only stove.

The storm broke on the fourth day and Ord walked the four miles back to the Lewis place. Snowbanks were high everywhere. In our barn the horses couldn't lift their heads because their backs were up to the roof. The snow came in and they kept trampling it down.

George got the horses out after much shoveling and rode out to see if he could find the cattle. He found them all dead, stacked up in a fence corner. I can remember him coming in devastated and I got up on his lap and said something to the effect “I'll bet a nickel things will work out,” and he said we have nothing to bet, we are completely wiped out. It was a tremendously sad time, seemingly with no hope. It was the first time I saw a grown man cry.

It was the first time I saw a grown man cry.

The Baumgardners, our closest neighbors, a mile and a half away, had some people from Torrington out over night for the New Year and they were caught. After a few days one of the guys took off and walked back to town 30 miles away. About the first of February a small plane flew over and circled, we went outside and waved at them and they dropped us some food compliments of radio station KOLT Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The roads were filled with snow so getting to town was impossible. I think sometime in February some of the neighbors formed a small caravan and by traveling on the ridges and cutting the fences they made it into town for supplies. It must have been well into March by the time I got to go into town and probably into April before the county cleared the roads. For years after the storm we would see some of the cows that did survive with bobbed tails and missing an ear or two, the result of having been frozen off by the intense cold.

When I write about the past I try to reflect on the lessons that I learned to help prepare me for my future. I am having trouble thinking of positive things that resulted from this "perfect storm." We were financially devastated, never to fully recover.

The local bank loaned us a small amount, maybe $200—$300. Food stamps, welfare, government assistance, are you kidding, they didn't exist. Talk about belt tightening, we had no money for anything that was not absolutely essential. So I guess I learned to live without and not to expect help from any agency. Our neighbors were our last line of help and we all came through for one another. One other thing I can take from the experience is to be prepared. Mother Nature can be pretty nasty so now I try to keep at least two weeks of food and water supply in the house. W

Helpin

It’s true. Just try to say “puppy” without smiling … Told you.

Supporting your local animal shelter not only provides food, medicine, vaccinations, microchipping and so much more for the animals, it also boosts your own mental, physical, and social health and well-being.

So how can you help?

Monetary donations are always appreciated, but there are many other ways to help care for animals in your community while they wait for their forever homes.

Get the word out

Foster or adopt

If you are able, opening your heart and your home to a pet will be fulfilling for you both!

Hang up fliers for upcoming adoption events or adoptable animals in places where potential adopters will find their perfect companion.

Walk dogs, pet cats

Animals need socialization. So do humans. Play time and cuddle time have huge psychological and physical benefits for waiting animals.

Be social

Use your social media platforms to share the profiles of adoptable animals.

Go for a ride

Some shelters have a hard time arranging to get animals to vet appointments or from shelters to rescue facilities. Helping with rides will ensure animals get the care they need.

Do a supply run

Donate wish list items such as food, toys, bedding, litter, crates or cleaning supplies.

Use your talents

Craft toys and bedding from upcycled materials; use building skills to help improve shelters; put design, photography or writing skills to work to improve marketing materials.