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John Thompson

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Newcastle farmer Paul Eitel with one of his emus.

Capturing Knowledge: Wyoming Farmer Documenting Wisdom Being Lost To Time

Knowledge, wisdom and homespun skill passed down through generations of American farm families is being lost to time and giant ag conglomerates. Newcastle's Paul Eitel is one farmer who can’t abide this trend.

John ThompsonJanuary 20, 2024

Dad’s Bar and Steakhouse is located on Highway 189 in Thayne, Wyoming. (John Thompson, Cowboy State Daily)

Drinking Wyoming: Dad’s Bar In Thayne Is An Authentic Cowboy State Honky-Tonk

Dad's Bar in Star Valley is a place where the phrase “because that’s the way we’ve always done it” is never questioned as traditions have been passed down through five owners over the last 90 years.

John ThompsonJanuary 07, 2024

Wyoming beavers are such good builders that this dam holds up to a large bull moose walking across it, caught on Beaver Dam Cams, a project of Wyoming Untrapped.

Beaver Dam Cams Are The Captivating Ring Doorbells For Wyoming Wildlife

Beaver Dam Cams are becoming the Wyoming wildlife version of Ring doorbell cams, showing the bears, moose, foxes and other critters that use beaver dams as nature’s highway.

John ThompsonJanuary 06, 2024

Riders travel the final 3 miles of the 2022 race when the temperature was about minus 20.

Highest Elevation Winter Ultra-Marathon Race In the US Is Wyoming's Grueling "Drift 100"

The Drift 100, an ultramarathon held in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains in early March, is the highest winter ultramarathon in the United States. It begins at the north end of Kendall Valley in Sublette County and gains 9,000 feet in elevation.

John ThompsonJanuary 01, 2024

A Chinese dragon used during a celebration.

Evanston’s Historic Chinatown Yields 300,000 Artifacts From The Late 1800s

An archaeological excavation of Evanston’s historic Chinatown, a community that was built in 1868 and burned in 1922, has so far turned up more than 300,000 artifacts.

John ThompsonDecember 24, 2023

Outside Joe’s Liquor and Bar in Rock Springs.

Drinking Wyoming: Joe’s Liquor And Bar In Rock Springs, A Landmark That Feels Like The Early 60s

Billed as the smallest bar in Rock Springs, Joe’s Liquor and Bar only seats 14 people. Walking in the bar is like stepping back in time to 1961 -- dimly lit and the walls are covered with dark wood paneling.

John ThompsonDecember 24, 2023

This 800-square-foot home is built from three steel shipping containers in an H configuration.

Steel Shipping Containers Made Into 800-Square-Foot Rural Wyoming Home

An 800-square-foot home made from three steel shipping containers hit the real estate market last weekend 10 miles south of Pinedale. The property, which has amazing views, is listed for $315,000, or $393.75 per square foot.

John ThompsonDecember 17, 2023

“James Bridger, Trapper, 1844” is one of the most prominent rock inscriptions at Names Hill in Lincoln County. Other names found there date back to trappers in the 1820s.

Wyoming History: Thousands Of Names Carved Into Stone Along Historic Western Trails

Long before people could document their travels on social media, they carved their names into cliff walls along the Oregon, Mormon and California trails through Wyoming. They served not only as unofficial registries but key navigational landmarks.

John ThompsonDecember 16, 2023

Wyoming Ranchers File $7 Million In Claims For 15,000 Head Of Lost Livestock

The brutal winter of 2022-2023 cut a diagonal swath of death across Wyoming that killed nearly 15,000 head of cattle, sheep and goats. Ranchers filed $7 million in claims for those losses.

John ThompsonDecember 14, 2023

Real Wyoming: Pinedale’s Cowboy Bar Was Built By An Outlaw And Won In A Card Game

Pinedale’s Cowboy Bar was built by an outlaw who rode with Butch Cassidy and later owned by a Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Famer who won the bar in a card game. The current owner, Lila Golden, has worked there since she was 6 years old.

John ThompsonDecember 10, 2023

Off The Grid In Wyoming: Power Systems Cost Less, But Require More Know-How

When Cody Lettiere found out it was going to cost about $50,000 to dig a trench and run a power connection to his cabin in the mountains near Dubois, he decided to explore a solar powered alternative.

John ThompsonDecember 10, 2023

Carmakers Dropping AM Radio But Farmers Fighting To Reverse It

Although two major carmakers have dropped AM radio from their vehicles, farmers have banded together to stop that trend. Ford has since reversed its decision to drop it.

John ThompsonDecember 03, 2023

Other Authors

Wyoming Experts Say UN’s Anti-Meat Push For Climate Change Doesn’t Add Up

Wyoming industry experts don’t buy the conclusions of a new U.N. report that suggests eating less meat will help the global fight against climate change.

John ThompsonDecember 03, 2023

The Big Island Bridge over the Green River south of Fontenelle Reservoir.

Wyoming ‘Bridge Nerd’ On A Mission To Document State’s Historic Bridges

John Bernhisel of Cowley, Wyoming, is on a mission, spending his summers visiting, photographing and chronicling the stories of historic Wyoming bridges and crossings.

John ThompsonDecember 02, 2023

If your property doesn't have a well, an off-grid water system is critical to establishing your homestead. There are many options to do this, including putting a large gravity-fed water tank outside your house.

Off The Grid In Wyoming: Wasting Water A Cardinal Sin For Homesteaders

The average American household wastes 90 gallons of water every day, something that would be a cardinal sin on an off-grid homestead, where water is much too valuable and important to waste.

John ThompsonNovember 26, 2023

Mountain man Hugh Glass does battle with a sow grizzly in this exhibit at the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale.

Mountain Man Hugh Glass’ Real And Embellished Legacy Inspired ‘The Revenant’

Filmmakers consulted with Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale when they made “The Revenant,” and an exhibit shows Glass wielding a Bowie knife in a battle with a grizzly. Now they're hearing rumors of a sequel to the movie.

John ThompsonNovember 26, 2023

The Daniel Junction Foodmart is located near the intersection of Highways 191 and 189 in Sublette County. The Bear Den Restaurant is located in the rear of the building.

Eating Wyoming: The Bear Den In Daniel Lays Claim To State’s Best Burger

Tourists and travelers have been stopping at Daniel Junction since 1940 when the original business on the site was established by Leander “Linn” Sargent and his wife Helen. The Bear's Den restaurant is where the locals eat.

John ThompsonNovember 25, 2023

Josh Winkler’s off-grid cabin in remote Lincoln County on a clear winter night.

Living In An Off-The-Grid Subdivision In Southwest Wyoming

Josh Winkler and his family of four live year-round in an off-the-grid community about 20 miles north of Kemmerer. Although the winters can be challenging, Josh says it's worth it -- especially when he straps on his snowshoes and heads out on a full moon night in January.

John ThompsonNovember 23, 2023

Doc Ryan is a Wyoming-born Angus bull that sold for more than $500,000, and is so sought after that a rancher has shelled out $140,000 for one of his unborn calves.

Ranchers Shell Out $140K For Unborn Calf Of Famous Million Dollar Angus Bull

Doc Ryan is a famous Angus bull that earns more than $1 million per year for his semen and is so sought after that ranchers recently shelled out $140,000 for one of his unborn calves. The former owner of the bull is Gillette native, Trey Wasserburger.

John ThompsonNovember 18, 2023

Congressman Upset Feds Are Tight-Lipped On $25 Million Yellowstone Bison Plan

It’s been nearly nine months since a $25 million plan to increase Yellowstone bison numbers and improve habitat was announced. A Montana congressman says he’s getting ghosted by agencies about what’s being done.

John ThompsonNovember 16, 2023

Combines work to harvest wheat in a Laramie County field near Cheyenne.

Foreign Ownership Of Ag Land A Struggle For Lawmakers In Wyoming And DC

Brett Moline, of the Wyoming Farm Bureau, said his organization supports restricting foreign ownership of U.S. agriculture land. Even though the percentage of overall farmland owned by foreign investors is small, it’s a situation that could quickly get out of hand if left unchecked.

John ThompsonNovember 12, 2023

A herd of cows lingers around a watering hole in Albany County.

Wyoming Ag Industry Divided On Reform Of Taxes That Can Fund Anti-Ag Efforts

Congress is considering reform of taxes on the sale of farm commodities that, if misallocated, can find farmers and ranchers attacked by anti-ag lobbying efforts they essentially paid for.

John ThompsonNovember 06, 2023

Evanston Already Planning For Economic Spillover From 2034 Utah Winter Olympics

A border community on Interstate 80, Evanston, Wyoming, has long positioned itself to reap the benefits of Utah’s vibrant economy. The 2034 Olympic Games would bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region.

John ThompsonNovember 05, 2023

Among the photos believed to be in the photo albums Pvt. Alton More took from Adolph Hitler's Eagle's Next retreat are images of Hitler and his mistress, Eva Braun.

Wyoming Soldier Found Hitler’s Photos, But They’ve Been Missing For Decades

Pvt. Alton More of Casper took two photo albums from Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in the Bavarian Alps at the end of World War II and brought them back to Wyoming, but they mysteriously disappeared decades ago.

John ThompsonNovember 04, 2023

As EU Kills Off Cows To Fight Climate Change, Hageman Warns It Could Happen Here

Farms in Ireland and other European Union countries are being forced to cut cattle numbers to reach climate change goals. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman warns it could happen here.

John ThompsonNovember 03, 2023

Two Juveniles In Jail After Wild Crime Spree Across Rock Springs And Green River

A pair of juveniles remain in custody after a Monday crime spree through Rock Springs and Green River that included stealing and crashing two vehicles, shooting up property with a stolen gun and other crimes.

John ThompsonNovember 01, 2023

A critical first step in your off-grid adventure is finding land to build your homestead.

Off The Grid In Wyoming: Choose The Right Spot For Your Modern Homestead

The days of free government land giveaways for homesteading ended long ago, but that doesn’t mean the spirit of the homesteader is dead. The first step is getting land, and that’s something Wyoming has plenty of.

John ThompsonOctober 29, 2023

Proponents of saving several buildings on the old Wyoming State Hospital campus held a rally in Evanston recently. They say the efforts of a public relations campaign are starting to take hold.

Evanston Rallies To Save Historic Wyoming State Hospital From Wrecking Ball

Despite the state seemingly willing to pay more than $50 million to raze the 27 buildings on the historic Wyoming State Hospital campus in Evanston, locals are working to save them from the wrecking ball.

John ThompsonOctober 29, 2023

Gabe Joyes of Lander sports a huge smile as he hits Jackson Town Square at the completion of a 180-mile trail run that started in Lander.

Wyoming Teacher Makes 180-Mile Trail Run From Lander To Jackson

During a normal week of training, Lander's Gabe Joyes runs about 100 miles while gaining about 20,000 feet of elevation. But in August, he decided to go 180 miles in a mountainous four-day run to get from Lander to Jackson.

John ThompsonOctober 29, 2023

Nets Could Help Cull Lake Trout Threatening Flaming Gorge’s World-Class Fishery

Fisheries experts will recommend to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission that thousands of lake trout should be netted, cut open and sunk to the bottom of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in order to help the remaining fish flourish.

John ThompsonOctober 22, 2023

Off The Grid In Wyoming: It’s Not That Simple To Live Simply

An electric utility company announcing plans to bump power bills by 30% can be the prompt some people need to begin thinking about life off the grid. But it takes a lot of work.

John ThompsonOctober 22, 2023

Nell's Coffee in Rock Springs had to close its first location after battling with the city over a building code that would've required $500,000 to comply with.

$500K Code Compliance Mandate Closes Rock Springs Coffee Shop, More Could Follow

A Rock Springs coffee shop owner was forced to close over a required $500,000 sprinkler system, a building code compliance issue the city’s mayor says could impact more mom-and-pop restaurants.

John ThompsonOctober 21, 2023

Wyoming outlaw George "Big Nose" Parrott would have his skin made into a pair of shoes for the eventual governor of the state of Wyoming. The shoes are still at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins, along with the outlaw's skull.

Macabre Past Makes Carbon County A Playground For Paranormal Investigators

Some of Wyoming’s creepiest historical artifacts including a notorious criminal’s skull, a death basket, and a mummified foot that originated in Egypt will be used in a paranormal investigation set to take place at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

John ThompsonOctober 15, 2023

Ken Burns Deliberately Called Documentary "American Buffalo," Not "American Bison"

Despite some people losing their minds over filmmaker Ken Burns's decision to call his documentary "American Buffalo," not "American Bison," Burns said he did it on purpose because the terms are interchangeable.

John ThompsonOctober 14, 2023

State and local officials gathered Oct. 12 to dedicate a new $15 million wildlife project on Highway 189 between Big Piney and La Barge.

$15 Million Wildlife Underpass Project Near La Barge Dedicated On Thursday

A $15 million wildlife underpass near Highway 189 was dedicated Thursday and includes nine underpasses, 33 miles of fencing, and two miles of new road. The goal is to keep wildlife off of the road, thereby protecting motorists and the animals.

John ThompsonOctober 12, 2023

Alsop Lake in Albany County, Wyoming, is a trophy fishing lake where invasive New Zealand mud snails have been found.

Wyoming Game And Fish Says Invasive Snail Found In Albany County Trophy Fishery

Wyoming Game and Fish officials confirm invasive New Zealand mud snails have been found in an Albany County trophy fishing lake.

John ThompsonOctober 11, 2023

A camera operator films while making a new Ken Burns documentary on the American bison.

Wyoming Plays Key Role In New Ken Burns Documentary, ‘American Buffalo’

Wyoming is a key part of Ken Burns’ new documentary “American Buffalo,” which explores the connection between the massive herds of the shaggy beasts, Native American culture and settling the West. It debuts on October 16.

John ThompsonOctober 09, 2023

President John F. Kennedy speaks in Salt Lake City prior to activating power production at Flaming Gorge Dam on Sept. 27, 1963.

It’s Been 60 Years Since President Kennedy Turned On The Power At Flaming Gorge Dam

Sixty years ago, President John F. Kennedy pressed a button that opened the penstocks at Flaming Gorge Dam and started a system that has produced hydroelectric power for six decades.

John ThompsonOctober 09, 2023

A new headstone corrects a 107-year-old mistake that George Henry Eighmy was a Union soldier in the Civil War and didn't fight for the Confederacy.

Union Soldier Who Wrongly Had Confederate Headstone For 107 Years, Gets New One

George Henry Eighmy was a Union Civil War veteran who likely fought at Antietam, married seven women and was convicted of felonies in two states. He was buried in Gillette under a wrong Confederate headstone for 107 years. It was recently replaced.

John ThompsonOctober 07, 2023