Around the 307
News, commentary, and other items of interest from the greater Wyoming landscape.
[Want to modify the number of weekly emails you receive? Find out how at the end of this post.]
For the week of March 23rd, 2025 here are a few Wyoming news items of interest:
Despite the calendar telling us it’s officially springtime, there are still tough times out there for Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) snowplow drivers especially on the windy Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. On Monday, March 24th Cowboy State Daily published this story about an experienced WYDOT plow driver who met his match when trying to get through a snowdrift on Highway 296; it was the first time in 22-years the veteran driver ever got his plow stuck.
Also on Monday, the University of Wyoming (UW) published this news release announcing recruiting efforts appear to be paying off with a 1.4% increase in UW’s spring semester enrollment figures when compared to the same point last year. Increases in first-time and transfer students enrolling at the midpoint of the academic year, along with an overall full academic year retention rate exceeding 93%, have resulted in UW’s first overall enrollment increase since before the pandemic. While Wyoming residents are responsible for the majority of the overall enrollment increase, according to UW “the biggest share of undergraduates enrolling for the first time this spring came from out of state”. The past several years have seen UW making enhanced marketing efforts in states such as Colorado, Texas, California, Illinois, Arizona, and Washington.
On Thursday, March 27th, a rockslide at milepost 6.5 below Lookout Point on Casper Mountain Road (Wyoming Highway 25) closed one of two travel lanes. WYDOT was quickly on the scene and had the route re-opened to two-way travel, the same day, however, clean-up efforts continued into Friday evening. Yup, it’s that time of year folks when due to the thaw, snowmelt, and saturated ground conditions rockslides and landslides become more prevalent along our roadways. It’s just another sign of spring in Wyoming! Read more in this article from Wyoming News Now. Sure was a rough week out there on the roads!
Lastly—as it’s the last week of the month, here are a few Wyoming historical events (some well known, others obscure) that occurred during the month of March.
March 18th, 1878—Northern Arapaho people arrive to live on the Eastern Shoshone Reservation on Wind River.
March 21st, 1924—Fearing a run, the Powell National Bank closes its doors for two months.
March 24th, 1939—Killer Earl Durand robs the First National Bank in Powell and then takes his own life at the scene.
That’s all for today ladies and gents! Thanks for reading and have a great week!
Want to customize your Close to Home 307 subscription and the number of emails you receive each week? Please click this About page link and scroll midway down the page to learn how to update your settings.