Around the 307
News, commentary, and other items of interest from the greater Wyoming landscape.
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After a few refreshing weeks off, it’s back to business! Here we go!
Here are Cowboy State news items of interest for the week of July 28th, 2024:
Tuesday, July 30th, Cowboy State Daily published this article summarizing the current wildfire status in Wyoming. You can also visit InciWeb (the U.S. Government’s wildfire incident information system) to view an interactive map of ongoing wildfires in Wyoming. As all of you are well aware, we are into that hot dry time of year when fire danger typically becomes elevated. Please do your part if you’re out and about recreating on our beautiful public lands and remember you cannot walk away from a hot campfire! The U.S. Forest Service considers this as abandoning a campfire and you can be held responsible. Therefore, please drown your fires until they are cold to the touch. Thanks!
While not mentioned in the Cowboy State Daily story, there is also the Horse Creek Fire (active since July 1st) in the Big Piney Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, however, that fire is now 90% contained.
Also on Tuesday, July 30th, the Union Pacific’s legendary Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, made a stop in Kemmerer as part of a five state summer tour. Big Boy departed its home base in Cheyenne, on June 30th and traversed Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California and Idaho throughout the month of July. Spectacular! You can read more about Big Boy in this article published in the Kemmerer Gazette.
Wednesday, July 31st, the Star Valley Independent (SVRI) published this disappointing story about the failure of a ballot initiative that, if approved by voters, would have cut property taxes in Wyoming by 50%. It seems the petition fell just 1,000 signatures short of the 29,730 signatures required in order to appear on the November General Election ballot. A glimmer of hope still remains as the ballot initiative committee has 18 months to recirculate the petition and submit additional signatures in an attempt to get on the 2026 ballot.
Lastly—here are a some Wyoming historical events (some well known, others obscure) that occurred during the month of July.
July 4th, 1830—Fur trader William L. Sublette, on his way to Wind River with 81 men and 10 wagons, christens Independence Rock "having kept the 4th of July in due style."
An etching for Independence Rock made from a July 30, 1855 sketch by artist Frederick Piercy. July 10th, 1890—President Harrison signs the Statehood Bill making Wyoming the 44th state to enter the union.
July 13th, 1927—Guernsey Dam completed on the North Platte River.
That’s all for today cowpokes! Thanks for reading, have a great week!
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