Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Monday, August 24th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by the Converse County Tourism Promotion Board! Discover Douglas and Glenrock in beautiful Wyoming, where rich history, outdoor adventure, and welcoming communities await. Feel the Energy of Converse County at www.ConverseCountyTourism.com.

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Just as hundreds of wildland firefighting crews are getting a handle on multiple fires in the Bighorn Basin of northern Wyoming, spots in the tinderbox-dry Bridger-Teton National Forest are blowing up.

Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that a new large and dangerous fire has flared up in the Star Valley about 4 miles south of Smoot, prompting an hourslong closure of Salt River Pass along U.S. Highway 89.

"Just as fire crews are getting a handle on these fires that are burning in the Big Horn Basin, especially… the 125,000 acre Red Canyon fire that that is now 75% contained… the Dollar Lake fire is burning. It was discovered Thursday, it was only about 20 to 30 acres. It blew up to about 17 or 1800 by Friday, and now it's about 10,000 acres… it's still 0% contained… and it's kind of running east toward square top… with that going on, another fire is blowing up in Star Valley, only about four miles south of Smoot. It's about 4000 acres as of Saturday evening."

There are 61 firefighters on the Willow Creek Fire near Smoot and more are on the way. Officials also warn looky-loos not to impede traffic on Highway 89, noting that watching a wildfire isn't safe or an appropriate spectator activity.

Read the full story HERE.

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Last year, the Shoshoni police department issued 2,372 speeding tickets. If you were to divide that into its population of 630, it's the annual equivalent of about four speeding tickets for every man, woman and child in this mile-wide town.

Of course, these citations are not going to local residents. They're doled out among the 3.4 million out-of-town travelers who pass through each year. Cowboy State Daily's Zakary Sonntag rode along with Chief Chris Konija last week.

"He is right at the forefront of an institution that is known as Wyoming's foremost speed trap. And… I got to ride along, sit in the car, watch the radar climb, and then when someone speeds, they're right out on their tail, and those tickets come out fast… and it happens all day long… So it is, you know, it makes it wonder, are these speeding tickets really changing behavior? Because that's the goal. That's what they say. We want to slow down the traffic."

Konija seems to genuinely believe that the town can cite its way to robust public safety. With enough citations given, he says, the message will eventually reach all drivers: When you arrive in Shoshoni, you better slow down.

Read the full story HERE.

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A death Saturday morning on Honor Farm Road just north of Riverton brought at least a dozen law enforcement vehicles and prompted an hourslong investigation.

Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland arri