Daily Smile

[{"type":"text","text":"Now let's all enjoy a hedgehog having a snack....."}]

Smile 5 4 25

Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>Daily Smile: Sunday, May 4, 2025 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Now let's all enjoy a hedgehog having a snack.....

Daily Smile: Sunday, May 4, 2025

 Now let's all enjoy a hedgehog having a snack.....

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Politics

Government & Politics

[{"type":"text","text":"Ann Simpson died early Friday morning in her daughter’s arms."}]

“I lifted up the shade and the moon bathed Mom in the moonlight,” said Ann’s daughter Sue Simpson Gallagher. “I walked over and cuddled up to her and held her, and she died.”

Sue remembers her mother as the most beautiful woman, “inside and out, that ever lived.”

Ann was a mother of three, a wife of 70 years to prominent Wyoming political figure and

Her son Colin Simpson said she was unafraid and even optimistic about dying. She’d been diagnosed with an illness about two months earlier, he said.

“She made us all aware that she did not fear death at all,” said Colin. “She was a Christian and had great faith, and was very at peace with the end of her life.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Her great hope encouraged those grieving around her, he said."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"But the loss is still heartbreaking, the family said."}]

“We lost a person who really understood all of us,” said Sue. “She was on our team.”

Ann’s grandson Nick Simpson interjected that “she was half the damn team.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Sue laughed through tears. "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Colin said the late couple both had a close connection with the moon."}]

Al Simpson died on the full moon and lunar eclipse of March 14, 2025. Ann died after the buck moon.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Al’s ‘Gorgeous Gal'"}]

Ann Schroll caught Al’s eye her freshman year at the University of Wyoming, said Pete Simpson. His brother Al fell for that “gorgeous gal,” and the pair married in 1954.

She became a mother, a powerful influence on the whole family, and a force even in Washington, D.C., Pete reflected. He said her beauty and “way of treating people” paused the frantic clockwork at the U.S. Capitol, when she crossed a hallway.

She backed her husband and exuded confidence even in the rough-and-tumble world of politics, he said.

“She was a marvelous mom and a marvelous citizen — and a great inspiration for us,” said Pete. “We’re going to miss her like fire.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Pete, who turned 96 Friday, said he misses his brother as well."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“It’s hard to see both of them gone.”"}]

Alan Simpson was one of Wyoming’s most well-known political figures, having served in the Legislature and Congress. 

A champion of bipartisanship who said a person should “do what’s right … and have thick skin,” he also was awarded the 

For him, Ann was “all the woman that is, and ever was,” said Sue. “And her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and family would agree.”

[{"type":"text","text":"He was from Cody. She grew up on a small farm in Greybull."}]

Time the pair spent in Germany during Al’s army career led Ann to start the first American Field Service study abroad program in Cody. The program allowed Wyoming youth to travel abroad, while bringing students from around the world to Wyoming.

[{"type":"text","text":"Ann was a mental health advocate, and a champion of the arts"}]

Her twin sister, Nan Fogel Thorne, died last November, with family members by her side, said Colin.

[{"type":"text","text":"“She said, ‘That’s how I want to go,’” he said."}]

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso said in a Friday statement that Wyoming was fortunate to learn from the couple.

“They made a legendary team, always working together to make Wyoming and Washington a better place,” said Barrasso. “We take comfort that she is reunited with her beloved Al once again.”

Diana Enzi, wife of the late Sen. Mike Enzi, reflected on Ann’s sense of humor and remembered her as “a gracious lady, a real role model for our state.”

“I learned a lot from her,” Diana added.

Cowboy State Daily contributor Coy Knobel contributed to this report. 

Simpson anniversary01 7 31 26

<title>Ann Simpson, Wife Of Late Sen. Al Simpson, Died In Daughter's Arms Friday Morning | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Ann Simpson, mother of three and wife of 70 years to prominent Wyoming political figure and late U.S. Sen. Al Simpson, died Friday morning in her daughter's arms. “I walked over and cuddled up to her and held her, and she died," Sue Simpson Gallagher said.

Ann Simpson, Wife Of Late Sen. Al Simpson, Died In Daughter's Arms Friday Morning

Crime & Courts

Law Enforcement

Wyoming is seeing a turnover of at least eight sheriffs since last year, which is more than a third among the state’s 23 counties.

Some of those retiring or leaving have about four decades of law enforcement experience each, like Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn and Campbell County Sheriff Scott Matheny.

Johnson County Sheriff Rod Odenbach and Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle were each at about 30 years’ law enforcement service when Odenbach decided not to run for reelection and Grossnickle switched jobs.

Departing Goshen County Sheriff Kory Fleenor is leaving after 26 years with his office; so too is Fremont County Sheriff Ryan Lee.

Sublette County Sheriff KC Lehr is retiring after what his office’s Lt. Travis Bingham estimated at about two decades of total law enforcement service; and Platte County Sheriff David Russell left the office last August after 13-and-a-half years in law enforcement.

The sheriffs who spoke to Cowboy State Daily on Friday about their decisions to leave the job cited a readiness, a weariness, immense gratitude, and a longing to spend time with family.

“I think it’s just time,” said Blackburn. “I’ve seen a lot, been through a lot. It’s taken its toll … and it was time to heal myself and take care of my family.”

He voiced gratitude for the people and experiences of the job, saying, “It’s a wonderful profession. It’s been wonderful for me.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"‘Used To Be The Good Guys'"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"But it hasn’t lacked trauma."}]

Blackburn responded in February 2025 to a scene in which a Byron mother had shot herself and her four young daughters in their home. The mother and daughters all died within a week.  

That incident wasn’t the final straw, Blackburn said. A growing anti-law enforcement cynicism had accumulated much longer.

“It was the divisiveness of people and the degradation of civilized conversations,” he said. “There’s always been negativity toward law enforcement. But we did used to be the good guys.”

Blackburn said that frustration and the other downsides to the job still don’t outweigh his love for the people he served and worked with.

“And I walked out holding my head high,” he said. “I gave 110% to the state of Wyoming and the people of Big Horn County — and I’m so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve my fellow man.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"‘We’re Trying To Do The Right Thing'"}]

Odenbach said he’s retiring so he and his wife can visit family members in their native South Dakota and spend time with their grandson.

It’s tough lobbying against “anti-law enforcement bills” too, Odenbach added.

“You know, just the constant we’re trying to do the right thing for public safety and our communities, and we have these out-of-state lobbyists that are trying to tell the people what’s best for Wyoming,” said Odenbach.

 Second Amendment Preservation Act of this year’s legislative session.

The bill sought to impose $50,000 civil penalties on Wyoming police agencies that help with federal gun-crime enforcement operations against "law-abiding" citizens, or hire former federal agents who’ve conducted those operations.

, saying it broad-brushed active and nuanced situations and would chill their ability to intervene in crises.

Odenbach said he’s proud of his department and believes its in a good place, including in its current relationship with the Johnson County Attorney’s Office. He described the coming year as a good time to leave it to someone else.

Adrian Keeler is running unopposed for that seat in the Republican primary election.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"‘It’s Time'"}]

Matheny said he’s retiring because, “It’s time to let somebody else be sheriff.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Daniel Maul is running unopposed in the primary election."}]

Matheny said he loves his job and has made lots of friends. He spoke highly of his office, dispatch and county personnel.

“When I first pinned on the badge as a young man, I learned a deep respect for this office,” he said. “I didn’t know then just how much this role would shape my life.”

Matheny added: “God puts people in places that only he knows and I’ve learned to trust him and lean on him to guide me.”

Matheny said he doesn’t count sparring with the Legislature as a factor in his retirement. But he does consider it noteworthy.

Lawmakers in 2025 considered another bill that sheriffs universally opposed: it would have required all agencies to strike contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Even sheriffs already working with ICE disliked the bill, saying it put them at a negotiation disadvantage by mandating them into contracts.

Others worried the ICE contracts would be too costly for small-town sheriffs.

“I don’t think (clashing with lawmakers) will ever change,” said Matheny. “You get new legislators … that want to come up with a new law, without thinking about the ramifications — especially on law enforcement.”

He added, “It seems like every year we’re down there telling them why this is not a good idea; or why this would be a good idea.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"He’s Dropped 12 Pounds"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"But Grossnickle liked that part, he said Friday."}]

“It wasn’t any more stressful than anything else,” said Grossnickle. “I actually enjoyed working with the Legislature. I enjoyed being able to have those conversations, and standing up for the right thing.”

Grossnickle said he left the job because “it was time,” and the stress was affecting his health.

His blood pressure has dropped from 138 over 90 to 118 over 72 since he left the department May 31 to take a job as executive director for Southwest Counseling Service. 

[{"type":"text","text":"He’s sleeping at night and he’s dropped 12 pounds, Grossnickle added."}]

Still, being in law enforcement was an “honorable career and I’m thankful for it,” he said.

 about his reasons for leaving the post, but wrote in a September statement to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page that the decision was “in the best interests of my mental health and family.”

He described an unhealthy and compulsive relationship with his work that took from his family.

Sheriff Tony Krotz, who was appointed to replace Russell, is running unopposed in the primary election.

[{"type":"text","text":"Russell and Lee declined Friday to comment to Cowboy State Daily."}]

Lehr could not be reached for comment, but Bingham confirmed his decision to retire.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Hot Races"}]

Sweetwater, Fremont, Goshen, Big Horn and Sublette counties are seeing contested sheriff’s races after their incumbents’ departures or decisions not to run.

[{"type":"text","text":"Six Republicans vie for the GOP nomination in Sweetwater County."}]

Those are: Grossnickle’s appointed replacement Rich Fischer, Ozzie Knezovich, Randall Tryzbiak, Matthew Wharton, Richard Kaumo and Amanda Buller.

Four Republicans seek the GOP nomination in Fremont County: Undersheriff Mike Hutchison, former Riverton police chief Erick Murphy, Ross Giles, and Deputy John Zerga.

In Sublette County, Bingham faces Thomas James Hatch, Klief Guenther, and Michael James Crosson in the primary election.

[{"type":"text","text":"Bingham said Friday that Lehr has endorsed him."}]

George Mills and Herb Irons are vying for the GOP nomination in Goshen County primary election.

Jeff Angell, Travis Davis, Jason Beal and Craig Shidler seek the GOP nomination in Big Horn County. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sure, But"}]

Allen Thompson, a former sheriff himself and now director of the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, said the turnover “feels different” this time, but the number is not extraordinary.

[{"type":"text","text":"Wyoming got seven new sheriffs in the last election cycle, said Thompson."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"“I think it’s just the cycle,” he said. “Turnover is normal.”"}]

Thompson said that despite the rise of anti-law enforcement sentiment on social media, Wyoming is still a great place to work.

“I feel like Wyoming is still a great place to serve in law enforcement, because you still have that relationship on the local level,” said Thompson.

Matheny said the sheriff is unlike any other law enforcer in the American legal system.

“We’re the only law enforcement officials that answer directly to the people,” he said. “We have direct accountability, through the election process. That’s who we answer to.”

Matheny said that tends to yield a bond and a trust, and a pride in protecting the peace “and the constitutional rights of every citizen in our jurisdiction.”

And in Wyoming in particular, said Matheny, every sheriff’s office is a trove of “amazing” history, similar to “if you were to walk through the hallways of a museum.”

Sheriffs leaving 7 31 26

<title>Eight Wyoming Sheriffs Quit, Retire Or Choose Not To Run For Reelection | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Wyoming is seeing a turnover of at least eight sheriffs since last year, which is more than a third among the state’s 23 counties. The sheriffs who spoke to Cowboy State Daily cited readiness, weariness, gratitude and a longing to spend time with family.

Eight Wyoming Sheriffs Quit, Retire Or Choose Not To Run For Reelection

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily political columnist, Rod Miller.

Rod Miller

Opinion

CSD Columnists

Alexis de Toqueville, a French observer during the formative years of our republic, called us “The great experiment in democracy.” 

He saw that our Founders didn’t create a stagnant system, but rather a dynamic nation that is always growing and changing as we try new ideas. 

Picking up on de Toqueville’s metaphor, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis called America a “great laboratory” in which different experiments in self-government are tested, to see what succeeds and what doesn’t. 

Seen in that light, we are a nation of experimenters driven by a curiosity to find out what works best for us, and our history is record of the results of those experiments.

And I think it was Sigmund Freud, I’ll paraphrase, who offered the sage political advice that the definition of insanity is repeating the same experiment over and over, expecting a different result. 

While we’re on the subject of political experiments, imagine that we’re back in chemistry class and a mad scientist, dressed in a red blazer instead of a lab coat, is lecturing the class. 

He says, “Class, today we’re gonna do the Freedom Caucus experiment.”

He looks at his phone for instructions, then grabs a Wyoming-shaped test tube and starts tossing in ingredients from weird little vials and bottles. 

The mad scientist in the red coat tells us, “For this experiment, we’ll need a mixture of caustic populism, fake grassroots, some tincture of fear-mongering and a big dose of centralized control mixed with faux religious zeal. 

Then we’ll add some forced patriotism, political opportunism, and stir in some scorn for small communities and a whole bottle of distilled self-righteousness. 

To give it bite, we’ll add some acidic divisiveness, concentrated hubris and a dash of tribalism.

The rest of the ingredients are secret and available only from national Freedom Caucus bigwigs in Washington, D.C., and I’m sworn never to reveal what they are. Now, let’s see what happens when we heat if up!”

The redcoated mad scientist reads his texted instructions, stirs the mixture and cooks it over a bunsen burner. 

[{"type":"text","text":"The concoction begins to bubble and fizz. "}]

Finally it blows up with a loud plop, like an exploding skunk, and the lab is filled with a miasma of sulfurous yellow smoke that burns the eyes and smells like brimstone and buzzard puke.

The lab walls are dripping with a toxic goo that will take years to clean up. 

The mad scientist stands in front of the class, all his hair singed off and a look of shocked surprise coupled with glee on his bald face.

Evidence of the failed experiment litters the lab floor, still fizzing and bubbling – a scorched campaign check from the Checkgate scandal here, a pool of chemtrail paranoia there. 

Under the desk is a smoldering pile of UFO panic, still wearing a crumpled tinfoil Stetson. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Smoke rises from a proposal to sell state land for a dollar an acre."}]

The ashes of of the hopes of schools, small towns and counties coat the windowsills. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Books are blasted off the library shelves. "}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Shards of shattered civil liberties are scattered hither and yon. "}]

The carcass of a dead legislative agenda twitches in a dark corner of the lab. 

Election certificates of Freedom Caucus legislators are smeared with hilarious DUI bodycam videos, concealed felony convictions in Colorado and political flip-flops worthy of a contortionist in a snake oil show. 

The right-wing "media outlets" that serve as the pep squads for the Freedom Caucus carry the stench of the failed experiment, and their microscopic audience shrinks with every new scandal. 

Windows and doors are thrown open to air out the lab. Just then the bell rings, announcing a new election, and we want nothing more than to go home and shower off the residue of this experiment gone hideously awry. 

But before we can step carefully across the slippery floor toward the door, the mad scientist in the red blazer whines, “Hey, the people voted for this! Who wants to try this same experiment again on 8/18/26? Maybe we’ll get a different result.”

Rod Miller can be reached at: RodsMillerWyo@yahoo.com

Rod miller headshot scaled

<title>Rod Miller: The Wyoming Freedom Caucus – Our Failed Experiment | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Imagine that we’re back in chemistry class and a mad scientist, dressed in a red blazer instead of a lab coat, is lecturing the class. He says, 'Class, today we’re gonna do the Freedom Caucus experiment.'"

Rod Miller: The Wyoming Freedom Caucus – Our Failed Experiment

Kerry Drake

A Colorado man has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of a 22-year-old passenger flung from his car after he crashed while trying to elude police at more than 100 mph on Clear Creek Parkway near Cheyenne. 

Both Colorado resident James K. Moore and another passenger from South Carolina were hospitalized. Christian Dawsey, 22, also from Colorado, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene, the Wyoming Highway Patrol reports.

In addition to aggravated vehicular homicide, which can carry up to a 20-year sentence, Moore was charged in Laramie County Circuit Court on Thursday with aggravated assault, property destruction and defacement, reckless driving and attempting to elude police.

WHP Trooper Brandon Todd initially noticed that Moore, 26, did not have functioning taillights as he drove near Exit 7 

 in Cheyenne just after 11 p.m. July 23. In an affidavit, Todd wrote that the car appeared to be pulling over after the trooper activated his emergency lights while leaving the median.

The incident escalated quickly when Moore’s white Hyundai IONIQ 5 instead exited at West College Drive and Clear Creek Parkway, then quickly accelerated to flee southbound. Todd wrote that the vehicle was traveling more than 100 mph in a 45 mph zone, and he eventually saw Moore's car crash.

Moore failed to navigate a sharp left turn and continued straight, exiting the roadway and becoming airborne, Todd wrote.

"I saw what looked like a small explosion from the vehicle," the affidavit says, adding that he found the wreckage in the parking lot of Simon, a business at 6215 Clear Creek Parkway.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Thrown From Car"}]

He approached and found Moore “unconscious and unresponsive." A passenger later identified as the man from South Carolina was semi-conscious and had severe bruising on the right side of his face, Todd wrote.

"I ran through the parking lot and made my way to the vehicle, where I made contact with the driver, who was unconscious and unresponsive," the affidavit says, adding that he was identified as Moore from his Colorado driver's license.

 twice told Todd that he and Moore were the only two people in the car, while “Moore began itching his nose and would not respond to verbal stimuli,” according to the affidavit.

It was when he was walking back to his patrol car that Todd says he found Dawsey's body, and it was apparent he had been killed.

"I began walking back to my patrol car through the debris field and the path the vehicle took as it crashed through the parking lot," Todd's affidavit says. "I located the third occupant of the vehicle, who was laying on his stomach, face down, and had sustained injuries in the crash that were not compatible with life."

Todd said he identified a strong odor of a flavored alcoholic beverage while he attempted to talk to Moore and the other passenger, and later found a small red-and-clear alcoholic beverage in the driver’s side door cup holder.

Todd wrote that he found empty beer cans and smaller alcoholic containers called “shooters” as he walked through the debris field.

Both Moore and the South Carolina man were extricated from the vehicle at the scene by emergency medical responders. A blood sample was taken from Moore and he was read Wyoming’s Implied Consent Advisement.

Moore was flown to Colorado via LifeFlight for further care. The surviving passenger was transported by ground ambulance to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.

Dawsey died at the scene, Todd wrote, adding that he was not wearing a seat belt. 

During the investigation, Todd said Dawsey’s grandparents notified the WHP dispatch that they had received a crash notification from his phone. 

While completing his inventory of the crash scene, Todd opened a backpack that contained a urine test and a sex toy.

On Monday, Todd noted that he had discovered from the Larimer County (Colorado) Probation Office that Moore was on probation for felony menacing with a real or simulated weapon and he was not allowed to come into Wyoming.

He also wrote that people on probation sometimes use fake urine for required drug testing.

High Speed crash WHP 7 30 26

<title>Colorado Man Charged In Death Of Passenger Thrown From His Car At 100 MPH | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Colorado man is charged in the death of a man flung from his car when it crashed in a Cheyenne parking lot while running from troopers at 100 mph. The passenger “sustained injuries in the crash that were not compatible with life,” a trooper reports.

Colorado Man Charged In Death Of Passenger Thrown From His Car At 100 MPH

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's Feature Reporter, Andrew Rossi.

Andrew Rossi

Business & Tourism

Dozens of horses might have been exposed to a highly contagious disease recently at the Park County Fair in Powell.

On Tuesday, Smallwood Horses announced it was placing its Powell facility under a voluntary two-week quarantine after one of its horses presented symptoms of an infection of the bacterium Streptococcus equi, also known as Strangles.

“This horse presented no symptoms before, during, or immediately after (the) fair,” Ashley Smallwood said 

. “Veterinarians contacted about possible exposure suggest that the horses attending the fair be monitored for symptoms.”

Britt Whitt of Whitt Veterinary Services in Powell released a statement saying strangles is “a highly infectious disease” with “high morbidity and low mortality.”

“In the case of an outbreak, many animals that are exposed will develop the disease, but very few will die from the disease,” Whitt said.

Whitt was not available for additional information at the time of publication. Smallwood told Cowboy State Daily she would “absolutely not” discuss the exposure and quarantine.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"How Serious Is Strangles?"}]

Erin Brus is a Certified Equine Massage Therapist (CEMT), veterinary technician, and horse owner working in Park County. She had strong feelings about the strangles exposure at the Park County Fair.

“On a personal level, there are a lot of words I cannot use,” she told Cowboy State Daily. “On a professional level, I’m severely disappointed.”

Dozens of horses might have been exposed to strangles, a highly contagious equine disease, at the Park County Fair in Powell. Smallwood Horses announced Tuesday it placed its facility under a two-week quarantine after a horse presented symptoms.

Daily Smile: Sunday, May 4, 2025

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