Writer

Jackie Dorothy

Jackie Dorothy is a reporter for Cowboy State Daily based in central Wyoming.

Over the past 20 years, Jackie has worked in television, radio and print across Wyoming. In this role, she has won numerous writing and history awards including the Wyoming Governor’s Journalist of the Year and SBA Journalist of the Year.

Jackie is also the podcast host of ‘Pioneers of Outlaw Country’ that explores little known historical stories of Wyoming with entertaining narrative.

Find Jackie Dorothy

Latest from Jackie Dorothy

A glitch in the software of this electronic sign at Alpine Animal Hospital in Laramie, Wyoming, shows it's minus 196 degrees. If true, it would by far be the coldest place ever recorded on the planet.

Temperatures To Plunge 40 Degrees Across Much Of Wyoming

Wednesday morning will be the last warm weather for the rest of the week across much of Wyoming, as Don Day and other meteorologists predict a 40-degree drop in temps starting Wednesday. “It is going to get colder and stay cool for several days,” he said.

Jackie DorothyApril 21, 2026

Scotty Ratliff worked for two decades to get an updated edition of “Tribal Government: Wind River Indian Reservation” available for the general public and Wyoming schools. He said that teaching tribal government should be included in all Wyoming government classes in the Cowboy State.

Former Wyoming Legislator Revives Long-Lost Guide To Tribal Government

Scotty Ratliff worked for two decades to get an updated edition of “Tribal Government: Wind River Indian Reservation” available to the public and Wyoming schools. Teaching tribal government should be included in all Wyoming government classes, he says.

Jackie DorothyApril 19, 2026

Remembering Jara: The Wyoming K-9 Officer Who Had A Cartel Hit On Her

Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Jara was so good at sniffing out drugs, a Mexican cartel put out a hit on her. The K-9 also saved lives and was on the “Dr. Phil” show. She received a hero’s sendoff when she died earlier this month.

Jackie DorothyApril 19, 2026

Ernest Whaley, the son of Clifford Whaley, lived in Wyoming for a few years after the death of his first wife. He returned to New York, his hometown, when his mom asked him to come back. The photo of him in his cowboy hat is a prized photo of his family who have always been proud of their Western roots.

Old Photos Reunite New York And Wyoming Branches Of Whaley Family After 125 Years

The Whaley family arrived in Shell, Wyoming, in 1890, and remains in the Big Horn Basin. A son moved to New York in the early 1900s, and his line disappeared until a great-grandson posted old photos, reuniting the Wyoming and New York Whaleys.

Jackie DorothyApril 18, 2026

Left, Beth and Tom Ronketty pose with two photos that they believe are Billy the Kid before he became an outlaw. The photo has been in Beth’s family since the late 1800s and she had grown up with her dad telling her it was Billy before he shamed the family and became an outlaw. Right, the only verified photo of Billy the Kid is this damaged tintype, which sold at an auction in 2011 for $2.3 million.

New Jersey Family Claims It Has 2 Billy The Kid Photos From Before His Outlaw Days

A New Jersey family says it has two photos of Billy the Kid from before he was a notorious outlaw. If true, it would be historic as there has only been one verified image of Billy the Kid, a damaged tintype that sold at auction for $2.3 million.

Jackie DorothyApril 18, 2026

Larry Kloster of Casper painted the pinstripes on his Corvette model to match his 2025 Sea Wolf Gray, National Corvette Museum-delivered Corvette.

Wyoming Classic Car Collectors Spend Big Bucks On Miniatures To Match Their Vintage Rides

Collecting and restoring classic cars can be an obsession for those Wyomingites who are passionate about their vintage machines. They’re also willing to spend big bucks on miniature toys that match their sweet rides, and even have fun-sized car shows.

Jackie DorothyApril 12, 2026

Brandon Clark of Cheyenne quit his reliable truck-driving career to pursue his art. His first piece is a mountain lion that he has dreamt about creating for 30 years and is now becoming a reality. The statue is being cast into bronze and Clark said he has thrown caution to the wind to bring the art to life.

Cheyenne Trucker Was On A Road To Destruction, Then Sculpting Saved His Life

When Brandon Clark wasn’t drowning himself at the bottom of a bottle, he found himself staring out the windshield of his big rig, watching his life pass him by. Then a lifelong passion for art and sculpting changed — and saved — his life.

Jackie DorothyApril 12, 2026

The Safari Club in Thermopolis will soon lose its large collection of taxidermy animals. The restaurant has recently been denied its liquor license because their lease will expire this October. Management is encouraging guests to BYOB to enjoy with their meals.

Thermopolis Safari Club’s Big Game Trophy Collection To Hit Auction Block

After more than 40 years on display, the big-game taxidermy collection at the Safari Club restaurant in Thermopolis will be shipped to auction next week. A potential value hasn’t been put on the hundreds of mounts, some of which can’t be sold in the U.S.

Jackie DorothyApril 11, 2026

It's A Month Early But Even Meteorologist Don Day Says It's OK To Turn On Sprinklers

Meteorologist Don Day is the first to caution against prematurely turning sprinklers on. But even though it's a month early, he’s warmed up to it. “At this point, we don't foresee a prolonged freeze that’s long enough to cause pipes to break,” he said.

Andrew Rossi & Jackie DorothyApril 07, 2026

Calamity Jane frequently visited her sister’s family at her Borner’s Garden homestead, despite clashes with Lena’s husband, John. After Lena’s early death, John moved the children to Greybull, leaving Borner’s Garden a ghost of frontier life.

Wyoming History: Calamity Jane’s Turbulent Visits To Her Sister’s Homestead

Calamity Jane frequently visited her sister’s family at her Borner’s Garden homestead near Lander, despite clashes with Lena’s husband, John. After Lena’s early death, John moved the children to Greybull, leaving Borner’s Garden a ghost of frontier life.

Jackie DorothyApril 05, 2026

Perhaps Glenn Randall Sr.’s most celebrated work was training the dozens of horses used in the Academy Award-winning 1959 classic movie “Ben Hur.” That includes training the horses for the film’s epic chariot race.

Legendary Trainer Behind Trigger And ‘Ben Hur’ Chariot Race Got His Start In Wyoming

Called “The Greatest Horse Trainer in the World,” Glenn Randall started training horses in Torrington and moved on to other Wyoming rodeos and county fairs. Then he left for Hollywood where he trained Trigger and the "Ben Hur" chariot horses.

Jackie DorothyApril 04, 2026

Wind River Canyon White Water Rafting & Fishing has operated for over three decades in Thermopolis, Wyoming. At first they only offered white water rafting trips but as fishing has grown in popularity, the company began guiding fishing trips.

Fishing Boom Creates Wave Of New Businesses On The Bighorn River In Thermopolis

Fishing tourism is booming on the Bighorn River in Thermopolis and that's created niche businesses from fly-tying stores to sandwich shops to shuttles, rentals and real estate. “We have become a destination,” said one fishing guide.

Jackie DorothyMarch 29, 2026

Other Authors

Kristin Hugo of Kemmerer discovered a passion for animal bones and began collecting them as a hobby. This hobby has become her life as she spends hours on hiking tours looking for bones and carcasses. She now shares this fascination of all things dead on social media and hopes to soon start offering ‘bone-tours’ to show others how to search out carcasses in nature.

Wyoming Bone Hunter Obsessed With Wildlife — As Long As It's Dead

Kristin Hugo of Kemmerer has a fascination with dead things — especially wildlife. While bones and rotting animals are avoided by most, she seeks them out. The bone-hunter is on a mission to share her passion for remains with others.

Jackie DorothyMarch 28, 2026

Born in a wagon belonging to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Glenn “Shorty” Kischko spent his life riding, roping and crafting realism for legendary Wild West shows. Then military service in war and personal tragedy reshaped his later years.

Wyoming History: Shorty Kischko Was Born Into Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

Born in a wagon belonging to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Shorty Kischko spent his life riding and roping for legendary Wild West shows. "I saw the Wild West Show come into its own, I saw it thrive as a part of the West, and I saw it die,” he said.

Jackie DorothyMarch 28, 2026

Sculptor LaQuincy Reed, Curator Harvey Deselms and Donor Michael Tyler worked together to make it possible to produce a new bronze statue in honor of Barney Ford, a former slave who built the fanciest hotel in Cheyenne when Wyoming was still a territory.

How A Runaway Slave Found A New Life As Cheyenne's Rich 'Black Baron'

Barney L. Ford, a runaway slave who brought elegance to the rugged tent city of Cheyenne, built a fortune and became known as the city's "Black Barron" was recently honored with a bronze statue. It stands across from where his famous hotel once stood.

Jackie DorothyMarch 26, 2026

The University of Wyoming’s mascot, Pistol Pete, was an enigma. He had burst onto the football field with his gun, creating pandemonium and great cheers from the fans. Where he came from, no one seemed to know until John Waggener started chasing down leads.

How Pistol Pete, The University Of Wyoming's Cowboy Mascot, Came To Be

For decades, no one quite knew how Pistol Pete, the University of Wyoming's mascot, came to be. UW historian John Waggener went on a mission to find out. It all began with a San Jose State cheerleader who was chased off the field as a Spartan in 1969.

Jackie DorothyMarch 22, 2026

Guilty Dog Transport, owned and operated by Eric Huyffer of Jackson, hauls some of the most expensive cars in Wyoming to various locations in the United States. His main gig, Huyffer said, is getting exotic cars like the Ferrari and Porsche to their oil change appointments in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Man Who Hauls Exotic Multimillion-Dollar Cars For Wyoming’s Super Rich

Eric Huyffer of Jackson hauls multimillion-dollar cars for the wealthy. Ferrari and Porsche are the two brands he hauls the most. “They have to be serviced by a certified technician and the closest certified technician for both are in Salt Lake City.”

Jackie DorothyMarch 21, 2026

The Ten Sleep Public Library in Washakie County may be small, but it's filling huge roles in this tiny town in northcentral Wyoming. Yes, it's filled with books, but it's also the town's community center, tech center, and public health clinic.

The Ten Sleep Library, Where You Can Check Out A Book — And See Your Doctor

The Ten Sleep Public Library has received the nation's highest honor for museums and libraries that make exceptional contributions to their communities. The latest achievement is in tele-health where private medical consultations can be had in the library.

Jackie DorothyMarch 14, 2026

Joe and Alice Kordonowy bought the Elkhorn in Meeteetse 30 years ago, a rough-and-tumble Wyoming bar. Fights over games of pool and open at 8 a.m., they won over the locals when they realized the new owners “were just down-to-earth oil field trash."

Keeping It In The Family: Meeteetse's Elkhorn Bar Has Rough-And-Tumble Roots

When Joe and Alice Kordonowy bought Meeteetse's Elkhorn Bar & Grill in 1994, Joe had to knock a few heads to prove he was just as tough as the cowboys and oil field workers. It's tamed some over the years but still remains a staple of the community.

Jackie DorothyMarch 08, 2026

Austin Wiggins, Tristin Wiggins, Trent Longtin and Jenny Longtin are the owners of the Meeteetse Meat Co. (not pictured, Dan and Syd Manderfeld). Their goal is to preserve the tradition of butchers in Wyoming and bring back local meat from the big processing plants and from overseas.

Family Revives Small-Town Butcher Tradition In Meeteetse

A Wyoming family is bringing an old-school meat market back to Meeteetse. Trent Longtin said it's about protecting a Wyoming tradition and keeping the meat local. "What we are trying to do is get away from the big plants and overseas meat," he said.

Jackie DorothyMarch 07, 2026

"A Direct Apology Is Lacking:" Former Worland Cop Sentenced For Molesting Children

Former Worland police officer Myron Chatwin was sentenced Wednesday evening to 40–70 years in prison for sexually abusing three children. Judge Bobbie Overfield denied a more lenient sentence, citing his lack of remorse. “A direct apology is lacking,” the judge said.

Jackie DorothyMarch 05, 2026