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.
Latest from Jackie Dorothy

Wyoming’s Obsidian Trails A Roadmap Of Critical Ancient Trade Routes
Archaeologists use obsidian to determine how far people traveled on ancient trade routes across Wyoming. Each obsidian flake bears a unique volcanic fingerprint that points to its place of origin, which can be hundreds of miles away.
Jackie DorothyJuly 16, 2025

Wyoming Rite Of Passage: 600 4-H Kids Show Out At State Shooting Competition
Learning to shoot is a Wyoming rite of passage and one of the fundamental programs of the state’s 4-H clubs. More than 600 4-H kids gathered in Douglas this past week to show out at the Wyoming State Shoot.
Jackie DorothyJuly 14, 2025

Meet Dr. Cowboy, The Animal Chiropractor Putting More Buck Into Rodeo Bulls
When a rodeo bull refuses to buck, Dr. Cowboy uses his animal chiropractic tools to bring them back to life. He has successfully convinced even the most stubborn cowboy that this newfangled tool and technique is just the cure for their ailing bulls.
Jackie DorothyJuly 13, 2025

160 Years After It Was Lost, Treasure Hunters Still Search For Lost Cabin Gold Mine
Hidden away in the Bighorns is a mysterious drawing carved on the surface of a massive granite boulder. Dubbed the “Boot Map,” old-timers have theorized for decades that the drawing, which resembles a Spanish boot, is a map leading to the Lost Cabin Gold Mine.
Jackie DorothyJuly 12, 2025

Wyoming History: Otto Chenoweth, The Gentleman Outlaw Of Lost Cabin
Sheep baron J.B. Okie was throwing a high-society party at his opulent mansion in Lost Cabin, Wyoming, when it was crashed by the sheriff and his prisoner. That prisoner was Otto Chenoweth, an outlaw horse thief who escaped and charmed the ladies as a dashing gentleman.
Jackie DorothyJuly 06, 2025

Wyoming History: Mountain Man Joe Meek Survived Bears And Blackfeet Raids
When an 18-year-old Joe Meek arrived in the wilderness of Wyoming in 1829, the greenhorn had to toughen up fast to survive bears and hostile tribes. When he fell asleep on guard duty, he also survived the wrath of Capt. William Sublette.
Jackie DorothyJuly 05, 2025

Ned LeDoux Featured On Wyoming Singer-Songwriter’s Ode To Real Ranching
It may be great to fantasize about “Ranching Rich,” but that’s not real ranching in Wyoming, says Cody singer-songwriter Kalyn Beasley. His friend Ned LeDoux is featured in the new song, an ode to real ranching in the West.
Jackie DorothyJuly 05, 2025

Beloved Photographer Shares Beauty Of Wyoming Even As She Faces End Of Life
Lesleigh Ann Schaefer has put 100,000 miles on her 2019 Subaru photographing Wyoming from its rarely-traveled backroads. Now homebound with terminal cancer, she can only take photos from her backyard. Her adopted home of Thermopolis has rallied to make her final days special.
Jackie DorothyJune 29, 2025

Wyoming History: Chugwater Wild Man Was 7-12 Feet Tall And Faster Than A Horse
Newspapers reported the Wild Man of Chugwater was between 7 and 12 feet tall, covered in dark hair and could run faster than any horse. He even eluded a hunt in 1887 by a circus owner who wanted to put him in a cage for his freak show.
Jackie DorothyJune 28, 2025

Wyoming History: Thermopolis Was Founded By A Dashing Outlaw Bachelor
Ben Hanson was the founder of Thermopolis, Wyoming, and a well-respected businessman and cattleman. He also was a dashing outlaw bachelor who was quick with his gun and friends with the notorious Wild Bunch.
Jackie DorothyJune 23, 2025

Wyoming Rancher Was At The Birth Of Certified Angus Beef — Drinking Highballs
The Certified Angus Beef program was the first of its kind, and when Wyoming rancher Jack Schmidt first heard the idea over a highball, he thought it was silly. Then he watched the industry turn upside down as Black Angus became the breed of choice.
Jackie DorothyJune 21, 2025

Wyoming History: That Time A Yellowstone Park Ranger Lassoed Polar Bears
Carl Dunrud steadied himself against the small schooner. It was 1926 and the Yellowstone Park ranger and Wyoming cowboy had a lasso ready as he eyed his target. Looking back at him was a polar bear swimming in the cold Arctic Sea.
Jackie DorothyJune 21, 2025

Wyoming History: Outlaw Walt Punteney Was Cattle Rustler, Bank Robber, Heck Of A Nice Guy
Walt Punteney was a well-known member of the notorious Wild Bunch outlaw gang. He rustled cattle, robbed banks and was cheerful and a heck of a nice guy. He also built a saloon which eventually became the popular Cowboy Bar in Pinedale.
Jackie DorothyJune 15, 2025

Kevin Costner Series Airs Long-Unrevealed Truth About Wyoming's Fetterman Fight
Kevin Costner will air a long-unrevealed truth about the famous 1866 Fetterman Fight — that Capt. William Fetterman wasn’t the arrogant buffoon he was made out to be. The episode of his new docuseries is based on research by a Wyoming historian.
Jackie DorothyJune 09, 2025

One-Of-A-Kind Wyoming Wax Figure Collection On Track To Be Sold, Saved Instead
After years with an uncertain future, a collection of one-of-a-kind Wyoming wax figures that was on track to be dismantled or sold off has been saved instead. Now volunteers and the Wyoming Historical Society plan to display them again.
Jackie DorothyJune 08, 2025

Wyoming History: How The Custer Wolf Got The Best Of A Famed Outlaw Hunter
Wyoming’s premier hunter “High Powered” Williams, who had once bested a Hole-in-the-Wall gang member, finally met his match in the 1920s. But it wasn’t another outlaw, it was the notorious Custer wolf that was terrorizing the countryside.
Jackie DorothyJune 08, 2025

When A Shovel And A Shoebox Won’t Do, There’s The Worland Pet Cemetery
Losing a pet can be heartbreaking, and most owners don’t want their animals to end up discarded in a landfill. That's why people drive hundreds of miles to bring their deceased pets to Worland to use a specially designed pet crematorium chamber at the New Hope Shelter.
Jackie DorothyJune 08, 2025

Hall Of Fame Bronc Rider Bill 'Cody' Smith Remembered As Rodeo Legend
The rodeo world is mourning the death of Hall of Fame bronc riding legend Bill "Cody" Smith at age 83. A three-time Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association saddle bronc riding champion, he loved Cody so much he adopted it as his hometown and nickname.
Jackie DorothyJune 07, 2025

New York Judge Keeps Wind River Job Corps Open
After being ordered to close their doors by the Trump administration, a federal judge in New York issued a restraining order that will keep the Wind River Job Corps in Riverton, and others across the nation, open.
Jackie DorothyJune 05, 2025

Riverton Job Corps Students, Staff Protest Putting Program On ‘Pause’
More than 100 students and staff protested outside the Riverton Job Corps offices Wednesday with the program on “pause” after cut from . The program will end by June 30 unless Congress intervenes.
Jackie DorothyJune 04, 2025

Online School Popular Choice For Wyoming Ranch And Rodeo Kids
Wyoming ranch kids have chores and rodeo that take up a lot of time. That's why Riverton's Kenzley Sims (pictured) and other Wyoming kids go to Sheridan’s Cowboy Virtual Academy. They can pursue rodeo while getting an education online.
Jackie DorothyJune 01, 2025