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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.

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Latest from Jackie Dorothy

On the remote plains of Wyoming, a 3,200-pound red granite monument marks the grave of Mother Featherlegs, a rare stone tribute to a Wild West prostitute. She was known to stash stolen loot before being murdered by the outlaw “Dangerous Dick.”

Wyoming's 3,200-Pound Monument To Wild West Prostitute Mother Featherlegs

On the remote plains of eastern Wyoming, a 3,200-pound red granite monument marks the grave of Mother Featherlegs, a rare stone tribute to a Wild West prostitute. She was known to stash stolen loot before being murdered by the outlaw “Dangerous Dick.”

Jackie DorothyFebruary 09, 2026

Deloris “Dee” Arps of Worland is 108 years and 6 months old. She attributes her long life to hard work and determination. She kept going even when it was tough and personal tragedy came her way.

Meet Dee Arps: The 108-Year-Old Who Owned The First Drive-Thru Liquor Store In Wyoming

108-year-old Deloris “Dee” Arps of Worland owned the first drive-thru liquor store in Wyoming -- and had to work the legislature to make it legal. She arrived in Wyoming more than 80 years ago as a new bride with $25 and went straight to work.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 07, 2026

Mike “Moose” Dabich of Hudson was minding his own business 50 years ago when the 7-foot-tall former pro basketball player in a fur coat sparked a Bigfoot panic while fishing in Fremont County, Wyoming.

7-Foot Man In A Fur Coat Sparked A Bigfoot Panic In Wyoming 54 Years Ago

“Moose” Dabich of Hudson, a 7-foot-tall former pro basketball player, was fishing in a fur coat in 1972 when two boys reported they saw Bigfoot. It caused a panic but Dabich didn't clear it up because he was fishing without a license and didn't want to get in trouble.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 07, 2026

During World War I and the Great Depression, regular staple pantry ingredients were scarce, so folks had to get creative. They came up with odd recipes such as tomato soup cake and water pie to stretch budgets and keep from starving.

Looking Back At Weird Depression Era Foods From Tomato Soup Cake To Water Pie

During World War I and the Great Depression, regular staple pantry ingredients were scarce, so folks had to get creative. They came up with odd recipes such as tomato soup cake and water pie to stretch budgets and keep from starving.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 02, 2026

In the 1850s, members of Congress thought the stories about “Yellow Stone" were too fantastic to be true. Politicians scoffed at the idea of geysers, boiling mud and petrified forests and refused to believe any of it.

When Congress First Heard Of 'Yellow Stone,' They Didn’t Believe It

Although the area was already called "Yellow Stone," back in the 1850s members of Congress thought the stories about the area were too fantastic to be true. They scoffed at geysers, boiling mud and petrified forests and refused to believe any of it.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 01, 2026

Levi Kessler founded History Under The Pines to document and preserve the history of  privately owned gold mines in the Black Hills that date back to the late 1800s.

Backyard Explorer Digs Deep Into Black Hills Ghost Towns And Mines

It was during Covid that Levi Kessler first started exploring historic underground mines in the Black Hills. Kessler only shared his findings with the promise to landowners that each location would retain anonymity to discourage trespassers.  

Jackie DorothyJanuary 25, 2026

Volunteers at Niobrara County’s Stagecoach Museum are uncovering a lot of history in Wyoming's emptiest county, from gold rushes and madams to oil booms. They're saving artifacts and interviews before they’re lost.

Niobrara Gold Rushes And Oil Booms: Documenting History In Wyoming’s Emptiest County

Niobrara County is the least-populated county in the least-populated state of Wyoming but is rich in history from gold rushes to madams to oil booms. Volunteers at the Stagecoach Museum are saving artifacts and preserving interviews before they’re lost.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 25, 2026

Wildcat Sam was a trapper who lived his life in the mountains. He kept for pets a wolf and coyote and once survived a night listening to over one hundred wolves meeting in a strange council along Powder River.

The Time Wyoming's 'Wildcat Sam' Was Surrounded By Seven Packs Of Wolves

Although 'Wildcat Sam' was a beloved Old West storyteller in Wyoming, historians say not all of Sam's stories were tall tales. After he died, reporters discovered that some of his stories might be true, like the time he was surrounded by a "wolf council."

Jackie DorothyJanuary 25, 2026

Ryan Morris and 19-year-old Chase Walden operate the snowcats at Antelope Butte and say that the job is challenging, but rewarding. They get a different perspective of the mountain as they groom the trails and the steep inclines.

Meet The Teen Who Keeps The Ski Trails Groomed And Open At Antelope Butte

While others can't wait to hit the slopes on the ski trails at Antelope Butte resort in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains, local teen Chase Walden dreams of grooming them. After years of training, he's now driving snowcats to keep the trails in tip-top shape.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 25, 2026

When historian and rancher Clay Gibbons saved the logs from an old cottonwood cabin, he was unaware that the rifle slots hand carved into the logs would have been protection against lawmen. The cabin was the temporary hideout for Teton Jackson, a notorious horse thief, who was captured in the cabin by Sheriff Frank Canton in 1885.

Wyoming Man Had No Idea His Pile Of Old Logs Was Outlaw’s 1885 Hideout Cabin

Historian Clay Gibbons unknowingly rescued a notorious outlaw's 1885 hideout cabin, complete with rifle slots from a sheriff’s raid. Gibbons discovered that not only had he stood in the cabin he was looking for, but the cabin was on Gibbons' own property.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 18, 2026

For decades, Gene Baldwin was known around Weston County as the “Voice of the Dogies” at Newcastle High School football games. He also was a rancher, teacher and cowboy poet. He died in December at age 99.

Wyoming People: Gene Baldwin Was The ‘Voice Of The Dogies’ For Newcastle Football

For decades, Gene Baldwin was known around Weston County as the “Voice of the Dogies” at Newcastle High School football games. He also was a rancher, teacher and cowboy poet. He died in December at age 99.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026

Thornburgh, an orphaned pup from a 1879 Ute battle, became Fort Bridger’s hero dog by stopping thieves, saving soldiers from knives, and alerting soldiers to Indian raids. Thornburgh was so well-loved he was buried in a fenced grave with a headstone.

Wyoming History: Meet Thornburgh, The Hero Dog Of Fort Bridger

Thornburgh, an orphaned pup from a 1879 Ute battle, became Fort Bridger’s hero dog by stopping thieves, saving soldiers from knives, and alerting soldiers to Indian raids. Thornburgh was so well-loved he was buried in a fenced grave with a headstone.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026

Other Authors

Larry Kloster of Casper is passionate for all things Corvette and believes that the cars are made for driving, not just for admiring. He has taken his cars on cross-country trips and will take hospice patients and others for a spin.

Nothing Better For Casper Man Than Taking Hospice Patients For Rides In Corvettes

Larry Kloster of Casper uses his museum-quality collection of Corvettes to connect with people. “I take hospice patients for rides, which is the coolest part,” he said. Kloster has been on the board of directors of Central Wyoming Hospice for 7 years.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026

LAPD Policeman Jack Brush would take his vacations in Yellowstone National Park every year and eventually signed up as a law enforcement ranger where his favorite assignment was riding his horse, Ace, on patrol around Old Faithful.

LA Cop Who Helped Catch Charles Manson Found Escape By Patrolling Yellowstone On Horseback

Jack Brush was a hardened Los Angeles cop who worked during the L.A. riots and helped catch Charles Manson. In the summers, he would escape the big city to work as a cop in Yellowstone, patrolling the park on horseback.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 04, 2026

When Thermopolis mom Connie Hoffman was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she was overwhelmed by expenses and relied on fundraising to travel to specialists. She now helps others with cancer in the time she has left raising money for others.

Faced With Her Own Terminal Diagnosis, Thermopolis Mom Helps Others With Cancer

When Thermopolis mom Connie Hoffman was diagnosed with terminal cancer, she was overwhelmed by expenses and relied on fundraising to travel to specialists. In the time she has left, she is spending her time raising money for others who have cancer.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 04, 2026

Sixty of 88 books written by Michael and Kathleen Gear had been illegally downloaded and used by Anthropic to train their AI program how to write using the authors’ personal voices. While the couple received a settlement for the illegal use of their books, Anthropic can still legally scan and use their books to train their robots to think like them.

Wyoming Authors Win Against AI Stealing Their Work, But May Ultimately Lose

Best-selling authors Michael and Kathleen Gear had 60 of their books illegally downloaded and used as training tools for an artificial intelligence company. A judge ruled that their books were stolen, but that it's OK to use legally bought books to train AI platforms.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 03, 2026

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made a pit stop in the Bighorn Basin overnight Sunday. Her Coast Guard jet landed in Worland and Noem spent the night at a ranch near Ten Sleep. She was gone early Monday before most people knew she was there.

Kristi Noem Lands In Worland, Spends Night On Ranch Near Ten Sleep

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made a pit stop in the Bighorn Basin overnight Sunday. Her Coast Guard jet landed in Worland and Noem spent the night at a ranch near Ten Sleep. She was gone early Monday before most people knew she was there.

Jackie DorothyDecember 30, 2025

Railroad man Dick Nelson witnessed the wild times at rowdy railroad towns and wrote about his adventures, preserving the history for future generations, including his own grandchildren who are honoring his legacy. (He is the furthest right man standing on the caboose deck.)

Wyoming History: Dick Nelson, The Pioneering Railroad Man With Ice In His Veins

Dick Nelson was 12 when he came to Wyoming Territory in 1887 and spent 45 years watching shootouts as a railroad man. He also earned a reputation early as having ice in his veins, not even flinching when Texas cowhands shot at him.

Jackie DorothyDecember 30, 2025

The Dry Gulchers gang ran their own agenda around Sheridan in the 1960s, robbing banks, hanging outlaws and harassing tourists. They paid $1,500 each to be part of the posse that staged fake Wild West adventures for visitors.

Wyoming History: Sheridan’s Dry Gulchers Gang Paid To Rob, Hang, And Harass Tourists

The Dry Gulchers gang ran their own agenda around Sheridan in the 1960s, robbing banks, hanging outlaws and harassing tourists. They paid $1,500 each to be part of the posse that staged fake Wild West adventures for visitors.

Jackie DorothyDecember 29, 2025

For years, Baggs, Wyoming, Deputy Sheriff Bob Meldrum had legally — and eagerly — killed accused rustlers and outlaws. A quick-draw artist, his bloodlust caught up with him in 1912 when he killed the wrong man and was nearly lynched by a mob. 

Wyoming History: The Baggs Quick-Draw Lawman Who Liked Killing Too Much

Bob Meldrum was known as "Wyoming’s mysterious badman” for his skill with a rifle — and eagerness to use it. He was hired as an assassin by the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association and later went on to kill a man just because he was annoyed by his singing.

Jackie DorothyDecember 29, 2025

In the height of the gold rush, South Pass City was the place for men to strike it rich — and for 22 of them, get murdered if they did. That’s because Polly Bartlett, the “Deadly Damsel,” would seduce, poison, and rob them.

Wyoming History: The Deadly Damsel Of South Pass Who Seduced, Then Murdered 22 Men

In the height of the gold rush, South Pass City was the place for men to strike it rich — and for 22 of them, get murdered if they did. That’s because Polly Bartlett, the “Deadly Damsel,” would seduce, poison, and rob them.

Jackie DorothyDecember 27, 2025

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