Features Reporter

John Thompson

Latest from John Thompson

Carmakers Dropping AM Radio But Farmers Fighting To Reverse It

Although two major carmakers have dropped AM radio from their vehicles, farmers have banded together to stop that trend. Ford has since reversed its decision to drop it.

John ThompsonDecember 03, 2023

Wyoming Experts Say UN’s Anti-Meat Push For Climate Change Doesn’t Add Up

Wyoming industry experts don’t buy the conclusions of a new U.N. report that suggests eating less meat will help the global fight against climate change.

John ThompsonDecember 03, 2023

The Big Island Bridge over the Green River south of Fontenelle Reservoir.

Wyoming ‘Bridge Nerd’ On A Mission To Document State’s Historic Bridges

John Bernhisel of Cowley, Wyoming, is on a mission, spending his summers visiting, photographing and chronicling the stories of historic Wyoming bridges and crossings.

John ThompsonDecember 02, 2023

If your property doesn't have a well, an off-grid water system is critical to establishing your homestead. There are many options to do this, including putting a large gravity-fed water tank outside your house.

Off The Grid In Wyoming: Wasting Water A Cardinal Sin For Homesteaders

The average American household wastes 90 gallons of water every day, something that would be a cardinal sin on an off-grid homestead, where water is much too valuable and important to waste.

John ThompsonNovember 26, 2023

Mountain man Hugh Glass does battle with a sow grizzly in this exhibit at the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale.

Mountain Man Hugh Glass’ Real And Embellished Legacy Inspired ‘The Revenant’

Filmmakers consulted with Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale when they made “The Revenant,” and an exhibit shows Glass wielding a Bowie knife in a battle with a grizzly. Now they're hearing rumors of a sequel to the movie.

John ThompsonNovember 26, 2023

The Daniel Junction Foodmart is located near the intersection of Highways 191 and 189 in Sublette County. The Bear Den Restaurant is located in the rear of the building.

Eating Wyoming: The Bear Den In Daniel Lays Claim To State’s Best Burger

Tourists and travelers have been stopping at Daniel Junction since 1940 when the original business on the site was established by Leander “Linn” Sargent and his wife Helen. The Bear's Den restaurant is where the locals eat.

John ThompsonNovember 25, 2023

Josh Winkler’s off-grid cabin in remote Lincoln County on a clear winter night.

Living In An Off-The-Grid Subdivision In Southwest Wyoming

Josh Winkler and his family of four live year-round in an off-the-grid community about 20 miles north of Kemmerer. Although the winters can be challenging, Josh says it's worth it -- especially when he straps on his snowshoes and heads out on a full moon night in January.

John ThompsonNovember 23, 2023

Doc Ryan is a Wyoming-born Angus bull that sold for more than $500,000, and is so sought after that a rancher has shelled out $140,000 for one of his unborn calves.

Ranchers Shell Out $140K For Unborn Calf Of Famous Million Dollar Angus Bull

Doc Ryan is a famous Angus bull that earns more than $1 million per year for his semen and is so sought after that ranchers recently shelled out $140,000 for one of his unborn calves. The former owner of the bull is Gillette native, Trey Wasserburger.

John ThompsonNovember 18, 2023

Congressman Upset Feds Are Tight-Lipped On $25 Million Yellowstone Bison Plan

It’s been nearly nine months since a $25 million plan to increase Yellowstone bison numbers and improve habitat was announced. A Montana congressman says he’s getting ghosted by agencies about what’s being done.

John ThompsonNovember 16, 2023

Combines work to harvest wheat in a Laramie County field near Cheyenne.

Foreign Ownership Of Ag Land A Struggle For Lawmakers In Wyoming And DC

Brett Moline, of the Wyoming Farm Bureau, said his organization supports restricting foreign ownership of U.S. agriculture land. Even though the percentage of overall farmland owned by foreign investors is small, it’s a situation that could quickly get out of hand if left unchecked.

John ThompsonNovember 12, 2023

A herd of cows lingers around a watering hole in Albany County.

Wyoming Ag Industry Divided On Reform Of Taxes That Can Fund Anti-Ag Efforts

Congress is considering reform of taxes on the sale of farm commodities that, if misallocated, can find farmers and ranchers attacked by anti-ag lobbying efforts they essentially paid for.

John ThompsonNovember 06, 2023

Evanston Already Planning For Economic Spillover From 2034 Utah Winter Olympics

A border community on Interstate 80, Evanston, Wyoming, has long positioned itself to reap the benefits of Utah’s vibrant economy. The 2034 Olympic Games would bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region.

John ThompsonNovember 05, 2023

Other Authors

Among the photos believed to be in the photo albums Pvt. Alton More took from Adolph Hitler's Eagle's Next retreat are images of Hitler and his mistress, Eva Braun.

Wyoming Soldier Found Hitler’s Photos, But They’ve Been Missing For Decades

Pvt. Alton More of Casper took two photo albums from Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in the Bavarian Alps at the end of World War II and brought them back to Wyoming, but they mysteriously disappeared decades ago.

John ThompsonNovember 04, 2023

As EU Kills Off Cows To Fight Climate Change, Hageman Warns It Could Happen Here

Farms in Ireland and other European Union countries are being forced to cut cattle numbers to reach climate change goals. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman warns it could happen here.

John ThompsonNovember 03, 2023

Two Juveniles In Jail After Wild Crime Spree Across Rock Springs And Green River

A pair of juveniles remain in custody after a Monday crime spree through Rock Springs and Green River that included stealing and crashing two vehicles, shooting up property with a stolen gun and other crimes.

John ThompsonNovember 01, 2023

A critical first step in your off-grid adventure is finding land to build your homestead.

Off The Grid In Wyoming: Choose The Right Spot For Your Modern Homestead

The days of free government land giveaways for homesteading ended long ago, but that doesn’t mean the spirit of the homesteader is dead. The first step is getting land, and that’s something Wyoming has plenty of.

John ThompsonOctober 29, 2023

Proponents of saving several buildings on the old Wyoming State Hospital campus held a rally in Evanston recently. They say the efforts of a public relations campaign are starting to take hold.

Evanston Rallies To Save Historic Wyoming State Hospital From Wrecking Ball

Despite the state seemingly willing to pay more than $50 million to raze the 27 buildings on the historic Wyoming State Hospital campus in Evanston, locals are working to save them from the wrecking ball.

John ThompsonOctober 29, 2023

Gabe Joyes of Lander sports a huge smile as he hits Jackson Town Square at the completion of a 180-mile trail run that started in Lander.

Wyoming Teacher Makes 180-Mile Trail Run From Lander To Jackson

During a normal week of training, Lander's Gabe Joyes runs about 100 miles while gaining about 20,000 feet of elevation. But in August, he decided to go 180 miles in a mountainous four-day run to get from Lander to Jackson.

John ThompsonOctober 29, 2023

Nets Could Help Cull Lake Trout Threatening Flaming Gorge’s World-Class Fishery

Fisheries experts will recommend to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission that thousands of lake trout should be netted, cut open and sunk to the bottom of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in order to help the remaining fish flourish.

John ThompsonOctober 22, 2023

Off The Grid In Wyoming: It’s Not That Simple To Live Simply

An electric utility company announcing plans to bump power bills by 30% can be the prompt some people need to begin thinking about life off the grid. But it takes a lot of work.

John ThompsonOctober 22, 2023

Nell's Coffee in Rock Springs had to close its first location after battling with the city over a building code that would've required $500,000 to comply with.

$500K Code Compliance Mandate Closes Rock Springs Coffee Shop, More Could Follow

A Rock Springs coffee shop owner was forced to close over a required $500,000 sprinkler system, a building code compliance issue the city’s mayor says could impact more mom-and-pop restaurants.

John ThompsonOctober 21, 2023

Wyoming outlaw George "Big Nose" Parrott would have his skin made into a pair of shoes for the eventual governor of the state of Wyoming. The shoes are still at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins, along with the outlaw's skull.

Macabre Past Makes Carbon County A Playground For Paranormal Investigators

Some of Wyoming’s creepiest historical artifacts including a notorious criminal’s skull, a death basket, and a mummified foot that originated in Egypt will be used in a paranormal investigation set to take place at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

John ThompsonOctober 15, 2023

Ken Burns Deliberately Called Documentary "American Buffalo," Not "American Bison"

Despite some people losing their minds over filmmaker Ken Burns's decision to call his documentary "American Buffalo," not "American Bison," Burns said he did it on purpose because the terms are interchangeable.

John ThompsonOctober 14, 2023

State and local officials gathered Oct. 12 to dedicate a new $15 million wildlife project on Highway 189 between Big Piney and La Barge.

$15 Million Wildlife Underpass Project Near La Barge Dedicated On Thursday

A $15 million wildlife underpass near Highway 189 was dedicated Thursday and includes nine underpasses, 33 miles of fencing, and two miles of new road. The goal is to keep wildlife off of the road, thereby protecting motorists and the animals.

John ThompsonOctober 12, 2023

Alsop Lake in Albany County, Wyoming, is a trophy fishing lake where invasive New Zealand mud snails have been found.

Wyoming Game And Fish Says Invasive Snail Found In Albany County Trophy Fishery

Wyoming Game and Fish officials confirm invasive New Zealand mud snails have been found in an Albany County trophy fishing lake.

John ThompsonOctober 11, 2023

A camera operator films while making a new Ken Burns documentary on the American bison.

Wyoming Plays Key Role In New Ken Burns Documentary, ‘American Buffalo’

Wyoming is a key part of Ken Burns’ new documentary “American Buffalo,” which explores the connection between the massive herds of the shaggy beasts, Native American culture and settling the West. It debuts on October 16.

John ThompsonOctober 09, 2023

President John F. Kennedy speaks in Salt Lake City prior to activating power production at Flaming Gorge Dam on Sept. 27, 1963.

It’s Been 60 Years Since President Kennedy Turned On The Power At Flaming Gorge Dam

Sixty years ago, President John F. Kennedy pressed a button that opened the penstocks at Flaming Gorge Dam and started a system that has produced hydroelectric power for six decades.

John ThompsonOctober 09, 2023

A new headstone corrects a 107-year-old mistake that George Henry Eighmy was a Union soldier in the Civil War and didn't fight for the Confederacy.

Union Soldier Who Wrongly Had Confederate Headstone For 107 Years, Gets New One

George Henry Eighmy was a Union Civil War veteran who likely fought at Antietam, married seven women and was convicted of felonies in two states. He was buried in Gillette under a wrong Confederate headstone for 107 years. It was recently replaced.

John ThompsonOctober 07, 2023

Dick Blust researches vintage firearms for the Sweetwater County Historical Museum in Green River. He's seen here with a rare Warner Infallible, which is so ugly it's endearing and so dangerous it shouldn't be fired.

This Gun Is So Ugly It’s Endearing And So Dangerous It Shouldn’t Be Fired

The Wyoming owner of a Warner Infallible pistol said it’s such a hideous-looking gun that it’s cool. A museum’s firearms expert said the rare pistol, which is more than a century old, also is so dangerous it should not be fired.

John ThompsonOctober 01, 2023

About 500 people attended an open house on proposed changes to BLM-managed lands in southwest Wyoming on Wednesday.

BLM Resource Management Plan An Economic Disaster For Southwest Wyoming, Local Officials Say

The Biden administration doesn’t give a damn about the economies of five southwest Wyoming counties if you believe the consensus of the estimated 500 people who attended a BLM meeting here Wednesday.

John ThompsonSeptember 28, 2023