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Kerry Drake

Latest from Kerry Drake

42,000 Pounds Of Food To Cheyenne Hunger-Relief Agencies 'Won't Last Us The Week'

42,000 pounds of food was delivered to Cheyenne hunger-relief agencies Wednesday, but the organizations that will distribute it say demand is so great the food will all be gone within a week. "We’ve never seen hunger this severe," said one official.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 17, 2026

Wyoming Hasn't Forgotten 8 Cross-Country Runners Killed By Drunk Driver 25 Years Ago

Twenty-five years ago, a drunk driver killed eight members of the University of Wyoming cross-country team on U.S. Highway 287, rocking the state five days after 9/11. Families, friends and the university are making sure the eight are always remembered.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 16, 2026

Chuck Harter of the McCarty & Sons construction firm in Denver finishes knocking down the twin chimneys at the historic Twin Chimneys Motor Court built in the 1950s in Cheyenne on Tuesday. A 7 Brew Coffee stand will be built on the site.

Once-Iconic Twin Chimneys Motel In Cheyenne Torn Down To Make Way For Coffee Shop

The once-iconic Twin Chimneys Motor Court that marked a once-popular Cheyenne motel on the historic Lincoln Highway lasted for almost 90 years, but the chimneys came tumbling down in about 30 seconds this week to make way for a coffee shop.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 12, 2026

In 1886, Cheyenne cattle baron Alexander Swan started construction of a mansion on Millionaires Row as a wedding gift to his daughter. When a blizzard wiped out Swan's business, Cheyenne banker David Dare took over and finished the building, which was known as "Castle Dare" until it was razed for a parking lot in 1963.

Wyoming History: Cheyenne Con Man David Dare Was The Bernie Madoff Of His Time

David Dare was known as the architect of Castle Dare, a mansion on Cheyenne's Millionaires Row built in 1887, and a con man who was the Bernie Madoff of his time. He swindled people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, leading to two suicides.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 07, 2026

With federal troops standing guard, members of Coxey's Army board a train in Green River for Idaho, where they were all found guilty of stealing a train and given minor sentences.

Wyoming History: 250 Labor Protesters Stole A Train, Then Arrested In Green River

A group of 250 unemployed protesters hijacked a train in Idaho in spring 1894 and were arrested in Green River, Wyoming. The first major march on the nation’s capital included many Wyomingites who had lost their jobs and were fighting for survival.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 06, 2026

New University of Wyoming President Shane Reeves claims in a series of videos smack-talking Saturday's 118th Border War football game against Colorado State University that he's going to suit up for the game.

New UW President Shane Reeves Says He's Going To Suit Up And Play Against CSU

As a dean at West Point, new University of Wyoming President Shane Reeves starred in a popular series of videos to pump up the Cadets' football fans. He’s continuing the tradition in Laramie, and says he's going to suit up and play on Saturday.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 04, 2026

The “307” mile marker on Interstate 80 west of Laramie was routinely stolen, so the Wyoming Department of Transportation has replaced it with "306.99."

Wyoming's Only '307' Mile Marker Was Stolen So Often On I-80 It Is Now '306.99'

The iconic “307” mile marker on Interstate 80 west of Laramie was the only one in the state — and stolen so often the Wyoming Department of Transportation changed it to "306.99." The sign is one of more than 80,000 signs WYDOT maintains statewide.

Kerry DrakeAugust 29, 2026

Suzi Taylor, reference archivist at the Wyoming State Archives in Cheyenne, examines a photograph of cowboys that Charles Kirkland took at the Diamond Ranch near Chugwater.

How 50,000 Glass Photo Negatives Of Cheyenne's Early History Landed In The Dump

As many as 50,000 glass negatives that captured Cheyenne's early history landed in the city dump in 1935 when nobody was willing to pay $10,000 for the massive collection of photos. About 60 years of Cheyenne history chronicled in those images were lost.

Kerry DrakeAugust 29, 2026

Wyoming's Musical Smith Twins First Met Dolly Parton At Cheyenne Frontier Days

Twin sisters Annie and Amy Smith met Dolly Parton at Cheyenne Frontier Days when they were 14 and dreaming of being country music singer-songwriters. Their career paths would cross several times. "I'm devastated that she's gone," Annie Smith said.

Kerry DrakeAugust 26, 2026

Laramie County Sheriffs Office truck 2 11 25

Attempted Murder Charge For Teen Accused Of Putting Gun To Head Of Another Teen

A Cheyenne 17-year-old has been charged as an adult with attempted murder for allegedly putting a gun to the head of a Colorado teen, then shooting at him multiple times as the other teen was driving away.

Kerry DrakeAugust 19, 2026

Dr. Joe Schaffer, Laramie County Community College President, shares the recommended new name for the college — Wyoming State College — on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, at LCCC in Cheyenne.

Laramie County Community College Picks "Wyoming State College" As New Name

Laramie County Community College President Joe Schaffer on Monday announced plans to change the school's name to Wyoming State College and said the reason boils down to one word: Survival.

Kerry DrakeAugust 18, 2026

In hopes of debunking evolution, a New York creationist in 2005 offered a $10,000 reward for the return of the Pedro Mountain Mummy found in Wyoming in 1932 and not seen since 1950. The man died in November, and nobody will ever claim that reward.

Nobody Will Ever Claim $10K Reward For Wyoming's Missing Pedro Mountain Mummy

In 2005 New York creationist John Adolfi offered a $10,000 reward if someone brought him the "Pedro Mountain Mummy" found in Wyoming in 1932 but never seen in public after 1950. With Adolfi's death in November, no one will ever claim the reward.

Kerry DrakeAugust 16, 2026

Other Authors

Arden and Betty White were married at an Eaton, Colorado, church in 1951. They recently celebrated their 75th anniversary.

Cheyenne Couple Celebrate 75 Years, Husband Still Amazed Wife Agreed To First Date

Arden and Betty White of Cheyenne celebrated their 75th anniversary this past week with family and friends. In recalling their first date, Betty said Arden ambushed her. Arden said he was surprised she agreed to go out. "Oddly enough, she said yes.”

Kerry DrakeAugust 15, 2026

Cheyenne Woman Who Allegedly Let Teenage Daughter Use Fentanyl Captured

A Cheyenne woman who has been wanted by the police since 2023 for child endangerment after allegedly letting her teenage daughter use fentanyl and acted as her mom's "lookout" was captured earlier this month and waived a preliminary hearing on Monday.

Kerry DrakeAugust 11, 2026

Colorado Woman Charged With Kicking Wyoming Highway Patrol Officer In Face

A Colorado woman faces up to 13 1/2 years in jail for allegedly kicking a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer in the face after a traffic stop in Laramie County last week. The woman was pulled over after reportedly punching her mother while driving.

Kerry DrakeAugust 10, 2026

An Amtrak passenger train runs through Colorado's souther Front Range. An effort is underway to connect the Front Range and Cheyenne with passenger rail.

Colorado-Wyoming Passenger Rail Can Happen If Cheyenne Provides Funding Support

Leaders of a project to provide passenger rail service between Colorado and Wyoming say it can happen if Cheyenne does its part with funding support approved by voters. “If we can go to Mars, we can go 45 miles from Cheyenne to Fort Collins,” said one supporter.

Kerry DrakeAugust 10, 2026

The Hand family in the West Wing with then White House Chief of Staff Dick Cheney in 1976. Manus stands nexts to Cheney.

In 1976, Laramie Boy's Bicentennial Quest Took Him All Over North America & White House

Fifty years ago, it was all about the Bicentennial and Laramie's Manus Hand embarked on a project that took him to dozens of towns, cities and counties named Wyoming. Wyoming's Dick Cheney was President Ford's chief of staff and hosted the 12-year-old and his family.

Kerry DrakeAugust 02, 2026

Hail accumulation following flooding in Cheyenne in 1985.

‘I Didn't Want To Die In This Car’: Trapped In Flood, Journalist Almost Became The Story

Kerry Drake was planning a quick trip to Colorado on the evening of Aug. 1, 1985, when he was suddenly trapped in his car by rising floodwaters in Cheyenne. "My car was literally floating down the street, and I had no control over its movement," he writes.

Kerry DrakeAugust 01, 2026

Don Erickson, the 89-year-old former three-term mayor of Cheyenne, examines photos of the city’s deadly Aug. 1, 1985 flood in one of his scrapbooks at the Wyoming State Archives.

Night Of Terror: Wall Of Water Killed 12 In Cheyenne's Deadly August 1, 1985 Flood

On Aug. 1, 1985, Cheyenne was pummeled by a massive storm that unleashed a wall of water killing 12 people and causing more than $65 million in damage. The 65,000-ft thunderheads stalled over the city unleashing tornadoes, hail and unprecedented flooding.

Kerry DrakeAugust 01, 2026

A Colorado man has been charged in the death of a man in his car flung from his when it crashed in Cheyenne 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

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.

Kerry DrakeJuly 30, 2026

Deer are by far the most hit on Wyoming's highways, but elk, pronghorn and moose are on also on the list. Wyoming is ranked ninth nationally in vehicle-wildlife collisions. “The buck deer came charging up so fast in front of me," said one motorist.

Drivers On Wyoming’s Remote Roads Hit A Lot Of Wildlife, And Deer Most Of All

Deer are by far the most hit animal on Wyoming's highways, but elk, pronghorn and moose are on also on the list. A report from State Farm says the odds of Wyoming motorists having an animal collision are 1 in 82, the 9th highest at-risk state in the nation.

Kerry DrakeJuly 19, 2026