Writer

Kerry Drake

Latest from Kerry Drake

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

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

Other Authors

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

A small group of a few dozen people railed against existing and proposed data centers at the Wyoming Capitol on Saturday. “Anytime you scream ‘wolf,’ there actually is a wolf coming. It’s data centers,” said organizer Taylor Haynes. "It’s our government.”

Wyoming Residents Join National Day Of Protest Against Data Centers

A few dozen Wyoming residents gathered at the State Capitol on Saturday as part of a national day of protest against data centers. Organizer Taylor Haynes called data centers "digital prisons" and said the need for artificial intelligence has taken away Americans’ freedom.

Kerry DrakeJuly 18, 2026

Most Destructive Tornado In Wyoming’s History Leveled Cheyenne 47 Years Ago

It was 47 years ago on July 16, 1979, when a massive tornado ripped through Cheyenne, leveling hundreds of homes and killing a 14-month old. Decades later, it’s still the most destructive tornado in Wyoming history.

Kerry DrakeJuly 16, 2026

Jerry Johnston of Cheyenne holds up a copy of the photo (top) that he took of the tornado that hit the capital city on July 1, 1979.

Reporter’s Notebook: How Photo Of 1979 Cheyenne Tornado Made National News

Cowboy State Daily reporter Kerry Drake covered the July 16, 1979 Cheyenne tornado for the Wyoming State Tribune newspaper. Now, 47 years later, Kerry discusses how he and his colleague reported on the deadly tornado, the biggest to ever hit the state.

Kerry DrakeJuly 16, 2026

Patrick Graham (left) and Jordan Dean (right) next to the giant galloping horse which they rebuilt

The Wrangler’s Galloping Horse Will Ride Again in Cheyenne

The galloping horse and rider at Wrangler’s Western-wear store has been a fixture in downtown Cheyenne since the 1950s, but it broke down four years ago and efforts to fix it failed. Now a Cheyenne family rebuilt the horse in time for Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Kerry DrakeJuly 13, 2026

"Threat Valley Massacre" is a campy horror-comedy-slasher mashup that debuts at this week’s Wyoming International Film Festival.

Wyoming Film Fest Features Horror-Comedy-Slasher Epic With Puppets, 11 Others

A campy horror-comedy-slasher mashup that debuts at this week’s Wyoming International Film Festival has an unexpected twist — it’s all puppets. “Threat Valley Massacre” is “probably the most hilarious film we’re playing this year," said an organizer.

Kerry DrakeJuly 06, 2026

Veterinarians at a Riverton animal clinic work to amputate the right front leg of Toa, a puppy rescued in Ethete after some children reportedly tied a fishing line around his leg.

Cheyenne Clinic 300 Miles Away Has Rescued 3,000 Wyoming Roaming Reservation Dogs

With no veterinary clinics or animal shelters, roaming dogs are a problem on the Wind River Indian Reservation. A Cheyenne clinic 300 miles away has rescued 3,000 stray pets from the reservation since 2017.

Kerry DrakeJuly 05, 2026

Stuart Pierson works his video production station at the PRCA Columbia River Circuit Finals in Redmond, Oregon.

Wyoming People: From Alaska To Vegas To Frontier Days, Stuart Pierson Is Mr. Rodeo

Wyoming's Stuart Pierson has created a interesting career for himself. Known as "Mr. Rodeo," the Centennial man travels across the country producing rodeos. On the road for 200+ days per year, Pierson says Cheyenne Frontier Days is still his favorite.

Kerry DrakeJune 28, 2026

Sheriff Says Laramie County Will Stop Being ‘Safe Haven’ For Human Trafficking

A sex solicitation sting in Cheyenne led to the arrest of two men last weekend. Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak says it’s the beginning of a new effort to stop human trafficking that has been ignored for too long by law enforcement.

Kerry DrakeJune 26, 2026