Writer

Zakary Sonntag

Follow Zakary Sonntag

Envelope

Latest from Zakary Sonntag

Bikers, Journalists and even cops — everyone gets red at One Eyed Jack’s Saloon during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The only thing that kills the buzz is some guy named “Insufficient Funds.”

Drinking Sturgis : One Eyed Jack's Saloon Makes Everyone Blush

The main level of One Eyed Jack's is a vast, open-air layout with a dozen separate island bars. It feels kind of like a junior high cafeteria. That is, if in this junior high cafeteria women wear thongs, bartenders paddle patrons on the derriere and random dudes invite you to pet a 30-pound boa constrictor.

Zakary SonntagAugust 10, 2025

Special Officer Aaron Conner says working the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a bucket-list item for his career in law enforcement.

A Night In Sturgis Jail Isn't Pretty

When arrests at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally get too high, officials resort to an overflow jail, a quasi-retired 1950s era jailhouse. “When you have 50+ drunk individuals who aren’t happy to be there, haven’t showered in a few days, highly intoxicated, it gets thick back there,” a prison official said.

Zakary SonntagAugust 10, 2025

Bikers thunder through the Black Hills, turning roadways into a roaring spectacle for the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. As choppers, trikes and baggers rumble through the hills, the question remains: Does Sturgis still capture the spirit of rebellion?

Sturgis At 85: Does The Legendary Motorcycle Rally Still Have Its Edge?

As the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally winds up this weekend, one biker said he misses the old days. He laments the presence of khaki shorts and tennis shoes. He bemoans the rally’s turn toward family friendliness, evidenced by the declining numbers of topless women.

Zakary SonntagAugust 09, 2025

Cody, Wyoming, native Megan Anderson is up before sunrise every day, researching the financial markets for her job as vice president of client relations for a real estate firm. Her office is a Ford Transit van she’s lived in for the better part of a year, along with her traveling companion, Snoop.

Living In A Van Down By The River: Why Cody Woman Loves Living In A Van

Cody native Megan Anderson is up before sunrise Friday, researching the financial markets for her job as vice president of client relations for a real estate firm. Her office is a Ford Transit van she’s lived in for the better part of a year.

Zakary SonntagAugust 03, 2025

A familiar voice across Wyoming airwaves for decades, Larry Proietti is fighting a disfiguring cancer that nearly silenced him for good. With resilience and grit, the veteran broadcaster continues to inspire on and off the mic.

Wyoming Radio Legend Overcoming Disfiguring Surgeries From Battles With Cancer

A familiar voice across Cheyenne airwaves for decades, Larry Proietti is still overcoming numerous cancer surgeries that has left him disfigured. With resilience and grit, the veteran broadcaster continues to inspire on and off the mic.

Zakary SonntagAugust 02, 2025

Tup Forge can’t believe she got the gold buckle at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.

Women Bronc Riders Break All The Rodeo Stereotypes

From bruised riders to seasoned champions, women ranch bronc riders are breaking all the rodeo stereotypes. They compete in a dangerous sport, challenge decades of exclusion and prove they’re not costume cowgirls.

Zakary SonntagJuly 27, 2025

Young bull riders are redefining the image of the Western rodeo cowboy. Those like No. 1-ranked Wacey Schalla, 19, prove you don’t have to be grizzled and jaded to embody the grit and style of rodeo’s top athletes.

Wacey Schalla: What It's Like To Be The World's Top-Ranked Bull Rider

Bull riders have been coming to Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo for close to a century. But they arrived this year in a moment when rodeo, and the wider Western culture, has never been cooler, as the entire nation appears enthralled with anything to do with the American West.

Zakary SonntagJuly 26, 2025

Michael and Sandra O'Hare are a pair of New Yorkers who say they love the Western culture shock that comes with being a visitor at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

New Yorkers Love The Western Culture Shock That Comes With Cheyenne Frontier Days

Cheyenne Frontier Days has officially busted out of the chute of its 129th year, bringing wall-to-wall cowboy culture to the masses. For city slickers from New York, they cite the cowboy fashion, the attention-deficit proof rodeo and western culture shock as reasons they keep coming back.

Zakary SonntagJuly 19, 2025

Nate Janousek, whose company Fun Biz is the exclusive concessionaire for Cheyenne Frontier Days, shows off his pistachio goat cheese pizza drizzled with hot honey.

Eating Cheyenne Frontier Days: Bringing An Elevated Approach To So-Called Carnival Food

Rather than traffic in cheap thrills, Cheyenne Frontier Days' head concessionaire, Nate Janousek, brings an elevated approach to so-called carnival food. He's not above the traditions of fair food but seeks to marry gimmick with sophistication -- like his hot honey goat cheese pizza and his pineapple chicken bowl.

Zakary SonntagJuly 19, 2025

An ironic twist of fate put a Wyoming monument to railroad power brokers out of sight and mind. But that’s not the only thing out of sight with the Ames Monument — there are hidden tunnels inside. And they may never be opened again.

The Last Person To Explore The Hidden Tunnels In Ames Monument

The remote Ames Monument in southeastern Wyoming is a complete oddity. Although there are four levels of tunnels in the pyramidic structure, it's been sealed up for decades. It was unsealed, however, for one day in 2010 and a descendant of the Ames' family was allowed to explore it.

Zakary SonntagJuly 13, 2025

Dave Simpson and Larry Ash, both 74, worked together to build a cabin in Wyoming’s remote Snowy Range mountains 44 years ago and made a pact to build another. Decades later, the retirees are making good on that promise.

Two Old Guys Build A Cabin By Hand In Wyoming’s Snowy Range

High up in Wyoming's Snowy Range Mountains – off grid, out of cell range and deep into black bear country at 9,500 feet – two old timers are building a cabin. They first built one 44 years ago. They made a promise to do it again and are "working like dogs" to get it finished.

Zakary SonntagJuly 12, 2025

Her name was Florence, but everyone called her Flo, which had double meaning for a woman who lived life in constant motion. That’s how hundreds of people in Jackson remembered Florence McCall-Phillips on Saturday, June 28, 2025, a week after her sudden death.

Hundreds Mourn Jackson Photographer Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver

Hundreds of Jackson Hole residents turned out to remember beloved photographer Florence McCall-Phillips on Saturday, a week after she was killed by a suspected drunk driver.

Zakary SonntagJune 30, 2025

Other Authors

Bartender Steve Mullen catches some fresh air in the doorway of the Lucky 5 Lounge in Shoshoni, Wyoming.

Drinking Wyoming: Shoshoni’s Lucky 5 Is A Whisky And Beer Dive That Has Your Back

At the Lucky 5 Lounge in Shoshoni, the regulars can tell you’re an out-of-towner the second you walk through the door. “You’re not from around here, are you?” they ask when you order wine. This is a whisky and beer bar but they won't hold that wine order against you.

Zakary SonntagJune 28, 2025

A view of the Grand Tetons by Kelly Minor.

Popular Wyoming Facebook Group Decimated By Algorithm Revamp

Wyoming Through The Lens has nearly 465,000 members, making it one of the state’s largest Facebook communities. But a revamp of the platform’s algorithm has decimated its traffic, leaving its creator saddened. "It breaks my heart to see what’s happened to it,” Lorri Lang said.

Zakary SonntagJune 22, 2025

Joran Cochran smiles for a photo with his dog Apollo.

Wyoming Suicide: Rock Springs Teen Screamed He Wanted To Die, Then Made It Happen

The mother of a Rock Springs teen said she desperately tried to get help for her tormented son, even as he refused it. He would scream he wanted to die, until the day he made it happen.

Zakary SonntagJune 21, 2025

Alison Streeter organizes her road trip gear before hitting the road headed west in her Tesla.

Trump, Musk And The Politics Of Being A Tesla Owner In Wyoming

Tesla owners in Wyoming have been targets of vandalism, harassment and internal strife since Elon Musk joined the Trump administration. Now that the Trump-Musk alliance has hit the skids, Tesla owners are hoping all the drama just goes away.

Zakary SonntagJune 15, 2025

As the latest example in the growing trend of scams that impersonate state agencies, residents are being targeted by fraudsters posing as the Wyoming Department of Transportation. It’s a fake ticket scheme that highlights how hackers have gotten smarter.

Text Scammers Target Wyomingites Posing As State Agencies

As the latest example in a growing trend of text scams that impersonate state agencies, residents are being targeted by fraudsters posing as the Wyoming Department of Transportation. It’s a fake ticket scheme that highlights how hackers have gotten smarter.

Zakary SonntagJune 11, 2025

Evansville Man Draws Swastikas Outside Town Hall To Protest Pride Flags

An Evansville man drew more than a dozen swastikas on walkways around city hall and the police station Tuesday to protest LGBTQ Pride flags planted outside the buildings. He then told the town council he’ll keep drawing them until the Pride flags are gone.

Zakary SonntagJune 11, 2025

If you're looking for a fun place to grab drinks and mingle on a Saturday night in Wamsutter, Wyoming, population 193, here are two words for you: Good luck. There’s one option, the Desert Bar.

Drinking Wyoming: At The Desert Bar In Wamsutter, You’re On Your Own

If you're looking for a fun place to grab drinks and mingle on a Saturday night in Wamsutter, population 193, here are two words for you: Good luck. There’s one option, the Desert Bar.

Zakary SonntagJune 08, 2025

Wamsutter, Wyoming: A Dusty Blip On I-80 Where Everyone Knows Your Business

Welcome to Wamsutter, Wyoming, a tiny blip along Interstate 80 where life runs through the Love’s truck stop and everyone knows your business. Like the truckers and travelers who undergird its economy, most citizens here have all blown in from elsewhere.

Zakary SonntagJune 07, 2025

A group of people tour the School Section of state-owned land near the base of Casper Mountain, where a proposed gravel mining operation has generated controversy for 14 months.

Casper Gravel Pit Killed By State Land Board

The State Board of Land Commissioners on Thursday denied the renewal of six leases for a controversial gravel mining operation on state-owned land at the base of Casper Mountain. The vote is a victory for locals who waged a 14-month fight against the pit.

Zakary SonntagJune 06, 2025

Flesh-Eating Parasite Inches Closer To US Border And Wyoming Cattle

To say the New World Screwworm is a nasty parasite would be an understatement. The flesh-eating scourge that tortures cattle as it kills has been making its way toward the United States. Wyoming cattle ranchers are watching closely.

Zakary SonntagMay 31, 2025

K-9 officer in training Barry catches up with a "bad guy," going for a sensitive area.

Collar Of Duty: Training Police K-9s To Serve And Protect Is No Walk In The Park

Getting K-9 officers up to snuff is no walk in the park, as a new class of canine cadets training with the Casper Police Department is learning. These dogs have become an essential asset in the work of interdiction as narcotics hit communities across Wyoming.

Zakary SonntagMay 25, 2025

Less than 10 miles south of Interstate 80 east of Evansville is a cluster of 30-foot limestone beehive-looking things. Built in 1869, they’re the Piedmont Charcoal Kilns, remarkably preserved symbols of Wyoming’s early history.

What The Heck … Are Those 30-Foot Beehive-Looking Things Off I-80 Near Evanston?

Less than 10 miles south of Interstate 80 east of Evanston is a cluster of 30-foot limestone beehive-looking things. Built in 1869, they’re the Piedmont Charcoal Kilns, remarkably preserved symbols of Wyoming’s early history.

Zakary SonntagMay 25, 2025

The Science Zone in Casper is one of a number of groups that get money from AmeriCorps.

Wyoming Groups Lobby To Reverse $400 Million In Cuts To AmeriCorps

A number of Wyoming groups are lobbying the state’s congressional delegation to reverse $400 million in cuts to AmeriCorps. But, so far, they have expressed support for DOGE and its mission to cut wasteful spending.

Zakary SonntagMay 05, 2025

Keri Sommer of Cody, Wyoming, started Bears of Honor to remember fallen military service members and first responders. It's become much more, using their uniforms to make Bears of Honor that are cherished by those families.

Wyoming-Made Honor Bears Give Strength To Gold Star Families

A Wyoming woman’s mission to help gold star military and first-responder families does more than give them renewed strength. Her Bears of Honor program uses their uniforms to make Teddy bears that keeps their service and honor alive.

Zakary SonntagMay 04, 2025

Seclusion and its access to Wyoming's wilderness make this riverbend cabin near Pinedale one of the state's most wish-listed vacation rentals.

Wyoming’s Most Wish-Listed Vacation Rentals Are Remote Cabins And A Dome

Wyoming’s short term-rental market stands apart from the rest of the country. The state’s most wish-listed vacation rentals show people want to be in the middle of nowhere, but they don't necessarily want to rough it.

Zakary SonntagMay 03, 2025

Butch’s Bar in Evansville is a glorious local dive bar. It’s a neighborhood bar that wands you for weapons at the door, a biker bar where a group of bikers gets pissed if you call them a biker gang.

Drinking Wyoming: Butch's Bar, Name It If You Can

Trying to label Butch’s Bar in Evansville is like trying to nail a Jell-O shot to the wall. It’s a dive bar that moonlights as a dance club. It’s a neighborhood bar that wands you for weapons at the door. It’s a biker bar where bikers don't like it when you call it a biker bar.

Zakary SonntagMay 03, 2025

Dash cam photos offer some detail of the suspect's semitruck in a fatal hit-and-run near Rock Springs that left a commercial truck driver dead.

Trucking Community Devastated By Fatal I-80 Hit-And-Run Near Rock Springs

Four days after a semitruck driver was killed while stopped on the shoulder of I-80 near Rock Springs, the Wyoming Highway Patrol is escalating its search for the hit-and-run driver. Industry insiders say they’re devastated by the “freak” incident.

Zakary SonntagApril 29, 2025

Casper resident Hubert Townsend pays tribute to the late Pope Francis at Saint Anthony Church in Casper.

Wyoming Catholics React To Death Of Pope Francis With Eye To Future For Church

Wyoming Catholics are reacting to the death of Pope Francis with sorrow and hope. Even a self-described Casper “cafeteria Catholic” says it’s affected him emotionally, and he’s “excited to see who the new pope is” going to be.

Zakary SonntagApril 27, 2025