Wyoming Life | Cowboy State Daily

Tom Neiwirth is the grandson of Deputy Sheriff Sam Swanner. When he was given his dad’s gun, he began to research the history and discovered it most likely once belonged to George Spencer, a 30-year-old horse thief, that had been gunned down in Idaho in 1892.

Wyoming Man Discovers Grandfather’s Colt .44 Is A Notorious Outlaw Gun

A Wyoming man has discovered a family heirloom — an ivory-handled Colt .44 revolver — is a part of Old West outlaw history thought to be lost. It was owned by a notorious horse thief who was killed in a shootout with his grandfather.

Jackie DorothyAugust 02, 2025

A small cloud of motorcycles had found downtown Newcastle Friday afternoon, and were looking for adventures on Wyomingn's Black Hills side.

Newcastle Welcomes Bikers As Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Begins

Newcastle doesn’t go all out like some towns that are on the road to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. But it still gets plenty of motorcycle riders on their “hogs” exploring Wyoming’s Black Hills on their way to the rally.

Renée JeanAugust 02, 2025

Justin Robbins, who has a very popular YouTube page, about hiking demonstrated the punishment horse at Ft. Bridger

Why Criminals At Fort Bridger Preferred A Jail Cell To The Punishment Horse

In the 1860s, the "punishment horse" at Fort Bridger was a brutal and feared form of discipline. Today, it's the most popular attraction because people quickly learn why prisoners preferred a jail cell to sitting on the wooden horse.

Andrew RossiAugust 02, 2025

Cheyenne artist Jordan Dean is painting two giant 60-to-70-foot horses as the centerpiece of a stunning mural on a prominent water tank. It takes two giant booms, a projector and $400 a gallon paint.

Cheyenne Artist Uses 2 Booms, $400-A-Gallon Paint To Paint 80-Foot Water Tank Murals

Cheyenne artist Jordan Dean is painting giant 60-to-70-foot horses as the centerpiece of stunning murals on two water tank north of town. It takes two giant boom lifts, a projector and $400-a-gallon paint.

Renée JeanAugust 02, 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

The sudden death of a 21-year-old Casper man has left his family devastated. Braeden Rayner was traveling on I-25 Sunday, July 27, 2025, when the SUV he was in rolled. A year ago, he prophetically posted to Facebook how life can end “in the blink of an eye.”

Sudden Death Of Casper 21-Year-Old In Rollover Leaves Family Devastated

The sudden death of a 21-year-old Casper man has left his family devastated. Braeden Rayner was traveling on I-25 Sunday when the SUV he was in rolled. A year ago, he prophetically posted to Facebook how life can end “in the blink of an eye.”

Dale KillingbeckJuly 29, 2025

Cheyenne Man Pulls 9 Gs With Thunderbirds, Then Takes A Nap

Cheyenne’s Bryan “Alf” Grzegorczyk had planned a celebratory drink following his once-in-a-lifetime Thunderbirds flight to salute everyone who nominated him for the honor. But after flying at 9 Gs, all Alf could manage was a celebratory nap.

Renée JeanJuly 28, 2025

Keith Carradine, left, plays Wild Bill Hickok in HBO's "Deadwood."

New Book On Deadwood By Accomplished Historian Will Dispel Myths, He Says

Accomplished historian Peter Cozzens latest book focuses on Deadwood, South Dakota between 1876 and 1879. He says those who watched the HBO series will “be surprised.” Spoiler alert: the HBO version wasn't exactly accurate when it came to Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 27, 2025

Triton Fritz enjoyed the horse riding and playing with the camp dogs at Camp Courage, a camp devoted to kids like him who are fighting cancer and tumors.

At Camp Courage Wyoming, Kids Living With Cancer Can Just Be Kids

Kids living with cancer, tumors and other life-threatening ailments often have to grow up quickly to deal with some very adult things. At Camp Courage in Dubois, Wyoming, they get to put cancer on the back burner for awhile and just be kids.

Jackie DorothyJuly 27, 2025

Former Yellowstone Bus Driver Solves Mystery While Restoring 90-Year-Old Coach

Despite little evidence that the 90-year-old White 706 bus in David Swingle's driveway was a Yellowstone coach, he had a hunch it was authentic. He drove them back in the 1960s. Through tremendous amounts of sleuthing, he proved his hunch was right.

David MadisonJuly 27, 2025

Dan Starks, left, and Iwo Jima Association Executive Director Shayne Jarosz at the memorial to the flag raising on the island earlier in 2025. Starks got a rare opportunity to visit Iwo Jima 80 years after his father fought in the World War II battle.

80 Years After His Dad Fought On Iwo Jima, Dan Starks Makes Rare Visit To Island

National Museum of Military Vehicles owner Dan Starks took a rare trip to Iwo Jima earlier this year. He has new respect for the soldiers who fought there 80 years ago during World War II — including his own father.

Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025

Couple Steals Show With Surprise Proposal During Cheyenne Frontier Days Concert

Romance wasn’t in the air when Brandon Boyer and Shilee Calhoun met, but they fell in love anyway. That led to a surprise proposal that stole the spotlight for a moment during Ian Munsick’s Cheyenne Frontier Days concert.

Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025

Huge Milk Bottle Collection Traces 175 Years Of Wyoming’s Rich Dairy History

Steve Wallace grew up milking cows on a dairy farm, but now he’s milking Wyoming history for all it’s worth. The Casper man’s huge milk bottle collection traces 175 years of Wyoming’s rich dairy history.

Andrew RossiJuly 27, 2025

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walk along the Wyoming Mormon Trail near Lander, reenacting the trek of their forbearers who passed through during the 1800s while journeying toward Salt Lake City.

After A Decade-Long Closure, 29 Miles of Mormon Trail Through Wyoming Reopens

After a decade-long hiatus, a 29-mile section of the Mormon Trail through Wyoming was recently fully reopened. It means members of the LDS church can make the historic two-day trek along the trail in period clothing pulling handcarts.

Mark HeinzJuly 27, 2025

Yoder Cowgirl Says National High School Rodeo Title A Testament To Her Rodeo Family

Hadley Thompson of Yoder, Wyoming, won the National High School Finals Rodeo women’s all-around title last weekend. She said her passion for the sport comes from hours of practice and a family dedicated to rodeo .

Jackie DorothyJuly 27, 2025

Casper Planet is Wyoming’s go-to source for satire and ridiculous fake news. It’s the hysterical, and warped, hobby of Justin Hathaway, a Cowboy State oil field worker who’s closing in on 100,000 followers.

The Oil Field Worker Behind Casper Planet, Wyoming’s Most Popular Fake News

When Casper Planet founder Justin Hathaway wrote a story about a semitruck spilling hundreds of king cobras on I-25, it made international headlines. His satirical page continues to outrage and fool people, which only fuels his desire to keep it going.

Andrew RossiJuly 27, 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

Moses J. Brings Plenty gave a message of hope and unity at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Indian Village for what will be its last year in this location.

‘Yellowstone’ Actor Mo Brings Plenty Advises On New Frontier Days Indian Village

“Yellowstone” television series actor Mo Brings Plenty is helping shape the new Morning Star Indian Village, a multimillion-dollar project at Cheyenne Frontier Days set for completion in 2026.

Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025

Steve Brazelton of Worland began prospecting in the 1990s and was hooked on the hobby after he found his first gold nugget.

Gold Prospecting More Than Flash-In-The Pan Hobby For Worland Man

Steve Brazelton was 10 when he first panned for gold with a tin pan borrowed from his mom. But it wasn’t until he found his first nugget that he “was hooked." The Worland man says his favorite spot in Wyoming is South Pass but there are plenty of places to find "decent gold."

Amber SteinmetzJuly 26, 2025

Alan O'Hashi and his carnival worker friend Anise at the Cheyenne Frontier Days carnival

Alan O'Hashi: My Days As A Carny At Cheyenne Frontier Days

Alan O'Hashi writes, "When I was a newspaper columnist in Lander, I wondered what it was like to work in a carnival, so I decided to give it a try at Cheyenne Frontier Days. It turned out, I’m pretty good at getting people to give me a dollar for nothing."

Alan O'HashiJuly 26, 2025

While tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors flock to Cheyenne Frontier Days every year, locals love it too. And one of the more popular things they do is play CFD Bingo, a light-hearted game of spot the stereotype.

What Do Locals Do At Cheyenne Frontier Days? Play CFD Bingo

Cheyenne's Harvey Deselms shares the Cheyenne Frontier Days Bingo card every year. He says the most entertaining part is seeing how many of the squares you can check off by looking in a mirror. "I had the coolest mullet," he said.

Greg JohnsonJuly 26, 2025

The new University of Wyoming Dining Hall entrance. The Dining Hall is part of the overall North Hall building.

Inside UW’s New $289 Million Gothic, State-Of-The-Art Dorms And Dining Hall

The finishing touches are being put on the University of Wyoming’s new $289 million dormitories and dining hall. Here’s an inside look at the classic Gothic, state-of-the-art buildings that will open for students next month.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 26, 2025

Fossil preparator Rachel Gray oversees a collection of paleontologists and first-time families excavating fossils at the Jurassic Mile. Rather than working in an innocuous spot where they won't find anything, the kids and families work side-by-side with paleontologists from the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands in the spot where the work is needed and fossils are being found.

Small Armies Of Volunteers Dig Up Dinosaurs At Wyoming’s Famous Jurassic Mile

The famous Jurassic Mile in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin has produced some of the world’s most important dinosaur discoveries. It takes small armies of volunteers to excavate the area, including the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for its Family Dino Dig.

Andrew RossiJuly 26, 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

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