Wyoming Life | Cowboy State Daily

Did you grow up calling those sweet, fizzy soft drinks “soda” or “pop” — or “Coke” as they do in the South? Maybe you say “soda pop.” In Wyoming, there seems to be no clear preference.

The Pop vs. Soda vs. Coke Controversy: What Do You Call Soft Drinks In Wyoming

Did you grow up calling soft drinks “soda” or “pop” — or even “Coke” as they do in the South? Maybe you say “soda pop.” In Wyoming, it's all over the map.

Jake NicholsAugust 16, 2025

Rusty after he first arrived at the shelter had to be treated for all the ticks that were on him. At right, Rusty meets his new family. Addison, left, Allen, and Aiden Miller drove from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, to pick him up.

Lost Dog Covered In Ticks Found On Wyoming Highway Reunited With Family 1,000 Miles Away

An Australian shepherd named Rusty was found lost, scared, and covered in ticks along a highway near Shoshoni months ago. A microchip helped reunite Rusty with his owner’s family 1,000 miles away in Oklahoma.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 16, 2025

Jennifer Dyke with father and brother at Sturgis.

Sturgis In The Rear View Mirror: A Father’s Memory Lives On At The Annual Rally

Another Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has come and gone. For Jennifer Dyke, who has made the pilgrimage for decades, it's an annual honoring of her father’s passion for riding and preserves a family tradition shared by bikers from around the world.

Zakary SonntagAugust 16, 2025

A spectacular view of the Northern Red Desert awaits runners during the 2024 Run the Red Desert trail run.

Wyoming's Run The Red Desert 50K Ultra-Marathon Abounds With Wildlife, Scenery

Now in its 11th year, the Run the Red Desert ultra-marathon, is a hidden gem in the ultra-running community. The September race allows athletes to run in the largest unfenced area in the continental U.S. The route runs along the Oregon Trail for miles and is abundant with wildlife.

Don CoggerAugust 16, 2025

Live Inspired’s goal is to promote independent living for their clients.

Casper Couple Dedicated To Helping Disabled People Live Full, Independent Lives

Kids and adults with developmental disabilities are often overlooked by mainstream society, but not by Nick and Kerin Dillon. The Casper couple is dedicated to helping them live full, independent lives.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 15, 2025

Brittany Heseltine runs cattle along the range during an interview with "60 Minutes."

Wyoming People: Brittany Heseltine Is A Real Working Cowgirl And Range Rider

Brittany Heseltine is foreman and range rider for the Upper Green River Cattle Association. She has 3 horses, 4 dogs, 4 other range riders, and 800 cattle in her charge. She spends 5 months each year, June through October, mostly on her own, working in the shadow of the Wind River Range.

John ThompsonAugust 15, 2025

The F.E. Warren Base Exchange store in Cheyenne put in an order for T-shirts with an “antelope” on them. As in, a Wyoming pronghorn. The shirts came in with a silhouette of an African greater kudu antelope.

Why Is An African Antelope On A Wyoming Air Force Base T-Shirt?

In a mix-up over different meanings of the term “antelope,” the F.E. Warren Base Exchange store ended up with T-shirts depicting an African antelope, not a Wyoming pronghorn.

Mark HeinzAugust 14, 2025

Gerry Spence, Famed Defense Attorney And Wyoming Native, Dies At 96

One of the most famous trial attorneys of the 20th century and a proud son of Wyoming, Gerry Spence, died overnight Wednesday, at the age of 96. Spence was a legend among the trial bar — especially for his civil practice and criminal defense work.

Clair McFarlandAugust 14, 2025

Eli Bebout, from left, Ruby Calvert and Nick Bebout stand with a portrait of their mother, Dessie A. Bebout, during the dedication of the Shoshoni U. S. Post Office in their mother’s honor on Wednesday at the Shoshoni School.

Shoshoni Post Office Renamed For Dessie Bebout, Former Postmistress And WWII Vet

Dessie Bebout served in a special unit for women during World War II, was a devoted public servant and was the Shoshoni postmistress for 13 years. Now she will forever be with the local post office. It was officially named for her in a ceremony Wednesday.

Jackie DorothyAugust 13, 2025

UW Spending $300,000 For Buffalo Bills Branding Partnership

Sharp-eyed Buffalo Bills fans may have noticed “University of Wyoming Red Zone” flash on their screens during Saturday’s preseason game. It’s part of a $300,000 branding partnership UW has made with the team to capitalize on being Josh Allen’s alma mater.

Jackson WalkerAugust 13, 2025

After years of competing at the 4-H Dog Show and Showmanship at the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas, 4-H senior Karen Ulmer and her dog Keona walked away with the Grand Championship for Showmanship. Ulmer said it took 3 hours of grooming and $300 in grooming products to get her pup ready for the annual show and that the effort was well worth it with the win.

Dog Eat Dog: 4-H Competitions Hit Their Peak At Wyoming State Fair

The Wyoming State Fair is the big show for scores of Wyoming 4-H Club kids who spend a whole year raising and training animals. At Tuesday’s dog show, young competitors say the chaos of the state fair is the ultimate test of discipline and obedience.

Jackie DorothyAugust 13, 2025

Eight rural communities across Wyoming are without their legacy hometown newspapers after parent company News Media Corp. abruptly closed them without notice Wednesday morning. Employees said they were blindsided, and the move is “devastating.”

Local Buyers Revive Shuttered Wyoming Newspapers, Keep Staff And Operations

Six days after News Media Corp. abruptly closed eight Wyoming newspapers, Buffalo Bulletin owners Robb and Jen Hicks, along with former publisher Rob Mortimore, have acquired the papers, pledged to retain all employees and resumed publication.

Justin GeorgeAugust 12, 2025

The annual Perseid meteor shower will hit its peak over Wyoming overnight Tuesdays, throwing out as many as 100 meteors an hour, along with the potential for fireballs.

At 100 Meteors Per Hour, Perseid Shower Hits Its Peak Over Wyoming Tuesday Night

The annual Perseid meteor shower will hit its peak over Wyoming overnight Tuesday, throwing out as many as 100 meteors an hour, along with the potential for fireballs.

Jackson WalkerAugust 11, 2025

Casper Parents Channel Grief Of Losing Baby Son Into Dart Tourney

One day, Deklyn Dean Lemp was a healthy baby boy. The next thing his parents knew, the Casper 14-month-old died in his sleep in 2017 of a mysterious ailment. An annual dart tournament keeps his memory alive and raises money for local causes.

Jen KocherAugust 11, 2025

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, Diana Enzi, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Catherine Allgor, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon

Wyoming Leaders Meet To Ensure State Has Important Role With Smithsonian Women’s Museum

Wyoming leaders gathered in Jackson last week to make sure Wyoming has a prominent voice in the forthcoming American Women’s History Museum. The Smithsonian has already raised more than $55 million to build it.

Jackie DorothyAugust 10, 2025

Rock Springs Chinatown Archaeology Dig Uncovers Untold History Of 1885 Massacre

Students from Grinnell College are doing an archaeological dig in the historic Chinatown district of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Their work is uncovering the untold history of the daily lives of immigrants who survived the 1885 Rock Springs massacre.

Renée JeanAugust 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

Nick Cranford said he began his word search series focusing on Canadian provinces after being inspired by his grandmother. But he's gone much farther, including his "Word Search of Wyoming" book.

Wyoming Is Last Alphabetically, But First In New Series Of State Word Search Books

Nick Cranford has never been to Wyoming, but is fascinated by the Cowboy State. That's why he made Wyoming, the last alphabetically, the first in his new series of U.S. state word search books. He was inspired by his grandmother, who loved the puzzles.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 10, 2025

In 100 pounds of sapphire gravel from the Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine in Phillipsburg, Montana, they found a total of 26 sapphires that were 1 carat or larger.

Who Needs Diamonds When You Can Propose With 100 Pounds Of Sapphire Gravel?

It may not have been the marriage proposal she dreamed of as a child, but Melissa Absher said yes nonetheless. Her boyfriend proposed with a 100-pound bag of gravel and this romantic overture: “Let’s go find your sapphire.”

Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 09, 2025

88-Year-Old Cheyenne Railroad Veteran Donates Entire Railroading Collection To UW

Like many boys when he was growing up, Jim Ehernberger loved playing with trains. Unlike most, he never stopped. The now 88-year-old retired Cheyenne Union Pacific worker has donated his massive railroading collection to the University of Wyoming.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 09, 2025

Crews Work To Save Mountain Man Jim Baker’s 152-Year-Old Wyoming Cabin

Legendary Mountain Man Jim Baker built his historic two-story cabin 152 years ago, and it’s still standing in tiny Savery, Wyoming. Now crews are working with the same materials and techniques to preserve the cabin.

Renée JeanAugust 09, 2025

Powell, Wyoming, resident John Lea was fast asleep after working a graveyard shift when his trailer home caught fire. He may have burned up in the inferno if not for his chocolate Lab Belle, who woke him up just in time to escape the growing flames.

Chocolate Lab Named Belle Saves Wyoming Man From Burning Trailer

John Lea of Powell was fast asleep after working a graveyard shift when his trailer home caught fire last week. He likely would have died in the blaze if not for his chocolate Lab Belle, who woke him up just in time to escape the growing flames.

David MadisonAugust 09, 2025

Lee Post of Alaska examines the backbone and ribs of a bison skeleton that he is building at the Draper Museum of Natural History over the next two weeks. Post is self-taught in articulation but his skills are now often sought out by museums like the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

‘The Boneman’ Is Assembling A Bison Skeleton On The Floor Of Cody Museum

Lee “The Boneman” Post has put together animal skeletons for more than 30 years. Now the Alaska man is at the Draper Museum in Cody assembling a bison skeleton for America’s 250th birthday.

Amber SteinmetzAugust 09, 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

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