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In her last Hollywood on-screen role, Martha Sleeper of Meeteetse, Wyoming, played the role of Patsy’s mother in “The Bells of St. Mary’s” with Bing Crosby and William Gargan.

How A Meeteetse Sheep Rancher’s Daughter Became A Hollywood Movie Starlet

The daughter of a Meeteetse, Wyoming, sheep rancher, Martha Sleeper became a Hollywood starlet from the 1920s to 1940s. Trading the ranch for big city, she shared movie screens with film giants like John Wayne, Bing Crosby and Randolph Scott.

Jackie DorothyMarch 02, 2026

Jazz vocal group The Manhattan Transfer became a household name in 1981 with the release of their hit “Boy From New York City.” Cheyenne’s Trist Curless, far right, sang bass in the quartet for the last 10 years of their run.

The Cheyenne Man Who Sang Bass For The Manhattan Transfer

Jazz vocal group The Manhattan Transfer became a household name in 1981 with the release of their hit “Boy From New York City.” Cheyenne’s Trist Curless sang bass in the quartet for the last 10 years of their run.

Wendy CorrMarch 01, 2026

Only one specimen of Alcovasaurus has ever been found, named for the tiny Wyoming town of Alcova, where it was discovered more than 100 years ago. It almost went extinct again when a burst pipe destroyed most of the fossils at the University of Wyoming. The fossilized femur and plaster tail spike of Alcovasaurus in the collections of the University of Wyoming Geological Museum. Despite over a century of searching in the Morrison Formation, and millions of Late Jurassic fossils found, this is only Alcovasaurus fossil known to exist.

Alcovasaurus: The Wyoming Dinosaur That Almost Went Extinct Again After Discovery

Only one specimen of Alcovasaurus has ever been found, named for the tiny Wyoming town of Alcova, where it was discovered more than 100 years ago. It almost went extinct again when a burst pipe destroyed most of the fossils at the University of Wyoming.

Andrew RossiMarch 01, 2026

Actor Roy Rogers, the 'King of Cowboys', riding his horse Trigger in front of a group of school children at Harringay Stadium, London, March 20 1954. He's on his favorite of his own brand of plastic saddles.

Western Star Roy Rogers Preferred Plastic Saddles Made In Lusk, Wyoming

Roy Roger’s iconic red, white and blue saddle with its vibrant colors is not leather like many fans assume but a plastic saddle made in Lusk, Wyoming. The western star was so enthralled with them that he became a spokesman for the fledgling company.

Jackie DorothyMarch 01, 2026

If Wyomingites want to see the only total lunar eclipse of 2026, they’ll need to set their alarms for 4 a.m. Tuesday. And they might want to, as it will be blood red and the last until February 2027.

Set Your Alarm Clocks, Wyoming: Blood Red Lunar Eclipse At 4 a.m. Tuesday

The only total lunar eclipse of 2026 will happen early Tuesday morning. For Wyomingites, that means getting up at 4 a.m. Anyone who sleeps in will miss it all. The moon will set shortly before sunrise and before the eclipse is over. 

Andrew RossiMarch 01, 2026

Charles Cosby was a popular newspaperman in Wyoming when he ran for Albany County sheriff in 1927, winning easily. But just four months later, he was gunned after surprising a suspected car thief.

Wyoming History: Laramie Newspaperman-Turned-Sheriff Gunned Down In 1927

Charles Cosby was a popular newspaperman in Wyoming when he ran for Albany County sheriff in 1927, winning easily. But just four months later, he was gunned down after surprising a suspected car thief. The gunman did not shoot the deputy.

Dale KillingbeckMarch 01, 2026

Pete’s Roc N Rye used to a popular stop near Evanston on the old Lincoln Highway. Now it’s abandoned and slowly fading, more of a “wonder what that was” for passing motorists. But longtime locals still have fond memories of the place.

Pete’s Roc N Rye Club Was An Iconic Evanston-Area Bar On Old Lincoln Highway

Pete’s Roc N Rye Club used to a popular stop near Evanston on the old Lincoln Highway. Now it’s slowly fading, more of a “wonder what that was” for passing motorists. But longtime locals still have fond memories of the place.

Dale KillingbeckFebruary 28, 2026

Former Rawlins Mayor Everett Mann on his 101st birthday at Cappy's Restaurant.

At 101, Former Rawlins Mayor, WW II Veteran And Candy Lover Is Living A Sweet Life

Everett Mann is a former mayor of Rawlins, a World War II veteran where he earned two Purple Hearts, and just celebrated his 101st birthday. He admits to being an optimist and said that the secret of his longevity "is eat everything you want … including candy.”

Dale KillingbeckFebruary 28, 2026

Singer, songwriter Michael DeGreve played at Cheyenne's Hitching Post for 30 years

Former Cheyenne Icon Michael DeGreve Battling Terminal Illness, Wants To Create More Music

With a terminal illness tightening its grip, Michael DeGreve, an icon at Cheyenne's Hitching Post for decades, wants to finish his last major work before the music stops. "Some of my best songs I’ve never even recorded. I've got work to do, brother."

Zakary SonntagFebruary 28, 2026

Sweetheart is a longhorn cow that's part of Jeff Ketcham's herd near Cheyenne. On Monday, she gave birth to a calf, keeping her streak of having at least one calf a year for 20 straight years.

Old Reliable: Sweetheart The Longhorn Cow Has Produced 20 Calves In 20 Years

Sweetheart, the longhorn cow, gave birth on Monday to her 20th calf in 20 years. Jeff Ketcham, a rancher near Cheyenne, says not only is Sweetheart reliable but easy to handle. “I’ve never had to pull a calf. I’ve never had to doctor them either," he said.

Kate MeadowsFebruary 28, 2026

Powell Man Banned From McDonald's After Driving Horses Through Drive-Thru

Powell Man Banned From McDonald's After Driving Horses, Wagon Through Drive-Thru

Powell resident Allen Hatch was banned from McDonald's earlier this week for driving his draft horses and wagon through the drive-thru. Although employees were excited to see them, the manager reportedly was not. “We've been 86ed from McDonald's,” he said.

Andrew RossiFebruary 26, 2026

Thermopolis residents Matthew and Lindy Be Hughes rent a vacation home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They were there on Sunday when the city exploded in violence; vengeful drug cartel gangsters went on a rampage after the government killed their leader.

Wyoming Couple Weathers Chaos In Puerto Vallarta, Has No Plans To Leave

A Thermopolis couple who rent a vacation home in Puerto Vallarta is doing fine after cartel violence rocked the city. “Sunday was a day from hell. We didn’t know what was going on," Lindy Be Hughes told Cowboy State Daily. The couple has no plans to leave.

Mark HeinzFebruary 24, 2026

Bondurant Valley

"The Next 6-8 Weeks Are Critical": Meteorologists See Hope For More Winter Weather

With less than a month left in the winter season, Wyoming is getting some much-needed snow in the mountains. Meteorologists believe there are encouraging signs for continued snowfall. "The next six to eight weeks are absolutely critical," Don Day said.

Andrew RossiFebruary 24, 2026

Dorothy Pontillo of Cheyenne had just turned a year old when she was diagnosed with cancer. The tumor had been lurking undetected in her body since conception, and it took months of treatment to remove the cancer.

Victory: Cheyenne Toddler Born With Cancer Spent First 18 Months Fighting For Life

Born with cancer, toddler Dorothy Pontillo suffered months of pain before an MRI found a massive tumor. Her parents’ persistence and help from a group that helps families with medical bills helped Dorothy survive. Now she's happy and pain-free.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 23, 2026

Lucas Rowley and staff at Rescue River work at their craft of making high-end fishing flies.

Casper Man Trades Tech Career For Rescuing Women In Uganda By Tying Fishing Flies

A Casper man traded his very successful tech career in Austin for a far different mission — rescuing sex-abused women in Uganda. He and his wife are teaching them to be self-sufficient by tying high-end fishing flies and selling them in the U.S.

Dale KillingbeckFebruary 22, 2026

“A Deep Seat and a Long Rein” is a 15.5-foot-tall monument that stands in the new roundabout at Ivinson Avenue and 15th Street on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie.

The Story Behind Chris Navarro's 15-Foot Bronze Of Steamboat At U.W.

It took over a year for celebrated Wyoming bronze artist Chris Navarro to create the 15-foot sculpture of Steamboat located on the University of Wyoming campus. “It’s more than just a symbol of UW. It’s a symbol of Wyoming," Navarro said.

Andrew RossiFebruary 22, 2026

Brooke Latka was born and raised in Casper and classically trained as a violinist, but was drawn to the personality of country fiddle. For the past 17 years, she's been the fiddler for country music star Chancy Williams and his band.

How A Classically Trained Violinist From Casper Became Chancey Williams' Fiddler

Brooke Latka was born and raised in Casper and classically trained as a violinist, but was drawn to the personality of country fiddle. For the past 17 years, she's been the fiddler for country music star Chancey Williams and his band.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 22, 2026

A pair of Wyoming college students were among the 300 extras cast in the sci-fi classic “Starship Troopers” 30 years ago. They recall hot days in Hell’s Half Acre doused with alien blood as dead bodies. “I want more blood!” the director would yell. Here, extra Melissa Parkinson poses for a photo in her suit during the filming.

30 Years Later: Looking Back On The Filming Of 'Starship Troopers'

30 years ago this summer, Melissa Parkinson and Tana Libolt landed the most unusual job they ever had. They were hired to be dead bodies at Hell’s Half Acre for the filming of 'Starship Troopers.' They were among 300 who answered a newspaper ad in Casper.

Renée JeanFebruary 22, 2026

Teamster Rick Edney of Nevada is training mules to pull several wagons to recreate the freight train that used to haul goods into the fledging town of Thermopolis, Wyoming in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He said that it is time consuming retraining his mules to a jerk line but is excited reenact the feats of Henry "16-Mule Team" Johnson.  

Before Wyoming Became A Major Semitruck Route, 16-Mule Teams Hauled Freight

Rick Edney is training mules to pull several wagons to recreate the freight train that hauled goods into Thermopolis in the late 1800s. He said it's time consuming but is excited to reenact the feats of Henry "16-Mule Team" Johnson for 'Trailblazer Days.'

Jackie DorothyFebruary 22, 2026

If you ever wanted to live in a fallout shelter, there’s a “basement home” in Cokeville, Wyoming, that checks all the boxes. The idea behind these post-World War II 1950s starter homes was to grow upward when there was enough money to go above ground.

If You Want To Live In A Fallout Shelter, This Cokeville 'Basement Home' Is It

If you ever wanted to live in a fallout shelter, there’s a “basement home” in Cokeville, Wyoming, that checks all the boxes. The idea behind these post-World War II 1950s starter homes was to grow upward when there was enough money to go above ground.

Renée JeanFebruary 21, 2026

Elise Johnson, 5, was killed in 2010 when a snowboarder hit her going 50 mph, who was also killed. Her mother suffered severe brain trauma. It was a preventable accident and her family has launched a campaign to keep the ski slopes safer with slogans such as “She was 5, You Were Going 50” and “Live To Ride Another Day.” Elise will forever be their snow angel as her parents preserve their daughter’s legacy by saving others.

Remembering Elise, The Wyoming 5-Year-Old Killed By A Snowboarder Going 50 MPH

It was a beautiful day at Hogadon Ski Resort in Casper when a speeding snowboarder killed himself and 5-year-old Elise Johnson. Now in her memory, Elise’s parents and siblings are on a mission to make the slopes safer to “live to ride another day."

Jackie DorothyFebruary 21, 2026

B.B. Brooks, who served as Wyoming’s governor from 1905-1911 sits in a library. Banner Ranch is situated in the hills southeast of Casper, protected from the winds that blow in central Wyoming.

144 Years Later: Family Of Wyoming Pioneer Gov. B.B. Brooks Keeps Ranching Alive

Descendants of B.B. Brooks — a Wyoming pioneer, rancher, businessman and governor — are keeping his legacy of ranching alive southeast of Casper. 144 years later, the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations still run a cow-calf operation on Banner Ranch.

Dale KillingbeckFebruary 21, 2026

Wyoming author C.J. Box

Uh-Oh: Joe Pickett Shot In The Head In New C.J. Box Book "The Crossroads"

Wyoming author C.J. Box told Cowboy State Daily his new book "The Crossroads," starts off dark: Joe Pickett has been shot in the head and is clinging to life. Box's last five Pickett novels have all debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.

Renée JeanFebruary 20, 2026

Two people are dead and more than 20 people were injured after a 34-vehicle incident in the westbound lane of I-80 near Evanston on Wednesday afternoon.

Two People Killed, More Than 20 Injured In 34-Vehicle Accident On I-80 Near Evanston

Two people are dead and more than 20 people were injured after a 34-vehicle incident in the westbound lane of I-80 near Evanston on Wednesday afternoon. The westbound lane was finally opened late Thursday morning as wreckers were busily clearing vehicles from the highway.

Andrew RossiFebruary 19, 2026

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