After experiencing only a handful of positive cases of the coronavirus during the entire months of May, June and July, the virus now may have a toehold in Johnson County.
As Johnson County began tracing the steps of the city pool employee whose probable positive diagnosis was announced last week, health officials found more evidence of COVID-19 in Buffalo.
BUFFALO, Wyo. — Full from the buyer’s dinner and armed with bidder’s numbers, the crowd at the auction settled into the bleachers wrapped around the small sale pen.
As of around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Buffalo city pool is closed until further notice due to a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Going into this year’s Junior Livestock Auction, no one knew what to expect: Would buyers stay away in order to maintain social distancing? Might economic uncertainty deflate prices?
CASPER — State and county health officials along with medical facilities in Wyoming are preparing for flu season as COVID-19 continues to spread. This year, they must prepare to balance typical planning and preparation for flu season with the added challenges of the coronavirus. State and lo…
Drive south from Buffalo toward Kaycee and you’ll cross hills, skirt fence lines and roll over river crossings. Then, as you pass Interstate 25 mile marker 270, you will enter one of the per-mile deadliest sections of road for mule deer in Wyoming. There, the interstate cuts a dividing line …
A lightning strike caused fire to flare up again in Johnson County on July 23, this time south of Ucross. Called the Double Cross fire, it ultimately blackened 1,118 acres of ranchland.
The city of Buffalo is about to get a gift that was given a very long time ago.
On July 16 and 17 volunteers from several organizations and the community joined together with gloves, saws and sweat to help remove Russian Olives from around the wildlife pond east of Buffalo. Volunteers represented Game and Fish, the Conservation District and the Forest Service among othe…
Midday Thursday a grass fire started just off of I-25 north of Kaycee and burned nearly 2,000 acres before being contained by forces. The fire blew to the north and stretched along the interstate, burning west of I-25, east of Old Highway 87, and north of Reno Road. The fire was fought from …
The Buffalo Senior Center hosted its second ice cream social and jam session on Wednesday, July 15. There is a third social scheduled for July 29 for returning or new attendees. Attendees were offered a choice between sandwich or cup and chocolate or vanilla. After ice cream was finished a s…
Grouse Mountain Archery hosted their annual summer 3-D shoot on Saturday, July 18, 2020 west of Buffalo. The shoot was completed along a two mile walking trail that held more than a dozen 3-D targets of local and non-local animals including deer, antelope, bears, and even a crocodile. Partic…
The Bighorn Bluegrass Camp was hosted last week for local kids wanting to improve their skills with an instrument or singing or to learn a new skill altogether. Because of COVID-19, all the teachers who helped during the workshop were local to Johnson County this year and taught the 44 parti…
GILLETTE — As some vocal Wyoming residents continue to lose patience with and push back against any and all coronavirus-related public health measures, it’s clear Gov. Mark Gordon also is frustrated.
Families with children enrolled in Johnson County Schools overwhelmingly plan to send their children back to school this fall.
Musical performances from community members were a regular occurrence before COVID-19 struck this spring. After a few months without visitors or guests or any kind, loosened regulations in the state have allowed the music to return. The music is now outside on the patio rather than inside an…
The state’s highest court has affirmed the conviction of former Buffalo Chamber of Commerce CEO Angela Fox.
Linda Metzer is a typical proud grandmother – cheering from the sidelines at sports and 4-H events, providing advice when it’s asked for and giving an abundance of hugs.
An unusually warm and dry spring continues to haunt local hay and cattle producers, with hay fields yielding lower tonnage per acre and rangeland showing signs of stress.
The Kick Em Up Cans barrel race held on July 3-4 hosted barrel racers from around the state for the two day event. Friday evening's races ran late into Saturday morning and on July 4th racers were able to dodge most of the rain and race through the afternoon. There were more 100 entries in t…
The annual Habitat for Humanity sale was hosted at the Johnson County Fairgrounds July 2-5. The sale filled four different buildings: one with home goods and furniture, one with outdoors and sporting equipment, one kids building, and one clothing building. The revenue from the sales will go …
Despite concerns over COVID-19, Johnson County 4-H was able to host their annual Mountain Camp on Saturday, June 27 at the Johnson County Youth Camp. While the getaway is normally a full weekend campout, restrictions cut the event back to a single day. Joining Johnson county kids were 4-Hers…
After months cooped up inside, travelers from across the country have made a beeline for the wide-open spaces of the Bighorn National Forest this spring.
CASPER — The three broad public health orders that were set to expire this week have been extended, with no changes, through mid-July, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon announced Monday, as the state continues to grapple with a spike in coronavirus cases.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases detected in Wyoming since the illness was first diagnosed in the state grew to 1,079 on Friday with the reporting of 27 new cases in nine counties.
CASPER — The Wyoming Department of Health announced the state’s 1,000th confirmed case of the coronavirus on Wednesday. It comes as the state’s growth in cases continued its recent uptick.
Sagebrush burns with a black, black smoke, said Virgie Watt, remembering.
Rocky Mountain Power is warning customers of a number of telephone scams targeting Rocky Mountain Power customers.
The Big Horn Audubon Society hosted it's monthly Birding at the Brinton event for local birders on Saturday, June 20. Roughly 20 attendees joined the guides in touring the Brinton grounds to observe, both visually and audibly, the birds that are spread throughout the area. Birds spotted duri…
Buffalo's local produce and craft vendors have returned with tents and tables for the summer farmer's market season. While most vendors and food trucks have remained at Crazy Woman Square, two booths, Grass King Cattle Company and Lower Piney, have moved away from the normal farmers market t…
Despite COVID-19, Buffalo's city pool has officially opened for the year - conveniently on the first official day of Summer. Local families and community members flocked to the pool to cool off in the brisk water doing everything from cannonballs and laps to getting beach balls stuck in foun…
After this weekend, summer has officially begun and with heat setting in a sweet snack to cool off with has returned. The Tropical Snow shop on Main St. offers customers dozens of variations of flavors to add to their shaved ice including singles and combinations. They are open every day exc…
Two more residents of a Washakie County long-term care facility have died as a result of the coronavirus, the Department of Health announced Friday.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases seen in Wyoming since the virus was first detected in the state in March continued to post double-digit gains on Wednesday, growing by 18, including one new case in Johnson County.
Birthday celebrations were the perfect excuse for a couple of different groups to enjoy the sunshine and cold water of Lake DeSmet. The swimming beach hosted a number of families fishing, swimming and just enjoying the sunshine from the sand.
Kaycee held its first summer series festival on Saturday in Downtown Kaycee for the community and visitors. The first of three events scheduled for this summer, Saturday's festival included dog trials in the morning, followed by a redneck truck and car show, wheelbarrow races and a street da…
After months of constant change, the effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt by local businesses like Purcella's Meat Processing.
On Monday, June 15, three recent high school graduates held a Black Lives Matter protest for Buffalo and any community members who were interested in joining. With nearly 100 people in attendance at its peak, the protest wound its way from behind the jail to Crazy Woman Square in downtown. B…
On Tuesday, the Wyoming Department of Health issued updated guidance to allow long-term care facilities to permit in-person visitation outdoors under specific guidelines.
The Johnson County Cowgirls kicked off their summer rodeo season on Sunday, June 7, with the first rodeo of the year. Competitors traveled to Buffalo to compete in everything from barrel racing to goat tying. Barrel racing was by and large the largest event of the day with 130 total entries …
The Cloud Peak Back Country Horsemen visit the Elgin Park Trailhead in Bighorn National Forest every year to help with maintenance and cleaning. The annual trip coincides with National Trails Day - the first Saturday in June. This year's group camped out for the weekend beginning on Friday, …
Members of the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee hope to create jobs while reclaiming land in the state’s oil fields with a proposal that would double the funding for the state’s orphan well program.
In Buffalo this past weekend, there were hints that life is returning to normal.
May visitation through Wyoming entrances 70% of 2019 First three days of Montana entrances 45% of 2019
DOUGLAS (WNE) — As Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, along with rodeo officials, announced that major rodeos, including Cheyenne Frontier Days, would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 restrictions, many around the state were wondering if the same fate would fall to the Wyoming State Fair.
Buffalo City Council and House District 40 are shaping up to be the races to watch in this year’s primary elections.
As news came out last week that the state’s six major rodeos were being canceled due to the coronavirus, the Johnson County commissioners and fair board members remain committed to holding the county fair the last week of July.
There are no known active cases of the coronavirus in Johnson County.
BUFFALO — Though Wyoming saw its third largest spike in positive coronavirus cases on Saturday, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso does not believe the nation or Wyoming will need to close down again.
Gov. Mark Gordon has signed three pieces of legislation passed by the Wyoming Legislature that provide a framework for spending $1.25 billion in federal funding awarded to the state through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In addition to funds for government op…
