SHERIDAN COUNTY — Sheridan County in Wyoming draws hundreds of hunters from across the state and country each year. With the Elk Fire, unfortunately, the season has been cut short as parts of the Big Horn Mountain are inaccessible, creating a ripple effect for surrounding businesses.
“That’s kind of where the fire started over the top of that ridge. And blew this way when that cold front came through and jumped the canyon,” said Wyoming native Shawn Kelley as he pointed out the Elk Fire’s path in Sheridan County Monday.
Like many in Wyoming, hunting isn’t just a hobby to Kelley. It’s more of a lifestyle.
“There’s very, very few people that don’t hunt for the same reason. We’re trying to put meat on the table. It’s the most organic meat you can find. And it saves on the grocery bills all winter long,” Kelley said. “Both my daughter and my wife still have a cow tag to fill. So we’ll probably get out a little bit in November.”
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Alina Hauter/MTN News
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Northern Wyoming Regional Director Shawn Kelley
That passion for hunting and the outdoors led him to become the Northern Wyoming Regional Director for the conservation group Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
“We track and serve in acres for wildlife, mainly, obviously, our number one priority is elk,” added Kelley.
He’s seen just how much of an impact the Elk Fire has had on hunters and the season.
“It impacted it pretty greatly because we couldn’t get on the mountain from this side,” Kelley said. “I was even talking to some friends that hunt from the west side in. A lot of their stuff got shut down just because of the fire resources that were on the mountain for public safety and for the safety of the firemen. They just shut it down.”
With the fire forcing elk down the mountain a little earlier than usual, they were pushed onto private land.
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“They’re down here where the grass is green, the weather is good. They’ll be fine. They’re probably stress-free now. They’re probably living on private land and eating the best grass they’ve eaten all year. It’s a little vacation time,” said Kelley. “People just don’t get after them with a lack of public access to get after them.”
Shawn Kelley
Shawn Kelley on a hunt with his wife and daughter.
Rifle season started in October, which coincided with the start of the Elk Fire.
“Typically, October’s a big month up there. I know a lot of people that go up there first day or two and they have really good success. And that was right when the fire was blowing up,” Kelley said.
It’s caused hunters to make some tough decisions when it comes to tags.
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“The guys that I know that turned in their tags, they still have the opportunity to go hunting. But some of those out-of-staters, I mean, they plan, I mean, some of those draw units are in the teens for years. They wait for that tag,” said Kelley. “Your heart kind of goes out for some of those people that might have been waiting 16 years to go hunt. And now they got to wait another year.”
Kelley said it’s had a ripple effect on the area’s economy.
“It definitely, probably hurt the economy a little bit. Hunting is a very good economy driver. So, I’m not sure if anybody’s feeling the effects of the non-hunters coming here, but bars, restaurants, gas stations, all see out-of-state hunting as a plus because it’s an economy driver,” Kelley said.
Alina Hauter/MTN News
The Brinton Museum executive director Kendra Heimbuck
Executive director of the Brinton Museum and its Brinton Bistro Kendra Heimbuck saw the impact firsthand as the museum is located at the base of the Bighorn Mountains.
“I think the closest it got to us was about six miles. But we saw how quickly it traveled down the face of the mountain. And when it first started, we thought, you know, we’ll be diligent, we’ll keep an eye on it, but there’s no way that we’re probably really going to be impacted by it,” said Heimbuck.
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The fire shut down the museum and its bistro for six business days.
“It definitely impacted our revenue-generating opportunities, you know, every day that the bistro is open, it helps to contribute to the overall business plan of the year,” Heimbuck said. “Had we been closed longer, you know, we would have had to start thinking through those impacts even more.”
The Brinton Museum is back open and ready for business.
Alina Hauter/MTN News
The Brinton Museum
“It truly is a gathering place. And so when our doors are closed, it, you know, we lack that kind of sense of community,” said Heimbuck. “When we reopened, we were a little concerned that it would take, you know, a week for people to realize, okay, they’re back open. But thankfully, we reopened on Thursday last week and the dining room was slammed. The museum was full of people. I think everyone was just so excited that we were okay.”
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Kelley said there is a couple of silver linings in the situation.
“We’re very fortunate they didn’t lose many structures. Fatalities were none, so there is a lot of positives to take from it. The community support and how people rallied around the fire crews that were here in town,” Kelley said. “Fire is devastating. Fire burns a lot of stuff, destructs a lot of stuff. But the regrowth and rejuvenation that we’re going to get, the rejuvenation that we’ll get, the landscape will be good again for wildlife.”
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails has officially released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for professional appraisal services to evaluate concession facilities at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
These appraisals are mandated by 2026 Senate Enrolled Act 27, Section 335, which requires appraisals of the “capital investment” and “ongoing concern” for the businesses known as the Star Plunge and the Hot Springs Hotel and Spa.
Qualified professional appraisers are encouraged to review the full requirements. Proposals must be submitted through the State’s Public Purchase online bidding system by 2:00 p.m., May 18, 2026. To view the full RFP (Number 0270-M), please visit https://www.publicpurchase.com/gems/wyominggsd,wy/buyer/public/home.
For additional information, contact Wyoming State Parks’ Visitor Services Manager Stephanie Dillmon at (307) 777-5734 or by email at Stephanie.Dillmon2@wyo.gov or learn more about Wyoming State Parks at wyoparks.wyo.gov.
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
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These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
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Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
