Wyoming
Dayton Ready To Evacuate As Out-Of-Control 22,000-Acre Wildfire Burns…
People living along Pass Creek Road 45 mile west of Sheridan were evacuated Monday morning, as were residences west of the intersection of Amsden and Tongue Canyon Roads, in the face of a rapidly advancing wildfire.
Some outbuildings have already been lost to what’s been named the Elk Fire, which is burning a few miles northwest of Dayton, Wyoming, in northern Sheridan County. It’s exploded from 27 acres Friday to an estimated 22,000 acres by early Monday afternoon.
A complex incident management team has been called to take command of the fire, amid shifting wind that has already changed the fire’s direction once and is likely to do so again.
Hot, dry conditions boosted the fire’s activity over the weekend, but what really turned it into a fiery tiger was the wind, which picked up later in the day Saturday. That not only benched aerial firefighting assets, it also pushed the fire through a 1996 burn scar straight toward an abundant source of light, dry fuels.
Firefighters also reported difficulty getting into the area because of the terrain and downed trees.
By Monday, fire crews reported that they were focusing on protecting structures along the face of the Mountain Pass Creek, Smith Creek and Twin Creek areas, while residents west of the intersection of Tongue Canyon and Amsden roads were ordered to evacuate.
Residences east of that intersection are in “set” mode, meaning they should be ready to evacuate on a moment’s notice, as are homes in the Horse Shoe Subdivision. The town of Dayton isn’t under an evacuation order, but people there are on alert.
Several road closures in the area have been announced, including Pass Creek, Twin Creek, Smith Creek and Tongue Canyon roads, to allow firefighters to operate safely.
Those needing shelter for livestock or themselves are advised to call Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174.
Dayton Residents Wake Up To Apocalypse
Residents of Dayton, about 3-5 miles from the fire, woke up Monday morning to what some described as an apocalyptic scene.
Billowing smoke blotted out the sky, casting it in all grey for some. Others, such as Karen Parrish Fate, could see a tiny window of stained-glass blue being rapidly overtaken with rolling smoke that appeared to be headed straight for them.
Dayton was not yet in the “set” mode at noon Monday, but its school was closed earlier in the morning out of an abundance of caution.
Some Dayton locals were also already packing up their things, just in case the wind doesn’t change direction and they need to evacuate.
Among these proactive packers was Sherry Tarver, who lives on Tongue River Road.
“We are packing up the important items now,” she told Cowboy State Daily via Facebook messenger. “But our van and truck can only hold so much.”
Tarver reported the road to the canyon closed just past her house, right where the street turns to dirt.
“The houses along the Canyon Road and Amsden are evacuated,” she said. “Please pray for our communities.”
-
The Elk Fire is burning out of control about 6 miles northwest of Dayton, Wyoming, in northern Sheridan County, and its pushing south fast. The town and areas around it have been evacuated. (U.S. Forest Service-Bighorn National Forest) -
The Elk Fire is burning out of control about 6 miles northwest of Dayton, Wyoming, in northern Sheridan County, and its pushing south fast. The town and areas around it have been evacuated. (U.S. Forest Service-Bighorn National Forest) -
The Elk Fire burning just west of Dayton, Wyoming, has exploded from 27 acres Friday to an estimated 22,000 acres Monday. (Courtesy Anussa D. Britton Slyngstad) -
The Elk Fire burning just west of Dayton, Wyoming, has exploded from 27 acres Friday to an estimated 22,000 acres Monday. (Courtesy Jeff McInerny) -
(Wyoming State Forestry Division)
Parkman Home Spared
Mariann Eckendorf shared photos of fire on the horizon over by Big Horn Mountain Alpacas Farm about 9 p.m. Sunday.
“Then the wind switched in the night and headed toward Dayton, which spared my place for now,” she wrote. “I’m thankful for great friends and neighbors ready to help evacuate me and my daughter’s animals out if needed. Praying for all those in its path. Thank you, firefighters.”
Likewise, Anussa D. Britton Slyngstad reported fire about 5 miles from her residence in Parkman, Wyoming, in the former Parkman School.
“The wind changed and it moved to Tongue River Rd. And Amsden Rd.,” she wrote on a Facebook post made in TR Happenings by Cowboy State Daily.
Donations of water, snacks and money to buy food for firefighters and volunteers were being accepted at Parkman Bar and Grill Monday morning.
“We are donating Parkman Food/Chicken Buckets and Snacks/water today,” a post on the Parkman Bar and Grill read.
“Thank God and generosity of our Wyoming neighbors” Jim Pilch Sr. wrote.
Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.
CASPER, Wyo. — High school athletics in Wyoming could see some drastic changes in the coming years following legislative changes to the state’s education budget, the Wyoming High School Activities Association recently announced in a statement.
According to the WHSAA, Wyoming school districts are facing a projected $3.9 million shortfall in activities funding, forcing officials to consider significant cuts to high school sports and extracurricular programs.
The WHSAA shared details regarding a new “silo” funding model implemented by the Legislature, stating that the recalibrated block grant model reduced funding for student activities and extra-duty responsibilities from $46.3 million to $42.4 million, an approximately 8.4% decrease statewide.
WHSAA Commissioner Trevor Wilson said the restructuring also restricts district access to an additional $76.2 million in previously flexible funding.
“A significant portion of the [April 28 WHSAA Board of Directors] meeting was dedicated to discussing the projected funding shortfall,” Wilson wrote.
The WHSAA is weighing several strategies to address rising costs with fewer resources. Proposed changes include eliminating regional tournaments and reducing the number of teams qualifying for state events from eight to four; limiting wrestling to two classes and restricting track and field state participants to the top 16 marks; making cuts to soccer, indoor track and field, Nordic and Alpine skiing, swimming and diving, spring golf and tennis; and reducing in-person speech and debate events by half and centrally locating All-State Music events to minimize travel. The board also recommended increasing gate admission or implementing student participation fees to offset costs.
While the WHSAA release states that no plans have been finalized and the various changes are currently just possibilities, Natrona County School District 1 Board of Trustees member Mary Schmidt criticized the WHSAA’s handling of the news at Monday’s board meeting.
“I take some issues with this, [including] the sheer fact that we as Board of Trustees members have not talked about that at all,” Schmidt said. “It is not our intent and it has not been brought to us to cut our athletics or activities budget for the upcoming school year. … I take issue with them picking sports and getting the community upset and ginning them up to be upset that this is all going to be cut when that hasn’t been discussed.”
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Angela Hensley clarified that Natrona County School District 1’s athletics and activities budget saw a reduction of roughly $550,000 in the coming year’s budget, but said the local school district does not plan to cut any sports.
“Thank you, Trustee Schmidt, for saying this, because I think people are wondering — we are not planning to cut athletics and activities for next year,” Hensley said. “We do have to take a look at our entire budget as we have talked about, as we learn more about these new rules that come in.”
Related
Republished with permission from Wyoming News Now, a TV news outlet covering the Cheyenne and Casper areas.
Cheyenne City Council has introduced a temporary moratorium, or pause, on new data center construction.
“The end goal is to actually have regulations in place, to have really heavy public involvement with this with data centers,” said Councilman Mark Moody.
The proposed ordinance is not a permanent ban on data centers and would not affect data centers currently under construction.
Councilman Moody says this is a bipartisan issue.
“I just want to make this clear, I’m not against data centers. We do need them from a national security perspective,” he said.
He said there needs to be more public input and regulations regarding data centers in Cheyenne.
The ordinance would require city staff to study data center impacts such as electricity usage, electricity tariffs, closed-loop cooling systems, groundwater impacts, agricultural impacts, and land value.
Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development corporation for Cheyenne and Laramie County, reported in November 2025 that there are 12 operational data centers in Wyoming, five under construction and plans for 43 data centers announced across the state.
“There needs to be more public input with this, and also to see how many we can sustain here in this community, cause there are talks of 43, and then another day 70. How many can we sustain here?” said Councilman Moody.
The proposed moratorium will now go to the Public Services Committee on Monday, May 18 at noon in the Municipal Building.
Sheridan will play in the North Regional Tournament at Gillette, while the South Regional Tournament will be played at Rock Springs.
North Regional Tournament at Gillette:
Checking record vs. highest team in the quadrant not involved in the tie, Thunder Basin gets the #1 Northeast seed over Campbell County, because the Lady Bolts went 3-1 vs. Sheridan, whereas the Lady Camels went 2-2.
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 NE) Thunder Basin vs. (#4 NW) Jackson – 11am
(#2 NW) Natrona County vs. (#3 NE) Sheridan – 11am
(#2 NE) Campbell County vs. (#3 NW) Kelly Walsh – 1pm
(#1 NW) Cody vs. (#4 NE) Worland – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Thunder Basin/Jackson winner vs. Natrona County/Sheridan winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh winner vs. Cody/Worland winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Thunder Basin/Jackson loser vs. Natrona County/Sheridan loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh loser vs. Cody/Worland loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
South Regional Tournament at Rock Springs:
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 SW) Laramie vs. (#4 SE) Torrington – 11am
(#2 SE) Cheyenne East vs. (#3 SW) Green River – 11am
(#2 SW) Rock Springs vs. (#3 SE) Wheatland – 1pm
(#1 SE) Cheyenne Central vs. (#4 SW) Cheyenne South – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Laramie/Torrington winner vs. Cheyenne East/Green River winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Rock Springs/Wheatland winner vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Laramie/Torrington loser vs. Cheyenne East/Green River loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Rock Springs/Wheatland loser vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
-
Detroit, MI19 minutes agoMLB News & Moments: Mets Gain Much-Needed Momentum by Sweeping Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA31 minutes agoWhere to Find Free Street Parking for Shows in San Francisco | KQED
-
Dallas, TX37 minutes agoDallas Stars Forward Would Be Perfect Trade Target for NY Rangers
-
Boston, MA49 minutes agoJetBlue to pull out of N.H.’s largest airport amid capacity crisis, officials announce – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO55 minutes agoDenver area events for May 15
-
Seattle, WA1 hour agoFriday Roundtable: Free Summer Shuttles
-
San Diego, CA1 hour agoSix concerts to fill your musical soul this week in San Diego County
-
Milwaukee, WI1 hour agoFive teenagers arrested following police pursuit in Milwaukee