Wyoming
This pizza place in Wyoming offers one of my favorite new appetizers

Highly Recommended is a weekly spotlight on some of food writer Keith Pandolfi’s favorite finds as he eats his way across Greater Cincinnati. Come back every Tuesday for more.
It was the name alone that led me to order the Lunch at Grandma’s appetizer at Twelve08 Pizza recently. The image it painted in my mind was of a 1950s-era kitchen with white vinyl floors and a metal table set with a plate of cold cuts, pickles and cheese. The grandchildren are hungry and Grandma’s at the ready.
At Twelve08, the pizza parlor and bar that opened in Wyoming in 2023, the plate includes thick slices of Boar’s Head rosemary ham, a ball of mozzarella, olives, house-made pickles, house-made bread and a ramekin of dijon-aisse. It’s served on a plain white plate, costs $14 and is more than enough for two people.
It’s a nostalgia-fueled start to a dinner at Twelve08, which specializes in imaginative Neapolitan-ish pizzas that are baked in a wood-fired oven (they named it Claudia) and topped with regular things like sausage, pepperoni and cheese – and gourmet things like house smoked chicken thighs and locally sourced mushrooms. While the crust shares similarities with its Campagna-born cousin, it’s sturdier, sweeter and, given the topping choices, Midwesternized.
My favorite, so far, is the Buffy the Vampire Slayer ($20). A smoky, savory and – hence the Ms. Summers moniker – garlicky feast of smoked chicken thighs, roasted garlic oil, mozzarella, shallots, tangy buffalo sauce and a swirl of ranch dressing. The Lion’s Mane ($20), topped with mushrooms from Rich Life Farms, in New Richmond, is also good. But even the plain cheese pizza I ordered to take home to my daughter was memorable with its chewy crust and fresh mozzarella and Parmesan. The menu also includes salads, wings and desserts, including the sharable Cookie Jar, which includes 10 cookies for $15.
Like its next door neighbor, Tela, Twelve08 is a nice spot to take the family for dinner or have a glass of wine, scotch, bourbon or beer with a friend. The staff is friendly and up for a chat. Just like a good grandma should be.
Twelve08 Pizza, 1208 Springfield Pike, Wyoming, 513-679-7743, twelve08.com.

Wyoming
Wyo authors, literary history featured on PBS Books reading road trip episode

JACKSON, Wyo. — PBS Books is taking a virtual road trip across the country, and an episode about Wyoming literature will be released on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The journey seeks to celebrate and highlight iconic authors, stories, bookstores and real-life locations that inspired unforgettable works. The series is diving into different corners of the U.S. to find out how each location has left its mark on the bookshelves of the nation’s readers.
The Wyoming episode of “American Stories: A Reading Road Trip” will air at 8 p.m. on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, the PBS Books Facebook page and the PBS app. All installments are available to watch on the PBS Books website after they premiere.
“Aligned with America’s 250th birthday, each episode invites viewers to explore the heart, history and creative spirit of the United States — all through the lens of books and storytelling,” reads the description of the series.
Amy Ryan, owner of local mainstay Valley Bookstore, discussed the importance of Wyoming literature and authors with Buckrail.
“I think a lot of people would be surprised to find out that Wyoming is actually a very literary state,” said Ryan. “We have authors like Jack Turner, who [lives] here. We had Margaret Murie, who’s written a couple classics, and we have writers who are still active.”
The episode will focus on the scenery that influenced Ernest Hemingway’s “Death in the Afternoon”; the dawn of the Western genre through Owen Wister’s novel “The Virginian”; and modern authors like well-known mystery writers Craig Johnson and C.J. Box. The show will also visit the Toppan Rare Books Library at the University of Wyoming.
Ryan highlighted some Wyoming creators who might not have world fame, but have influenced the literary landscape just the same. Authors like Alexandra Fuller, Tim Sandlin, Grant Golliher and Bridget Crocker have drawn inspiration from Wyoming’s backdrop and communities.
A Murie Ranch Front Porch conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 21, presented Crocker as she talked about her recent book “The River’s Daughter.” According to Teton Science Schools, her story is one of “resilience and empowerment, from a turbulent childhood in Wyoming to a globe-spanning career as a whitewater rafting guide” that began on the Snake River in Jackson Hole.
“We do have a really grand tradition of chroniclers of Western history,” Ryan said. “It’s a very lively community for such a sparsely populated state. We seem to attract real writers.”
Wyoming
Wyoming Highway Patrol issues update on suspected IED at Wyoming Capitol Building

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Highway Patrol has issued an official update on the ongoing situation in Cheyenne, where a suspected IED was left outside of the Wyoming State Capitol.
According to a release from the WHP, on the morning of Oct. 21 an object, suspected do be in Improvised Explosive Device (IED), was found on the Great Seal in front of the Capitol, by a pedestrian. The pedestrian brought the suspect IED inside of the Capitol building, and Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were alerted to its existence.
As a precaution, the building was evacuated at approximately 9;45 a.m. while troopers secured the area. Multipole agencies responded to the incident, including the WHP, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, the Cheyenne Police Department, Wyoming DCI, the Joint EOD Team, Cheyenne Fire and Rescue, AMR, FBI, ATF, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Additionally, the area of 21st to 26th Streets between Carey Ave. and Central Ave. were cordoned off, as drones and K-9 units swept the area. Eventually, all but 26th street were reopened. 26th Street was reopened at approximately 4:30 p.m.
The Capitol itself was closed for the rest of the day but it will be open as usual on Wednesday morning, Oct. 22.
The release notes that the investigation is still active and ongoing. The WHP is working with law enforcement partners to bring this case to its conclusion.
“Information is still being sought in this incident,” the release states. “Anyone with information, images or recordings of suspicious activity in the early morning hours of October 21st, please contact DCI by heading to their website and clicking the dedicated Capitol incident link on the main page.”
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