If you love Wyoming, you better love different seasons. Sometimes you can enjoy all four seasons in one day. Especially during this time of year.

By the way, was that not just about the nicest September-October fall in Wyoming’s history?  Wow.

Here in mid-November, it is still usual to wake up to chilly weather, suddenly feel the sun come out or a Chinook-type wind warm up the place, then a big cloudbank appears, and by nightfall, a wet snow is falling.

This is common in all corners of Wyoming from Newcastle to Evanston and from Cheyenne to Powell. And everywhere in-between — including Worland, Greybull, Rawlins, Rock Springs, Kemmerer, and Riverton. 

This is the kind of fall when you might run your furnace and your air conditioner on the same day. 

Veteran Wyomingites wear layers – you start out in jeans and sweaters and by mid-afternoon, you are down to a short-sleeved shirt . . . sometimes even shorts.

I know two guys, my son-in-law Jerry Johnson, a PE teacher,  and Methodist Preacher Mark Calhoun, who try to wear shorts year-around. And they almost always pull it off.

Convertible Weather?

Guys like me who love our old convertibles just keep trying to get one more day of top-down weather before giving up. My late friend Dave Kellogg drove his VW top down while wearing a parka and big hat for years as he tried to stretch out the sunny season. And it worked.

My wife Nancy gets frustrated when we run errands because I insist on putting the top down on our ancient 2002 convertible.  She thinks it’s cold and it messes her hair. My excuse: “This might be my last chance to drive with the top down. Sit back and enjoy!”

The above story reminds me of when I was attending a Greater Yellowstone Coalition event in Cody and managed to get loose from the activities early.  I had always wanted to drive through Yellowstone Park in a convertible with the top down. So off I went.

I wrote about this trip in a recent column. I liked the ending: “It appeared that I had experienced all of Wyoming’s seasons during this trip.  It was sunny when I left Cody. It was cold and windy throughout the park with rain spitting.  As I left the National Park area and headed over Togwotee Pass, it even snowed a bit.

Must Love Seasons

Back in the mid-1980s, Wyoming suffered a terrible bust and Lander was hit the hardest of any town in the state. We lost 2,500 good-paying iron and uranium mining jobs. It was awful. 

As president of the local economic development group, The Leader Corporation, I dreamt up the idea of recruiting retirees to our town. 

We had 600 homes in foreclosure, a wonderful climate (least windy place in the Rockies), and wonderful medical care.

In our nation-wide promotion, I wrote up a brochure selling the benefits of Lander. But I said we were looking for “vigorous” retirees. This was not for the Sun City crowd. The ads also said “Must Love Seasons.”

By the end of the first year, we had 99 of those homes sold and we were on our way.

IBM and the military were both laying off large numbers of workers and we focused on these folks plus anyone else we could attract. The idea was that it was impossible for us to lure a $6 million business to town, but if we could recruit 200 people, each with an annual retirement of $30,000, it would mean the same.

An added bonus was that most of these folks had the time, talent, and inclination to get involved in the community. They contributed greatly. 

Weather Will Get Colder 

Despite this wonderful fall weather, we all know that it is going to end soon. Thanksgiving can often be brutal, especially for folks trying to home for the holidays. 

It is good news that the national government just reopened, which will make flying more practical to a lot of people.

My tips for people this time of year consists of three things:

1.   Wear layers and throw in a stocking cap. Wear dry shoes or boots.

2.   Always carry an emergency kit in your car – a big blanket, some bottled water, some trail mix or cookies or other snacks. Make sure you have a good scraper and a functioning flashlight.

3.   When you take a trip, always leave early. If possible, watch the weather and try to travel in nice weather and despite the short days, drive as little as possible at night. And watch for our poor deer on the road.

Bill Sniffin can be reached at: Bill@CowboyStateDaily.com

A significant wildfire ignited near Laramie, Wyoming on Monday. The blaze started along Interstate 80, causing immediate concern for local residents. Authorities swiftly issued mandatory evacuation orders for surrounding areas.

The fire prompted a large-scale emergency response. According to information from Watch Duty, the evacuation zone was east of I-80 and west of the Laramie River. An evacuation center was established at the Albany County Fairgrounds to assist displaced individuals.

Emergency Response and Evacuation Zone Details

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the emergency measures. They directed evacuees to the county fairgrounds located at 3510 South 3rd Street. The fire’s proximity to major infrastructure like I-80 heightened the response urgency.

The specific area under the evacuation order was defined clearly. It encompassed the region east of the interstate and west of the Laramie River, north of Curtis Street. This precise mapping helped ensure resident safety and efficient emergency operations.

Assessing the Wildfire’s Impact and Community Risk

Wildfires in this region pose a serious threat to communities and natural resources. The rapid spread of such fires is often fueled by dry vegetation and weather conditions. This incident highlights the ongoing wildfire risks faced by states like Wyoming.

The immediate impact involves displaced residents and potential property damage. The long-term effects can include environmental changes and economic strain on local communities. Emergency services continue to prioritize containment and public safety above all else.

The swift response to the Laramie fire underscores the critical importance of community readiness. This Wyoming wildfire serves as a stark reminder of nature’s power. Officials continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts to control the blaze proceed.

Thought you’d like to know-

LARAMIE, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming Men’s Basketball team advances to 2-0 after besting Cal State Fullerton 92-82 Saturday. The Pokes and the Titans shot at a near identical efficiency from the field, but it was the three ball that gave Wyoming the upper hand.

The Pokes and the Titans shot 44% and 43% from the field, respectively. While the Pokes were much less efficient than the Titans from the charity stripe, Wyoming balled out from three. There, they shot 38% as a team, while Cal State Fullerton shot just 18%.

Wyoming’s Naz Meyer continues to prove he belongs, as he led the Pokes in scoring and was second on the team with rebounds with 18 and 5. Guard Demarion Dennis was close behind with 16. Khaden Bennet rounds out the list of Pokes scoring in double digits with 15.

“So many good things that we did tonight and tip of the cap to Fullerton, as they came ready to play,” Wyoming Head Coach Sundance Wicks told UW Athletics post-game. “We have to keep proving we will be a hard team to play against. They got us in transition, and their pace had us on our heels in the first half. But we won the Possession game by 10 and that’s winning basketball.”

Khaden Bennet versus Cal State Fullerton Nov. 8, 2025 (Garrett Grochowski, Oil City News)

Leland Walker, who joins Wyoming from Florida Atlantic, shared the wealth with a team-high six assists. All in all, all but two Pokes got points on the board for Wyoming.

The Titans jumped to an early 5-0 lead as the game began, keeping the Cowboys without any field goals for the first three minutes. It was a layup from Walker that got the Pokes their first bucket of the afternoon.

Dennis fueled the Pokes offense while they crawled their way back up to even with the Titans, finally tying the game 7-7 just under the 16-minute mark in the half. Titans Joshua Ward and Jaden Henderson kept the score close until Wyoming jumped to a game-high 10-point lead with 7:53 left in the half.

It was ultimately Wyoming’s three-point game that gave them the advantage, especially in the second half. In the first, the Pokes were just 4-15 from three. They drained eight more on 15 attempts after the break.

Missed free throws from the Pokes helped the Titans stay in the game as well. Wyoming was just 59% from the stripe to Cal State Fullerton’s 72%. Regardless, any Titan run was quickly snuffed-out by Wyoming’s well-rounded offense.

The Pokes built a sustainable five-point lead going into crunch time and drained the free throws Fullerton drew trying to get last-minute possessions, fluffing the lead to the game’s final 92-82 box score.

The Cowboys will next face Austin Peay State University Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in Laramie. For more information, see the Cowboys’ schedule here.

Uriyah Rojas drains a three versus Cal State Fullerton Nov. 8, 2025 (Garrett Grochowski, Oil City News)

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