Wyoming

Wyoming family recovers wildfire losses thanks to community help

Published

1 year ago

September 18, 2024

Press Room

Wyoming family recovers wildfire losses thanks to community help

GILLETTE, Wyo. — Although the Short Draw fire has mostly been contained, the damage has been done.

Thousands of acres of land have been burned and livestock has been lost, but few have lost as much as Jesse Raymond.

The Short Draw fire destroyed his home on the Wyoming side of the border. Now, he just has his family and the clothes on his back.

Luckily, his small community has come together to help him and his family through these trying times.

It’s been a tough and long week for Raymond, his significant other, Cheyenne, and their three children.

“(It’s been) difficult, really emotional, trying to figure everything out,” Raymond said.

The Short Draw fire broke out Sept. 11, about five miles outside his ranchette home in northern Campbell County, Wyoming, about 10 miles south of the Montana border.

He and his family were the among the first to evacuate.

Cheyenne was the first to witness the fire.

Jesse Raymond

Jesse Raymond and Cheyenne

“Cheyenne looked up, and she could see the flames,” he said.

Just a few devastating hours later, they lost everything from their possessions, photos, to a ramp they built for their child back in July.

“Nothing really came out of it… the kid’s baby pictures that we don’t have anymore, all the, anything you could think of, they got burned down to the blocks,” Raymond said.

One thing they do have is community support. His work family at Big D Oil helped Raymond’s family stay in a hotel and started collecting donations from the community. One of his colleagues who’s been super passionate about helping is his regional manager, Joanna Robertson.

“He’s not family, but he’s family. We’ll do anything for him, whatever he needs to get him back on his feet,” she said.

Some of his co-workers even came together to start a GoFundMe.

“Oh, the whole community came together. It’s amazing. It’s amazing how much everybody has jumped in to help us,” Robertson said.

Raymond and his family appreciate all the support from the community. To him, it’s all about those little moments.

“One of my boys, Levi, he’s a little cowboy, and someone dropped off a bunch of cowboy shirts, and this morning he had the biggest smile on his face, tucking that cowboy shirt in,” Raymond told MTN.

Jesse Raymond's family — Jesse Raymond’s family

Even though Raymond and his family are going through a rough patch, his community has his back throughout the entire ride.

“You talk about (help), but when you actually see it, it’s like a a totally different wavelength. It brings everyone closer, and I’m glad that that’s happened in my life,” he said.

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Related Topics:billings Featured Fires gillette Montana short draw fire wildfire wyoming

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Wyoming

From Douglas to Jackson, Week 4 Is Loaded for Wyoming Boys’ Swim & Dive

Published

7 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

From Douglas to Jackson, Week 4 Is Loaded for Wyoming Boys’ Swim & Dive

It is Week 4 in the 2026 Wyoming High School boys’ swimming and diving season. It features several medium-sized competitions. After a dual in Douglas on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday are packed with meets. Jackson hosts its two-day invitational with four teams heading to Teton County. There are three-team events in Casper, Gillette, and Sheridan on Friday, plus two five-team meets at Cody and Rock Springs.

WYOPREPS BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING WEEK 4 SCHEDULE 2026

Saturday also has swim invites at Evanston, Powell, and Sheridan. The schedule for Week 4 of the prep boys’ swimming and diving season in the Cowboy State is below. The schedule is subject to change.

RAWLINS AT DOUGLAS – dual

Read More Boys Swim News from WyoPreps

WyoPreps Week 3 Boys Swim Scoreboard 2026

WyoPreps Week 2 Boys Swim Scoreboard 2026

WyoPreps Week 1 Boys Swim Scoreboard & Season Outlook 2026

Nominate a Boys Swimmer/Diver For WyoPreps Athlete of the Week

3A Boys State Championship Recap 2025

4A Boys State Championship Recap 2025

3A Diving Champ Bryson Laing in 2025

4A Swim Champ Cy Gallion in 2025

4A Diving Champ Brady Benne in 2025

4A Swim Champ Ben Forsythe in 2025

Kemmerer’s Malachi Villarreal Reacts to Record Weekend in 2025

CASPER TRI at NCHS – Cheyenne East, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County.

CODY INVITE – Cody, Newcastle, Powell, Riverton, Worland.

GILLETTE TRI – Campbell County, Cheyenne Central, Thunder Basin.

JACKSON INVITE – Jackson, Kemmerer, Lander, Laramie, Sublette County.

ROCK SPRINGS INVITE – Evanston, Lyman, Green River, Rawlins, Rock Springs.

SHERIDAN PRE-INVITE – Buffalo, Douglas, Sheridan.

CHEYENNE CENTRAL AT CAMPBELL COUNTY – dual

EVANSTON INVITE at Davis MS – Evanston, Green River, Lyman, Rock Springs.

GENE DOZAH INVITATIONAL at Powell – Buffalo, Cody, Newcastle, Powell, Riverton, Worland.

JACKSON INVITE – Jackson, Kemmerer, Lander, Laramie, Sublette County.

SHERIDAN INVITE – Douglas, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County, Sheridan, Thunder Basin.

3A State Boys Swimming-2025

Gallery Credit: Frank Gambino

4A Boys State Swimming & Diving Meet-2025

Gallery Credit: Frank Gambino

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Wyoming

Wyoming motorcyclist dies in Laramie County wreck

Published

19 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming motorcyclist dies in Laramie County wreck

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Wyoming man died Dec. 22 in a motorcycle-versus-truck collision in Laramie County.

According to a recently released incident report from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, 24-year-old Wyoming man Kyle Pandullo was headed west on a motorcycle as a van approached from the opposite direction. The WHP reports that the van attempted to turn left into a business entrance, forcing Pandullo to brake in an effort to avoid a crash. His bike tipped over onto its side, sliding into the van.

The WHP lists driver inattention as a possible contributing factor in the wreck.

This story contains preliminary information as provided by the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The agency advises that information may be subject to change.

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Wyoming

Documentary ‘399 Forever’ to make its Wyoming debut at The Center on Jan. 6

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Documentary ‘399 Forever’ to make its Wyoming debut at The Center on Jan. 6

JACKSON, Wyo. — Everyone’s favorite grizzly will grace the big screen this month.

Documentary 399 Forever will make its Wyoming premiere at The Center on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13.

The film follows passionate wildlife guides and photographers who dedicated their lives to tracking, teaching, and protecting Grizzly 399, the world’s most famous bear. As they capture her story, they also confront the growing impact of social media on wildlife, work to educate the public, and fight for practical solutions like bear-proof trash cans to keep both bears and people safe.

With mounting pressure to remove grizzlies from the endangered species list, the film explores the heart of a complex and emotional debate: What does it really mean to protect a wild animal?