Speaker 1: 0:23

Good morning and welcome to let's Talk Wyoming. I'm Mark Hamilton, your host, and today we'll be taking a look at weather. We'll have some fire updates, we'll have a little bit of this and a little bit of that and then we'll have a last minute section on summer travel here in the state of Wyoming, if you're looking for that late August, early September travel, which is always great here in Wyoming. Thanks for joining us today and we hope you enjoy the pod Taking a look at Wyoming weather here on the 27th day of August. Yes, we have just a few days left in the official summer months until we get off into September here in Wyoming Today it's in the 60s, got some raindrops coming down.

Speaker 1: 1:17

Yes, we do have raindrops. This week we've had a cool down, to say we've been in the 80s and you can sure tell the difference from the weather. We've had a cool down to say we've been in the 80s and it's you can sure tell the difference from the weather we've had before. We've had some storms forecast and right now it's drops are coming down. It's been cold and gray and winds blowing, and across the state there's other areas I can see some pretty good storms, but it seems like we're missing a lot of them here in Hot Springs County, but we'll take any type of relief we can get. You know, the days are getting a little bit shorter and taking the dogs for their walks in the morning about 6 o'clock it's still dark out in the morning and so the days are definitely getting shorter and fall is right around the corner.

Speaker 1: 2:10

On our fire news, we talked about fires last week and our big fire here around the Thermopolis area to the east that encompassed Hot Springs, washkey and Fremont County, walsh Key in Fremont County. It has pretty well been mopped up and not a big threat at this point, especially with this cooler weather coming in. That's going to be a plus. They talked about they had up to 400 firefighters there working on these fires and they got the fire over into some short grass country and had some luck with some fire lines and just hats off to all those firefighters. Now, of course, the local ranching community's got some issues with maybe some winter grazing, but the governor, as I said last week, was here in Thermopolis and they're going to get some aid. They'll get federal aid and they'll be taken care of. You don't have to worry about that. They'll be able to get some hay and feed for their animals for the winter coming up.

Speaker 1: 3:18

Also, I did see the one post from a local person showing their property where the no fence out there. The fences were gone. A lot of those fences in these areas don't have a lot of steel posts and they're wood posts and they're just standing up and they got pretty well decimated. So they're going to be doing a lot of fencing in the area. So time Also I'm sure they can get some assistance on that Time to put up some new fences in the area. So glad that that is behind us right now.

Speaker 1: 3:54

Knock on wood. Now it can warm back up. Now our falls the proverbial Indian summers where we get the warmer weather, are always enjoyable. Here. We get warm in the afternoons and you know it cools down really good overnight and early morning it's cool, and then about lunchtime and on for about five hours you have some pretty warm temperatures that feel really good, knowing those are the last warm temperatures you're going to have for quite some time. So our fires are definitely out of here now.

Speaker 1: 4:30

It isn't like the state of Wyoming is just suddenly out of the fray. Over in the Pinedale, over in that western part of the state of Wyoming. They have a fire going there. Now that's getting into timber country. Out here, outside of Thermopolis was just grass type fires and there it's really getting bad. They're getting into a lot of these woods everywhere. I talked about being up at different areas and I know the last time I was up in the Bighorns I was just amazed at the amount of different areas. And I know the last time I was up in the bighorns I was just amazed at the amount of pine beetle kill up there. A lot of trees are in bad shape and that area is just ripe for a heck of a fire through there, and that's why these forests are just a lot of undergrowth and just a disaster waiting to happen. What's happening? Right, we're getting the gist of that from the smoke out here, but so these firefighters hats off to them. They don't get a lot of days off and they work some pretty long hours in some pretty tough environment, and so we'll keep an eye on our fires going into Labor Day weekend. Hopefully we can start taking a turn and get that out of our system. Hopefully we can get some early snows, especially in the mountains in some of these areas.

Speaker 1: 5:57

It's always never an issue around here. We always take moisture. I was in a meeting last night and we were planning an event up at Tensleep Country, up at Circle J Camp. Up there they have their Apple Fest every year at the end of September. This year it will be on the 27th. I had mentioned on the call about we're like a bunch of farmers, we want rain but we don't want it to rain on the 27th. That's kind of what we're facing. I think we'll take rain no matter when it comes and be happy to have it, especially going into the fall. It's always important to get that subsoil moisture in the fall. Late fall, get that moisture into the ground before that first frost comes sure makes a difference on the growth going into next year.

Speaker 1: 6:55

So another thing that's big around the area school has started. They have got the kids back in school. Everywhere in the state has been in session since at least last monday and so everybody's kind of getting back into the swing of things and seeing how stuff is going and those kids are getting back at it and such. But weather-wise that's what we have Cool weather. Hopefully for Labor Day We'll have some nice weather.

Speaker 1: 7:28

Some people can get out that last weekend to get out and start doing stuff. So state of Wyoming we have fires in one area we're behind us here in Hot Springs County, again knocking on wood, but other parts of the state and through the West I saw Montana, colorado's have issues and it is just a never ending occurrence anymore. So kind of that time of year we're getting into that last opportunities to get out and enjoy some stuff. I had talked about a couple of trips that we made a couple weeks ago and I think it's that one nice weekend. You know, I really do like the fall as a time to travel just a little bit cooler and and get some of the tourists out of here. Nothing against the tourists, but most of them are back and back in their home country, their home and not so many people on the road and this little easier travel. So trying to plan maybe a couple little jaunts. This weekend got my wife's birthday coming up and on friday so we'll have to make sure that we celebrate her birthday. I can't tell anybody how old she is, but we want to wish her happy birthday. Going into Labor Day weekend.

Speaker 1: 8:56

Take a look at Wyoming sports. You know we all love our sports here, wyoming sports. You know we all love our sports here. The Wyoming Cowboys start their 2025 season in Akron, ohio, tomorrow night and unfortunately I see that that's going to be on ESPN+, so I won't be able to take that in. I have never bothered to do much. I tried to get ESPN plus but it's a total. You've got to go to a different platform and it just isn't good. So cowboys are in action. Just wait to see how they come out this year. I I just hope for better things. They had such a disastrous season last year. They started out that very first night playing in Tempe when they took on Arizona State and boy, arizona State took them to the proverbial woodshed and boy, it went downhill from there. So they've got the same quarterback, caden Anderson's, back at quarterback. They also have, I think, probably their best receiving quarter they've had, and our quarterback that we had last year. He's moved to tight end. So we'll see how that transition works for that young man. Hopefully the defense will be a little bit better. So we always have high hopes for our Cowboys here in the state of Wyoming. So we'll see how that game goes with Akron Probably just going to have to see some reports on it and hopefully find some highlights from somewhere.

Speaker 1: 10:31

I noticed that I got YouTube TV and they're talking about the Fox channels are in negotiation and they might not be on the YouTube channels, which is going to affect a lot of sports this weekend, especially with the opening weekend of major college football starting up. The one that most people are kind of interested in if you're a real football junkie will be the Texas-Ohio State game, and that's on Fox on Saturday. Be the Texas-Ohio State game and that's on Fox on Saturday. And also I like the collegiate volleyball and they always have a nice menu of volleyball games. So we'll see what happens. It's just getting ridiculous and we're trying to find what platform. You't watch anything on Netflix. The only channel I do have is Amazon, so I watch whatever is on there and on YouTube TV. I watch a lot of stuff on YouTube, so that's where I get a lot of my highlights for football. So college football your team's probably playing this weekend. So good luck to everybody and we'll have a report on that.

Speaker 1: 11:46

Also. University of Wyoming the volleyball team is getting started. Hopefully they'll have a better year. This year Got some new athletes in. Also, as I mentioned last week, high schools are starting up here in Wyoming. They'll have some zero-week games, for some of the schools will be playing and scrimmages across the state. Volleyball the girls volleyball is going to start with their early season action Now volleyball they play so many tournaments early and so they can get in a lot of games on these weekends until they get into any type of conference play. So everybody is in action. We'll see how the volleyball teams are doing and of course I want to forget golf and cross country and everything else all these kids that are getting involved. So high school sports are in action along with Wyoming Cowboys. We'll get a report next time we're on.

Speaker 1: 12:45

I want to talk about what's happening across the country. Have you guys noticed about some of the pricing? I have been looking for a newer used vehicle and I just cannot believe the prices of stuff. It's just amazing. These auto prices have just stayed inflated. I keep thinking they're going to come down and be more realistic, but I don't know how people are affording them. If you're having to finance these. I've seen anywhere from eight and a half to 14% financing on these vehicles.

Speaker 1: 13:17

And the car dealers. I hate to say it for anybody that's in the car business, but these car dealers can be a little bit tough to deal with with some of the gimmicks that they have and some of the add-ons. They just beat you to death. Their biggest interest is trying to worry what you want for a payment and you're just really wanting to get a vehicle at the best price. So interest rates, and then it just doesn't work out very well. My oldest daughter is going to get a Tesla. She's getting a Model Y and it's a used one, but it's a 22. But the issue is, it's amazing, these electric cars are suddenly too. But the issue is, it's amazing, these electric cars have suddenly. The talk was well, they're going to end, the tax rebate is going to end at the end of September, but they were down and they've just shot back up. I don't know what's driving these markets, but even the electric cars have come up.

Speaker 1: 14:18

So I would love to have electric. I've said that before. Of course, you live in Wyoming. We're a long ways between current bushes, but most of us here would end up with having to charge from your garage and you want a long range If you're going to drive anywhere with that electric vehicle. There's not many places to stop along the way to get fueled up. Get charged up. I should say so, but just the simplicity of them. I do like that option, but then if you have a problem you end up hauling them a long ways to get them worked on and that could be pretty costly and difficult for a lot of people to do. But she lives in a major area where there's plenty of chargers and Tesla dealer and everything else and we did take a test drive in one of them and I was kind of amazed at them, because you drive them, they always say, like a golf cart, but you really don't use the brake. I guess that brake's there, I guess in an emergency type situation, but when you let your foot off the accelerator that thing comes, it just slows down and just comes to a stop and I think they've got some good features in them.

Speaker 1: 15:37

I started looking at all the different brands of electric cars. Everybody came out with an electric car Everyone, of course, through the government mandates and I saw the one commentary on the electric vehicles and they made the comment if you can try to lease one, because in two years most everything's going to be obsolete and it'd be really surprised how many of these manufacturers, how many of these companies, will keep up their electric division where they were more or less following the government lead and and this push to get away from gas-powered vehicles, everything I'm seeing now people are talking about more of a push into the hybrids and the only thing about the hybrids that I saw you've got more or less electric and a gas, so you've actually had more things to take care of. That could go wrong. So I don't know the answer. I'm still a gas guy right now. But if I could, I would get an electric vehicle for a runaround car Put some miles on to get from here to there. I think it'd be kind of fun having one. But right now prices are pretty high. I don't think they're coming down. I don't think anything's coming down. You know, you go to the grocery store and prices are still high and I just don't know how the young people are doing it now.

Speaker 1: 17:00

I was talking to my wife last night. When we first got married back in the early 80s, our first house was at $55,000. $55,000. And we did have a car payment and I had a company truck and we were scraping by every period. It was not like we put a lot of money away, of course interest rates at the time we bought that house we got lucky because it was 18% and we got some Montana board house money at 10 percent, thinking we were living in tall cotton. But even at 10 percent, even a $55,000 house is a lot of money for a young couple. So it's just the way life is. But it's expensive out there. You go to the grocery store, no care what you're getting. You're going to end up with spending 50 to 100 bucks, not even working very hard.

Speaker 1: 17:58

So vehicles right now, looking at what to do there. Luckily I'm in a little better shape. I don't have to finance anything, but I still going to find a good deal, and I catch a lot of grief from my family about driving these vehicles. Most of my vehicles have a lot of miles on them, but they still get up and down the road and they're dependable, and so I'm really not that type of person that's really worried about driving the newest model and such. I guess that's just the way I was raised and vehicles really aren't that important. The biggest thing is to get you from here to there, which most of them do, and if you have to, you put a little money into them and keep those mechanics and other people employed along the way, so costs are pretty high.

Speaker 1: 18:47

Electric car I'm waiting to find out how my daughter likes her. Tesla. We talked before. There was always this big issue about Teslas with Elon Musk, but most of that is all passed away. That was just all stage type of stuff Theatrics, if you ask me and they're moving on to other things that have issues on across our country. So we'll see how the electric car goes and we'll figure out what in the heck should we get as we continue on our travel segment.

Speaker 1: 19:22

Here in the state of Wyoming, we're going to talk about Dubois, wyoming. Dubois is on the highway between Riverton area and Jackson and at Dubois, besides the gorgeous view up there, there is the National Museum of Military Vehicles, and this is a world-class military history museum which opens southeast of Du Bois, wyoming, in August of 2020. Inside the 140,000 square foot museum, visitors will find nearly 500 fully restored military vehicles, artillery pieces, naval vessels and aircraft dating back from 1897 to the present, with a current emphasis on the American experience from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The focus of the museum is to tell the stories of how these vehicles were used and to remember the valor of service members who fought and sometimes died in them. The museum also houses a large historical, significant firearm collection. The privately funded museum was founded by Dan and Cynthia Starks. Dan Starks is a former attorney and former CEO of St Jude Medical. The Historical Museum of Military Vehicles was recognized as one of the 10 best new attractions in the US for 2020 in a national competition conducted by USA Today. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm in the summer, with the exception of the 4th of July, when the museum participates in the town's 4th of July parade with several tanks and military vehicles driven in the parade. I hope if you get up to Dubois this summer, you'll get a chance to stop by and take in the National Museum of Military Vehicles, also on our list of places to visit this summer.

Speaker 1: 21:05

Getting back to the Bighorn Basin area always a good idea to take the trip up to the Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site. It is located approximately six miles northeast of Hyattville, wyoming. From Worland you want to take US Highway 1620 north to State Route 31 at Manderson and head east towards Hyattville, turn onto the Cold Springs Road and follow the signs to Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site. Most site grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round, weather permitting. The Visitor Center is open May 1st through September 29th. Additional facilities include camping and picnic area, corrals, playgrounds, restrooms, telephone trails, fishing pier and viewing areas. Drinking water is available. Restrooms and drinking fountains are closed during the winter months. For information on camping fees and guided bus tours, contact the Medicine Lodge office at 307-469-2234. Thanks for joining us today and we hope you enjoy our podcast. As per the Code of the West, we ride for the brand and we ride for Wyoming. We'll be right back. Go, go go. Thank you.