We are excited to inform you that we have changed Real Estate Offices! We are now located at Casper Real Estate Today, LLC in Eastridge Mall, next to JC Penney. The next time you are at the mall, please stop in for a cup of coffee or just a visit and see our new office.  Our email addresses and cell phone numbers have remained the same. 

Casper was named one of the “Top Ten True Western Towns of 2008” by True West magazine. True West magazine was launched in 1953, and is published ten times per year. This annual award is given to towns that “have made an important contribution to preserving their pasts.”

Casper has always been proud of its history. Nearly 500,000 pioneers traveled through Casper on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails between 1840 and 1870. The Pony Express also dashed though Casper on its route between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California during its short history in 1860 and 1861. Several of the reasons it did well are Fort Caspar and its brand new expanded museum and reconstructed Cavalry fort and the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center which commemorates the largest voluntary human migration in history and how the majority of those pioneers passed through the Casper area on their way to their destinations.

The Cowboy State Games has become a tradition that is in its 21st year in Wyoming . This years sports festival will feature 21 sports over seven weekends in January, February, and March.  There will be something for everyone.  Events will include  basketball, volleyball, karate and judo, alpine and Nordic skiing, power lifting, archery, arm wrestling, fencing, equestrian, gymnastics, and more.  All events with the exception of gymnastics will take place in Casper.  Douglas will host gymnastics.

When the Games first began, events were staged during the summer, but over the last six years this has changed.  Now the major portion of the Games are scheduled during the winter, with President's Day weekend being the busiest.  The Games have become extremely popular with people from all over the state, but they are not intended to be a large media event.  The games present an opportunity for both young and old to compete just for fun.

The Games are open to all Wyoming athletes of all ages and skill levels. Entries are now being accepted.  For more information, log onto their website or call the Cowboy State Games office:

Eileen Ford
Executive Director

400 East First Street, Suite 315 (Wyoming Financial Building)
P.O. Box 3485
Casper, WY 82602

(307) 577-1125 voice
(307) 577-8111 fax
csg@tribcsp.com

In August, an event occurred for which we had been preparing for years, but hoped would never occur. A major fire burned on Casper Mountain.

On Friday evening, August 11, a dry thunderstorm blew through Casper. Several fires were ignited in the county, but one lay dormant on the west end of Casper Mountain until Monday morning, August 14, when it burst into flames. The dry conditions following a prolonged drought and winds caused the Jackson Canyon Fire to become a major incident. By that afternoon, Governor Dave Freudenthal had declared a state of emergency for the area and a Type 1 Incident Management Team was ordered.

By Wednesday, hundreds of residents had been evacuated and commercial properties and communication towers were threatened. Structure protection was a high priority. Rough terrain hampered containment efforts, as well as extreme fire behavior with wind driven runs, spotting, and group torching. Flames reached into the sky as high as 250 feet.

At the peak of the fire, 588 total personnel, 13 crews, 35 engines, and 7 helicopters as well as aerial tankers were assigned to the incident. A total of 55,000 gallons of red fire retardant and about 340,000 gallons of water were used to contain the blaze.

By the time it was over, almost 12,000 acres of timber, brush, and grass had burned, along with ten structures and one vehicle. Fortunately, no one was hurt and no permanent residences were destroyed.

Local resources were quickly overwhelmed. On September 15, a community fundraiser took place to help the agencies that offered support during the fire. Over $60,000 was raised to help the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming, the Humane Society and more.

The Casper Mountain Fire Department, of which I am a volunteer, also had a fundraiser. We have compiled a collection of some of the most dramatic photographs of the Jackson Canyon Fire incident 2006. These include shots by firefighters on the line, aerial photographs, and others. They were donated for use in our 2007 calendar by some of the areas best photographers. All proceeds from this calendar go to the Casper Mountain Volunteer Fire Department and will be used for purchasing equipment. The first printing quickly sold out and more were printed. These are available for $15 each, but they aren’t expected to last long. Let me know how many you need. Quantity discounts are available.  For more info on the fire and calendar, read an article in the Casper Journal .

The 18th annual “Festival of Trees” to benefit Special Olympics Wyoming was held this week at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming.  The festival began on Sunday with the “Teddy Bear Tea”, a fun event for children of all ages.  The only cost to attend was one new teddy bear per family.  The donated bears were used to decorate the “Teddy Bear Tree” which is auctioned at the festival and usually brings the highest dollar amount.  In addition to hot cider, cookies, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, a “People’s Choice” tree was voted on.

The festival continued on Tuesday.  The evening featured spectacularly decorated trees for the live auction, a silent auction, great food from local vendors, entertainment, cocktails and more.  The event was one of the most reasonably priced events of the Christmas season.  Last year, more than $127,000 was raised for the Special Olympics Wyoming.

For more information, or to donate, call Special Olympics Wyoming at (307) 235-3062 or (800) 735-8345 or visit them online at http://www.specialolympicswy.org