Compiled by CORRYNE DRAKE

Special to the Star-Tribune

Natrona County Tribune, 1909

Hot time in the old town - "PENCIL PUSHERS' PARLIAMENT

"Thermopotolians Treat Them to Tours"

"The meeting of the Wyoming Press association held at Thermopolis … was not as largely attended by the publishers of the state as was expected. … No doubt many more publishers would have been present had it not been for the long trip-forty-two miles. … The TRIBUNE scribe had the pleasure of occupying the front boot of the stage going over the mountains, and the return trip was made in Stage Geologist Hall's automobile, … the trip over occupying about nine hours, and the return was made in three hours and thirty minutes, which was probably the fastest time that has ever been made over the road."

A.J. Mokler, the Tribune's publisher, described Thermopolis' famous geothermal hot springs: "(T)he hot water comes bubbling up from the earth, and … it carries a smell with it that is just about ten times worse than anything you can imagine, but … if you can get it past your nose and gulp down a couple of mouthfuls, it will cure anything from ptomaine poisoning to erysipelas or even prickly heat."

Kodak moments - An advertisement in the June 30 edition urged: "Whether you are going afoot or horseback, by buggy, wagon, automobile or rail, wherever you go

"Take a Kodak With You

"If you don't, you miss one of the essential pleasures of this day and age. We have the exclusive agency here for the sale of Eastman Kodaks and supplies and have a large stock on hand

"WILSON S. KIMBALL Drugs and Jewelry"

Casper Tribune-Herald, 1934

Radio with pictures - "TELEVISION SOON TO BE ON PRACTICAL BASIS, IS BELIEF

"Although television is still in a state of experimentation, new developments and new discoveries are rapidly making it commercially feasible, it was learned … from C. A. Bell, local radio service expert, following his return from Kansas City.

"While there, Bell made it a point to visit the central television laboratories where the major experimentation in the new field of sight-and-sound radio broadcasting and reception is being carried on.

"'While I don't look for development of television for general use within less than two years, there will be sets on the market by this fall,' Bell predicted. … 'While much progress is being made, it undoubtedly will be a matter of sometime yet before television will be ready for the general public.'"

Fighting crime - "SHORT-WAVE RADIO SYSTEM FOR POLICE CARS PROPOSED …

"Casper's police department may soon have a radio broadcasting system." At a City Council meeting, "Chief of Police Frank Scherck recalled instances in which radio-equipped cars would have been of important and timely service.

"The system would enable headquarters to keep in touch with the radio cars in any part of the city, at all times."

Casper Tribune-Herald, 1959

Short-wave came in handy - "Three Break Out Of County Jail

The only lead after three prisoners escaped the City-County Building Tuesday, June 30, "was a reported theft of a 1955 Chevrolet … about 30 minutes after the break. …

"The car was found covered with brush … north of Arminto. … A possee is reported converging south from Tensleep, … while roadblocks are maintained at Kaycee. …

"The men were said to have visited several sheep camps in the area, changing their clothes and possibly stealing firearms and food. … The region is not far, as the eagle flies, from the famous Hole-in-the Wall Country of historic outlaw fame. …

"Most of the Casper cars being used by officers in the chase ran low on gasoline, and an emergency supply had to be rushed to them before the search could continue.

"There are no towns or telephones in the area, making contacts between Casper and the posse members almost impossible. Only known telephone that is anywhere near the search area is that of Phillip S. Mahoney at the Buffalo Creek Ranch, but repeated calls to the Mahoney Ranch were not answered. …

"Now engaged in the search are an estimated 30 men, sheriff's officers, highway patrolmen, ranchers and game-and-fish department personnel, whose two-way short-wave radios have been of value in maintaining communications among the searchers."

By the fifth day of the search the Tribune-Herald reported, "G-Men May Be Asked to Find Jail Breakers … if the U. S. Attorney and FBI are reasonably certain that the fugitives have fled across state lines."

Casper Star-Tribune, 1984

Taste-testing rodents - "Professor to study workings of brain

"A University of Wyoming professor has received a $596,000 grant from the national Institutes of Health to continue studying how the brain processes information and resulting behavior control.

"Dr. David V. Smith, professor of psychology and director of UW's Neuroscience Program, will study how the brain processes sensory information obtained from the environment by the nervous system, how that information is encoded, and how it controls reflexive responses.

"He will base his study on the extensive taste system of the golden hamster, determining how information about food is relayed from the taste buds to the brain."

"A Look Back in Time" is made possible with the help of Western History Archivist Kevin S. Anderson at the Casper College Western History Center, which is open to the public. Quotation marks surround stories as they appeared in the Casper newspapers 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago, with their original grammar, punctuation and spelling, except where noted.