A student from nearby Evansville Elementary School pauses on Monday, March 3, 2022, to look at the house where a man had barricaded himself over the weekend. He was eventually found dead inside after an 18-hour standoff with multiple law enforcement agencies, who used demolition equipment to peal away parts of the house during the incident. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)
CASPER, Wyo. — The year 2022 held plenty of consistent traditions for Casper, just like countless communities across the country. There were parades, high school sports, graduations and rodeos.
There was also tragedy, such as when the community lost a beloved high school teacher and his young son to a car crash. Children who lost parents to suicide bonded with animals during a Grief Camp to help them cope. Casper’s fallen military heroes were honored with memorial services and celebrations.
The Ford Wyoming Center, formally known as the Casper Events Center, marked its 40th year with a Trump rally and wrapped up the year with a hip-hop show led by the legendary Snoop Dogg.
Smoke from western wildfires blanketed Casper during the hot summer, and a brutal cold snap brought record-breaking arctic low temperatures.
The year 2022 brought plenty of the planned and the uncertain. Here’s to 2023, whatever it may bring.
Have a safe and happy New Year, from Oil City News.
Snoop Dogg performs during the Holidaze of Blaze show on Dec. 21 at the Ford Wyoming Center. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Record-breaking cold weather moved through Casper on Dec. 21, bringing temperatures and windchills lower than minus 30 degrees. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Downtown Casper is almost obscured by snow on Dec. 13. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Snow falls on a child as she watches the annual Downtown Casper Christmas Parade on Nov. 26, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Mary Sanchez hugs her granddaughter Emily Eidsness before the bridge dedication for Leo Sanchez before a Veteran’s Day ceremony on Nov. 11. Sanchez, a Casper teacher who served in the Korean War as a Marine, spent much of his life raising money and awareness for Casper’s veterans. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Volunteers from various precincts bring in ballot boxes after polls closed during the 2022 midterm elections on Nov. 8 at the Natrona County Courthouse. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Tiffany Dorf hugs Dana Volney after receiving complimentary flowers near the downtown Post Office on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The flowers gifted to random people were part of a national campaign. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Shylo Johner, 14, reapplies the gold medal her brother Blayne Johner won for bowling during the 2022 Special Olympics Wyoming Fall Tournament on Friday, Aug. 10, at El Mark-O Lanes in Casper. This is the first Special Olympics games competition for the Gillette native, who picked up two gold medals total. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)A deer pauses by the side of the road on Casper Mountain on Sept. 29. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Mourners gather during a memorial service for Mauro and Mateo Diaz on Sept. 26, 2022. Mauro, a respected teacher at NCHS, and his 8-year-old son Mateo, a Park Elementary student, died when their car was struck head-on by an oncoming vehicle that traveled into their lane on their way to Thermopolis. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Amanda Paad poses with her daughter, Opal, at her grandmother’s home in Evansville on Monday, Sept. 19. Opal was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia last November and is now in a “maintenance phase” after undergoing treatment. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Natrona County High School drum major Mason Napier works the crowd during the 2022 Oil Bowl at Kelly Walsh High School on Friday, Sept. 16 in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)The sun sets as smoke from western wildfires blankets the Casper area on Sept. 7, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Sarah Steed spends a few quiet moments with her son, Jackson Steed, before his first day of kindergarten on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at Cottonwood Elementary School in Casper. Tuesday was the first day of the 2022–23 school year for Natrona County Public Schools, bringing an end to summer break. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Late afternoon sun pours into the Dick Cheney Alumni Field grandstands during NCHS’s first home game of the season on Sept. 2. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Erik and John Womelsdorf pose with a bottle of David Defazio’s ashes in front of their 1976 VW Bus on Sunday, Aug. 28 at The Office in Casper. The men were making a cross-country trip to spread Dave’s ashes. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Artist Koda Witsken works on a mural commissioned by the Casper Mural Project in downtown Casper on Aug. 26. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Natrona County High School girl swimmers jump into the new NCHS pool during an opening ceremony and dedication on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Casper. The new $10.2 million facility gives NCHS a pool for the first time since the historic pool was demolished in 2015 as part of a complete renovation of the school campus. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Rep. Liz Cheney’s concession speech is projected on a screen during the Natrona County Republican Women viewing party at the Rib & Chop in downtown Casper on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)A Starlink “satellite train” is seen streaking over the Ten Sleep Brewery just after 10 p.m. on Friday, July 23. The satellites will eventually move individually into higher orbit to work as basically internet modems for the Elon Musk venture, which will provide internet service to underserved areas. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)A group of people stand on a hill before sunrise to watch the mass launch during the annual Casper Balloon Roundup Festival on July 29. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)The family of LCpl. Jerrod Warden is surrounded by supporters during a memorial service by the Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Northwest on Friday, July 15 at the Elks Lodge in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Brook Smith, 6, holds her guinea pig, “Fluff-A-Nutter,” during the costume portion of the Pocket Pet show at the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo on Friday, July 15 in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Adam Voight gives a pep talk to his 5-year-old daughter, Ameryka, during the Mutton Bustin’ event at the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo on July 14. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)The show goes on as a rainstorm moves through during the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo on July 14. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)A group of riders let out screams on the Super Shot at the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo on July 14. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Opera Wyoming Artistic Director Daniel Quintana sings a short aria before giving a quick talk during the Natrona County WyoGives nonprofit organization gathering at Backwards Distilling on Wednesday, July 13 in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)The annual Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo Parade moves through downtown Casper on July 12. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Derick Elkins embraces his daughter Emma, 8, after the family was gifted a new camper by Make-A-Wish Wyoming on Friday, June 24, at Smith RV in Evansville. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Savannah Carabajal, 11, pets one of Reach 4A Star Riding Academy’s horses during a Grief Camp on Wednesday, June 22. The camp uses animals to help children cope with the loss of a parent or other close relative. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Dana Van Burgh is visited by well-wishers during his 90th birthday celebration at the Rialto Soda Fountain in downtown Casper on May 20, 2022. Van Burgh, a former Casper College instructor, invited the community to free ice cream for his celebration. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)The Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps practice in preparation for their summer season on May 15, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Bullrider T.J. Schmidt, of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, stands with a bag of ice after a rough dismount from his bull during slack on Monday, May 13, 2022, at the 2022 CNFR in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Bands perform near the new Black Tooth Brewery located in The Nolan development in downtown Casper during the first Casper Art Walk of the season on June 2, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Former president Donald Trump is greeted with enthusiastic cheers as he walks onto the stage during a rally in support of Harriet Hageman on May 28 at the Ford Wyoming Center. Hageman went on to defeat Trump critic Rep. Liz Cheney in the primary elections before easily winning in the midterms. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Supporters cheer at a Trump rally on May 28 at the Ford Wyoming Center. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Participants take photos while waiting for the next speaker during a Trump rally on May 28. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Molly Coffey, 18, kisses her 4-month-old son Olivery before the start of graduation ceremonies for Roosevelt High School on Friday afternoon at the Ford Wyoming Center. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)NCHS students line up in the halls at the Ford Wyoming Center during graduation ceremonies on May 27, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Midwest High School students show their approval during a speech at their graduation ceremony on May 26, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Students take selfies before KWHS graduation ceremonies on May 26, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Police tape wraps around the Wellspring Health Access Clinic on May 25, 2022, after an arson attack early that morning. The case is still under investigation. The clinic, which planned to offer women’s reproductive services, including abortions, still plans to open sometime in 2023. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Runners compete as snow falls during the 2022 Wyoming State High School Track and Field Championships on May 20, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Shane Rogers gets a fist-bump from Mike Ogden after Shane sank a shot from across the green during a practice game on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at the Casper Municipal Golf Club. The team represented Casper and Wyoming in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in June in Orlando, Florida. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Darkened lights are faintly seen at the Washington Park baseball field as the lunar eclipse nears full totality on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Oliver Soulek, 14, practices piano at his Casper home after school on June 2, 2022. Soulek was born with Poland Syndrome, a rare birth condition that commonly leaves a chest cavity or hand lacking full muscle development. The middle school student originally took up the piano to help gain strength in his hand, and has since started competing in piano competitions. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Jamie Shopp hugs her son, Cayden, after a signing day ceremony at the Kelly Walsh High School band room on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Cayden will be attending the University of Wyoming. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Porter Jackson, 5, rides her bike along the cul-de-sac at Harris Crossing on April 30, 2022. The new 13-house subdivision in south Casper is being completely developed by Habitat for Humanity of Wyoming. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Restaurant owner Patricia White poses at the counter at Johnny J’s in Casper on April 26, 2022. White, who has 35 years in the restaurant business, bought Johnny J’s from the Johnson Restaurant Group in January. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Sagewood Elementary School students wait to help plant trees during Arbor Day on April 22, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Rep. Liz Cheney hugs Toni Thomson, daughter-in-law of the late Thyra Thomson, during the grand opening of the new Thyra Thomson State Building on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Ice from water sprayed by automatic sprinklers coats fresh landscaping at the new Thyra Thomson State Building on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, after an unusually cold night. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Floormen Victor Carcia and Richard Tucker pull pipe from a well to change a drill bit on a True Drilling Company rig in Converse County on March 18, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)A backhoe tears through the old Commissary Mall during its demolition on March 24, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)A student from nearby Evansville Elementary School pauses on Monday, March 3, 2022, to look at the house where a man barricaded himself over the weekend. He was eventually found dead inside after an 18-hour standoff with multiple law enforcement agencies. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Cincinnati Bengals linebacker and Natrona County High School grad Logan Wilson poses with fans during the 2022 Wyoming State High School Basketball Championships on March 10, 2022. Wilson made a visit to Casper after his appearance with the Bengals at the Super Bowl. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)The charred wreckage of an apartment building still smolders on Saturday, March 5 in Mills. No one was injured in the blaze that took place in an apartment complex that was under construction. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)Violin soloist Simone Porter rehearses with the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra before a concert on Jan. 29, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)NC’s Noah Sides hugs Rock Springs’ Ian Dickinson after Sides’s win during Wyoming High School State Wrestling Championships on Feb. 26, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)KWHS Lady Trojans celebrate their Peach Basket win on Feb. 24, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)The KWHS Trojans celebrate after winning the 2022 Peach Basket on Feb. 24, 2022. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Hannah Danford, 18, nuzzles Jerry, one of the six alpacas she raises for 4H and FFA. Danford was one of numerous presenters at the annual Ag Expo on Thursday in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)The NCHS cheer team prepares backstage before their performance during the 2022 State Spirit Competition on Jan. 28, 2022, at the Ford Wyoming Center. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)Brandon Craddock stands with his wife, Dawn Feraud, in their living room in Casper. The family is struggling with their health and finances after both contracted COVID-19 in October last year. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)Mourners pay tribute to LCpl. Jerrod Warden during his funeral at the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. Warden, a Kelly Walsh High School grad, died at Camp Pendleton in California on Dec. 14, 2021. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City News)
