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Happy weekend, Casper! In today’s edition: Ancient fossil discovery, a murder mystery dinner, a Mardi Gras party, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

What patrols will look like: Casper Police wrapped the first round of Area Initiative meetings, outlining a return to old school policing. Officers reported turkey peckings during stops, and more meetings are expected in April — get all the details.

Ancient fossil discovery in Wyoming: An 11-year-old from Idaho stumbled on a 48-million-year-old turtle shell in the Greater Green River Basin, and Casper’s Tate Geological Museum is preparing the fossil after BLM was notified — read the full story.

Comfort for care companions: Casper’s Banner Wyoming Medical Center was gifted The Masterson Place, a 14-room hospitality center behind the campus, offering $50 stays for patients and loved ones from Natrona Collective Health Trust — read the full story.

Inside local food inspections: The Casper-Natrona County Health Department’s Jan 23 to Jan 29 food inspections already happened, focusing on education, quick fixes within 10 days, and reinspections when issues are more serious — see how inspections work.

Community impact in focus: United Way of Natrona County’s annual campaign topped $1 million, with funding for nearly 40 local nonprofits under CPA review to ensure accountability and support families and neighbors across Casper — read the full story.

Decades of urban turkey management: Wyoming Game and Fish is trapping and relocating troublesome wild turkeys around Casper this winter with a specialized trap as mild weather makes catching birds harder and relocations continue — explore ongoing relocation efforts.

Gold continues to hold strong: After its best year in decades, gold remains near historic highs as investors look for stability amid inflation and debt. GoldCo has a free guide that covers everything you need to know. They’re also offering up to 10% free gold & silver – check it out here.

One emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ but pet insurance helps. I sure wished I’d had it after a $10k last-minute surgery for my cat (her name is Miss Stache). I learned my lesson and signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:

• Not all financial advisors are created equal. Find the best for you
• Got debt? See if you qualify to pay up to 45% less
• Open a GoldCo account & get up to 10% in free gold/silver
• Save $ on vet bills with Lemonade pet insurance
• This home warranty is 50% off right now
• Fellow ladies with thinning hair: Try Hers

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎷 Mardi Gras Party – Fat Tuesday @ The Drinkery by Cory | Tuesday (2/17) at 5:00 PM – Fat Tuesday calls for live brass, good company, and hurricane-fueled decisions. Ted LaRocca and the Creole Gentlemen set the groove while you work through gumbo, dirty rice, boudin balls, beignets, and king cake. Wear stretchy pants, tip generously, and pretend beads are a personality.

🧧 Chinese New Year Celebration @ The Nicolaysen Art Museum | Tuesday (2/17) at 5:30 PM – The NIC’s Lunar New Year, Year of the Horse edition, packs Chinese snacks, red envelopes, and hands-on Discovery Center fun, plus a brisk look at China’s Tiangong space station with Dr. Drew Young. Free, family friendly, worth leaving the couch.

🎣 Fly Tying | Tuesday (2/17) at 6:00 PM – Grab a stool at Ugly Bug Fly Shop for a low-key fly tying night with Grey Reef Trout Unlimited. All ages and skill levels welcome, bring materials or grab a material bag for a few bucks, cheaper than feeding the willows another dozen.

🕵 Murder Mystery Dinner @ Bull Horn Brewing | Wednesday (2/18) at 7:00 PM – All aboard for a snowbound whodunit dinner channeling the Orient Express, four courses, intrigue, and side-eye. After dessert, someone drops dead, the train stalls, and you lot become the detectives, because help is hours away. Clue vibes, real napkins, zero boredom.

🧶 Melt the Ice Hat Make A Long @ Wool and Whimsy | Thursday (2/19) at 6:30 PM – Grab your needles and make the Melt the Ice Hat with the neighborhood crew, instruction at the ready for when your purls stage a mutiny. Class is free with yarn purchase, which is the coziest cover charge your head, and your social life, will pay.

📚 Author Event with Nina McConigley @ The Nicolaysen Art Museum | Friday (2/20) at 6:00 PM – Skip the errands and catch Casper’s own Nina McConigley at The Nic with her fierce, funny novel, How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder. Come for hometown pride, stay for 80s Wyoming family drama and razor wit. Wind City Books has limited copies, preorder.

🍷 5 Trails Wine & Beer Tasting Pirate Style @ Events at The M | Friday (2/20) at 6:00 PM – Break out the eye patch and your classy drinking hand for a pirate-style wine and beer tasting at The M. Expect rum, bites, dessert, live tunes, and zero plank-walking, all to grow a new Boys & Girls Club greenhouse. Tickets are $50.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Casper report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 53°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 53. West southwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 57°F – Low: 35°F – Precip: 0%

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Southwest wind 15 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 12 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Most popular house this week

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