Tom Kocal joined Townsquare Media as the LaramieLive.com Multimedia Reporter in February 2019 after a 40-year career in the newspaper business. After selling the Lanark, Carroll County, Illinois newspaper business in 2013, Tom was one of the founders of Carroll County’s only online news source. “Change is the one constant” is a mantra that motivated Tom to set out on a new adventure after his wife of 45 years passed away in early 2018. After a road trip in the summer of 2018, the lure of the west called, and Tom moved to Laramie in September 2018. “I’ve seen the newspaper and printing industries change tremendously in 40 years,” Tom said. “We started out with Ben Franklin-era hand-set type, Linotypes, and lead type printed on a hand-fed printing press, to producing news and photos for online readers that can be posted from my smart phone in my truck. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks!” Tom has two older children and 2 grandchildren. His interests include his fiancé, Julie, and her grandchildren; gardening, preserving, cooking and eating the vegetables they grow; and bicycling while enjoying the scenery and to stay in shape. Tom enjoys being an active member of the Laramie community, reporting for LaramieLive.com on the events that Laramie has to offer and meeting more unique personalities that make this community a very special place.
Thomas Kocal
Girl Scouts Urge You to Sign Up for the Albany Co. Alert System
3 Girl Scouts are working on their Silver Award by encouraging Albany County residents to sign up for the Albany County Emergency Alert System.
Laramie Woman Charged With Taking Controlled Substances Into Jail
Jamie N. Shelton, a 30-year-old Laramie resident, was arrested this past weekend.
Stephen Downey to be Recognized as the ‘Father of UW’ Sunday
Join the Laramie Plains Museum to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Stephen and Eva Downey’s arrival in Laramie on Sunday, July 28.
ACCWA Present Info on the Casper Aquifer and Proposed Gas Station
Albany County Clean Water Advocates hold a meeting on the proposed re-opening of Tumbleweed Express gas station at 7 p.m. on July 24 at Albany County Library.
Wyoming BoE Approves Sublette #1 Teacher Evaluation System
The Wyoming State Board of Education voted to approve Sublette County School District #1 teacher evaluation system at its July meeting Thursday in Casper.
Vintage ‘Welcome to Wyoming’ Signs Put Up For Auction
WYDOT is holding an online auction for two vintage 4-by-8-foot aluminum “Welcome to Wyoming” signs featuring the Grand Tetons.
‘Friends’ Host Annual Summer Book Sale to Support ACP Library
The Friends of the Albany County Public Library will hold its annual summer book sale from Wednesday, July 24 to Sunday, July 28.
‘Wild Blue Country’ Performs Free Concert in Laramie on Sunday
Wild Blue Country presents a free family concert is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at the Edgar J. Lewis Bandshell at Washington Park in Laramie.
Ready, Set, Quack! Laramie Rotary Rubber Duckies Ready to Race
The Laramie Rotarian Duck Wranglers got 2500 rubber ducks ready to float for Saturday’s 15th annual Rubber Duck Race at Laramie's Optimist Park.
2nd West Nile Virus Mosquito Sample Detected in Laramie
West Nile virus has been documented in a mosquito sample collected southwest of Laramie.