Good morning, Casper.

Wolcott Street (and nearby blocks) will draw 1,100 to 1,300 trick-or-treaters on Halloween, and many homes are buying up to $500 in candy, closing Wolcott to cars and setting up in-yard tables and decorations to handle the nonstop parade.

The Christmas Cottage at 1100 E.

2nd St., a seasonal holiday shop that's been part of Casper since 1988, will open for its final week from Saturday, Nov. 28 through Saturday, Dec. 5 as owner Sheila Cooper retires due to declining health.

Natrona County's latest state school ratings and test scores show several schools fell short of state expectations while student performance in some grades surpassed pre-pandemic benchmarks (latest report); district leaders will review the results and target support for lower-performing schools.

A lodging tax that visitors would pay and that would fund destination marketing will appear on the Nov.

3 ballot in Natrona County, and Visit Casper says the revenue would support hotels, restaurants, arts, events, and hundreds of local jobs.