You're listening to shortwave from NPR.

Good day shortwaveers, Aaron Scott here.

I hope you have your snow tires on because today we're heading to Wyoming with NPR Correspondent

Kirk Sigler.

Hey there Kirk.

Hello Aaron.

So I have to admit is someone living in the West that I'm a bit of a fan.

I always listen for your stories because you get to travel to all the places I wish I was

going to on a weekly basis, which is to say where we headed today.

Well then I have a real treat for you.

We are headed to Kemerer, Wyoming.

It's a small town of 2,800 people in the southwest corner of the state.

I'd call it even pretty remote by Wyoming standards.

But what it shares with so many other Wyoming towns is that its economy is inextricably

linked to fossil fuels and in its heyday.

This frontier prairie town we're going to had two dozen coal mines drawing thousands

of people, including savvy entrepreneurs.

Of course the entrepreneur cannot resist the lure of the boom town.

Right.

So when I traveled there I learned Kemerer is home to the original JC Penny department

store of all things.

So way, is it still open?

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