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KNEU 1250A bill has recently passed the Senate aimed at protecting public lands and waterways that affects eastern Utah and beyond. The bill passed with a 92-8 vote. It is considered the most comprehensive conservation legislation to be passed in over a decade with over 2 million acres safeguarded. Every state in the union has lands affected including Utah.
Winter ozone will likely exceed the EPA standard on Wednesday and Thursday and citizens are encouraged to take action to reduce ozone-forming emissions. “We underestimated ozone all last week,” shares Dr. Seth Lyman, Director of the USU Bingham Research Center. “Every day we predicted that on the next day the atmosphere would mix out and the basin would be clean again, and it really didn’t fully happen until Saturday.
While we probably haven’t seen the last of winter storms, Roosevelt City has asked for help preserving the streets by taking advantage of the warmer weather and snow melt. When the weather warms up and the snow begins to melt it helps if the runoff can find its way to storm drains. “The number one cause of potholes and other damage to city streets is the freeze-thaw cycle,” shares Roosevelt City.
Local athletes wrestled their hearts out at state competition this weekend and have a lot to show for it. Uintah Wrestling was a close contender for the 4A state title and finished with a second place win with 222.5 points to Payson at 238.5 points. Uintah state champions were Brady Merkley at 106, Gavin Ayotte at 132, and Bridger Bennion at 145. Other top 6 finishers on the team were Raiden Harrison, Brody Rich, Cole Huber, Randon Deets, August Harrison, Dylan Dick, Dylan Swift, and Cade Hatch. At the 3A state tournament, Union Wrestling placed 7th as a team with 123 points. Jate Frost won state champion at 170. Top 6 finishers on the Union team were Richard Jenkins, Colby Hyder, Parker Brinkerhoff, Cadence Ross, Nolan Bullethead, and Dalton Clark. Local wrestlers also competed at the 1A/2A state tournament held earlier this month. Altamont Wrestling took 2nd place and Duchesne Wrestling took 9th place. Altamont’s McKay Foy won state champion at 170 and Cash Robb won state champion at 195. Top 6 finishers for Altamont were Cameron Dickson, Easton Richins, Tristan Farnsworth, Carson Sheets, Dean Thompson, Heston Murdock, and MacIntyre Thacker. Duchesne’s Ryker Blackburn won state champion at 182. Top 6 finishers from Duchesne Wrestling were Bowdy Larsen, Ethan Clayburn, Cael Skewes, Kaleb Sanchez, Dusty Clayburn, Grant Reynolds, and Adrian Carrillo.
Vernal Theatre: LIVE is celebrating another inspiring accomplishment and the patrons attending a performance of Arsenic & Old Lace will automatically be guests at the week long party. February 22nd marks the 100th performance on the stage of Vernal Theatre: LIVE and yes, that night will be a night of celebration to remember, complete with a pre-show and raffle for awesome prizes. Even if you can’t make it to Friday’s show, there will still be fun trivia and discounts to the Curtain Call on the other night’s of Arsenic & Old Lace. Theatre Executive Director Nashelle Jackson says the 100th performance is a great time to celebrate how far the theatre has come. “Our first season we took it one show at a time and things have just grown from there,” shares Jackson. “It’s exciting to actually make it to 100 performances and see a future for our next 100…It says to me that the community is really supporting the theatre. We literally couldn’t do it without them.” Come be part of this week’s celebration at a performance of Arsenic & Old Lace on the Vernal Theatre: LIVE stage February 18, 21, 22, and 23. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.vernaltheatre.com. Plenty of great seats are still available! Photo credit: Joie Madison Photography
Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office is defusing rumors about a situation where a handgun was confiscated from a student on Altamont school property. On Thursday, February 14, the Altamont High School principal confiscated a handgun from a student in the school parking lot before classes started for the day.
Officials are urging locals to prepare now for the potential of spring flooding. According to Duchesne County Fire and Emergency Manager Mike Lefler, sudden warming or a rain-on-snow event could trigger floods in certain parts of the county.
Not much can slow down the hard working local forest service employees. The members of the recreation staff of the Ashley National Forest have continued to maintain the Yurts and trails for those wanting to enjoy the winter recreation. They have ensured that the trails were groomed, the yurts have firewood and that they were accessible for renters even in the blanket of snow. Aging signs have also been taken care of. If you have any inclinations to serve the Ashley National Forest and winter isn’t quite ideal then be sure to discover what volunteers are needed for the 2019 Summer Field Season. The Duchesne/Roosevelt Ranger District is looking for volunteers to assist with Wilderness and Trails program. Some positions that they are already looking for is a Wilderness Information Specialist- Trailhead host and Wilderness Rangers. If willing and interested, contact Sam Wiswell, the Wilderness and Trails Coordinator at 435-781-5230 or email him at samuel.wiswell@usda.gov.
Governor Gary Herbert signed a modified version of medicaid expansion into Utah law this week. When Utah Proposition 3 passed with 53.32% it was with the hope that it provide Medicaid for persons under the age of 65 with incomes equal to or below 138 percent of the federal poverty line. The hope was to increase the sales tax from 4.70 to 4.85 percent to finance the state’s portion of the costs to expand Medicaid. Utah State Legislature in 2018 session modified and set up a restricted Medicaid expansion plan the bill being called SB 96, Medicaid Expansion Adjustments. The bill includes approximately 70,000 additional people under coverage—compared to the estimated 150,000 that would gain coverage under traditional expansion. The alternative version needs special approval from the federal government to become effective. Governor Gary R. Herbert signed the bill on Monday, February 11 and issued the following statement: “SB 96 balances Utah’s sense of compassion and frugality. It provides quality coverage to the same population covered by Proposition 3 in a meaningful, humane and sustainable way. It is now time to set aside differences and move forward to get those in greatest need enrolled on Medicaid and on the federal health care exchanges.”
Eastern Utah will benefit from projects funded last week by the Community Impact Board. A press release from the Utah Department of Workforce Services lists the water system improvements and road construction planned for the funds. The Tridell-Lapoint Water Improvement District received a $1.65 million dollar grant as well as a $423,000 dollar low-interest loan to make updates to the drinking water system to meet the state pressure and storage requirements. This will include adding a 500,000 gallon concrete tank and replacing 5,300 feet of pipe. During the same meeting, the Community Impact Board also approved a $4.5 million dollar grant to the Uintah Transportation Special Service District for the Ouray Bottoms Road reconstruction, a $1.2 million dollar grant and $200,000 dollar low-interest loan for the Vernal City flood control and storm drain improvements on Main Street, and a $227,000 dollar grant for Daggett County road construction. “The rural areas of Utah are the heart of the state,” shares Naples City Mayor and CIB board member Dean Baker, “and we appreciate the board’s support for these rural communities.”
A family was transported to the hospital following a house fire in Sweetwater County this week. The call came in on Tuesday at 6:00pm. Crews responded and found heavy smoke and open flames had engulfed the house. A pregnant woman and three young children were in the home when the fire started and were transported to the hospital as a precaution. Investigators learned that the home belonged to the Sweetwater County School District and a local school teacher and his family lived there. The home was a total loss and the cause of the fire is unknown, though it is likely due to a space heater being used to unfreeze pipes under the home.
A Duchesne County road project is the recipient of an award. Roads and Bridges is a 111-year-old trade publication focusing on transportation, construction and maintenance. In its February issue, the publication announced the winners of the Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association (ARRA) awards. The crews that worked on U.S. 191 through Indian Canyon received the award in the cold-in place (CIR)recycling category.