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KNEU 1250Groups of local students chose to participate in the School Walkout organized nationally as a show for gun control, an end to school shootings, and to remember the lives lost in Florida in February. Starting at 10am on the east coast, students walked out of classrooms and stayed outside for 17 minutes – one minute for each of the individuals killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School one month ago.
A new program is highlighting the work of Uintah County employees. The first Uintah County Spotlight was the Uintah County Cemetery Department, recognized during Monday’s Uintah County Commission meeting. Cemetery Department employee James Sharp described the work he and the cemetary crew perform throughout the week, rotating weekends and ensuring that all funerals at the 11 cemeteries are covered. “We meet with families on the worst day of their lives and are accommodating to every request that is in our power,” shared Sharp. “…We try to do everything we can ourselves and do our best to save money and time. We respect the fact that it is public money that pays our paycheck… [My coworkers and I], we care about the cemeteries.” The Commissioners thanked Mr. Sharp and the members of the Cemetery Department for their commitment and hard work as Uintah County employees.
As always, it is onward and upward for the Uintah Basin Technical College. UBTech will be breaking ground tomorrow on a state of the art welding technology building on the Roosevelt campus and even before the new building opens in 2019 there will be plenty of students to fill it. There is currently a nationwide shortage of 300,000 welders, as the majority of welders are nearing retirement age, shares UBTech Welding Instructor Kevin Mitchell. By the year 2024 it’s estimated there will be a need for 400,000 welders. The Utah State Legislature funded the $4.5 million dollar facility and UBTech has partnered with two highly respected welding companies to equip the 12,500 square foot facility. The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremonies held at the UBTech Roosevelt Campus at 1100 East Lagoon Streetthis Thursday at 2:00pm.
The 2018 session of Utah Legislature finished up last Thursday with several bills having particular interest to the Uintah Basin from Representative Scott Chew’s point of view. Among the items he found concerning were a potential gas tax for education that could be on the election ballot statewide and a state tax to help address the issue of homelessness in Utah.
March Madness is for more than basketball tournaments. The Vernal Regional Airport joined in with their own kind of tournament. After 125 logo variations, the Vernal Regional Airport narrowed their logo rebranding options to a final four last week and welcomed further public voting on which logo should be the winner.
The Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office is feeling especially blessed for the local support they have been shown. Local members of the Patriot Guard Riders presented members of the Sheriff’s Office with a wooden flag and a plaque on Saturday, a gesture that means a great deal to the agency. “Feeling so much support is always good for us and our officers,” shares Sheriff’s Office Manager Cynthia Wardle. “We had a really good turnout and it was a beautiful day. When they presented it to Chief Deputy Tucker they asked for a photo with the Patriot Guard standing behind the group to say that they always have our back.” The flag was made by Willy Rivera. Patriot Guard Riders is a non-profit organization that takes on missions as invited guests at funerals to show respect or find other ways to honor veterans, first responders, or law enforcement.
Competition was close at the Mr. and Miss Uintah competitions at Uintah High School on Monday night. The 2018 Mr. Uintah is Garrett Wilson and the 2018 Miss Uintah is Kayla Loncar. Kayla also won the People’s Choice Award. “We had 22 kids compete in the men’s division,” shares Coach Gregg Stensgard.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of 37-year-old Vega-Oviedo Arnulfo on charges of rape and sexual abuse of a child. The charges, filed in 8th District Court in Duchesne, include 1 count of first degree felony Object Rape of a Child and 2 counts of first degree felony Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. According to court documents, the acts took place in 2015 in Duchesne County. The victim or victims disclosed the abuse to foster parents and in interviews at the Children’s Justice Center. Court documents state that the presumptive sentence for a conviction of the individual offense is 15 years to life and that imprisonment is mandatory. The warrant for the arrest of Vega-Oviedo Arnulfo was issued on March 1st by Judge Samuel Chiara.
Releases from Flaming Gorge have decreased in order to meet a spring elevation target. According to Heather Patno, Bureau of Reclamation Hydraulic Engineer, the required base flow release period mandated in the 2006 Record of Decision expired the end of February.
Derk Hatch and his hardworking crew are getting credit where it is due as the group recognized this week by Team Uintah. Many of the people in the Uintah Basin are familiar with Derk Hatch. “Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of colorful stories about Derk as well,” shares Uintah School District Superintendent Mark Dockins.
Vernal City Mayor Doug Hammond read a statement during Wednesday’s City Council meeting concerning a proposal to add fluoride to Uintah County drinking water. Mayor Hammond explained that the topic of fluoridation was not initiated by Vernal City or the City Council but by a group of local healthcare professionals who are gathering signatures in hopes of including the topic on the November ballot.
EAGLE Students of the Month for Uintah Basin Christian Academy are Kohen Bowden and Cuyler Pitchford.