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Basin Now

Roosevelt Branch Librarian Named 2018 Librarian of the Year

Feb 27, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Upon hearing he had been named the 2018 Librarian of the Year by the Utah Library Association, Stephen Moon called the lady in charge to ask if a mistake had been made. “I’m the guy who dresses like the Mad Hatter when I go to the schools,” Moon explained, to which he was told that while they were not aware of that fact, it only added to his deserving of the honor. Stephen Moon has been at the Roosevelt Branch Library since 2004 and has worked in Utah libraries since 1989 in Uintah County, Davis County, and Duchesne County. Moon will receive the physical award at the Utah Library Association conference in May but he is quick to point out that he is getting the credit as the boss for the creativity and dedication of the entire library staff. The Roosevelt Branch Library staff has been doing outreach programs with the Head Start Schools in Ft. Duchesne regularly for the past 2 years. They also visit Parkside and the Villa once a week to bring items from the library collection for the people staying there. The library has become a hotspot in Roosevelt for families. “Our family events have become really popular and unlike most libraries, we tie all our events to books in our collection,” shares Moon. The Library is also known for its Wall of Awesomeness and the Moon family gingerbread creations on display every holiday season at the library. It is easy to understand why the Basin’s own Stephen Moon is the 2018 Librarian of the Year.

Basin Now

Rock Springs Death Determined to be Accident

Feb 26, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The death of a Rock Springs man in a car fire has been determined to be an accident. 47-year-old Michael Lee Tinnie was killed in a car fire in Sweetwater County on February 15th. Fire crews were dispatched to the fire west of Rock Springs at the base of White Mountain where a silver 2006 Dodge was in flames. Investigators say Tinnie’s car had become high-centered and stuck and it was believed the heat from the exhaust system and/or catalytic converter may have started the blaze. An autopsy determined Tinnie’s cause of death was asphyxia due to smoke inhalation with no indications of foul play.

Basin Now

Vernal USU Student’s Research Working to End Diabetes Side Effects

Feb 26, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Utah State University has students all over the state they could spotlight but a USU-Uintah Basin student is currently getting the attention. Utah State University’s Utah State Today is featuring Vernal native Ryker Hacking for his research as part of the USU-Uintah Basin summer internship program aimed at ending the negative side effects of diabetes. On February 9th, Hacking presented his research, which found a way to synthesize a molecule called MBT, at the 12th annual Utah Conference of Undergraduate Research. USU-Uintah Basin associate professor Mike Christiansen oversaw Hacking’s research which could inhibit AR, the enzyme that causes kidney, eye, nervous system, and red blood cell damage. “If MBT proves to be a successful and nontoxic means of inhibiting AR in clinical trials,” explains Christiansen, “it could serve as an eventual medicine to prevent the negative reactions of diabetes. Once we optimize Ryker’s new method, we can scale up production and begin testing MBT’s viability.” In the Utah State Today report, Hacking praises the USU-Uintah Basin summer internship programs that help students grow professionally. Research will continue refining the process of making MBT with the hope that someday it will be able to help treat Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Basin Now

Senator Van Tassell Legislative Highlights Week 5

Feb 26, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Week 5 of the Utah 2018 Legislative Session is over with 171 bills passed through the Senate and more coming. Senator Kevin Van Tassell reports that the hot topics of week 5 included a Resolution honoring Senator Orrin Hatch, a Resolution in Support of a New National Park in Escalante, Education Open Enrollment, Talent Ready Utah Center, Medical Marijuana, and Food Truck Regulation Amendments. SB154 Prohibition of Law Enforcement Quotas also received a lot of attention. The bill passed on the Senate floor and has now moved to the House for consideration. The Executive Appropriation Committee announced in week 5 that updated revenue estimates show a surplus of $581 million dollars this year, which is nearly twice what was expected. The Senate also approved SB130 which would authorize the Department of Agriculture to regulate CBD or Cannabidiol that is currently being sold to Epileptic patients. It would also apply for a waiver with the DEA for Utah to develop a medical grade CBD product that doctors can prescribe. That bill has moved on to the House.

Basin Now

Job Offers Follow UBTech Hands-on Skills Contests

Feb 26, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Job offers followed a competition earlier this month at the Vernal UBTech campus after students from Roosevelt and Vernal showed off their automotive and carpentry skills. According to a UBTech press release, several business owners attended the contest and by the end of the day several students had received job offers.The area businesses supplied judges for the events and donated prizes. “Where else can high school students perfect their hands-on skills and meet with possible employers?” shared UBTech vice president of instruction Tammy Wilkerson. “We are getting these kids to succeed in the world.” Automotive students competed in over 14 stations to test their knowledge and skills. In a carpentry competition, the first of its kind, students were put in groups of three and instructed to build dog houses. Vernal’s carpentry students swept the competition.

Basin Now

Locals Help Duchesne County K9 Unit

Feb 23, 2018 · Basin Now · News

More generous locals are helping the Duchesne County K9 unit get the funding they need. Dr. Mike Gamble from Uinta Veterinary Services made a $1,000 dollar donation in honor of K9 “Q” who passed away last summer from terminal cancer.

Basin Now

New Traffic Light Destined for Highway 40 near Eagle View Elementary

Feb 23, 2018 · Basin Now · News

A busy intersection near Eagle View Elementary will be getting a traffic light this spring. According to UDOT spokeswoman Eileen Barron, the traffic signal is being installed to improve safety and improve access from 5750 East to Highway 40. Eagle View Elementary is located on the northwest corner of the intersection and the school administration is thrilled to know that a light will soon be installed. Eagle View Principal Robert Stearmer considers it a miracle that a school bus hasn’t been hit in that intersection. “School buses don’t move as fast as cars do,” shares Stearmer. “The latest accident in that intersection involved a pickup truck being broadsided. Can you imagine that happening to a school bus loaded with 65 children?” This accident involved a vehicle with three children inside the car. While the plans for the light were already in place before the crash this month, the accident has further validated the need to people like Principal Stearmer who consider the intersection a serious danger as it is. The project is being funded through UDOT’s Statewide Signal Program and it is expected to cost about $220,000 dollars. “There will be no additional lanes added to U.S. 40 as there is already a left turn lane,” explains Barron. “However, a separate left turn lane will be added on 5750 East.” Once underway this spring, construction is expected to take two to four weeks. UDOT also plans to install advance warning signals that will flash yellow and include “Prepare to Stop” signs.

Basin Now

Give Em’ Health: Sexual Health and Preventing Risks

Feb 23, 2018 · Basin Now · News

TriCounty Health Department is sharing the good, the bad, and the risky when it comes to sexual health. While there are benefits to having sex, like improved heart health and lower blood pressure, TriCounty Health Director Jordan Mathis explains that there are also consequences when not engaged in responsibly.

Basin Now

Sheriff Norton on School Safety; Exploring Free Local Training for Teachers

Feb 23, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The most recent school shooting in Florida has pushed the issue of safety in schools to the forefront of concern for many. Uintah County Sheriff Vance Norton reports that the Sheriff’s Office is doing what they can to stop a few times a day at each local school in addition to having a full time officer at the high school. Still, he feels more should be done and is exploring the possibility of offering free concealed weapons classes to teachers and school staff as well as setting up a two day training camp to help teachers become more proficient with their weapons. “We can’t get to an incident quick enough to stop a threat that can do so much damage in just seconds,” shares Sheriff Norton. “That is why I think it is important to have teachers or staff that are willing to take on the huge responsibility to have a gun, be trained, and engage the threat until we get there.” Those with concealed weapon permits are legally allowed on school property with a concealed weapon, including teachers. Sheriff Norton’s aim is to help those teachers that want to arm themselves and train them to be more proficient. He says he believes gun control will not fix the school safety issues and will just hurt honest gun owning citizens.

Basin Now

Roosevelt City: 2017 in Review

Feb 22, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Roosevelt City Manager Ryan Snow provided a review of 2017 in the Roosevelt City Bulletin. The following are among the highlights: The Roosevelt City Chip and Seal project covered 12 miles of the 40 miles of roads within Roosevelt and the budget is outlined to have all the roads repaired and resurfaced by 2022. Significant improvements were made to the city’s water and sewer infrastructure, utilizing funding that was 90 percent grants. Governor Gary Herbert visited Roosevelt last summer to declare Roosevelt a “Business Friendly City,” an honor which has only been given to 30 cities in the state. Roosevelt City launched a new website last year maintained with up to date information. They also increased transparency by providing live video feed of all public meetings on a YouTube channel. The city council did a thorough review of city laws to ensure that Roosevelt is compliant with state and federal laws. And the city retired more than $1 million dollars in debt, reducing the amount of interest the city was paying. With a successful 2017 in the books, City Manager Snow says the city is “optimistic about what 2018 will bring for our city and residents.”