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KNEU 1250The Uintah Conference Center main ballroom will be transformed this week into a winter wonderland as 40 trees are decorated for this weekend’s Trees For Charity event. While there are multiple ways to help charities, including the tree auction and silent auction items, visitors to the tree view can also purchase limited edition commemorative ornaments starting Wednesday during the tree setup.
Manila High School Theatre’s production of Peter Pan was a hit with audiences earlier this month. The play, which ran November 9th, 10th, and 11th, used the audience’s imagination to bring the story to life.
Vernal City Council covered multiple agenda items during last week’s meeting including possible regulations and ordinance changes. The Council considered on a first reading the possibility of new sign regulations and sign setbacks. The focus of the change is blade signs in the downtown area, shares Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion.
The former UHP trooper charged with starting the Maeser Highway Fire has pleaded guilty in 8th District Court to a reduced charge of Arson. The Maeser Highway Fire started on June 9th in Uintah County resulting in evacuations and the temporary closure of the highway.
The Uintah High School Student of the Week is Karlee Zager, nominated by Mrs. Durrant. “Karlee is a hard worker who is great with classroom participation,” shares Mrs. Durrant. “She blows me away with her deep thoughts on our reading and makes amazing text to text and text to world connections.
Local Utah Highway Patrol is urging Basin families to be prepared for safe travels during the Thanksgiving holiday. “Everyone check the air pressure in their tires for safety and prepare for cold weather emergencies,” shares UHP Sgt. Kellie Oaks.
In the fall of 2018, the students of Union High School will be transferring to a brand new building across the street. According to Superintendent David Brotherson, the capacity of the school is 1,600 students, doubling the amount of students compared to the old high school.
The Vernal City Council meeting last week included final approval on a refinance of higher interest bonds to a lower interest rate. During a council meeting this fall, the City secured municipal financial advisor, Zions Public Finance, to prepare all documents necessary to issue the bond resolution and the council had given the approval to move ahead.
Unemployment numbers by County show a positive trend for the Uintah Basin. While still in the higher end of the state averages, County unemployment rates in Uintah and Duchesne County continue to decrease. Duchesne County went down by two-tenths of a percent from 5.4 to 5.2 percent while Uintah County decreased from 5.8 to 5.6 percent unemployment.
A pair of Duchesne County Jail inmates are facing charges of Forcible Sexual Abuse following an instance within the jail involving two additional inmates. 30-year-old Zhondee Spring Nephi, who was arrested in connection with the August 23rdhomicide of Sukakee Manyhides, and 21-year-old Letha Beston, who is being held for a weapons offense charge, are each charged with two counts of second-degree felony Forcible Sexual Abuse and Nephi is also charged with third-degree felony Assault By A Prisoner.
The Division of Wildlife Resources is recommending more black bear hunting permits and public input is welcome. According to DWR biologists, the black bear population is doing extremely well in Utah with the number of black bears almost tripling in the last 20 years. The number of permits issued this past season gave hunters a chance to take 758 black bears in the state and for the upcoming season biologists are recommending that 860 permits be issued.
The Uintah Impact Mitigation Special Service District will soon be in need of a new Executive Director with the announcement that current director Paul Hacking has accepted the position as the next President of Tooele Technical College beginning January 1st, 2018. The primary purpose of the Uintah Impact Mitigation Special Service District is to support higher education efforts within Uintah County. Since Hacking became the Executive Director over 6 years ago, the District has orchestrated the Uintah County Resident Scholarship Program, worked closely with USU and UBTech supporting the building of the Nursing program, supported the USU air quality research efforts, and assisted with building over a dozen different educational programs. Moving forward, the Impact District Board of Directors has stated that they plan to consult with their higher educational partners and take the time necessary to consider the abilities, education, and experience required of the next Executive Director. “The Board intends to move forward in a prudent and strategic manner in order to build upon its successes of the past and to continue its specific role of supporting higher education in our County.” After this process, they plan to begin a public search for the next Executive Director.