Click your favorite station to learn more
98.5 The Fox
105.5 KLCY
104.5 KVEL
92.5 Jack
KNEU 1250The Department of Workforce Services has released the monthly employment summary for the state. Utah’s nonfarm payroll has grown by 3 percent adding 45,200 jobs to the economy since June 2018. The state unemployment rate is down from 2.9 to 2.8 percent. Nationally, unemployment has ticked up to 3.7 percent.
The 2020 Fiscal Year has begun and Vernal City officials were able to put the work in early so that the budget is considerate of residents’ pocket books. “City officials are aware of the local economy and consequently made a number of cutbacks within the proposed budget,” shares Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion.
“It’s the scariest thing you’ll ever be proud of.” These words of Steve Puro will make sense to any parent once you hear the story of Puro’s five daughters, all of whom were raised in Roosevelt and graduated from Union High School. The five Puro sisters are the focus of a new article shared on the United States Army website.
The Altamont Longhorn Days is a week long celebration that is a huge part of the community. Races, movies, games, activities and a rodeo is a just a few of the things that happen during the week. The Altamont Longhorn Days Facebook page shared that in preparation for the event, men from Uintah Basin Recovery spent their last two Saturdays painting the entire outer fence and spreading dirt in the playground. The recovery center is a Christian centered, non-denominational inpatient program for those that are trying to overcome addiction. The facility is located at the former Thompson School on Ioka Lane. It is part of the recovery to give back to the community and they are doing a wonderful job of it.
Some people love to get outside and run. However even these people might call those that showed up at McCoy Flats Trailhead on Saturday a little crazy. Well, crazy but dang tough! The Uintah Recreation District hosted a new event that they called the ‘McCoy Flats Death Race’. The point of the race is for participants to run a 4 mile course every hour until there is a winner. If you can’t start the next hour, either from exhaustion or because you’re still running the previous leg, then you’re out. The fun kicked off at 6am with 87 participants and ran 10 rounds for a total of over 40 miles! That’s 10 hours of running. It was a true test of endurance as temperatures got to 96 degrees. Casey Mckee was named this year’s winner with Kenny Searle awarded second place and Shannon Black with third.
The Duchesne County School District 2019 – 2020 school year kicks off with registration Tuesday, August 13th to Thursday, August 15th. Altamont Elementary will register new students on the 14th. Neola Elementary, Myton Elementary, East Elementary, Kings Peak Elementary, Centennial Elementary, Duchesne Elementary, Con Amore Preschool, DCSD Preschool and Tabiona School have registration on the 13th and 14th. Roosevelt Jr. High will be open from 8am to 3pm on the 14th and 15th. Altamont High is open from 8am to 3pm on the 13th and 14th.
As Utah celebrates the pioneers that braved the perils of the West to forge a new life and open up more of the United States, Uintah County has many activities to join in the festivities. Things will kick off with the Boy Scout Breakfast at the Colton Pavilion from 6:30am to 9:30am. After breakfast catch the community parade with the theme of “On the Shoulders of Greatness” starting at 10am.
It was another great year for the Cal Ripken Pacific Southwest Regional Baseball Tournament hosted by Vernal Youth Baseball. The team from Yuma, Arizona walked away the tournament champions but all twelve teams enjoyed a fantastic week of baseball.
The temperature is rising and the Vernal City Police Department has a way to help the youngsters to cool off. The program is called Operation Chill and has been sponsored by the 7-Eleven company for the last 24 years. It is a chance for local cops to connect with children by giving away free Slurpee drink coupons.
Friday night’s 5k event in Vernal was a success and will help at least one child escape the horrors of child sex trafficking. The Vernal Rescue Run had 197 participants and between the 5K and raffle drawings a total of $3,156 dollars was raised. The entire amount will be donated to Operation Underground Railroad, an organization of modern day abolitionists who free children from trafficking around the world.
Local officials make it a priority to advocate for public lands access and took a trip to our nation’s Capital last week to do just that. Uintah County officials met with United States Senator Mitt Romney in Washington, D.C. last Wednesday.
As the area sets into full time summer, the weather will show its hotter side. Uintah Basin residents should be diligent in staying hydrated in these warmer temperatures. Since our bodies are around three-quarters water and it is essential to all major functions of our body being sure we are drinking enough water is a huge part of staying healthy in the summer.