The Wayne & Garfield County Insider January 18, 2024

The

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Serving Wayne & Garfield Counties, Utah

Loa • Fremont • Lyman • Bicknell • Teasdale • Torrey • Grover • Fruita • Caineville • Hanksville Panguitch • Panguitch Lake • Hatch • Antimony • Bryce • Tropic • Henrieville • Cannonville • Escalante • Boulder

Corner Post Media, P.O. Box 105, Escalante, UT 84726

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Boulder Planning Commission

by Tessa Barkan

Emily Leach | The Insider

A Horned Lark. The 2023 Escalante Christmas Bird Count results saw a big spike in the Horned Lark population, from the 15 seen in 2022, to the 112 seen in 2023.

two Great-Horned Owls perched atop the Blue Spruce tree outside our home. And with that began an exciting—and relatively warm—day of birding for all our birding friends who volunteered to participate in this year’s CBC. In total, twenty-eight partici-

Loa Elementary Students Treated with Torrey Dark Skies Presentation

BLM, RINS Seek Volunteers to Monitor Raptor Nests

Cont'd on A6

Courtesy Mary Bedingfieldsmith

Last fall, the students of Loa Elementary School were treated to a presentation by Torrey Dark Skies volunteers about the October annular eclipse.

LOA - Last fall, the students of Loa Elementary School were treated to a presentation about the October annular eclipse. Volunteers working with the local group Torrey Dark Skies (TDS) visited all of the classes and shared a short informational film.

They talked about eclipses and answered student questions. In addition, TDS presented over 40 sky-related books to the school library. The content

Jan. 8, 2024

by Marvin Contreras | Christmas Bird Count Co-compiler

ESCALANTE - The Escalante Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which took place on December 14th, 2023, began for myself and Lela Ferrigno (together cocompilers for our region) with a wonderful omen for the day ahead: the loving hoots exchanged between

Boulder Planning

Garfield County Commission

The 2023 Escalante Christmas Bird Count Tallies 75 Species, 4,124 Birds

Jan. 2024 BOULDER - The January 2024 Boulder Planning Commission (PC) meeting began by welcoming new members.

Nancy Tosta is now a full member of the PC, and Darrell Fuller is the alternate member.

The annual Open Meetings Training was held.

The town will soon have a new website.

Forthcoming organization of PC documents was discussed.

It was suggested that the County Planner, Kayden Figgins, work on updating the Boulder Subdivision Ordinance based on state requirements from SB 174. State funding is available for this so the town will not be paying.

Figgins is doing this for many other towns and has

Issue #1546

insiderutah.com

of the books ranged from astronomy to star-related mythology and included picture books and novels.

Because eye protection is important when viewing eclipses, the TDS volunteers demonstrated the correct way to use eclipse glasses and provided a pair of eclipse glasses to every student in the school district. KeepPresentation Cont'd on A6

REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA

SALT LAKE CITY The Bureau of Land Management's Utah State Office is calling for community involvement in the Raptor Inventory Nest Survey (RINS), a unique opportunity to participate in a critical citizen science project focused on the state's raptors, including eagles, hawks, falcons, osprey, and owls.

Through the RINS programs, citizens help collect data on these birds of prey, including identifying their presence and nesting behaviors. The data collected is crucial for the management and protection of Volunteers Cont'd on B3

pants covered one hundred forty-four miles by driving, twelve by walking, and seven by bike. A combined twenty-seven hours were also spent observing feeders, as well. The day was mild, with fifty degrees being the high and twenty being the low. The

**Weather is subject to Change

Escalante CBC Cont'd on A6

Garfield Commission Cont'd on B3

NPS Announces Developed Area at Hite Closed Until Further Notice

Courtesy National Park Service

Beginning January 15, the National Park Service’s (NPS) developed area in Hite, Utah, has been temporarily closed.

GLEN CANYON N.R.A. - Beginning January 15, the National Park Service’s (NPS) developed area in Hite, Utah, has been temporarily closed. Hite is a remote ranger district in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located at the top of Lake Powell,

adjacent to the confluence of the Colorado and Dirty Devil Rivers. Motorists driving the 126-mile stretch of Utah State Highway 95 between Hanksville and Blanding, Utah, will need sufficient fuel and water for their travel and recreational needs. The nearest towns

to Hite with available fuel and water are Hanksville, Utah (51 miles to the west) and Blanding, Utah (79 miles to the east). Be aware how much fuel is in your tank and how Temp Closure Cont'd on A6

UPCOMING EVENTS...

2024 Panguitch Ice Fishing Derby

Feb. 3, 2024 Panguitch Lake Fishing starts at 6 a.m.

THURS. JAN. 18 - WED. JAN. 24

Warmer and partly cloudy for the majority of the week. Rain/snow showers possible Sat Mon (≈40 - 50%). Highs in the 40s; lows in the teens and 20s.

group managed to tally 4,124 birds, representing 75 species, which is a significant increase from the very chilly 2022 count in which 3,696 birds were tallied and 60 species were

GARFIELD CO. The first Garfield County Commission meeting of 2024 took place on January 8.

The legislative session starts Jan. 17, with over 1300 bills already filed. Kaden Figgins will be the Commission’s “legislative analyst,” researching bills that specifically affect county operations.

Clerk Camille Moore said 37 bills deal with changes to elections. [Reporter’s note: For example, HB92 eliminates the current system of mail-out ballots.] Moore said voter participation has notably increased with the mailed ballots; she anticipates 85 percent voter turnout in November 2024. Another bill would alter the Transient Room Tax (TRT) structure, drastically affecting small, tourismoriented counties like Garfield.

True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.

—Martin Luther King Jr.

Bryce Winterfest Feb. 17 -19

Ruby's Inn rubysinn.com/bryce-canyonwinter-festival ALL content for THE WAYNE & GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER MUST BE submitted by FRIDAY AT NOON to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper.

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The Insider

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January 18, 2024

BLM Releases Decision to Gather Wild Burros in Utah’s Canyonlands Herd Management Area

Courtesy Blm.Gov

The BLM Richfield Field Office announces the approved gather and removal of excess wild burros within—and those that have strayed outside—the Canyonlands Herd Management Area (HMA) from public managed lands.

RICHFIELD - To protect rangeland health conditions and the health of wild burro herds, the BLM Richfield Field Office announces the approved gather and removal of excess wild burros within— and those that have strayed outside—the Canyonlands Herd Management Area (HMA) from public managed lands. The decision authorizes a 10-year gather

plan to remove excess burros down to the low Appropriate Management Level (AML) as expeditiously as feasible and to implement population control measures in and around the Canyonlands HMA, located in eastern Wayne County, Utah.

“The gather decision will help to achieve and maintain an appropriate population size over a 10-

year period,” said BLM Richfield Field Manager David Mortensen. “The decision will also assist in gaining information on herd characteristics, collecting genetic samples for monitoring, determining herd health, and providing for public safety.”

The current population of wild burros in the Canyonlands HMA is estimated at 151 animals, not includ-

ing foals born in 2023, while the AML is set at 60 to 100 burros. The BLM estimates that up to 91 wild burros need to be removed from the Canyonlands HMA and adjacent lands outside the area to ensure a healthy landscape and reach the AML. The Canyonlands HMA is approximately 25 miles east of Hanksville, Utah, in the Horseshoe Canyon area. The Canyonlands HMA encompasses 89,392 acres, and includes several parcels owned by Utah Trust Lands Administration. It is also adjacent to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on the east and the Horseshoe Canyon unit of Canyonlands National Park on the west.

BLM Utah manages 19 wild horse and burro herd management areas on nearly 2.5 million acres. To learn more, visit the Wild Horse and Burro Herd Management Areas webpage.

For additional information, please contact the Richfield Field Office at blm_ut_rf_ comments@blm.gov.

—Bureau of Land Management

Letters to the Editor Send us your letters.

Your thoughts, opinions, and notes to the community are important to us and we welcome your submissions of 500 words or less.

Letters to the editor must include the author’s name and location (town). We may edit letters for length, format and clarity, and we also reserve the right to refuse material. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are not necessarily those of The Insider.

Send letters to snapshot@live.com.

'The Divide in Our County Breaks My Heart' affiliation decision. I’m a fourth generation Garfield County Democrat whose great grandfather and aunt served in the Utah State Legislature as Democrats, but I have also recently supported some great Republicans for office. I have found very little difference between myself and my Republican friends and colleagues.

Ultimately after discussing this decision with my friends and family, with my dad and husband both concerned with protecting me from people who would not understand what I was trying to do, their tribalism seeing me and my opponent so differently even though we are both grandkids of Napoleon Bonaparte Roundy, I decided maybe this wasn’t the best way to achieve my goals.

One of those goals I would like to share here, and that is why this campaign became a letter to the editor. The divide in our county breaks my heart.

Maybe because it feels too much like my parent’s divorce when I was 8 years old. The breakup of Boulder and Escalante. I felt it to my core at the meetings about the Monument at the court house a few years ago, where residents were required to choose a side. I felt it on the school board when the commission continually made people afraid with the threat of schools closing even though they never closed.

I have felt it in the name calling by our elected officials. I have felt it with the questioning of the legitimacy of new residents to our communities and the discounting of the voices of some of our oldest residents. In my campaign, I wanted for us all to come together in imagining what the future of Garfield County would look like. I wanted us to stop and listen to each other. To hear what we love about this place and see the common ground and then to imag-

ine how we could come together to create the future of Garfield County. Even as I write these words, I realize it is too lofty for a campaign because it would require a commitment from all of us. So I would like to encourage every resident of Garfield County to imagine what our future looks like. I hope some of you will share it in letters to the editor. Or maybe you will call your elected official and ask them to consider what you imagine to be important and to call them out when they get off course. I hope we will also listen to each other a little deeper and go beyond our tribe to hear what other residents of the county imagine. In a year, that could be full of even greater divide; let’s see if we can turn the tide and become a county of big dreams and respect for one another.

Cheryl Cox, Boulder

Response to Letters Regarding 'Local Officials Calling All Environmentalists Terrorists' Mr. Weppner [in his "Letters to the Editor" to The Insider dated 12/7/23 and 1/4/24] paints a broad brush by using Abbey and eco-terrorism as the excuse for local officials calling all environmentalists terrorists. Abbey’s novel of fiction hardly qualifies him to be a member of Al-Qaeda. In my forty-three years living here, I have experienced the actions of extremists that threatened the safety of me and my family, as well as the incredible generosity of many people.

The rhetoric of elected officials shows why Mr. Hensel [in his "Letters to the Editor" to The Insider dated 11/30/23 and 12/21/23] thinks civil discourse has deteriorated in

Garfield County. Surely Mr. Weppner is aware that terrorism on public lands issues has been going on in Garfield County since the 1980s, when public participation on land issues was met with open hostility, intimidation, threats and public effigy hangings in downtown Escalante. The environmental groups that I have worked with and supported always worked within the framework of the law and government policy.

In his wonderful book on southern Utah, "Sagebrush Empire,” Jonathan Thompson writes about this public lands dilemma: “The sense of entitlement tends to be stronger among those who live nearest to those public lands, particularly

white people like myself whose families have been here in the area for a couple of generations or more...

Worst of all, this sense of entitlement ignores the history of the land. It is predicated on the false notion that prior to the Euro American invasion the land was empty and America’s for the taking."

Mr. Weppner should be aware of the lawless activity (supported by a number of people I have spoken with in Garfield County) in southern Utah’s Recapture Canyon, Bunkerville, Nevada and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. This illegal activity included county commissioners, sheriffs and state legislators. These insurrections were fueled by a

radical misinterpretation of the constitution and the rejection of federal authority that allowed sheriffs to recruit militias to take charge by force. Known as Posse Comitatus, it was used to appease angry southerners during reconstruction who resented federal authority and led to lynchings. The public lands lawbreakers included members of the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters. These terrorist groups then went to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, where they participated in another insurrection which was followed by felony convictions and prison time for the terrorists with more to come for their leaders.

Robert Weinick, Calf Creek

Insider

The

I came home from a lovely vacation with my family to find out from a friend that if I was going to run for office, the dates had been moved up, and I needed to decide by Monday. I spent the next several days going back and forth on this decision. I had just enjoyed a great time with my family, so “no,” I’m not running. It would take too much time from them.

My friends talked about the idea of doing a campaign in a different, more positive way that would not only give voice to my list of the concerns I wanted addressed in our county, but maybe bridge the divide a bit.

Ok, “yes,” I’ll file. I spent restless nights, creating my list of priorities. I rehearsed replies to attacks.

I wrote essays about how we could become a group of people united around our love for this place and our respect for each other. I even debated my

P.O. Box 105 Escalante, UT 84726 435-826-4400 email snapshot@live.com Publisher: Erica Walz Layout & Graphic Design: Emily Leach Reporter: Tessa Barkan Reporter: Amiee Maxwell Reporter: Kadi Franson Reporter: Ian Marynowski Reporter: Jaynie Connor Reporter: Nancy Goude Payroll: Trudy Stowe

Local columnists:

Mack Oetting - FYI Panguitch The Insider is a weekly community newspaper delivered each Thursday to households in Wayne and Garfield counties, Utah. The entire contents of this newspaper are © 2023 The Wayne & Garfield County Insider, LLC/ Corner Post Media. The Insider reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement or submitted content items. Articles submitted by independent writers may or may not be the opinion of The Insider.

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The Insider

January 18, 2024

Penny’s Place—A Story About a Rescue Dog

by Color Country Animal Welfare

Courtesy Color Country Animal Welfare

With help from funds raised by an IOBY campaign, Color Country Animal Welfare was able to build a self-contained dog shelter called Penny's Place.

Penny's Place is named for its current resident, Penny, a dog that came to the shelter several months ago from a living situation that left her traumatized.

TORREY - Sometimes dog rescuing comes in waves, and sometimes dog rescuing means caring for certain dogs who need solitude and extra human care to recover from their pasts, away from the barking hubbub of an animal shelter.

Penny is one of those dogs. She came to us several months ago from a living situation that left her traumatized. She had been living in a small space with seven other dogs. She’d had limited interaction with people and was terrified of everything and everyone. It broke our hearts to see this beautiful, sweet creature in such distress.

We had an idea. Let’s create a safe, quiet space for Penny to heal from her trauma and to slowly acclimate her to life as a pet companion for an adopter.

This safe space will also be a respite for future dogs in her situation. At Color Country Animal Welfare (CCAW), we have limited kennel space for our increasing number of rescued dogs, and the neediest of those will be doted

on with one-on-one attention from CCAW’s dogloving staff and volunteers.

So, we started a crowd-sourcing fundraising campaign on IOBY (In Our Backyards) to build a selfcontained dog shelter on CCAW’s property—near enough to allow frequent visits for healthy human interactions but far enough from the distractions and noise of shelter activities.

Our IOBY campaign was a success and allowed us to move ahead with Penny’s Place! We got a good deal on a 12x16 Tuff Shed (Thanks, Tuff Shed!), and we got to work pouring a foundation and digging a 300’ trench to run electricity to Penny’s new digs so that she could stay toasty warm in the cold months.

Tireless volunteers spent two laborious weeks outfitting the shed with insulation, drywall and flooring, and a doggie door, of course. Penny now has a spacious heated home with her own fenced-in yard.

She has been there for a few weeks now and has shown slow but steady progress.

Today, Penny will take treats tossed to her, walk

circles around the person visiting her, and lie down in the dirt when she has visitors. She makes sustained eye contact and “shakes off” her stress after a disruption. We have to admit there have been hard days, and there will be many more, but this progress is marked, and it deserves our attention.

Penny is not an anomaly. As an animal welfare nonprofit, we know we will see dogs like her again.

Our goal is to be prepared and set every animal in our care up for success. Penny’s Place allows us to serve our surrounding community more fully. CCAW prides itself on finding the perfect forever home for every animal. With a secondary space for the neediest of dogs, we are certain our mission will succeed tenfold.

To all of you who donated to CCAW’s IOBY campaign for Penny’s Place, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We’re certain Penny thanks you, as well. Next time you’re in Torrey, stop by and see Penny’s Place and know that your support makes a difference.

State and Federal Wildfire Officials Celebrate Three Years of Decreased Wildfires in Utah as Part of the Fire Sense Program

SALT LAKE CITY Instead of facing a wildfire-prone season fueled by substantial growth in vegetation from a snowy year, state and federal authorities marked the conclusion of three successive years with decreasing wildfire numbers.

Data from 2020 to 2023 shows that humancaused wildfires were reduced by 52% from the first year and another 56% over the past two years, even though factors like extreme drought and high fuels were expected to contribute to increased fire risk: Human-caused wildfire • 2020 - 1,176 • 2021 - 570 • 2022 - 466 • 2023 - 288 “Fire Sense has helped us significantly reduce human-caused wildfires in Utah,” said Gov. Spencer Cox. “Neighboring states have also noticed the campaign’s success. Fire Sense is a great example of how Utah continues to take the lead on important issues that impact each and every one

of us.”

Fire officials with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands held a ceremony at the Utah State Capitol to recognize the efforts of state and federal leaders who have played a vital role in guiding Utah residents to exercise Fire Sense when they recreate outdoors, use fireworks, burn debris and use firearms.

In response to the alarming increase in the number of human-caused wildfires in 2020, Gov. Cox took a bold step to launch a comprehensive statewide public awareness campaign. The resulting Fire Sense campaign aimed to prevent and reduce humancaused wildfires by bringing attention to behaviors that spark wildfires.

“We are proud of the work our fire staff and prevention program has put in to raise awareness around the impact people have on wildfire starts,” said Jamie Barnes, Director/State Forester for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. “People are responsible for every nine out of 10 wildfire starts across the

country, but we have cut that number in half.”

In September 2023, Fire Sense received the bronze-level Smokey Bear Award for its impact on fire prevention at a state level.

Due to the success of the Fire Sense program, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands presented a golden Pulaski to Governor Cox for his department’s continued support of Fire Sense and fire prevention efforts in Utah.

The division also presented a golden Pulaski to representatives of the interagency partners who have been instrumental in the success of the Fire Sense campaign over the last three years.

A Pulaski tool is a versatile tool that combines the functions of an axe and a mattock. It can chop and cleave wood, as well as excavate and grub soil. This tool is commonly used by wildland firefighters. It was named after Ed Pulaski, a hero who gained fame during the Big Blowup of 1910.

—Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands

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Wills, Trusts, and More

The Insider

Your Estate is More than Assets

by Jeffery J. McKenna Even if your children are grown with families of their own, you can probably remember scenes of sibling rivalry when they were younger. In some families, the competition continues into adulthood; for others, it decreases as children mature. But it can all come flooding back while trying to divide up your estate after your death, as your children argue over who gets what.

If you die without a will or trust, a court will decide, based on state law, who will inherit your property. The result could well be contrary to your wishes. You have worked hard and accumulated assets—house, car, jewelry, investments, family heirlooms, etc. It is risky to simply expect your children to divide your assets evenly or work the distribution out for themselves.

It is sure to create problems and mount expenses of probate, and your heirs will have to put up with court-appointed people making the family decisions.

While many people worry about the federal estate tax, the truth is most of us won’t have a tax problem under the current tax laws. But there is another tax that should be considered when formulating your estate plan— the “family tax.” The family tax should be of great concern. It is the emotional “tax” of the hard feelings paid by children and

grandchildren when you do not express your wishes legally. It is also the financial price paid by charities that you would have gifted some of your assets to.

You can make it easy on yourself and your loved ones by taking a few simple steps to ensure that your estate is in order. Whatever the size of your estate, large or small, the first step is to have your intentions put in writing. You can do this either in a basic will or a will plus the trust documents that will be needed to carry out your wishes. An estate planning professional can help you make the best decision for your individual financial and family situation.

Once you have a plan in place, it is usually a good idea to discuss your wishes with your family. If a family member has questions about the details, or has any quibbles, you can explain your reasons for structuring your estate plan as you have. Often a simple and direct explanation that makes sense to your family will set their minds at ease, and prevent future hard feelings. While your family shouldn’t dictate your actions, they should be informed about them.

It is also a good idea to discuss division of your personal property. The method of making a list with a description of the property items and who you’d like to have them— with input from your children—can alleviate any

NOW WITH RICHFIELD AND PANGUITCH OFFICES TO SERVE CLIENTS IN AROUND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. Jeffery J. McKenna is a local attorney whose practice has been focused on Estate Planning for over 25 years.

He is licensed and serves clients in Utah, Arizona and Nevada. He is a shareholder at the law firm of Barney, McKenna and Olmstead. If you have questions you would like addressed in these articles, please feel free to contact him at 435 628-1711 or jmckenna@barney-mckenna. com or visit the firm’s website at WWW.BARNEY-MCKENNA.COM, he would enjoy hearing from you. Additionally, you can RSVP to attend one of his FREE Estate Planning Seminars in Richfield, at 159 North Main Street, every Third Thursday. hard feelings later.

Putting together an estate plan is not as daunting as it might seem at first, and it pays big dividends in the long run. Not having an estate plan in place can cost you not only in dollars and cents, but could also cost you family discord.

Comics

country roads

by Lynn Griffin

January 18, 2024

tHe lAuGhiNg Counting pOiNt!!

Teacher: "If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many would you have?"

Johnny: "Seven."

Teacher: "No, listen carefully...If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?"

Johnny: "Seven."

Teacher: "Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?"

Johnny: "Six." Teacher: "Good. Now if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?"

Johnny: "Seven!"

Teacher: "Johnny, where in the heck do you get seven from?!"

Johnny: "Because I've already got a freaking cat!"

Where Are We?

A husband and wife were driving through Louisiana. As they approached Natchitoches, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back and forth, then they stopped for lunch. At the counter, the husband asked the blonde waitress, "Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are very slowly?" She leaned over the counter and said, "Burrr-gerrr Kiiing."

Fall

Bob: "Holy crap, I just fell off a 50 ft ladder."

Jim: "Oh my God, are you okay?"

Bob: "Yeah it's a good thing I fell off the first step."

PUNishment

A bank robber points a gun at a teller, and says, "Give me all the money or you're geography!" The puzzled teller replies, "Did you mean to say 'or you're history?'" The robber says, "Don't change the subject!"

sudoku To Play: Complete the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9

Speeding

A police officer attempts to stop a car for speeding and the guy gradually increases his speed until he's topping 100 mph.

The man eventually realizes he can't escape and finally pulls over. The cop approaches the car and says, "It's been a long day and my shift is almost over, so if you can give me a good excuse for your behavior, I'll let you go." The guy thinks for a few seconds and then says, "My wife ran away with a cop about a week ago. I thought you might be that officer trying to give her back!"

This week's answers on B5

THEME:

The Grammys ACROSS 1. Moonshine maker 6. *Artist with most 2024 Grammy nominations 9. Not his 13. "Roots" author 14. That guy 15. Full of emotion (2 words) 16. Relating to #3 Down 17. Tarzan's mom, e.g.

18. Caribbean island destination 19. *The Recording ____, voting organization 21. *"What Was I Made For?" movie 23. *"A Boy Named ____," 1970 Grammy winner 24. Prickle on a wire 25. Drench 28. Waiter's handout 30. *Grammy-nominated Lauper song, "True ____" 35. Amusement destination 37. Rachel Renee Russell's "____ Diaries" 39. Extend subscription 40. South Korean boy band 41. Type of wrap 43. Italian wine region 44. Forearm length unit 46. Honey-producing facility 47. Saw incision 48. Nauseant 50. Fancy marbles used as shooters 52. U.S. Marine Corps gift recipient 53. EU currency 55. Aglet on a shoelace, e.g.

57. *____.com Arena 60. *Miley Cyrus' Song of the Year nominee and popular romantic gift 64. Texas cook-off dish 65. *"In the ____ Tonight," by Grammy-winner Phil Collins 67. Send, as payment 68. Safe place 69. Bird word 70. Leave out

71. Bookkeeping entry 72. Refrigerator sound 73. Scatter DOWN 1. Not Sunni 2. Baby powder ingredient 3. Pelvic parts 4. Shows the way 5. Aristotle's school 6. One-horse carriage 7. Mailing "code" 8. Single-cell protozoan 9. *Grammy-winner, ____ Alpert 10. *Purse for the red carpet 11. Bumpkin 12. Pampering place 15. Bar ____, ME 20. Rewards, in the olden days 22. Pendulum's path 24. Cantina staple 25. *Ice ____, Best New Artist nominee 26. Wooden ship caulking 27. Space exploration mission 29. *Grammy host for

the fourth time 31. Plumbing problem 32. Early stages of illness 33. Reminiscent of the past 34. *"Anti-Hero" performer 36. Not purl 38. Pacific Islanders' herbal drink 42. Handrail post 45. Neckwear decoration 49. Use scissors 51. Soft palate vibrations 54. House pest 56. Resided 57. Social media conversation 58. Bank of Paris 59. Big Bang's original matter 60. Word on a gift tag 61. Arabian bigwig 62. Fair attraction 63. Hot pot 64. Denoted by symbol X 66. Debtor's letters Solution on B5

January 18, 2024

The Insider

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FYI PanguItch

by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com The weather outside is frightful, but inside it is quite delightful, so let it snow, let it snow. They don’t write songs like that anymore. This last week, we did get about 5” of snow out of three storms.

Bless our city workers, who were out plowing the streets and sidewalks even though it was Sunday. It’s wintertime, and not much is happening in town. This should be nice for all of the people that work so hard on most of our events; they could use a rest.

What Pat and I did for excitement this last Thursday was to go down to Henderson for Pat’s Aunt LaPriels' funeral; she was 93. I met Pat in Henderson, and after we were married, we hadn’t been back there for probably sixty years. I had friends in Victory Village and Henderson, which used to be mostly desert and a dusty little town. It is not like this anymore. It has swelled up to be about ten times the size. But, believe me, it would be better to live in California. It took us over an hour to get back to the freeway. Boulder Highway is four lanes across and packed. I decided to take Lamb back to 15.

This trip used to take about 15 minutes, but not anymore. I have never driven in that heavy of traffic anywhere, and it will probably be another sixty years before we go back there.

I have more information on Leap Years. According to legend, in the 5th century, Saint Brigid of Ireland asked Saint Patrick to grant women the right to propose marriage.

The two negotiated, and it was agreed that women could propose on Leap Day. Brigid then proposed to Patrick, who declined and gave her a silk gown to soothe her broken heart.

Gifts for rejected proposals by women became the tradition. According to Scottish lore, a rejected proposal would entitle a woman to a kiss, a silk gown, or twelve pairs of gloves—the latter being so that the woman could hide the fact that she was not wearing a ring. The legend grew, and the practice spread throughout Europe before eventually arriving in the U.S. We usually have Leap Year dances here.

For those of you that have ever been affiliated with the Quilt Walk play, I found a small magnet with a beautiful picture of the Quilt Walk statue in the park across from the Panguitch Social Hall. It also has a short story of the pioneers who went for supplies in that winter of '63 on the back. It is at Ace Hardware near the cash registers. They are only $5.00 and will make you a great keepsake.

The economy keeps rolling along, with more people employed than at any time in our country's history. 232,000 new jobs

have been reported, and the unemployment is below 4% for the 45th week in a row. The Feds are talking about lowering the interest rate this year because they feel that inflation is finally under control—down to under 3%.

After being hit with a crime wave during the pandemic, America is experiencing a peaceful wave. A new survey of crime statistics from 175 cities by independent criminologist Jeff Asher has found that violent crime has plummeted in 2023 to one of the lowest rates in 50 years.

There has been a 13% drop in the murder rate, which is one of the steepest drops on record. FBI data for the third quarter show that every category of crime is down, except motor-vehicle theft. This comes on top of a 6% drop in crime in 2022. Some may insist that cities are hellholes, overrun by violent criminals, but the statistical evidence on the 2023 drop is enough to trust and celebrate. (Atlantic News) There is good news at tax time for all of us on the lower end of the money pit; for once, our taxes are being cut, and the 1%ers are being left out (AARP: The Magazine). Because of inflation, the federal tax

brackets have been adjusted to reflect inflation. This could mean that you may fall into a lower bracket, paying a smaller percentage of taxes on income.

The standard deduction for singles is $14,600, up from $13,850. Couples filing jointly is $29,200, up from $27,000. Good news is that older filers can increase the standard deduction by $1,550 apiece, which would result in a standard deduction of $32,300. Below are the changes for the people that live in our area: • 24% for singles includes income from $100,526 - $191,950 • 24% married couple’s includes income from $201,051 - $383,900 • 22% for singles $47,151 - $100,525.

• 22% for married 94,301 - $201.050 • 12% for singles $11,601 - $47,150 • 12% married $23,201 $ 94,300 • 10% singles $11,600 or less. for married • 10% $23,201 or less Your income will come after your deduction.

Love never dies, only people do.

Mack O.

Select Health Invites Organizations to Apply for Awards Program Supporting Community Health Initiatives SALT LAKE CITY Select Health announced it has officially opened the application process for the Select Health Awards, an award recognizing organizations dedicated to enhancing health and well-being within their communities. This year, the awards will select ten outstanding organizations from each of the following three service areas including Utah, Idaho and Clark County, Nevada. Each recipient will be awarded $5,000 to further support their programs and initiatives.

In commemoration of Select Health’s 25th anniversary, the Select Health Awards program was launched in 2008.

Since its inception, Select Health has contributed more than $1 million through this program to support community organizations, highlighting its long-standing commitment to community well-being.

These awards highlight the impactful work undertaken by organizations committed to building strong communities and aiding those

in need.

Over the last sixteen years, the Select Health Awards has acknowledged a diverse range of organizations championing critical causes addressing access to health care, food security, housing stability, improving physical and mental well-being, therapy and support services for abuse survivors, artistic programs for children and assisting organizations delivering health services, training, and education to underserved populations.

“Select Health’s mission is to help people live the healthiest lives possible and these awards enable us to acknowledge and provide additional resources to local organizations who share our vision, empowering them to continue their important work and positive impact,” said Rob Hitchcock, Select Health president and CEO. “The exceptional work these organizations undertake is truly amazing, and we remain committed to aiding them in advancing their missions through these awards."

Applications for the Select Health Awards are open from January 1 through February 29, 2024, or until 200 submissions for each state have been received. Select Health invites all eligible organizations to apply for the award at selecthealthawards.org.

About Select Health Select Health® is a nonprofit health plan dedicated to simplifying access to healthcare for its more than 1.1 million members across the Mountain West. Through a shared mission with Intermountain Health of Helping People Live the Healthiest Lives Possible®, Select Health is committed to making this possible through simple, sincere, and seamless experiences and products.

Centered around member needs, Select Health offers commercial and government medical plans, as well as dental, wellness products, and pharmacy benefit management. For more information, visit selecthealth.org.

—Select Health

The Insider

A6

Escalante CBC: In total, twenty-eight participants covered one

hundred forty-four miles by driving, twelve by walking, and seven by bike.

A combined twenty-seven hours were also spent observing feeders as well. The day was mild, with fifty degrees being the high and twenty being the low. The group managed to tally 4,124 birds, representing 75 species, which is a significant increase from the very chilly 2022 count in which 3,696 birds were tallied and 60 species were counted.

Emily Leach | The Insider

Four Great-Horned Owls were counted during the 2023 Escalante Christmas Bird Count on December 14, 2023.

Escalante CBC Cont'd from A1

counted.

As expected, most birds were seen in and around feeders, as well as around bodies of water, with relatively little—and sometimes any—birds inbetween. Canada geese (471) were spotted flying in and around Wide Hollow Reservoir, with a significant increase from last year’s 226 tally. Snow geese (3) were also seen in the area. This year’s duck count was modestly bigger than last’s. To start, the American Wigeon (57) reappeared following a notable absence last year.

Also, for a second year in a row the Ring-necked Duck (225) outnumbered the Mallard (83) population. Our counters also saw Northern Pintail (4), Green-winged Teal (62), Redhead (29), Canvasback (21), Lesser Scaup (19), Common Goldeneye (11), Common Merganser (3), Gadwall (5), Bufflehead (19), Hooded Merganser (1), Ruddy Duck (106), and of course our resident Coots (31). One exciting development is that counters Kathy Munthe, Lisa Young, and Terry Tolbert were able to add one more bird to the Escalante count’s record: The Ring-billed Gull, which was seen as a pair at Wide Hollow and a single one at the gravel pit. Like last year, most waterfowl species were distributed between Wide Hollow Reservoir and the gravel pit. The foolhardy destruction and removal of habitat from the reservoir’s north shore surely does not help our lovely bird friends, but one can only hope that the increased numbers means that they are adapting.

Raptors were also present in most routes people covered. Adult Bald Eagles (3) and Adult Golden Eagles (4) were seen. Buteos were represented by the Ferruginous Hawk (6) and Red-Tailed Hawk (3), as well as last year’s absentee RoughLegged Hawk (1). Accipiters were represented by the Coopers Hawk (1) and Sharp-shinned Hawk (1).

Our counters were also

able to tally the Northern Harrier (5) and Loggerhead Shrike (4). Unfortunately, aside from five American Kestrels, no other Falcons were recorded. Two GreatHorned Owls were added to my two lucky omens in the morning, making for a combined four GreatHorned Owls.

Ground birds included the Wild Turkey (162) and, our personal favorite, the Roadrunner (1), seen around the old sawmill road by GK Reiser and JH Hutchison. This year also saw a big spike in the Horned Lark population, from the 15 seen last year, to the one hundred and twelve seen this year, along with the Western Meadowlarks (23), Says Phoebe (1), and American Robin (94). European Starling, the nemesis of American birders, tallied to three hundred and eighty-three.

The Eurasian Collared Dove (104) still vastly (and distressingly) outnumbers the native Mourning Dove (15), which saw modest growth from just four seen last year.

Among the tallied woodpeckers were the Hairy Woodpecker (6), Downy Woodpecker (2), and Northern Flicker (63), joined by one Red-naped Sapsucker. Allysia Angus, Bob Stevenson, and Steve Cox were excited to report the increase in Whitebreasted Nuthatch (14), Red-breasted Nuthatch (17), Pygmy Nuthatch (15) they saw in Allen Canyon, as well as the last year’s missing Red Crossbill (11).

The Mountain Chickadee (21) and Juniper Titmouse (18) were seen as well, with the other little cuties like the Bushtit (38), Rubycrowned Kinglet (1), and the very notable Canyon Wren (1), which we heard along Pine Creek Road.

Thirty-two Mountain Bluebirds were seen, as well as twelve Western Bluebirds.

Howard Hutchison also tallied ten Spotted Towhee.

Corvids were numerous and healthy this year, with two flocks of Pinyon Jays (96), Scrub Jay (57), Raven (97), Crow (18), Black-billed Magpie (85), and the return of the Clark’s Nutcracker (8).

Counters also tallied thirtyone Red-winged Blackbird,

thirty Brewer’s Blackbird, and twelve Brown-headed Cowbird.

Sparrows included House Sparrow (81), Song Sparrow (14), Chipping Sparrow (42), Darkeyed Junco (371), Whitecrowned Sparrow (584), Golden-crowned Sparrow (10), and White-throated Sparrow (27). Finches included House Finch (49), Pine Siskin (77), Evening Grosbeak (1), Red Crossbill (11), and American Goldfinch (38).

All in all, I want to give my sincerest gratitude to all our birder friends who volunteered to help participate. This data matters. Patterns that wouldn’t otherwise be seen reveal themselves, and well, for the birds, the picture of global bird population loss doesn’t look good. Be that the case, birds are and will always be a joy to watch and explore. I wish you and the birds all the best this year.

Boulder Planning:

The January 2024 Boulder Planning Commission (PC) meeting began by welcoming new members. Nancy Tosta is now a full member of the PC, and Darrell Fuller is the alternate member.

Suggested updates to the Boulder Subdivision Ordinance, an upcoming public forum regarding changes to subdivisions and zoning, and a conceptual zoning map discussed.

Boulder Planning Cont'd from A1

expertise in this field. Once the work is done, it will be presented to the PC for input and approval. Much of this will be mandatory changes, but the PC will also be discussing and eliciting public input for areas that are flexible. It was discussed whether the Town Planner, Lee Nellis, should be the one to do this. Nellis has been working with the town for many years and would support these changes being in line with Boulder’s specific needs. It was stated that the PC has a lot of tasks to accomplish and that Nellis could be focusing on these other tasks.

It’s also possible that they could work together.

A conceptual zoning map was presented, dividing the town into different areas that could each have different densities and intentions. For example, zoning in Lower Boulder could emphasize agriculture and discourage increased traffic. It was suggested that this map be presented to the public soon to elicit feedback.

Because of the state

required subdivision ordinance changes, the PC and Town Council will no longer be part of the subdivision approval process.

Instead, there will basically be check boxes that the Zoning Administrator will consider alongside an application. Therefore, it is incredibly important to work on the town’s desires for subdivisions and zoning. The PC will be holding a public forum. They will also have a work meeting on Thursday, January 25.

A public comment period followed. The Mayor commented that both Figgins and Nellis will be consulted regarding updating the subdivision ordinance.

A member of the public voiced support for beginning this process by consulting Nellis and offering him the funding for these updates, as he has years of experience working with the town on Boulder ordinances.

Upcoming business includes looking at the county transportation plan, and continuing to discuss subdivision changes.

The Boulder PC meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m.

January 18, 2024

Research Sheds Light on Current Status of Utah Women, Girls

by Alex Gonzalez | Utah News Connection UTAH - New research spotlights the status of women and girls in Utah, in five areas of focus.

At Utah State University, Susan Madsen, founding director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, said that while Utah has high levels of female participation in volunteerism and voting, more can be done to increase the number of women in elected positions of power.

None of Utah's congressional delegation is female, compared with almost 27% nationally.

Madsen said things won't improve unless bold and meaningful strides are made to achieve some changes.

"Generally speaking, it's been a real positive place to be in Utah for many reasons," she said, "yet it really is a challenging place for many—maybe not all, but for many women—because of the underlying sexism, because of the cultural issues that we've had."

Madsen said many of the challenges impede women from achieving professional goals, but others affect their personal lives.

The summary says women in Utah experience higher rates of sexual abuse and domestic violence than nationwide, and calls for increased access to crisis services and more support for

single mothers. It makes specific recommendations in five categories, and also calls on men to become more engaged.

Madsen said the State of Utah has the potential to change and improve, and added that in 2024, more and more people are ready for that change —including men. But the research found Utah men are generally less aware of gender bias than their global counterparts.

Madsen said there is a need for lots of learning, especially among state policymakers.

"There is this surface level of support, which is great," she said. "I mean, we want that, right? But those other layers of support and understanding, and compassion—and then getting to empathy and passion to be involved, even if it's not our own experiences—are going to be really important as we move forward in the state of Utah."

She said one way to get involved is by joining her organization's initiative, called "A Bolder Way Forward." She added that while the needle has been moved slightly in recent years, on the state's current trajectory, it could take from two to four decades for notable progress for women and girls.

Temp Closure: Full services

were suspended at Hite after the lapse in a concession operator in 2021. Due to the high cost of generating power at this remote location, all services are being suspended until further notice.

This is a temporary closure until a new takeout boat ramp is constructed for Cataract Canyon Colorado River trips and a new Hite concession contract has been awarded.

Temp Closure Cont'd from A1

far away you are from the nearest gas station. NPS vault toilets will be open for public use at the North Wash Primitive Ramp and the Dirty Devil primitive camping area.

Full services were suspended at Hite after the lapse in a concession operator in 2021. Due to the high cost of generating power at this remote location, all services are being suspended until further notice. This is a temporary closure until a new takeout boat ramp is

constructed for Cataract Canyon Colorado River trips and a new Hite concession contract has been awarded. The National Park Service’s access road to the Hite Ranger Station has been temporarily closed at the highway.

Travelers should plan ahead by carrying drinking water and having a full tank of gas while traveling through the area. For more information please visit: https:// www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/hite.htm.

—National Park Service

Presentation: Last fall, the

students of Loa Elementary School were treated to a presentation about the October annular eclipse. Volunteers working with the local group Torrey Dark Skies (TDS) visited all of the classes and shared a short informational film.

Presentation Cont'd from A1

ing true to their mission of night sky education, Torrey Dark Skies plans to donate the left over glasses to students in the Uvalde (Texas) Consolidate and Independent School District since they are in the path of the

next eclipse.

If you are a member of a group that would be interested in a night-sky related presentation, Torrey Dark Skies would be happy to discuss the possibilities. For more information, call Mary at 435.425.2228 (land line).

—Torrey Dark Skies

The Insider

January 18, 2024

B1

Schools and Sports Bryce Valley Sinks 24 Points in 4th Quarter to Beat Escalante

by Nancy Goude

Nancy Goude

Escalante senior Mazee Dunton works on offense in practice. Dunton is the consistent leading scorer for the Moquis and netted 17 against Bryce Valley on January 10.

ESCALANTE - Escalante’s Mazee Dunton scored game-high points, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the home team, Bryce Valley, as the Mustangs claimed a 57-30 win over the Moquis on January 10, powered by a redhot fourth quarter.

The Bryce Valley scoring was paced by Cashae Tebbs’ thirteen points and Alex Rauba’s ten, while Kinlee Brinkerhoff added nine and So-

phia Wiseman talled seven in the win.

With Dunton accounting for nearly 57 percent of Escalante’s offense on the night, the Moquis are definitely working on bringing a more balanced offense to its games, while hitting the gym for practice before their next game on January 18 when they host Valley.

“We all need to have more intent with where we are putting the ball, but I feel like we never quit, and

I’m really proud of all of us for that,” said Escalante’s Taylie Carlisle.

The win improved the Mustangs to 6-5 overall and 2-1 in Class 1A Region 20 action, while the Moquis dropped to 3-9 overall and 0-4 in Region 20 action.

Bryce Valley will face Milford in their next game, and the Valley team is fresh off a loss to Panguitch and sports a 5-8 record. Milford beat the Mustangs by three in overtime when the teams

last met on December 20, so Bryce Valley is eager to even the score.

The January 18 game will be the first time Escalante and Valley face off this season. Valley is averaging 43.5 points per game, while Escalante is averaging 34, so the competition will be fairly evenly matched.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Full results and stats can be found on insiderutah.com.

Boys’ Basketball Team Gaining Valuable Experience, Set to Host Trio of Home Games

by Nancy Goude ESCALANTE - Escalante’s Jaxen Cottam continued leading his team as the high-scorer with 16 points in their 59-84 loss to Bryce Valley on January 10.

Cottam is averaging nearly 15 points per game and shooting 68 percent from the charity stripe, while also shooting 22 percent from the threepoint arc, netting him 177 points this season.

Kendal Gardner grabbed 12 rebounds and sunk 11 points for Escalante, while Korben Young contributed 10 points. Teammates Rayce Jenkins and Mac Porter tallied five and four points, respectively, for the Moquis, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the high powered Bryce Valley offense, which used an explosive second quarter, scoring thirty points to seal the win.

Gardner’s doubledouble (points and rebounds) marked his seventh double-double of the season to put him squarely in second place at the 1A level behind Milford’s Kielen Tsosie who has just one more. Gardner is averaging 12.7 points per

game, while snatching 13.2 boards.

Escalante hosted a sophomore boys’ tournament on Friday and Saturday and got a chance to break in the new gym at the new Escalante Elementary.

The Moquis hosted Panguitch, Valley, Milford, Wayne, Piute and Bryce Valley in the two-day tournament.

“As far as our team goes, we had a good tournament. We lost both of our games, but it was fun to watch the sophomores start figuring things out; they were able to beat Bryce Valley’s press. They got up 20 on us the first quarter, but after we figured out their press, we stayed even with them the next three quarters. We played Piute Saturday morning. They were big and quick. We lost by about 10 but were able to figure out better ball movement and get the ball into the post players to create inside out shots and give-and-go opportunities,” said Escalante Coach Kevin Griffin.

The sophomore tournament saw Panguitch taking the championship.

Escalante Boys’ Sophomore Tourney Re-

Escalante vs. BV Jan. 10

Escalante - 59 - Bryce Valley - 84 Escalante - Jaxen Cottam, 16; Kendal Gardner, 11; Korben Young, 10; Rayce Jenkins, 5; Mac Porter, 4; Xander Griffin, 2. Rebounds - Gardner, 12; Young, 5; Cottam, 4; Porter, 3; Jenkins, 2; Griffin, 1. Assists - Jenkins, 5; Young, 3; Gardner, 2.

Bryce Valley - No individual statistics available. sults 1) Panguitch; 2) Wayne; 3) Milford; 4) Bryce Valley; 5) Valley; 6) Piute; 7) Escalante Escalante will be enjoying the home court advan-

tage for the next three games in a row, starting with Wayne on the 17 and finishing with Panguitch on January 25.

Full results and stats can be found on insiderutah. com.

B2

The Insider

January 18, 2024

Schools and Sports Moqui Wrestling Teams Host Meet on Jan. 10

by Nancy Goude

Courtesy Seth Peterson

Escalante's George Peterson gains advantage over Wayne's Jake Chestnut in the Moquis' dual meet on January 10.

ESCALANTE - For the first time in four years and the second time in the past decade, the Escalante wrestling teams hosted a meet on January 10.

“It was an awesome opportunity having a girls’ home dual. It was my school’s first home dual in years! So I took the liberty of turning it into a fundraiser for music education awareness. Being very distracted by being a wrestler and Miss Garfield Teen, I luckily had wonderful women willing to jump in and help where I needed them. On top of it, my coach asked me to play the Star Spangled Banner on my violin, so I decided to have the chance to add it to my Community Service Initiative fundraiser that night by wearing my sash to represent Garfield County teens. It was a good night.

Everyone on my teams got to win at least one match.

In the end, my feeling is that I got to be an example of leadership to my peers and team. I represented and brought honor to the people I love and who have taught me the most,” said Clara Peterson, Escalante wrestler and Miss Garfield Teen.

Coach Seth Peterson has been excited all season to host a meet and was happy with how it all turned out. “Our wrestlers had two matches each, and everyone won at least one of them.

We had a couple of bantam matches in halftime, which was super fun to watch.

Bantam is elementary and middle school age. These kids were between 8 and 11. Wayne even brought their girl to her first match.

We had a great turn out for audience and great energy.”

Boys’ Individual results: Ryker Bradbury,

Wayne, def. Elijah Byrd, Escalante; Krey Bradbury, Wayne, def. Jonathan Platt, Bryce Valley; Lowell Saing, Wayne, def.

Ferrin Mathews, Bryce Valley; George Peterson, Escalante, def. Jake Chestnut, Wayne; Peter Baksis, Escalante, def. Parker Hallows, Wayne; Ryker Bradbury, Wayne, def. Klincey Richards, Bryce Valley.

Girls’ Individual results: Clara Peterson, Escalante, def. Stetsyn Lamb, Wayne; Jazzlynn Bateman, Escalante, def. Stetsyn Lamb, Wayne.

The Escalante wrestling teams also competed at the Tintic Tournament on January 13. [Results will be available in the next issue of The Insider] and the Moquis have two additional meets at Wayne on January 16. They have a two-day meet at Enterprise on January 19-20 that will be their final regular season meets before Divisionals in Telos on January 27. All wrestlers who qualify for state will compete on February 9-10 at Sevier Valley Center.

PHS Sports Sidelines

by Mack Oetting

Another week has gone by, and all three teams are doing really well still.

The boys had an away game against the Wayne Badgers. The Cats secured a commanding 68 to 38 victory against Wayne, with a first half surge and a score of 35-14. Cache Eyre stood out with nineteen points and four threepointers; Justin Osburn added fourteen with two three-pointers. The Cats now have a 14-3 record, and they met up with the #1 Piute Thunderbirds last night (Saturday, January 13) for a battle between the two best teams in the 1A division. The Cats and Thunderbirds will meet up again at least twice before

the season is over. The Cats won the sophomore tournament out at Escalante over the weekend.

The Cats go out to Escalante on the 25th, Valley will be here on the 31st, and Bryce Valley will be here on February 2.

The Lady Cats had two more victories added to their season. The Lady Cats went over to Wayne and beat the Badgers with a score of 52-36. Mallory Henrie was a stellar performer, scoring twenty-four points with one three-pointer. Tabi Henrie chipped in thirteen with three three-pointers.

The most exciting game of the year was against the Valley Buffaloes. Tabi Henrie got into foul trouble early, and it made a difference. Again, Mallory had a good night scoring 20 points. She was supported by Brayli Frandsen, who scored 12 points, and this helped lead the Cats to a very high scoring win against the Buffaloes, 69-60. It was a fun game

to watch, with all of the scoring. Neither team had more than a four point advantage till the fourth quarter, when the Cats built up a ten point lead.

The Lady Cats host Grand County on the 20th, Escalante on the 24th, and Bryce Valley on February 1. Then they have the big game against Piute on the 7th.

The wrestler’s season is coming to a close in three weeks at Sevier Valley Center for the state finals on February 9-10. In the meantime, they aren’t getting any rest. On the 16th, they are at Wayne, they are at Milford on the 17th, and Kanab will be here on the 18th. They finish off their season at the Enterprise tournament from the 19-20. That’s five matches in a row, and with the tournament, who knows how many matches that will end up being in total. The wrestling season isn’t very long, but they work very hard during that time period.

The Insider

January 18, 2024

Winter Dining Guide Where to go in Wayne and Garfield counties for great food and drink THIS WINTER!

Bicknell

B3

Volunteers Needed for Utah’s Statewide Point-in-Time Count

SALT LAKE CITY The statewide annual count of Utahns experiencing homelessness will take place on the mornings of Jan. 25-27, 2024.

Local communities across Utah need the help of volunteers to survey people early in the mornings on Jan. 25, 26 and 27 to find out where they slept on the night of Jan. 24, providing an in-depth look at homelessness statewide.

“Our goal is to get the most accurate count possible, and we rely heavily on the support of our volunteers across the state,” said Wayne Niederhauser, State Homeless Coordinator. “Through the dedication of volunteers, we can effectively assess the extent of homelessness among Utahns statewide.”

The purpose of the Point-in-Time Count (PIT) is to gain a deeper understanding of how many

individuals and families in Utah are experiencing unsheltered homelessness, which includes living on the streets or in cars, RVs, or other places not meant for human habitation.

The goal is to count and interview every person in Utah experiencing homelessness. The information gathered will help policymakers set benchmarks to measure progress toward ending homelessness and help plan services and programs to appropriately address local needs.

Volunteers are needed in all areas of the state to work in teams to seek out and interview those who are unsheltered. Virtual training will be held in advance. These training sessions will cover the use of the survey app, best practices for approaching and interviewing those experiencing homelessness, youth homelessness, racial

equity in PIT, a traumainformed approach to PIT, and other necessary info to prepare volunteers for a successful experience.

On the mornings of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, volunteer teams will thoroughly explore an assigned geographic area to connect with those experiencing homelessness. Volunteers may sign up for one day, but are strongly encouraged to participate for all three days if possible.

Each area of Utah may conduct counts differently, so please reach out to the contact person listed where you’d like to volunteer. Learn more about the Point-in-Time Count in your area and sign up to volunteer at: endutahhomelessness.org/ point-in-time-count/ —Utah Department of Workforce Services

Garfield Commission: The start of the

legislative session on Jan. 17; the 2024 Congressional Staff Briefing; summer chipseal projects; an overview of the two conservation districts in Garfield Co.; the Garfield County Career Fair; approval of resolution 2024, supporting the nomination of Butch Cassidy’s boyhood home as a Utah state monument; and the Antimony Post Office discussed.

Capitol Reef

Garfield Commission

Cont'd from A1

Your Ad Here

Torrey

Commissioner Jerry Taylor announced the 2024 Congressional Staff Briefing, to be hosted in Garfield County Aug. 12-14. The Commission has found this gathering to be an effective means of presenting their side of the public lands story to Washington staffers and others who participate.

Public Works Director Dave Dodds reported on summer chipseal projects: a Forest Service road, John’s Valley Road, and the Burr Trail. He’s also been working on trails and access to them, including the “active transportation” plan for walking and bike paths. His office has been facilitating data collection and stakeholder meetings (commission and municipal officials). The draft plan will be presented to the public in April, with the final Active Transportation Plan available in May. He said he will be able to use that plan to “leverage funding from UDOT,” including a Highway 12 bike path. According to Commissioner Taylor, “millions of dollars are sitting there” (in outdoor recreation organizations and other sources) for bike path plans like this.

Representatives from the Upper Sevier Conser-

vation Districts presented an overview of the two conservation districts in Garfield County: Upper Sevier covering the west side of the county to Bryce Canyon City, and Canyonlands Conservation District covering from Tropic eastward. They work with both private and public lands on reseeding and noxious weeds, among other things.

The reps espoused their use of no-till drills that are effective for establishing reseeded areas. Garfield County is one of the only counties in Utah to have declared rabbit brush as a noxious weed to help control it. The Commission approved $5K allocation to the districts.

The Garfield County Career Fair will be held Feb. 13, with the goal of highlighting jobs available within Garfield, Wayne, and Piute counties. The Commission approved their requested $500 donation.

County Attorney Barry Huntington received approval to hire Chris Lee as a summer intern. Lee will work 20 hours/week, May through August, at the same rate as last year’s intern (which Moore will need to look up).

The Commission approved Planning Director Kaden Figgins’ Resolution 2024-1, Interlocal Coop-

eration Agreement supporting the nomination of Butch Cassidy’s boyhood home as a Utah state monument. Garfield and Piute will split the maintenance costs associated with the facility, and the state Division of Natural Resources will operate it.

The Commissioners discussed the Antimony Post Office, which has been closed for several months while the hiring of a new postmaster has been inexplicably delayed.

They said both senators and Representative Malloy are working to get a replacement hired.

County board positions were largely reappointments of current members, barring two or three who have asked to be replaced.

The Commission went into executive session to discuss litigation.

The Garfield County Commission meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month starting at 10 a.m. All meetings are held in the County Courthouse in Panguitch.

There is no set up for electronic participation, but all meeting recordings are uploaded to the Utah Public Meetings Notice board, https://www.utah. gov/pmn/.

—Insider

Volunteers: The Bureau of Land Management's Utah Want to advertise your restaurant / winter hours in our "Winter Dining Guide" section?

Send inquiries to

snapshot@live.com or call 435.826.4400

State Office is calling for community involvement in the Raptor Inventory Nest Survey (RINS), a unique opportunity to participate in a critical citizen science project focused on the state's raptors, including eagles, hawks, falcons, osprey, and owls.

Volunteers Cont'd from A1

these species in Utah.

Volunteers for this project do not need a scientific background. The

program is open to anyone with a love for Utah's natural landscapes, especially remote areas, and a commitment to conserving raptors. The key requirement is a willingness to engage in this important environmental initiative.

Training workshops for prospective volunteers are scheduled for February and March. These sessions will provide the necessary skills for identifying raptor nests and collecting vital data. Participants are encouraged to have their own binoculars, GPS unit, digital camera, and an active

email address. The commitment involves regular monitoring visits to an assigned area from March through July.

For more information on the workshop locations, timings, and training details, interested individuals are encouraged to contact RINS at 801-554-0807 or via email at info@rins.org. Additional information about the Raptor Inventory Nest Survey can be found at http://rins.org/.

—Bureau of Land Management

The Insider

B4

Legal Notices 2024 MEETING SCHEDULE TORREY TOWN COUNCIL The Torrey Town Council will meet the following dates and times in 2024.

Meetings begin at 6:30 PM, Mountain Standard Time. (November 3, - March 9) Meetings begin at 7:00 PM during Daylight Saving Time. (March 10 - November 2).

MEETING DATES January 11 July 11 February 8 August 8 March 14 September 12 April 11 October 10 May 9 November 14 June 13 December 12 Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 11 & 18, 2024 2024 MEETING SCHEDULE TORREY TOWN, PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Torrey Planning and Zoning Commission will meet the following dates and times in 2024.

Meetings begin 6:00 PM, Mountain Standard Time, (November 3 - March 9) Meetings begin at 6:30 PM during Daylight Saving Time (March 10 - November 2).

MEETING DATES January 25 July 25 February 29 August 29 March 28 September 26 April 25 October 31 May 30 November 28 June 27 December 26 Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 11 & 18, 2024 REVISED 2024 MEETING SCHEDULE BICKNELL TOWN PLANNING AND ZONING Bicknell Town Planning and Zoning Schedule 2024 REVISED Meetings are held at 7:00 PM at the Bicknell Town Hall at 64 W. 100 N. in Bicknell.

February 20 March 19 April 16 May 21 June 18 July 16 August 20 September 17 October 15 November 19 December 17 Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 18 & 25, 2024 2024 MEETING SCHEDULE LOA TOWN COUNCIL The Loa Town Council will meet on the following dates and times in 2024 at the Loa Town Hall. Your present council members are Mayor Cody Grundy, Council Member Christ Olsen, Council Member Don Bone, Council Member Ryan Rees and Council Member Bart Brian. You may contact Michelle Brian at 435-836-2160 at least 24 hours prior to the meeting date to get put on the agenda.

Meeting Dates & Times for Loa Town Council January 11 @ 6:30 pm February 8 @ 6:30 pm March 14 @ 7:30 pm April 11 @ 7:30 pm May 9 @ 7:30 pm June 13 @ 7:30 pm July 11 @ 7:30 pm August 8 @ 7:30 pm September 12 @ 7:30 pm October 10 @ 7:30 pm November 14 @ 6:30 pm December 12 @ 6:30 pm Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 11 & 18, 2024 2024 MEETING SCHEDULE LOA TOWN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION The Loa Town Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on the following dates in 2024. The starting time is 6:00 pm for all meetings. Meetings are held at the Loa Town Hall at 80 West Center. You may contact Jeanette Taylor at least 24 hours prior to the meeting date to get put on the agenda at 435-836-2160. Your Commission Members are: Jared Hallows (President), Harry Brian, Jerry Jeppson, Derek Woolsey, Albert Brown & Kori Brown.

Meeting Dates for the Planning and Zoning January 4 (no meeting) February 1 March 7 April 4 May 2 June 6 July 4 (Holiday, meeting date pending) August 1 September 5 October 3 November 7 December 5 Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 11 & 18, 2024 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LOA TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION The Loa Town Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on February 1, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. at the Loa Town Office located at 80 West Center to receive additional public comment regarding amendments to the subdivision ordinance, which includes by reference specifications for public improvements that shall apply to development within Loa Town.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 11, 18 & 25, 2024

January 18, 2024

DWR, UDOT and Other Partners Complete 7 Structures to Help Wildlife and Fish Safely Migrate Across Utah in 2023

Courtesy Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Department of Transportation, as well as other partners, are working hard to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions around the state and to make it easier for wildlife and fish to make important annual migrations.

SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Department of Transportation, as well as other partners, are working hard to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions around the state and to make it easier for wildlife and fish to make important annual migrations. In 2023, the agencies and other partners installed seven different structures that help fish and wildlife migrate safely in various areas throughout Utah.

Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative The Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative was founded in 2017 to better track and study the migration patterns of different wildlife and fish species in the state and to help them make those important journeys. Most of the data comes from animals wearing GPS tracking devices

or from fish tagged with implanted transmitters.

The fish and wildlife structures that assist migration vary and can include: • Overpasses, which allow wildlife to cross over a roadway.

• Bridges, which allow vehicles to cross over a river or ravine, while wildlife travel underneath the bridge.

• Culverts, which allow wildlife to cross under a roadway—these make up the majority of Utah’s wildlife crossings.

• Fences, which prevent wildlife from crossing roadways in certain areas and instead funnel the animals to an overpass or culvert, where they can safely cross a road.

• Various “fish ladders” and other structures in rivers and streams that help fish move up and

Legal Notices PUBLIC WARNING SAND CREEK IRRIGATION BOARD Please be aware of anyone trying to sell Sand Creek Irrigation water shares certificate #485. This is NOT a legal certificate. Please contact Leon Bogedahl at 435-4253512 to verify legality of any Sand Creek Water shares.

Sand Creek Irrigation Board Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 11 & 18, 2024 NOTICE TO WATER USERS The applications below were filed with the Division of Water Rights in Wayne County. These are informal proceedings per Rule 655-6-2. Protests concerning an application must be legibly written or typed, contain the name and mailing address of the protesting party, STATE THE APPLICATION NUMBER PROTESTED, CITE REASONS FOR THE PROTEST, and REQUEST A HEARING, if desired. Also, A $15 FEE MUST BE INCLUDED FOR EACH APPLICATION PROTESTED. Protests must be filed with the Division of Water Rights on or before Feb. 14, 2024 either electronically using the Division`s on-line Protest of Application form, by hand delivery to a Division office, or by mail at PO Box 146300, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6300. Please visit waterrights.utah.gov or call (801)538-7240 for additional information.

GARFIELD COUNTY CHANGE APPLICATION(S) 61-3474 (a51131): William L Bernard Trust Agreement dated October 19, 2005 propose(s) using 0.0064 cfs OR 0.5 ac-ft. from groundwater (6 miles S of Panguitch Lake) for DOMESTIC. EXTENSION(S) 97-2361 (A78724): Main Canyon, L.C. is/are filing an extension for 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (11 miles West of Escalante) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING. Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E. State Engineer Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 18 & 25, 2024 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS GARFIELD COUNTY WATERSHED PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT—UPPER SEVIER WATERSHED NOTICE TO LAW FIRMS Garfield County is seeking the services of a qualified law firm to provide legal services to Garfield County in assisting with submitting a water rights change application to the Utah Division of Water Rights. Work will be conducted in Garfield County and conform to local laws and codes. Pre-bid consultation will be available upon request.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, information on the Request for Proposals can be obtained from Garfield County Public Works Department, 55 South Main, Panguitch, Utah 84759, Telephone (435) 238-0935, Email: dave.dodds@garfield.utah.gov. The proposal submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on February 9, 2024. The County reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals.

Garfield County is an Equal Opportunity Employer Dated this 12th day of January, 2024 Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 18 & 25 and FEBRUARY 1, 2024

downstream to meet their life history needs.

• Fish “barriers,” which are structures that prevent fish from migrating into areas of rivers that are harmful and don’t help them complete their life cycles (or where they may compete with or be preyed on by nonnative fish species).

“Utah made history when it completed the first wildlife overpass in the U.S. in 1975 on I-15 near Beaver,” DWR Wildlife Impact Analysis Coordinator Nicole Nielson said.

“Since then, at least 119 structures have been completed around the state that allow the passage of wildlife and fish. These structures typically take several months to build, depending on the size and weather conditions, and they can take several years of prior planning and collaboration.

We are so grateful for the partnerships we have with various state agencies, land management agencies, private landowners and other organizations to implement these important structures for fish and wildlife around the state.”

Here are the areas where the DWR and UDOT completed new wildlifefencing projects in 2023, and where the DWR and other partners installed structures to help fish in Utah: Central Utah • Installed over two miles of wildlife-exclusion fencing as part of the Eagle Mountain Migration Corridor preservation project between State Route 73 and Camp Williams. This project was completed in November 2023 in coordination with Eagle Mountain City and several conservation groups.

• Installed approximately one mile of wildlife-exclusion fencing on I-80 near Kimball Junction.

The project was completed in October 2023 in conjunction with UDOT and other conservation groups.

Northern Utah • Installed approximately three miles of wildlifeexclusion fencing on I-15 near Riverside, in conjunction with UDOT and conservation groups.

This is part of a larger project that will include ten miles of wildlife fencing that will be completed in spring 2024.

• Installed wildlife-exclusion fencing on U.S. 89 in Davis and Weber counties, as part of a larger construction project in the area.

Southern Utah • Constructed a fish passage barrier on Pleasant Creek, located on the east slope of Boulder Mountain in Garfield County. This barrier will protect native Colorado River cutthroat trout

from non-native brook trout. Funded by Utah’s Habitat Council, this project will also aid in the future restoration of native cutthroat trout in upper Pleasant Creek.

• Reconstructed a fish passage barrier in Upper Kanab Creek, a tributary of the East Fork Sevier River in Kane County. (It was damaged by flooding after the Left Fork Fire in 2022.) This barrier was originally constructed to protect native fish species— including Bonneville cutthroat trout and southern leatherside chub—from non-native brown and brook trout. This reconstruction project was funded by the state of Utah and the U.S. Forest Service.

Southeastern Utah • The Gigliotti Diversion Dam was removed on the Price River to allow bluehead sucker and Colorado River cutthroat trout to access important rearing habitat upstream. This project was completed April 2023 and had several partners, including Trout Unlimited, Helper City and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“We are really excited about the grants that we have been able to secure to establish more wildlife crossings across Utah in conjunction with the migration data provided by the DWR,” UDOT Natural Resource Manager Matt Howard said. “We’ve learned a lot about these funding processes and are hopeful that we can continue to obtain the necessary funding to implement additional wildlife structures across the state to keep wildlife and drivers safe.”

Upcoming projects UDOT has secured funding for some upcoming projects, as well.

Here’s a look at a couple of those: • In December 2023, the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program awarded UDOT $5 million—in addition to the $400,000 that conservation groups had contributed to DWR through external conservation permit funding—for the construction of additional wildlife underpasses and fencing along US89 near Kanab. Work on the project will begin this year, with construction tentatively scheduled for 2025.

• Replacing and expanding wildlife fencing in the area surrounding Echo Junction, near the intersection of I-80 and I-84 in Summit County.

This is the first phase of the project and will take place this year.

• The DWR partnered with UDOT to conduct a study in 2023 that analyzed the feasibility of wildlife crossings and fencing along Highway 40 in Duchesne and Wasatch counties. The partners are working to apply for funding for future potential projects in this area.

Visit the DWR website to learn more about how these wildlife solutions are funded and listen to the DWR Wild podcast to learn how the locations are selected.

—Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

The Insider

January 18, 2024

C l a s s i f i e d ads

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To place your ad, call 435-826-4400 or email snapshot@live.com

Classified ads start at just $7.50 per week for 25 words or less.

HELP WANTED

Full / Part-time Dental Assistant

We are looking for friendly, hardworking professionals who enjoy the hospitality industry and interaction with guests.

P O S I T I O N S AVA I L A B L E: Front Desk Agents Laundry Services Housekeepers Maintenance Bellmen Positions to start April 1st through October 31st At Capitol Reef Resort we promote from within.

Please stop by in person to complete an application.

We are located at 2600 E SR 24, Torrey, UT 84775 435-425-3761

Panguitch City Council Position Panguitch City is accepting letters of interest to fill a council position.

This will be for an appointed 2 year term. Council meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm.

Please submit letters of interest to Mat Houston by email to mat.panguitchcity@gmail. com or at the Panguitch City Office, 25 South 200 East, PO Box 75, Panguitch, Ut 84759 by Thursday, February 1st at 5:00 p.m.

Panguitch City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all letters of interest.

Panguitch City is an equal opportunity employer.

sudoku

MEETINGS

Answers for this week

TROPIC AA MEETING Wednesday at 6 PM. Tropic Heritage Center. All meetings are closed discussion.

Position Announcements

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Garfield County School District is hiring for the following positions. For the application process and description of each, please see the district website www.garfk12.org SpEd Paraprofessional at Bryce Valley Elementary Remediation Specialist/Librarian at Panguitch High Part-Time Custodian at Bryce Valley High Head & Assistant Track Coach at Bryce Valley High Substitute/Activity Bus Drivers in Escalante Route Bus Driver in Boulder Paraprofessionals/Aides at All Schools Substitutes for Teachers, Custodians, and Food Service Workers SALARY: Please see 2023-2024 Garfield County School Districts Classified, District Office, and Certified Salary Schedules on the district website.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be fingerprinted and satisfactorily pass an employment background check.

Garfield County School District is an equal opportunity employer.

Garfield County School District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Join Our Team as a Motivated Dental Assistant at Wayne Community Health Center! Are you a dedicated and enthusiastic individual seeking a rewarding career in the dental field? Look no further!

Wayne Community Health Center is currently seeking a Full Time or Part Time Dental Assistant to become a valuable member of our dynamic team.

Why Choose Wayne Community Health Center: • Competitive benefits package tailored to your working hours • An inclusive and supportive work environment • Opportunity for professional growth and development Position Overview: As a Dental Assistant at Wayne Community Health Center, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of our dental practice.

Your responsibilities will include: • Interacting with patients in a friendly and compassionate manner • Proficiently taking X-Rays and supporting chairside procedures • Managing scheduling, charting, and documenting dental visits using computer systems • Ensuring thorough sterilization of dental instruments • Setting up and maintaining a clean and organized operatory and office space Preferred Qualifications (not required): We value experience, but are also excited to provide training to individuals new to the field. If you have any of the following qualifications, it's a plus: • Dental Assisting Experience • Exposure to Pediatric, Endodontic, Oral Surgery, and General Dentistry • Familiarity with Computer Charting and Digital XRays • X-Ray Certification • CPR Certification How to Apply: We encourage all interested candidates to apply, regardless of your level of experience. If you're passionate about dental health and eager to contribute to a supportive team, we want to hear from you!

Please email your resume to aellett@ waynechc.org and take the first step toward an exciting career with Wayne Community Health Center.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of our patients. Apply today!

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The Insider

January 18, 2024