The Wayne & Garfield County Insider February 2, 2023

USDA Forest Service

Launches New Efforts in Utah to Address the Wildfire Crisis

WASATCH / PINE

VALLEY - Department of

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Jan. 19 expanded efforts to reduce wildfire risk across the western U.S., directly affecting national forests here in Utah.

These investments, made possible through the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), will directly benefit at-risk communities and critical infrastructure across 11 additional landscapes in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

“It is no longer a matter of if a wildfire will threaten many western communities in these landscapes, it is a matter of when,” said Secretary Vilsack. “The need to invest more and to move quickly is apparent. This is a crisis and President Biden is treating it as one. [The] announcement will bring more than $490 mil-

Wildfire Crisis

Cont'd on page 10

Join

4-H Brings STEM Club to Escalante

by Ian Marynowski

Garfield County Commission

Jan. 23, 2023

GARFIELD CO. -

The first item for the January 23 Garfield County Commission meeting was Commissioner David Tebbs’ Board Report: He noted a new marketing firm that will be working with the Garfield County Office of Tourism. Also, 200 Wayne, Piute, and Garfield County high school students attended Career Day at Ebenezer’s in Bryce Canyon City and heard encouraging words about potential career opportunities right at home.

David Cooper and daughter Mary Kate use hand microscopes to help them identify a variety of insects at a 4-H open house at Escalante High School on January 25, 2023. This particular station also included larger microscopes with numerous slides showing tissue from a range of plants and animals. These activities are designed to help students recognize patterns and use specific traits to identify things they might see in the natural world.

ESCALANTE - Commonly referred to as STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math have become the focus of a new program offered by Gar-

field County’s 4-H club in Escalante. Staff from Utah State University’s (USU) Extension Campus in Panguitch, along with the 4-H STEM Coordinator in Es-

BLM Leases Public Lands for Renewable Energy Development

SALT LAKE CITY -

Courtesy Entrada Institute

Lynsey Shelar will be the subject of the next "Classic Conversation" with the Entrada Institute at Robbers Roost in Torrey, Utah, today (Feb. 2) at 7 p.m.

TORREY - The Entrada Institute continues its winter programming today, February 2, at 7 p.m., when Don Gomes and Lynsey Shelar engage in a "Classic Conversation" at Robbers Roost. This 1-hour conversation includes a limited live, in-person audience that is encouraged to converse with Shelar.

Known locally as a musician and music teacher, Lynsey is classically trained but can also bring country sounds as a fiddler. Born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, she earned a minor in music at Western Colorado University. After extensive overseas travel, she finally made her way to Wayne County, where she

first worked with the Aspen Achievement Academy as a field guide. At that time, Lynsey rediscovered her love of the violin, using it as a therapeutic instrument for both herself and the students she worked with. After leaving Aspen, Lynsey continued her violin studies under the tutelage of Bonnie Mangold and completed her Teacher Trainer Suzuki courses at the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute in Salt Lake City.

In 2014, Shelar started the Sleeping Rainbow School of Music. Over the years, she has been the inspiration for dozens of students through her school. Besides violin, Lynsey

on page 7

As part of the Bureau of Land Management’s efforts to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to permit 25 gigawatts of solar, wind, and geothermal production on public lands by 2025, the BLM announced it has leased two parcels, covering approximately 3,045 acres in Millard County, Utah, on public lands administered by the Fishlake National Forest in a geothermal lease sale. The sale generated $197,558, which will be shared between the State of Utah, Millard County, and the Federal Treasury.

“BLM Utah is committed to processing applications and leases for generating renewable energy on public lands, which provides jobs and generates clean electricity for our homes,” said BLM Fill-

Leases Cont'd on page 8

calante, hosted an open house at Escalante High School on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, to showcase the program and to answer any of the questions that

participating families might have.

The addition of STEM

Open House Cont'd on page 3

Commissioner Jerry Taylor is requesting state funding for Escalante reservoir restoration, among other water and land use bills he’s monitoring. He also said funding would be available for teacher housing projects and possibly for “starter homes.”

Commissioner Leland Pollock expressed relief that a bill banning certain assault rifles had been killed in committee. However, the school voucher bill is now before the Senate and will likely Garfield Commission Cont'd on page 8

Ian Marynowski

As of January, 2023, Lake Powell is at 23% of capacity, the lowest level since the reservoir was initially filled. Colorado River Cont'd on page 7

tion is wildly off-base. In fact, there is no such water. It is one thing for the general public to believe in fairytales, but public officials are in the business of approving new industrial and residential developments.

Darrell Mensel SOUTHERN UTAHI recently overheard a Wayne County politician say that he was informed that there is plenty of water left in the Colorado River to develop for Wayne County. Unfortunately, this percep-

If they don’t understand what long-term drought has done to Colorado River water supplies, they may make decisions that

Ian Marynowski

Lynsey Shelar Cont'd

L etters to the Editor

Close Highway SB12 to Parking Near Calf Creek Campground

Courtesy Keith Watts Utah Highway 12 near the Calf Creek Campground has become unsafe during times of high tourism traffic.

Utah Highway 12 near the Calf Creek Campground has become unsafe during times of high tourism traffic. Dozens of cars are often parked along this narrow, steep, winding road in places not intended for parking. As noted in their recent EA on Calf Creek Recreation Site (CCRS) Deferred Maintenance and Improvements Project, the BLM/ GSENM has coordinated with UDOT and Garfield

County on the establishment of a no parking zone along SB12 by the entrance to the CCRS. Rather than delay until after this project is completed, we feel that you should establish the no parking zone before the next tourist season. As you can see in the above picture, people all too often are forced to drive into the lane of oncoming traffic to avoid parked cars and pedestrians. People walking along and across

Utah Snowpack is 183% of Normal for Time of Year

average snowpack to refill our reservoirs.

“This is good news, but we have a long road ahead to recover from this prolonged drought,” Hasenyager said. “We must continue to use our water wisely to see the full benefits of the new snow added to our snowpack.”

Courtesy USDA Snow water equivalent based on regions as compared to other recorded years (Period of Record). Every basin in Utah is reporting over 140% of normal snowpack.

SALT LAKE CITY -

Consistent storms and cooler temperatures have brought Utah’s snowpack statewide to 183% of normal for this time of year, which makes this the best winter (so far) that we've seen in almost 20 years. With a little more than two months left for the state to accumulate snow, the state needs these conditions to continue for effective spring runoff.

“These snow totals are a welcome sight and have given a much-needed boost to our snowpack,”

Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Resources, said.

“Every basin in Utah is reporting over 150% of normal snowpack. This is great news, especially for basins such as the Upper and Lower Sevier, which have seen dwindling water supplies in the last few years.”

Almost 100% of the state is still in some form of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The authors have downgraded the level of exceptional drought (the worst category) in Utah to 0%. The last time this happened was May 31, 2022. The state is still in the second and third worst categories of drought (severe and extreme), and it'll take multiple years of above-

this busy roadway are an accident waiting to happen. Adding bicycles to the mix with vehicles parked in what was intended to serve in part as a bike lane, the potential for serious accidents is all too real. In places, cars attempting to park adjacent to extremely steep slopes above the campground could roll all the way down to the canyon bottom, threatening innocent campers. Dealing with this issue before the next tourist season (by April) is very important. We think UDOT needs to put up signs stating that no parking is allowed along the highway for 1/2 mile on each side of the Calf Creek Campground turn off (between mileposts 75.8 - 74.8).

Tourists would have to park in available spaces in the Calf Creek trailhead parking area or in designated places along its access road. Parking would be on a first come/first served basis or as parking places be-

come available when other vehicles depart. Large vehicles (over 25’ long) should not be allowed. It might make sense to develop a reservation system for campsites and some designated parking spaces using Recreation.gov.

During times of high demand for tourists wanting to hike to Calf Creek Falls, perhaps a local guide service might want to offer a shuttle service between Escalante and Boulder with stops at the Escalante River Trailhead, Calf Creek Trailhead, and other destinations. A shuttle system would be convenient and help relieve pressure on the parking problem.

Accidents have already occurred in this dangerous area, so it is important that we take this crisis seriously to avoid liability issues. Thank you for your work to ensure public safety on Highway 12.

Keith Watts and concerned citizens of Boulder and Escalante

At-a-glance highlights:

• Great Salt Lake has risen a foot since its historic low two set in early November 2022. This is due to direct precipitation and inflows to the lake.

Experts are also working to understand how the causeway breach modification that occurred last summer might be impacting the quick rise in lake levels. For context, the lake rose just over a foot all of last year. We are off to a good start as we look toward spring runoff.

• According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Utah’s statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) is 183% of normal. The only years that have had more snow on this date since the SNOTEL network was installed were 1984, 1997 and 2005.

This makes this the best winter (so far) that we've seen in almost 20 years.

Thirty of the 47 reservoirs the division monitors are below 55%, which is about the same as last year but still about 10% lower than normal for this time of year.

• Of the 71 measured streams, 18 are currently flowing below normal. The number of streams measured has decreased due to ice on the stream gauges. Residents can find water-saving tips at SlowtheFlow.Org.

—Utah Division of Water Resources

Visitation to Utah's "Mighty 5" national parks dropped in 2022 compared to the record-setting numbers seen in 2021. Numbers were down 7%, with over 10.5 million people visiting the five national parks last year.

UTAH - Visitation to Utah's "Mighty 5" national parks dropped in 2022 compared to the record-setting numbers seen in 2021, according to a KSL.com analysis.

According to KSL.com, numbers were down 7%, with over 10.5 million people visiting the five national parks last year.

Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion all experienced decreased visitation, with Bryce Canyon being the only park that saw an increase of 12% compared to their 2021 numbers.

There are several factors which could have played a role in these declines, but Utah State tourism officials believe it to be a series of economic factors, including global inflation which caused increased gas prices.

Since COVID-19, the number of international travelers is down, and the value of European currency has kept some European travelers closer to home.

It is hard to predict what 2023 will bring, but Garfield County recently completed a market capacity study to consider ideas of how to get people to visit the national parks year-round. This may mean altering Bryce Canyon's "Mighty 5" campaign strategy to marketing visitation to the park during the quieter, winter months.

Source: Deseret News

Publisher: Erica Walz Layout & Graphic Design: Emily Leach Reporter: Tessa Barkan Reporter: Amiee Maxwell Reporter: Kadi Franson Reporter: Lisa Jeppson

Ian Marynowski

Trudy Stowe

Open House: Even in the traditional ‘cows and plows’ of agriculture, the basis of what 4-H was developed on, those industries are shifting to be more STEM based.—Callie Ward, a USU assistant professor who works in economic and 4-H youth development

clubs is part of a nationwide shift for the non-profit organization 4-H to help prepare youth for the jobs of the future and learn to lead healthy lifestyles. “Even in the traditional ‘cows and plows’ of agriculture, the basis of what 4-H was developed on, those industries are shifting to be more STEM based,” said Callie Ward—a USU assistant professor who works in economic and 4-H youth development—during the open house.

Ward continued to state that the new programming “also brings in more opportunities to kids who aren’t in agriculture,” noting that “they still get that 4-H experience of belonging to an organization with opportunities to serve their communities.” 4-H is partnered with public universities to engage nearly six million youth nationwide. Their goal is to provide mentorship, experience and leadership opportunities where they might otherwise be difficult to find.

The open house had many chances for children and their parents to see and experience some of the activities which the new program had to offer. Displays ranged from looking at skin cells under a microscope and playing with ‘oobleck’ (cornstarch and water, a non-newtonian fluid and a fun thing to make at home) to coding small robots with hand-drawn maps and utilizing virtual reality. Other items on display were engineering and math based games, a fleet of drones and even a 3D printer.

“We’re here to help the kids with whatever they are interested in,” said Sondra Jones, the Garfield County 4-H Stem Coordinator. She feels that these programs specifically benefit rural communities. “They bring belonging and a sense of teamwork… in bigger cities you might have the opportunity for more programs, and this brings those opportunities to these kids.” Jones will be hosting afterschool club meetings to allow children to explore their interests in the world of STEM.

In addition to reinforcing the importance of engineering science, another goal of the program is to show that education can be fun. The games and activities allowed students to learn coding and practice systematic thinking without the need to look at screens, allowing for hands-on, experiential learning. Ward, Jones and USU Garfield County Youth Development Coordinator Clint Albrecht all emphasized the importance of this "unplugged" learning, referencing numerous opportunities for children to be active and continue their STEM learning at home, without necessarily needing technology.

This alternative approach to education appealed to Escalante resident Randy Mcknight, who felt that it may help provide new learning opportunities for his home-schooled son while also giving his daughter a place to socialize and be engaged beyond school. Jones was also involved in a home-school program in Cedar City prior to moving to Escalante and believes that clubs like 4-H are important to help-

Ian Marynowski

Paisley Chynoweth plays a virtual reality (VR) game using an Oculus VR headset and controllers while her mother, Chyvonne Stowe, supervises at the 4-H open house at Escalante High School on January 25, 2023. Beyond being a fun new way to play games, virtual reality has become an affordable and safe way to learn any number of skills from flying aircraft, to architectural design and medicine. Having access to this technology early may help children prepare for their futures. The Garfield county 4-H club was able to purchase these high tech items through use of grants provided by the Southwest Behavioral Health Center.

ing youth develop in any type of schooling environment.

All of the technology provided in this program was funded through grants provided by the Southwest Behavioral Health Center (SBHC) to help prevent youth substance abuse disorders through extracurricular engagement. SBHC receives money from both the federal and state governments to provide education and resources for promoting wellness and recovery from addiction in Southwest Utah.

The 4-H STEM program in Escalante will be the first in the County. With the intent of engaging children from the elementary to the high school level,

the program will eventually spread to Bryce Valley and Panguitch schools and beyond. This new afterschool opportunity comes on the heels of the new computer science curriculum introduced during the 2021/2022 school year to Garfield County under the Utah Computer Science Master Plan.

This open house served as an opportunity for families to see what options were available, as well as for Jones to gauge interest and find out how to best serve the community. Final times of STEM club meetings have not yet been finalized, but will be shared on social media, posters, future meetings, etc., when they become available.

With Near-Record Snowfall, Utah’s 2022-2023 Ski Season Is Off To An Exceptional Start

SALT LAKE CITY -

The Utah Office of Tourism is celebrating the Greatest Snow on Earth® with officials calling the 2022-23 season snowfall thus far the best in decades. According to OpenSnow, three of Utah’s premier ski destinations—Alta, Brighton, and Snowbird—hold the top three spots for snowiest ski areas in North America this year, with Solitude spending most of the season in fourth place. As of January 18, Alta is just 13 inches off the mark of its all-time OctJan record of 442 inches, which was set in the 198182 season.

“We’re so excited that the snow continues to fall, and we’re enjoying every moment of this season,” said Ski Utah President and CEO Nathan Rafferty. “We can’t predict the weather, but every year in Utah is better than most everywhere else snow-wise, and this year is no exception. Every resort in the state is offering a world-class experience.”

snowpack, the snowfall has positively impacted the entire state. OpenSnow reports that every major basin currently has a snowpack exceeding 150% of the seasonal median peak, with most basins at over 200%.

“It’s safe to say it’s the best first half of a season we’ve had in 40 years,” says OpenSnow Forecaster and winter weather expert Evan Thayer. “This year our statewide mean snowpack is at 92% of the seasonal median peak, meaning we've already nearly seen an entire season's worth of snow in the first half.”

Winter is a beloved time of the year for Utah residents and visitors. When the snow falls, Utah comes to life offering world-class terrain, unparalleled accessibility, and vibrant cultural experiences. All 15 of Utah’s premier ski resorts are open for the 2022-23 ski season. A list of snow totals can be found at skiutah.com/snowreport.

—Utah Office of Tourism

Ski officials and weather experts are reporting the snowiest first half of a Utah winter in 40 years

Schools & Sports

Garfield County School District Teacher Highlight

by Shawn Caine

Mrs. Brittney Montague - Computer Science Specialist/Paraprofessional, K-6 grades, Antimony Elementary School

include to teach Computer Science (CS) to grades K - 6. She uses Canvas (LMS), which includes lessons in computer science, digital literacy, and keyboarding.

Cole, Mrs. Montague's husband, has five wonderful boys.

Marcelino is a senior in high school and plays football.

PHS Sports Sidelines

by Mack Oetting

sites that she uses with her students; she loves how it engages them. One of the class favorites is the Dance Party.

ANTIMONY -

Brittney

Brodee is a freshman and enjoys playing basketball and baseball. Crew is in 8th grade. He loves to play baseball and is an amazing pitcher. Gradee is a 6th grader. He is very active and is currently playing basketball. Last is the youngest, McCray. He is the caboose of the family and strives to be like his older brothers.

In addition to her CS teaching, she is a paraprofessional with multiple responsibilities including Math, Science, and reading with the students.

Code.org is one of her favorite educational web-

Antimony Elementary is a unique school, with only fifteen K - 6 students. Montague has the opportunity to work and teach problem-solving and critical thinking skills with many different CS/Tech tools. For her younger students, she uses "Go and Code Mice" and "BlueBots," and for her middleage kids, she uses "Ozobots" and "Makey-Makey." Montague says that they especially love using the "Makey-Makey" to create music. Older students get to experience the "Sphero" and the "Micro-Bits."

When asked about the new Computer Science program, Montague said, “I love that it creates confidence and most importantly, excitement for learning!”

“Future-Ready students—I want them to look back and remember the skills they developed. Computational thinking: Decomposition, Pattern Recognition, Abstraction, and Algorithm, and be able to utilize them with any problems to solve, in any career path or circumstance in their life.”

The Bobcat Wrestlers continue their run for their 4th State Championship win in a row. This year’s Division Championship was held at Wayne, and the Cats came out on top, edging out Milford. Their season comes to an end at Sevier Valley Center (SVC) on February 10-11th. The Cats have had a real Championship year, overpowering teams throughout the State. We were told that the division was at Canyon View by a couple who should have known, so this time we will be there. State is a really big event that fills the SVC Arena, so come early for a good seat.

The wrestling season isn’t the only season that is coming to an end; both the boys and girls Region basketball finals will be here on the 17th and 18th.

We went down to Val-

ley to watch the Cats play the Buffalos, and the gym was quite crowded. Valley had some outside shooters that kept them in the game for a while. The Cats matched their 3-pointers with eight of their own and won going away, 64 to 46.

Spencer Talbot had a big night with nineteen points, three 3-pointers, and twelve rebounds. Justin Osburn finished with nineteen points and five 3-pointers.

Tucker Chappell had sixteen points. The Cats went over to Diamond Ranch for another run away game, taking them down 87-32.

You never know what kind of team Diamond will have at any one time. Tucker Chappell had a really big night, scoring twenty-six points, eight rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots. Cache Eyre finished with seventeen points and

five 3-pointers. The Bobcats have two more home games. They play Milford on the 2nd—it will be both teams playing on that day—and they finish up their season with a final home game against Bryce Valley.

The Lady Cats had another split week with going clear over to Moab to play the Grand team and came away on the short end of a low scoring game, 43 to 38. Mallory Henrie had a good night with fifteen and two 3-pointers. Things were much better over at Bryce Valley, where they came out ahead of the Mustangs, 32-29. Mallory Henrie had ten and Adelaide Englestead had seven with two 3-pointers. The Lady Cats have three more home games: Piute on the 1st, Milford on the 2nd and Valley on the 9th.

Bobcat Wrestlers win at Wayne Division Championship, boys basketball wins against Valley and Diamond Ranch, and Lady Cats basketball wins against Bryce Valley

Courtesy Shawn Caine

Montague has been a Paraprofessional at Antimony Elementary for the past five years. This year, her responsibilities

Brittney Montague has been a Paraprofessional at Antimony Elementary for the past five years.

Courtesy Shawn Caine McCray Montague, son of Brittney Montague, working with "MakeyMakey" to create music.

Wills, Trusts, and More How Do I Discuss Estate Planning with My Family and Loved

Throughout my twenty-five years as an estate planning attorney, I have experienced the effects of the above question. Too often, the problem has been that estate planning has not been discussed. I always advise my clients to let their family members know that they have done estate planning and where the documents are located. I encourage more discussion; but, at a minimum, family members must know that planning has been done.

Estate planning is a very personal and private matter. As a result, many children and grandchildren are not aware of estate issues or the personal wishes of their parents and grandparents until it is too late to plan. Parents and grandparents are often reluctant to discuss such issues.

Perhaps the best way to start the discussion with a parent is to ask questions such as, "Have you done any estate planning?" or "Are there any estate decisions that I need to be aware of?" Another alternative would be to ask your parents for advice on your own estate plan. This may lead to a discussion of their own plans. The ques-

Ones

by Jeffery J. McKenna

tions do not have to initially focus on financial issues or on what individual beneficiaries will receive. Instead, the questions should focus on understanding the overall wishes of a parent and how you can help.

A parent may not want to discuss issues relating to death; however, by waiting, the discussion may never occur. They could die without you knowing whether they have estate planning documents, where they are located, wishes pertaining to their illness, and final services. You should also remember that a discussion of your parents’ estate planning needs may affect your own estate planning, and you may need to consider revising your own strategies.

Conversely, if you are the parents, you may be uncomfortable talking about your own death. Or you may feel that your children would be uncomfortable speaking of your death. But by taking the time now to plan your estate, and to make your wishes known to your loved ones, you may experience a sense of security. You will have peace of mind knowing you'll be able to financially provide for your loved ones

Kraft Dinner

Before going to work, my wife instructed me to give our kids Kraft Dinner for supper.

Checks

PANGUITCH OFFICE AT 46 NORTH MAIN STREET TO SERVE CLIENTS IN AND AROUND GARFIELD COUNTY.

Jeffery J. McKenna is a local attorney whose practice has been focused on Estate Planning for over 20 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.BARNEYMCKENNA.COM, he would enjoy hearing from you.

after you're gone, and you can rest at ease that you were able to discuss your wishes with those who may need to know, but are reluctant to ask.

When suppertime came, I didn't feel like cooking and took the kids out to a local fast-food restaurant. While we were eating I told them to tell their mother that they had had Kraft Dinner for supper, should she ask, or else Daddy would get into trouble.

Later, at bedtime, my wife called to say goodnight to the kids and she asked our five-year-old daughter, Danielle, what they had eaten for supper, "Kraft Dinner," she replied, adding, "from the Dairy Queen."

Wedding Gift

One of their wedding presents was a toaster. Soon after the honeymoon she and her husband tried it out.

Almost immediately, smoke billowed from the toaster. "Get the owner's manual!" her husband shouted."

"I can't find it anywhere!" she cried, searching through the box.

"Oops," came a voice from the kitchen. "Well, the toast is fine but the owner's manual is burnt to a crisp."

THEME: Valentine's Day ACROSS

1. "Without further ____," pl.

5. Sweet 16 gift

8. Steps to the river, in India

12. *Michael Bublé's "____ the Last Dance for Me"

13. Bigger than big

14. Nonkosher

15. Big-ticket one

16. October birthstone

There was a young guy in our credit union opening his first checking account. He filled out the various forms and chose the style of checks he wanted.

"One more thing," I said, pointing to the top of the form he'd just completed. "Is this how you want your name and address printed on your checks?"

"No," he said. "I want it printed neater."

Shower Thoughts

Anyone who believes the competitive spirit in America is dead has never been in a supermarket when the cashier opens another checkout line.

PUNishment

The winter was difficult on the trees, but in the spring they were releafed.

sudoku

To

This week's answers on page 11

DOWN

1. "Clueless" catch phrase

2. *Get-together

O bituaries

Sharon Moore

PANGUITCH / ST. GEORGE - Sharon Stapley Moore, 88, passed away January 24, 2023 in Panguitch. She was born October 28, 1934 in Joseph, to Sim Adams and Necha Estella Jackman Stapley. She married Keith Moxon Moore on October 2, 1967 in Las Vegas, NV. The marriage was solemnized on August 21, 1976 in the St. George Temple. He preceded her in death on November 1, 2001.

Sharon’s most prized possession was her family and grandchildren. Sharon grew up on a farm in Joseph, UT. She drove dump trucks for her dad and gave up her dream opportunity to play professional softball to help provide for her family during hard times. She later went to cosmetology school and graduated at the top of her class. She opened “Sharon’s Beauty Salon” in Panguitch where she met her husband, Keith. Sharon later retired from the beauty salon and stayed at home raising her son, Darin. She later began working at the Pines and had several opportunities to share the gospel with inquiring travelers. It was, in a way, her own mission to spread the gospel. Sharon loved genealogy work and was known as the family historian. She had obtained and documented countless stories for the rest of her family and posterity to enjoy forever. Sharon loved animals and was known to be a shelter for homeless pets. She loved giving and serving others. As Sharon’s health declined, she spent her final years living in the Garfield County Care Center. She had many friends and loved the staff who helped take care of her. Sharon is survived by her son, Darin Keith (Rachael) Moore, St. George; 3 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; sister, Vonda Rae Patton.

Also preceded in death by her parents; siblings: Thora (George) Platt, Melba Stapley, Erma (Eugene) Reiners, Rulon Floyd (Vivian) Stapley, Ivadell (Jack) Yardley, Norine (Garn) Cracraft, Leland J (Gwen) Stapley; brother-in-law, Ray Patton.

Funeral services were held Friday, January 27, 2023 at 12:00 Noon in the Panguitch 1st Ward Chapel, where friends called from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Burial was in the Panguitch City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.

Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com

The weather has been nice the last couple of days (no wind), but on Monday, winter is supposed to be back in full force. The high is supposed to be 15 degrees and a low of 0 degrees, so stay close to the heater. This cold winter gives us the impression that we have had a lot of snow, but with the exception of that first 8” snow, most of the storms are back in the 2-3” range. We went down to the ballgame in Valley last week, and where most of the snow hit in our area was from Hatch down to Glendale. It is banked up there about 3’. A lot of the storms that were forecast didn’t show up or were just little flakes. Up at the Lake, they have a couple of feet, but the Lake is frozen solid. I don’t have to tell you how cold it is; just look at your heating bill for the last two months. Mine is up about 300 dollars over the last two years or so.

This Saturday the 4th is the annual fishing derby, and there are many prizes for those with good catches. A friend of mine and his kids said that they thought that they had caught over 100 for the day, with most of them released. The fishing derby brings out fishermen from all over the area, so you need to get there early to get a good spot.

I read somewhere the other day that the reason why you always feel tired in the winter is because of the lack of sunlight. Sunset is now about 5:45 p.m., which is about the time you would be getting home from work. Up north, quite a few people have been killed in crosswalks this year, but that is to be expected this time of the year, with it getting dark so early. Do not fear. In about 40 days, Daylight saving time will be here on March 12, and it will give us another hour of daylight. Maybe then your energy will come back.

I spent most of today watching football. The first game was close till the 49ers quarterback hurt his arm. His name is Purdy, and he was their third stringer—the Niners have won 12 games in a row with him starting. So, the Philadelphia Eagles won the game quite easily, 33 to 7, and the Eagles will be going to the Super Bowl.

The afternoon game was really close, with both teams having great quarterbacks. It was tied down to the end at 20 all, and it looked like it was going into overtime. Kansas City intercepted a pass with 39 seconds left and had one or two plays left, when

by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com

Kansas City’s quarterback ran the ball out of bounds. This was way too short to do anything with it. The Cincinnati Bengals defensive player, then, hit him out of bounds and got a 15yard penalty on him. So, with eight seconds left, the Chiefs kicked a field goal and won the game and will be going to the Super Bowl. The game will be played in two weeks.

The NBA All Star Game will be held in Salt Lake City on February 5th.

On the national front, the new Congress started off the year by proposing a bill that would do away with income taxes and put a 32% sales tax on all items. I don’t think that these next two years will produce anything to help the working folks.

Locally, our state politicians aren’t far behind. I don’t know why the state wastes taxpayers money holding elections when they just ignore the vote. A few years back, we voted to use affordable health care plans, and the legislature decided it could only be used by those making $19,000 or less. Twenty years ago, the citizens of the state overwhelmingly voted down the use of vouchers for those going to private or religious schools. So now, instead of voting on it, they just pushed it through, giving the poor rich kids $6,000 a year to go to private schools. To sell the bill, they will give the teachers $8,000 pay raises. Why not save the money on court costs and just give the teachers the raise? The

voucher bill was voted down by the voters south of Provo because we don’t have access to private schools in our area, but we still have to pay for them with our tax money. It is called taxation without representation.

Well, February is upon us. If you can’t guess what is coming up, try shopping at Walmart. Valentine's Day is on the horizon on the 14th. On the 2nd, a day I have been looking forward to, it's Groundhog Day, and we will know how much longer winter will last. Next year will be leap year, and we will have an extra day. You now have enough warning, so you can figure out what to do with it.

Mack O.

Water Battery: Utah Company Advances Wyoming Pumped-storage Project

The 900-megawatt power plant would provide renewable electricity even when there is no wind or sun by Tim Fitzpatrick, Salt Lake Tribune

SALT LAKE CITYSalt Lake City-based rPlus Hydro announced that it has submitted its final application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to build a 900-megawatt pumped storage project north of Rawlins, Wyo. Pumped storage projects function as massive batteries. Wyoming has been adding wind and solar farms in the area, and those farms would provide the power to pump water uphill from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir.

Then, when the power is needed, the process is reversed. The water flows out of the upper reservoir through an underground hydroelectric turbine to the lower reservoir, producing electricity on demand.

Called the Seminoe project, it would use the existing Seminoe Reservoir north of Rawlins, Wyo., as the lower reservoir. An upper reservoir would be built 1,000 feet higher in mountains near Seminoe. When filled, the upper reservoir can provide up to 10 hours of 900-megawatt power, enough to power thousands of homes. It takes 12 hours of available wind or sun to fully recharge, but its cycles will depend on the availability of wind and solar. It’s intended as a backup to those sources that can pick up when wind stops and the sun is down.

“This project will help to extract all the values of the wind and solar and transmission lines,” said Luigi Resta, president of rPlus Hydro. This is the

first project to reach the final application stage for the four-year-old company, which is backed by the real estate and development firm Gardner Group.

There are two major transmission lines under construction near the project. One is the Gateway South line PacifiCorp is building from southeastern Wyoming to Mona, Utah. The other line, the Transwest Express line, will run from Wyoming to the Intermountain Power Plant near Delta, where it can connect to another transmission line to southern California.

Those lines give the project access to several power providers who could be potential customers for the power. That includes Rocky Mountain Power’s customers in Utah, but it could also include other systems as far away as California.

It’s a $2.5 billion project that would take until 2031 to become operational. The cost ultimately will be borne by the electricity customers who use the power, although as much of half the cost may be covered by the federal government through the Inflation Reduction Act, Resta said.

This month’s filing will begin the environmental analysis, including writing an environmental impact statement. Three federal agencies are involved, and the process could take more than two years. The existing Seminoe reservoir is operated by the U.S. Bureau of Rec-

lamation. The upper reservoir would be built on Bureau of Land Management land, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees all power plant development in the country.

Resta said the company has done preliminary research to find there are no environmental or cultural resources that would prevent construction. The environmental analysis will include a public comment period.

Currently, there are 43 licensed pumped storage projects in the country, most of them east of the Mississippi River. This would be the first in Wyoming. Utah has no licensed pumped storage projects, although several are proposed.

As more solar resources come online, the need for storage has become more acute. The so-called “duck curve” describes the issue when power providers have to power down other sources when the sun is shining, and then power the other sources back up when the sun sets. Pumped storage can provide on-demand power that comes online quickly when the sun sets.

This article was originally published by The Salt Lake Tribune on January 28, 2023.

This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.

Colorado River : The bottom line is this: at this point in time, no public official should support or approve any further development in the Colorado River basin based on the presumption that water supplies will be available. On the contrary, the public discussion should focus on the possibility that we will be forced to reduce current consumption, especially in the agricultural sector.

Colorado River

Cont'd from page 1

put their communities at risk of painful water cutbacks.

The simplest way to understand the gravity of the situation is to look at Lake Powell. As of January, 2023, the reservoir is at 23% of capacity, the lowest level since the reservoir was initially filled. The water level is at 3,525 feet, 175 feet below full capacity and a mere 35 feet above the level necessary to generate hydropower. Maintaining even this historically low level required emergency measures, such as releasing water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir and reservoirs in Colorado.

A prudent person must ask themselves: if there is more water in the Colorado River basin for our local communities to develop, where is it supposed to come from? Rain dances?

For a more complete understanding of this crisis, a person needs to know a few of the rules that govern water management in the Colorado River, as well as something about the current drought situation. The “Law of the River,” which governs water use in the Colorado River basin, is now over 100 years old. It is comprised of a wide array of compacts, international treaties, court decisions, federal laws, and regulatory decisions. It is still being updated, mainly in response to drought conditions. The foundational document in this body of work is the Colorado River Compact of 1922, signed by the seven basin states at Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, a culmination of negotiations presided over by future president Herbert Hoover.

The "Law of the River" is too vast for the average citizen to absorb; however, there are certain fundamental principles, relevant to our own situation, that should be understood by all decision-makers and interested citizens. First, the 1922 Compact divided the basin into the Upper and Lower Basins. The Upper Basin contains Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico, with a small portion of Arizona. The Lower Basin is comprised of California, Arizona and Nevada, along with the Virgin River basin of Utah. Both basins were initially allocated 7.5 million acre feet (maf) per year for diversion and consumption. Of great importance, the Upper Basin was required to supply the Lower Basin with its full allocation before it could claim any water for itself, with the exception of pri-

February 6 - 10

by John Mosley

or perfected rights (water rights established before 1922).

In 1944, the U.S. signed a treaty with Mexico, guaranteeing 1.5 maf to Mexico on an annual basis, half coming from the Upper Basin and half from the Lower Basin. Shortly thereafter, the Upper Basin states signed the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of 1948, which divided the water supply among the four Upper Basin states, based approximately on the amount of water that each state contributed to the river. Colorado was allocated 51.75 percent, Utah 23 percent, Wyoming 14 percent and New Mexico 11.25 percent. 50,000 acre-feet was also allocated to Arizona because the northeast corner of that state is in the Upper Basin, mostly on the Navajo reservation.

Specific amounts of water were not allocated to individual states in the Upper Basin because no one really knew how much water would be available. As it turned out, nature never provided enough water to supply the Upper Basin with 7.5 maf annually, especially with 1.5 maf guaranteed for Mexico. In general practice, the Upper Basin states have assumed they have 6.0 maf feet to divide amongst themselves. With 23% of that water going to Utah. Utah officials have assumed, up to the present, that they have approximately 1.4 maf of water available from the Colorado River.

This is where the trouble begins. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation calculates how much water each state uses per year, and according to the latest data, Utah is using about 1.0 maf per year from the Colorado River. Even taking into account unquantified tribal water rights, it does appear there is water remaining from Utah’s 1.4 maf allocation. That is exactly the math that is being used to justify the proposed Lake Powell pipeline, intended to bring around 100,000 acre-feet from Lake Powell to the St. George area.

Unfortunately, whether you call it “fuzzy math” or “magical thinking,” it is delusional to think that Utah still holds a right to develop 1.4 maf from the river. We are living under a new regime, at least for the moment, and here is why: during the 20th century, average flows into Lake Powell were 15.2 maf per year; however, in the 21st century, that number has declined dramatically to an average or 12.4 maf, a loss of 2.8 million feet per year. Ironically, this is very close to the amount of water needed to fill both Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

If one accepts that

12.4 maf annual flow is the new normal for the Colorado River—an assumption supported by a majority of scientists—what becomes of rights to appropriation in the Upper Basin? Turning again to the numbers discussed above, the Upper Basin is required by law to deliver 8.23 maf to the Lower Basin before taking anything for itself. Assuming 12.4 maf is the new average, at least for the foreseeable future, that leaves only 4.2 maf for Upper Basin consumption, not the 6.0 maf of the 20th century.

Utah’s share of this 4.2 maf is 23%, or 970,000 acre feet, less than the 1.0 maf we already consume. If one takes into consideration undeveloped tribal water rights, our situation looks even worse. Consequently, we must live with a new reality. Not only is there no additional water available for Utah to appropriate from the Colorado River, we are already consuming more water than we are legally entitled to.

Bureaucrats who manage the waters of the Colorado River know how dire the situation is, even if elected officials often choose to remain in the dark. In June of 2022, the Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Camille Touton, told a U.S. Senate committee that the seven states of the Colorado River Basin must quickly come up with an emergency plan to conserve between 2 and 4 million acre-feet of water in 2023.

Utah officials responded in early 2023 with a program that many observers find inadequate: voluntary, non-permanent cuts in water consumption, funded by federal dollars.

Because we are experiencing a wonderfully wet winter, these tepid measures may get us through the coming year. But no one knows what lies beyond that. And if these measures fail to achieve the intended results long-term, it is imperative to understand that the Bureau of Reclamation has the power to initiate a regime of “curtailment,” forcing states to cut back on consumption whether they like it or not.

The bottom line is this: at this point in time, no public official should support or approve any further development in the Colorado River basin based on the presumption that water supplies will be available. On the contrary, the public discussion should focus on the possibility that we will be forced to reduce current consumption, especially in the agricultural sector. Public officials need to grasp this new reality, and fast. The Bureau of Reclamation is watching and waiting, and it carries a big stick.

Darrell Mensel served for seventeen years on the Utah Water Development Commission and seven years on the Utah Water Quality Board. He was also the executive director of the Utah Outdoor Interests Coordinating Council, working on issues related to the final phase of the Central Utah Project. He is a resident of Torrey.

The evening sky facing south 90 minutes after sunset on February 10. The comet is near Mars

I hope everybody got a good look at Comet C/2022 E3 while it was at its brightest—while it was visible to the naked eye under a dark sky—because now it has left the earth and sun behind and is heading back to the depths of space. If you haven’t see it, it’s still there, fading slowly, easily visible in binoculars, where it’s nicely placed for early evening viewing high overhead, above Orion. The bad, bright moon is out of the way, and that makes a huge difference. This week, it moves through Auriga (February 6 - 8) and Taurus (February 9 - March 2). On the way, it passes less than 2° from Mars on February 10 and 11 (expect some nice photos) and 1½° from Aldebaran and the edge of the famous Hyades Star Cluster on the 14th (expect more nice photos). Spotting something that is moving and changing is not a solitary event. Many of us will enjoy following its progress night-by-night as it traverses the winter constellations. How long will you be able to see it with your eyes alone? with binoculars? with a telescope? Google “comet c/2022 finder chart” if you don’t

have a planetarium app.

Six months from now, there will be zero planets in the evening sky; tonight, there are three. Don’t take them for granted. (Six months from now, I’ll be fishing around for things to write about.)

The brightest of these three planets is Venus, poetically called the evening star. Venus is brilliantly low in the west during evening twilight, and it sets two hours after the sun. How early can you see it? You can see it before sunset if you know where to look.

About 20° above Venus is the second-brightest planet, Jupiter. Jupiter is far larger than Venus, but it’s four times as distant and so it’s only one-fifth as bright. Watch Venus approach Jupiter—their separation decreases noticeably nightby-night. By your own observations, when do you estimate they’ll be closest (in conjunction)?

Last fall, Mars rivaled Jupiter in brightness, but that was then. Mars is only twice the diameter of our moon, but it’s 350 times as far as the moon, so it’s only one-seventh as bright as Jupiter. Jupiter’s distance from the earth changes only slightly during the year, but

Mars’ distance changes a great deal when we catch and pass it, as we did in December, and then leave it behind, so watch Mars continue to fade as its distance increases. Compare its fading brightness to nearby stars.

Those stars near Mars are in Taurus, which is high overhead. Mars is 8° above the orange star Aldebaran. Tonight, Mars is twice as bright as Aldebaran, but on April 1, it will equal Aldebaran in brightness. You can watch this happen; now, you know what to look for.

You might spot Mercury very near to the eastern horizon a half-hour before sunrise, but you’ll need a low unobstructed horizon. This is for people who enjoy a challenge.

John Mosley was Program Supervisor of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles for 27 years and is the author of “Stargazing for Beginners” and “Stargazing with Binoculars and Telescopes.” He and his wife live in St. George, where he continues to stargaze from his retirement home while serving on the advisory committee for Stellar Vista Observatory.

Lynsey Shelar: The Entrada Institute continues its winter programming today, February 2, at 7 p.m., when Don Gomes and Lynsey Shelar engage in a "Classic Conversation" at Robbers Roost.

Cont'd from page 1

teaches viola, cello, and mandolin. In addition to managing her music studio, Lynsey is the fine arts teacher at Loa Elementary School. Lynsey served on the Board of Directors of the Entrada Institute and has been the driving force

in bringing several youth programs to Torrey. But did you know…

"Classic Conversations" are produced and moderated by Don Gomes, vice president of the Entrada Institute. Having spent 25 years as an award-winning public broadcaster in Utah, Indiana, and Texas, his artful interviews reflect

that expertise. To register for this program, go to www.entradainstitute. org, click on “Attend an Event,” and fill out the brief form. You will find the latest Utah Department of Health guidelines for COVID there. Events are also livestreamed at Entrada Institute on Facebook. —Entrada Institute

The Sky Report is presented as a public service by the Stellar Vista Observatory, a nonprofit organization based in Kanab, Utah, which provides opportunities for people to observe, appreciate, and comprehend our starry night sky. Additional information is at www.stellarvistaobservatory.org. Send questions and comments to John@StargazingAdventures.org.

Lynsey Shelar

Graphic Created with SkySafariAstronomy.com

Courtesy Entrada Institute

In 2014, Lynsey Shelar started the Sleeping Rainbow School of Music. Over the years, she has been the inspiration for dozens of students through her school. Besides violin, Shelar teaches viola, cello, and mandolin.

UT Leads with Formal Volunteering Efforts in AmeriCorps' Latest Research

by Alex Gonzalez, Utah News Connection

Garfield Commission: Commissioner reports, the school voucher bill, a road access issue involving unincorporated residences outside Antimony, approval of recommended actions of the Planning Department, and up to $155K to go towards a land exchange to procure additional property for Garfield Memorial Hospital discussed.

Adobe Stock

According to the research, about 23%, or 60.7 million people, formally volunteered with organizations between September 2020 and 2021.

UTAH - According to AmeriCorps' latest research, Utah was the state with the highest number of residents volunteering with nonprofits in their communities from September 2020 through 2021.

Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, said those in the Beehive State and across the country had to find innovative ways to give back to their communities during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the data, about 40% of Utahns regularly volunteered with nonprofit organizations, which classifies as formal volunteering. Smith pointed out the number jumped to 61% when looking at how people from Utah helped in informal ways,

such as doing favors for neighbors.

"To put that in context, we got 23% for formal and 51% for informal," Smith reported. "Those rates were pretty high, and it shows why we need to do this research. We need to study what was happening. What was the secret sauce?"

The research is conducted every two years in a joint effort between AmeriCorps and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Smith emphasized the research showed cause for concern and celebration. For the first time since the agencies started tracking the data in 2002, there was a 7% dip in the number of Americans engaging in formal volunteering. He added informal help remained strong and steady. Smith admitted he was

a bit nervous in receiving the numbers from the latest research, since he knew the COVID-19 pandemic would likely mean many were not able to volunteer as in previous years. He explained AmeriCorps was not shocked to see a dip in formal volunteering, but it was greater than expected.

At the same time, he added he was pleased to see when the going got tough, Americans really showed up for one another.

"We saw neighbors creating learning pods so that children of first responders could have a place to go and learn in a safe place," Smith recounted. "We saw folks saying 'I'm going to the grocery store. Anyone who can't get out to the grocery store in my apartment building, I'll go and get that done.' "

Smith hopes formal volunteering will rise again, but stressed AmeriCorps will be looking at ways to remove barriers to get even more Americans volunteering and civically engaged. He noted the need for volunteers within nonprofits is at an all-time high, which can also become a pipeline for employees in the social sector.

pass. Pollock said the bill may provide larger counties with a way to give teachers a raise. But for small Class 5 and 6 counties (such as Wayne and Garfield), the voucher bill is detrimental. He encouraged school board members to come to Salt Lake or at least reach out to Senate leaders prior to their vote. An exemption for Class 5 and 6 counties may now be the only remedy available. Pollock is also promoting SB114 to secure permanent funding for inmates. He also favors Rep Phil Lyman’s “Yellow Cake Caucus,” and its proposal for fixing Utah’s water problems: thinning out Utah’s forests. By eliminating the overgrowth of water-sucking trees and removing all those “straws” into our aquifers, “that alone will fill the Great Salt Lake.” Public Works, Dave Dodds: The Kane/Garfield/ BLM coordinating meetings will be rescheduled for next month. Dodds pleaded for patience on road issues. It’s been a great snow year, but drifting and freeze/thaw on dirt roads is causing access problems for both residents and equipment.

The longest discussion of the meeting was a road access issue involving unincorporated residences outside Antimony in conflict with the recorded private roads that are part of City Limits Ranch subdivision. County resident Noah Bennett said he has used Carriage Lane to access his home since 2002, whereas the subdivision’s roads were approved in 2016. A 2019 court case filed by Garfield County was inconclusive, mainly due to lack of proof showing continuous use of the road on behalf of the unincorporated residents. In the

meantime, the subdivision filed a 2020 quiet title on the roads in questions. Another resident noted some history related to the access road: that it offers access to Rainbow Trail, which is the oldest documented Garfield County portion of the Old Spanish Trail. It connects to the American Discovery Trail, which runs from Sacramento to New York City, and intersects with the Great Western Trail. Also, the road was the original access road to the antimony mine (an activity that resulted in changing the town’s name from Coyote to Antimony.) The Commissioners agreed that they hadn’t heard of this issue but would like another month or so to review the details. Commissioner Pollock suggested that the residents themselves probably possess adequate proof of 10-years continuous usage and to gather that documentation.

Next, the Commission approved Planning Department’s recommended actions:

1) Ordinance 20231, Agricultural Protection Area Amendments, which incorporates state-mandated revisions that include mining and critical infrastructures and materials, and establish a Protection Area Advisory Board.

2) Zoning Ordinance Amendments that add a new chapter covering Redevelopment Zones. This new zone, created to clean up problematic, pre-ordinance subdivisions, allows dry camping (no connection to any infrastructure) for 30 days as a permitted use and allows short-term rentals as a conditional use.

3) Resolution 2023-1, Amending County Fees, adds the Protection Area fee raised to $500

4) Resolution 2023-3, establishing an Emergency Management Coordinator position.

5) Five subdivision rezonings along Hwy 89, all of which were created decades before a subdivision or zoning ordinance existed, resulting in numerous unbuildable and/or inaccessible lots. Hidden River Estates (west of Panguitch), Hercules Subdivision, Sevier River Estates, Shangri-la (east of Hatch), and Panguitch View Estates were all rezoned as Redevelopment Zone.

The Commission approved a business license for Rustic Charm Pest Control, LLC.

The Bryce Valley 6th graders reported on their Dec. trip to D.C. Twenty students participated, including laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Following a closed session, the Commissioners approved Resolution 2023-2 appointing Alexa Wilson and Amy Golden as Ticaboo Utility Improvement District members. County board positions were also approved.

Finally, the Commission authorized up to $155K toward a land exchange to procure additional property for Garfield Memorial Hospital.

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

Leases: BLM Utah is committed to processing applications and leases for generating renewable energy on public lands, which provides jobs and generates clean electricity for our homes.—Cindy Ledbetter, BLM

Fillmore Field Manager

Leases

Cont'd from page 1

more Field Manager Cindy Ledbetter. “We will continue to work closely with our partners, Tribal Nations, communities, and local governments to ensure any energy development maximizes efficiencies and minimizes environmental impacts for the benefit of current and future generations.”

The competitive lease sale summary and results, list of registered bidders, and parcel descriptions are available on the BLM Utah geothermal energy website at https://on.doi. gov/3QVMw7F. Environmental planning documents, including maps and stipulations from the respective BLM resource management plans are available on the ePlanning website at https://bit. ly/3JbfjmG.

The BLM manages vast stretches of public lands having the potential to make significant contributions to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio. To promote our clean energy goals, the BLM provides sites for environmentally sound development of renewable energy on public lands and new transmission routes to connect into the grid. Geothermal was the first renewable energy the BLM approved for production on public lands, with the first geothermal project approved in 1978. Replenished by heat sources deep in the Earth, geothermal energy is a renewable resource that generates electricity with minimal carbon emissions up to 24 hours per day. Learn more at https:// on.doi.gov/3RdgbJL. —Bureau of Land Management

Garfield Commission Cont'd from page 1

Want to Gather Shed Antlers from Feb. 1 - April 15? Take the Free, Mandatory Ethics Course

SALT LAKE CITY -

Collecting shed antlers from many big game species, including deer, elk and moose, is a popular pastime in Utah. But before you head outdoors to collect shed antlers during the next few months, you are required to complete the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Antler Gathering Ethics course.

After dropping their antlers each winter, male deer, elk and moose will grow a new set of antlers starting in spring. Looking for the shed antlers is a fun activity that many Utah families enjoy. However, late winter and early spring are a tough time of year for deer, elk and moose, which is why the educational ethics course is required if you want to go "shed hunting" between Feb. 1 and April 15.

"During winter, big game animals, especially deer, often have a difficult

time finding food," DWR Law Enforcement Capt. Chad Bettridge said. "As a result, they often survive on fat reserves they have built up prior to winter. If the animals are receiving constant pressure from people and repeatedly having to run or move, the animal has to use up those fat reserves and energy that it needs to make it through the winter."

While there has been heavy snowfall this winter, shed hunting will still be allowed at this point. The DWR will continue to monitor winter conditions and the condition of the deer and will assess if a shed hunting closure is necessary. DWR conservation officers will also be adding additional patrols to ensure that people looking for antlers aren't disturbing wintering wildlife. People who haven't taken the mandatory Antler Gathering Ethics course or who are harassing protected wildlife may be cited.

From late winter through early spring, the habitat that big game animals rely on is usually wet,

which means it's more at risk for damage. The free antler gathering ethics course can help you learn how to minimize stress to wildlife and avoid damaging their habitats during this critical time of year. You can find the free course on the DWR website. About 20,000 people take the mandatory course each year in order to go look for shed antlers in Utah. After you finish the course, you must print your certificate of completion and then carry it with you while you're "shed hunting." Completing the course is mandatory if you want to gather shed antlers from Feb. 1 through April 15, and the course must be completed each year. However, if you wait until after April 15 to gather antlers, you don't need to complete the course.

After you've completed the course, you can

gather antlers in many locations across Utah. However, some notable exceptions include:

Wildlife management areas: Many of the state's wildlife management areas are closed in the winter and spring to protect animals and their habitat. Make sure to double check for any closures before entering a WMA to gather shed antlers.

You can find a list of Utah's wildlife management areas and any seasonal closures on the DWR website.

• Private property: You must have written permission from the landowner before gathering antlers on private land.

• Native American lands, national parks and many national monuments are also closed to antler gathering.

If you find a skull with

the antlers or horns still attached, it's possible the animal was poached. Do not pick up or move the skull or disturb footprints or other evidence at the scene. Instead, please do the following:

Take photos of the skull from a couple of angles

Pinpoint the location of the skull (preferably using GPS coordinates) Report your find to the nearest DWR office or by texting 847411

Provide specific details in your report

The DWR will send a conservation officer to investigate. If it's clear the animal died of natural causes, you might be allowed to keep your find. For more information about gathering shed antlers in Utah, call the nearest DWR office.

—Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Courtesy Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Before heading outdoors to collect shed antlers during the next few months, you are required to complete the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Antler Gathering Ethics course.

L ega L N otices

MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2023

LOA TOWN COUNCIL

The Loa Town Council will meet on the following dates and times in 2023. Meetings begin at 6:30 pm every month, with the exception of January 2023, when no meeting is held.

February 9

March 9

April 13

May 11

June 8

July 13

Meeting Dates

August 10

September 14

October 12

November 9

December 14

Meetings are held at the Loa Town Hall at 80 West Center.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 26 and FEBRUARY 2, 2023

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 Mar. 1, 2023 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.

WAYNE COUNTY

NEW APPLICATION(S) 95-5487 (A83648): Shane Allen propose(s) using 1.2 ac-ft. from groundwater (3 miles NW of Grover) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.

Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E.

State Engineer

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on FEBRUARY 2 & 9, 2023

Calassified ds

Housekeeper

Job duties include: Must be able to perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, in a clean and orderly manner.

Must be able to perform all the following duties with minimal amount of supervision. Must be able to make beds, replenishing linens, clean rooms and halls, and vacuuming. Must keep storage areas and carts well-stocked, clean, and tidy. Must clean rooms, hallways, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, corridors, elevators, stairways, locker rooms, and other work areas so that health standards are met. Empty wastebaskets, empty and clean ashtrays, and transport other trash and waste to disposal areas. Sweep, scrub, wax, or polish floors, using brooms, mops, or powered scrubbing and waxing machines. Please send all resumes to email: capioltreefresortrecruitment@gmail.com.

Wildfire Crisis:

Our partnership with the US Forest Service is vital to our success on-the-ground of addressing the ongoing wildfire crisis in the state. We work handin-hand with our federal partners to identify areas of high risk to protect the communities and resources of Utah.—

Jamie Barnes, Utah Director of Forestry, Fire and State Lands

tor of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Jamie Barnes. "Secretary Vilsack's efforts will help us continue the work we are currently doing and will dramatically increase the pace and scale of work in the Wasatch and Pine Valley areas to improve the health of our forests and protect our critical watersheds."

The Pine Valley Landscape will join 20 other landscapes across the U.S. as a priority landscape that will receive funding to dramatically increase the pace and scale of work to mitigate the potential for extreme wildfire and eventually result in sustainable, healthy forests that are resistant to wildfire.

Wildfire Crisis

Cont'd from page 1

lion to 11 key landscapes across the western United States, and will be used to restore our national forests, including the restoration of resilient old-growth forest conditions.”

In Utah, the Wasatch and Pine Valley landscapes were selected for increased funding.

The Wasatch Landscape is approximately 1.1 million acres, encompassing 714,000 acres of National Forest System lands. Approximately 382,000 acres, or 44 percent, of the Wasatch landscape is classified as a high-risk fireshed, posing a considerable threat to the function of vital watersheds, plant and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and private property.

The Pine Valley Landscape is approximately 400,000 acres, encompassing 250,000 acres of National Forest System lands. Values at risk in this priority area include water quality, watershed health and resiliency, critical infrastructure including major national energy corridors, wildland-urban interface, and intermixed public and

private land in St. George and adjacent communities.

This announcement complements the agency’s 10 landscape projects announced in 2022 and the agency’s broader strategy to address critical infrastructure, community protection, and forest resilience at risk to catastrophic wildfire. Combined with the initial investment landscapes, these actions will span nearly 45 million acres across 137 of the 250 high-risk firesheds in the western U.S., with a total investment of $930 million on 21 landscapes across 26.7 million acres in 2023. This work will mitigate risk to approximately 200 communities within these landscapes.

"This is excellent news," said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. "The best way to prevent catastrophic wildfires is to actively and aggressively manage our forests, which takes money and focus on the areas that need it most. Secretary Vilsack and I have talked extensively about this topic for the past two years, and I’m thrilled with these investments. Better forest management means fewer and milder fires, which means lives and homes

saved, cleaner air and water, more water in our reservoirs, and healthier forests for Utahns to enjoy. I'm grateful for our solid collaboration with the Forest Service, for the hard work of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, and to our Congressional partners for recognizing the value of these investments for Utah."

"We have an amazing opportunity to address the wildfire crisis through the investments being announced...,” said Intermountain Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth. “In Utah we are uniquely positioned with an established and very successful shared stewardship program that focuses on working together with our Tribal, State, Federal and local partners to implement on the ground projects that protects communities and watersheds from catastrophic fire."

"Our partnership with the US Forest Service is vital to our success on-theground of addressing the ongoing wildfire crisis in the state. We work handin-hand with our federal partners to identify areas of high risk to protect the communities and resources of Utah,” said Utah Direc-

To meet this moment, Secretary Vilsack is also authorizing the Forest Service to utilize a new emergency authority in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, combined with strategic implementation of existing authorities. Doing so will enable the agency to move more quickly in applying targeted treatments to high-risk firesheds identified in the agency’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, as well as postfire recovery areas most impacted the past several years.

These actions are required to be conducted in an ecologically appropriate manner that maximizes the retention of large trees, considers historically underserved communities and tribes, and is done collaboratively with communities and partners.

"Doing this work in the right place, at the right time, and at the right scale, combined with the use of emergency authorities, will accelerate our planning, consultation, contracting, hiring and project work to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health and resilience," said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. "Collaboration with Tribes, communities and partners will remain a priority, and we will continue to use the best available science when carrying out this important work."

—U.S. Forest Service

Courtesy Dixie National Forest, Pine Valley Landscape Priority Investment Project

C lassified a ds

Dental Assistant/ Scrub Tech Panguitch Dental

Panguitch Dental is looking for a motivated Dental Assistant/ scrub tech to join their team. This position will be parttime/full time, working three to four days per week

Must be 18 or older. The position responsibilities include:

• Patient Interaction.

• Taking X-Rays.

• Chair-side assisting.

• Scheduling, Charting, Documenting dental visits on computer.

• Sterilization of dental Instruments.

• Set-up and cleaning operatory and office.

Experienced applicants would have the following isn't needed but preferred:

• Dental Assisting Experience

• Pedo, Endo, Oral Surgery and General Dentistry Experience.

• Knowledge of Computer Charting and Digital x-rays

• X-Ray Certified.

• CPR Certified.

We are willing to train those with no assisting experience.

Wage is negotiable if you have dental experience. Email your resume to: tlamb@waynechc.org

Or you can drop it off in person at Panguitch Dental. 75 N 200 E, Panguitch, UT 84759

Corrections Officer

Garfield County is accepting applications for a Corrections Officer Applications are available at the Garfield County Clerk’s Office or online at www.garfield.utah.gov and will be accepted until the position is filled.

Anyone interested in applying for this position must pass the National Peace Officer Selection Exam prior to making application. The Exam is given at the Browning Learning Center on the Dixie College Campus. For additional information regarding the Exam and registration requirements, contact the Browning Learning Center at (435) 652-7696. The exam is also given at Southern Utah University. Call 435-586-5419 for additional information.

Garfield County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications. Garfield County is an equal opportunity employer.

Coordinator for the Bryce Valley Prevention Coalition

Position Open: Coordinator for the Bryce Valley Prevention Coalition.

Employment Type: Part-Time with Benefits (30 Hours)

Pay Grade: $15.76 – $17.48 (depending on education and experience)

Job description:

Performs a variety of professional duties related to coordinating and implementing the Center’s Prevention Services throughout Bryce Valley area, including educational programs directed at alcohol, drug, mental health and other related prevention needs.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Provides and coordinates direct services in Bryce Valley Area.

• Follows evidence-based models to build, coordinate and coach coalitions/task forces on following the Strategic Prevention Framework to create and implement a prevention action plan.

• Coordinates and cooperates with various community groups, agencies, task forces to create network(s) for prevention education and youth programs within the assigned County.

• Completes all required training, including E-learning assignments within assigned time-frames.

• Must be able to travel in state and out of state for up to a week’s time several times a year.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

1. Graduation from college with a bachelor degree OR currently enrolled and working toward a degree.

2. Able to pass background check (BCI) for working with vulnerable populations.

3. Must possess and maintain a valid Utah drivers’ license and have transportation to/from meetings/ events.

4. Must obtain certification (SAPST) as a Prevention Specialist within six (6) months of hire, (paid for by agency).

5. Must obtain licensure as a Prevention Specialist within 6) years of hire, (paid for by agency).

Email resume to: mveater@sbhcutah.org

Questions: Call Melissa 435-690-0911

Job closes when filled.

Position Announcements

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Garfield County School District is hiring the following positions. For a description of each, please see the district website www.garfk12.org

Substitute/Activity Bus Drivers in Escalante

Para-Professionals at All Schools

Substitutes for Teachers, Custodians, and Food Service Workers

SALARY: Please see 2022-2023 Garfield County School Districts Classified Salary Schedule and Certified Salary Schedule.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be fingerprinted and satisfactorily pass an employment background check. Applicant must work well with children. See the job description for additional requirements.

APPLICATION: Interested individuals should submit a Garfield County School District classified or certified application.

Please direct questions to:

AES Head Teacher Robin Gibbs (435-624-3221)

BES Head Teacher Elizabeth Julian (435-335-7322)

BVES Principal Pete Peterson (435-679-8619)

BVHS Principal Jeff Brinkerhoff (435-679-8835)

EES/EHS Principal Peter Baksis (435-826-4205)

PES Principal Lisa Breinholt (435-676-8847)

PMS/PHS Principal Russ Torgersen (435-676-8805)

Superintendent John Dodds (435-676-8821)

Online application available: www.garfk12.org

Applications will be screened and the most qualified candidates will be granted interviews.

DEADLINE: See the district website for closing date of each position. Garfield County School District is an equal opportunity employer. Garfield County School District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications.

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

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 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

SERVICES

When in Need, There are Resources in Wayne & Garfield Counties

For Victims of Domestic Violence, Rape, and Sexual Assault

Sanitation Truck Driver / Equipment Operator

Garfield County Public Works Department is accepting applications for a Sanitation Truck Driver/ Equipment Operator. A current CDL and pre-employment drug testing is required. Applications are available at the Garfield County Clerk’s Office, 55 South Main Street, Panguitch, (435) 676-1100 or online at garfield.utah.gov. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 3, 2023 to the Clerk’s Office. Garfield County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications. Garfield County is an equal opportunity employer.

LOST / STOLEN

I had a medium sized box reinforced with duct tape disappear from the top shelf of the south side of my garage in Escalante. The contents were my college notes and reports, including THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE OF THE ANASAZI STATE PARK. I will pay $500, no questions asked, for its return. I also had a one gallon ice cream container with handle which contained three partial, broken, greyware bowls and miscellaneous items. I will also pay $250, no questions asked, for its return. Thank you, Dan Reeder. 928-551-2996.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Service 877-469-2822

Southwest Behavioral Health Center 601 E Center Street, Panguitch 435-676-8176 24 Hour Emergency Service 800-574-6763

Wayne Community Health Center 128 South 300 West Bicknell, 84715 435-425-3744

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255