The Wayne & Garfield County Insider March 7, 2024

GSENM Begins Prep for Calf Creek RA Improvements

CALF CREEK - During the week of March 4, 2024, the BLM will begin the initial construction phase to improve the visitor experience at the Calf Creek Recreation Site in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This improvement project, partially funded by The Great American Outdoors Act, is approximately 16 miles east of Escalante, Utah.

The agency will begin roughing in the new upper overflow parking area, improving safe access to the recreation area. Over the next few weeks, the public should anticipate heavy equipment with intermittent closures for public safety. However, the campground, day-use area, and trails will remain open.

Further into the summer, the BLM plans to begin construction on the

Calf Creek

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derelict high school-turned-

Incubation Center

Sarles

Courtesy National Park Service Backhaul kayaking on the Colorado River upriver from Lees Ferry. At Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Glen Canyon), 5.2 million visitors set an all-time high record for visitation to the park in 2023. Glen Canyon is one of the most visited among 429 NPS units nationwide.

GLEN CANYON

- The National Park Service (NPS) announced

that 400 national parks

demic’s effect on tourism, Glen Canyon’s highest visitation was approximately 4.6 million visitors (2017).

“Millions of people each year enjoy the stunning views and wide range of recreational opportunities at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. While Lake Powell continues to provide

Visitation Record

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BCNP Private Horse Reservations Moving Online

BRYCE - Beginning April 1, those planning to ride private stock within Bryce Canyon National Park will be able to make ride reservations online via Recreation.gov. This will replace the old system, by which reservations were made by calling or e-mailing designated park staff during regular business hours. Information on private ride reservations, as well as wrangler-led horse and mule rides, can be found at go.nps.gov/BryceHorse.

Private stock rides for up to 10 riders will continue to be available every half hour from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from May through October, depending on weather and trail

Horse Reservations

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Opportunity (GOEO) to begin restoration of the yellow brick building and this has sparked debate over the feasibility of the project. After an initial public

hearing on the subject held Oct. 10 2023, numerous proposals were made for

BIC or Bust

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Wayne County Commission

by

Amiee Maxwell

Feb. 20, 2024

WAYNE CO. - The first order of business during the February 20, 2024, Wayne County Commission meeting was a short discussion with Rhett Jeffery about an Interlocal Agreement with the Sevier County and Wayne County road departments. The new state auditor has requested some changes with this agreement, which will need to specify exactly which roads are the responsibility of which county. Jeffery is currently working on getting this agreement finalized.

Next, the commission reviewed bids for work required on the front steps of the Wayne County Courthouse. The county only received one bid from Moosman Construction for $9500. The bid was below the acceptable limit, Wayne Commission

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Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune

Debbie Mayo, director of New Horizons Crisis Center, sits in one of the bedrooms at its shelter in Richfield. Mayo said her central Utah facility is able to occasionally take in people from other overcrowded rural shelters, but she also struggles to serve those in need in her service area—five counties and over 13,500 square miles.

The following story was supported by funding from the Alicia Patterson Foundation and the Fund for Investigative Journalism and was reported by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune.

UTAH - On a typical afternoon in 2021, Kait Sorensen answered the phone at a rural Utah domestic violence shelRural Shelters Cont'd on B4

This article is republished here with permission from and with thanks to The Utah Investigative Journalism Project and The Salt Lake Tribune.

For anyone that is sleepless, up at night, and pondering the moon, the Moon's current phase is a waning gibbous. During this phase, the Moon can be seen in the early morning daylight hours on the western horizon. This is the first phase after the full moon occurs. It lasts roughly seven days, with the Moon’s illumination growing smaller each day until it becomes a last quarter moon, with an illumination of 50%. The average Moonrise for this phase is between 9 p.m. and midnight, depending on the age of the phase. The Moon rises later and later each night, setting after sunrise in the morning. In fortune teller parlors, it is sometimes said that full moons dial up your feelings and can provoke emotional outpourings—and that it is time to cash in or cash out if you’re ready for something new. So, if you are feeling lucky and have some extra cash stuffed in your mattress, this might be a good time to take a trip to Moapa and buy a lottery ticket.

As far as Wayne County weather and the recent warmer than usual morning temperatures go, don’t be fooled by a Pennsylvania groundhog when it comes to Wayne County, and rest assured that it is still winter. Just because Marleen Brown Chappell of Lyman traded in her Carhartt insulated overalls for a St. George bikini doesn’t mean you should do the same, especially if you live in Lyman or Loa. It is best to consult the Old Farmer’s Almanac before you go to the mall and buy a bunch of summer clothes, or, better yet, talk to a real live local farmer about suggested outdoor apparel for the month of March.

In the event you wake up one morning and find yourself in the market for some hay, or if someone next to you at IFA were to ask you how much hay is going for, according to the ag.utah.gov website (approximate prices for November 2023), hay in the central part of the state of Utah is:

Supreme: 1,650 tons alfalfa hay $245 F.O.B barn, current to winter take-out

Premium: 650 tons low alfalfa hay $185 F.O.B

stack Good: 150 tons 3-way grain hay $105 F.O.B

News from Wayne County Hay and Housing

by Adus F. Dorsey II

stack • Fair: 500 tons alfalfa hay $150 F.O.B stack, 300 tons rain damaged $100, 100 tons heavy rain damage $80.

*FOB = Free on board, often abbreviated as “F.O.B.,” applies to the sale of goods and indicates that purchased property will be placed on board a vessel for shipment at a designated place without expense to the buyer for packing, potage, cartage, etc.

Locally good hay is going from $150 to $160, and variables do apply, so contact a reputable hay expert before signing the check.

Visitation to Wayne County in the month of February has been on the rise. It used to be rare to see out of state plates and Tesla’s dodging tumbleweeds on the back streets of Torrey searching for charging stations this early in the season. Surely, this must mean that something is certainly up. As has always been the case, there are those that show up in Wayne County on a beautiful sunny winter day when temperatures are above normal, and puffy white clouds are seen floating across the sky like cotton candy, accenting the red rocks like something you would see on the cover of National Geographic. Then, some cowboy casually passing them by in a cattle

truck reaches up to scratch his ear, and folks think he is waving at them, and in their minds, by golly, this place is paradise. They say to themselves, “I am going to sell everything I own in San Francisco and buy myself a cowboy hat and a ten acre lot among the pinyon trees and bull doze in a road among the rocks and live the life of Riley.” Little do they realize that an atmospheric river is due to arrive from the San Diego coast the day after they leave, and that it will be 20 degrees below zero the day after that. That, my friends, is why the locals have a pile of firewood next to their houses the size of Mount Timpanogos.

Housing in Wayne County continues to be a hot commodity. If something does come up for sale, all it takes is a can of paint and a textured roller from Loa Builders to drive the price up by seventy grand. Realtor.com states that in January 2024, home prices in Utah were up 2.8% compared to last year, selling for a median price of a 12 room/12 bath mansion in Missouri, or a family farm the size of a small state located somewhere on the lone prairie in Kansas. On average, the number of homes that recently sold was up 12.4% over the previous year, and there were 2,201 homes sold in Janu-

ary this year, up from 1,966 homes sold in January last year. Bucking the trends of coastal metropolitan areas—thanks to clean living—Utah has become one of the top ten most expensive states in which to buy a home, coming in number eight according to Forbes just below Oregon and above New Jersey.

Make no bones about it, Utah / Wayne County does have a housing shortage, the reason being that there are more people willing to mortgage their children’s future than there are homes available. Although it is hard to gauge home availability in Wayne County from week to week, overall, Utah reports indicate there are in the range of 53,000 more households searching Facebook and the "want ads" than there are available housing units. So, it is no big secret that the unavailability / demand phenomenon is driving up home prices to a point where, unless your granddaddy was Howard Hughes or you were lucky enough to win the lottery, many medium to low-income families will be camping out on Beas Lewis Flats in an RV for six months out of the year.

All in all, Wayne County and the hardy souls that have and learn to live here tend to persevere and prosper.

Letters to the Editor

The Farmer's Market: Not Just an Event but an Experience

For the umpteenth year, the Farmer's Market in Torrey has packed center street with an array of bargain seekers and vendors, whether it be Randy’s Caineville garden specialties or his wood fired oven bread. Then there is all the other vendors peddling their wares like the bazaars in days of old. Ben, of Ben’s Hens, is a mainstay, as well as entertainment performed by as famous musicians as you will find anywhere.

In recent times, the Farmer's Market location, and the challenges it brings with it every Saturday afternoon in the summer, has

become a hot topic.

True, parking and bounteous crowds mingling near and around Main and Center Street are a safety concern. The poor little green fellow stationed in the middle of Highway 24 with his stick and flag cautioning people to slow down often finds himself in a dangerous position and shutters and spins when big rigs pass him by.

As good for the community that the Farmer’s Market is, it is clearly evident that it has outgrown the center street location.

Torrey’s Main Street is a narrow two lane highway

and a main transportation corridor. In the event of an emergency, responding emergency personnel and vehicles surely would find Downtown Torrey congested on Farmer's Market day, hindering a speedy emergency response.

Torrey Town has done a great job sprucing up the Town Park, which is a pleasant, short walk from the present Farmer's Market location and would make an ideal, and pristine site for customers and families to enjoy the Farmer's Market experience.

Adus Dorsey, Torrey

SkyWatcher Leo T

Newly Discovered Quasar is Brightest Ever Seen

by Leonard Thomas

Meet SkyWatcher Leo T: My star adventures started when growing up in Casper, Wyoming, where I camped in the backyard with a transistor radio and the swirly stars of the dark sky. I went to Laramie, Wyoming, for college where I took astronomy a couple of times and loved to go to planetariums.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Comprehensive Broadcasting, I worked at a couple of radio stations, and then moved to Salt Lake City, where I worked writing press releases for the Hansen Planetarium. My cousin Bill and I explored Capitol Reef, Boulder and Escalante when it was a dirt road to Boulder, or in some cases mud. Eventually, I became a park ranger at Capitol Reef in the mid 2000s, where, of course, I presented the petroglyphs and the natural resources to kids of all ages. At night I was a star guide, putting my burgundy telescope out next to the Amphitheatre and showing folks Saturn and Mars hanging in between the walls of Fremont Canyon in the late afternoon, and then moving over to the parking lot near the orchard and deer for the evening star gazing session. I enjoyed meeting people from all over the Earth here and showing the stars—as well as being showed gems that I myself never knew of. In between seasons, I would maintain a radio gig, and that's how Skywatcher Leo T evolved as a short radio program on KRCL in Salt Lake City, then KZMU in Moab, and UPR statewide transmitters, as well as a podcast, and that's where we are now.

An illustration of a newly discovered quasar. It is located so far from Earth that it has taken 12 billion years for the light of it to reach us. It also has the biggest black hole ever discovered at the center. reported seeing a fireball streaking through the sky late Thursday night into Friday. (American Meteor Society)

The Odysseus Lander The Odysseus Lander from Intuititive Machines lands on moon in a tricky manner in what they are calling the landing of a private company—a first for the U.S. since 1972—but what was actually a team effort of Intuitive Machines in Houston and NASA.

There have always been private contractors who build the rockets and capsules for NASA, like North Americans Rockwell and Gruman who built the command module that we took to the moon.

Three Solar flares within 24 hours

The X6.3 solar flare peaked in the afternoon on Thursday (Feb. 22) and was the most powerful of three flares occurring over 24 hours. And did you see a fireball streaking through the sky that Thursday night?

More than 50 people

The streaking fireball was a meteor that was observed in 13 states in the eastern United States and in Ontario, Canada. (American Meteor Society)

The largest quasar ever seen

The brightest quasar ever seen by humans is powered by a black hole that eats a sun a day. The quasar, as bright as 500 trillion suns, is not only the brightest quasar ever logged, but it’s also the brightest astronomical object ever seen, at least by Earthlings. It's powered by the hungriest and fastest-growing black hole ever seen as well—one that consumes the equivalent of over one sun's mass a day.

The quasar is located so far from Earth that its light has taken 12 billion

years to reach us.

The New Horizon's mission Scientists are now seeing that the Kuiper Belt could extend billions of miles farther than previously thought. NASA's New Horizons mission, which encountered Pluto in 2015, is now riding through the deepest depths of the Kuiper Belt. It has maneuvered for a fly-by of a space rock called Ultima Thule, braving more cosmic dust and the possibility that there may be more going on in the outermost reaches of the solar system than previously thought.

The good news for JPL and space enthusiasts is that NASA has extended the New Horizons mission through to the late 2020s.

Leonard Thomas is a part-time resident of Torrey, Utah. He is the creator of the podcast SkyWatcher Leo T, which is available to listen to on Spotify.

Visitation Record: Millions of people each year enjoy the stunning views and wide range of recreational opportunities at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. While Lake Powell continues to provide significant recreational opportunities, more people are also recognizing the unparalleled land-based and river-based recreation options and cultural and historic resources within our 1.25 million acres.

—Michelle Kerns, Superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

Visitation Record

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significant recreational opportunities, more people are also recognizing the unparalleled land-based and river-based recreation options and cultural and historic resources within our 1.25 million acres” said Michelle Kerns, Superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

“Glen Canyon continues to be an economic engine for the region in Utah and Arizona and is especially important to our gateway communities.”

The largest increase to visitation was in the Lees Ferry District, which increased from 1,052,978 visits in 2022 to 2,190,250 visits in 2023. Lees Ferry is situated below the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. Recreational opportunities in the area include hiking, camping, fishing, camping, motorized boating, rafting and kayaking.

Visitation figures and trends guide how the NPS manages parks to ensure the best experience possible for park visitors. The Visitation Statistics Dashboard provides recreational visit statistics for every

park in the US for 2023 and also for previous years, dating back to 1979 for some parks. The National Park Service app and Plan like a Park Ranger program are keys to successful experiences for national park visitors.

To learn more about national parks in Utah and Arizona and how the National Park Service works with communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to https://www.nps. gov/state/ut/index.htm and https://www.nps.gov/state/ az/index.htm.

—National Park Service

@SkyWatcherLeoT

Wills, Trusts, and More

State

to State Estate Planning

Relocating to a new state often creates issues affecting estate planning. Many people wonder if they need a new will or trust when they move from one state to another. Although a will or trust validly executed in one state should be valid in a different state, it is a good idea to have the estate planning documents reviewed. By addressing issues related to the relocation, an individual can avoid certain problems and maximize possible benefits.

One problem that can be avoided relates to references to another state's laws. Often, estate planning documents reference a particular state's law as the governing law. Many times specific state statutes are referenced. If someone dies in a "new" state, the references in the estate planning documents to the “old” state's laws can be problematic. By executing an amendment to the trust or codicil to the will that changes the state law references to the "new" state's law, one can avoid possible problems.

Another concern that should be addressed pertains to special health care documents. In a complete estate plan, one should have legal documents pertaining to medical treatment decisions. These documents usually consist of what is commonly referred to as a "living will" (more formally titled “Directive to Physicians”) and a durable power of attorney for medical matters.

These documents are very useful if an individual becomes incapacitated and unable to make his or her own decisions. The documents allow one to specify what medical treatment he or she desires. Additionally, the living will directs

by Jeffery J. McKenna

the treating doctor or health care facility to allow the termination of life support if the individual is determined to be in a vegetative state without possibility of recovery.

Significantly, these documents are created by state law. Many states have special provisions related to these medical treatment documents. Although a living will or power of attorney validly executed in one state should be valid in another, the doctors or health care facilities will probably be most familiar with the documents used in their state.

Another issue related to relocating to another state that should be addressed in order to maximize potential tax benefits pertains to community property. There are ten community property states (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Texas, Washington, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Alaska—with Alaska recently adopting a form of community property ownership). Many married couples relocate to or from community property states. If a married couple has moved from a community property state or is planning to move to a community property state, they should have their estate plan reviewed.

For married couples, maintaining or establishing the characterization of property as community property can be beneficial. If property is community property, when one spouse dies the surviving spouse can sell appreciated assets (at or shortly after the time of the spouse's death) without having to pay capital gains tax. This is not the case for property owned jointly by a husband and wife that is not community property. For property

Comics

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.

owned by a husband and wife that is not community property, a surviving spouse will have to pay a capital gains tax on onehalf the appreciation of assets sold at or shortly after the time of the first spouse's death. Depending on how long the asset has been owned and the amount of appreciation and potential capital gains tax, the tax savings of maintaining or establishing the characterization of property as community property can be significant.

The preceding issues are just a few of the estate planning items that should be considered when relocating from one state to another.

Car Stop

A policeman pulls a man over for speeding and asks him to get out of the car. After looking the man over the policeman says, "Sir, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are bloodshot. Have you been drinking?"

The man gets really indignant and says, "Officer, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are glazed. Have you been eating doughnuts?"

Laws of a-Tractor

Bob goes to see his friend Pete. He finds Pete in his barn dancing naked around his John Deere.

"What are you doing!" asks Bob.

Pete stops dancing & says, "My wife has been ignoring me lately so I talked to my psychiatrist and he said I needed to do some thing sexy to a tractor." [to attract her]

Why?

"Johnny, why did you kick your brother in the stomach?" exclaimed the angry mother.

“It was pure accident, Mama. He turned around.”

PUNishment

So I just checked my home insurance policy and apparently if my blanket is stolen in the middle of the night, I won’t be covered.

Peanuts and Cigarettes

A man walks into a bar and sits down. He asks the bartender, "Can I have a cigarette?"

The bartender replies, "Sure, the cigarette machine is over there."

So he walks over to the machine and as he is about to order a cigarette, the machine suddenly says, "Oi, you bloody idiot." The man says with surprise in his voice, "That's not very nice."

He returns to his bar stool without a cigarette and asks the bartender for some peanuts. The bartender passes the man a bowl of peanuts and the man hears one of the peanuts speak, "Ooh, I like your hair." The man says to the bartender, "Hey, what's going on here? Your cigarette machine is insulting me and this peanut is coming on to me. Why's this?"

The bartender replies, "Oh, that's because the machine is out of order and the peanuts are complementary."

sudoku

This

Obituaries

Guyla Savage

RICHFIELD - Guyla Schow Savage, 82, passed away February 20, 2024, in Monroe. She was born March 31, 1941, in Panguitch to Guy and Elba Vernessa Schow. She was the youngest of six children. She married William Reed “Bill” Savage March 7, 1959, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The marriage was solemnized March 21, 1964, in the Saint George LDS Temple. He preceded her in death on September 7, 2017.

Guyla was born on the tail end of the Great Depression and beginnings of World War II learning the values of being thrifty and hard work at a very young age. Due to work, Guyla and Bill moved many times while raising their family. Their last move was to Richfield, where Guyla earned a Cosmetology degree and worked as a hairdresser for many years. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in many positions including Scouts, Mutual and as ward Relief Society president. She especially enjoyed helping anyone in need, including her grown children and their families.

Guyla and Bill raised six children, one of whom they adopted. They fostered many children whether it was through the state foster services or friends of her children and neighbor children that needed help or a place to stay.

Guyla was a very talented artist that showed in her paintings, the special one-of-a-kind birthday cakes she created, all the beautiful dresses she made for her daughters when they had special events and the blessing dresses she made for her granddaughters. She loved going on rides with Bill up in the mountains or just down the road. She enjoyed making new friends and staying in touch with her old friends and sister.

She is survived by her children: Tami (Scott) Chew, Jensen; Ryan (Kim) Savage, Richfield; Renae (Honas) Busk, Richfield; Troy (Missy) Savage, Sigurd; Paul Savage, McCook, Nebraska; 19 grandchildren, 37 greatgrandchildren (with two more on the way), and a sister, Velva Christensen.

Guyla is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents; son and daughter-in-law, Reed and Sabrina Savage; and siblings, Connie Lou, Zelda, Millard, and Stanley Schow.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in the Richfield 11th Ward Chapel. Friends may call Friday evening from 6-7 p.m. at the Magleby Mortuary in Richfield or Saturday morning from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the ward chapel. Burial will be in the Richfield City Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com.

Didn’t you just love the sounds of those sirens late on Saturday night? It was a big night for Bobcat fans. The Cats came home with two more state championship titles, with both the girls and boys winning big at the 1A State Basketball Tournament at Sevier Valley Center in Richfield. If you were there or listened to it on the radio, it was an exciting four days. The senior athletes were able to end their high school careers with double championships. It was the girls' 15th championship win and the boys' 8th or 9th. This was Coach Nadine Owens' first championship, and with only one senior on the team (Tabetha Henrie), she might have a few more on the horizon. This is Coach Barney’s 4th championship —no other coach had more than one—and he is losing six seniors. However, he always comes up with a winner each year.

After the games, we went for Chinese food at a restaurant in Richfield. Richfield was so pleased with the games that it snowed on us, and it was a slow go trying to get back home. We just got in the line of red tail lights and motored right along. A couple of cars were off the road, and a lot of people stopped to help. It was a rear-wheel-drive Camaro; I guess the road was dry when they left home. We just got home when the bus and a lot of sirens passed. If we had been fifteen minutes later, we would have been in the parade.

Along those lines, there will be a 100 Years of State Championships Sports Carnival on Satur-

by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com

day, March 9, at the Panguitch High School. The boys' 1st championship was in 1923 in basketball. In those days, there was only one championship. It wasn’t till 1957 that the Cats won another. When we moved back here in the early 1990s, I believe that the Cats had only 13 championships, and now there are about 120 and growing. They have won five so far this year—girls cross country, girls volleyball, wrestling, and now two in basketball. It will be in the PHS gym between 5-7. If you have any alumni items dealing with sports call Kylie Frandsen. There will be a short program, and a “Walk of Champions" parade from 6:00-6:15. There will be t-shirts for sale and game tickets for 1 for $1 or

12 for $10. A light dinner will be provided.

Last Tuesday was a primary election for the president. The Democrats got a ballot, but the GOP good old boys are holding caucuses throughout the state, and you won’t get to vote for anyone but one person. I guess that the whole primary will be held later on and that Utah will vote for anyone that has an "R" by their name. If you would like to have your taxes done this year for free, there will be someone from VITA at the Panguitch Care and Share all day on the 18th. You can register for an appointment at the Panguitch Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels on Tuesday-Thursday between 11 and 1 on those days.

The Gem Theater is back open again with a first run movie this week. With the ball season over with, take your honey out for a movie and some ice cream.

LeBron James is continuing to bring records in the NBA, scoring his 40,000th point in a game with Denver. For four or five years now, he has held the record for scoring in playoff games with more than 8,000 points. He is also in the top ten in both rebounding and assists. The nearest active player is Durant, who is 8,000 points behind him.

Because the teams got home so late on Saturday, the school had an assembly last Monday to celebrate their victories.

Mack O.

Utahns with Student Debt: This Could Ease Your Burden

by Alex Gonzalez | Utah News Connection

UTAH - Student loan borrowers of all ages in Utah and around the country have an opportunity to maybe have their student loans cancelled or the chance to receive credit towards loan forgiveness, but they've got to act soon. The U.S. Department of Education will be conducting a one-time payment count adjustment this coming summer. It's called Income Driven Repayment, or IDR.

Cora Hume, an attorney with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, says borrowers who have non-federally held loans must consolidate them into a direct-consolidation loan with the Department of Education by April 30 to reap the potential benefits.

"Older borrowers are

less likely to hold direct loans, which would already benefit from this pay count adjustment, and then those that do owe direct loans, they're less likely to participate in this IDR program that caps their monthly payment based on family size and income," Hume explained.

Hume said the program applies to repayment periods from July 1, 1994, and added that 32% of older borrowers are struggling to pay their bills, which is why she encourages people to call 800-433-3243 or visit StudentAid.gov/loanconsolidation to find out if they're eligible for the adjustment.

The average student loan debt for the almost 30,000 older borrowers in the Beehive State is just

over $44,000, according to the Education Data Initiative. Hume said, nationally, there are 1.3 million older borrowers that are not in the direct loan program, and owe an average of $29,500 in student debt.

"The three loans that must be consolidated to receive this payment count adjustment is the commercially managed Federal Family Education Loan, Health Education Assistance loans and Perkins loans." Hume explained. "Another loan that's sort of a quasi for consolidation are Parent PLUS loans."

The upcoming deadline has the potential to "change lives," Hume added, and suggests taking action sooner rather than later.

Horse Reservations: This change aligns our private horse rides with the digital pass and campground reservation options already available on Recreation.gov. It also gives private stock owners the ability to better plan their visit. By moving reservations online, Bryce Canyon visitors will be able to view available time slots and book their next ride, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

—Jim

New Tuacahn Season Offers

New Seating, Parking & More

sound and other technical equipment has also been added to improve the experience of everyone sitting in the newer sections.

Horse Reservations

Cont'd from A1

Ireland, Bryce Canyon National Park superintendent will cover the cost of Recreation.gov services.

conditions. Reservations for the entire season will become available on April 1 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time each year. A $1 processing fee per reservation

Calf Creek:

“This change aligns our private horse rides with the digital pass and campground reservation options already available on Recreation.gov,” said park superintendent Jim Ireland,

During the week of March 4, 2024, the BLM will begin the initial construction phase to improve the visitor experience at the Calf Creek Recreation Site in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This improvement project, partially funded by The Great American Outdoors Act, is approximately 16 miles east of Escalante, Utah.

Calf Creek

Cont'd from A1

campground. During this time, the recreation site is expected to be temporarily closed, and access to the Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail will be restricted to ensure public safety. Information regarding this

construction phase will be made once the schedule is final. Additional information about the project may be located on the BLM’s ePlanning website at https://bit.ly/3DzOJQV.

—Bureau of Land Management

“It also gives private stock owners the ability to better plan their visit. By moving reservations online, Bryce Canyon visitors will be able to view available time slots and book their next ride, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Since 2015, private stock riders have been required to make reservations for a specific time by calling or e-mailing designated park staff during regular business hours. These reservations often required multiple calls or e-mails to book available times and could be delayed if staff were on other calls or oth-

erwise unavailable. Private stock use has also increased significantly since 2015. That year the park saw 124 private rider reservations in 33 groups. In 2023 there were 923 rider reservations in 207 groups—an increase of nearly 650%. An online self-reservation process offers a more efficient way to meet this rising demand.

To learn more about both private and wranglerled horse and mule rides in Bryce Canyon National Park, visit go.nps.gov/BryceHorse.

—Bryce Canyon National Park

IVINS - With an allnew season on the horizon at Tuacahn, and ticket sales off to a roaring start, it’s safe to say, people are excited about things that are new, making this the perfect year to enjoy several other new elements at Tuacahn.

From expanded seating options to more parking and more ways to enjoy a meal prior to the show, there is a flurry of activity happening in the red rock canyon of southern Utah, gearing up for what is projected to be one of Tuacahn’s biggest seasons ever.

“It’s always exciting to see growth, and the capital growth that comes with it makes the experience at Tuacahn something new and exciting for our audiences every year,” said Kevin Smith, Tuacahn CEO.

Most people will get their first glimpse of that growth via the website when they purchase tickets and see there are two new sections available on the left and right sides of the original Amphitheatre.

“We now have 2,450 seats available for our musicals, and with some additional configuration we should be able to accommodate 2,500 for our concerts,” Smith said.

Not only are there more seats, even more come with the extremely popular padding that was introduced last year, bringing the total number of padded seats from 200 to 700 this year.

“There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, whether people are front and center or in one of the new side areas,” Smith said. “But we know the padded center area will likely be the most sought after.”

The improvements go beyond simply adding more seats on the left and right sides. Additional lighting,

With more people sitting in the theater, the need for more places to park has also been addressed, with 46 more parking stalls located in the newly paved overflow parking section near the actor’s on-site housing.

“We think this area will be used on nights when we are sold out, as well as evenings when we have shows in both the indoor and outdoor theaters,” Smith said.

Additional entrances and exits going in and out of the Amphitheatre have also been opened to allow for easier access.

With the increasing popularity of the delicious cuisine and unbeatable views available at the Tuacahn Café, the outdoor dining space is getting an upgrade with a beautiful patio awning that can provide shade, as well as protection from the occasional rain. The patio will be equipped with misters in the summer and heaters in the cooler weather to make the outdoor dining even more pleasant. Plus, retractable screens have been installed to allow patrons to continue dining, while offering necessary privacy for the actors during soundchecks and rehearsals happening on the stage below.

“We hope people will come and enjoy a lovely meal before the show,” Smith said, adding that the Tuacahn Café can also accommodate larger groups and special events. “It’s something we’ve been doing, but we want to continue offering even more opportunities for large groups and events.”

—Tuacahn Amphitheatre

Adobe Stock | Denis Feldmann

Bryce Canyon offers over five miles of horse trails for both private and wrangler-led rides. Beginning April 1, those planning to ride private stock within Bryce Canyon National Park will be able to make ride reservations online via Recreation.gov.

and Sports

One Point Loss Ends Escalante Boys’ Trophy Dreams

by Nancy Goude

Escalante's Kendal Gardner works the ball inside the paint in a recent home game. Gardner led the Moquis at the Class 1A State Championships by scoring 15 against Piute and 13 in the game with Whitehorse.

RICHFIELD - Just one point made the difference for the No. 13 ranked Escalante boys’ basketball team’s goal of bringing home a trophy at the Class 1A State Tournament at Richfield High School on February 29 as No. 12 Whitehorse slipped past the Moquis, 46-45.

Lyric Phillips paced Whitehorse with 22 points, including a trio of three-pointers, while Larenz Tsosie added 12 points for the victors.

Escalante senior

Kendal Garnder was one of two Moquis to score in double digits with 13, and Jax Porter turned in his season-high performance with 11 points. Teammate Kage Lyman hit twice from beyond the arc to contribute six points, while Korben Young hit

one trey in his seven points.

Escalante moved to the consolation bracket after falling to Piute, 66-31, in the second round action on February 28. No. 4 ranked Piute marched out to a commanding 31-11 lead at halftime and never took their foot off the gas, cruising to the dominating win.

Escalante’s Gardner led all scorers with a gamehigh 15 points, while the Thunderbirds sealed the deal with a trio of players scoring in double-digits.

Kel Blood had a stellar performance for Piute, with 13 rebounds and 11 points to pace the Thunderbirds. Kole Westwood netted 14 points, and Blake Dalton added 13. A stifling Piute defense limited the Moquis to just 24 percent from the field. Westwood’s offen-

Escalante vs. Piute

Feb. 28

Escalante - 31 - Piute - 66

Piute - Kole Westwood, 14; Blake Dalton, 13; Kel Blood, 11; Will Myers, 8; Brodee Montague, 7; Tavin Jessen, 6; Braige Millett, 2.

Escalante - Kendal Gardner, 15; Mac Porter, 5; Jax Porter, 5; Korben Young, 4; Rayce Jenkins, 2.

Escalante

vs. Whitehorse

Feb. 29

Escalante - 45 - Whitehorse - 46

Whitehorse - Lyric Phillips, 22; Larenz Tsosie, 12; Dominic Dance, 6; Kalin Tohonnie, 4; Adam Joe, 2.

Escalante - Kendal Gardner, 13; Jax Porter, 11; Korben Young, 7; Kage Lyman, 6; Mac Porter, 4; Rayce Jenkins, 4.

sive efforts included a pair of threes, while Blood and Dalton each hit once from beyond the arc.

The Moquis have been without their leading scorer, Jaxen Cottam, for the second half of the season after he went down with a torn ACL. Cottam was averaging 18.1 points per game making him No. 4 on the leaderboards for points scored.

Escalante senior, Gardner, concluded his high school career ranked in state in several categories. Gardner’s 11.3 rebounds per game ranked him fourth. He recorded 11 double-doubles throughout the season by amassing at least 10 points and 10 rebounds per outing, which earned him the fourth highest in the state. Gardner made 67 free throws in the season to put him in ninth on the leaderboards and was twentieth overall with 1.7 blocks per game.

There were no surprises as to the teams reaching the semifinals, as the No. 1 through 4 ranked teams all advanced. No. 1 Rich and No. 4 Piute and No. 2 Tabiona and No. 3 Panguitch battled on March 1 for a chance to play in the championship game on March 2. The losers of the semifinal games played for the third place trophy on March 2.

Rich handily beat Altamont and Milford to make the semis, while Tabiona defeated Bryce Valley and Wayne to move on.

Defending state champion Panguitch beat Monticello and Manilla to advance, Piute beat Escalante and eeked out a 56-51 win over Wendover to advance.

The championship game was played on March 2 at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield. Panguitch won the 1A boys' championship title against Rich, 55-48.

PHS Sports Sidelines

by Mack Oetting

The Lady Cats jumped out quickly against Whitehorse on February 29 at the 1A State Basketball Tournament at Sevier Valley Center, leading them to a win at the 1A quarterfinals. Tabetha Henrie scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Bobcats. Mallory Henrie chipped in twelve points and eight rebounds. The Cats led the whole way for a 53-36 victory.

The most exciting game of the girls' tournament was on Friday night, March 1, against the favorite Rich. At half time, the Rebels led the game, 1916, and at the end of the 3rd quarter, they still led, 2823, in a very low scoring game. In the 4th quarter, the Cats outscored Rich in free throws, 9-4. That last quarter was a heart stopper, with both teams missing shots, and with the Cats scoring to tie the game in the last seconds at 32-32. In overtime, Panguitch again outscored Rich, which put the Lady Cats into the championship game. Again Tabetha led all scorers with 12 points, and all of the team had a hand in this win.

In the championship game on March 2, the Cats played like they have all year long and won easily, 56 to 37, against Tabiona. The big surprise was that the smallest player on the court, Makena Owens, decided to go big in the game and finished with twentytwo points and six threepointers. Makena has been a real steady player all year long. Now, we know she can make those threepointers anytime, and she is only a sophomore. Tabetha Henrie, the only senior on the team, has had a really great year, winning in cross country, being MVP on the volleyball team, and now being leading scorer on the championship basketball team. With the track season just around the corner, she will probably have more wins at state. She will be hard to replace. Coach Nadine Owens has done great things for the basketball program, and she and her assistants have worked long hours building a championship team. The team finished with a 22-2 record, and many of their victories came against 2A and 3A teams.

The boys really played their best games in this tournament, downing Manila, 51-18, on February 29. Panguitch forced 20 turnovers and outrebounded Manila, 29-13, as they dominated in the 1A quar-

terfinal game. Eight different players scored for the Bobcats, led by Daxton Miller with nine points, to go along with six rebounds, and senior C. Parkin with nine points also. At the half, the Cats led by 24-10. Manila only scored one point in the 2nd quarter and only eight points in the second half. Manila was ranked 6th in the standings.

It was more of the same against Tabiona, with another easy victory against the 3rd ranked team on March 1. The Cats led the game, 32-15, at the half. The Tigers, with a 22-5 record, did much better in the second half scoring 29 points. The Cats cruised to an easy 6244 victory. Cache Eyre, as he has most of the season, was the leading scorer, with seventeen points, twelve rebounds, and three three-pointers. The Cats were in the championship game against #1 ranked Rich.

In the championship game, the Cats again got off to a roaring start, with a 21-12 lead at half time. The Rebels finally got something going, with a 19-14 score in the final quarter, but by then the game was over, and the subs got some playing time. Again, the Cats excelled at free throwing, which helped out with their win. They finished off the Rebels with a score of 55-48. Rich's record was 20-4, and the Cats finished the year 244. The Cats only loss to a 1A school was the loss to the Piute Thunderbirds in the next to last game of the season. Again, Cache led the scoring with eighteen points and two threepointers, giving him over sixty three-pointers for the season. As in all sports, it takes a team effort to be good, and players picking up for each other in these tight games was what both of the teams were about. Coach Clint Barney is becoming a legend with all of his state championships. He really puts in a lot of hard work at the Cats' practices, and, along with his two assistants, he has done what no other coaches have done, which is to win multiple championships. It has been a real joy to have helped out in the concession stand this last year, and I can’t wait till next year. I sat in the Piute section at State, and four people said that our popcorn was the best anywhere.

It has been a record year for the Cats already, with five championships and maybe more to come. Many thanks to all of the coaches and to all of the hard work that you put in on the behalf of the students.

Nancy Goude

Schools and Sports

Moqui Girls Basketball Team Loses at State

by Nancy Goude

RICHFIELD - No. 10 Valley came out of the locker room after halftime, knowing the continuation of the season was on the line and gave it their all, outscoring No. 15 Escalante in the second half to claim a 51-41 win to continue their trophy quest on February 29 at the girls Class 1A State Tournament.

Escalante held a 24-8 lead at halftime, but Valley outscored the Moquis, 33-17, after the break to make up the first half deficit and claim the 10-point final margin.

Escalante’s Mazee Dunton and Valley’s Maddie Cox both lead their teams with 14 points each, but Valley received the extra momentum with 13 points by Andee Anderson and 11 by Kimber Reeve.

The Moquis’ Taylie Carlisle added 10 points, including hitting once from three-point range. Dunton also hit once from beyond the arc, while Valley’s Cox nailed two treys.

McCall Dunton had eight for Escalante, and Sonata Griffin chipped in seven.

On February 28, Escalante dropped its second round game to Panguitch to drop to the consolation bracket, so the loss to Valley ended the Moquis’ season.

The challenges of having a roster with just three players on the bench limited what Escalante was able to accomplish this season; what they lacked in numbers, they made up with tenacity, hustle and grit that just ran out at state because they lacked the fire power to put the ball in the hoop and get the points necessary for wins.

In the second round game, No. 2 seeded Panguitch had nine players putting points on the scoreboard and played defense that stifled Escalante’s offense by limiting the Moquis to single-digit scoring in each quarter.

The Bobcats were powered by multi-sport phenomenon Tabetha Henrie’s 12 points.

Henrie is on pace to collect a fourth state championship in her senior year, having already won in volleyball and cross country—team and individual—and she now

has the possibility of adding basketball to that list. Teammates Mallory Henrie and Katie Hatch both contributed eight points each, while Tayt Miller added six.

Mazee Dunton led the Moquis with seven points, while Griffin and Carlisle had four each, and Ellie Nelson and Jillian Crystal both tallied three points.

No. 4 Tabonia beat Altamont and Wendover to advance to the semifinals against No. 1 seed Monument Valley, while Monument Valley beat Pinnacle and squeaked by Manila to reach the semis.

No. 2 Panguitch beat Escalante and Whitehorse with ease to advance to play No. 3 Rich in the other semifinal game. Rich dominated Monticello and Piute to reach the semis.

The semifinal winners will vie for the Class 1A State Championship on March 2, and the losers will battle it out for third place.

In consolation play, Bryce Valley, Valley, Milford and defending state champion Wayne all stayed alive, chasing the sixth place finish. Valley advanced by eliminating Escalante.

The game against Valley marked the final time Escalate senior Mazee Dunton will don her No. 3 basketball jersey. She finished the season as the fifth leading scorer in the state, averaging 13.8 points per game with 207 points, and was second for free throws made, third for field goals made, seventh for the number of double-doubles with points and rebounds, and twelfth for the number of

Escalante vs. Panguitch Feb. 28

Escalante - 21 - Panguitch - 49

Panguitch - Tabetha Henrie, 12; Mallory Henrie, 8; Katie Hatch, 8; Tayt Miller, 6; Maci Frandsen, 4; Hailey Yardley, 3; Makena Owens, 3; Klarity Edwards, 3; Brayli Frandsen, 2.

Escalante - Mazee Dunton, 7; Sonata Griffin, 4; Taylie Carlisle, 4; Ellie Nelson, 3; Jillian Crystal, 3.

Escalante vs. Valley Feb. 29

Escalante - 41 - Valley - 51

Valley - Maddie Cox, 14; Andee Anderson, 13; Kimber Reeve, 11; Rachel Cox, 6; Emma Cox, 4; Lindsey Franklin, 2; Lydia Cox, 1.

Escalante - Mazee Dunton, 14; Taylie Carlisle, 10; McCall Dunton, 8; Sonata Griffin, 7; Raylin Roberts, 2.

field goals made during the season with 73.

Escalante finished the season with a 5-17 overall record.

The championship game was played on March 2 at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield. Panguitch won against Tabiona, 56-37, to claim the 1A girls' championship title.

Nancy Goude

Escalante senior Sonata Griffin launches one from three-point range in a recent home game. Griffin wrapped up her high school career at the Class 1A State Championships when the Moquis were eliminated by Valley.

Nancy Goude

Senior Mazee Dunton, pictured with her parents, Jared and Heather Dunton, finished out her high school basketball career at the Class 1A State Tournament. Dunton was the fifth leading scorer in the state, averaging nearly 14 points per game in her final season.

Winter Dining Guide

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

Bicknell

Torrey

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BIC or Bust: Mike did great with getting that grant, but if costs exceed the grant, the city will be on the hook with money we don’t have. But I think I would like to see the building saved if we can.

—David Dodds, Panguitch City Council member

the property. These included a complete, $19.7 million overhaul, staged renovation under the GOEO grant, private sale and conversion to a bowling alley, construction of a swimming pool or demolition to build a new city office. These have been narrowed down, however, to just two options. The first being staged restoration and continued use under its current role, and the second is to sell the property back to the Garfield County School District, who were found to hold a right of first refusal to buy back the property for one dollar. While many members of the community support options which maintain the building, the city council remains divided. Panguitch Mayor Kim Soper opposes building renovations, as inspectors have said the building is unsafe and would be prohibitively expensive and difficult to bring up to code. He also feels that by providing cheap office spaces, the city is taking away business from privately held commercial buildings in the area. Council members David Dodds and Paul Dastrup are on the fence. While they both agree that the mission of the BIC is important to the community, they feel that meaningful renovations to the structure may be too costly. “Mike did great with getting that grant,” said Dodds, “but if costs exceed the grant, the city will be on the hook with money we don’t have. But I think I would like to see the building saved if we can.”

Constructed during the late 1930s, the BIC originally served as Panguitch High School. After 46 years, its use was discontinued in favor of the current school building. The City of Panguitch purchased the property in 1997 with the intention of spurring economic growth and diversity following the closure of Kaibab Sawmill. Since its establishment as the BIC, it has gone largely without maintenance. “People need to be out, or it needs to be

renovated,” said Dodds. “It is in such bad condition I don’t feel anyone should be renting it.” While numerous small businesses have utilized, and continue to utilize, the BIC despite poor conditions, community programs such as gymnastics, karate and the Children's Justice Center have become dependent on the large and affordable space.

“Since [2020], we have been able to help 70 individuals in Garfield County with cases of child abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse and others. It is a very important part of this community,” said Teresa Wood, Victim Services Coordinator for the Garfield County Children’s Justice Center, during the Oct. 10 hearing. She explained that since the center opened in Panguitch, she has noticed an increase in similar victim’s services around the county. Wood noted that “if it hadn’t been for the city, it may not have been possible” due to the high cost of real estate in the area.

Similarly, members of the gymnastics club spoke to the necessity of having the large, affordable and permanent gym space at the BIC. Stating that their program, along with karate and a dance group, would likely be discontinued without it, due largely to storage requirements for their equipment. Both the Children’s Justice Center and the Gymnastics Program have requested that the city and community help them find another suitable space in the event the BIC is demolished or sold.

Other attendees to the Oct. 10 hearing also spoke to the importance of the structure for the heritage of people who had grown up in Panguitch. Councilwoman Tracy Wright added that “I hear every summer, from people who come back for homecoming, that they are grateful the high school is still there. In every other small town, these buildings are being taken down and then the history is gone.”

Believing in the importance of the BIC to the community, as well as that of the building to the national historic district of downtown Panguitch, council member Mike Sarles drafted a threestage plan to renovate the old high school. The first stage would be to repair the roof and renovate the six rooms on the west side of the building to be used for offices, co-working and classrooms. The second stage would see the second floor gym revitalized, allowing it’s continued use along with additional use as a conference and event center. The third stage would retrofit the ground floor into innovation and retail spaces.

“The Mayor and some of our citizens think it should be torn down,” said Sarles. “But why would we take an asset like this away when we could fix it instead?” After working with contractors to acquire bids on the first phase of work, as well as working with Colette Cox from GOEO, Panguitch City was awarded $292,744 under the Rural Communities Opportunity Grant. An additional 20% match by the city is required. Kaden Figgins has offered $35,000 from the Garfield County Board of Economic Development, as well as an additional $5000 for mold and asbestos testing. The remainder of the roughly $70,000 needed can be made up for through in-kind work or monetary donations. The first phase of work would be expected to take roughly 10 months and be complete by the end of 2024.

“A rising tide raises all ships,” quoted Sarles while he explained that numerous partners have plans to utilize the education space created under phase one, including Utah State University’s School of Business, Southwest Tech, the Women's Business Center and others. “We can then reapply for the grant next year to continue development on this project and complete phase 2. Once we have an event and conference space, we can start using money from rentals for building costs.” He likened the BIC’s potential event space to that of the Kanab Center, which has remained busy since its construction in 2019. “Small, rural convention centers are becoming more popular because you can work and play,” he said. “Who wants to be in Salt Lake City anyway?”

Despite community support and the awarded grant money, the question remains on whether or not the building can be saved with the budget the city has. “Our inspector said that to complete all 3 phases we’ll need architects, building plans and permits. It could get very expensive,” David Dodds explained. “With all the water leaks and the age of the building, it really needs to be tested for mold and asbestos, and we need to know how much that will cost to remove.” These tests are something that everyone at the city council can agree on, as they will be necessary regardless of which option is chosen for the BIC. As such, discussion on the future of the building has been tabled until midMarch, after tests are completed.

Rural Shelters: Needing to constantly search for new funding avenues to not only maintain our programs but to grow programs and to be able to meet the need that we see in the community is always the challenge that we’re facing. —Ashlee Taylor, executive director of Utah County-based The Refuge

Source: Utah State Courts, K. Sophie Will | The Utah Investigative Journalism Project | Graphic by Christopher Cherrington The Salt Lake Tribune

*The data for 2023 reflect the first 11 months, when 5,467 charges were filed in district courts and 6,160 in justice courts.

Rural Shelters

Cont'd from A1

ter—and had a conversation that will haunt her for years to come.

The anxious caller said she saw a flyer for Canyon Creek Services in Cedar City and was nervous about her potentially abusive partner. “He’s never hit me,” Sorensen remembers her saying, but she added that he had threatened to hurt her.

Sorensen ticked through a list with her—a lethality assessment protocol—designed to measure the likelihood that a domestic violence situation could become deadly. The list quickly filled with affirmative answers as Sorensen asked, “Have they ever threatened to kill you or your children?” and “Do you believe they will try to kill you?”

At the end, Sorensen believed the woman and her child needed to leave—fast. But the few dozen beds in the shelter were full and their hotel budget was tapped out. Sorensen pleaded with the woman to just wait one hour while she made some calls to find her a place to stay.

Defeated, the woman replied that calling the shelter’s number was already the hardest thing she’d ever done. “I just think maybe this is my sign that I just need to stick it out,” Sorensen remembers her saying. “… It’s better for me to just take the risk and hope for the best because he will kill me if I leave.”

She hung up, and Sorensen never heard from her again.

“Agencies like ours who are throwing everything we have to do the most basic thing…we’re still trying to figure out how to shelter people,” Sorenson said, “and everyone thinks that’s already been figured out.”

In rural Utah, domestic violence service providers are in a crisis caused by a lack of funding and resources but an ever-increasing number of victims seeking help.

One sign of the need:

Rural Utah counties file a slightly greater number of domestic violence-related charges per capita than more populous counties, according to an analysis by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project

While 10 percent of Utahns live in rural areas, almost 17 percent of domestic violence-related charges originate in rural counties.

Tiny Grand County in rural eastern Utah

topped the per-capita list for domestic violence cases filed in district court— while Salt Lake County, with the largest population in the state, ranked fourth highest.

Rural Carbon, Duchesne and San Juan counties were second, third and fifth on that list. The counties, also in eastern Utah, rank 15th, 16th and 17th by population, respectively.

The journalism nonprofit filed numerous court data requests and examined almost a quarter million criminal charges in state district and justice courts—about 106,000 cases over the past decade.

A recent change designed to help domestic violence victims has led to even more demand for services.

Last summer, the state mandated that police officers ask victims the questions in the lethality assessment protocol. That, in turn, has led to increased demand for assistance, advocates said, and an uptick in reported cases of domestic violence.

The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition said it saw a 93 percent increase in referrals for services since the protocol became mandatory in May 2023. The Wasatch Front saw 72 percent more lethality screens on average, while the rest of Utah saw 32 percent more.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, whose cousin was killed by the cousin’s ex-husband in 2022, led the effort to mandate the screenings. She said the Legislature will need to shore up support.

“I don’t want to say we’re being crushed by the success of this program,” Henderson said in a recent interview. “But it’s clear we need more resources.”

In a follow-up statement, she noted Gov. Spencer Cox’s budget seeks $2 million in additional funds for domestic violence programs, including resources for rural areas. She said her office is working with lawmakers to make sure the boost gets funded.

‘Nowhere for anybody to go’

One of the biggest hurdles to getting out of a domestic violence situation in rural areas is just having a place to go—for a temporary shelter stay, or for an alleged victim and an accused abuser to move apart.

Sorensen, now the executive director at Canyon Creek Services, said she has to refer about 35 people per month to other shelters and services when her beds are full. Canyon Creek Services spends

advocates say there are other particular stresses on Utah’s rural communities, in addition to the housing crunch.

People in small towns might be more hesitant to reach out for help in a domestic violence situation, advocates say, because everyone knows everyone else. “There’s the humiliation of ‘everybody’s going to know about it,’” said Mayo.

For rural providers, the opportunity to build their resources is further stymied by the fact that some grant givers and foundations only cover specific areas, like the Wasatch Front.

about $50,000 a year on hotels, but there are people her organization cannot take in or provide housing, she said.

She’s not the only one. Abi Taylor is the executive director of Seekhaven in the housing-crunched tourist town of Moab, and her shelter has space for, at most, 10 people at a time.

Last year, she provided rooms for 90 people and provided 2,419 shelter nights. She must constantly grapple with whether she must ask someone to leave her shelter once more “acute” situations come in, she said, weighing who they can relocate as soon as possible and how long it is fair to keep people in hotel rooms—especially if they’re returning clients.

“It is a difficult situation to juggle, and we often are placed in sticky situations,” she said. “We absolutely cannot afford this long term.”

Her shelter serves most of the eastern half of the state, with some of its coverage area so rural that the state classifies it as the frontier.

Debbie Mayo, executive director of New Horizons Crisis Center in Richfield, said her central Utah facility is able to occasionally take in people from other rural shelters. But she also struggles due to the sheer size of her own service area—five counties and over 13,500 square miles.

That means it could be a few hours drive for a victim to get to the shelter, if they even have a way to get there. So, Mayo spends a couple thousand dollars a month from an already tight budget for hotels for victims that are too far away.

“We do quite a bit of hotels just because it’s stupid for someone to drive an hour and a half to work,” she said, “or to take their kids to school and then come back to the shelter.”

For longer-term housing, the problem can be not just the price, but also the availability.

“The housing crisis and child care crisis here in our communities is a big barrier to people relocating and finding stability,” said Taylor, in Moab.

The cost of living and housing, said Moab Police Chief Lex Bell said, “is probably responsible for our high rate of recidivism, because there’s nowhere for anybody to go once they get out [of jail].”

‘Everybody’s going to know about it’

While all service providers are feeling the strain of more people to support with less funding,

ties, there’s just not that,” Hernandez said. “So, you use the one thing that you have, which is calling the cops and pressing charges.”

‘See, nothing happened to me’

Chad Dotson, the Iron County attorney since 2019, said domestic violence cases consistently make up about a quarter of his workload, although he saw an increase in the number and severity of cases during the pandemic.

“Needing to constantly search for new funding avenues to not only maintain our programs but to grow programs and to be able to meet the need that we see in the community is always the challenge that we’re facing,” said Ashlee Taylor, executive director of Utah County-based The Refuge.

Canyon Creek Services has seen a 75 percent increase in hotline calls since January 2023. At the peak of those calls, Sorensen said, the organization lost three advocate positions because of lack of funding, particularly from a cut to federal Victims of Crime Act grants.

Plus, rural areas are often the poorest. The census and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that in Utah in 2021, the eastern parts of the state were the poorest, with San Juan County having a full quarter of its population living in poverty.

“There isn’t a higher prevalence of domestic violence in individuals that are of low economic status,” Taylor said. “It’s just more obvious because they need more services.”

In tourist-dependent or gas and oil-producing areas, which can overlap in the eastern part of the state, there’s been an increase in population and an economic boom, but “we’re not seeing an equal investment in the social services side,” said Adam Gaus, the executive director of Friends Against Family Violence, which covers northern Utah.

Isolation also creates challenges because of the lack of public transportation and the long distances between towns.

Gaus said having a victim’s advocate at a scene is important, but sometimes an advocate can be an hour or two away.

“Unlike in urban areas where you have a pressure valve…and there’s typically other ways that you can have your needs met, unfortunately, in geographically isolated communi-

Though urban areas might have a higher total number of cases, he thinks rural areas have more per capita because law enforcement has more time to investigate each case and send them to a prosecutor.

In urban areas, “they have such a high volume that they’re going to decline a lot of domestic violence cases,” he said. Dotson also echoes the view that fearful and reluctant witnesses are the biggest challenge to convicting abusers.

His office has had success prosecuting cases without a cooperative victim by using 911 calls, testimony from medical providers, photographs of the scene and other evidence. However, prosecutors also depend on trauma-informed experts or witnesses who can explain why a victim would not testify, because a jury may not always understand.

“We’re always looking for new and creative ways to hold perpetrators accountable,” Dotson said.

Some rural victims also may be hesitant to press charges due to the potential for an abuser to lose access to guns, he added.

“People in rural areas are very avid hunters, and that is a big thing. Losing their gun rights is a huge thing. So for a lot of victims, the thought of that happening to their partner or ex-partner…the fear of that is that they’ll just freak out,” Mayo said.

In the first nine months of 2023, 121 reported domestic violence incidents with a spouse or partner involved a gun, according to the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification.

Sometimes, prosecutors don’t have the evidence to overcome a victim’s lack of cooperation—and that’s “one of the main reasons that plea negotiations take place in a domestic violence case,” Dotson said. “…The reality is sometimes you do have to reduce the charge if we can’t prove it.”

Sometimes, Dotson said, cases are dismissed and then refiled to better fit the evidence or to be pursued in another jurisdic-

tion. “In our jurisdiction, I would say it would be a very small percentage or it would be very rare that we would just outright dismiss a case,” he said.

About 60 percent of district court cases and 69 percent of justice court cases statewide had at least one charge dismissed, with or without prejudice, the data showed. Class B Misdemeanors in both courts are the most frequently dismissed charges.

In cases where charges are dropped, advocates warn, the dismissal can lead to abusers feeling empowered.

Sorensen, of Canyon Creek Services, said that because most domestic violence charges are misdemeanors and jail time is not always guaranteed, some victims see charges as aggravating their situation instead of solving it.

“I think that the way that we charge domestic violence in the state of Utah is a really big barrier for us to see more cases move through,” she said. “When we do have one that’s dismissed, I would say that’s one of the most frequent times that we see a survivor return to a perpetrator, and then we get another protocol call within a few months or they completely fall off the face of the earth and we never talk to them again.”

“Abusers need to be held accountable, and when they’re not held accountable, that’s part of their power and control that they can go home and be like, ‘See, nothing happened to me,’” Mayo said.

As cases increase, and subsequently need for services increases, rural providers are nearing a breaking point, they say. Already a high-turnover profession because of its traumatic nature, adding the powerlessness of not being able to help all those who need it takes its toll.

“Most of us will never be the same,” Sorensen said. “And most of us won’t stay in this field long enough to see the changes that we’re advocating for, even if they come in 10 years, because it just churns people into oblivion.”

Finding help: Those who are experiencing intimate partner violence, or know someone who is, can call the Utah Domestic Violence Link Line, 1-800-897-LINK (5465), or the statewide sexual assault line run by the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault at (801) 736-4356 and in Spanish: Línea de Apoyo de Violencia Sexual las 24 Horas de Utah: (801) 924-0860

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING FOR A ZONING TEXT CHANGE

LOA PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION

Loa Planning Zoning Commission has received an application from an agent of a property owner for a zoning text change. The ordinance the individual would like to change is Zoning Ordinance Chapters 2-6: Zones and Districts. The current text does not include an option for multi-residential developments to sell individual units. According to the applicant, the proposed amendment to the text would be to add a zone specific to Multi-residential development aiming to address the pressing need for diverse housing options in our community, offering affordable, high-quality living spaces that cater to a range of family sizes and income levels. The justification for the requested text change is because it is not included in the current ordinances, and there is a demand and need for multi-family housing in Loa and Wayne County in general. The Loa Planning Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on this application on Thursday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Loa Town Hall. If anyone would like more information please contact Michelle Brian or Jeanette Taylor at 435-836-2160.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on FEBRUARY 29 and MARCH 7, 2024

DATE AND TIME CHANGE FOR MARCH 2024 MEETING

LOA TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Loa Town Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. instead of Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. Future meetings will be held on the second Thursday of each month, the time will be 7:30 p.m. until November 2024 at which time it will be at 6:30 p.m. If you would like to get on the agenda for March, please contact Michelle Brian at 435-836-2160 no later than Thursday, March 14 by 5 p.m. All public is welcome to attend.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on FEBRUARY 29 and MARCH 7, 2024

NOTICE Of PROPOSED CHANGE

WAYNE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Please take notice that the Wayne County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following:

PROPOSED CHANGE: ZONE CHANGE

FROM A NON CONFORMING USE TO BCI WITH A

CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT INTENDED USE: AUTO BODY AND PAINT

SHOP CHANGE REQUESTED BY: BRUCE CHAP-

PELL A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD DUR-

ING THE PLANNING & ZONING MEETING ON:

MARCH 13, 2024 @ 7:00 PM AT THE WAYNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE

LEGAL DES: Approx 1 acre of parcel 01-00550407 / O-407 a 15.68 acre parcel located at 1825 S SR 24 Lyman, UT 84749

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on FEBRUARY 29 and MARCH 7, 2024

NOTICE OF PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE MEETINGS

WAYNE WONDERLAND AIRPORTAIRPORT MASTER PLAN

Wayne County staff and consultants will be facilitating a Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting and Public Open House meeting to discuss the Airport.

As part of the Wayne Wonderland Airport Master Plan Update, Wayne County and consultants will conduct up to four (4) Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) Meetings and two (2) Open Houses with members of the public and a select group of airport tenants, pilots, local & regional economic development interests, neighbors of the airport, and staff/representatives of the County to ensure a collaborative public involvement and master planning process that develops understanding, explores solutions, and provides a realistic and achievable implementation plan.

PAC Meeting #4 and the following Open House will be an interactive discussion between PAC members and the Planning Team to discuss the final preferred alternative, draft capital improvement plan (CIP), and draft Airport Layout Plan to be submitted to the FAA for approval.

PAC #4 will be held on March 13, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The public Open House will follow the meeting from 3:00 to 4:00. The meetings will be held at:

Wayne County Courthouse

18 S. Main Street Loa, Utah 84747

About Jones & DeMille Engineering: Jones & DeMille Engineering is an award-winning, full-service firm shaping the quality of life since 1982. With ten office locations throughout the Intermountain Region, Jones & DeMille provides civil engineering, architectural, funding procurement, project leadership, GIS, survey, environmental, construction management, planning, materials testing and related professional services. Jones & DeMille Engineering is built on great people, excellent communication, technical expertise, and proven practices—all dedicated to shaping the quality of life.

www.jonesanddemille.com

About Century West Engineering Corporation: Century West is an employee-owned engineering services consulting firm specializing in aviation and municipal projects. Century West has been providing engineering and planning services to clients throughout the Pacific Northwest since 1969.

www.centurywest.com

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 7, 2024

DATE CHANGE FOR APRIL 2024

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING BICKNELL TOWN

Bicknell Town Council meeting will be held on April 11 at 7:00 PM instead of April 4 at 7:00 PM. If you would like to get on the agenda please contact Kelsey Brinkerhoff at 435-425-2215 no later than April 10th by 3 PM.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 7 & 14, 2024

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGE LYMAN TOWN

Please take notice: Town of Lyman will hold a public hearing to consider the following:

PROPOSED CHANGE: Conditional Use Permit

INTENDED USE: Construction for a three-family dwelling unit on the listed parcel.

PERMIT REQUESTED BY: DPC-1 LLC

PUBLIC HEARING will be held at the Lyman Town Hall during the regularly scheduled Town Council Meeting on March 14, 2024 @7:00 p.m.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: parcel 03-0049-0087, Acres 0.32. 240 South Main Street, Lyman, Utah. Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on FEBRUARY 29 and MARCH 7, 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 Mar. 27, 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)

97-2301 (a51320): Ellen Calley Cooper, Richard Larsen propose(s) using 0.3 ac-ft. from groundwater (Black Boulder Mesa) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.

NONUSE APPLICATION(S)

97-2023 (A67525): Thomas R. and Caroline Hoyt is/ are seeking a nonuse period for 0.3 cfs from the Nazer Draw (East of Boulder Town) for HYDRO-POWER.

KANE COUNTY EXTENSION(S)

61-1510 (a11360c): GENN Retreat Trust is/are filing an extension for 0.0017 cfs OR 0.125 ac-ft. from groundwater (8 Miles W of Long Valley Jct.) for DOMESTIC.

WAYNE COUNTY EXTENSION(S)

95-5267 (A78733): Gregory Daussin, Dorian E. Jankowski is/are filing an extension for 0.015 cfs from groundwater (2 miles south of Torrey) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.

Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E.

State Engineer Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on FEBRUARY 29 and MARCH 7, 2024

INVITATION FOR BIDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO PANGUITCH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT REHABILITATE RUNWAY PANGUITCH, UTAH AIP NO. 3-49-0025-019-2024

Online bids for improvements to the Panguitch Municipal Airport, AIP No. 3-49-0025-019-2024, will be received by the Panguitch City Corporation via online bidding through Quest CDN at www.armstrongconsultants. com until March 26, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., MDT. Online bidding will begin on March 20, 2024.

The work involved includes the following: SCHEDULE I

REHABILITATION OF RUNWAY 18/36 [01/19 (F)]

For a complete set of Plans, Specifications and Contract Documents all purchases must be made through our website at www.armstrongconsultants.com. A digital copy may be downloaded for $60.00, this will include access to online bidding. There will be no refunds.

Each bid must be accompanied by a Bid Bond executed by a Surety Company in an amount not less than five (5) percent of the total bid made payable to the Panguitch City Corporation.

The Bidder must supply all the information required by the proposal forms and specifications and he/she must bid on all items of every schedule. The Panguitch City Corporation reserves the right to waive any informality in, or to reject any or all portions of, the various bid items. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days from the opening thereof.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at the Panguitch Municipal Airport on March 12, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., MDT. All bidders are advised to examine the site to become familiar with all site conditions.

The proposed contract is under and subject to Executive Order 11246 of 24 September 1965, as amended and to the equal opportunity clause and the Standard Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications, including the goals and timetables for minority and female participation.

The proposed contract is subject to the provisions of Department of Transportation Regulations 49 CFR Part 26 (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Participation).

Minimum wage rates as established by the Secretary of Labor are applicable to all schedules awarded for this project.

The proposed

Wayne Commission:

An Interlocal Agreement with the Sevier County and Wayne County road departments, review of bids for work required on the front steps of the Wayne County Courthouse, fair planning, and upgrades to the Wayne Wonderland Airport discussed.

Wayne Commission

Cont'd from A1

and the commission passed a motion to accept the bid.

Since there was some free time before the commission’s first appointment, Commissioner Brian asked Jakelle Pace how fair planning was going for this year. Pace said the fair committee is thinking about centering this year’s theme around the high school, both as a celebration of the new school and honoring the history of Wayne High School. Pace said she’s on the lookout for old yearbooks and any old uniforms.

The commission then met with representatives from Jones & DeMille Engineering regarding upgrades to the Wayne Wonderland Airport. They reported that the scope of work has been approved by the FAA. The next steps include finalizing design aspects, such as the well design and architectural designs, pursuing an inde-

pendent fee estimate as required by the FAA, and completing a grant application for FAA funds. Commissioner Brian wanted to make it clear that most of the airport upgrades will be covered by FAA and state funds. The airport upgrades will cost the county around $20,000. Commissioner Brian says the county’s responsibility is, “Very minimal to get hundreds of thousands of dollars of work done.”

The commission then approved vouchers and went into a closed session to discuss personnel matters. The committee reconvened to discuss some department moves needed in the courthouse building but tabled any decisionmaking until they take a look at the county’s ambulance building and USU extension contract.

The Wayne County Commission meets the first and third Monday of every month at the Wayne County Courthouse in Loa.

Legal Notices

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PROPERTY NEAR CANNONVILLE, GARFIELD COUNTY, UTAH UTAH SCHOOL AND INSTITUTIONAL TRUST LANDS ADMINISTRATION

The Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration is now accepting proposals for the lease or sale of approximately 400 acres of Trust Lands near Cannonville and Highway 12 in Garfield County, Utah, in Township 37 South, Range 2 West, Section 32, SLB&M. The property consists of two separate parcels: 120 acres and 280 acres. See https://trustlands.utah.gov/work-withus/real-estate-planning-development/ for the Request for Proposal and additional information.

Any individual or entity wishing to submit a proposal for one or both parcels may do so until 4:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Proposals should be emailed to eliseerler@utah.gov; Reference: Cannonville property. The Trust Lands Administration reserves the right to reject any proposal.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 7 & 14, 2024

ANNOUNCEMENT OF APPOINTMENT AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of EVAN F. REEVES

Deceased Probate No. 243600003

APPLICANT, JAMIE REEVES whose address is 1005 East Hyland Lake Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84121, has been appointed the Personal Representatives of the above-entitled estates. Creditors of the estate are hereby notified to: (1) deliver or mail their written claims to the Personal Representatives at the address above; (2) deliver or mail their written claims to the Personal Representatives’ attorney of record, Russell T. Monahan, at 323 South 600 East, Suite 200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102; or, (3) file their written claims with the Clerk of the District Court in Garfield County, or otherwise present their claims as required by Utah law within three (3) months after the date of the first publication of this notice or be forever barred.

Date of first publication: February 22, 2024.

DATED: February 15, 2024.

_/s/ Russell T. Monahan__________

RUSSELL T. MONAHAN

Attorney for Personal Representatives

323 South 600 East, Suite 200 Salt Lake City, Utah 84102

Telephone: (801) 595-8600

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on FEBRUARY 22 & 29 and MARCH 7, 2024

sudoku

Answers for this week

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

84775 435-425-3761

SENIOR CENTER MENUS

PANGUITCH SENIOR CENTER

HOT LUNCH PROGRAM

87 N 50 W • 676-2281/676-1140

MEETINGS

TROPIC AA MEETING

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

Suggested donation $4.00 60 & older, $10.00 under 60 Call before 10 AM of the day of attendance to reserve a spot. Meals include milk & bread.

Chilli, Corn Bread, Corn, Salad Bar, Pears, Cinnamon Roll

Grilled Reuben Sandwich on Rye Bread, Potatoes & Carrots, Cabbage Salad, Peaches, Magic Bars

Tues. Mar. 12th Wed. Mar. 13th Thurs. Mar. 14th Asian Chicken Salad w/ Mandarins, Almonds, Green Onions, Crunchy Noodles, Roll, Mixed Fruit, Macadamia Cookie

NOTE: PLEASE BE COURTEOUS AND CALL AHEAD. The kitchen staff work diligently to prepare a good dinner, and a head count helps them prepare enough for everyone.

Bryce Valley Senior Lunches at the BRYCE VALLEY Senior Center

TUES Mar. 12th Chicken Ham & Swiss, French Fries, Corn, Mandarin Oranges, Brownie

WED Mar. 13th Sweet and Sour Pork, Rice, Peas, Applesauce, Salad Bar, Cookie

THURS Mar. 14th Corn Beef & Cabbage, Corn Bread, Peaches, Salad Bar, White Cake

Call by 10:00 A.M. if you want a lunch or need a ride. 679-8666

All meals are served with milk & bread. Suggested donation is $4 for seniors and $10 for those under 60 years of age.

Escalante Senior Citizens Menu

Tues. Mar. 12th Pizza, Salad Bar, Fresh Fruit, Brownie

Wed. Mar. 13th Beef Stroganoff w/ Noodles, Green Salad, Bread, Applesauce, Apple Turnovers

Thurs. Mar. 14th Corn Beef & Cabbage, Potatoes & Veggies, Salad Bar, Bread, Green Jell-O with Pineapple, Lime Cookies

All meals are served with milk or juice. If you would like a meal, please call us by 10:00 am. 826-4317. Suggested donation for seniors over 60 is $4.00, and under 60 is $10.00