The Wayne & Garfield County Insider March 28, 2024

Glen Canyon Welcomes Rich Sweeting as Chief of Facilities Management

GLEN CANYONGlen Canyon National Recreation Area (Glen Canyon) is pleased to announce Rich Sweeting has been selected as our new Chief of Facilities Management. Rich came to Glen Canyon from Shenandoah National Park, where he served four years as Project Manager for major construction projects. Sweeting is a recent graduate of the Facility Manager Leaders Program, an intensive year-long study promoting responsible stewardship and protection of assets of the National Park Service.

Glen Canyon Deputy Superintendent Jake Ohlson stated, “Rich brings a wealth of skill and experience in facility management and project management but I’m most excited to bring his proven leadership abilities to our Park Management and Facilities

Rich Sweeting

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Courtesy Robbin Peterson

Escalante sophomore and current Miss Garfield County Clara Peterson presents alongside her grandmother, Bonnie Jensen, in the writing lyrics workshop at LitJam 2024 at Escalante High School on Mar. 19.

Third Annual LitJam Attracts Nearly 140 Budding Student Writers from Across Garfield Co. School District

by Nancy Goude

ESCALANTE - Collectively, a group of five passionate Escalante women—Robbin Peterson, Naketa Martel, Karen Munson, Jenny Evans and Heather McKnight—brought to life the third annual LitJam on

paint during its 32nd annual Paint-a-Thon service project.

ferred to Zions Bank by city and state housing agencies, aging services, community organizations and local churches. This year, the public is invited to nominate up to half of the 35 homes employees plan to scrape, paint and landscape.

To qualify for consideration, homeowners must meet federal Department

Paint-a-Thon

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BLM, FS Announces Public Meetings for BENM Draft Plan

MONTICELLOThe Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service have announced five in-person and two virtual public meetings, which will provide forums for the public to learn more about the Bear Ears National Monument Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

March 19 at the Escalante High School. LitJam is a student writing conference, aimed at providing local youth, in grades 5th-8th, with opportunities to learn and grow. The idea for the LitJam

BLM Prepares for Visitor Surge at Little Sahara RA During Easter Wknd

FILLMORE - With approximately 20,000 visitors expected at Little Sahara Recreation Area during Easter Weekend, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will welcome the public through enhanced safety measures and a new visitor center. To ensure the safety of visitors and to protect the unique desert environment, the BLM is implementing several measures to manage visitor surge by increasing staffing and law enforcement patrols, as well as technologies to better serve the public.

“Little Sahara Recreation Area is an incredible resource for outdoor enthu-

Visitor Surge

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originated when Peterson moved to town. Her previous school in Susanville, California, had done the event to encourage young writers, and a conversation with Naketa Martel planted the seed in Martel’s mind;

she just had to help make it happen.

This year's event featured 13 presenters in topics ranging from interpreLitJam

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On March 8, 2024, the agencies initiated a public comment period for the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, proposed recreational shooting closures, and proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. Comments will be accepted through June 11, 2024.

The BLM and Forest Service will host seven public meetings. During Public Meetings

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Torrey Receives Sign Donation Honoring the Town's Designation as Utah's First International Dark Sky Community

T.

Utah’s first International Dark Sky Community on 2018 and has now received a donation of two street signs announcing that honor to people passing through town.

TORREY - Torrey Town received designation as Utah’s first International Dark Sky Community on January 12, 2018, and has now received a donation of two street signs announcing that honor to people passing through town. One sign is to be placed on the east entrance to town along Highway 24. The other sign will be on the west Signs

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Scott

Smith

Pictured from left to right are Pat Kearney (Torrey Town Council member), Pearl Stewart (Council member), Mickey Wright (Torrey Mayor), Mary Bedingfieldsmith, Jordan Pace (Council member), and Richard Braaten (Council member). Torrey Town received designation as

Letters to the Editor

the editor must include the author’s name and location (town). We may edit letters

the right to refuse material. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor are not necessarily those of The Insider Send letters to snapshot@live.com. Note: The Insider will accept one letter per month per person, plus one

I'm old enough to remember when it would be certain political death to embrace sworn enemies of our country (especially Communist Russia), or to attempt the overthrow of our elections and democracy, and to encourage the attacking of our allies. There was a time when being an unabashed purveyor of sexual assault and a rapist might give pause to your supporters. Back then, honesty, integrity, and service were valued traits of our leadership.

But now the Supreme Court has decided that Colorado can't keep Trump off the ballot by enforcing the Fourteenth Amendment Section 3 of the Constitution, which clearly states: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

Seems pretty clear to me. Trump obviously violated his oath to support the Constitution, but his lawyers have found ways to confuse the issue and continue in their attempt to get Trump exonerated. Money buys a lot in this country and it looks like it's buying a consideration that no one reading this letter would ever get.

So if states are responsible for managing voting in this country, and they are disallowed from enforcing the Fourteenth Amendment Section 3, then who can enforce it? And if you tell me Congress, then ipso facto, the Fourteenth Amendment Section 3 is worthless, because Congress is clearly incapable of doing anything other than rubberstamping everything Donald Trump tells them to do. The founders, flawed

response from another reader to which you would like to respond.

Ninety-one Counts

as they were, tried to design a government that would disallow a narcissistic tyrant from gaining absolute power, but I think just like none of them could have imagined computers, or automatic weapons, or nuclear bombs, or global warming, or any of the other problems that are part of contemporary life, they really couldn’t imagine a president who is so devoid of a moral compass and so totally focused on tearing down every institution and law that forms our country’s fiber, for his own enrichment, and God forbid to once and for all pardon his almighty self from any responsibility now and forever.

Shouldn't we be concerned that a man who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution has so blatantly attacked it at every turn? Who

wants the country to experience a recession so that people will blame Biden? Who advocates violence against anyone who contradicts him? Who insisted his Republican stooges vote against an immigration bill that they've demanded forever, so that he could run on the problems of immigration? Who is encouraging Russia to attack our NATO allies for what sick purpose is anyone's guess. Trump has stated that he wants to be a dictator, that he wants to terminate the Constitution, that he will deal retribution to his "enemies", and cut both Social Security and Medicare.

One would think that the long list of fraudulent businesses and practices that are the bread and butter of the Trump family would be enough to get the Maga

cultists to go find someone else to worship. Certainly anyone who loves the Constitution and the rule of law, who has decent ethics and a functioning moral code, would run away from any association with this shyster as fast as they could. But apparently all of the above isn't enough to turn them away. So they spend their time disparaging President Biden and pretending that his slips of the tongue and occasional verbal goofs are somehow similar to or even equal to Trump's unimaginably bad record of lies and deceit, never mind the incoherent ravings that are a feature of his rallies. I never understood cult behavior and I'll never understand how otherwise decent people support Trump.

Gwendolyn Zeta, Escalante

'Utah’s Water Situation is Robust;' Reservoirs Currently at 83% Statewide

SALT LAKE CITYUtah’s water outlook for March is marked by encouraging developments and notable records. Alta recently experienced its wettest February on record, showcasing the dynamic nature of our climate and its potential impact on water resources.

“Alta’s record-breaking February reminds us how much can change in a month,” Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Resources, said. “Our statewide snowpack has been consistently above normal since the beginning of February, which has really put Utah in a good position as we head into spring.”

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service in their March 1st Water Supply Report, the state received 157% of our typical amount of snow water equivalent (SWE) for the month, and our statewide SWE percent of normal ended the month at 117%.

Entering the traditionally wettest months of March, April and May, Utah’s water situation is robust. Soil moisture remains favorable, setting the stage for optimal conditions as we approach spring runoff. Saturated soils will allow

more water to make its way to reservoirs and streams.

Stream gauges contribute to this positive narrative, with 60% currently flowing normal to above-normal levels. This widespread positive trend enhances the resilience of Utah’s water systems.

Great Salt Lake has seen a noteworthy net increase, rising 1.8 feet since October. This positive change in lake levels adds to the actions and investments from the Legislature over the past three years to preserve and protect the lake. DNR actions, such as the modification of the GSL berm, as directed in the governor's executive order, have reduced salinity and shown signs of benefiting the brine shrimp population in the south arm of the lake. Currently, SWE in the GSL basin is 123% of normal. February precipitation in the GSL basin was 183% of normal, bringing the water year precipitation value to date to 118% of normal.

Statewide, reservoirs are currently at an impressive 83%, showcasing solid water storage. This level is 22% higher than normal and a drastic contrast to last year when reservoirs statewide were around half full.

These figures reaffirm the strength and importance of our water storage and infrastructure.

“Our reservoirs are our water savings account,” Hasenyager said. “This critical infrastructure provides us with the water security we have today. Continued studies and investments in water infrastructure will be needed for Utah’s future generations.”

Heading into these crucial months, continued focus on water conservation and management remains essential. Monitoring these positive indicators allows us to navigate the upcoming months with preparedness and adaptability. To encourage water conservation among Utahns, the Department of Natural Resources continues to promote initiatives such as the Agricultural Optimization Program for farmers and SlowtheFlow. org for residents. These programs aim to educate and incentivize water-saving practices, ensuring Utahns become more drought-resilient and prepare for future conditions.

—Utah Department of Natural Resources | Division of Water Resources

Public Meetings: The BLM and Forest Service will host seven public meetings. During the open houses, the agencies will provide a brief presentation twice (once at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.).

Bob Wick | Bureau of Land Management

Located on U.S. Forest Service managed land, Bears Ears Butte East and Bears Ears Butte West are the iconic trademark of Bears Ears National Monument.

The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service have announced five in-person and two virtual public meetings, which will provide forums for the public to learn more about the Bear Ears National Monument Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Public Meetings

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the open houses, the agencies will provide a brief presentation twice (once at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.).

Dates, times, and locations of the meetings are:

Virtual Meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. MDT - Register to attend on Zoom.

• Salt Lake City, UT open house on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. MDT - Marriot - University Park, 480 S Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108 Blanding, UT open house on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. MDTUtah State University Blanding, 576 West

200 South, Blanding, UT, 84511

• Virtual Meeting on Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. MDT - Register to attend on Zoom.

• Twin Arrows, AZ open house on Monday, May 6, 2024 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. MDT - Twin Arrows Casino Resort, 22181 Resort Boulevard, Twin Arrows, AZ, 86004

Albuquerque, NM open house on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. MDT - ABQ Marriott Courtyard, 5151 Journal Center Boulevard., Albuquerque, NM, 87109

• Monument Valley, UT open house on Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. MDTMonument Valley High

School, US State Highway #163, Monument Valley, UT, 84536

The BLM and Forest Service have incorporated considerable input from the Bears Ears Commission, the State of Utah, other cooperating agencies, and the public into the draft plan. The plan, associated documents and instructions for submitting comments electronically (preferred) are available on the BLM National NEPA Register. Comments may be submitted through the “Participate Now” function on the BLM National NEPA Register or mail input to ATTN: Monument Planning, BLM Monticello Field Office, 365 North Main, Monticello, UT 84535. —Bureau of Land Management

Wills, Trusts, and More

Planning for Incapacity

In doing estate planning, it is essential to plan not only for death—but for life.

Lifetime planning involves preparing for the care and management of assets in the event you become incapacitated.

There are two main objectives of lifetime planning. First, it is important to plan for the effective administration of your estate upon incapacity. Second, it is important to preserve the estate if your incapacity requires professional long-term care.

Effective administration of your estate during incapacity. In planning for the administration of your estate during incapacity, it is critical that certain documents be executed.

All individuals engaging in estate planning should strongly consider executing a durable power of attorney.

A durable power of attorney will enable someone else to manage your assets should you become unable to manage your own assets for any reason. If the power of attorney is not “durable” (which means it specifically states that it will be effective in the event of your incapac-

by Jeffery J. McKenna

ity), it will not be effective if you become incapacitated.

Preservation of your Estate During Incapacity In addition to concerns related to how your estate will be administered during your incapacity, you must also consider expenses related to an extended period of incapacity.

Medicare and private insurance do not cover long-term care (care for the basic functions of life such as eating, dressing, bathing) for extended periods. Medicaid is the government program that covers extended long-term care. Because Medicaid is a welfare program for the poor, an individual will only qualify after income and assets have been depleted.

In doing lifetime planning to preserve your estate during incapacity, it is usually not advisable to deplete your estate in order to qualify for Medicaid.

A more effective approach for planning for incapacity would be the purchase of long-term care insurance. Long-term care insurance greatly eases the burden of paying for longterm care.

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.

In working with families that have long-term care insurance within their estate, I have found a much greater degree of comfort and security.

Comics country roads

by Lynn Griffin

Wagon

A young boy is pulling his wagon up a hill when one of the back wheels falls off and rolls down the hill.

The young boy says, "I'll be darned." A local pastor heard him and said, "You should not say that. Next time your wheel falls off say, 'Praise the Lord.'"

So the next day the young boy is pulling his wagon up the hill and the wheel falls off and rolls down the hill.

The young boy says, "Praise the Lord." The wheel stops rolling, turns around, rolls back up the hill and puts itself back on the wagon.

The young boy being very surprised by this exclaims, "I'll be darned!"

What a Gas

A woman walks into a cafe with a stomach ache. After a while she realizes she needs to relieve herself, knowing her farts are loud, she decides to fart simultaneously with the cafe music. Every time the music gets really loud she let out a long fart. She saw that everyone in the cafe was staring at her and later realized that she was wearing headsets the whole time.

Sunburn

I think I killed my best friend. He asked me what was the best thing for sunburn and I told him, "Sit in the sun for eight hours."

Desert Cool Down

There were 3 men in the desert. They all wanted something to cool them down.

One brought a pail of water. The second brought an umbrella. The third took out a car door.

The other two said,"Why do you have a car door?"

The person said, "So we could roll the windows down when we get hot!"

Train

Lady: "Is this my train?" Station Master: "No, it belongs to the railway company." Lady: "Don’t try to be funny. I mean to ask if I can take this train to New York." Station Master: "No Madam, I’m afraid it’s too heavy."

Obituaries

Nancy Noble

Remembering Nancy Noble...

GROVER - There are so many wonderful things to remember about Nancy, mainly her generosity and the deep friendships she nurtured.

We cannot forget her love of gardening, growing flowers, and tomatoes! Residents of Wayne County eagerly awaited Nancy’s tomato plants she gave away each spring!

Nancy’s never-ending curiosity of all things grew and grew, just like her lovely gardens.

Who remembers the incredible Weiner dog Apple Days parade floats? Nancy and friends worked days on creating these giant beasts. She invited everyone with a Weiner dog to join in the fun.

Nancy always knew how to have fun and include others in it!

Nancy and her husband, Wayne Border, lived on a gorgeous ranch in Grover, overlooking the magical Cockscomb. After putting a ladder in the bed of a pickup truck and driving it around their property, they came up with the perfect spot to build their home so they could take in the spectacular views all around.

Nancy retired in Wayne County after running a very successful laboratory at the University of Utah. She tirelessly, along with Wayne, researched to find a total cure for kidney disease. They were awarded many NIH grants including a merit award for their efforts. Nancy was a pioneer in women in medicine and honored internationally.

In 2016, Nancy decided her new project would be renovating Bicknell! She energetically delved in with all of her tireless effort. She purchased homes and had them completely renovated from the ground up, installing new plumbing, electrical, windows, heating, laundry and more. She hired all locals to do all of the work involved, including interior and exterior design.

These homes were half renovated for much needed long-term rentals and the other half for short-term rentals, following all of Bicknell’s short-term rental ordinances. She provided clean, all new homes for many local people. Nancy also helped tourists enjoy our beautiful area by adding needed dollars to our economy.

Nancy loved Wayne County and especially Bicknell. Many are very thankful for her presence here. In a loving memorial, Wayne has donated funds, in Nancy’s honor to Bicknell to purchase new celebratory banners to announce special Bicknell events.

Carol Cole

PANGUITCH - Carol Elizabeth Cole born October 10, 1949, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the daughter of James and Hazel Allen went home to be with Jesus on March 16, 2024, in Panguitch. As a young girl, she lived in Missouri, but she spent the majority of her life in Southern California and Southwest Utah. For the last 16 years, she resided in Panguitch.

While living in Southern California, she worked as a caretaker, caring for young and old alike. Carol loved the simple things in life. You could find her with a good book in her hand or watching her favorite movies, and she loved finding unique and interesting treasures while thrift shopping. She passed down this love for thrifting to many of us. But her most favorite thing in the world was her children and grandchildren. She was always there to listen, and she would do anything she could for them. No matter what they said or did, she loved them with her whole heart.

She is survived by her five children: Thomas Moore, Tammy Moore, Travis Moore, Tiffany (Nate) Nordby, and Dustin (Melissa) Blass; 20 grandchildren, 11 greatgrandchildren; and 4 fur babies.

She was the glue that held our family together. We will be lost without her, but we can find peace in knowing that one day we will see her again.

Cremation in the Magleby Mortuary Cremation Center. Celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Dustin’s home.

Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com

Where did March go? February seemed to go on forever, and just like that, March is now over. The highlight of the up-andcoming weekend is the Easter Egg Hunt. It will be this Saturday morning at 10:00 am at the city park. If the weather is bad, it will be held in the fair building at the same time. There will be tons of candy, prizes for all, and plenty of fun. Bring your kids, grandkids, and your camera. The Easter Bunny will arrive on a big red fire engine, with bells and sirens blazing.

The next day will be Easter and the celebration of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a Christian celebration and a day of peace and goodwill to all mankind.

The next day is April 1st, and be aware of jokers lurking about. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar. This moved the start of the new year to January 1st from April. Those who kept celebrating the old new year were ridiculed as “April Fools,” which, historians suggested, led to a new unofficial holiday. In London 1698, a clever Brit announced a special event at the Tower of London:

FYI PanguItch

by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com

“See the lions washed.”

No such public cleansing of the cats took place, but the announcement drew a large crowd of rubes.

In recent times, four years ago, the president at that time was faced with the coronavirus. He announced that it was going to stop on April 1st once it warmed up. He called it the "Kung Flu," and he said that it wasn’t a virus after all. 300,000 deaths later, he put up a billion dollars for a vaccine that would put a halt to the virus.

If you like college basketball, now is your time; five to ten games a day are on the TV. The first week is through, and, now, we are down to the sweet sixteen teams. By next weekend, we will be down to the final four, and the championship game will be played on Monday. BYU went out the first go around. Utah State lasted till they played the #1 Purdue. The girls were still alive as of Sunday night. All sixty-eight of the team’s games were played in a three week period. The later games are much better to watch than those that are won by 30 points.

In the NBA, the Jazz can only lose 12 more games till the end of the

season. There is a lot of excitement among the leaders and those that are fighting for playoff spots in the second season. Each team seems to be loaded with really great talent, and even some of the last placed teams seem to be getting their act together to move up the ladder.

Some 86,000 infants were born in the U.S. in 2021 through IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies. That’s about 2% of all births. Now a few states, which have banned abortions, are doing away with this procedure. They are going so far that when a couple of these vials were stepped on in the lab, they wanted to file murder charges against the technicians. When will we ever learn?

More than 125,000 high income Americans, including 25,000 who make over a million, did not file tax returns in at least one year from 2017 to 2022, according to the IRS, and this included the current president's son. The IRS has recovered about a half a billion dollars in overdue taxes since launching a crackdown on wealthy tax cheats in 2023.

(Associated Press) Congress finally

passed the budget to keep the country going till September; the Senate signed off on it, and the president signed off on it. Congresswoman Taylor Green called for the impeachment of the current speaker of the house, who finally got the backbone to put up a bill after four months in office. Another congressman resigned from the GOP side, saying he had more things to do with his time than stay with Congress. This leaves the GOP with one more vote than the Democrats. Why won’t the congresspeople stand up to these people that are only drawing more attention to themselves than America? Congress has become a joke, and they have forgotten that they were elected to make our country stronger.

All of you Quilt Walk play people, get out your parts and start going over them. Elaine Baldwin is going to produce the play again this year. Bless you, Elaine. The town needs this play to show how Panguitch really started, and to tell the story of the seven men that went for supplies during that terrible winter of '64. Mack O.

Rich Sweeting: Rich brings a wealth of skill and experience in facility management and project management but I’m most excited to bring his proven leadership abilities to our Park Management and Facilities Teams.

—Jake Ohlson, Glen Canyon Deputy Superintendent

Rich Sweeting

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Teams.”

According to Sweeting, “I am looking forward to working with our partners and addressing the complex issues that have arisen due to Lake Powell’s fluctuating lake levels in recent years and working together to determine the best way forward.”

As Chief of Facilities Management, Sweeting is responsible for overseeing one of the most com-

plex facilities programs in the National Park Service (NPS). This office manages buildings and structures, utilities, trails, and equipment to support the operations of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Glen Canyon’s 1.25 million acres are geographically dispersed through northern Arizona and southeast Utah. Prior to his work at Shenandoah National Park, Sweeting served 24 years in the U.S. Army, where he

completed two tours in Iraq, two tours in Afghanistan, and one tour in Israel. He retired in 2018 as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. Honors received from the Army include a Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, seven Army Commendation Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, and nine Army Achievement Medals. Sweeting worked in corporate America for two years after the Army, as General Manager of an electrical testing company.

Obituaries

Heber Baker

1942 - 2024

Sweeting has a Bachelor of Business Administration, Project Management degree from Liberty University. He also holds several certifications and has completed multiple leadership and technical courses. He and wife Rosemary like to travel to parks and see new things. Their goal is to visit every national park and so far, they have been to 45 of the 63.

—National Park Service

FREMONT - Ralph Heber Baker, age 81, passed away March 18, 2024, in Provo, Utah.

Heber was born December 2, 1942, in Teasdale, Utah to Alfred and Marva Williams Baker. After graduating high school, Heber attended both Utah State University and Southern Utah University. He joined the military and served in the Marine Corps. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1965. He received a Purple Heart while serving his country with top honors. He was a proud veteran.

He married Doris Taylor on November 19, 1967, in the St. George LDS Temple. Together they have three children.

Heber is survived by his wife, Doris Baker of Pleasant Grove; children, Ryan H. (Kimberly) Baker of Mapleton, Cameron R. (Elizabeth) Baker of Salem, Kara (Scot) Harris of Draper; sister, Meleta (Robert) Taylor of Orem; brother, Colten (Cami) Baker of Payson, 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Milton Baker.

Graveside services with military honors were held Monday, March 25, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. in the Fremont Cemetery. Friends called for viewing Sunday, March 24, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Olpin Family Mortuary, 494 South 300 East St. in Pleasant Grove prior to the graveside service.

A recording of services was available at www.springerturner.com under Heber’s obituary shortly after services take place. Services were under the care of Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina, Utah.

News from Wayne County The Roost

WAYNE CO. - Al-

though much has been written about that large expanse of wide open spaces north and east of Hanksville called Robbers Roost, mystique and mystery still swirls like a desert dirt devil in the minds of many that have never been there, although, it is nestled neatly within the borders of Wayne County.

Legend tells us that Robbers Roost, located along the Outlaw Trail in southeastern Utah, was known to be a popular outlaw hideout for over 30 years. Due to the difficult terrain, maze of canyons, extreme heat, and errant gunshots, The Roost was never successfully penetrated by authorities, and it was well-known that if you dared wear a badge, it was best not to go there. Butch Cassidy considered it an ideal hideout due to the many lookout points; today's tourists call them scenic overlooks. Tucked tightly in an alcove, the original Wild Bunch corral still remains in Robbers Roost, along with several stone carvings and caves where reports of stashed guns and gold lie hidden waiting to be found.

Like a sliced salami sandwich, The Roost sits between the Colorado, Green, and Dirty Devil rivers and is a savage stretch of land crisscrossed with steep-walled canyons and hidden ravines. For over 30 years, this inhospitable terrain served as a hideout for outlaws of every sort. Robbers Roost was a stronghold of the Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy's motley band of bank robbers, train stickup men, and horse and cattle rustlers.

If Barbara Ekker of Hanksville were still alive, with her hands waving and her voice peaking with excitement, she could tell you the whole of the history of The Roost over a steaming pot of coffee. And with a cup in her hand, she would convey to you in livid language that most likely The Roost received its colorful name and reputation in the 1870s when Captain Brown ran stolen horses through the area. Robbers Roost afforded hundreds of hiding spots and was difficult to navigate. A Circleville, Utah, native and grandson of a Mormon handcart pioneer named Robert Leroy Parker, better known by his alias Butch Cassidy, began using The Roost in the 1880s to hide cattle that he rustled. Rather squat and beady-eyed, Robert Leroy was born to be an outlaw.

Robbers Roost was one of several hideouts along what became

by Adus F. Dorsey II

known as the Outlaw Trail. Brown's Hole, a rugged canyon region near the junction of Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming on the Green River, was another such hideout, along with the Hole-in-the-Wall in southcentral Wyoming. The three hideouts are strung out in an approximate north-south direction and are about 200 miles apart as the crow flies. These hideouts served as temporary refuges and semipermanent Wild Bunch headquarters in the 1880s, 1890s, and early 1900s.

During prohibition, the Robbers Roost area saw one last surge of illegal activity. A number of unlawful whiskey stills were erected at springs in the clandestine canyons. Moonshine was often the only way to earn cash during the depression years. Several of the canyons in The Roost still contain evidence of the illegal stills.

Also in what is loosely considered as The Roost is Horseshoe Canyon, formerly named Barrier Canyon, which is named for the abandoned meander at its mouth on the Green River. Originating as a shallow wash near Hans Flat, it runs north by north easterly for a course of about 30 miles. Approximately 10 miles down is the tributary fork of Blue John Canyon.

The canyon isn’t impressively deep by the famed Canyonlands standards, but in some spots it requires a steady nerve and about a 700 ft. descent to arrive safely at the canyon floor. The route goes down the remains of what was originally an old stock trail put in by ranchers near the turn of the century. Also in the area is a trail known as Deadman’s Trail, aptly named, and as Ned Chaf-

fin tells it, “Uncle Johnny Armstrong told Faun that some guy, his horse fell on him and killed him there, some outlaw.” The main trail was later improved into a “road” by Phillips Petroleum back in the early days of oil exploration; it crosses the canyon and then cuts switchbacks up the far side before heading south on the Spur, following the rim of Millard Canyon to Hans Flat.

According to sources, long since passed, the trail was originally built in 1926 by local cowboys with sticks of dynamite and the promise of a meager paycheck from Phillips Petroleum. The oil company wanted the “road” so they could bring in supplies to drill a well on the other side of the canyon.

Delbert Tidwell remembers when Phillips Petroleum built the road through Horseshoe Canyon. “They built it in 1926, to get to a well they were drilling on our place. It took them about a year to build the road. We heard all the noise in the canyon one day and went over to investigate. We got into the canyon on a rope that had hung over the edge.

The folks from Philips Petroleum told us about the well they were going to drill. After the road was finished we used to drive Model As and Ts on it. With picks and shovels, my brother Leland and I used to keep it open after Phillips Petroleum left." Today, The Roost lies peaceful and tranquil, and burros, long lost relatives of the mining days, often can be seen in small groups mingling with grazing cattle. And when you least expect it, you might even catch a glimpse of a ghost of an outlaw.

Visitor Surge: Little Sahara Recreation Area is an incredible resource for outdoor enthusiasts, and we want to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. We encourage visitors to follow all rules and regulations, to respect the environment and practice safe off-road vehicle use, and we thank our partners for prioritizing visitor safety through their continued public service.

Michael Gates, BLM West Desert

Visitor Surge

Cont'd from A1

siasts, and we want to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience,” said BLM West Desert District Manager Michael Gates. “We encourage visitors to follow all rules and regulations, to respect the environment and practice safe off-road vehicle use, and we thank our partners for prioritizing visitor safety through their continued public service.”

Due to a large influx of visitors, the BLM, Juab County Sherriff’s Office, Juab County Emergency Medical Services, Juab Search and Rescue, Utah Highway Patrol, and Utah State Parks staff will be onsite. This season, visitors can stop in at the newly constructed Little Sahara Visitor Center to purchase their passes or use one of two Remote Off-Grid Kiosk (ROK) machines for purchasing permits with a credit card. “We are excited to offer the ROK machines to our visitors to help expedite their entrance into the park and enjoy America’s public lands faster,” said BLM Fillmore Field Manager Cindy Ledbetter. “Traffic lanes will be designated at the visitor center parking area for those who prepurchased passes on Recreation.gov, those paying with cash at the fee booth, and those wishing to try the new kiosks.”

Passes can be purchased on Recreation.gov, through the Recreation. gov app, or by calling the national reservation hotline at 1-877-444-6777. Passes should be printed and displayed on the vehicle dashboard. Visitors who purchase annual passes on Recreation.gov must present the QR Code at the visitor center or BLM Fillmore Field Office to get a vehicle sticker. The QR Code can also be printed and placed in the vehicle dashboard and is valid until a sticker is obtained. Vehicles displaying the current annual pass

District Manager

or pre-purchased one-night permit fee passes will be directed past the fee booth and into the recreation area. Visitors are encouraged to keep the following information in mind as well: The visitor center will extend its operating hours through the holiday weekend. The one-night permit fee is $18 per vehicle. This fee includes use of the area for two days and one night. Discounts are available for persons with disabilities and seniors. Active-duty Military visitors should provide documentation to staff at the visitor center for free access. The annual pass is $120 and can be purchased online or in-person at the visitor center or at the BLM Fillmore Field Office.

Guest Wi-Fi, called LittleSaharaGuest, is available in the visitor center parking lot for purchasing passes online.

• The recreation area provides four campgrounds for a total of 255 improved campsites with access to potable water, flush (weather permitting) and vault toilets, as well as one RV dump station. Dispersed camping is available outside of the campgrounds. Due to migrating sand, camping in the old White Sands Campground is at your own risk. No water will be available until later in the year. All visitors to Sand Mountain are required to park 20 feet away from paved roads.

• Large bonfires and wooden pallets are not permitted at Little Sahara

Recreation Area.

• Safety flags are required for all off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs). Flags will be available for sale at the visitor center and on vendor’s row.

Children under 8 years of age are not allowed to operate any OHV/UTV on public lands, roads, or trails in Utah. Children ages 8 - 15 may operate an OHV/UTV if they possess an education certificate issued by Utah State Parks or the equivalent certification from their home state.

• Individuals 16 years or older may operate an OHV/UTV if they possess either a valid driver’s license or an approved OHV education certificate. As of Jan. 1, 2023, H.B.

180 Off-road Vehicle Safety Education Bill requires any individual operating an off-highway vehicle to complete an online education course.

• Building tunnels and deep pits in the sand is dangerous and prohibited.

Little Sahara Recreation Area is located in Juab County and includes 60,000 acres of BLM-managed public land encompassing sagebrush flats, juniper-covered hills and free-moving sand dunes. The area provides premier OHV recreation opportunities and is known as “Utah’s Largest Sandbox.” Learn more about Little Sahara Recreation Area on blm.gov. —Bureau of Land Management

Adus F. Dorsey II

Legend tells us that Robbers Roost, located along the Outlaw Trail in southeastern Utah, was known to be a popular outlaw hideout for over 30 years.

Students Explore Post Graduation Opportunities at First Ever Escalante Career Fair

by Nancy Goude

Physical therapist Dr. Chad Cottam takes questions

19.

ESCALANTE - Escalante High School (EHS) students spent March 19 learning about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, hair stylist, rancher, butcher, teacher, physical therapist, family medicine practitioner and more.

The Escalante Career Fair was held at the new Escalante Elementary School from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for 9th through 12th graders, and was held the same day as the LitJam for 5th through 8th graders.

The opportunity to listen to professionals discuss the realities of what a day-in-the-life entails provided young Moquis with valuable information as they ready to consider their next steps educationally or vocationally.

The career fair opened with remarks by EHS teacher Lori Phillips and concluded with Dr. Chad Cottam sharing information about the road to becoming and being a physical therapist.

Cottam practices in Escalante, and beyond the normal work day, puts his expertise to work by being the athletic trainer for the Moquis, as well as being an assistant coach for

the track and field team.

The broad range of occupations at the fair gave students several different tracks, some requiring additional formal education at university, and others requiring hands-on learning, apprenticeships or vocational schooling.

“I thought for the first year, it went really well!” said Escalante Career Fair Coordinator Emilee Lott. When asked if the career fair would become an annual event, Lott said excitedly, “There is definitely something to build from!”

The students rotated through six sessions, and there were prizes given as incentives for participation.

Each presenter shared a three-pronged approach—if they knew in high school what they know now, how they would do high school differently or what would they focus on more, and what they know now.

The sessions featured Cayanna Robertson, Elaine Lott, Brooke Palmer, Klace Lyman, Chad Lyman, Sherree Rechtsteiner, Dirk Durfey, Lori Phillips and Cottam. All of the presenters are EHS alumnae.

Students had a chance to ask questions of each

students the ins-and-outs

ful business owner. Lott gave information and answered questions from eager students.

of the presenters, and subjects ranged from earning potential and career benefits, to what classes in high school helped them most.

“It was such a good experience. My favorite part was listening to everyone’s stories and hearing that coming from a small school doesn’t mean you can’t be successful,” said EHS junior McCall Dunton. “All of the presenters were great and helpful.”

“The best thing about the career fair was being

PHS Sports Sidelines

by Mack Oetting

Track season started right after the basketball finals and caught me napping. The latest results I have is from a meet held on the 16th at the Old Capital Invitational at Fillmore. Both the boys and girls finished 3rd against all comers at that meet. They took first in the 1A group against three other teams. Some of the outstanding runners were Tyler Cox, who took 1st in the 110M hurdles and the 300M hurdles, and, in the later race, Burkley Dalton, who took 3rd. Brooke Albrecht took 2nd in the 3000M race and 7th in the 1600. The girls took 4th in the 4x100 relay, and the boys took 5th. In the girls

200M, Oakley Woolsey took 8th. In the 4x400 relay, both the boys and girls took 3rd. In the boys High Jump, Daxton Miller took 3rd, with a 6’ leap, and Rustyn Tebbs took 8th (Rustyn’s father set the High Jump record here in Panguitch at 6’11”). In the girls Javelin, Kadee Harland took 1st, and Marci Frandsen took 6th. In the boys Javelin, Daxton Miller took 2nd and 4th in the Discus.

Most of these track meets have teams that come from all over and are of all sizes, and I will do my best to report on the results of the Bobcats' quest for more state championships.

Many thanks to Jaynie Connor for her really great reporting on the Panguitch boys and girls Basketball State Championship titles. Jaynie's parents and grandparents have owned property here forever, and she is a bright light in all that she does.

High Demand Leads to Additional Housing Options for Students on the Snow College Richfield Campus

RICHFIELD - Students attending the Snow College Richfield campus will now have another choice for on-campus housing. Following last year’s announcement of a 60-bed housing unit, the school has signed a contract that will provide housing for an additional 60 students.

able to do good things for the kids in our community,” said Lott. “I was compelled to organize this career fair to have the students experience the possibilities. The fact that you come from a rural/frontier school doesn’t have to hold you back from getting a quality education or training to lead to personal success, being a good citizen and making positive contributions to community.”

Last spring, college officials worked to partner with a local property owner to establish a multi-year building lease, allowing the school to offer student housing on the Richfield campus for the first time. The lease began in August 2023 as students returned to campus for fall semester. Managed by the college to create a traditional residence life experience, including on-site resident assistants, the housing filled up in record time. Students were grateful for the opportunity to engage in campus life including activities, events, wellness resources, tutoring, fitness facilities, and advising services.

Due to the overwhelming success and increased demand for oncampus housing, school officials worked with the property owner to acquire the additional 60-bed unit. Located at 803 W. 50 N., each apartment in the unit features a full kitchen. Students will pay $1,100 per semester for a shared room, $1,550 for a deluxe shared room, and $2,000 per semester for a private room.

Vice President of External Affairs Rob Nielson commented, “We are pleased about this new option for our Richfield students. Our campus there is seeing some exciting growth and we are thrilled to work with the local community to provide the services our students need.” To learn more about this new housing option or to apply to live there, please see snow.edu/housing/richfield.

—Snow College

Courtesy Emilee Lott

from students at the Escalante Career Fair on March

Courtesy Emilee Lott

Escalante entrepreneur Elaine Lott discusses with

of being a success-

Panguitch, Escalante, Bryce Valley Athletes Set 92 Personal Records at Meet

ST.

GEORGE

- Escalante, Panguitch and Bryce Valley track and field athletes hopped on buses and traveled to St. George on March 22-23 for the 2024 Pine View Invitational, which featured athletes from Class 1A through 6A and provided some tough competition.

The trio of Garfield County schools all had athletes in attendance at the meet and competed as teams, as well as individuals.

Competing against high-caliber competition from bigger schools fueled a banner meet for all three Garfield County teams, amassing a staggering 92 personal records by the athletes participating in the all-classes meet.

Panguitch high jumpers Casey Walter and Daxton Miller were the top finishers from the three schools, each clearing 5

by Nancy Goude

foot 10 inches to claim a share of third place. Walter’s jump is also personal record (PR) jump. Miller also earned a sixth place finish in the javelin with a heave of 157 feet 3 inches.

On the girls’ side, the Bobcats had two top ten finishers in the javelin. Lillee Torgersen claimed seventh place with a PR toss of 105 feet, and Maci Frandsen’s 104 foot throw earned her ninth place.

Clay Gray from Bryce Valley led his school with a 12th place finish in the long jump, recording a PR leap of 20 feet 6.75 inches.

Panguitch’s Tyler Cox finished 14th in the 110 hurdles and 20th in the 300 hurdles, with times of 16.13 and 42.87, respectively. Teammate Burkley Dalton finished just behind Cox in the 110 hurdles with a PR time of 16.15.

The Panguitch girls’

4x100 and 4x400 relay teams each set PRs, with the shorter relay team shaving a full 5.5 seconds off their previous best time.

The Griffin brothers led all Moquis with three PRs each. Artorious and Xander both had personal bests in the same three events—the 400 and 800 meter races, as well as the discus.

Escalante’s Rayce Jenkins had a PR performance in the long jump with a 18foot 4.5 inch hop and improved his best time in the 800 by 1.2 seconds, clocking a 2:16.7 run.

In his first season, Moqui Lonnie Barney-Lyman had PRs in the 100 by improving his previous fastest time by 3.4 seconds and in the shot put. Teammate Tyler Leavitt had PRs in the shot put and javelin, while Asa Davis had PRs in the 800 and the 300 hurdles,

and Korben Young's 17 foot 5 inch long jump earned him a PR to wind up a personal record-setting day for the Moquis.

In the girls’ competition, Taylie Carlisle had PRs in the javelin and high jump, while Kira Roberts muscled personal best throws in the shot put and discus, and teammate CC Cook tossed PRs in the shot put and javelin. Sonata Griffin had a personal record in the 200 meter race, clocking 15.51, nearly two seconds faster than her previous best. In all, Escalante athletes on the boys’ and girls’ sides of the huge meet rose to the occasion against tough competition to turn in 21 PR performances.

All three teams will continue the season by competing in St. George at the Desert Hills Invitational on March 28-29.

2024 Pine View Invitational March 22-23 Results

Girls’ Finals Results

100 – 95) Oaklee Woolsey, Panguitch 14.17; 191) Kira Platt, Bryce Valley 16.16; 185) Sonata Griffin, Escalante 15.51; 194) Sierra Cook, Escalante 16.84. 200 - 228) Sonata Griffin, Escalante 31.86. 400 - 56) Annie Yardley, Panguitch 1:04.52; 101) Oaklee Woolsey, Panguitch 1:08.23; 128) Bryn Frandsen, Panguith 1:10.7. 800 - 64) Brooke Albrecht, Panguitch 2:31.74; 66) Annie Yardley, Panguitch 2:32.05; 139) Brandi Gates, Bryce Valley, 2:45.99; 158) Paisley Henrie, Panguitch 2:49.43. 1600 - 70) Annie Yardley, Panguitch 5:30.86; 72) Brooke Albrecht, Panguitch 5:31.08; 200) Brandi Gates, Bryce Valley 6:26.82. 3200 - 95) Siri Syrett, Bryce Valley 13:16.84. 100 hurdles - 88) Chloee Orton, Panguitch 19.69; 102) Grace Tebbs, Panguitch 20.20; 104) Maci Frandsen, Panguitch 20.41; 110) Taylie Carlisle, Escalante 21.06; 113) Alexa Marshall, Panguitch 21.24; 131) Alyssa Sawyer, Panguitch 23.55. 300 hurdles - 89) Grace Tebbs, Panguitch 56.96; 94) Tayt Miller, Panguitch 57.64; 108) Alexa Marshall, Panguitch 1:02.69. 4x100 - 27) Panguitch 55.53. 4x400 - 25) Panguitch 4:40.37. Shot Put - 34) Byntlee Owens, Panguitch 30-0.5; 75) Klarity Edwards, Panguitch 26-2.5; 81) Kira Roberts, Escalante 2411.5; 85) Josslyn Griffin, Panguitch 24-4; 101) Sierra Cook, Escalante 19-0. Discus - 39) Klarity Edwards, Panguitch 76-11; 60) Brayli Frandsen, Panguitch 70-5; 62) Byntlee Owens, Panguitch 70-3; 63) Jocelyn Certonio, Panguitch 69-9; 77) Lillee Torgersen, Panguitch 63-4. Javelin - 7) Lillee Torgersen, Panguitch 105-0; 9) Maci Frandsen, Panguitch 104; 19) Josslyn Griffin, Panguitch 98-11; 23) Brayli Frandsen, Panguitch 94-7; 35) Chloee Orton, Panguitch 85-0; 43) Sonata Griffin, Escalante 80-0; 46) Maddie Albrecht, Panguitch 78-0; 51) Hailey Yardley, Panguitch 77-3; 53) Kaetlyn Poulson, Panguitch 76-8; 72) Taylie Carlisle, Escalante 62-5; 80) Sierra Cook, Escalante 55-1; 86) Madi Poulsen, Panguitch 43-1. High Jump - 29) Madi Frandsen, Panguith 4-6; 43) Kira Platt, Bryce Valley 4-2; 44) Taylie Carlisle, Escalante 4-0. Long Jump - 89) Kira Platt, Bryce Valley 13-0; 93) Sonata Griffin, Escalante 13-1.75; 114) Alexa Marshall, Panguitch 12-2; 124) Sadie Pollock, Panguitch 9-1. Boys’ Finals Results

100 - 67) Daxton Miller, Panguitch 12.12; 151) Tyler Cox, Panguitch 12.55; 186) Trent Walter, Panguitch 12.97; 195) Max Albrecht, Panguitch 13.16; 201) Lonnie Barney-Lyman, Escalante 13.23; 228) Kagen Twitchell, Bryce Valley 15:57. 400 - 92) Cameron Parkin, Panguitch 55.88; 97) Clay Gray, Bryce Valley 56.3; 120) Trent Walter, Panguitch 58.29; 141) Xander Griffin, Escalante 1:05.39; 142) Artorius Griffin, Escalante 1:09.68. 800 - 123) Rayce Jenkins, Escalante 2:16.7; 135) Josh Perez, Panguitch 2:19.59; 156) James Houston, Panguitch 2:22.7; 157) Curtis Henrie, Panguitch 2:22.89; 160) Colter Walter, Panguitch 2:23.97; 163) Mark Tebbs, Panguitch 2:25.93; 174) Xander Griffin, Escalante 2:34.96; 175) Asa Davis, Escalante 2:37.52; 176) Lincoln Henrie, Panguitch 2:41.62; 178) Jonathan Platt, Bryce Valley 2:46.5; 180) Artorius Griffin, Escalante 2:50.05. 1600 - 255) Josh Perez, Panguith 5:10.8; 283) Eli Beesley, Bryce Valley 5:38.09; 284) Taj Morse, Bryce Valley 5:38.37; 285) Jonathan Platt, Bryce Valley 5:47.57; 286) Chris Beesley, Bryce Valley 5:50.86. 3200 - 157) Taj Morse, Bryce Valley 11:47.9; 158) Eli Beesley, Bryce Valley 12:18.19; 159) Chris Beesley, Bryce Valley 12:34.93; 160) Jonathan Platt, Bryce Valley 12:40.55. 110 hurdles - 14) Tyler Cox, Panguitch 16.13; 15) Burkley Dalton, Panguitch 16.15; 22) Trentin Keele, Panguitch 17.91; 65) Caleb Cox, Panguitch 19.23; 68) Rustyn Tebbs, Panguitch 19.52; 79) Koda Bridges, Panguitch 20.73; 92) Asa Davis, Escalante 27.07. 300 Hurdles - 20) Tyler Cox, Panguitch 42.87; 31) Burkley Dalton, Panguitch 43.82; 57) Trentin Keele, Panguitch 45.77; 58) Max Albrecht, Panguitch 45.87; 83) Rustyn Tebbs, Panguitch, 48.04; 87) Shad Partridge, Panguitch 48.53; 9) Caleb Cox, Panguitch 49.22; 109) Asa Davis, Escalante 56.3; 110) Jonathan Platt, Bryce Valley 56.89. 4x100 Relay - 27) Panguitch 47.31. 4x400 Relay - 22) Panguitch 3:44.43. Shot Put - 77) Tyler Leavitt, Escalante 36-5; 100) Damien Willis, Bryce Valley 32-7.75; 123) Xander Griffin 27-7.5; 137) Lonnie Barney-Lyman, Escalante 20-7.5; 138) Artorius Griffin, Escalante 19-10. Discus - 36) Koda Bridges, Panguitch 113-5; 52) Daxton Miller, Panguitch 107-3; 72) Bridger Chappell, Panguitch 97-10; 102) Xander Griffin, Escalante 84-11; 104) Tyler Leavitt, Escalante 84-0; 121) Adrian Dalton, Escalante 78-4; 131) Maverick Albrecht, Panguitch 70-1; 137) Artorius Griffin, Escalante 66-0; 149) Damien Willis, Bryce Valley 47-3. Javelin - 6) Daxton Miller, Panguitch 157-3; 37) Cameron Parkin, Panguitch 131-6; 55) Remme Chappell, Panguitch 121-4; 63) Koda Bridges, Panguitch 115-6; 68) Brayden Frandsen, Panguitch 113-2; 94) Maverick Albrecht, Panguitch 91-2; 99) Tyler Leavitt, Escalante 85-9; 124) Lonnie Barney-Lyman, Escalante 34-9. High Jump - 3 TIE) Casey Walter, Panguitch and Daxton Miller, Panguitch 5-10; 24 TIE) Remme Chappell, Panguitch and Rayce Jenkins, Escalante 5-8; 27) Rustyn Tebbs, Panguitch 5-7; 33 TIE) Bridger Chappell, Panguitch, Korben Young, Escalante and Adrian Dalton, Escalante 5-4. Long Jump - 12) Clay Gray, Bryce Valley 20-6.75; 66) Caleb Cox, Panguitch 18-5.5; 68) Rayce Jenkins, Escalante 18-4.5; 71) Max Albrecht, Panguitch 18-1; 86) Korben Young, Escalante 17-5; 124) Kagen Twitchell, Bryce Valley 13-0.5.

LitJam: I wish they’d had an event like this when I was in school. I didn’t even know that writing was a career option.

—Grace Welker, local Escalante author

LitJam

Cont'd from A1

tive signage, writing for a wide audience, figurative language, song lyric writing, graphic artistry, writing as a way of expanding self-awareness and much more. Participating students embarked on a daylong immersive, consisting of five classes taught by local writers and professionals.

Keynote speaker, and author of seven books, Janet Sumner Johnson shared her 40 plus rejection letters that she received on her manuscript. Sumner Johnson was ready to give up, but decided to send one more round of letters, which resulted in offers from six different agents all wanting to publish her book.

“I wish they’d had an event like this when I was in school. I didn’t even know that writing was a career option,” said local author Grace Welker.

Welker did readings from her first book, Oasis Page: Teen Writing Quest, during the event. Welker’s prompts are crafted to help people express themselves, while building self-awareness and self-acceptance.

“I taught a mini-workshop called, ‘Write Yourself Down,’ about the [practice] of [having] a personal writing habit, in a journal, diary or notebook. I loved meeting the students who attended. Mainly, I wanted to share with them how important it is to get curious about themselves: what they think, know, have questions about, want, dream and notice,” said

Welker.

Munson, Peterson and Welker’s books can all be purchased on Amazon. Munson’s can be purchased at Griffin’s Grocery in Escalante and Welker’s at the Escalante Mercantile. All three authors have new books that have just been released or are due to be released shortly. The trio of authors were on hand to sign books during the public portion of the LitJam.

LitJam is made possible by a grant from the Utah State Library, as well as the generous support of many community members who volunteer to teach, judge, facilitate, and prepare along with PTA fundraising efforts.

The third installment of LitJam was the biggest yet, as nearly 140 students from across the Garfield

County School District were in attendance, many of whom wrote submissions in a range of different areas. These submissions were then judged by volunteers before the event in order to provide feedback for the young writers and help them build skills in written expression. The pre-Jam writing is designed to ignite the spark to write, and rubrics were utilized by the judges to help the writers understand how to better their works.

“I was very surprised that very few of them already write regularly. I hope that some of the young people who were at LitJam experienced a little opening in their minds about the possibilities of writing and going after their dreams, whatever they are,” said Welker.

Winter Dining Guide SkyWatcher Leo T

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

Bicknell

Torrey

Loa

Your Ad Here

by Leonard Thomas

The Big Dipper glitters high in the northeast these clear evenings, standing on its handle. Follow the curve of the Dipper’s handle out and around and arc to Arcturus, rising in the east, and then spike to blue Spica. It's still pretty low above the horizon, but once it rises, continue the curve to Corvus, the Crow, which to this skywatcher looks like a bow ready to fire an arrow straight up in the sky this time of year.

And as we enjoy looking for comets here, astronomers have discovered a fresh one zooming out there. Comet 12P/PonsBrooks zoomed in front of the Andromeda Galaxy a couple of days ago and can be seen in telescopes still. This comet racing toward Earth and into the solar system is ten and a half miles wide. It orbits the sun on a highly elliptical orbit every 71 years or so, as common as a cryovolcanic, or ice volcano, comet erupts occasionally when solar radiation cracks open its icy shell, or nucleus, allowing it to shoot out a combination of ice and gas, known as cryomagma, into space, expanding the comet’s coma—which is the cloud of gas and dust surrounding the nucleus, making the comet brighten for the next few days. During the comet's eruptions, 12P's expanded coma grew lopsided thanks to a notch in the nucleus.

Photos of the comet show it has developed a green glow, which is caused by high levels of dicarbon, which is two carbon atoms stuck together, in its coma and tail.

The comet will make its closest approach to Earth on June 2. We’ll keep you updated on how and where to find the comet, and if you have an idea of an interesting name for the comet, not official, of course, send in your suggestions via the Skywatcher Facebook page where you can view photos and sources for all episodes.

Lately,Voyager 1 has been having some communication problems. And the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has found a clue in the communication breakdown. An outlier, or sideband signal, has brought engineers and Mission Control closer to decoding this challenge. This leaves the Voyager 1 spacecraft, which is heading out at 38,000 miles an hour, unable to send usable data back to Earth.

Voyager 1 is 15 billion miles from Earth, and is so far out there, it takes 22.5 hours to receive a radio signal from Voyager 1. An alert engineer discovered the problem in the onboard,Telemetry Modulation Unit, and the JPL team is on track to resolve the problem.

Voyager 2, which followed Voyager 1 out of the

solar system in 2018, is still communicating with Earth.

It's one sky, many cultures with Susan Seddon Boulet and Pomegranate Communications' Animal Spirit Knowledge Cards

The horse is a kind, intelligent beast that has frequently been associated with great events. In the Chinese zodiac, horses are friendly, adventurous, and passionate. In Greek mythology, the winged horse Pegasus was the source of inspiration and poetry.

In a painting from Susan Seddon Boulet, titled "Age of the Avatar," it shows the magnificent horse of Ramayana. The Hindu word Avatara, meaning descent to Earth, refers to Vishnu's ability to assume an earthly form. You can see this image on the SkyWatcher Facebook page, along with sources and photos.

Keep flapping those wings and firing those thrusters. Look up, look around, and get just a bit lost in space.

Leonard Thomas has a Bachelor of Science degree in Comprehensive Broadcasting and worked as a park ranger as a star guide at Capitol Reef National Park. He is a resident of Torrey, Utah, and is the creator of the podcast SkyWatcher Leo T, which is available to listen to on Spotify.

Paint-a-Thon: Entering its 32nd year, Paint-a-Thon benefits low-income elderly, disabled, and veteran residents in communities across Utah and Idaho.

Paint-a-Thon

Cont'd from A1 of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) income guidelines, detailed on Zions Bank’s website—Zionsbank.com/paintathon —which includes the link to the nomination form. Questions may be directed to ZionsBankEvents@zionsbank.com. Nominations are due by April 15, 2024.

In addition to painting, Zions employees will provide yard clean-up, prun-

ing, mowing, planting and minor repairs as needed by homeowners. The cost for all paint and supplies is contributed by Zions Bank.

Launched in 1991, Zions Bank’s Paint-a-Thon began as a volunteer project for a dozen homes along Utah’s Wasatch Front. Over the past three decades years, Zions Bank employees have put aside summer pastimes for a week each year—volunteering in the evenings after work and on Saturday—to paint nearly 1,300 homes throughout Idaho and Utah. Not counting the dollar value of volunteer hours through the years, the bank has donated more than $1.4 million toward beautifying homes in the two states. —Zions Bank

Want to advertise your restaurant / winter hours in our "Winter Dining Guide" section?

Send inquiries to snapshot@live.com or call 435.826.4400

Signs Cont'd from A1

end of town.

Signs: Torrey Town received designation as Utah’s first International Dark Sky Community on January 12, 2018, and has now received a donation of two street signs announcing that honor to people passing through town. terested in learning more about our area’s unique night sky. Organization member Mary Bedingfieldsmith presented the new street signs to Town during the February Torrey Town Council meeting. The Council hopes to have the signs installed before the annual Torrey Apple Days celebration in July.

The signs were made possible through donations to Torrey Dark Skies, a non-profit organization with a mission to provide education related to night sky preservation, protection, and promotion. Torrey Dark Skies provides education to community members and organizations in-

—Torrey Dark Skies

Courtesy JPL | @ SkyWatcherLeoT

Illustration of NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft.

NOTICE TO WATER USERS

INVITATION FOR BID ON REAL PROPERTY PANGUITCH CITY

Panguitch City is accepting sealed bids on 11.67 acres of agricultural property located east of Panguitch.

TITLE: OLD CITY DUMP

PARCEL: 14-0064-0543

OWNER: PANGUITCH CITY

DISCRIPTION: BEG 660.00 FT N OF THE SE COR OF THE SE 1/4 OF SEC 27 T34S R5W SLB&M AND RUNNING TH N 660.00 FT; THE W 990.OO

FT; TH S42°30’00”E 712.80 FT M/L; TH S76°30’00”E 495.00 FT M/ TO THE POB CONT 11.67 AC M/L

MINIMUM BID: $28,000

BID CLOSE: 5PM APRIL 9, 2024

RETURN SEALED BID TO: Panguitch City Office

25 S. 200 E. Panguitch, UT

BY MAIL: Panguitch City PO Box 75 Panguitch, UT 84759 ATTN: Mat Houston

Bids will be opened during the Panguitch City Council meeting on April 9th at 5:30 p.m. Panguitch City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 14, 21 & 28, 2024

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LYMAN TOWN

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 14, 2024, the Mayor and Town Council of Lyman Town (the "Issuer"), adopted a resolution (the “Resolution”) declaring its intention to issue its Street Improvement Revenue Bonds (the “Bonds”) not to exceed $200,000 at interest rates not to exceed 2.0% per annum and to mature in not more than ten (10) years from its date pursuant to the Utah Local Government Bonding Act, Title 11, Chapter 14, Utah Code Annotated 1953, as amended and to call a public hearing to receive input from the public with respect to the issuance of the Bonds. The Issuer shall hold a public hearing on April 11, 2024, at the hour of 7:00 p.m. The location of the public hearing is in the Lyman Town Office, 115 South Main Street, Lyman, Utah. The purpose of the meeting is to receive input from the public with respect to the issuance of the Bonds and any potential economic impact to the private sector from the construction of the Project to be funded by the Bonds for financing the construction of street improvements, including resurfacing 100 West Street, installing improvements to West Street and repairing various intersections, together with all related work and improvements. All members of the public are invited to attend and participate.

DATED this 14th day of March, 2024.

/s/ Dortha Chappell Town Clerk

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 21 & 28, 2024

C4.

6.

Clerk’s Office or the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office: 18 S. Main Street Loa, UT 84747. Sheriff’s Office Phone: (435) 836-1308

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 PM April 5, 2024

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 Apr. 24, 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

NEW APPLICATION(S)

97-2516 (A84118): Robert Owen propose(s) using 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (Southwest of Boulder) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.

97-2517 (A84119): Shawn Owen propose(s) using 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (Southwest of Boulder) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.

97-2518 (A84120): Joshua Owen propose(s) using 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (Southwest of Boulder) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.

97-2519 (A84121): Donna Owen propose(s) using 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (Southwest of Boulder) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.

97-2520 (A84122): Kristel Owen propose(s) using 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (Southwest of Boulder) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.

CHANGE APPLICATION(S)

61-2924 (a51435): Birch and Kelly Moore propose(s) using 0.0009 cfs OR 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (6 miles from Hatch Utah) for DOMESTIC.

61-3440 (a51436): Grindstone Development, LLC propose(s) using 0.002 cfs OR 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (Southwest of Panguitch Lake) for DOMESTIC.

61-2591 (a51465): Whiskey Throttle Ventures, LLC propose(s) using 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (1 mile south of Hatch) for DOMESTIC.

61-3484 (a51466): State of Utah Board of Water Resources, Kevin A. or Laura Lynn Welchman, West Panguitch Irrigation and Reservoir Company propose(s) using 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (1 mile west of Panguitch Lake) for DOMESTIC.

EXTENSION(S)

97-2176 (a23461): C. Mark Raming is/are filing an extension for 0.75 ac-ft. from groundwater (Black Boulder Mesa Parcel #1) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.

WAYNE COUNTY NEW APPLICATION(S)

95-5521 (A84113): Troy or Brenda Brian propose(s) using 0.015 cfs OR 1.48 ac-ft. from groundwater (1.4 miles NW of Loa) for STOCKWATERING.

95-5522 (A84128): James S and Nanette Groves Anderson propose(s) using 1.312 ac-ft. from the Developed Seep Area (Torrey) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.

Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E.

State Engineer

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 28 and APRIL 4, 2024

ACCEPTING BIDS TICABOO UTILITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Ticaboo Utility Improvement District (TUID) is accepting open bids for a 2012 Fleetwood mobile home in good condition for sale or long-term rental. Bids will be accepted thru April 30, 2024. Interested parties should call or email for pictures, appraisals if the party is interested in purchase, and current market rent schedules in the town of Ticaboo for parties interested in a long-term rental. TUID has the right to negotiate and/or refuse any bid that does not meet market value. Please call the district at (435) 337-2021, or email admin@ticaboouid.com for detailed information.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 28 and APRIL 4, 11, 18 & 25, 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: CONTINUED USE AS A SAW-

MILL CHANGE REQUESTED BY: BRUCE CHAP-

PELL A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD DURING

THE PLANNING & ZONING MEETING ON: APRIL

10, 2024 @ 7:00 PM AT THE WAYNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE LEGAL DES: Approx 14.68 acres of parcel 010055-0407 / 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 MARCH 28 and APRIL 4, 2024

Full-Time or Part-Time Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Technician Trainee Bicknell

Wayne Community Health Center Pharmacy is currently seeking a Full-Time or Part-Time Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Technician Trainee for our Bicknell Location. This role entails providing assistance to the Pharmacist in prescription management and facilitating communication with physicians' offices regarding patient medications

The ideal candidate should possess strong communication skills, and must pass a comprehensive background check as well as a drug screening . Furthermore, the candidate must hold a valid and active Pharmacy Technician license in good standing with the State of Utah.

The selected individual will engage in telephonic and in-person interactions with patients to address customer service matters and respond to inquiries related to medications. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with the PioneerRx pharmacy management system are desirable. We offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package

Pharmacy Technician Trainee Responsibilities:

• Undertake duties outlined in the Pharmacy Technician job description

• Acquire and uphold a valid pharmacy technician trainee license

• Successfully complete the pharmacy technician university program

• Pass the pharmacy technician licensing examination Pharmacy Technician Job Description:

• Provide exceptional customer service and personal interactions

• Exhibit proper phone etiquette and skillful task prioritization

• Possess knowledge of the 340B Program

• Record and review patient information alongside their prescriptions

• Manage wholesale orders across multiple accounts, reconcile invoices

• Support daily pharmacy operations in collaboration with the Pharmacist

• Dispense confirmed and completed prescriptions to patients

• Manage incoming calls and address patient inquiries

• Maintain pharmacy cleanliness and adherence to regulations and protocols

• Perform daily deposits and file prescriptions appropriately Preferential familiarity with PioneerRx pharmacy management systems

• Manage insurance billing procedures

• Maintain accurate patient profiles, including demographic data, insurance details, and allergies

• Demonstrate basic computer skills

• Compensation commensurate with experience

Typical work schedule: Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Benefits package contingent upon hours worked To apply, kindly submit your resume to Zack Taylor at ztaylor@waynechc.org.

Weed Specialist

Garfield County is accepting applications for a Weed Specialist in Panguitch and Escalante. The position is part-time from April to September The successful candidate will be required to obtain Utah Commercial Pesticide Applicator License. Applications are available at the Garfield County Clerk’s Office, 55 South Main, Panguitch or at www.garfield.utah.gov and will be accepted until

5:00 PM, Friday, March 29th, 2024 Garfield County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications.

Garfield County is an equal opportunity employer.

EMS/Emergency Services Manager

Title: EMS/Emergency Services Manager

Department: EMS

FLSA Status: Full-time

Wayne County Emergency Medical Services

Manager Job Description

• Directs and coordinates the day-to-day operational activities of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department; Oversees the readiness of the EMS, seeing that the team members are trained and equipped to the State and Federal requirements;

• Assures to the best of their abilities and staff availabilities adequate staffing for all shifts and emergency response vehicles;

• Seeks grant funding under the Emergency Manager’s direction;

• Maintains adequate inventory of emergency medical supplies as required for State Certification, and conducts periodic inspection of inventory and ambulances;

Education and Experience:

A. Graduation from high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years of specialized training directly related to above duties and responsibilities provided through professional workshops or completion of a relevant associate degree;

B. Must have a minimum of three (3) years professional employment directly related to emergency medical services.

C. An equivalent combination of education and experience. Special Qualifications:

• Must pass post-employment offer physical, drug test and background examination.

• Must be willing to participate in random drug screening.

Applications can be picked up at the County Clerk’s Office and will be accepted until filled. For additional information, please contact the Wayne County Clerk’s Office at 435-836-1300. Wayne County is an equal opportunity employer.