The Robbers Roost Distillery Finally Finds a Home in Torrey

by Amiee Maxwell

TORREY - Step into Torrey’s new Robbers Roost Distillery, and you’ll likely see some familiar names on the shelf. There is Notom, Pennellen, and Box Death Hollow, to name a few, with flavor profiles as wild as the places they’re named after. Despite a path as windy as the

Join Entrada Institute for a "Classic Conversation" with Layne Jones, June 1

Waterpocket Fold itself, co-owners Julia and Alan Scott are happy to have finally landed in Torrey, so close to the landforms that have inspired many of their bold and adventurous spirits. When the Scotts were first looking to open up a micro distillery, they had

New Lees Ferry

Backcountry River Permit System

GLEN CANYON

N.R.A - Beginning June 1, 2023, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is implementing a free Lees Ferry Backcountry River Permit system for watercraft using the Glen Canyon Reach, the 16-mile stretch of the Colorado River between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry.

Courtesy Entrada Institute Layne Jones will be the subject of the next "Classic Conversation" with the Entrada Institute on June 1, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at Robbers Roost in Torrey, Utah. Robbers Roost, 185 South Main Street, in Torrey, Utah. This 1-hour conversation will include a limited live, in-person audience that will be encouraged to

TORREY - The first of the Entrada Institute’s summer "Classic Conversations" will take place on Thursday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m., when Layne Jones will be the topic of conversation. Jones and Don Gomes will converse at

According to Superintendent Michelle Kerns, “This Glen Canyon stretch of the Colorado River is experiencing increased visitation and changes in visitor use. This free river permit system will provide visitor use information to inform decisions about future management of the area and River Permits

Cont'd on A6 initially set their sights on Wayne County. They ultimately set up shop in West Valley, but they maintained a connection to the area by naming their craft distillery Waterpocket after Capitol Reef National Park’s defining feature. So when an opportunity arose for them to lease the space adjacent to

Wayne County Commission

by Amiee Maxwell

May 15, 2023

WAYNE CO. - The May 15, 2023, Wayne County Commission meeting kicked off with a prayer led by Commissioner Blackburn followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Etta Place Cider, the Scotts jumped at the opportunity to sell their spirits in Torrey and opened this spring, rebranding themselves as the Robbers Roost Distillery.

Alan says he’s taken aback by the amount of

The first item on the agenda was a discussion about ambulance billing services with Tyler Peterson, Director of Billing at Gold Cross Services. Peterson gave an overview of how ambulance billing works and presented ways that Gold Cross Billing Services can increase the county’s collection rate and revenue. Gold Cross charges 5.5% of whatever they collect and currently has 35 other clients, including Juab County, Manti, and Cedar Mountain Fire. Currently, Wayne County is in a contract with another billing provider until October, so they have some time to make a decision. Peterson left a contract for the county attorney to review.

Next, the commission reviewed a subdivision request for a 21-lot subdiviWayne Commission Cont'd on A2

Soda Shop Craze Arrives in Loa via the Soda Pipeline

by Amiee Maxwell

LOA - Utah’s dirty soda craze has officially landed in Loa adjacent the brightly colored doubledecker bus. The Soda Pipeline opened on May 13, 2023, and offers every kind not?” says Annette Elmer, who owns the shop along with her husband Mark (former owners of Double Soda Pipeline Cont'd on A2

Amiee Maxwell Annette and Mark Elmer (former owners of Double Decker Drive-In) opened the Soda Pipeline on May 13, 2023, which offers every kind of soda imaginable mixed with various syrups, fruit purees, and cream. of soda imaginable mixed with various syrups, fruit purees, and cream. “We know that there was no other soda shop like FiiZ or Sodalicious in Wayne County, so we thought why

Wayne

Commission:

Ambulance billing services, a subdivision request, use of the multi-purpose building by Ashley Flannigan, and participation of the Wayne Commission in the Torrey Apple Days Parade discussed.

Wayne Commission Cont'd from A1 sion outside of Hanksville by Curtis Whipple. Lonesome View lots will range from 1.6 to 6.2 acres for 160 acres total, and none of this land is currently being used for agriculture. The lots are outside the town of Hansville but will receive water from Hanksville. Commissioner Blackburn asked if any of this land was underwater during the 2021 flood, and Whipple said none of it was. Planning and Zoning has previously approved the project with one change; Whipple added an easement along the wash to ensure access to it for necessary maintenance. Whipple also plans on improving the wash to keep it better contained. He says this will be a substantial amount of work and could possibly be used as match money for NRCS funding. The commission passed a motion to approve the Lonesome View subdivision.

The council then discussed a few miscellaneous items. Commissioner Brian gave an update on the Interlocal Agreement with Six County Association of Governments and also mentioned that Six County may be changing its name to R6. The commission approved a Sixth District Court administrative office contract, and then discussed the multipurpose building rental rate.

Currently, Ashley Flannigan is holding a fitness class in the multi-purpose building and offered to clean the restrooms in exchange for use. The commission passed a motion that Flannigan pays $10 per use and cleans the bathroom with the stipulation that the building will only be open seasonally unless she wants to pay the heat bill.

Lastly, the commission reviewed a request to be in the Apple Days Parade. “I think we need to celebrate the 4th of July for more reasons than one,” said Commissioner Blackburn, and the rest of the commission agreed to support.

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

Soda Pipeline: We know that there was no other soda shop like FiiZ or Sodalicious in Wayne County, so we thought why not?—Annette

Elmer, co-owner of Soda Pipeline

Soda Pipeline

Cont'd from A1

Decker Drive-In).

Considering their double-decker bus came decked out with surfboard images and the name Royal Pipeline emblazoned on its side, Mark thought they should keep with the Aloha theme and named their shop the Soda Pipeline. Many of their drink names have beach themes with a local twist, such as "Surfing the Waterpocket Fold," "Elder Berry," and "Big Rocks." The Elmers are thrilled with the initial enthusiasm from the community and encourage everyone to stop by and try out one of their soda concoctions or make up their own.

The Soda Pipeline is at 193 East 300 South in Loa—Highway 24 on the east side of town. Open hours are 10 am to 6 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday. The Soda Pipeline also has homemade cookies, nachos, pretzel bites, and popcorn. Sugar-free soda and syrups are available.

Layne Jones: The first of the Entrada Institute’s summer "Classic Conversations" will take place on Thursday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m., when Layne Jones will be the topic of conversation.

Layne Jones

Cont'd from A1 ask questions and tell stories about Jones.

Jones is easily recognized. He’s a big man, wears a wide-brimmed hat, drives a red pickup truck, has a ruddy face from working outdoors, and builds fences—just about any kind of fence imaginable. There’s hardly a fence in Wayne County or in any nearby areas that he and his son haven’t built.

Many would say he’s also a “fence mender,” helping solve issues from the very personal to the potentially hostile. Jones is a big man with a big heart. Need a hand? He’s there. Need to talk? He’s there. Need a boundary dispute settled? He’s there.

Jones was raised in Oregon, son of a high school math teacher and carpenter. He has worked

Goings on...

3rd Annual Escalante Wild Potato Days Schedule; May 26 & 27

as a rancher and a cowboy and, of course, a fence builder. Jones and his wife, Helen, will celebrate their 40th anniversary this year. We’ll hear about his work in this area, but did you know…

"Classic Conversations" are produced and moderated by Don Gomes, vice president of the Entrada Institute. Gomes’ skill as an interviewer is based on the 25 years that he spent as an award-winning public broadcaster in Utah, Indiana, and Texas.

To register for this program, go to www.entradainstitute.org, click on “Events,” and then choose “Attend an Event.” Select this "Classic Conversation," and fill out the brief form. COVID protocols can be found on the Entrada website. This event will also be livestreamed at Entrada Institute on Facebook. —Entrada Institute

The 3rd annual Wild Potato Days will take place in Escalante, Utah on May 26 - 27, 2023.

ESCALANTE - Escalante Wild Potato Days—Fun, Food, Music—schedule of events:

Friday, May 26:

5:30 - 8: Magnolia’s Kitchen at Main and 300 E - serving potato-themed dinners

6 - 8: Mary Kay Holt in Concert at Magnolia’s - Outside

Saturday, May 27 - Escalante City Park Pavilion

• 9 - 12: Fun games and activities for the kids

• “Wild Potato Starts” for sale

• Vendors all day

• Harriet Priska’s “Book Signing”: “The Peoples of South Central Utah and the Land they Lived On - Volume 1: Prehistoric” Potato Recipe Contest - Contact Camille Shakespeare to enter at 826-4479.

Noon: Flag Ceremony at Veterans Memorial

1 - 3: Music by local artists and featuring Mary Kay Holt at 2 PM

Saturday, May 27 - Escalante Showhouse

• 6 PM: Potato Bar $10 - Mary Kay Holt in Concert

• 7 PM: Dr. Lisbeth Louderback - “Domestication of the Four Corners Potato: The Genetic Signature of Indigenous Peoples on the Escalante Landscape

—Escalante Wild Potato Days

Escalante Author Will Hold Book Signing at Escalante Wild Potato Days, May 27

ESCALANTE - Escalante author Harriet Priska will be having a book signing at Escalante Wild Potato Days at the City Park Pavilion on Saturday, May 27th.

The Peoples of South Central Utah and the Land they Lived On — Volume 1 - Prehistoric features Priska's paintings of pictographs, petroglyphs, pottery and ruins here in the Escalante area from the peoples who were here until abut 1250 AD, now referred to as “Muckwich.”

The 8 ½” x 11” paperback is now available at Serenidad Gallery in Escalante at 170 W. 100 S. and also on Amazon as a book, and on Kindle.

Volume 2 - Historic will be available mid-June, and it describes explorers coming into the Escalante River valley in the mid 1800s. This book features Priska's paintings, showing the homes and barns built by the pioneers in Escalante and Boulder.

—Harriet Priska

Publisher: Erica Walz

Layout & Graphic Design: Emily Leach

Reporter: Tessa Barkan

Reporter: Amiee Maxwell Reporter: Kadi Franson

Reporter: Ian Marynowski

Payroll: Trudy Stowe Local columnists: Mack Oetting - FYI Panguitch