Drug Education and Prevention Programs Help Local Communities
by Jody Boulay, Community Outreach Coordinator for Drug Rehab Services
Courtesy Jody Boulay
Jody Boulay is a mother of two with a passion for helping others. She currently works as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Addicted.org.
It seems as if every community, big or small, has been impacted by the problems associated with substance use and drug overdose. Within these communities, these problems extend into the family unit, with people becoming addicted and dying because of drugs.
However, community drug education and prevention programs can be a first line of defense. There is hope for the younger generations, as they have more access to prevention and education resources to help them make informed decisions. In addition, more information is available for parents to equip them with the tools to help their kids understand the dangers and risks associated with drugs and alcohol.
Drug education and prevention campaigns operated in different ways across Utah. For example, the Utah Board of Education collaborates with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to offer prevention campaigns.
The Utah PTA provides prevention resources for parents and runs different substance use preven-
tion campaigns yearly.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services supports community-centered, evidence-based prevention.
Prevention and education information is valuable as it contributes to preventing underage alcohol abuse and recreational drug use. This can be especially vital during Fourth of July celebrations. Binge drinking, for example, around Independence Day is typical, and it is known as one of the heaviest drinking holidays of the year. In social settings, it becomes easy to consume too much alcohol.
According to drug abuse statistics, Utah has the second-highest rate of female alcohol-related deaths and has the highest percentage of deaths due to acute causes. Roughly 10.5% of Utah adults over 18 binge drink at least once per month. Annually, there
is an average of 903 deaths in the state attributed to excessive alcohol use.
Parents play an essential role when providing drug education. They can take the initiative to create an inclusive and supportive environment with their children. This can equip them with the tools they need to make knowledgeable decisions surrounding alcohol and drug use.
Teens and adults all use drugs and alcohol for different reasons. Much of their use is linked to peer pressure, whether from peers, in a social setting, or in the case of someone they look up to who they see drinking or using drugs.
Stress is also a common factor, and alcohol or drugs seem like an easy escape from the problems of life.
Additionally, environment and family history are contributing factors. Children, for example, who grow up in households with heavy drinking and recreational drug use are more
likely to experiment with drugs. Any parents wondering what to do should consider starting the conversation about alcohol and drug use early. It is also essential to be calm, loving, and supportive. Seek out specialized resources, such as those offered by county or non-profit organizations providing prevention and education.
Additionally, parents want to focus on making it safe for their children to tell them anything and never end the conversation, keeping it going regardless of age.
Local drug education resources are here to help assist people of all ages in making knowledgeable decisions about drugs and alcohol.
Jody Boulay is a mother of two with a passion for helping others. She currently works as a Community Outreach Coordinator for DRS to help spread awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
Kaibab NF Lifts Fire Restrictions and Bill Williams Closure as of June 29
KAIBAB NF - Due to an increase in rainfall over, the Kaibab National Forest has lifted all fire restrictions and the temporary area closure on Bill Williams Mountain as of Saturday, June 29, 2024.
Fire managers continually evaluate conditions across the forest to help determine when to implement or rescind fire restrictions. The forest has received enough widespread rain to increase fuel moisture levels and decrease fire danger and the increased moisture and cooler temperatures have reduced the risk of severe fire behavior. The forecast shows these improved con-
ditions continuing.
The public should remain vigilant while visiting the forest, regardless of restriction levels. Leaving your campfire unattended is illegal all year round. Campfires must be dead out —cold to the touch—before you walk away.
Fireworks and explosives are always prohibited on National Forest lands. Forest managers consider several factors when considering fire restrictions or forest closures, including current fire danger and fire activity, local, regional, and national fire preparedness levels, expected weather conditions, availability of
firefighting resources, and the economic impacts on businesses and communities. The Kaibab National Forest continues to coordinate with federal, state, tribal and local partners. For restriction information on state and federally managed lands in AZ visit wildlandfire.az.gov/ fire-restrictions. Find restriction information for Coconino County at coconino. az.gov/2595/Fire-Restriction-Information. Information can also be found on the Kaibab NF website, X, Facebook, Flickr, or by calling the local ranger stations.
—Kaibab National Forest
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Desert Ghost’s Journey Home
by Color Country Animal Welfare
of Capitol Reef National Park,
a
dog, was finally introduced to his forever family on a chilly February day.
TORREY - In a tale of resilience and survival, a young male dog, now affectionately named Hank, lived independently on the edge of Capitol Reef National Park until he captured the hearts of locals. Without the dedication of community members, Color Country Animal Welfare (CCAW) staff located in Torrey, Utah, and patient fosters, Hank would not have found his forever home. His journey from solitude to safety is a testament to the power of compassion and community.
Before arriving at our care facility, Hank was like a ghost against the stark beauty of the park's cliffs and canyons. Due to fear, he would often vanish into the wilderness at the slightest hint of human presence. Nevertheless, a kind Hanksville resident established a routine of leaving food and water where Hank frequented. Despite her efforts, she knew Hank needed more than sustenance— he needed a safe home. She reached out to Color Country Animal Welfare, renowned for their dedication to helping animals in need. Responding swiftly, the team formulated a plan to capture Hank and bring him to safety.
We knew it would not be easy. Hank had been living on his own for so long that he was practically wild. But the groundwork laid in Hanksville prior to our arrival gave us a crucial advantage. One autumn evening after a long day's work, with local guidance, Color Country’s facility manager, Lorelei O’Day, watched as his loving volunteer caretakers, Connie and Margaret, set up a crate at Hank's feeding spot. After an anxious wait, the three women watched as Hank slowly enter the crate, lured by the scent of food. The door closed gently behind him, marking the end of his solitary journey.
Initially there was no space available at Color Country Animal Welfare, and a volunteer named Joy generously welcomed Hank as a guest in her enclosed yard. By the time he made it to Color Country Animal Welfare, Hank continued to show signs of fear. We knew the road to rehabilitation would be long, but our resolute team remained optimistic. During Hank’s first week with us, he would not let anyone near him. When we were inside gently placing food or water down, he ran outside. When we were outside, sitting patiently, waiting for him to come near, he ran inside. Staff and volunteers played this
game for weeks, but they never gave up hope that one day he would allow us to scratch behind his ears or offer a treat from our hands.
Months passed, and Hank’s confidence began to grow, thanks in large part to a kind foster family stepping up to welcome him into their home.
Sandy Borthwick, a board member and CCAW foster, reflects, “Fostering has enriched our lives in countless ways. It provided daily walks, laughter through the dogs’ antics, taught us patience, and gave us a sense of fulfillment.” During the months Hank spent with them, he shed much of his fear due to their unwavering compassion. He was now ready for adoption, but his forever family had yet to come forward.
After 139 days, a cheerful group of women walked through CCAW’s doors on a chilly February day. Luckily, Hank was visiting our facility while his foster family ran errands. The women made their way from room to room, greeting the five other rescue dogs in our care, but something about Hank caught their attention. Smitten, they decided to take Hank to their vacation home for a sleepover… just to see how it went. After signing the necessary paperwork, Hank hopped into their car with ease. Little did we know that it would end up being Hank’s last day to be con-
sidered a CCAW resident.
In the months since, we have watched Hank’s life expand in ways we never imagined possible. His owner, Meredith, even started an Instagram account for Hank to advocate for adopting animals from rescues like Color Country Animal Welfare. There, you will see the cool agility tricks she has taught Hank and funny videos of him happily sporting doggy sunglasses on trails. In March, Hank and Meredith visited CCAW, where she explained the deep bond she feels with her dog, once a lonesome desert dweller. She said, “In many ways, Hank chose me that day. There were five other women he could have bonded with the night he stayed over, but I was his safe person from the start. Now, we have each other, and I cannot imagine a world without Hank’s company.” As she shared their story, there was not a dry eye among her or CCAW staff.
Hank’s story is a poignant reminder of the difference a community can make for animals in rural Wayne County. Thanks to unwavering dedication and the efforts of community members, staff, and fosters, a once-lonely dog now has a bright future. As Hank settles into his new life, his tale continues to inspire—a beacon of hope and compassion in the heart of Capitol Reef country.
Oil & Gas Lease Sale:
On June 24, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah State Office opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on two oil and gas parcels totaling 833 acres that may be included in an upcoming lease sale in Utah.
Oil & Gas Lease Sale Cont'd from A1
ronmental analysis. BLM will use input from the public to help complete its review of each parcel and determine if leasing of these parcels conforms with all applicable laws, policies, and land use plans.
The parcels the BLM is analyzing, as well as maps and instructions on how to comment are available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at: https://eplanning. blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2030769/510.
The terms of federal fluid mineral leases will be consistent with the Fluid Minerals Leasing and Leasing Process Rule, which reflects Congressional direction from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including a 16.67 percent royalty rate for production
on any new leases. Revenues are split between the state where the drilling occurs and the U.S. Treasury.
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Before development operations can begin, an operator must submit an application for permit to drill detailing development plans. The BLM reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders.
All parcels leased for oil and gas lease include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources. Information on current and upcoming BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System. —Bureau of Land Management
Courtesy Color Country Animal Welfare
After once living independently on the edge
Hank,
young male
Wills, Trusts, and More Finding and Keeping an Estate Planning Attorney
Let’s be honest, finding and keeping an estate planning attorney may not be as important a priority to many people as finding a good hair dresser or excellent barber.
For one thing, you will likely see your hair dresser or barber a hundred times more often than your estate planning attorney. However, when it comes to the magnitude of the task, I think most will agree that chopped up hair will grow back, but a mistake in your will or trust could have a negative impact on everything you’ve worked for throughout your life.
So what should you look for in an estate planning attorney? Here are a few key points.
First, we will start with the obvious, but not always followed criteria.
You want someone that knows and is experienced in this specific area of the law. You want someone that has specific experience with the drafting of wills, trusts, and the administration of estates. The attorney should be very experienced in this area, or she should work closely with those in her firm who are experienced.
by Jeffery J. McKenna
Second, you want someone that is good at explaining and teaching estate planning concepts. You must feel comfortable asking questions. The attorney must treat you like you are his employer. It is much more difficult to ask questions if you feel like the attorney is looking down on you, as opposed to someone that appreciates your business and is grateful to serve you even when he may have many clients and a busy schedule.
Third, once you find the right attorney, how do you keep him or her? Here is a concern difficult to solve. The only thing constant in life is change. Attorneys retire and relocate. Hopefully, you selected an attorney that is part of an established firm and others in the firm will be able to take your file and continue to be there to assist you and your family.
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 conclusion, finding an estate planning attorney is an important decision. Hopefully this article is helpful to you and your family as you make this decision. Please note the free educational seminars [see Jeffery J. McKenna's bio underneath his headshot]. This is an excellent way to see first hand some of these things referenced in this article with no financial commitment.
Comics
country roads
by Lynn Griffin
Where Do Babies Come From?
A child asked his father, "How were people born?" So his father said, "Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on."
The child then went to his mother, asked her the same question, and she told him, "We were monkeys, then we evolved to become like we are now."
The child ran back to his father and said, "You lied to me!"
His father replied, "No, your mom was talking about her side of the family."
At the Dance Club
A married couple are out one night at a dance club.
There’s a guy on the dance floor giving it large: break dancing, moon walking, back flips, the works.
The wife turns to her husband and says, "See that guy? Twenty years ago he proposed to me and I turned him down."
The husband says, "Looks like he’s still celebrating!"
PUNishment
What happens to a frog's car when it breaks down? It gets toad away.
THEME: The 1910s
ACROSS
1. UPS competitor
5. Banking convenience
8. Shape with an axe
11. Arctic floater
12. Court bargain
13. Dashboard window
15. *Claude Monet's "Water Lilies," e.g.
16. Petri dish gel
17. Noble gas
18. *Post-1919 drinking establishment
20. Not hit
21. More than a scuffle
22. "That is to say"
23. Jewish village
26. One's full DNA sequence, pl.
30. Interesting person, acr.
31. Cord made from animal intestines
34. Type of tide
35. No such thing as a free one?
37. Credit card rate
38. Boatload
39. St. Louis' Gateway, e.g.
40. Cast-off skin
42. U.N. workingconditions agcy.
43. *"Unsinkable"?
45. Violent protester
47. Golfer's goal
48. Puts behind bars
50. Samoan money
52. *Armed conflict (3 words)
56. *Famous Bolshevik
57. Storm centers
58. Bob ____ of boxing world
59. Neural transmitters
60. High school breakout
Cats
Teacher: "If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven."
Teacher: "No, listen carefully...If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven." Teacher: "Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Six."
Teacher: "Good. Now if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?"
Johnny: "Seven!"
Teacher: "Johnny, where in the heck do you get seven from?!"
Johnny: "Because I've already got a freaking cat!"
Trousers
They're often described as disc-shaped
Freudian error
*Roald Amundsen's southern destination
The Muppets' street
Happy 80th Birthday
Happy 80th Birthday, Art!
Wish Art a Happy Birthday. Email your birthday wishes to: jarthurclark@gmail.com. Make his day!
What an exciting week it was, and the highlight of the week was the Olympic trials, particularly the women’s 5000M run. I hope you saw the event. Panguitch's own runner Whittni Morgan (aka Whittni Orton) was there. There were quite a few in the race, and the top three went on to the Olympics in Paris, France. I will give the people in town, who didn’t know her, some of her background in high school. Whitt won the state cross country race four times. She won over 16 gold medals in state track meets, and, with her teammates, won state track four years in a row. She was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year in her junior year and as the MVP her senior year in basketball. She went to BYU on a track scholarship, and in her senior year, won the NCAA national championship in cross country.
To put the Olympic trials in perspective, you have to qualify, time-wise, to be there. Last month in the 5000M race at the NCAA
by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com
nationals in track, the girl that won the race was so fast that she had a half lap lead over the 2nd place runner, and her time still did not qualify her for the Olympic trials.
Whitt was up with the leaders of the race, and as it went along, the lead pack pulled away from the rest of the field. The lead pack consisted of five runners, and Whitt was one. These five runners kept that pace throughout the race, which is twelve laps long. The rest of the field dropped way back, and Whitt was right there till the last lap, when three of the women pulled away. Whittni came in fifth in the race, which was almost a half lap ahead of 6th place. It was an accomplishment just to be in the race and to do so well. Thank you for all your hard work, Whitt.
The Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally was, again, another big draw to the town’s business and a fun event for all. It is a homecoming for many of the families, and many of the
motels had "no vacancy" signs up. Saturday morning was the best lift off of the balloons. There was no wind, and many of them stayed up for a long time. Oh, they look so beautiful against our blue skies. The Lions Club breakfast went really well, and they fed 530 folks. For the first time in a long time, the line was back down to the motel on Center Street. I figure our pancake flipper, Larry, and his helper put out 1,500 pancakes. We had a lot of compliments on the breakfast, and Phillip had his karaoke music and had a lot of singers taking part. The hit of the day was a little two-yearold girl that sang, and she was good. The vendors were kept really busy selling their goods. Pat and I didn’t walk downtown to see all that was going on; our walking isn’t that good right now. In the evening, we noticed that our normal balloon was not there. We got a knock at the door, and it was Judy Holt, who has had her balloon at our
place for 23 years, and she told us that she was retiring from piloting after 43 years. This was why she wasn’t at our place.
I am not putting out much about the 4th, because I covered most of it last week, and the post offices will be closed. However, be careful with the fireworks. The firefighters put on a great show with fireworks that cost plenty of money, so why spend anything on the cheap things?
All of southern Utah is in a high fire warning period, and, with all of the heat, it is only going to get worse. You can be held liable for any fires that you start, so use common sense when it comes to using them.
Tonight and Saturday will be the annual Chicken Lights and Chrome truck show. If you are in shape (and who is?), it will be the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon on July 13th, and the FYI Panguitch Cont'd on B3
USDA Invests in 11 Clean Energy Projects in Rural Utah, Including 2 in Wayne Co.
SALT LAKE CITY -
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director Michele Weaver announced on June 28, 2024, that USDA is investing $1,162,239 in eleven rural Utah clean energy projects to lower energy bills, expand access to clean energy and create jobs for Utah agricultural producers and rural small businesses. All of the projects are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis. USDA also unveiled the “Rural Energy Resource Guide” to make it easier for rural communities to identify federal funding for clean energy, including programs made possible by President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act.
“Providing Utah rural agricultural producers and small businesses with affordable ways to lower energy costs, strengthens Utah’s energy independence and economy.” Weaver said. “USDA and the Biden Administration are excited to offer programs that reduce the impacts of inflation and climate change.”
Projects include:
• In Wayne CountyCactus Hill Ranch Motel, LLC will use a $20,000 grant towards the purchase and installation of a 5.84 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) roof mounted system on their property in Teasdale, Utah. The PV system is expected to save this business $732 annually and produce 9,554 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually. The system was designed to displace 104 percent of the historic annual electric demand and account for the anticipated growth of the business.
• In Wayne CountyJackson Excavation Inc. in Bicknell will utilize a $47,381 grant to purchase and install a 20.44-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) roof mounted system. The PV system is expected to save this business $4,349 annually and designed to displace 109 percent of the historic annual electric demand and enable anticipated business expansion.
• In Sanpete CountyShalan's Enterprises, Inc. in Moroni is a small rural walk-up restaurant. Their business will receive a $20,000 grant to purchase and install a 9.49-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) roof mounted system. The restaurant expects to replace 23 percent of their annual electric use with the PVsystem.
The projects announced advance President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up. They will create jobs and spur economic growth in rural communities through clean energy projects that lower energy costs for agriculture producers and rural small businesses and families.
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged
communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Background: REAP
The REAP program helps agricultural producers and rural small business owners expand their use of wind, solar, geothermal and small hydropower energy and make energy efficiency improvements. These innovations help them increase their income, grow their businesses, address climate change and lower energy costs for American families.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has invested more than $9.7 million in Utah through REAP in 129 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will help rural business owners lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen their resiliency of operations.
USDA continues to accept REAP applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. The funding includes a dedicated portion for underutilized renewable energy technologies. For additional information, contact Utah Energy Coordinator Landon Mayer landon.mayer@ usda.gov.
A complete list of all eleven Utah REAP projects can be found online at rd.usda.gov.
Background: Rural Energy Resource Guide
Also on June 28, USDA also unveiled the “Rural Energy Resource Guide” which will make it easier for rural communities to identify federal funding for clean energy, including programs made possible by President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act.
The guide showcases USDA Rural Development programs that are helping individuals and organizations finance renewable energy systems and infrastructure across rural America. Programs featured in the guide offer funding to:
• Make energy-efficient home repairs.
• Finance small- or large-
scale energy infrastructure.
• Fund energy efficiency equipment for business and industry.
• Generate emergency energy in rural areas.
• Produce clean energy from sources such as biobased materials.
The Rural Energy Resource Guide also includes stories from Rural Development customers on ways USDA programs and services have helped them meet their clean energy needs.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page at public. govdelivery.com.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
Lyle Talbot: I was just gonna work it for two years and retire at 65. So I hired on for two years and stayed on for nine more—you don’t do that because you hate the job. I’ve loved it. I never had a job because I wanted the job and not because I needed it to raise a family. But this job…it’s the kind of job you could just do and love the whole time.
—Lyle Talbot
Lyle Talbot, Garfield County’s bookmobile driver and librarian, in front of what is known as the MultiCounty Bookmobile. Talbot retired on June 27, 2024, after driving the bookmobile for eleven and a half years.
“Lyle, it’s been a pleasure, these last eleven years!”
“Yes it has,” he said. “Eleven and a half. It’s my last day.”
Thursday, June 27, 2024, was Lyle Talbot’s final day driving what’s known as the MultiCounty Bookmobile, covering Garfield and Kane coun-
ties. And the Escalante City office was his final stop for the day. By the time Talbot started his career as the bookmobile driver, he’d already retired from a full 40plus years of driving truck. He drove for Yellow Freight and Consolidated Freightways throughout Utah before retiring at 57 to serve on a three-year mission with his wife, Katheryn, in Iowa.
Obituaries
Claudia S. Cook
1941 - 2024
TORREY - Our beloved mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and friend, Claudia Michele Springer Cook, age 84, of Torrey, passed away June 29, 2024, in Nephi. She was born January 4, 1941, in Salt Lake City, a daughter of Johannes Dirk and Adeline Florence Hardy Springer. She grew up in Richfield. She loved her horse, Sandy, and enjoyed riding all around the town. She enjoyed the summertime when her family would go back to Montana to the family ranch in Fort Benton. She graduated from Richfield High School, Class of 1959.
Claudia met and married Norris Mott Cook from Torrey on August 26, 1960. To this union were born two children, Shane and Janna. They lived in Emery County, Garfield County, and then Utah County for 23 years, raising their family and working. After retirement, they moved home to Wayne County in 1994 where she has lived ever since. Norris preceded her in death February 14, 2019.
Claudia is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she taught Primary and loved the little children.
She was a member of the Red View Riders Riding Club in Richfield and was one of the founders of the Outlaws Riding Club in Payson. She loved horses and enjoyed riding them.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Sandstone Nursing Home of Nephi and IHC Hospice for their tender care of our Mom.
Claudia is survived by a daughter, Janna Taylor of Richfield; 6 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Norris Cook; her parents, Joe and Adeline Springer; a son, Shane Cook, who passed away April 1, 2024; grandsons, Baby Taylor and Daniel Jay Cook; great-grandchildren: Taizlee Taylor and Wade Taylor; and her siblings: Cherry Eastmond and Joe H. Springer.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, July 5, 2024, at 12 Noon in the Torrey Cemetery. Friends may call for viewing at the Torrey LDS Ward Chapel Friday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 prior to the services.
Live streaming of the services can be found at: www. springerturner.com under Claudia’s obituary.
Burial will be in the Torrey Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.
Online guest book at: www.springerturner.com
He returned home to drive a few more years for Barney Trucking, hauling coal from Alton out to Delta.
“Then this came up,” said Talbot, of the bookmobile job opening. “I was just gonna work it for two years and retire at 65. So I hired on for two years and stayed on for nine more— you don’t do that because you hate the job. I’ve loved it. I never had a job because I wanted the job and not because I needed it to raise a family. But this job…it’s the kind of job you could just do and love the whole time.”
Driving the bookmobile is not without its rigors. A two-week alternating schedule—one week in Kane, the other in Garfield—involves two and three driving days per week, at 11-12 hours per driving day. The Kane County leg includes driving all the
way to Big Water, with an overnight stay in Kanab on the way home before visiting Mt. Carmel, Glendale and Alton. Stops include elementary and high schools, churches, and town offices and parks.
For communities and schools along the route, the bookmobile—and Talbot’s special care in servicing many different reading styles and needs—has become a mainstay.
“It was a real privilege to collaborate with him and for him to provide things that were interesting to students. He was always willing to fill the bookmobile with books that aligned with what we were teaching,” said Elizabeth Julian, head teacher at Boulder Elementary School. “The kids really loved him, and they looked forward to seeing him; he’s been a part of their
reading journey.” Julian explained that Talbot’s been much more than a driver, but more an active part of Boulder Elementary’s reading program. “He was always willing to partner with the small schools, recognizing that he had a much bigger book budget than we did.” If Julian had particular books she wanted for a curriculum, Talbot would make sure they were available. “He’d let us have them for the six weeks of our reading initiative, and then they would go in circulation across the county,” said Julian.
Many small local libraries, such as Boulder’s, are not linked up to the state interlibrary system, but the bookmobile can get just about any book through interlibrary loan. “I’ve enjoyed on a personal level being able to obtain the book I want,” said Julian. “He can always get it on interlibrary loan, whether it’s in Utah or California. He always finds the book for you.”
Despite loving his job, Talbot said he’s ready for the change, and even though he has a brand-new bookmobile, acquired this past March, he’s ready to join his wife, Katheryn, who had worked as Panguitch City’s librarian, in retirement.
Acquisition of the new bookmobile—which had been on order since 2020— was precipitated by a day of driving excitement that Talbot still scratches his head over. Last February, while navigating through a snowstorm, the bookmobile slid off of Highway 12 near Cannonville, twisting the rear axle.
“I’d come all the way from Panguitch, through Red Canyon, on the top of Bryce, down the Dump, and it was snowing and no plows had been there, and I don’t know…I made the turn, and I was going just
fine, and then it just started edging over,” he said. The bookmobile ended up in some eightfoot-high sage. “I was OK. I had my seatbelt on. But every one of the books fell off the shelf.”
Talbot says his mind keeps reverting to the incident over and over. “I never had an accident on the road my whole life, and I was a truck driver for 50 years, it should never have happened, and it did.” But he said the good part about it was that the new bookmobile that had already been on order for four years—to replace the 17year old model he’d been driving that was 20,000 miles overdue for retirement—came to the front of the line and was delivered right away.
But that moment is probably not what will stick in Talbot’s mind over time. Rather, it will likely be what he considers the best part of the job.
“People, oh my gosh, people. You don’t have any bad people come on the bookmobile. At least not while they’re here are they bad,” said Talbot, with a twinkle. “They’re just the most amazing people, I mean, the kids are phenomenal. I don’t get to have ‘em for six hours a day but I get ‘em for ten minutes and that’s probably just about right. But, goll, they’re excited. They love books. And I was surprised how much they want information books, too. Not just fiction, you know, stories and stuff like that. These little kids, their little minds are working, they want information on a lot of things.”
“There was no work involved in it,” he says, of the job. “It was just fun and good people and providing a service. Yeah, I was blessed.”
Lyle Talbot Cont'd from A1
Out & About for the Summer
2024 Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally
by Jaynie Connor
Keeping Utah Forever Mighty This Summer Through Responsible Recreation
UTAH - As the weather continues to warm up, many Utah residents and visitors will head out in search of a great way to enjoy the summer in Utah’s great outdoors.
The Utah Office of Tourism (UOT) is reminding all to keep Utah Forever Mighty® and take pride in their outdoor recreation settings through responsible recreation.
To ensure our state remains Forever Mighty® through the summer and beyond, here are some responsible recreation tips:
• Know before you go. Plan ahead, and research your destination.
• Follow the Leave No Trace principles as you recreate. Plan to pack out your trash. Use restrooms or wag bags. Prepare for your trip with adequate supplies: water, sun protection, clothing, and gear.
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces. Be sure to bring the proper footwear.
• Dispose of waste properly. Pack it in and pack it out.
• Leave what you find. Leave pottery or other artifacts you may find untouched. (Removal is a violation of federal law.)
• Minimize campfire impact with small fires. Use only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. Respect wildlife. Observe from a distance and never feed wild animals. Be considerate of others. Avoid loud noises and be courteous to others and their experience in the outdoors.
• Use Fire Sense. Do ev-
Star Party:
erything you can to prevent human-caused wildfires. This includes preventing your vehicle from overheating, not parking on dry vegetation, and ensuring that chains and brakes do not cause sparks. If you do make a campfire, build it in a contained space and douse it with water completely before leaving. Arrive at popular recreation sites during lessvisited times. Act and recreate respectfully. Travel on designated trails and motorized routes. Be mindful of monsoon season in July, August, and September. Flash flooding is especially dangerous in southern Utah's slick rocks and slot canyon areas.
• Respect the restrictions in state and national parks intended for public safety and the protection of our environment.
• Go with a guide. In Utah, if you can dream it, you can probably find a guide for it. It is also suggested that residents and visitors alike support small businesses such as restaurants, hotels, guides, and local retailers. The tourism economy is an essential part of Utah’s economic health and provides a livelihood for many Utahns and their families. We would greatly appreciate your help in keeping Utah Forever Mighty® in any related state travel or outdoor recreation stories or segments. Awareness can go a long way. —Utah Office of Tourism
The next Torrey Dark Skies Star Party will be held at the Torrey City Park on Friday, July 5, 2024, as part of Apple Days.
Star Party Cont'd from A1
Dark Skies will have a solar scope at the City Park and an information desk. Sign up for additional information and learn how important and valuable night skies are and how you can help.
Finally, mark your calendars for the 2024 Heritage Starfest to be held on September 27 and 28, 2024. Hosted by Capitol
Reef National Park and the Entrada Institute, activities are free and take place both in Capitol Reef National Park and in the nearby town of Torrey. Check in for updates for programs offered as they become available. For more information, contact www.entradainstitute.org, www.nps. gov/care, and www.torreydarkskies.org.
—Torrey Dark Skies
Courtesy Barb Walkush
Gary Pankow and the 2024 Capitol Reef National Park and Entrada Dark Skies Intern Athens Boyle with a Meade Schmidt Telescope at the Torrey Dark Skies Star Party on June 7, 2024.
Courtesy Jim King
The 2024 Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally kicked off with a morning balloon ascension on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Courtesy Sarah Hall
The skies and the streets of Panguitch were filled this last weekend with over 35 hot air balloons. Hundreds came to celebrate the 25th year of the Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally and to participate in the festivities. Along with the 35 balloon pilots and their crews came food trucks, vendors, spectators, live bands, bingo at the Panguitch Social Hall, kids inflatables and more.
Courtesy Kailee Phillips
Erin Hardy attending a free bingo event at the Panguitch Social Hall during the 2024 Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally on Saturday, June 29.
Courtesy Nalin Heinrich
Aerial view from a Saturday morning, June 29, balloon flight during the 2024 Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally.
Courtesy Maiyah Grant
Balloon lands next to the historic Ira W. Hatch home on Center Street in Panguitch during the Saturday morning balloon ascension of the 2024 Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally. The 2024 Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally took place last weekend from June 2830.
Michael McConnell: Michael William McConnell is an American jurist who served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit from 2002 to 2009. Since 2009, McConnell has been a professor and Director of the Stanford Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law School. He is also a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. On July 11 at 7:00 p.m., McConnell will engage with Don Gomes in a "Classic Conversation" at Robbers Roost, 185 West Main Street in Torrey.
Michael McConnell Cont'd from A1
lished The President Who Would Not Be King: Executive Power under the Constitution. Most recently, he published Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience (Inalienable Rights).
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. If you haven’t participated in any of the previous "Classic
Fire Restrictions:
Conversations," you are in for a treat. To attend this program, go to www.entradainstitute.org, click on “Attend an Event,” select this event, choose “Event Registration,” and “Register.” Events are also livestreamed at Entrada Institute on Facebook. —Entrada Institute
As of June 24, 2024, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is implementing fire restrictions that will remain in effect until further notice.
Fire Restrictions Cont'd from A1
to Lees Ferry), only in areas devoid of vegetation. Devices fueled by petroleum or LPG products are allowed in all locations.
• Outdoor smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or a developed
recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material down to mineral soil.
Discharge or use of any kind of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices.
The following persons are exempt from the order:
• Those persons with a permit authorizing the otherwise prohibited act, or in those areas authorized by written posted notice in the area of operation. Permits may be obtained from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
• Any federal, state, or lo-
cal officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
Similar restrictions may exist on neighboring public lands. Please check the specific fire restrictions with the respective land management agency before visiting.
Please continue to take precautions and practice fire safety all year. Remember:
• Carry a shovel, water, a bucket, or a fire extinguisher when working or camping on public lands.
• Always drown and stir campfires to ensure they are completely out before leaving camp. Keep vehicles in good working order, stay on designated roads and trails to avoid igniting dry vegetation with hot exhaust, and keep all chains and straps secured so they don’t drag on the ground and cause sparks.
Visitors should recreate responsibly and use extra caution while recreating on public lands when fire danger is increased.
—National Park Service
Courtesy National Park Service
Always drown and stir campfires to ensure they are completely out before leaving camp.
race ends in Cannonville, thirteen miles later. On the 11th to the 13th, it will be the Old Skool Panguitch Motorcycle Rally. For some unknown reason, we are celebrating our only state holiday on Saturday the 27th, instead of on the 24th like everyone else. However,, all of the banks, city offices, and county offices will be closed on the real holiday, the 24th.
I found this interesting article in one of my news magazines. The fertility rate is falling sharply in the U.S. and elsewhere, which is a trend with major economic and social consequences. The trend has surprised demographers, many of whom have spent years worrying about an overcrowded planet. As recently as 2017, the U.N was predicting that the world population of about eight billion would climb to eleven billion by 2100. Now, it is predicted that the population would peak at 9.5 billion by 2065, and then start sinking. In the U.S., the birth rate stands at 1.62, down from 2.12 in 2007. In Europe, the average birth rate is now 1.5; in East Asia, it is 1.2; and in Latin America, it is 1.9.
Why this is a worry is because a shrinking population means that more jobs will go unfilled, economic growth will slow, and programs like Social Security will suffer because it depends on the working aged to pay in and support the growing ranks of the elderly. To-
day, the world richest economies have three people of working age supporting one retired person.
It is suspected that both men and women are choosing to prioritize career development, leisure, and relationships outside of the home and that this will more than likely come in conflict with childbearing.
China’s population is really dropping, down 850,000 people to 1.4 billion in 2022. Last year, it again dipped by two million, due to the record low births. In the 70s, the government established a rule of one child per family, and now the population feels that one child is a cultural ideal. They dropped the one child in 2015, but the birth rate hasn’t changed any. Adults, who were only children themselves and enjoyed their parents undivided attention, want their offspring to have a similar upbringing.
Governments are trying to increase the birth rates, but nothing seems to work. Japan has experimented with childcare subsidies and stipends since the 1990s. It did increase the birthrate to 1.45 from 1.2 in 2005, but it is back to 1.26 in 2023. South Korea has invested more than $270 billion in fertility initiatives since 2006, but their birthrate keeps declining. I don’t think Utah has much of a problem with the shrinking birthrate, with many of our local families having four or five kids, and they are all keepers..
My life is really moving along; the year is now half over.
Mack O.
Legal Notices
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
LYMAN TOWN
Lyman Town will hold a Public Hearing for the purpose of adopting:
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A TAX ON THE GROSS RECEIPTS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS; SETTING THE RATE FOR SUCH TAX; AND ESTABLISHING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE TAX.
Lyman Town will also adopt the proposed fee schedule:
Lyman Town Fee Schedule 2024 Cemetery: Burial plot (4 graves)
Lyman Town Residents - $400.00 or $100.00 per grave
• Non-Residents - $2000.00 or $500.00 per grave Opening & Closing grave Lyman Town Residents - $250.00 Non-Residents - $500.00 Business License - $15.00 annual Short Term Rental - $200.00 annual Park Reservation - $150.00 Refundable Cleaning deposit - $50.00
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 4 & 11, 2024
GARFIELD COUNTY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS
Garfield County is seeking a qualified engineer to perform construction inspections on 3 bridges in the Dixie National Forest. The work will be conducted in Garfield County.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, information on the Request for Proposals can be obtained from Garfield County Public Works Department, 55 South Main, Panguitch, Utah 84759, Telephone (435) 238-0935, Email: dave.dodds@garfield.utah.gov. The proposal submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on July 5, 2024.
The County reserves the right to accept and/or reject any and all proposals.
Garfield County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Dated this June 18, 2024
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JUNE 27 and JULY 4, 2024
ANNOUNCEMENT OF APPOINTMENT AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Case No. 243600002
IN THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT WAYNE COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF STANIE
ANN TODD A/K/A STANIE A. TODD A/K/A STANIE TODD, a deceased person. Nancy Myrl Todd, whose address is c/o Jennifer E. Decker of Fabian VanCott, 95 South State Street, Suite 2300, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 has been appointed personal representative of the aboveentitled estate. Creditors of the estate are hereby notified to: (1) deliver or mail their written claims to the personal representative at Nancy Myrl Todd, c/o Jennifer E. Decker of Fabian VanCott, 95 South State Street, Suite 2300, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111; (2) deliver or mail their written claims to the personal representative’s attorneys of record, Jennifer E. Decker of Fabian VanCott, 95 South State Street, Suite 2300, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111; or (3) file their written claims with the Clerk of the Court of Wayne County, 18 S. Main, P.O. Box 18, Loa, UT 84747-0189, or otherwise present their claims as required by Utah law within three months after the date of the first publication of this notice or be forever barred.
DATED: June 12, 2024 FABIAN VANCOTT
/s/ Jennifer E. Decker
Jennifer E. Decker
Attorneys for Personal Representative
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JUNE 20 & 27 and JULY 4, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
LYMAN TOWN
LYMAN TOWN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS 2024
SECTION 00 11 13
Lyman Town (Owner) is requesting Bids for the construction of the following Project: Lyman Town Roads 13010
Bids for the construction of the Project will be received on July 11th at 2:00 PM via quest cdn online bidding network.
The Project includes the following Work: This project will include approximately 1,200 tons of Hot Mix Asphalt, overlay, along with associated milling and patching. Also included is grading and installation of approximately 310 cubic yards of untreaded basecourse. Bids are requested for the following Contract: Lyman Town Roads Improvements 2024
Obtaining the Bidding Documents Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at the following designated website: https:// www.ensignutah.com/bid-access/ or www.questcdn. com
Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the designated website. Prospective Bidders are urged to register with the designated website as a plan holder, even if Bidding Documents are obtained from a plan room or source other than the designated website in either electronic or paper format. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the designated website. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the designated website.
The Issuing Office for the Bidding Documents is:
Ensign Engineering and Land Surveying
225 North 100 East Richfield, Utah 84701
Printed copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office by paying a deposit of $100 for each set, no part of which will be refunded. Make deposit checks for Bidding Documents payable to Ensign Engineering and Land Surveying.
Pre-bid Conference
A pre-bid conference for this project will not be held Questions
All questions should be directed in writing via quest CDN. In interest of a fair bidding process, verbal questions will not be accepted. The last day for questions shall be July 3rd at 1:00 PM.
Instructions to Bidders.
For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.
This Advertisement is issued by:
Owner: Lyman Town
By:
Burke Torgerson
Title: Mayor
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JUNE 27 and JULY 4, 2024
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
TORREY TOWN
Property located at 125 East 100 North, Torrey, Utah 84775.
Torrey Town is seeking competitive proposals for qualified individuals interested in the purchase and removal of a manufactured home from this address. Proposal submissions will be accepted until August 2, 2024. Inspection will be allowed on July 18th between the hours of 10:00 AM and noon. Inquiries should be directed to: Pat@torreyutah.gov or Dustin@torreyutah.gov.
Instructions for proposal submission: Please submit one electronic copy of your proposal to pat@torreyyutah.gov. All submissions must be received no later than end of business on Friday, August 2nd.
Proposal shall be clearly labeled” PROPOSAL FOR MANUFACTURED HOME”.
Notification of acceptance or rejection of the proposal will be made no later than August 16.
Torrey Town reserves the right to accept or reject any and or all bids.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JUNE 27 and JULY 4 & 11, 2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
BICKNELL PLANNING COMMISSION
Public Notice is hereby given that the Bicknell Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on July 16, 2024, at 6:45 p.m. at the Town Hall in Bicknell, for the purpose of accepting comments concerning the proposed amendment to the annexation territory expansion map.
Kelsey Brinkerhoff, Town Clerk
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 4 & 11, 2024
COMMISSION VACANCY
LOA TOWN PLANNING & ZONING
Loa Town P/Z Commission is seeking to fill one vacancy. If you are interested in joining this great group of people and serving your community, please contact Michelle Brian or Jeanette Taylor at 435-836-2160 for more details.
Or you may stop in the Loa Town Hall at 80 W. Center Loa between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. You must be a resident of Loa to apply for this position.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 4, 11 & 18, 2024
MEETING DATE CHANGE FOR JULY 2024
LOA TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION
Loa Town Planning Commission meeting set for Thursday, July 4, 2024, will be held on Monday, July 8, 2024 instead due the holiday.
All meetings are held at 6 p.m. at Loa Town Hall, 80 W. Center. If you need more information or need to be on the agenda, please contact Michelle Brian or Jeanette Taylor at 435-836-2160 by Friday, July 5, 2024, before 5 p.m.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 4, 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 Jul. 31, 2024 either electronically using the Division`s on-line Protest of Application form, by hand delivery to a Division office, or by mail at PO Box 146300, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6300. Please visit waterrights.utah.gov or call (801)538-7240 for additional information.
GARFIELD COUNTY
CHANGE APPLICATION(S)
61-3503 (a51820): Family Trust of The George R. Aiken Jr. and Donna M. Aiken Revocable Trust propose(s) using 0.5 ac-ft. from groundwater (9 miles SE of Hatch) for DOMESTIC.
61-3507 (a51837): Jared Fisher propose(s) using 0.003 cfs OR 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (7.5 miles east of Hatch) for DOMESTIC. Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E. State Engineer
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 4 & 11, 2024
Meal Program: I've always been passionate about helping children in our community, so when we discovered a need for a summer food program this year, Verlaine and I decided to take action. It took months of research and calls, but we found a way to bring this program to our area.
—Tracy Wright, Panguitch City Councilwoman
City Councilwoman Tracy Wright and Darlene Albert. Wright and Panguitch Children’s Librarian Verlaine Spencer spearheaded the work to implement a new free summer meals program, which is available to all Garfield County students under the age of eighteen. The Panguitch distribution location is the Panguitch City Library on Thursdays from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. (except for the 4th of July).
the work to implement the program across the county and distribution began on June 6th and will last ten weeks, coming to an end on August 1st. Pick-up locations are the Panguitch City Library, the Bryce Canyon City Fire Department, and Escalante City Park.
The Utah Food Bank provided close to 500,000 meals to students in 2023. Need for summer meals in rural areas is based on data they receive from the free and reduced lunch programs that run during the school year—according to the Food Bank’s requirements, 50% of the children in an area have to be eligible for the free and reduced lunch programs
to also be eligible for the summer meals program, which is the case for Garfield County. This is a federally-funded reimbursement program through the Utah Food Bank’s Summer Food Service Program. Each child will receive a multi-day kit for the week containing seven non-perishable lunches and seven breakfasts, including milk. The goal of a summersupplied program like this is to provide children with the kind of nutrition that grows healthy, resilient bodies and minds. It also helps fill the nutrition gap that can exist during out-ofschool months for many of the children in the area who rely on the school food program.
Wright and Spencer have put in months of work, along with countless vol-
unteers. “I've always been passionate about helping children in our community, so when we discovered a need for a summer food program this year, Verlaine and I decided to take action. It took months of research and calls, but we found a way to bring this program to our area,” said Wright. There are three distribution sites in Garfield County:
• Escalante: Escalante City Park, 75 N. Center, Mondays 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Contact Melanie Torgersen.
Bryce Canyon City: Bryce Canyon City Fire Department Building A, 70 W. 100 N., Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Contact Hayley Pollock.
• Panguitch: Panguitch City Library, 25 S. 200 E., Thursdays 4:005:30 p.m. (except for the 4th of July). Contact Tracy Wright. Children must be present to pick up the box. The program is available to children 18 years old or younger, or those students who are disabled adults still attending school in Garfield County. Boxes are available on a first come, first serve basis. Parents may not consume or share any part of the child’s meal.
If you are interested in volunteering at one of these distribution sites, feel free to get in touch with the corresponding contact.
“I am grateful for the impact this program has, and hopeful we can expand to more towns in our county,” Wright stated. “We all appreciate the volunteers in our areas. Whether it be moving the boxes from storage to the distribution sites, or helping parents take boxes to their vehicles. We are always looking for help.”
Community Action Agencies Celebrate 60 Years, Renew Calls to Battle Poverty
by Alex Gonzalez | Utah News Connection
Community Action
ble individuals through six core programs.
UTAH - Community action agencies in Utah and across the nation are celebrating 60 years of battling poverty and empowering communities, which started with the signing of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
Jennifer Godfrey, CEO of Utah Community Action, said there are a total of nine community action agencies in the Beehive State, with each one aiming to help Utahns in their own unique way. She added all nine organizations have the ability to provide services that can change people's lives.
"Not only is it incredibly humbling to be a part of that work, but it is also such an honor to be work-
ing with these individuals who are experiencing poverty," Godfrey noted. "Because everybody deserves a second chance from time to time."
Godfrey pointed out people who experience poverty are not a monolith, because poverty is a complex issue and there is not a single reason behind it for many people. In Utah, Native Americans experience the highest rate of poverty at just above 27%.
Utah has been a leader when it relates to volunteerism, and Godfrey encourages Utahns to continue strengthening its standing year-round by contacting their local action agency to help.
Utah's poverty rate is
just below 9%, which sits below the national average of around 12%.
Godfrey stressed new challenges like increasing food, medical and housing costs are taking a toll on Utah residents. She added most people don't realize how many Utahns are actually living on the edge.
"In some instances, many instances in fact, the vast majority of individuals are one paycheck away from having a crisis," Godfrey asserted.
Regardless of the situation, Godfrey emphasized her organization is there to help, as action agencies are designed to be nimble to the needs of their respective communities.
Courtesy Clay Meldrum
Panguitch
C lassified a ds
Full-time Dentist
Escalante | Bicknell
Position: Full-time
Dentist
Location: Bicknell, UT / Escalante, UT Company: Wayne Community Health Center, Inc
About us: Wayne Community Health Center is a reputable dental clinic committed to providing high-quality oral healthcare services to our community. We strive for excellence in patient care, utilizing the latest technology and techniques to ensure optimal dental health and satisfaction. Bicknell, UT is situated in a picturesque valley surrounded by the stunning red rock formations and expansive desert landscapes characteristic of southern Utah. It is located along Utah State Route 24, providing convenient access to nearby national parks and outdoor recreational areas. The landscape surrounding our clinic is nothing short of spectacular, with towering sandstone cliffs, colorful rock formations, and wide-open vistas stretching as far as the eye can see. We enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and mesas, providing ample opportunities for outdoor exploration and photography. Escalante, UT is a small town nestled in the heart of southern Utah, surrounded by stunning red rock landscapes and rugged wilderness. Located within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, it's a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers seeking to explore the natural wonders of the region. Whether you're an avid hiker, a nature photographer, or simply someone seeking solitude in the wilderness, Bicknell and Escalante provide a gateway to unforgettable adventures in one of the most beautiful and unspoiled corners of the United States.
Job Description: We are seeking a skilled and compassionate dentist to join our team, willing to relocate to our service area. The ideal candidate will be dedicated to providing exceptional patient care and possess excellent clinical skills. This position offers the opportunity to work in a facility alongside a supportive team of dental professionals.
Responsibilities:
• Perform routine dental procedures such as cleanings, fillings, extractions, and root canals
• Diagnose and treat dental issues in a timely and efficient manner
• Educate patients on proper oral hygiene techniques and preventive dental care
• Collaborate with other members of the dental team to ensure the best possible patient outcomes
• Maintain accurate patient records and uphold high standards of confidentiality
• Stay updated on advancements in dentistry and participate in continuing education opportunities
Requirements:
• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited dental school
• Valid state dental license in good standing
• Proven experience in general dentistry, preferably in a clinical setting
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Dedication to providing compassionate care and building lasting relationships with patients Benefits:
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life insurance, retirement savings plan, with a 5% match, and paid time off
• Disability insurance 50% covered
• Malpractice insurance covered
• Licensure and credentialing are covered
• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education offered
• Supportive work environment with a focus on work-life balance
How to apply:
If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your resume and cover letter to AmberLee Ellett, aellett@waynechc.org . Wayne Community Health Center, inc is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Position Announcements
POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Garfield County School District is hiring for the following positions. For the application process and description of each, please see the district website www.garfk12.org
SpEd Director/SpEd Teacher at Bryce Valley High
Half-Time Science Teacher at Escalante High
Concurrent Enrollment/Ed-Net Para at Panguitch High
Head Teacher at Boulder Elementary School
Teacher at Boulder Elementary School
Full-Time Classified Position at Boulder Elementary
Substitute/Activity Bus Drivers
Part- time
Physical Therapy Front Desk
Assistant
Wayne Community Health Center is looking for a part- time Physical Therapy Front Desk Assistant
The Physical Therapy duties will be checking patients in, insurance prior authorization, assisting setting up patients in the therapy rooms, laundry and cleaning of patient areas.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are the Physical Therapy Office Days. Hours a week will roughly be 12-16 hours
We are looking for someone task oriented, a team player and have excellent customer service. Prorated sick and vacation pay, as well as holiday pay. Please email resume to AmberLee Ellett at, aellett@waynechc.org.
School Crossing Guard
Loa Town is looking to hire a school crossing guard. This is a seasonal job and will only take about 1 hour per day in the morning before school and about 1 hour in the afternoon.
Applicant must have a background check and must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid driver’s license. Training will be provided.
If anyone is interested in this position and would like an application, please contact Michelle Brian at the Loa Town Office at 435-836-2160 for more information.
The Loa Town Board will interview all interested applicants at the town board meeting held on August 8, 2024, applicants will be contacted for times set for interviews.
All applications must be turned in by August 6, 2024 by 5 p.m.
Route Bus Driver in Boulder
Paraprofessionals/Aides at All Schools
Substitutes for Teachers, Custodians, and Food Service Workers
SALARY: Please see 2023-2024 Garfield County School Districts Classified, District Office, and Certified Salary Schedules on the district website.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be fingerprinted and satisfactorily pass an employment background check.
Garfield County School District is an equal opportunity employer. Garfield County School District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications.
Panguitch Senior Center Cook
Garfield County is accepting applications for part-time kitchen help at the Panguitch Senior Citizen’s Center.
Working hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 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, July 5th, 2024. Garfield County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications. Garfield County is an equal opportunity employer.
TROPIC AA MEETING Wednesday at 6 PM. Tropic Heritage Center. All meetings are closed discussion.
