The
Insider
Serving Wayne & Garfield Counties, Utah
LOA • FREmONT • LYmAN • BICkNELL • TEASDALE • TORREY • GROvER • FRUITA • CAINEvILLE • HANkSvILLE PANGUITCH • PANGUITCH LAkE • HATCH • ANTImONY • BRYCE • TROPIC • HENRIEvILLE • CANNONvILLE • ESCALANTE • BOULDER
Thursday, October 31, 2019
AgrAbility Helps People with Disabilities Stay in Ag Industry
Wayne County Commission October 21
2019 Christmas Tree Cutting on the Fishlake National Forest
by Steve Kent, Staff Writer for the Herald Journal
by veronica egan WAYNE COUNTY Commissioner Blackburn and Harward were present, and Commissioner Wood was absent. After the approval of the October 7 meeting minutes and a prayer by County Attorney Mike Olsen and the Pledge of Allegiance, the meeting commenced with Dave Love of the Red Ridge Special Service District, near Torrey. Love requested approval of commissioners to appoint three members to the SSD board, which was granted. There followed a discussion of the condition of two community septic drain fields and a recommendation that future residences should install their own septic systems, in order to avoid over-use of the fields. Next, Paul Allen of Grover requested approval of a minor subdivision of four lots north of Miners Mountain road, which was approved. Gary Pankow, of Teasdale, requested a letter of approval from the commissioners for a Community Development Block Grant request for the Teasdale Town Park. The funds would cover a new volleyball court, sprinklers and an interpretive trail. He also said that Special Service District #1 has approved Wayne Commission Cont'd on page 2
Randall Bagley is the new coordinator for the USU AgrAbility program. UTAH - Agriculture can be as much a lifestyle as it is an occupation. Farmers often don’t retire — they just keep on working. That’s not always easy, though, as back problems, knee problems and any number of other disabilities can get in the way. AgrAbility of Utah, a partnership between the Utah State University Cooperative Extension and nonprofit Allies with Families funded through the USDA, is here to help with exactly that issue. Randall Bagley joined AgrAbility of Utah as its program coordinator in March. His office is on the USU cam-
pus, and while he says he’s still learning the ropes, he’s found the job very fulfilling. “It really helps some great people,” Bagley said. “Farmers and ranchers, they’re kind of the lifeblood of our country here. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be eating. They work hard and they have a tough life, a lot of them.” According to Bagley, AgrAbility can help current farmers and ranchers who have some type of chronic illness or disabling condition. Those criteria cover a lot of disabilities farmers may have, Bagley said. “Stuff like vision or hear-
Fall Leaves at Barker Reservoir
FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
THURS. OCTOBER 31 - WED. NOVEMBER 6
High temps are back in the high 50s and 60s this week, which should feel better after our pre-Halloween cold snap. Lows in the high teens and 20s. Slight chance of small ghouls and goblins demanding treats. I'd give them the candy, if I were you...
in handy to dig through the snow to reach the base of the tree. Make sure your permit is attached to the tree before leaving the cutting area. Tree topping is not allowed. No cutting is allowed within 200 feet of riparian areas (lakes and streams), roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, administrative sites, summer home areas, or within designated closed areas shown on tree cutting maps. Christmas tree permits sell for $10.00 (up to 10 feet) and $20.00 (10-20 feet) each and they must be obtained in person. Mail orders and phone requests will not be accepted. The permits must be securely attached to the harvested tree and remain with that tree during transport. Most species of trees on the National Forest may be cut, except for ponChristmas Trees Cont'd on page 7
Mossy Cave Safety Improvement Project in Bryce Along SR 12
AgrAbility
E-Bikes
Poverty
Cont'd on page 3
RICHFIELD - Cutting a Christmas tree in a national forest is a family tradition for many residents of Utah. Weather conditions in the mountains are unpredictable, so always be prepared for winter weather. Stay on designated roads and trails. Be prepared for slick, snowpacked roads and have chains, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, or a snow machine available. Let someone know where you are planning to go and approximate time you will return. Carry a cell phone; bring additional warm clothing, and gloves, boots, and a container of hot liquid, water, and a lunch or snack. Carry a flashlight, chains, shovel, first-aid kit, matches, a hatchet, ax or handsaw, and rope to secure your tree. Trees must always be cut close to the ground leaving the stump no higher than 6 inches. A shovel will come
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traditional biking occurs, expanding recreational opportunities and access to millions of Americans. The National Park Service (NPS) has previously issued guidance to allow for ebikes to be used on most bike paths in the national parks.
Department of the Interior Pushes to Increase Access and Recreational Opportunities for Electric Bicycle Use on Public Lands
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST
ing, back problems, knee and joint problems, we can cover that,” Bagley said. “People with heart conditions, seizures, cancer, all of that would be included in this.” AgrAbility can help by going to farms and ranches to assess where they might be able to help by modifying equipment. They can connect ag workers to Vocational Rehab or the Utah Center for Assistive Technology, who can provide certain funding or specialized equipment solutions. They can coordinate
SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission released the state’s Eighth Annual Report on Intergenerational Poverty, Welfare Dependency and the Use of Public Assistance. The report highlights data from multiple state agencies and provides the first progress analysis of the families initially identified as experiencing intergenerational poverty in 2012, when the initiative began. "It is encouraging to see that our efforts since 2012 are having an impact," said Lt. Governor Spencer Cox, chair of the Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission. "This updated analysis on how the families we identified years ago are doing now is vital so that we can continue to address Utahns’ needs in a meaningful way. Ultimately, we are working to give all Utah children and families their best opportunities for success." The state of Utah has defined intergenerational poverty as individuals who utilize
inSider
Through the Use of Electric Bikes, which will allow the use of low-speed electric bicycles (e-bikes) at national wildlife refuges and other DOImanaged public lands where
eli lucero/herald Journal
Utah Releases Annual Report on Intergenerational Poverty in the State
BARKER RESERVOIR - If you haven't had a chance to get up into the mountains this fall, then chances are the aspens have already shed the majority of their vibrant, yellow leaves. At lower elevations, though, a sea of yellow and orange can still be seen dotting the roadside landscape in Garfield County. —Insider
WASHINGTON - Today, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced its guidance to implement Secretary’s Order 3376, Increasing Recreational Opportunities
Issue # 1331
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
courteSy national ParK Service
Bryce Canyon National Park's Mossy Cave parking lot is undergoing improvements to improve visitor safety and access. Closures are occurring this week, though the area is set to reopen on November 1. BRYCE - Construction of new safety improvement measures is underway at the Mossy Cave parking area along State Route 12 (SR-12) in Bryce Canyon National Park. This project is a partnership between the National Park Service, Utah Department of Transportation, and
Garfield County aimed at improving vehicle flow and mitigating traffic hazards in this popular area. Phase 1 of this project is requiring daytime closures of the Mossy Cave parking area from Monday, October 28th through to toImprovement Project Cont'd on page 2
BLM Utah to Offer 24 Parcels in the December Oil and Gas Lease Sale SALT LAKE CITY - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it will offer 24 parcels of land, totaling nearly 13,422 acres, at the December quarterly oil and gas lease sale. The parcels are on lands managed by the BLM’s Canyon Country, Color Country, and Green River districts. The BLM will hold the lease sale online on December 10 at www.energynet. com. Revenues from onshore oil and gas production on federal lands directly fund the U.S. Treasury and state budgets, and support public education, infrastructure improvements, and other state-determined priorities. Forty-eight percent of lease sale revenue goes to the state,
while the rest goes to the U.S. Treasury. The state also receives half of the revenue from royalties if oil and gas are developed on the lease. The BLM is a key contributor to the America-First Energy Plan, an all-of-theabove strategy that includes oil and gas, coal, strategic minerals, and renewable sources such as wind, geothermal, and solar – all of which can be produced on public lands. Responsible energy development includes thoughtful consideration of parcels nominated for leasing, as well as potential resource impacts of decisions to lease. An additional environmental review
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There's only 365 days left until next Halloween! —The Mayor, Halloween Town
ALL content for THE WAYNE & GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER must be submitted by FRIDAY AT NOON to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper.
BOXHOLDER
Lease Sale
Cont'd on page 5 PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID RICHFIELD, UTAH PERMIT No. 122