Month: August 2017

Another successful UBIC celebration means new royalty serving the Basin over the next year. The Miss Uintah Basin & Outstanding Teen Pageant impressed the crowd with an amazing evening of talent, interviews, fitness and of course elegant evening gowns. Savannah Hartle of Lapoint was crowned Miss Uintah Basin with 1st Attendant Madi Adams and 2nd Attendant Cassidy Smith, both of Duchesne. Halle Eschler of Roosevelt was crowned Outstanding Teen with 1st Attendant Shayna Simper of Vernal. The Little Miss UBIC contest also won plenty of hearts as the girls ages 5 to 13 shared their talents on stage. Four queens were crowned in four age divisions: Whitley Nyberg, Mayci Clark, Peja Eschler, and Irylan Tomlinson. Rounding off the pageant fun during the UBIC week was a night of fun and plenty of laughter with the Mr. UBIC contest. The young men competed in talent, modeling, joke telling, and the crowd favorite sexy leg contest. Christian Llamas was crowned King with attendants Max Ames and Christopher Apawoo. 

Family and friends are mourning the loss of a Vernal father of two who was killed in an accident at Deserado Coal Mine early Thursday morning. According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, 32-year-old Jason Stevens was found under a two-ton trough at the mine production facility. The U.S. Mine Safety & Health Administration is investigating the accident but an initial report states that Stevens, a surface mechanic, was working alone and didn’t report at the end of his shift. An operator found him at 1:30am under the container used to clean coal located above ground. It’s reportedly the first fatality at the mine since October 1996. A Go Fund Me account has been set up for Jason’s wife Jasmin and their two boys, 9-year-old Hoss and 6-year-old Jace, under the name The Stevens Family. Our condolences to the family and friends mourning this tragedy.

One man is dead and his girlfriend is in custody following a shooting Wednesday night in Duchesne, reports the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office. 51-year-old Guy Wells Mecham was found dead in his home at 683 East 300 North at about 9:40pm on August 2nd. According to Sheriff Dave Boren, Mecham shared the home with 41-year-old Stephanie Dawn Payan, his girlfriend, and her teenage daughter. Following an argument, Mecham left the home for several hours that afternoon. During his absence, Payan gave her daughter a credit card and cash, telling the girl “you’re going to need this.” Payan told investigators that Mecham returned home four or five hours later. The couple argued again and Mecham told Payan he was leaving her. “When Mecham walked out of the master bedroom, Payan retrieved a handgun, followed Mecham down the hall and shot him once in the back,” shares detectives. “Mecham made it back to the bedroom despite the wound and handed his cellphone to Payan’s daughter, asking her to call 9-1-1…Payan allegedly took the phone from the girl, preventing her from calling for help. Then Payan told the girl to pack her belongings and called the girl’s father, telling him he needed to come get their daughter because she had just shot Mecham.” The girl’s father called 9-1-1 but did not know the address and then called Payan urging her to call 9-1-1. She then called and told dispatchers that she shot Mecham and he might be dead. “The first deputy to arrive at the home found Payan sitting in the vehicle outside, her daughter in her bedroom inside the home, and Mecham dead in the doorway of the master bedroom,” shares Sheriff Boren. Payan’s daughter was interviewed and then released to her father. Payan was booked into the Duchesne County Jail for investigation of murder, domestic violence in the presence of a minor, and interruption of a communication device. Duchesne County prosecutors are expected to file formal charges in 8th District Court this week.

The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that the Washington man who went missing from eastern Sweetwater County on July 30th was found safe on Wednesday in Montana.  Alzheimer’s patient, 82-year-old Robert Winters, was traveling through Wyoming with his wife back to Washington when the pair stopped in Wamsutter on I-80 on Sunday. During the stop, Winters, who also suffers from short-term memory loss, drove off alone in the couple’s vehicle, a grey 2004 Chevy Avalanche. His wife contacted police and his vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center to aid in their search. Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell reported Wednesday that Winter’s credit card had been used Monday in Eden, Idaho and then he was found uninjured at a hotel in Missoula, Montana on Wednesday. All were relieved that he had been found and are working to reunite him with family. Unfortunately, the hunt for the missing 74-year-old Arizona man believed to be lost in the Uinta Mountains since Monday continues. Melvin G. Heaps was in the Crystal Lake area to hike for the day. He was expected home on July 31st but never arrived. He is believed to be wearing a red long sleeve shirt and blue jeans with suspenders. He also typically wears a straw hat. He is caucasian with brown hair, blue eyes, is about 5 foot 9 inches tall, and weighs approximately 175 pounds. Anyone with information relevant to this search are asked to please contact the Summit County Sheriff’s Office at 435-615-3600.