Month: March 2018

The Uintah Basin Association of Governments is looking for one more family to join in the Mutual Self Help Housing program. The group will be building in Lakeview Estates in Vernal. If interested, please contact Jeannie at 435-722-4518.

Buckskin Hills continues to be improved upon and has great potential for further expansion. In 2017, the shooting complex received 4 new pavilions thanks to grant money through the National Rifle Association. Improvements such as concrete benches, storage containers, and special targets have also been added to the range using money earned each year at the annual Gun and Knife show, with this year’s event coming up this month. Those that spend the most time out there making improvements and pushing for progress say the potential for Buckskin Hills is greater than most people realize. Buckskin Hills has an area for a long distance shooting range which is a very rare offering. “There is not 5 ranges in the nation that have that available to them,” shares Bill Lewis of the Friends of Buckskin Hills Shooting Complex. “Our long distance shooting range needs the greatest amount of work but we hesitate to work out there before knowing how long distance shooters want it set up.” Lewis says they hope a long distance shooting group will form to take on a role in setting up and maintaining that range. Those with ideas or questions on this or the Gun and Knife Show coming up March 17th and 18th can call Bill Lewis at 781-1848 or Carney Pace at 247-2254.

Uintah County and local city officials met on Monday with the Central Canal among the topics of continued discussion. Officials received a proposal to conduct a drainage study of what is affected by the Central Canal. During their January 22nd meeting, President of Central Canal, Wayne Simper, explained that irrigators want to line Central Canal to help eliminate water loss and so it is easier to maintain.

A generous donor at the NRA Banquet held last weekend is hoping to help make local schools even safer. According to Uintah County Sheriff Vance Norton, $2,100 dollars was donated to help train teachers and staff, on a voluntary basis only, tactics and firearm proficiency to help protect children at the schools. “We will be teaching tactics and then have them go through scenarios of an active shooter, utilizing our simunition guns,” shares Sheriff Norton.

It’s not too late to sign up for a chance to influence the future of the Ashley National Forest. The public is needed and urged to attend the public workshop on Saturday, March 3rd, from 1 to 5pm at the Uintah Conference Center.

Representatives from Special Service Districts in Uintah County provided updated CIB project priority lists to the Uintah County Commissioners during a February Commission meeting.

Advanced technology is part of the new Women’s Center at Ashley Regional Medical Center. The hospital announced Wednesday the addition of 3D Mammography, a service that allows for more effective and earlier detection of breast cancer.

Mild winter weather has moved along the last phase of construction on the Vernal Regional Airport runway project. According to Airport Manager Doug Brown, the last phase is ahead of schedule. The old runway has been torn out and dirt work is ongoing to grade and rake the shoulder on the east side of the new runway where the old runway used to be.