Month: March 2018

A new program is highlighting the work of Uintah County employees. The first Uintah County Spotlight was the Uintah County Cemetery Department, recognized during Monday’s Uintah County Commission meeting. Cemetery Department employee James Sharp described the work he and the cemetary crew perform throughout the week, rotating weekends and ensuring that all funerals at the 11 cemeteries are covered. “We meet with families on the worst day of their lives and are accommodating to every request that is in our power,” shared Sharp. “…We try to do everything we can ourselves and do our best to save money and time. We respect the fact that it is public money that pays our paycheck… [My coworkers and I], we care about the cemeteries.” The Commissioners thanked Mr. Sharp and the members of the Cemetery Department for their commitment and hard work as Uintah County employees.

The Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office is feeling especially blessed for the local support they have been shown. Local members of the Patriot Guard Riders presented members of the Sheriff’s Office with a wooden flag and a plaque on Saturday, a gesture that means a great deal to the agency. “Feeling so much support is always good for us and our officers,” shares Sheriff’s Office Manager Cynthia Wardle. “We had a really good turnout and it was a beautiful day. When they presented it to Chief Deputy Tucker they asked for a photo with the Patriot Guard standing behind the group to say that they always have our back.” The flag was made by Willy Rivera. Patriot Guard Riders is a non-profit organization that takes on missions as invited guests at funerals to show respect or find other ways to honor veterans, first responders, or law enforcement.

Competition was close at the Mr. and Miss Uintah competitions at Uintah High School on Monday night. The 2018 Mr. Uintah is Garrett Wilson and the 2018 Miss Uintah is Kayla Loncar. Kayla also won the People’s Choice Award. “We had 22 kids compete in the men’s division,” shares Coach Gregg Stensgard.

March Madness is for more than basketball tournaments. The Vernal Regional Airport joined in with their own kind of tournament. After 125 logo variations, the Vernal Regional Airport narrowed their logo rebranding options to a final four last week and welcomed further public voting on which logo should be the winner.

EAGLE Students of the Month for Uintah Basin Christian Academy are Kohen Bowden and Cuyler Pitchford.

Hantavirus may not be on most Basin residents radar but the virus is carried by rodents in the TriCounty area and can be passed to humans. Deer mice carry the virus and do live throughout the Uintah Basin mostly in fields and remote areas, shares TriCounty Health epidemiologist Diana Oyler.