Month: April 2018

Troy Ostler of Civco Engineering recently made a presentation to the Vernal City Council of a UDOT funded storm drainage study. The study explores how flooding in Vernal can be mitigated during summer months when the irrigation water

Roosevelt Police Department has seen a dramatic increase in teen sexting incidents and are urging parents to get educated and talk to their teens. “While this may not seem to be a serious concern for police,” shares Chief Rick Harrison, “we have found that a perhaps unintended result is the ‘bullying’ effect it has on some participants.

The Bureau of Reclamation announced on Wednesday that the Steinaker Dam modification project has been awarded to Weeminuche Construction Authority of Towaoc, Colorado, which is owned by the Ute Mountain Tribe. As a water source for Vernal and Jensen, operations have been restricted at Steinaker dam since 2014 when a slope failure was observed.

Uintah coaches have secured extra help to work with the girls basketball team this summer. Coach Kristy Putnam shares that Ashlee Trebilcock will be coming to teach at a 2-day camp on May 30th and 31st at the high school. Playing for Ohio State, Trebilcock has won four Big Ten Conference Championships, two Big Ten Tournament Championships and four NCAA tournament appearances including a trip to the Sweet 16.

Those signed up for the CodeRED system in the Uintah Basin can expect a mobile alert on Thursday. According to Uintah County Emergency Manager Tal Ehlers, a CodeRED mobile alert will be issued in conjunction with the Great Utah Shakeout. The CodeRED system sends out a telephone call in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action.

Gas prices continue to go up hitting Basin residents in the pocket book where it hurts the most. On Wednesday night, several gas stations in the area hit the $3.00 a gallon mark pushing prices among the highest in the nation. According to the latest report from AAA, Wednesday’s national average gas price was $2.73 and Utah’s average was $2.99.

Biologists from the Division of Wildlife Resources are busy developing plans to salvage the fish in Steinaker Reservoir before the water is drained for the Bureau of Reclamation’s dam repair project. Regional Sportfish Biologist Natalie Boren explains that the reservoir water will be taken down to around 350 acre feet, which is significantly below dead pool at 3500 acre feet.

A case is still under investigation after a body was found in Uintah County. According to the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office, a man in his late thirties was found deceased Wednesday morning near a house on 1500 West 1800 South. The body was found by a resident that lives in the area. “The man has only lived in the Vernal area for a short time,” shares the Sheriff’s Office. “At this point in the investigation, nothing appears suspicious and the man may have suffered a fatal medical event.” The name of the deceased man has not been released as family is notified. The Sheriff’s Office says the case is still under investigation.