Do you love learning about dinosaurs? The Friends of the Utah Field House has partnered with the Uintah County Library to start a 2019 lecture series. The lecture kicks off with Dr. John Foster. Dr. Foster is an expert on the Late Jurassic, having spent more than twenty-five years excavating fossils across the western United States.
While we probably haven’t seen the last of winter storms, Roosevelt City has asked for help preserving the streets by taking advantage of the warmer weather and snow melt. When the weather warms up and the snow begins to melt it helps if the runoff can find its way to storm drains. “The number one cause of potholes and other damage to city streets is the freeze-thaw cycle,” shares Roosevelt City.
A bill has recently passed the Senate aimed at protecting public lands and waterways that affects eastern Utah and beyond. The bill passed with a 92-8 vote. It is considered the most comprehensive conservation legislation to be passed in over a decade with over 2 million acres safeguarded. Every state in the union has lands affected including Utah.
Winter ozone will likely exceed the EPA standard on Wednesday and Thursday and citizens are encouraged to take action to reduce ozone-forming emissions. “We underestimated ozone all last week,” shares Dr. Seth Lyman, Director of the USU Bingham Research Center. “Every day we predicted that on the next day the atmosphere would mix out and the basin would be clean again, and it really didn’t fully happen until Saturday.
Thankfully no injuries were reported in an accident that involved a school bus with students on board in Uintah County on Tuesday. According to the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office, a Uintah School District bus carrying seven students was struck from behind near 6200 North Dry Fork Canyon Road just before 8:00am. “The collision occurred when the bus driver pulled the bus to the right side of the road and stopped to allow vehicles following behind to pass,” shares the Sheriff’s Office.
Officials are urging locals to prepare now for the potential of spring flooding. According to Duchesne County Fire and Emergency Manager Mike Lefler, sudden warming or a rain-on-snow event could trigger floods in certain parts of the county.
Local athletes wrestled their hearts out at state competition this weekend and have a lot to show for it. Uintah Wrestling was a close contender for the 4A state title and finished with a second place win with 222.5 points to Payson at 238.5 points. Uintah state champions were Brady Merkley at 106, Gavin Ayotte at 132, and Bridger Bennion at 145. Other top 6 finishers on the team were Raiden Harrison, Brody Rich, Cole Huber, Randon Deets, August Harrison, Dylan Dick, Dylan Swift, and Cade Hatch. At the 3A state tournament, Union Wrestling placed 7th as a team with 123 points. Jate Frost won state champion at 170. Top 6 finishers on the Union team were Richard Jenkins, Colby Hyder, Parker Brinkerhoff, Cadence Ross, Nolan Bullethead, and Dalton Clark. Local wrestlers also competed at the 1A/2A state tournament held earlier this month. Altamont Wrestling took 2nd place and Duchesne Wrestling took 9th place. Altamont’s McKay Foy won state champion at 170 and Cash Robb won state champion at 195. Top 6 finishers for Altamont were Cameron Dickson, Easton Richins, Tristan Farnsworth, Carson Sheets, Dean Thompson, Heston Murdock, and MacIntyre Thacker. Duchesne’s Ryker Blackburn won state champion at 182. Top 6 finishers from Duchesne Wrestling were Bowdy Larsen, Ethan Clayburn, Cael Skewes, Kaleb Sanchez, Dusty Clayburn, Grant Reynolds, and Adrian Carrillo.
Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office is defusing rumors about a situation where a handgun was confiscated from a student on Altamont school property. On Thursday, February 14, the Altamont High School principal confiscated a handgun from a student in the school parking lot before classes started for the day.
Vernal Theatre: LIVE is celebrating another inspiring accomplishment and the patrons attending a performance of Arsenic & Old Lace will automatically be guests at the week long party. February 22nd marks the 100th performance on the stage of Vernal Theatre: LIVE and yes, that night will be a night of celebration to remember, complete with a pre-show and raffle for awesome prizes. Even if you can’t make it to Friday’s show, there will still be fun trivia and discounts to the Curtain Call on the other night’s of Arsenic & Old Lace. Theatre Executive Director Nashelle Jackson says the 100th performance is a great time to celebrate how far the theatre has come. “Our first season we took it one show at a time and things have just grown from there,” shares Jackson. “It’s exciting to actually make it to 100 performances and see a future for our next 100…It says to me that the community is really supporting the theatre. We literally couldn’t do it without them.” Come be part of this week’s celebration at a performance of Arsenic & Old Lace on the Vernal Theatre: LIVE stage February 18, 21, 22, and 23. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.vernaltheatre.com. Plenty of great seats are still available!
Photo credit: Joie Madison Photography
A family was transported to the hospital following a house fire in Sweetwater County this week. The call came in on Tuesday at 6:00pm. Crews responded and found heavy smoke and open flames had engulfed the house. A pregnant woman and three young children were in the home when the fire started and were transported to the hospital as a precaution. Investigators learned that the home belonged to the Sweetwater County School District and a local school teacher and his family lived there. The home was a total loss and the cause of the fire is unknown, though it is likely due to a space heater being used to unfreeze pipes under the home.