Month: November 2019

An extra oversized load traveled through Vernal Friday morning escorted by local law enforcement. The load, a nuclear steam generator with a transport size of approximately 23 feet wide and 400 feet long, spent the holiday in Dinosaur, Colorado as its travel was restricted on the 27th and 28th. It was expected the load will make it to Duchesne on Friday and, weather permitting, will head south over Indian Canyon on Saturday as it continues its journey making its way into Utah County and then north to its destination west of Salt Lake.

It was another magical year for the Enchanted Forest event in Roosevelt which auctions trees and items to benefit local charities each year. There were over 200 people in attendance at the auction dinner on Thursday evening. There were 17 total trees which collectively raised $110,000 dollars. The silent auction went well on Friday and Saturday, raising another $4000 dollars. Folks enjoyed the tree view on Friday and Saturday with approximately another thousand people who came to enjoy the sight of the beautiful trees. The tree which raised the most benefited the Uintah Basin Faith Based Recovery Foundation and brought in $20,000 dollars!

Santa’s Community Effort has a long and successful history in Uintah County with the Rotary Club now keeping the cause organized and running. The program’s success rests on the giving hearts of locals each year who are willing to take tags from the trees around town and follow through by donating gifts for the children assigned. The hope is that the generosity will continue this year to help brighten the holidays for local children in need. The Vernal Rotary Club announced that the first angel tree is now up at Davis Food & Drug and all interested in participating are invited to go choose tags off the tree. Each tag includes the gender, age, and basic interests or needs of a local child. Instructions are included on the tags of what to do with the gifts you purchase.

Vernal City and countless sponsors are thrilled to welcome all to the 16th Annual Holly Days scheduled for this Friday, November 29th. Holly Days is Vernal’s largest community event of the year and draws families from not just the area but even from far away states each year. Activities start at noon and finish with fireworks at 8:30pm. Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion explains that there will of course be dozens of activities, presentations and events going on, and all for free. New activities this year include laser tag, archery tag, and mechanical swings.

For a few short weeks, archery lovers have enjoyed a new outdoor range to practice their skills. The 3D Archery Range at Steinaker State Park welcomed excited hunters in training in early November. The last few weeks many have enjoyed the archery range. On Tuesday, Steinaker State Park announced that “due to the cold weather and snow, the archery range is closed. The targets are put away until spring.” During the range’s opening, Steinaker gave a big thank you to Utah Outdoor Recreation, SCI of Vernal, and Uintah County for making the Range possible. When the range reopens, park officials will let the public know.

Nursing student Laci Day has been named the 2020 UBTech Student of the Year. The announcement was made last week during a banquet on the Roosevelt Campus. 2019 Student of the Year McKinlee Thacker was invited to the stage to make the big announcement, sharing advice with Day, urging her to “say yes, work hard, and listen harder.” Day received a $1000 dollar award and she will represent UBTech as an ambassador for technical education. Individual awards were also given to the candidates who were not chosen. Christopher Nolden, Sydnee Clinton, Celeste Kendall, Marguerite Hunter, Evgeniya Bloat, Sarah LeBaron, Terra Turner, and Maddison Florence were all highlighted for their unique story, personality, and skills.