Month: November 2019

Vernal’s own Sidney Smith and his wife Lori had quite the welcome home last night complete with lights, sirens, a street lined with friends and neighbors cheering with signs, and an unexpected visit from the Mayor. The couple had made the long trip back from Florida where Sidney completed a full Ironman competition over the weekend which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run. Just four years ago, Sidney lay in a hospital bed after his most recent surgery following a lifetime of procedures and surgeries related to a disease he was born with that causes foot deformities and muscle wasting. He was now officially a double amputee and while fear and depression were present at that point, he watched from his hospital bed the stories of Ironman competitors, including an amputee.

It’s Election Day! For Roosevelt City residents, yesterday was the last day to submit ballots by mail. Today ballots need to be delivered to the Roosevelt City Office building by 8:00pm. For those that did not receive a ballot by mail, a provisional ballot can be filled out at the Roosevelt City building before 8:00pm. In Uintah County, ballots can be delivered to the Uintah County building today before 8:00 pm. If you did not get registered to vote in time, you can register and vote today at the County building.

A formal charge was filed in 8th District Court on Monday against the woman accused of stealing money from the Uintah & Daggett Counties Children’s Justice Center. 41-year-old Michelle Lyn Coon was arrested Wednesday and booked into Uintah County Jail. Coon served as the Treasurer for the ‘Friends of Uintah & Daggett Counties Children’s Justice Center’ where she is believed to have stolen over $145,000 dollars over a period of around 10 years and for which she is now formally charged with second degree felony Theft in 8th District Court.

One of Utah’s best attended events, the Holly Fair, celebrated 40 years over the weekend with a great turnout. “The 2019 Holly Fair was definitely one for the books with five locations completely full and attendance up by at least 10 percent,” shares Duchesne County Commissioner Irene Hansen. “A nice assortment of Holly Fair booths meant that people were able to find unique treasures and one of a kind items. It was a 40 year anniversary for the Holly Fair and it was a perfect outcome,” says Hansen.

Members of the Uintah High School Future Farmers of America recently returned from Indianapolis, Indiana after attending the National FFA Convention. There was close to 70,000 members and guests and our local chapter represented the two events they qualified for. The Uintah FFA Floriculture team was able to place 10th in the nation, as Uintah has never placed that high before. Ezrie Slaugh, Hunter Reynolds, Alix Williams, and Sadie Young were able to achieve a Gold rating for their efforts.

Margaret J. Wheatley once said that "there is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." The 2nd annual Uintah Basin Community Matters conference is a chance for the community to gather together and discuss what is needed for the betterment of its residents. This year there will be a variety of workshop sessions that will focus on the issues the community is facing and what we can do about them.

Duchesne County Sheriff Travis Tucker held a press conference on Friday morning where he identified the two men killed in a Halloween double homicide in Roosevelt. Sheriff Tucker reported that at 12:15 Friday morning, officers were called to a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, they found two deceased males. One was identified as 22-year-old Jon Reed Jr. who had been stabbed. The other was identified as 23-year-old Tyrell Sowsonicut who had been shot.

Construction continues on Highway 40 in the Strawberry Valley. “New guardrail is being installed this week,” shares UDOT. “Crews continue working on the slopes along both shoulders of the roadway between Mile Post 34 and 40. Due to inclement weather, topsoil, seeding and spraying mulch will continue this week and next.

There are many awkward conversations we have with our children but some are very necessary. Body safety might seem like a difficult topic but in this modern age it is beyond necessary. The Uintah/Daggett Children’s Justice Center has shared five body safety rules every child should know by the age five.