County officials from across the United States have arrived in Utah for the 2021 NACo Western Interstate Region Conference this week and things are getting kicked off in eastern Utah. The conference starts in Salt Lake City on Wednesday but today conference goers that registered in advance are on a full-day tour to the Uintah Basin as part of NACo’s Rural Action Caucus.
The local food pantries can use some helping hands. The Ashley Valley Food Pantry in Vernal is seeking volunteer help with the food rescue on the mornings of Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This will involve loading groceries into the back of the truck so strong arms and backs are especially welcome.
If the enthusiasm of the cast is any indication, ‘The Curious Savage’, opening this week at Vernal Theatre: LIVE, may be your favorite straight play you’re just now hearing about. All involved emphasize how much heart the show has and how easy it is to fall in love with.
A Doctor who has provided care for the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Nationals, and Washington Capitals and previously provided sideline coverage for the NFL is now caring for the citizens of the Uintah Basin. Ashley Regional Medical Center announced Monday that Dr. Timothy Hawkes will be offering orthopedic surgical services and sports medicine for patients.
USU Uintah Basin students and faculty stepped up last week to provide the muscle for a project on the Ashley National Forest as part of an effort to clean up trails. The group focused their energy on trail maintenance near the Manila Park Trail from White Cloud Loop Road to Mill Park.
The General Quail Hunting Season is approaching and the Division of Wildlife Resources has a message specific to the Uintah Basin. “In northeastern Utah, much of the quail habitat is on private land, so make sure to obtain written permission from the landowner prior to hunting,” shares the DWR.
The storms and their side effects have closed a Colorado Highway north of Craig. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, Highway 13 had to be closed on Saturday due to debris on the roadway after a mudslide.
Only 20 teachers in the state were selected recently to serve on the Utah Teacher Fellows Program and a Uintah High School teacher is among them. Uintah High’s Library Media Specialist Machelle Maxwell will serve as part of this cross-state teacher leader network.
Ready or not, hazardous winter driving conditions have arrived. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect, specifically over mountain passes. While Uintah and Duchesne Counties are expected to see less of the impact, Daggett County will get the brunt of it.
The general-season pheasant and quail hunts are coming up but how will the drought affect the hunt? According to the Division of Wildlife Resources, in Uintah County and northeastern Utah, the drought impacts on pheasant populations are minimal because the pheasant habitat is closely aligned with irrigated crop lands and most of the birds in northeastern Utah are found on private agricultural lands.