A missing hiker’s body was located on Sunday after several days of searching. 25-year-old Kyle S. Wimpenny was declared a missing person last week after last being seen at his Boise, Idaho home on Sunday, September 13th. Kyle had planned to backpack to Kings Peak, located in Duchesne County in the High Uintas Wilderness Area, and was expected to return home by Wednesday, September 16th.
The Duchesne County School District has confirmed its fourth confirmed case of COVID-19 in the district. “On Friday, September 18th, Duchesne County School District was notified by TriCounty Health Department that an individual at Roosevelt Junior High School tested positive for COVID-19.
Uintah Basin kids are being asked to participate in a fun poster contest aimed at spreading awareness about the damaging effects of elevated radon gas in the home. TriCounty Health Department is who has extended the invitation to local youth for the 2020 National Radon Poster Contest, which begins October 22nd.
It's amazing what new paint and some artistic flair can do to give a business a facelift. The Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce agrees and presented ‘Basin Flood & Fire’ with the Beautification Award for their efforts to improve the appearance of the community.
A Moffat County man was sentenced to 23 years in prison in Moffat County District Court. Richard Barnes pleaded guilty to felony Knowing or Reckless Child Abuse Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and to felony Attempt to Commit Sexual Assault on a Child. According to the Colorado 14th Judicial District, the plea and sentence relates to Mr. Barnes’ admission of sexual abuse on his child.
A body of a woman discovered near a Rio Blanco County road has been identified as the Rangely woman that was reported missing earlier this month. 38-year-old Laurie French was discovered by searchers from the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office about 50 yards off the road at mile marker 1.5 on county road 23 on Wednesday, September 16th.
TriCounty Health Department has always been grateful for their community partners but they are especially grateful during this time of handling the local response to COVID-19. “Partnerships have been developed with local healthcare partners and education,” shares TriCounty Health.
There is a bit of good news in the fire front. Center Creek Trail Fire has shown limited fire behavior and currently poses no threat of moving south. The East Fork Fire however, has caused the Forest Service to modify the closure area. The Blindstream Road is closed from the switchbacks to Rock Creek Road.
The Basin has enjoyed the annual Storytelling Festival for many years but unfortunately, it had to be cancelled last spring due to COVID-19. Good news is here, however, as it has been rescheduled for this Saturday, September 19th, at 2pm. The festival will open with a local storyteller Katie Chanelle Ufford sharing stories from our very own small town. The talented and highly popular Sam Payne will also be there.
The current pandemic has created some problems, some a little more unique then others. Incoming college students have been at a disadvantage in trying to get academic merit scholarships as they have not been able to take the ACT or SAT placement exams.