In the months of September and October the Kokanee Salmon change from their normal shades of silver to a bright red as they prepare to travel up rivers and streams to spawn. In past years, Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources would hold public viewings but due to the COVID-19 pandemic that will not be happening.
The health of the residents of the Uintah Basin is top priority for Uintah Basin Healthcare. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and UBH wants the Basin to be aware of this difficulty. One in five children and adolescents are affected by obesity. Obesity has a prevalence of 18.5% among children and adolescents aged 2-19 years.
Wildfires from as close as Duchesne County and clear to California have filled the Uintah Basin sky with smoke. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality reported on Monday afternoon that air quality levels in the Uintah Basin ranged from Moderate and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Unhealthy.
A fire Sunday night at the Uintah County Landfill stirred up plenty of concern on social media but thankfully was quickly under control. Uintah County Landfill responded to an email about Sunday’s fire sharing that it looked worse than it was and didn’t turn out to be too big of a deal.
High winds are not helping things on the fires in Duchesne County and evacuations are taking place in the Pigeon Water and McCafee Basin and areas of BIA lands south of Moon Lake. Ashley National Forest has also shared that pre-evacuation notifications are taking place in Yellowstone Canyon and the Hells Canyon Road 227 will be closed.
Colorful hot air balloons brought countless smiles to countless faces over the weekend. Uintah County issued a press release on the event’s success emphasizing that the event offered economic benefits to the community. This was the 3rd annual Dinah “SOAR” Days and had 24 hot air balloons that flew over Vernal with pilots coming from all over the United States.
As the East Fork Fire continues in Duchesne County, an important message has been shared with the public. “Due to the use of helicopters to monitor the fires in the area, a temporary flight restriction is in place,” shares Ashley National Forest.
Life might seem to have been dragged to a halt because of the pandemic but it hasn’t stopped the need for essentials such as food, water, shelter and blood. Yes, blood. Red Cross has announced some changes during blood drives as a result of the pandemic include the following: All Red Cross staff do daily temperature and symptom checks prior to working and there is a temperature checking station before being allowed into the donation room.
Vernal City Police Department is joining other law enforcement agencies to urge the public to pay attention and take the steps to protect your property as there has been a recent increase in automobile thefts in the area. “We would like to remind you to lock your vehicles and make sure to not keep valuables inside,” shares Vernal PD.
Roosevelt City has been asking residents of Duchesne County to complete the Census. In response, the completion rate increased by two percent. While that is an improvement, Duchesne County residents are urged to do better. The census data collection ends on September 30th, 2020.