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Basin Now

State Results for Local High School Wrestling; Uintah Takes 2nd

Feb 18, 2019 · Basin Now · News

Local athletes wrestled their hearts out at state competition this weekend and have a lot to show for it. Uintah Wrestling was a close contender for the 4A state title and finished with a second place win with 222.5 points to Payson at 238.5 points. Uintah state champions were Brady Merkley at 106, Gavin Ayotte at 132, and Bridger Bennion at 145. Other top 6 finishers on the team were Raiden Harrison, Brody Rich, Cole Huber, Randon Deets, August Harrison, Dylan Dick, Dylan Swift, and Cade Hatch. At the 3A state tournament, Union Wrestling placed 7th as a team with 123 points. Jate Frost won state champion at 170. Top 6 finishers on the Union team were Richard Jenkins, Colby Hyder, Parker Brinkerhoff, Cadence Ross, Nolan Bullethead, and Dalton Clark. Local wrestlers also competed at the 1A/2A state tournament held earlier this month. Altamont Wrestling took 2nd place and Duchesne Wrestling took 9th place. Altamont’s McKay Foy won state champion at 170 and Cash Robb won state champion at 195. Top 6 finishers for Altamont were Cameron Dickson, Easton Richins, Tristan Farnsworth, Carson Sheets, Dean Thompson, Heston Murdock, and MacIntyre Thacker. Duchesne’s Ryker Blackburn won state champion at 182. Top 6 finishers from Duchesne Wrestling were Bowdy Larsen, Ethan Clayburn, Cael Skewes, Kaleb Sanchez, Dusty Clayburn, Grant Reynolds, and Adrian Carrillo.

Basin Now

Four People Transported to Hospital Following House Fire in Sweetwater County

Feb 15, 2019 · Basin Now · News

A family was transported to the hospital following a house fire in Sweetwater County this week. The call came in on Tuesday at 6:00pm. Crews responded and found heavy smoke and open flames had engulfed the house. A pregnant woman and three young children were in the home when the fire started and were transported to the hospital as a precaution. Investigators learned that the home belonged to the Sweetwater County School District and a local school teacher and his family lived there. The home was a total loss and the cause of the fire is unknown, though it is likely due to a space heater being used to unfreeze pipes under the home.

Basin Now

Ashley National Forest Keep Yurts and Trails Maintained

Feb 15, 2019 · Basin Now · News

Not much can slow down the hard working local forest service employees. The members of the recreation staff of the Ashley National Forest have continued to maintain the Yurts and trails for those wanting to enjoy the winter recreation. They have ensured that the trails were groomed, the yurts have firewood and that they were accessible for renters even in the blanket of snow. Aging signs have also been taken care of. If you have any inclinations to serve the Ashley National Forest and winter isn’t quite ideal then be sure to discover what volunteers are needed for the 2019 Summer Field Season. The Duchesne/Roosevelt Ranger District is looking for volunteers to assist with Wilderness and Trails program. Some positions that they are already looking for is a Wilderness Information Specialist- Trailhead host and Wilderness Rangers. If willing and interested, contact Sam Wiswell, the Wilderness and Trails Coordinator at 435-781-5230 or email him at samuel.wiswell@usda.gov.

Basin Now

Eastern Utah Projects Awarded Over $8 Million in Grants and Loans

Feb 15, 2019 · Basin Now · News

Eastern Utah will benefit from projects funded last week by the Community Impact Board. A press release from the Utah Department of Workforce Services lists the water system improvements and road construction planned for the funds. The Tridell-Lapoint Water Improvement District received a $1.65 million dollar grant as well as a $423,000 dollar low-interest loan to make updates to the drinking water system to meet the state pressure and storage requirements. This will include adding a 500,000 gallon concrete tank and replacing 5,300 feet of pipe. During the same meeting, the Community Impact Board also approved a $4.5 million dollar grant to the Uintah Transportation Special Service District for the Ouray Bottoms Road reconstruction, a $1.2 million dollar grant and $200,000 dollar low-interest loan for the Vernal City flood control and storm drain improvements on Main Street, and a $227,000 dollar grant for Daggett County road construction. “The rural areas of Utah are the heart of the state,” shares Naples City Mayor and CIB board member Dean Baker, “and we appreciate the board’s support for these rural communities.”

Basin Now

SB 96 Medicaid Expansion Signed Into Law

Feb 15, 2019 · Basin Now · News

Governor Gary Herbert signed a modified version of medicaid expansion into Utah law this week. When Utah Proposition 3 passed with 53.32% it was with the hope that it provide Medicaid for persons under the age of 65 with incomes equal to or below 138 percent of the federal poverty line. The hope was to increase the sales tax from 4.70 to 4.85 percent to finance the state’s portion of the costs to expand Medicaid. Utah State Legislature in 2018 session modified and set up a restricted Medicaid expansion plan the bill being called SB 96, Medicaid Expansion Adjustments. The bill includes approximately 70,000 additional people under coverage—compared to the estimated 150,000 that would gain coverage under traditional expansion. The alternative version needs special approval from the federal government to become effective. Governor Gary R. Herbert signed the bill on Monday, February 11 and issued the following statement: “SB 96 balances Utah’s sense of compassion and frugality. It provides quality coverage to the same population covered by Proposition 3 in a meaningful, humane and sustainable way. It is now time to set aside differences and move forward to get those in greatest need enrolled on Medicaid and on the federal health care exchanges.”

Basin Now

Basin Clinic Named Vernal Chamber Business of the Month

Feb 14, 2019 · Basin Now · News

The Vernal Chamber of Commerce has presented the Basin Clinic as the Business of the Month for February. The clinic was founded in 1962 by Dr. Paul Stringham to be a family practice that could offer a variety of medical care for the Basin. In 1987, Dr. Karl Breitenbach joined the clinic. When Dr. Stringham retired in 1992 there was an overwhelming need for more help so Dr. Breitenbach reached out to Dr. Rodney Anderson to set up a business plan for the Basin Clinic.

Basin Now

Duchesne County Indian Canyon Road Project Receives Award

Feb 14, 2019 · Basin Now · News

A Duchesne County road project is the recipient of an award. Roads and Bridges is a 111-year-old trade publication focusing on transportation, construction and maintenance. In its February issue, the publication announced the winners of the Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association (ARRA) awards. The crews that worked on U.S. 191 through Indian Canyon received the award in the cold-in place (CIR)recycling category.

Basin Now

Stream Treatment Plans for High Uintas Aim at Helping Colorado River Cutthroat

Feb 14, 2019 · Basin Now · News

The Division of Wildlife Resources and U.S. Forest Service have provided an update on their plans to treat waters in the High Uintas to remove nonnative fish and then reintroduce native cutthroat trout to the streams and lakes. DWR Regional Outreach Manager Tonya Kieffer-Selby says that even with the treatments, there will be hundreds of miles of high Uinta mountain streams to fish brook trout and other trout species. “Brook trout will still be stocked in many of the same places, just not in the four proposed project watersheds,” she explains. The final Environmental Impact Statement for this proposed project will soon be available for public review. The treatments would occur from 2022 to 2034.

Basin Now

Impairment and Speed Believed to be Contributors in Highway 40 Crash

Feb 14, 2019 · Basin Now · News

Utah Highway Patrol reports that impairment and speed are believed to be the main contributors in a crash on Highway 40 on Wednesday that temporarily closed the roadway. According to the Utah Highway Patrol report, the accident occured on westbound Highway 40 near milepost 66 at around 1pm when a male driver of a pickup did not adjust his speed appropriately for the snow packed roads and heavy snowfall.