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KNEU 1250Students are hard at work on Uintah High’s upcoming production of Starlight Express and they are doing a lot more than just memorizing lines and practicing music. In fact, the entire cast is working to master their roller skating skills for the production and spent much of Saturday practicing in the gym of the Vernal Middle School with a special instructor.
When Duchesne County Commissioner Ronald Winterton began his pursuit to represent District 26 in the Utah State Senate race, it was under assurance from the Attorney General and Lt. Governor that he could continue to serve as a commissioner.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has called Utah’s current crisis with opioid overdoses and deaths an epidemic. With the rates of deaths from overdose well beyond that of motor vehicle collisions and firearms, the Basin can see why that is. This last Saturday, 50 plus people took part in the Naloxone training offered at the conference center. Naloxone helps stop opioid overdoses by binding to the receptors and stops the flooding of dopamine to the brain.
One man is in jail after a physical altercation that ended with him stabbing his father. According to Vernal PD, police were dispatched to a report of a stabbing at 930 North Vernal Avenue on Saturday. “ Upon arrival, the Victim was identified as Jeffery Olsen,” shares Vernal PD. “Jeffrey had multiple stab wounds to his torso and arm and shoulder. The suspect was identified as Jeffrey’s 18-year-old son, Tristan Olsen. Investigation revealed that Jeffrey and Tristan had gotten into an argument at the residence, and that the argument escalated into a physical confrontation. During the altercation, Tristan stabbed his father numerous times.” Jeffery Olsen was transported to the Emergency Room at Ashley Regional Medical Center before being transferred to a Salt Lake area hospital. He was last reported in stable condition. Tristan Olsen was booked into the Uintah County Jail on second degree felony Attempted Homicide.
The Roosevelt branch library is developing a wonderful tradition of having great parties. On Saturday they had a Captain Underpants Epic First Party. Anyone familiar with Captain Underpants knows that the books are about friends, imagination and a hefty dose of potty humor.
For any individual that has had the desire to learn sign language, the Uintah County Library has the class for you… and it is free. The class is designed for family and friends of those that are hard of hearing and/or suffering from late-deafness. Individuals will learn signs in English every week while reviewing in an easy, supportive environment of conversation. Please note that this class is not geared for in-depth conversation with those in Deaf Culture rather it will students help build a working vocabulary. Part 1 of the class will be on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8pmstarting January 15th through March 5th. The class will be using the book Easy Guide to American Sign Language: Learn the Basics Fast by Lora Heller. To register for the class, contact Francy Davis at 435-790-1956.
The new year has brought a very special gift to the Uintah Basin. On Wednesday, January 23rd, the Utah Symphony will be coming to Vernal. In 2017 the Utah Symphony played at the Dinosaur National Monument and had an unprecedented turn out of support. This time the symphony will put on a free concert at the Vernal Middle School at 7:30pm. There will only be 1000 seats available and no tickets will be issued, shares Lesha Coltharp, Uintah County Travel and Tourism Director. It is a first come, first serve event. Some of the featured songs are by the masters including Beethoven, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart, Britten, Copland and Falla. It will certainly be a night to remember! Photo Credit: USUO.org
An ACLU lawsuit, suing Daggett County and individuals associated with the inmate abuse scandal, will move forward in federal court. The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah announced in May that the lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dustin Porter and Steven Drollette, two former Daggett County Jail inmates. Other inmates including Joshua Asay joined the lawsuit, according to the Utah Investigative Journalism Project. The complaint states that the inmates are seeking “damages and injunctive relief for a pattern of severe cruelty against them while they were incarcerated at the Daggett County Jail.” The complaints describe being shocked by a Taser as entertainment, being attacked by police dogs, being subject to physical assault, threatened with a gun, and denied medical and mental health care. They also contend that State and County employees and officials were aware of the pattern of abuse but failed to take action. Judge Kimball of U.S. District Court denied the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss in a ruling issued on Friday. A hearing on the motion was held on December 18th where the court took the Motion under advisement and issued the Memorandum Decision and Order on Friday.
It was a weekend of hot competition and hard fought matches at the Tournament of Champions at Vernal’s Western Park over the weekend. 31 teams with a total of about 630 wrestlers competed in the tournament coming from around Utah and surrounding states.
It was a night to remember for the Uintah swim team at the Wasatch swim meet on Thursday. While majority of the Ute swimmers broke personal best times during the meet, one young man had an especially banner night.
These ain’t your usual singing nuns! Nunsense, a musical comedy, opens tonight at Vernal Theatre: LIVE. Nunsense features ‘a hilarious talent show staged by five survivors of the Little Sisters of Hoboken nunnery. The high energy talent of Taunia Wheeler, Claire Owens, Nashelle Jackson, Carrie Chapman, and Cami Harrison make up the cast of spunky nuns.
The small town of Tabiona lost one of its residents in a house fire Thursday. According to the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office, flames engulfed the home of 66-year-old Rickey Evin Wilberg early Thursday morning. Firefighters responded but tragically Wilberg did not get out and his body was recovered Thursday afternoon.