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Basin Now

USU-Uintah Basin Student Works Summer for USDA Wildlife Service

Sep 26, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The combination of job experience with a University degree can give a new graduate a leg up when applying for jobs. One USU-Uintah Basin student is counting his blessing for the internship he was able to experience this summer. Morgan Larsen worked for the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service as part of the Berryman Institute Scholarship he had received. “The internship was my first job in wildlife management,” shares Larsen.

Basin Now

Missouri Sex Offender Arrested at Rock Springs Area Playground

Sep 26, 2018 · Basin Now · News

A Missouri man wanted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was arrested at a Rock Springs area playground last week. According to Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, 23-year-old Cody Lynn Cotter was taken into custody by deputies after residents reported a suspicious person in the area around the playground. When approached by deputies, Cotter reported he had come into the area that day by bus seeking work. A routine check showed that Cotter was wanted in Missouri for Failure to Register on the Missouri sex offender registry. Sheriff Mike Lowell clarified that there were no children playing at the playground at the time of Cotter’s arrest. His return to Missouri to face charges there is pending.

Basin Now

Wild Sandhill Cranes Abundant in the Uintah Basin

Sep 25, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Sandhill cranes are a sight to behold and they are in abundance in the Uintah Basin this year. The Division of Wildlife Resources held a successful day long viewing event on Saturday. The event started at the Jensen Nature Park, made a stop at the Uintah County Library for activities, and then an auto tour to the crane’s roosting grounds at Pelican Lake and the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. The sandhill cranes are among the world’s largest migratory birds standing around 4 feet tall and with a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet across. Their cries can be heard over 2 miles away. Biologists estimate that currently there are around 1,200 sandhill cranes in the Uintah Basin and by the time the birds peak in November there will be as many as 5,000 cranes to have stopped by the Uintah Basin during migration this year.

Basin Now

Basin Handlers and their Canines Compete at the 2018 UPOA K-9 Trials

Sep 25, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The 2018 Utah Peace Officer’s Association K-9 Trials were held earlier this month and Uintah Basin officers and their canines represented well. 48 teams attended the competition from around the state. Jared Harrison with Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office and his 4-year-old Belgian Malinois Kimber had the best score in the narcotic vehicle search and took 5th place in Agility.

Basin Now

State Forester on Costly Wildfire Season and Need to Focus on Prevention

Sep 25, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The lives of Uintah Basin residents have been affected by the extreme wildfire season and unfortunately, it isn’t over yet. State Forester Brian Cottam made a report last week and offered some sobering information. The Herald Journal reports that according to Cottam, on average each season, wildfire suppression in Utah burns around 125,000 acres and carries a price tag of $50 million dollars but this season in Utah 245,000 acres have burned and it has cost the state $100 million dollars and the season isn’t even over.

Basin Now

DWS Release Updated Unemployment Numbers By County

Sep 25, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The Utah Department of Workforce Services has updated county unemployment numbers for the state. Daggett County ticked down from 4.8 to 4.7 percent unemployment. Duchesne County shifted up slightly from 4.8 to 4.9 percent while Uintah County stayed the same at 4.9 percent.

Basin Now

DWR: Chukar Population Lower This Year

Sep 24, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The number of chukars are down this year but that isn’t surprising biologists with the Division of Wildlife Resources. Upland game coordinator Jason Robinson says chukars follow a population cycle that lasts about nine to ten year during which the population remains stable for about 8 years, then skyrockets for one year, after which numbers lower to the long term average.

Basin Now

Vernal City Council on Board with Dino Trails Committee Trails Master Plan

Sep 24, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Years of brainstorming, studies, and collaboration have paid off as the Dino Trails Committee has presented their final Trails Master Plan to local stakeholders. Sunrise Engineering presented the final plan to the Vernal City Council during their September 4th meeting and Vernal City Council gave the plan their final approval during their September 18th meeting.