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An act aimed at helping rural areas like the Uintah Basin was introduced this week as H.R. 3400, the “Recreation Not Red-Tape Act” or “RNR Act.” As Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Representative Rob Bishop introduced the RNR Act to promote increased access to outdoor recreation opportunities on federal lands and boost rural economies across the country. 

The Uintah County Commission submitted a letter on Friday requesting that SkyWest Airlines be awarded the bid for the Vernal Regional Airport. The letter, submitted to the Essential Air Service Division in Washington, DC, says that the decision was reached after considerable review and that the vote taken on Friday supports the selection of SkyWest Airlines for service between Vernal Regional Airport and Denver International. SkyWest and present carrier, Boutique Airlines, both bid for the contract and both made presentations to local officials in a meeting held last week. In the letter issued Friday, Uintah County Commission Chair Bill Stringer refers to SkyWest’s “many attractive advantages” including the use of a CRJ-200 jet that they believe will lead to more enplanements. The letter also explains that the airport expanded runway project will soon be complete. “One of the appeals of this major investment was the ability to attract reliable jet aircraft service into Vernal such as SkyWest,” shares Chairman Stringer, who emphasizes that diligent work will be done to secure the return of TSA to the local terminal to enable convenient and attractive air travel to and from Vernal. Boutique Air’s contact is up in March 2018.

While it has been a year full of challenges in Daggett County, the Commissioners are sending a clear message of hope to its residents. “There is no doubt we’ve been bruised and bent a little due to some of the issues we have had to deal with this year,” shared the Commissioners in their August newsletter. “We are convinced that Daggett County has the resilience and problem solving skills to get through all of the issues still on the burner.” 80 state inmates were removed from the Daggett County Jail in February after the Sheriff notified the Utah Department of Corrections of a situation he had been made aware of and asked them to investigate. In the months that followed, charges came forward against 4 deputies and the Sheriff. Daggett County has faced the situation head on. “The Jail and the issues surrounding that facility are in the capable hands of our new Sheriff, Erik Bailey, and his staff with the support of the rest of the County leaders,” continued the Commissioners. “The opportunity to reevaluate the use of the building for other purposes is currently on the forefront of many of our discussions.” 

If you haven’t completed your Hunter Education course but want to hunt this fall, the Division of Wildlife Services recommends getting it done. Some of the state’s hunts are starting soon including five upland game hunts that start on September 1st. To hunt in Utah, everyone born after December 31st, 1965 must complete the state’s Hunter Education course or participate in the Trial Hunting program. 

When it comes to small businesses, there is more help out there than many realize. Nicole Robinson, regional manager for the Center for Workforce Development, presented at the Vernal Chamber meeting on Tuesday with a message for local businesses: come and see how their programs can help your business. The Center for Workforce Development is a service under the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and its eastern branch serves Daggett, Duchesne, Uintah, Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan Counties. Robinson explained that consultations with local businesses has resulted in lucrative contracts awarded, one recently for $48,000 dollars. “My biggest challenge in the Vernal area,” shares Robinson, “is small businesses don’t know about the services we provide…Our main goal is to educate [small business owners] that we are a resource available to them.” Any small businesses interested in being mentored or that need help applying for government contracts are invited to call 435-613-5254. 

Alcohol was a factor in a head on fatal crash on I-70 Sunday night caused by a Roosevelt woman. According to the Colorado State Patrol, 57-year-old Sarah Hartman was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-70 when her Ford Taurus hit head-on with a Chevy Impala driven by a Fruita woman near mile marker 38.

A stranded party of boaters are safe after spending a night on the shore of Flaming Gorge. According to Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell, the Sheriff’s Office was contacted at about 10:45pm Sunday night by a Colorado woman in the area of Big Firehole.