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KNEU 1250Local news from across the Uintah Basin.
The Uintah County Republican Central Committee has made it clear, they are against the County My Vote initiative and they are asking their party members to support the caucus system. “If Count My Vote has their way, the only method [to get a candidate on the ballot for elections] will be to collect signatures,” shares the party.
The NEPA process has started for a proposed project to extend Seep Ridge Road south to I-70 in Grand County. The NEPA process, as part of the National Environmental Policy Act, studies the potential consequences of proposed projects to ensure that any decisions made are environmentally sound.
November is National Diabetes Month and TriCounty Health Department is starting now to spread the message that resources are available locally to help individuals and families living with diabetes. There are a lot of locals with diabetes, explains TriCounty Health representative Ferron Young, and for the newly diagnosed it is a big change in the family so it’s good to reach out to others that have been through the same thing for support.
Public comment is being accepted on proposed changes to the air quality permit process for oil and gas wells in Utah. For several years, oil and gas permits have made up over half of the minor source permit requests submitted to the Division of Air Quality and the proposed changes are said to provide a more streamlined permitting approach to the process and use of DAQ’s resources.
Mustang Fuel Company out of Oklahoma City has a special way they give back to the Basin community and one that makes a significant impact for locals in need. Like they’ve done in years past, the company donated coveted tags this fall to the Trees for Charity Foundation that were auctioned off early this month to benefit the Turning Point Shelter in Vernal. Mustang Fuel Company has the exclusive hunting rights to 26,000 acres in the Book Cliffs so the two deer tags and one antelope tag they donated this year auctioned off for some serious cash. Bids began at $3,000 dollars each for the deer tags and $1,500 dollars for the antelope tag, explains Trees for Charity Foundation Chairman Guy Collett. Bids ended at $6,000 dollars each for the deer tags and $1,500 dollars for the antelope tag. The funds totalled $13,500 dollars and were presented to Turning Point Shelter Administrator Susie Anderson on Thursday afternoon. “Donations like this are just amazing,” shares Anderson. “We are always in need of anything you use in a household. When people come to the shelter they usually have nothing and these funds are so appreciated to help these people in their time of need.” Collett says the fundraising opportunity is a win-win situation for all involved with the hunters coming away with trophy bucks and the shelter getting big bucks. Mustang Fuel promises to continue donating big game tags in the future and is happy that the community can benefit from their gesture.
Additional help has been sought in the search for a Rangely man who has been missing since September. According to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, 66-year-old Peter Christian Ruffner has not been seen since Friday, September 29th.
Ghosts and goblins along with superheros and princesses will soon be swarming the Basin and Vernal Police Department is urging locals to make safety their top priority. Assistant Police Chief Keith Campbell promotes safety every year with reminders for parents, drivers, and trick-or-treaters.
The Uintah County Sheriff’s Office is the latest local law agency to announce that their officers are now trained in and equipped with an antidote to opiate overdose. Naloxone, more commonly referred to by its brand name Narcan, has been distributed to local law agencies thanks to a grant received by TriCounty Health Department
Five Michigan men are now in jail on drug charges after a traffic stop on I-80 Tuesday afternoon. According to Sheriff Mike Lowell, a deputy was patrolling around 4:00pm and pulled over an eastbound 2017 Dodge van with Kentucky license plates for following too closely and making unsafe lane changes.
A Uintah Basin man was honored this week during the 43rd annual Golden Key Awards held on October 24th. Sidney Smith of Vernal, a double amputee, was given the Ace Award for being a mentor to others with similar challenges as himself.
The USU-Uintah Basin nursing program has some impressive stats to brag about. The 2017 graduates completed the registered nurse licensure exam with a 100 percent pass rate for the second consecutive year. This year’s graduating class also achieved 100 percent job placement.
Ashley Regional Medical Center is the latest recipient of the Quality Award from HealthInsight, an independent quality organization. The award was presented to hospital representatives at a banquet on October 19th in St. George with Ashley Regional as one of ten hospitals in the state of Utah to be recognized. The HealthInsight Quality Award program was launched in September 2004 in order to promote transparency in health care. The award is for providers in nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies and physician offices. HealthInsight uses national rankings in determining the award recipients. Congratulations Ashley Regional Medical Center on being recognized for delivering quality care.