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KNEU 1250Local news from across the Uintah Basin.
The incorporation of a Resource Management Plan into the Uintah County General Plan was delayed this week during Commission meeting as final adjustments are made. The plan is the product of many months of work and collaboration as a document that sets forth county policies for the use of public lands.
Fall isn’t that far off and the Division of Wildlife Resources is making it easy to prepare for the upland game hunt. A free printed copy of the 2017 – 2018 Utah Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook is now available at hunting license agent locations and DWR offices around the state. The free guidebook includes hunting rules, season dates, and bag limits among other valuable information. DWR game coordinator Jason Robinson says it doesn’t matter if someone is an experienced hunter or not, upland game hunting offers something for everyone. “Finding time to hunt can be tough but upland game seasons are long, giving you plenty of time to get outside, relax and clear your head,” shares Robinson, who also emphasizes that upland game hunts are also less strenuous and produce a delicious payoff. “In addition to being extremely healthy,” says Robinson, “upland game birds and animals are among the tastiest wild game you you can put on your table.” To access or print off your own guidebook, visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.
Uintah County is among the first counties in the state to have mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus and TriCounty Health is urging the public to take prevention seriously. West Nile was first detected in the Naples area in a test sampling on June 30th and then a second sampling of mosquitoes tested positive in the Ouray area on July 11th.
You may increase your odds of catching record size fish by hitting up Flaming Gorge this summer. The Division of Wildlife Resources announced this month that a new Utah catch-and-release fishing record has been set on the reservoir.
The results of the Roger Brooks assessment are in and it’s time to learn what Brooks and his team found out while secret shopping the Vernal area. Uintah County, Vernal City, Naples City and the Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce gathered support at the beginning of the year to fund the unique community assessment program. Roger Brooks International has a growing reputation for providing in depth analysis of communities from the objective viewpoint of a first-time visitor. The assessment begins weeks beforehand as the company explores the accessibility of information about the community and the ease of planning for a trip to the area. Once the team arrives they work as secret shoppers and tourists assessing the community for attractability to newcomers, investors and tourists. The week long visit ultimately produces a lengthy report scoring 60 items that are considered critical to the economic success of any community. Roger Brooks International is ready to present on their secret shopper experience in Uintah County. The presentation is taking place Friday, July 28th, at 8:30am at the Uintah Conference Center. Call the Uintah County Office of Travel and Tourism for more information.
Governor Gary Herbert announced this week his plan to take a rural jobs tour around the state over the next several weeks and the Uintah Basin is among his stops. The tour is part of the governor’s initiative to create 25,000 jobs in 25 rural counties outside the Wasatch Front over the next four years. “I will not rest until all 29 counties experience the same economic success,” shares Governor Herbert. “I challenge Utah businesses from across the state to come together. Utahns are hardworking and creative, and by working together we can find innovative solutions.” The tour will stop in each rural county for half a day meeting with representatives from industry, education, and government. The Governor is scheduled to be in Daggett County and Uintah County on August 17th. More dates and locations will be announced. Visit www.25kjobs.com for more information.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for a Duchesne County man charged with raping a child and suspected of faking his own death after being charged. 37-year-old Ted Lee Whitehead turned himself into police last April stating that he had a warrant out for his arrest. Court records show that Whitehead was charged in Duchesne County last year with 1 count of 1st Degree Felony Rape for an alleged offense on March 4th, 2016 as well as 1 count of 1st Degree Felony Rape of a Child for an alleged offense on June 1st, 2012. Court records show that the victim of the 2012 offense was a 12 year old child while the 2016 offense was a 15 year old minor. Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office confirms it is the same child. Whitehead had quickly posted bail after his arrest in 2016 and shortly after had told his mother of his plan to kill himself by jumping off a bridge into the Green River in Uintah County. Investigators later found Whitehead’s vehicle, a pair of sandals and an empty whiskey bottle at the river’s edge though no body was ever found. Last November, a laptop was mailed to the victim’s home along with a letter stating it was a gift from Google. The victim and the family suspected it was from Whitehead and forensic analysis showed that the laptop contained child pornography and journal entries about the victim. Whitehead is scheduled to be in 8th District Court on September 18th for a preliminary hearing in the two rape cases.
The Duchesne County Fair is just around the corner and kids and adults alike are getting excited for the events. Big events kick off Friday, August 4th with a night of barrel racing and Saturday, August 5th is the Junior Rodeo. Monday kicks off with the Arena Cross Show and Tuesday things heat up with the livestock show, pig wrestling, baby show, roping, and the movie night. Wednesday night is the Terri Clark concert with preshow at 7pm. Thursday is the livestock auction and sale as well as the derby while Friday includes the talent show, start of the all night softball tournament, and the rodeo. Saturday includes cowboy mounted shooting, horse pulls, the parade, rodeo and fireworks! “The fair provides the old fashioned fun stuff that people love,” shares Duchesne County Chamber Director Irene Hansen. “There has been so many improvements made to the fair grounds because the fair is so important to the county and the community’s identity. This will be another magical fair.” View a full schedule of events at www.duchesnecountyfair.com.
The identity has been released of the man who died Saturday after his inflatable kayak capsized on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument. The man has been identified as 66-year-old Michael Brinks from Craig, Colorado. The accident happened at about 2:00pm on July 15th. The man was on a two-person private trip using inflatable kayaks on the Yampa River when the kayaker hit a rock in Tepee Rapid and capsized. The man was wearing a personal flotation device but never resurfaced. “The reporting party kayaked 24 miles downstream to Hells Canyon Ranch to report the incident,” shares the Monument press release. “Monument staff were contacted just before 9:00pm on Saturday evening. Search and rescue efforts were launched Sunday morning.” Because of the accident’s remote location and low water levels, a helicopter was used to aid in the response. The kayaker’s body was found at 11:40am Sunday morning about 3 miles downstream from where he had last been seen. The recovered body was transported to the Moffat County Coroner.
Talent continues to meet opportunity for local youth composer Dante Zubel. As in years passed, Dante is winning awards including taking nationals in the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Composer contest.
A Sexually Transmitted Infection tops the list of the TriCounty Health monthly disease report. Chlamydia has grown in local cases each month and statistics show that sexually active young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are at the most risk.
Several charged in the Daggett County Jail abuse scandal made their first court appearance in Summit County this week. Former Sheriff Jerry Jorgensen, former Lt. Benjamin Lail, and former deputy Joshua Cox appeared briefly in 3rd District Court on Monday as their attorneys scheduled an upcoming hearing, reports KSL.