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Local news from across the Uintah Basin.

Basin Now

Annual ‘Breakfast With Santa’ This Saturday

Dec 12, 2019 · Basin Now · News

This Saturday, December 14th, is the Christmas memory making event you won’t want to miss:the annual’ Breakfast with Santa’. “Breakfast with Santa was started nearly two decades ago by the Uintah Recreation District and Vernal City as an annual ‘Thank you’ to the entire community!” shares event organizer Ron Litton. “The Elks Lodge has done the cooking every single year, Davis Food & Drug has donated the food to be cooked, along with food donations from some of their major suppliers.

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USU Uintah Basin Professor Participates in Reintegrating Biology Initiative

Dec 12, 2019 · Basin Now · News

A USU Uintah Basin Professor recently joined with researchers from across the country to participate in a Reintegrating Biology Initiative. Biology Professor Dr. Charles Hanifin was one of 50 participants chosen for the event that took place in Austin, Texas. “It was a great opportunity to collaborate with other biologists in subdisciplines to identify new research that can be done by working together [and] tapping into each scientists’ unique perspective,” shares Hanifin.

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Representative Bishop Applauds Passage of Defense Bill

Dec 12, 2019 · Basin Now · News

Utah’s Representative Rob Bishop is applauding the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 which has specific Utah impacts. Some items in the bill include securing a 3.1 percent pay raise for the troops, the establishment of the United States Space Force, and continued rebuilding of the military. The Utah specific items that Congressman Bishop helped secure include a land transfer to facilitate a new entrance in and around Hill Air Force Base, a Ground Based Strategic Deterrent project that will be based out of Hill Air Force Base, and the purchase of over 90 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

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Rangely Police Release Surveillance Videos of Burglaries

Dec 12, 2019 · Basin Now · News

Calling residents throughout the region. The Rangely Police Department has released several short surveillance videos of burglaries and are hoping someone will recognize the individuals in the videos. In a press release updated on December 11th, Rangely Police shared that the surveillance videos were of burglaries that took place at the True Value in Rangely on September 30th and November 4th. They announced that there is a combined reward of up to $10,000 dollars for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.

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Chair for Tax Reform Task Force Presents at Vernal Chamber Luncheon

Dec 11, 2019 · Basin Now · News

“The state of Utah does not have a money problem. It has a distribution problem.” That point was made more than once by Representative Francis Gibson who presented on Utah’s tax reform at the Vernal Chamber of Commerce luncheon held on Tuesday at the Uintah Conference Center. Gibson is a co-chairman on the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force and his presentation on Tuesday broke down the latest numbers in the proposal that will offer a $160 million dollar net tax decrease for Utahns. Gibson explained in detail the line items of tax increases equalling $480 million dollars and the tax decreases equalling $640 million dollars.

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Sub For Seniors Brings Cheer to Lonely and Forgotten; More Donations Needed

Dec 11, 2019 · Basin Now · News

In its 5th year, the Sub For Seniors program is working hard to ensure that none of the precious senior citizens in the community feel isolated or forgotten this Christmas season. The amazing group of volunteers that make it happen each year will be collecting items through December 17th and deliveries will take place starting on December 19th. Sub For Seniors coordinator Tiffany Cole Henline has been grateful to see the program grow each year, with the first year bringing cheer to 93 local seniors and this year hoping to serve 240! “I love this time of year because I am able to be part of this Sub for Seniors effort and have been able to see first hand just how much it helps these lonely and forgotten community members,” shares Tiffany.

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Roosevelt Schools Conduct Lock Down Drills on Tuesday

Dec 11, 2019 · Basin Now · News

The Duchesne County School District held lockdown drills for all Roosevelt schools on Tuesday morning. According to their announcement, the drill was a success. “The purpose of the drill was to test the radio communications equipment that Roosevelt area schools use to share information in the event of an actual emergency,” shared the District. “Lock down procedures were implemented briefly, law enforcement officers responded as they would in an emergency, and all equipment was successfully tested. The district wishes to thank students and staff for their excellent cooperation, Roosevelt Police Department for their response, and the public for their understanding while the drill was underway.”

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TriCounty Health Department Reminds Basin About Carbon Monoxide

Dec 11, 2019 · Basin Now · News

TriCounty Health Department reminds the Uintah Basin that carbon monoxide is called the invisible killer, as the gas is invisible, odorless, and colorless. It is created when fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil and methane are burned incompletely. U.S. fire departments estimate that last year they responded to 80,100 carbon monoxide incidents which average out to be nine calls per hour. Some tips for safety are to be sure that alarms are installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards.

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Hatcheries Key to DWR Fish Stocking Efforts Each Year

Dec 11, 2019 · Basin Now · News

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources had a busy year stocking fish species in an effort to enhance fishing in the state. In 2019, over 10 million fish were stocked into 603 waterbodies in the state totalling more than 1.1 million pounds of fish. 9.4 million of the fish used for restocking come from the 13 fish hatchery facilities across the state, including those in northeastern Utah. "Our hatcheries are important because they provide the majority of the fish that we stock in Utah," shares DWR sportfish coordinator Randy Oplinger. "Stocking is a crucial management tool that we use to provide Utahns with the numbers and species of fish that they desire."

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Ute Indian Tribe Issues Press Release on Banished Tribal Members Court Case

Dec 10, 2019 · Basin Now · News

The Ute Indian Tribe has issued a press release dated December 4th regarding a federal court case that had been filed against the Tribe by banished tribal members. The release shares that “On December 3rd, 2019, the United States District Court for the District of Utah, Judge Dale A. Kimball presiding, dismissed a case, Angelita M. Chegup, [versus the] Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, filed by four members of the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation who had been banished by the Tribe in 2018.

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Uintah Animal Control Gathering Estray, Abandoned and/or Nuisance Horses

Dec 10, 2019 · Basin Now · News

The Uintah Animal Control and Shelter Special Service District announced Monday that they will be conducting periodic drives and gathers “to reduce the growing number of estray, abandoned and/or nuisance horses living on open range in specific areas of the county.” The Uintah County Commission approved an executive order on December 9th directing the District to gather the horses within the project area. In order to comply with the order the District plans to conduct periodic drives and gathers from January 6th through April 1st. The project area stretches from the Colorado-Utah state line to the border with Ute Tribal lands and from the White River in the south area of Uintah County to the Green River in the north.

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All Invited Today: Possible Far Reaching Effects of Tax Bill on Uintah Basin

Dec 10, 2019 · Basin Now · News

It's a special Vernal Chamber Luncheon today at noon and all are invited to come learn about a topic very important to the Uintah Basin economy and livelihood. The Vernal Chamber shares that the presenter for the luncheon is Francis Gibson, State House of Representatives Majority Leader and Co-Chair of the Tax Committee. “He will be presenting on the Tax Reform Bill that is currently being considered in the Utah State Legislature,” shares the Chamber. “This bill has far reaching effects on our area. We need to be informed on what it contains and what it will need. Please come and invite others to come with you.” Uintah County is providing the lunch at the event taking place today, Tuesday, December 10th, at the Uintah Conference Center at Noon.