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Local news from across the Uintah Basin.

Basin Now

2019 Uintah Basin Water Summit Coming to Town

Dec 31, 2018 · Basin Now · News

As we enter the new year of 2019 we can be sure that water legislation will be a hot topic. It is projected that by 2065 Utah’s population will be doubled. As a desert state, water will be scarce so finding innovate and more effective ways to conserve this vital resource is always needed. A legislative report states that part of the problem is that it will cost $18 billion dollars to update the current water infrastructure and an additional $15 billion dollars for new infrastructure to aid the growing population. Local stakeholders will focus on water topics at the 2019 Uintah Basin Water Summit coming up. It will be held Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 at the Uintah Conference Center. Registration starts at 8:00am with Continental Breakfast and the conference starting at 9:00am. There will be informative and interesting programs throughout the day with a lunch served at noon. For more information, contact Cheryl Meier at 435-781-5483 or by email at cmeier@uintah.utah.gov.

Basin Now

Naples Second Annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show Tonight

Dec 31, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Naples City is known for its family values and sense of community. It’s also now known as the place for fireworks! Tonight is the second annual New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Naples City put on by Ashley Acre Lights/Blast Pyro. Naples hosted successful fireworks shows for July 24th and New Year’s Eve in 2017 and Naples City Council approved shows again for 2018.

Basin Now

3 Snowmobilers Fall Through Ice On Strawberry Reservoir; All Survive

Dec 31, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Thankfully all survived an accident on the ice of Strawberry Reservoir on Saturday morning. According to Wasatch County Search and Rescue, a party heading out for some ice fishing, traveling on snowmobiles across the ice, fell through at around 8:30am. There was one male driving his own snowmobile with a husband and wife following on a second snowmobile when the party “happened upon a spot at the reservoir that had little ice coverage.

Basin Now

Local Pediatrician Presents at Chamber of Commerce Luncheon

Dec 28, 2018 · Basin Now · News

At a recent Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Doctor Daniel Kwak, a Neonatologist from Ashley Regional Medical Center, gave a historical overview of medical newborn care and local services offered. Although harrowing while going through it, baby mortality rates have decreased immensely. In the late 1800’s, the mortality rate for mother AND baby was 75-80%. The mortality rates now are at 15-16% and are mostly caused by drug use and disease. The care for newborns is broken down to four levels: Level I – Well Newborn Nursery normal/regular newborn care, Level II – Special Care Nursery, Level III – NICU, and Level IV, Regional NICU which is the highest level of care for babies who need special surgery for birth defects and other disorders. The Ashley Regional Medical Center is a Level II care unit and can provide extensive services to new born babies 32 weeks and above. Dr. Kwak is also affiliated with with Primary Children’s in Salt Lake City which provides Level IV care.

Basin Now

Vernal Airport Home to Specialized Piece of Equipment

Dec 28, 2018 · Basin Now · News

The Vernal Regional Airport is home to a very specialized piece of equipment. It is called the ARFF truck which stands for Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting truck. These specialized fire trucks are different than municipal trucks used by fire departments. A few key differences include the amount of gallons of water it carries (1,500 gallons), the ARFF’s ability to carry a higher capacity of firefighting “agents” (500 pounds of dry chemical and 200 gallons of Aqueous Film Forming Foam), and finally an ARFF can accelerate from 0 to 50 miles in 25 seconds or less and is required to reach a top speed of at least 70 miles per hour. In contrast, municipal trucks must be able to accelerate for 0 to 35 miles per hour in 25 seconds and reach top speed of at least 50 miles per hour. “It is a very unique truck,” shares Airport Manager Doug Brown, “and we are very lucky to have it.”

Basin Now

Annual Electronics Recycling Event Underway

Dec 28, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Certified destruction of data on computers and devices is not easy to come by but a window of opportunity is now open. The Vernal Chamber Conservation Committee is holding their annual electronics recycling event. Electronics can be dropped off for recycling for free at the Vernal Chamber Office and at TriCounty Health Department locations.

Basin Now

Christmas Eve House Fire in Craig Takes Life of 3-Year-Old

Dec 28, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Keep a Moffat County family in your prayers. The holiday season was marred when a fire broke out in a residential home on Monday, December 24th, the Craig Daily Press reports. Scanner traffic identified that the home had a family of four and the 3-year-old child was lost in the fire. “About 10:20, officers were dispatched to a house fire,” Craig Police Captain Bill Leonard said. “They were informed that there was a child still inside. They attempted several times to get in and were pushed back at every attempt and could not get to the room where the child was.” An emergency responder sustained minor injuries trying to get to the child and was treated at the scene. It is not known what caused the fire but the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is completing an arson investigation. The Red Cross is providing support and taking care of immediate needs of the family. Those that wish to help can contact Karen Brown, the director of The Community Budget Center, at 970-824-7898 or drop off donations at the center.

Basin Now

Uintah County Part of Changes for Indigent Defense System

Dec 28, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Things are changing in the way indigent defense services are being provided in the State of Utah. It is, in part, because of Uintah County. The county was one of ten counties that were part of a 124-page report from the Sixth Amendment Center. The report documented challenges and successes of indigent defense services throughout Utah. The report lead the state Legislature to create the Utah Indigent Defense Commission in 2016. The IDC is starting to gain the roots to provide real change. Governor Gary Herbert has committed a historic increase of $5 million dollars to his budget for fiscal year 2020 to fund IDC. According to IDC Director Joanna Landau, that means that, if adopted by lawmakers, Uintah Basin counties could apply for supplemental funding to start in July 2019. “The IDC also offers other resources to local governments, in addition to funding,” shares Landau, “to help each contract for and provide constitutionally-effective defense services and sufficient defense resources to their constituents.”

Basin Now

Grinches Vandalize Decorations in Yards Throughout Uintah County

Dec 27, 2018 · Basin Now · News

Homes and yards with Christmas decorations around Uintah County were vandalized over recent days. Local law enforcement confirmed that areas were hit by vandals including on Christmas Day. One victim took to Facebook hoping to get help finding the culprits, even offering a $3,000 dollar reward. Jessy Mckee says he and his four-year-old daughter worked hard to put together the display in their yard. Part of their Christmas morning was sadly spent discovering that four of their inflatables and the timers on the lights display were destroyed, the damage adding up to at least $800 dollars. The Mckees were not alone, with many other homes experiencing damage of their own. Law enforcement would appreciate any information on the vandalism from the public and encourages citizens to report any suspicious activity to Central Dispatch at 435-789-4222.

Basin Now

The Gift of Road Safety

Dec 27, 2018 · Basin Now · News

It might not be the gift we were asking for but Utah was given a wonderful present just before Christmas. Utah Department of Transportation reported that we had a 10 consecutive day stretch with zero fatalities on the road. As a state we have not gone more the than seven days without road fatalities since January 2016. John Gleason, the public information officer for UDOT, implores the public, “This is something that we can do. We just had 10 days without anyone dying on our roads. And if we can do 10 days, why can’t we do another 10 days?” Distractions are a big part of the problem, as are not wearing seatbelts. Even though 88% of drivers wear their seatbelts, it’s the 12% that do not wear them that is the number one cause of death. “In 2018, we shouldn’t have to have this conversation anymore,” Gleason said. “But that’s still the number one cause of deaths on our roads — people not buckling up.”