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KNEU 1250The identity of a Dinosaur, Colorado woman who died in an accident in Dinosaur National Monument has been released. According to an updated press release from Park Ranger Sonya Popelka, 18-year-old Maria Blakley was found deceased at the scene of a single vehicle accident along Harpers Corner Road.
Lightning is to blame for a fire in Uintah County that started over the weekend. According to Uintah County Fire Marshal Jeremy Raymond, a lightning strike near Blue Mountain caused the blaze on Saturday evening which was initially reported as 3 acres. Crews from Jensen Fire Department, BLM, and the state responded.
The fires throughout the region didn’t keep citizens from celebrating with fireworks in areas throughout the Basin. According to the Uintah Fire District, fire crews in Uintah County responded to 5 calls related to fireworks during Wednesday’s celebrations. Vernal City Fire had 3 calls, Naples City Fire had 1 call, and Lapoint-Tridell Fire Department had 1 call.
Utah Fire Info provided an update on the Dollar Ridge Fire on July 5th. At that time, the Dollar Ridge Fire had reached 42,000 acres and was 4 percent contained. 402 personnel were fighting the fire including 6 Type 1 crews, 4 Type 2 crews, 11 engines, 10 helicopters, and 9 dozers.
The Ducks Unlimited Fishing Derby on Flaming Gorge last month raised funds for North American waterfowl conservation. The event, held June 21st and 22nd, raised over $20,000 dollars.“Our 7th Annual derby had great success!” shared Committee Chairman Jordynn Hewitt.
Hundreds of our Uintah Basin neighbors have been displaced after evacuating their properties due to the Dollar Ridge Fire. Shelters have been set up with the Red Cross providing for disaster emergency needs but there are many ways the community can help. These families are in need of housing for free or extensively reduced rates, utilities assistance, and various new home items.
The annual Redmud Run in Roosevelt on the 4th of July had a thoroughly colorful start and finish. Color powder was set up at the Constitution Park stage where the runners take off. In a puff of neon yellow, pink, blue, and green, the group ran the perimeter of the grass where they encountered a massive slip-n-slide, pools of water, sprinklers, and other water fun.
A terrifying situation has gotten worse now that the Dollar Ridge Fire has jumped Highway 40 after continuing growth for the third day in a row. According to a fact sheet on the fire distributed on July 4th, the fire was human caused and started on July 1st. It has reached over 54 square miles or 35,000 acres and was 1 percent contained as of Wednesday morning.
One local couple took making memories to a whole other level on the 4th of July holiday by pulling off the most amazing and unique surprise that ever ended in “I Do.” The happy couple, Leroy and Shana Davis, wanted to make their marriage something memorable for their blended family. The couple worked with Stone Hollow and Kean Photography for just 6 days to plan the epic wedding surprise in which all their family and friends would witness as it took place on a float during the Vernal 4th of July parade.
Fires in the Uintah Basin are affecting air quality and TriCounty Health urges all to take precautions. “Anyone with a chronic heart or respiratory ailments are most at risk,” shares TriCounty Medical Advisor, Dr. Karl Breitenbach. “These individuals should take appropriate precautions and measures to protect themselves from unnecessary exposure to wildfire pollutants in order to protect their health.”
Reminders of an upcoming local Vernal event are all around town. “Dinah” the dinosaur, in her retro orange getup, has become the mascot of the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo. In a favorite annual competition, decorated Dinahs are on display at Uintah County businesses as a fun reminder that the rodeo is coming up.
It was a nerve wracking time for the friends and family of an elderly woman from Arizona who went missing in Fort Duchesne on Saturday. According to BIA Ft. Duchesne Police Department, 73-year-old Sharon Wakayuta walked away from a residence in the La Mesa subdivision in Ft. Duchesne wearing pajama style shirt and pants.