thePyramid We A r e S a n p e t e . c o m
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We A r e S a n p e t e . c o m Thursday, September 24, 2020 • Vol. 129, No. 39 • 75 cents
NSHS and Snow College COVID cases reported but under control BY MARCY CURTIS
MOUNT PLEASANT — One student at North Sanpete High School was notified Sunday morning that they had tested positive for COVID 19. In a letter from head football coach Rhett Bird to parents of team members it was confirmed that the student was a member of the varsity football team. Through contact tracing it was determined that a few team members also needed to self-quarantine until they had been tested for the virus. “All other players can continue practicing,” Bird’s letter said. A separate email sent out from North Sanpete High School to parents late Sunday evening said, “Because we
have been following our protocols with social distancing and face coverings, we do not anticipate large numbers of students needing to quarantine.” The letter also stated that if you were not contacted by the health department or the school district your child was not exposed and is not at risk. The student who tested positive was in contact with another known positive case not at the school. The Central Utah Public Health Department is working very closely with the district to make sure all the right protocols are made. “All close contacts have been notified of the need to quarantine where applicable,” said Nathan Selin, CUPHD
Executive Director. “CUPHD continues to work with the North Sanpete School District to contact trace any positive cases in the district.” As of September 21st there were 31 current cases in Sanpete County with 3 currently hospitalized and 173 cases have recovered. Of those numbers three current cases are associated with Snow College. Those who are associated with known cases have been isolated and close contacts have been placed under quarantine. Selin has been working very close with the Sanpete County commissioners to get Sanpete moved to green. There are four different matrix systems that a county needs to meet to be
moved up. Selin just last week submitted paperwork showing that we do meet those requirements to the commission and the county agreed for it to be sent to the state. With the jump in numbers across other parts of Utah, the request for Sanpete County to go green will likely be put on hold. “We are doing great in Sanpete County,” stated Selin. “The case numbers through community spread are low and we are moving in the right direction.” When asked how Sanpete schools are doing with the state guidelines Selin stated, “Schools have done and continue to do a great job. Our schools’ numbers are way lower than other areas and
it is because of the great administrators and students in the county. Everyone is doing their part and putting a great effort into keeping numbers low and schools and athletic events open.” Even with the recent small uptick in numbers Selin thinks that we as a county are certainly headed in the right direction. Our hospital numbers are low, the recovery rate is good, and matrix numbers are looking good also. The CUHD wants to remind Sanpete County residents to keep working together, wear a mask when it’s not possible to social distance, wash your hands regularly, and please stay home if you’re sick.
Willow Fuels Project protects Ephraim Canyon ecosystem BY GLORIA ALBRECHT
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is the first in a three-part series that looks at the efforts that are going into minimizing the damage caused by wildland fires in our area, what it takes to begin the process of restoring the land after a major fire, and where those resources come from. Many may not know that Sanpete County and its innovative businesses were on the leading edge of range-restoration technology. The same businesses have helped shape western range management and the way it is used to repair fire damage and to create improved wildlife habitat at the same time. EPHRAIM CANYON — Under normal conditions wildland fires occur naturally to balance the eco system. They clear underbrush, removes diseased and overgrown trees, and restores wildlife habitat in densely forested areas. However, in today’s world, wildland fire is largely suppressed since it creates a multitude of hazards, from bad air quality at the very least to destruction of property and loss of life. Because of this, for over a hundred years we have put fires out, allowing unnatural amounts of woody debris and vegetation to pile up and trees to get larger and older. The resulting unnatural and catastrophic fires burn larger and hotter than they would in a healthy forest system that has more frequent, smaller
PHOTO BY GLORIA ALBRECHT
Robby Edgel, DNR Habitat Restoration Biologist (L) and Nels Rasmussen, Forest Service North Zone Fuels AFMO (R) examine the ongoing work of the Willow Fuels Project in Ephraim Canyon. burns. These days one only needs to look at national news to realize the magnitude of destruction that this unnatural buildup of fuels is causing. In order to remedy the current condition created by the suppression of naturally occurring wildland fire, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has partnered with the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Forestry, Fire and State Land to do a “landscape project” to reduce fuels and increase the health of the watershed in Ephraim Canyon. In August of 2017 the United States Intermountain Region of the Forest Service approved a proposal known as the “Willow Fuels Project”. The area of the proposed treatment is located approximately two air miles Southeast of Ephraim,
on the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The project area encompasses 16,984 acres within two watersheds—Ephraim Creek and Dry Canyon. The project is designed to “reduce the probability of a high severity wildfire that is difficult to control; and reduce the negative consequences of a fire on the soil and vegetation resources…” in the Manti LaSal National Forest Sanpete Ranger District. The decision to undertake the long-term project in the Manti-LaSal National Forest was not taken lightly. Multiple aspects of the project’s impact on watershed, cultural or archaeological sites, wetlands habitat, migratory bird patterns and recreation areas were studied as part of
PHOTO BY GLORIA ALBRECHT
A bull hog works on the Willow Fuels Project to mechanically reduce fuel hazard in Ephraim Canyon. the WILLOW FUELS PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. The resulting decision has led to an interagency effort to accomplish what nature would ordinarily do. A USDA Forest Service report specifies the goals of the project as follows: ∙ Reduce fine fuel loading (< 3 inches diameter) to less than 5 tons per acre. ∙ Reduce the overall size of a probable stand-replacing fire. ∙ Increase the probability that fire suppression forces would control a wildfire before it reached private property. ∙ Increase the amount of aspen in the watershed as a means of lowering fuel loading. Aspen trees are considered a critical part of the watershed. Aspens are fire resistant and crucial to wildlife since their
underground root system sends off shoots which are part of the diet of deer, elk and even moose in the Ephraim Canyon. Since plants will not grow under conifers such as pines, the removal of large stands of conifers allows the understory of smaller plants to flourish, thus supporting wildlife. Research by Brigham Young University professor Sam St. Claire supports this restoration initiative. The benefit of this huge undertaking is multi-level. In addition to the primary objective of mitigating catastrophic wildfire occurrences, it benefits wildlife by increasing food sources for raptors, deer, elk and moose, and supports multiple levels of habitat for non-game species. Please see PROTECTS, Page A4
Harold “Blackie” Blackburn’s last ride BY MARCY CURTIS
PHOTO BY MARCY CURTIS
Harold “Blackie” Blackburn “is one of the last true cowboys around,” said his doctor Brooks Thompson, who helped put together the last ride.
MOUNT PLEASANT— Harold “Blackie” Blackburn’s wish to ride his horse one last time was granted Friday, September 18. The 95-yearold was helped into a wagon and made the ride from Mt. Pleasant to his hometown of Fairview. Blackburn, who has been diagnosed with leukemia, wanted to make the ride on horseback but since that was not physically possible friends, family, and members of the community came
together to provide him with the next best thing. Wade Carter of Fairview hitched his beautiful team of horses to his wagon and Blackie was joined by friends and family members, including his doctor Brooks Thompson, who rode alongside the wagon on horseback. “Blackie is one of the last true cowboys around,” said his doctor Thompson who helped put together the last ride. “We have been planning a ride for three years,” said Thompson, “and now it’s going to happen.
I can’t think of a better way to honor such an ionic cowboy.” “He doesn’t need the hospital anymore, there are just things that can’t be fixed, and he is ok with that,” Thompson said. “Blackie has the best collection of boots, all lined up and shined. He is always welldressed in his best cowboy’s attire and today won’t be any different.” Blackburn was all smiles and waves as he enjoyed the view with his dog on his lap inside the horse drawn wagon.
BLM fire restrictions remain in place CEDAR CITY—In order to protect public health from preventable human-caused fires, fire restrictions will continue for the foreseeable future on Bureau of Land Management public lands in Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, Wayne, Washington, Iron, Beaver, Garfield and Kane counties due to a continued lack of adequate monsoonal moisture. BLM managers acknowledge it is unusual to maintain fire restrictions this late into the year, but the increased fire danger warrants it. With this late season focus on safety, came a sizeable amount of public inquiries regarding the topic, particularly “are campfires or pellet stoves permitted?” “Campfires are not permitted unless they are in an existing permanently constructed cement or metal fire pit at BLM managed camp grounds,” said acting Color Country District Manager Paul Briggs. “People ask if they can bring their own metal barrels or dig a hole in the ground. None of that is ok. The vegetation is extremely dry—in many cases at record low levels of moisture. We’re asking for the public to help us through the remainder of this unprecedented fire season.” “Pellet stoves are also not permitted. Pellets still create ash that must be disposed of and could potentially cause a fire,” said Paria River District Manager Harry Barber. “We have to be vigilant about protecting our lands from human-caused fires when we have the type of unusual fire conditions that we are currently in. Right now, only devices like camp stoves that are fueled by liquid petroleum are allowed.” Other restrictions include: • No grinding, cutting, and welding of metal. • No operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order as determined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices J335 and J350. Refer to Title 43 CFR 8343.1. • No possession and/or detonation of explosives, including exploding targets as defined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 27 CFR 555. • No fireworks and incendiary or chemical devices, and pyrotechnics as defined in 49 CFR 173. This fire season, the Bureau of Land Management issued multiple fire prevention orders that outline fire restrictions in southwest and central Utah. You can Please see RESTRICTIONS, Page A4
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