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Thursday, January 14, 2021
First Responders, K-12 Teachers and School Staff Can Now Register for COVID-19 Vaccine
SOUTHWEST UTAH First responders (including EMTs, law enforcement, firefighters, etc.) can now get the COVID-19 vaccine, along with any healthcare workers and K-12 teachers and school staff. They can register at swuhealth.org/covid-vaccine to set up an appointment at their nearest clinic. The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) will continue vaccinating healthcare workers and first responders as K-12 school staff join the eligible priority groups. Vaccinations will be open to the general public in the near future beginning with people over 70 years of age. Priority for those with underlying health conditions and other age groups will also be announced in the near future. Please follow local news sources, our website at swuhealth.org/covid, or social media @swuhealth to get notification of when you‘re eligible to get vaccinated. When your priority or age group is open, you will need to register online at swuhealth.org/ covid for a vaccine appointment time, and will be able to print off a consent form to fill out and bring with you to the Vaccine Update Cont'd on page 2
Issue # 1392
Record Breaking Participant Turnout at this Year's Panguitch Lake Fishing Derby
Appointees Chosen for Two Open Board of Adjustment Positions and Town Clerk Leads Open Meeting Training
Courtesy Steven Lee
A total of 315 people, including 57 teams, participated in this year's Panguitch Lake Fishing Derby. According to Steven Lee, Panguitch City Events Manager, this is three times larger than they have ever seen before at this event. PANGUITCH LAKE On January 2, 2021, a record breaking 315 people—including 57 teams—participated in this year's Panguitch Lake Fishing Derby. "The turnout this year was over three times larger than we have ever seen at the event...I bet there were around 600 people at the lake," said Steven Lee, Panguitch City
Wayne County Commission January 4
Newly Elected Officials Sworn in for Another Term and McKenzie Ellett Introduces Herself as the New Wayne County Public Health Nurse by Amiee Maxwell
Amiee Maxwell
County Clerk Ryan Torgerson swears in Commissioner Roger Brian, Treasurer/Recorder Colleen Allen, and County Assessor Sharon Torgerson for another term at the January 4, 2021 Wayne County Commisson meeting. WAYNE COUNTY The first Wayne County Commission Meeting of 2021 kicked off with the swearingin of newly elected officials. County Clerk Ryan Torgerson swore in Commissioner Roger Brian, Treasurer/Recorder Colleen Allen, and County Assessor Sharon Torgerson for another term. Next, the commission-
Boulder Town Council January
ers finalized the commission meeting schedule for 2021 and reviewed commissioner assignments. The Wayne County Fire Department will be moved to Commissioner Brian, and Commissioner Wood wants to remain over Public Health. Commissioner Wood expressed a sincere "thank Wayne Commission Cont'd on page 7
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
THURS. JANUARY 14 - WED. JANUARY 20
Slighter warmer temps. for this week, with little to no chance of precip. until Wednesday, where the chance is 20%. Partly cloudy and sunny, with highs in the 40s; lows in the teens and low 20s. Winds variable from 7 to 13 mph.
Events Manager. Ace Hardware—main sponsor and donor of the majority of the prizes for the event—worked hard to weigh, measure, and record numbers for the day's catch. When the results were in, Team Dodds had won the team contest with the heaviest combined catch of 53 pounds, 1.4 ounces. McKay Dorius
came away with both parts of the youth competition (heaviest and longest). His fish was 4 pounds, 4.1 ounces and 19 1/8 inches long. Luke Tobey won the $500 prize for longest. His fish was 20 1/2 inches long, and Jory Owens won the $500 prize for heaviest. His fish was 4 pounds, 1.4 ounces. —Insider
by Tessa Barkan BOULDER - The Janu- opted. The current ordinance ary 2021 Boulder Town Coun- states that the meetings be cil Meeting began by inter- held at 8 p.m. during dayviewing applicants for the two light savings time and 7 p.m. open Board of Adjustment the rest of the year. Boulder positions. Three applicants Town Council members statwere present. At the end of the ed their preference to mainmeeting, council members re- tain the 7 p.m. start time all treated into a closed meeting year. This wording will likely to discuss applicant attributes, be changed alongside other and chose to appoint April updates occurring as a result O’Neal to the five-year term of the upcoming codification and John Veranth to the one- of all Boulder Town ordinances. year term. A quarterly update was An Open Meeting Training, led by Town Clerk Judi given on the budget. Council Davis, followed. For a regular members were asked to look meeting, at least 24 hours no- at the remaining funding for tice must be given. For a pub- their boards in preparation lic hearing, at least ten days for discussion next month notice must be given. An audio on whether there are needs recording must be made avail- that can be filled by shifting able to the public within three around budgetary items. A Safe Route to School days after an open meeting. Written minutes, including all Grant, submitted by a comcomments and names of those mittee led by Boulder Elewho made the comments, mentary School parents, was must be made available to the received for $36,000. Their public within 30 days after an plans included adding crossopen meeting. A closed meet- walks and temporary speed ing may be held for a number bumps to enhance safety. of reasons, including to allow Boulder Town must initially discussion of personal quali- put the money forth and will ties of an individual or discus- then be reimbursed by the grant, however, reimbursesion of criminal allegations. Mayor Steve Cox brought ment will not occur until fisup that an amendment to the ordinance dictating the schedBoulder Council uling of meetings could be adCont'd on page 2
Bryce Valley A Bald Eagle Fishes at Otter Creek Reservoir Receives National Grant for Small and Rural Libraries
BRYCE VALLEY - Bryce Valley Elementary School (BVES) has been selected as one of 200 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries. This is an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and rural communities and is in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL). The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library put more books on the shelves. It will also allow the school to afford books—including titles in the ALA's reading series themed “Deeper than Our Skins”— which represent several cultures, including Hispanic and Native American. “We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Pete Peterson, Principal of BVES. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our residents better and help us build a happier and healthier community for our families.” As part of the grant, BVHS staff will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then Library Grant
Mandy Morrill
This stunning photo was submitted to The Insider by Mandy Morrill of Circleville. Do you have photos that you would like to share with us? Send them to us with your name and location, and a brief description at snapshot@live.com. We may feature yours in a future issue!
Seven Wildlife Management Areas Closed from Jan. 1 to Apr. 9
OGDEN - Winter and early spring are the toughest and most critical times of the year for big game animals, especially deer. Cold temperatures and pushing through deep snow sap their strength. And, the snow buries much of their food. As winter progresses, deer get weaker and weaker. To help protect the animals, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources annually closes seven wildlife management areas in northern Utah. The closure runs Jan. 1–April 9, 2021. The WMAs reopen on April 10. (The only exception is the Henefer-Echo WMA in Summit County. Those who
obtained a late-season cow elk hunting permit for the area can hunt on the WMA from Jan. 1–24, 2021.) Except for the cow elk hunt, no public activities of any kind can take place while the WMAs are closed. Even taking a leisurely walk through a WMA is off limits until April 10. Scott Walker, regional habitat manager for the DWR, says the seven WMAs provide critical winter habitat for mule deer. "They also give the animals a refuge where they can remain undisturbed during the most critical time of the year," he said. "If you trespass on a WMA and disturb an animal, the animal has to use some of
its energy reserves to escape. Once an animal uses up its energy reserves, it dies." Unfortunately, some people don't understand what they're doing to the deer, or they don't care. For example, every year, people who want to hike through the MillvilleProvidence WMA in Cache County cut fences next to closure signs. Those who are caught trespassing on any of the seven WMAs face a fine that typically starts at $210. Those who vandalize property will face stiffer penalties for criminal mischief. With the exception of
Cont'd on page 2
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. —Aristotle
ALL content for THE WAYNE & GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER MUST BE submitted by FRIDAY AT NOON to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper.
BOXHOLDER
WMA Closures Cont'd on page 8
PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID RICHFIELD, UTAH PERMIT No. 122