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Serving Wayne & Garfield Counties, Utah
Loa • Fremont • Lyman • Bicknell • Teasdale • Torrey • Grover • Fruita • Caineville • Hanksville Panguitch • Panguitch Lake • Hatch • Antimony • Bryce • Tropic • Henrieville • Cannonville • Escalante • Boulder
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Panguitch Fire Chief Dave Dodds to Receive Panguitch City's First Official "Hometown Hero" Award
PANGUITCH - It might come as a surprise for some to learn that the evolution of firefighting, tourism, and beautification weeks are all closely interwoven into Panguitch History. When the U.S. Forest Service first announced its plans in 1920 to designate Bryce Canyon as a national monument, Panguitch citizens and leaders quickly became conscious of two things: (1) The City would soon become a major thoroughfare for thousands of tourists flocking to see the new national monument. (2) These tourists would form opinions about the town based on its appearance as they passed through, either positively or negatively affecting the ability of local businesses to capture a percentage of this new commerce. The townspeople had only just begun debating the specifics of a potential beautification plan, when in January of 1921, tragedy struck. Late one evening, the old Hometown Hero Cont'd on page 7
Torrey Town Welcomes Chak Balam Mexican Restaurant by Amiee Maxwell
Efrain Gomez, Alicia Avila, Eduardo Nava, and Karina Nava (from left to right) of Chak Balam Mexican Restaurant in Torrey. TORREY - When Eduardo (Ed) and Karina Nava were thinking up names for their Mexican restaurant in Torrey, they wanted something that drew people in, something that made them want to stop and ask, yet also connected them with their roots, both old and new. Chak Balam is not Spanish, but rather Mayan. It means "Red Jaguar." The name pays respects to the red rock cliffs of Torrey and the jaguar, an
by Utah Humanities, The Beehive Archive
Utah State Historical Society
The Great Saltair Resort, built by the Great Salt Lake, would be consistently caught in a battle between itself and its harsh, saline surrounding environment. seasons, up to 500,000 people visited every year in their woolen, modest swimsuits to float in the famous “American Dead Sea,” where one could never sink due to the water’s salinity. With the addition of a rollercoaster, restaurant,and boxing matches, Great Saltair became known as the "Coney Island of the West.” But within ten years, water receded from Saltair's piers, so much that owners created a cable line to take visitors to deeper waters for swimming. Thousands of dollars were spent annually on repainting each wooden surface after harsh winters of salt erosion. In 1925, a devastating fire put Saltair out of business Saltair Resort Cont'd on page 2
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
THURS. MAY 13 - WED. MAY 19
Mostly sunny / partly cloudy with little to no chance of precipitation, with the highest chances being on Sun. with 13% and Weds. with 14%. Highs range from the high 60s to high 70s; lows in the mid-to-high 30s and low 40s. Winds variable from 11 to 19 mph.
important figure featured in Mayan legend and found on the flag of their home state of Guerrero, Mexico. Ed took a job washing dishes after finishing high school in Manti, and when the chef at the restaurant where he was working quit, he jumped at the chance to take up cooking. He’d always liked cooking and really didn’t want to spend any more time washing dishes than he had to. He worked at several
Fishlake NF Seeking Comments for Recreation Improvement Project
FISHLAKE N.F. - The Fishlake National Forest is conducting an environmental analysis for a recreation improvement project that is considered important for improving recreational opportunities and protecting natural resource conditions on National Forest System lands. We are seeking your comments on this proposal to understand public and resource concerns. Fish Lake Basin Recreation Improvement The purpose of this proposal is to improve the recreational experience in the Fish Lake Basin while addressing resource concerns and minimizing user conflicts. Site-specific proposals throughout the Fish Lake Basin are designed to create or enhance recreation opportunities and protect or improve forest resources. Additional information may be found on the Fishlake National Forest website at www. fs.usda.gov/projects/fishlake/ landmanagement/projects. Notification of Opportunity to Comment This comment period provides those interested in or affected by this proposal an opportunity to make their concerns known prior to a decision being made by the Responsible Official. While comments on this project will Comment Period Cont'd on page 6
Bryce Canyon City Town Council May 6
A request for the Town Council to cover remaining costs of a new, permanent message center and receival of a $20,000 UDOT grant, set to be used on land use planning costs
Amiee Maxwell
Battling the Elements at Saltair Resort
SALT LAKE CITY - The Great Saltair Resort is often remembered for its glory days as a dance hall and amusement park. But it was constantly at war with the harsh, saline environment that gave it its claim to fame. In 1893, the LDS Church built the Great Saltair pleasure resort on the shores of Great Salt Lake. This was the start of a long, fraught, and constant battle between the resort and its surrounding environment. With onion-top domes and Moorish decorative elements, the original building looked like an Eastern mirage in the desert. Its completion took over $5 million in today's dollars and included a dance hall, bicycle track, and bathing houses. During peak
Issue # 1409
insiderutah.com
Central Utah restaurants, picking up skills along the way, and had plans of opening a food truck. A chance meeting with Duane Platt, the owner of Chak Balam’s home, over some fishing gear, led to a discussion and an eventual deal to open the restaurant in the former spot of the Flying Pig Kitchen. “This place is something we dreamed of,” said Ed, Chak Balam
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by Kadi Franson BRYCE - Mayor Syrett costs, but they are unable to facilitated and Sydney Lamas cover the costs of installatook the minutes. tion. There is a remaining The Bryce City Council $3 - 4,000.00 that needs to Meeting began with a prayer be covered. Seiler requested followed by the Pledge of Al- for the town council to support the project by providing legiance. The council received a the rest. The council stated new bid on basketballs for intent to approve, contingent the Wellness Center, totaling on receiving a precise dollar $840.00 for 12 balls. The latest amount for the request. Seiler bid is from Jail Ink. There was said that he would come back a motion to approve spending with that at a later time. The town has been havon the new basketballs up to ing issues with people camp$1000.00. The recent controlled ing illegally and is looking to burn happening in the nearby install more “No Camping” Dixie National Forest is slated signs at various locations, like in the shuttle station parking to finish up today. There is an election tak- area. They will look through ing place later this year for the their storage areas to make positions of Council Member sure that they don’t have any and Mayor. Candidates must before purchasing more. Mayor Syrett applied for file a Declaration of Candidacy to the City Clerk by email: a UDOT grant last summer sydney@brycecanyoncityut. and recently received notifigov. The window to file is June cation that they were awarded it. The grant is for $20,000.00 1st through June 7th. Jean Seiler updated the and will be allocated to land council that there will be a use planning costs. A Mule Days banner is new, permanent message center installed across from the being produced in support of shuttle station. It will be lo- the local event, with a cost of cated on Ruby’s lawn, behind $150.00. the new sidewalks. Bryce Canyon National Park has Bryce Council agreed to pay for some of the Cont'd on page 2
Escalante Honors Native Potato Species with "Wild Potato Days" Celebration May 28 & 29
Courtesy Lisbeth Louderback
A flowering Solanum jamesii plant (above) and resulting "Four Corners Potato" (right). This humble spud will be honored at the "Wild Potato Days" celebration in Escalante from May 28 - 29. ESCALANTE - Escalante citizens, friends and travelers are invited to celebrate the heritage of a humble spud by attending the first annual “Wild Potato Days,” May 28 - 29, 2021, in recognition of the native potato species, Solanum jamesii. The purpose of this new festival is to inform people of this variety’s unique and astounding history, entertain with a potato theme, and preserve and conserve remnant populations by recruiting citizens to propagate their own backyard tubers. This nutritious root vegetable has been consumed by people in the valley for
The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you don't let it get the best of you —Will Rogers
Courtesy Lisbeth Louderback
thousands of years. First, by Native Americans, known as Ancestral Puebloans, Anasazi, Fremont, and Paiute, followed by cavalry men, pioneers, pioneer descendants (especially during the Great Depression) and now by individuals enjoying the region’s fine dining. Escalante Valley was first called “Potato Valley” in about 1866— named after this very same species now commonly known as the “Four Corners Potato.” “Potato Valley” was later renamed Escalante by members of the John Wesley Powell Expedition in 1875 when they advised the prospective settlers to name it
after the river they had just surveyed. Join us Friday, May 28th at 6 PM for a “Potato Bar” dinner with toppings and dessert ($10 plus tax) at the Escalante Showhouse on Main Street to kick off the festival. A program at 7 PM will include a 30-minute video highlighting the "Four Corners Potato" on the food show “From Scratch,” which was filmed at the Slot Canyons Inn for this year’s TV series. The director and chef may be attending. Saturday, May 29th, Wild Potato Days
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PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID RICHFIELD, UTAH PERMIT No. 122