June 20, 2013 Wayne & Garfield County Insider

Page 1

INSIDER

Panguitch • Panguitch Lake • Hatch • Bryce • Tropic • Antimony • Henrieville • Cannonville • Escalante • Boulder • Fremont • Loa • Lyman Bicknell • Teasdale • Torrey • Grover • Fruita • Caineville • Hanksville

Thursday, June 20, 2013 • Issue # 1001

Torrey’s Best Kept Secret

WGCI Photo

Member partners of the US-89 Wildlife Crossings Construction Project, including representatives from Utah Dept. of Transportation, Utah Div. of Wildlife Resources, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Behind the group is one of the newly-constructed corridors will that allow wildlife to pass safely under US-89 east of Kanab.

Safer Travels on Highway 89 KANAB - Chances are, the next trip you take on Highway 89 towards Page will be less hazardous for you and your fellow travelers than the last time you drove down for some relaxation at the lake or for travel to points beyond. It’ll also be a lot safer for the resident population of mule deer. By July 1st, the final pieces will be in place on the US-89 Wildlife Crossings Con-

struction Project just east of Kanab. The project includes 12 miles of 8 ft. wildlife fence on each side of the roadway, seven wildlife crossings (including six underpasses and one bridge) and a series of 26 wildlife escape ramps that allow deer and other animals to leave the roadway—for those critters that do manage to sneak onto the road past the fencing and other barriers. For many years, the

Utah Dept. of Transportation (UDOT) has fielded requests from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) and others to do something about the high-accident area on US-89 due to deer-vehicle collisions. Motor vehicle collisions with mule deer have long been a safety problem along the 75-mile stretch of US-89 between Kanab and Page. The Safer Travels on Hwy 89 cont’d on page 2

Mountain Goats on Mount Dutton Share your input at a June 20 public meeting

est Service will host the public meeting from 6 – 9 p.m. in the commission chambers at the Garfield County Courthouse, 55 S. Main St. Dustin Schaible, regional wildlife biologist with the DWR, says mountain goats were first seen on Mount Dutton in the early 1990s. He says the goats most likely dispersed

from a herd that’s on the Tushar Mountains. The Tushars are east of Beaver and northwest of Mount Dutton. “It became obvious that goats on Mount Dutton were reproducing when nannies (females) with kids (young) were first observed in July 2012,” he says. “Since 2011, we’ve been working with the U.S. Forest Service to develop a management plan for the goats.” Mountain goats from Olympic National Park were released on the Tushar Mountains in the early 1980s. Schaible says the goats have done really well in Utah. “Today,” he says, “there are around 300 goats on the Tushars. During most of the year, you’ll find the goats on the highest slopes on the mountain range. The goats are very popu-

PANGUITCH weather

LOA weather

PANGUITCH - You can learn more about mountain goats on Mount Dutton, and provide your input about a plan to manage the goats, at a June 20 meeting in Panguitch. The Division of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. For-

lar with wildlife watchers and sportsmen.” Schaible says as a wild goat population grows, individual goats often leave the herd and move into unpopulated areas. “That’s likely how the goats ended up on Mount Dutton,” Schaible says. “The herd on the Tushars got big enough that some of the goats left the mountain to find a new place to live.” This fall, some of the goats on the Tushars will be captured by DWR biologists. These goats will then be moved to states across the West. Schaible says reducing the number of goats on the Tushars should lead to fewer goats leaving the Tushars for Mount Dutton. Schaible says all of the habitat on Mount Dutton is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. He says DWR biologists and U.S. Forest Service personnel are looking forward to visiting with you at the June 20 public meeting. For more information about the meeting, call the DWR’s Southern Region office at 435-865-6100. —Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

WCHC Closed June 22

BICKNELL - Due to water meter repairs the Wayne Community Health Center will be closed on Saturday June 22nd. The city is turning off the water. Emergency care will still be available. Call 911. —WCHC

TORREY - Sometimes, the best things in life are hidden in plain view. You’ve cruised past this place a zillion times. Let’s say you’re motoring down Hwy 24, on your way from Torrey to Loa. You’ve just passed the sign for Thousand Lakes Service, followed by the sign for Thousand Lakes RV Park. Out of the corner of your right eye you note the bank of RVs at the RV park. The back of your mind says : “Tourist Spot.” You’re at the edge of town, You’ve taken a nice deep breath, and are preparing to sink your foot a little deeper into the accelerator for a nice cruise to Bicknell. But wait…what’s that nested back there? There at the Thousand Lakes RV Park, behind the gift shop? There’s a sign that says “Grill.” And there it is…The Torrey Grill. Owner Daniel Hennessy thinks his restaurant is probably the most overlooked in the county. But he’s trying to change that. Long a highly successful venue catering to campers at Thousand Lakes RV Park, Hennessy, who acquired the restaurant this season, has expanded the “all-inclusive” Dutch-oven, western- style menu and is inviting locals to check out the place as well. “People from all over the world write to tell us they loved our food and that we’re they best service they had on their entire trip. So, we’d like everyone—including the locals—to know about us, too,” says Hennessy. The Torrey Grill appears especially to be a meat-eaters paradise, specializing in steaks and ribs. “Our best sellers are our ribeye, the buffalo and the ribs. Trout is popular, too,

WGCI Photo

The Torrey Grill owner Daniel Hennessy and server RayLynne Cooper, along with a staff of eight, are prepared to serve you a great meal with great service. though. We added trout to the menu this year, and are shaking things up a little, with new items like buffalo-stuffed peppers,” says Hennessy. All meals include all you can eat salad, scones with honey butter, Dutch oven potatoes and cowboy beans, ice cream sundaes and bottomless drinks. For vegetarians, there’s a veggie burger and a veggie meatloaf. The Torrey Grill also features salads exclusively from the Torrey Greenhouse, and home made dressings. On the lighter side, if people want to come for music and they don’t want a full meal, Hennessy offers five appetizers for under five dollars, and chili. “Our restaurant is great for both lighter appetites or people who are starving to death. Nobody leaves my restaurant hungry,” says Hennesy. The Torrey Grill offers four seating times per evening, at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 and 8:00 pm. Reservations for one of the seating times for all-inclusive

meals are required. For the lighter fare (appetizers) people can just drop in. Currently, The Torrey Grill offers live music every Monday night, but Hennessy is working to line up a schedule of local musicians to fill out the week. Though he says, “Anyone that plays can stop by between 6 and 7 and just play.” Birthday dinners are free for locals. Children 12 and under are half price. I’d love for people to just come down and try it. But if they don’t I’ve still got my campers.” says Hennessy. Now the secret is out. The Torrey Grill is open from Easter until Halloween, Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday). To-go meals are available at their drive up window. They do birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, and their Coca-Cola truck will be serving favorites at the Wayne County Fair and other local events. For reservations, call 435-425-3500. —Insider Report

Learning history is lifelong fun: The Wayne County History Class, lead by Steve Taylor (center of photo, in overalls), enjoyed their last outing trekking around the county.

Wayne Co. History Buffs Enjoy Final Day in the Field WAYNE CO. - Steve Taylor’s Local History Class completed their final field trip of the season by exploring the history of settlements in the north-western section of Wayne County. The trip began in the Bicknell Bottoms where the group visited the location of the Battle of Red Lake and discussed the original Thurber home sites. Next, the class explored the early settlements along the Fremont River between Bicknell and Loa. After stops to examine historic buildings in Loa, identify the Old Spanish Trail, and locate Allred Point, the group stopped at the Fremont Rock Church House and discussed the first sawmill in the area. After making stops near Hogan Pass, the group concluded the trip at the Old Spanish Trail site and Johnson Reservoir cheese camp area. Fourteen participants enjoyed lunch together at Bowery Haven in Fish Lake. If you’re interested in local history, Steve Taylor will be speaking at the Entrada Institute’s Sunset Series on Saturday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Robber’s Roost Bookstore in Torrey. Everyone is welcome. —Annette Lamb Phone: 435-826-4400 Wayne: 435-836-2622 Fax 1-888-370-8546 PO BOX 105 Escalante, Utah 84726 snapshot@live.com

Eternity’s a terrible thought. I mean, where’s it all going to end? —Tom Stoppard, (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead 1967) British dramatist & screenwriter (1937 - ) THE WAYNE & GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia, LLC and is distributed weekly to all of Wayne and Garfield Counties, Utah. Its purpose is to inform residents about local issues and events. Articles submitted from independent writers are not necessarily the opinion of Snapshot Multimedia, LLC. We sincerely hope you enjoy the paper and encourage input on ideas and/or suggestions for the paper.

ALL content for THE WAYNE &GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER must be submitted on FRIDAY before 5:00 pm to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper.

BOXHOLDER

PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID RICHFIELD, UTAH PERMIT No. 122


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.