The Wayne & Garfield County Insider April 16, 2026
Intermountain
Health Sevier Valley Hospital
Named One of the Nation’s Top 20 Rural & Community Hospitals
RICHFIELD - The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has named Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital one of the Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals in the nation. The NRHA announced the twenty highest-ranked hospitals based on an evaluation conducted by the Chartis Center for Rural Health using the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX, one of the most comprehensive and objective tools for measuring rural hospital performance.
Top hospitals will be recognized on May 21, 2026, during the NRHA’s annual Rural Health Conference in San Diego.
Hospitals are evaluated across several key
Helping Wayne and Garfield County Seniors Stay in Their Homes
Programs offer in-home support and safety improvements for aging residents
by Kathryn Chamberlain
WAYNE / GARFIELD COS. - For many seniors in southern Utah, staying at home depends on whether that home can still meet their needs. While services differ
Great blue herons are the most widespread North American heron and can be found from Alaska to northern South America. In Utah, they are the most commonly seen heron species and can be found throughout the state, typically along the shorelines of lakes and rivers, as well as in marshes. Courtesy
SALT LAKE CITY -
Great blue herons are large, unique birds, and if you’ve ever wanted to see them in the wild, you should have a good opportunity at an upcoming Utah Division of Wildlife Resources viewing event.
Great blue herons are the most widespread North American heron and can be found from Alaska to northern South America. In Utah, they are the most
commonly seen heron species and can be found throughout the state, typically along the shorelines of lakes and rivers, as well as in marshes.
Every year from February to June, great blue herons nest in a rookery near the DWR’s George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center.
Viewing Event Cont'd on B3
slightly by region, both Wayne and Garfield counties offer programs aimed at helping seniors remain safely in their homes.
In Wayne County, those services are coor-
20th Amazing Earthfest in Kanab Features 2-Part Photography Workshop by Bruce Hucko; May 8 & 9
KANAB - Southern Utah’s 20th Amazing Earthfest takes place in Kanab on May 7 - 10, 2026. Twenty-eight scheduled activities make up this year’s four-day festival of events in experiential learning, arts, outdoor adventure and film. This year offers an unusual opportunity for area photography enthusiasts to learn from the acclaimed Utah fine art landscape photographer Bruce Hucko who will present a free talk open to all, followed by a two-part fee-based workshop. On Thursday, May
dinated through the R6 Regional Council. Jill Fulmer works directly with residents, conducting in-home assessments and connecting them with support. One of the primary
services available is the Alternatives Program, a state-funded program that provides ongoing in-home
business and public concerns during its April 6 meeting, including an annual report from the Central Utah Counseling Center, discussion of a local complaint, and several approvals. Representatives from the Central Utah Counseling Center presented their annual audit and program update. Officials reported a clean audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, with no compliance issues identified. The center operates on a roughly $14 million budget across six counties and relies heavily on state and federal funding, including Medicaid. They also highlighted the importance of state funding that was briefly at risk during the most recent legislative session but ulWayne Commission Cont'd on B3
CAPITOL REEF N.P.The night sky has been used for navigation, timekeeping, agriculture and storytelling for centuries. Beginning April 13, we celebrate International Dark Sky Week and remember the importance the night sky has had on humans’ lives throughout
our vast human history. Proclaimed in 2015 as an International Dark Sky Park, Capitol Reef National Park (CRNP) was the seventh U.S. National Park Service unit to be recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association, now called Dark Sky International. Long before its official designation, the park had been celebrating its pristine dark night skies while sharing them with visitors from around the world. In 2010, CRNP started hosting the annual HerNight Skies Cont'd on A3
Opinion
Random Murders Unite a Remote Utah County
UTAH - If I look south from my living room in Torrey, Utah, I see the sandstone spine of the Cockscomb below the 11,000-foot-high horizon of Boulder Mountain. When I look north, I see Linda and Alan Dewey’s house.
On March 4, in senseless acts of violence, Linda, my neighbor, and her niece, Natalie Graves, were murdered at the base of that mountain.
The murderer, on a road trip from Iowa, had been stranded in Wayne County after hitting an elk and totaling his truck. Broke and in need of a car, he first killed 86-yearold Margaret Oldroyd in nearby Lyman. The muchloved elder had the fatal luck to live at the edge of town, in the first house the murderer came to.
After killing Mrs. Oldroyd, he decided her Buick Regal was unsatisfactory. When he encountered Linda and Natalie setting out on a hike, he murdered them both, took their Subaru, and went on his way, leaving behind nothing but grief.
Using an app connected to the Subaru’s key fob, authorities tracked him for 400 miles to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and arrested him the next day. His killings were brutal and senseless—and utterly random. Any of us could have been pulling into that trailhead.
Linda and her husband, Alan, retired here five years ago, to revel in this wild country surrounding Capitol Reef National Park. Natalie, 34, was visiting from Massachusetts.
The Deweys were the exceptional retirees who quickly became embedded in the community. Alan volunteered for Capitol Reef’s biologists, scouting for bighorn sheep and cougar. Linda, a spirited connector, ran yoga classes and helped found a public service group, Rural Voices of Utah.
Margaret Oldroyd was a connector, too. Hundreds attended her LDS funeral, both newcomers and the extended Mormon families who had known her throughout their lives, all honoring this kind “guardian at the edge of the town’s heart,” as her memorial card put it.
Neither Torrey nor Lyman numbers more than 300 people. I-70 is 35 miles away—with no services for 110 miles. The county has no stoplights. In 1940, there were 2,500 people living in Wayne County’s 2,500 square miles. We’ve since added just 100 people.
Relationships among these scattered communities are tight but complicated. Legacy Mormon families dominate. Torrey is the anomaly, full of newcomers. The murderer struck all three county demographics: proud settlers, thrilled move-ins, and one joyful and awestruck visitor.
These violent acts by a stranger who knew nothing about these people or this place disrupted our sense of safety. As I grapple with raw sorrow, I try to imagine the flood of grief following a mass shooting or a community devastated by war. Un-
by Stephen Trimble | Writers on the Range
imaginable, we say. Now, I understand viscerally. Even as we all were texting updates and talking in the aisles of the county’s sole grocery store, our community felt quiet, pulled inward.
Utah’s canyon country has always been a source of rejuvenation and connection for me—the kaleidoscope of rocks, raucous pinyon jays, the legacy of millennia of inhabitants. I picture these connections as a web of humming cables, vibrating through time in unique chords, leading outward to every being, every person, every influence. This vast bundle of life and existence whirrs continually, creating the comforting harmonic tone that defines this place.
There’s tension, sure, between the conservative politicians who rule the county and the conservation-oriented move-ins. But the violence that came unbidden eclipses our differences. We are leaning on each other in our loss. Maybe some of that soli-
darity will last. Pink ribbons now encircle every post and sign as a gesture to our loss. As Tonya Moosman, who works at the grocery store, told a reporter: “When somebody asks where you’re from, you don’t say Bicknell or Loa. You say Wayne County. We are one community.”
In Navajo culture, such fracturing violence requires a ceremony to restore balance, to heal. For those of us who are not Native, we’ll need the powers of both land and community to get back to the reassurance and resonance of this place.
The women we lost knew something of that power. The solidarity of the community after their deaths amplifies that power. We’ll be looking for ways to reconnect with everything that makes this place special, as this place—our place—helps us to heal what a heedless
Photography Workshop:
Writers on the Range Utah writer and photographer Stephen Trimble is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. His book, The Capitol Reef Reader, is a tribute to his home landscape. man has broken. Utah writer and photographer Stephen Trimble is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent non-profit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. His book, The Capitol Reef Reader, is a tribute to his home landscape.
This year offers an unusual opportunity for area photography enthusiasts to learn from the acclaimed Utah fine art landscape photographer Bruce Hucko who will present a free talk open to all, followed by a two-part fee-based workshop.
7, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Kanab Library Community Room, Hucko will present "Personalizing Place - Part 1: Employing the External Landscape to Express Our Inner Landscape with Photography." Everyone is invited. Sharing his own artistic evolution, Hucko, an art educator, will describe his personal transition from creating images made to illustrate books and National Park Service (NPS) interpretive media programs to ones that employ the external landscape to express the internal landscape of self. Using color and black and white images from his career of over fifty years, he’ll discuss the shift from creating images "of" places for others, to making images "about" thoughts and ideas for self. Both require strong compositions that use the "language of art." In this free lecture, you’ll learn how Hucko
enters a landscape, decides on subject, then resolves the image using Lightroom and Photoshop. Among the mini-topics to be covered are: finding personal vision, creative intention, in the shadow of icons, photographic equivalence, how our words influence or relationship to place, processing for personality, personal influences, and how technical considerations must serve our art, not the other way around. This program will be of interest to anyone wanting to enhance their outdoor experience, with or without a camera. For those with a more serious interest in landscape photography, "Personalizing Place - Part 2, Sessions One and Two with Bruce Hucko" will follow on Friday, May 8, and Saturday May 9, providing a hands-on photographic workshop for a maximum of eight people, including four hours in the field and two hours of editing. Registration is required. The goal is to bring home one
image you’re excited about with an understanding of how you can better use your time in the field. The workshop will end with a large screen projected critique session. Participants will be asked to write a brief essay about their image and workshop experience. Hucko will later produce a PDF portfolio for the group. Learn to enhance your personal photographic vision, composition and field techniques in this potent and personalized field photography workshop, and then resolve one of your images into fully realized form. At $75 per person, this opportunity to study the finer points of landscape photography with a master art photographer and educator is a screaming good deal. Registration is required to attend this twopart workshop limited to eight persons. Full details are at https://www.amazingearthfest.org/events/upcoming.
—Amazing Earthfest
Courtesy
Photography Workshop Cont'd from A1
Courtesy Rich Csenge
Utah fine art landscape photographer Bruce Hucko. This year's Amazing Earthfest, May 7 - 10, will offer an unusual opportunity for area photography enthusiasts to learn from the acclaimed Utah fine art landscape photographer Bruce Hucko who will present a free talk open to all, followed by a two-part fee-based workshop.
Advocates: Utah Lawmakers Fall Short on Cost-of-Living Issues
by Mark Richardson | Utah News Connection
Studies show Utah has roughly six homes for every one buyer, indicating that the market does not have a supply shortage but an affordability problem.
UTAH - Advocates said while Utah's recent legislative session took up items addressing costof-living issues for the state's residents, lawmakers came up short and one of the most critical issues was housing affordability.
The legislature allocated about $10 million in grants to help first-time homebuyers but limited it to new construction only.
Rod Moser, a real estate broker from West Jordan, said the program ended up benefiting mostly elected officials who are also developers.
Night Skies:
Moser, who is also a Democratic candidate for State House District 45, said lawmakers did little to solve the problem of affordable rentals and continued policies making it profitable for investors but not homebuyers to own properties. He noted Utah has a shortage of roughly 50,000 affordable rental units.
Other issues in front of lawmakers included potential losses to the Medicaid program, spurred by cuts made in this year's federal budget.
Lynette Taylor, a volunteer for the advocacy group United Today, Stronger Tomorrow in Utah, is disabled and cares for two children with developmental disabilities. She
"There was a lot of opportunity for our legislators to do something that would help make things a little bit easier, and none of those passed," Moser contended.
said while lawmakers did pass a contingency fund to protect Medicaid recipients like her, she worries her family's health care funds could be taken away.
"If we were to lose Medicaid or there were cuts to Medicaid in any way, we would be sunk," Taylor emphasized. "We depend on it. It's a lifeline that we can't afford to do without."
The legislature also considered but failed to pass cost-of-living measures which would have standardized wage rates for public projects, increased pricing transparency for consumers, eliminated so-called "junk fees," and limited use of noncompete agreements for employees making less than $150,000.
The night sky might not be a daily dinner-time conversation, but light pollution is quietly having an adverse effect on many things around us. Wildlife and their surrounding ecosystems are affected as well as human health, energy consumption and our global climate, crime and safety, and even our night sky heritage around the world.
DarkSky International’s website at darksky.org to explore more information on this topic.
itage Star Fest event to celebrate its dark night skies and educate visitors on the importance of darkness. The night sky surrounds us with a place full of wonder, beauty and unexpected discoveries. In recent years, light pollution, which is excessive artificial light that affects how we can see the night sky, has become an increasing threat to natural darkness.
The night sky might not be a daily dinner-time conversation, but light pollution is quietly having an adverse effect on many things around us. Wildlife and their surrounding ecosystems are affected as well as human health, energy consumption and our global climate, crime and safety, and even our night sky heritage around the world.
Nocturnal animals use the moon and stars to hunt while their prey species use natural darkness to stay protected and hidden. Artificial light at night creates a daytime feel for these nocturnal animals and affects nighttime migration, causing an inherent effect on how these species move and function in an ecosystem. This is why CRNP carefully manages its artificial lights, by only using outside lights when necessary and shielding outdoor lights.
Similar to wildlife, humans also adhere to a circadian rhythm, which is affected by light pollution. Visit the nonprofit organization
Energy and electricity are often wasted by excessive and ineffective artificial light at night. Dark Sky International estimates that at least 30% of all outdoor lighting in the U.S. alone is wasted, mostly by lights that aren’t shielded. This wasteful lighting leads to the release of more carbon dioxide and increases energy costs.
The lack of access to dark night skies is beginning to erase humanity’s night sky heritage. People roaming the globe before streetlights, cars and refrigerators were deeply connected to the night sky for practical purposes, such as agriculture, navigation and timekeeping. They were also connected to the night sky for inspiration, and the nighttime environment has served as a muse for many a poem, play, song, and essay. With ever-increasing light pollution, the younger generations are starting to lose that connection to the night sky.
If you would like to take a step to reduce light pollution in your area, there are several ways to make an impact right
at home. For example, you could begin by reducing any unnecessary outdoor lighting around your home. For the outdoor light that is necessary, you could consider shielding or outfitting with motion sensors or timers to reduce the amount of light that is emitted. These improvements can help reduce your overall energy bill and usage.
Annually, CRNP uses citizen scientists to assess the quality of our dark sky. Sky quality monitoring allows the park to assess light pollution over the park and determine how dark our skies are. Every small step to reduce light pollution helps keep the night sky visible for current and future generations. Learn more dark sky tips by visiting DarkSky International at darksky.org.
—National Park Service
Adobe Stock
Night Skies
Utah Advocates Concerned Over Funds for Hike, Bike Trails
by Mark Richardson | Utah News Connection
Utah currently has 179 miles of rail-trails, over
and numerous
UTAH - Congress is considering an updated Surface Transportation Act, and Utah communities say walking, biking and hiking trails throughout the state could be set back by potential changes.
Current Biden-era funding expires this September.
Mike Christensen, executive director of the Utah Rail Passengers Association, said the state has both a Republican governor and supermajority in its Legislature, but there's still strong bipartisan support for hiking and cycling infrastructure. He said federal funding cuts could endanger
those plans.
"The timing is really bad," he said. "A couple of years ago, our governor instituted a plan to add 1,000 miles of bike trails through Utah. This is something that would make it a lot harder to implement that vision."
Walking paths are also a safety issue. According to data from the national Governors’ Highway Association, pedestrian deaths have reached a 40-year high, with more than 7,500 people killed annually by drivers while walking.
Utah offers a massive range of trails, from worldfamous mountain biking in Moab to the newly developed Utah Trail Network,
a statewide master plan for paved multi-use paths designed to connect neighborhoods across every corner of the state.
Christensen said it has one of the fastest-growing outdoor economies in the country.
"The vision is having separated, comfortable, safe bike paths that go all throughout the state and would connect to rural areas," he said. "So it would be possible to be able to ride your bike pretty much anywhere in the state."
Utah's outdoor recreation economy generates almost $10 billion in economic impact throughout the state and supports more than 70,000 jobs.
Top 20: We are incredibly proud of the exceptional care our caregivers provide every day. Being named one of the Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals in America is a meaningful recognition of their compassion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to quality and safety. Receiving this honor speaks to the consistency of care our teams deliver and the standards they hold themselves to every day.
—Angel Roundy, chief nursing officer at
Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital
frontline caregivers.
areas, including quality of care, patient outcomes, patient perspective, affordability, and financial performance.
“This Top 20 recognition is really about our caregivers and the community we serve,” said Brent Schmidt, president of Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital. “Our teams are dedicated to delivering high-quality, compassionate care close to home, and this honor confirms that families in Sevier County can count on excellent care right here in their own community.”
The recognition also reflects the consistency and dedication of the hospital’s clinical teams, particularly its nurses and
“We are incredibly proud of the exceptional care our caregivers provide every day,” said Angel Roundy, chief nursing officer at Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital. “Being named one of the Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals in America is a meaningful recognition of their compassion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to quality and safety. Receiving this honor speaks to the consistency of care our teams deliver and the standards they hold themselves to every day.”
The Chartis Center for Rural Health evaluates rural and critical access hospitals using publicly available data that focuses on market performance, value-based patient outcomes, and fi -
nancial stewardship.
This recognition highlights hospitals that are delivering strong clinical outcomes while responsibly managing resources.
“This recognition affirms that our caregivers continue to provide highquality care while being thoughtful stewards of the resources entrusted to us,” Roundy said. “It reinforces our responsibility to serve our community with care that is safe, reliable, and centered on what matters most to our patients.”
Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital is one of two Intermountain Health facilities nationwide named to the Top 20 list this year. The other Intermountain Health hospital is Intermountain Health Cedar City Hospital. —Intermountain Health
Top 20 Cont'd from A1
Adobe Stock
80,000 miles of OHV/riding trails,
iconic hiking spots. A $100M investment is supporting this growing infrastructure, according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy.
Courtesy Intermountain Health
The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has named Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital one of the Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals in the nation.
Well, it was supposed to have rained this weekend—the weather people have been telling us for ten days now—but we had no such luck. Up north got some, and Hawaii has been pounded with rain twice now in two weeks. The last storm caused a lot of flooding, and this storm seems to be doing a lot of damage also. I am going to have to get out the lawn mower because of the warm weather. The trees are looking good with their pretty pink flowers on them, but with all of this wind, I don’t know how long they are going to last.
Pat and I have been busy buying Easter Bunnies for next year’s hunt. By buying them at this time of the year, we get them for 50% to 75% off, which makes for a better hunt with more prizes. We have been doing this since the hunt started.
For the month of April, the DUP has picked Mary Harris to honor. Mary has been a member since 1998 and has served as the DUP historian for many years. She has shared much of her family’s history with us. She is also active in the community, so give Mary a big thank you.
The gym on the hill
by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com
has an indoor golf course, and you can play any of the courses in the country. They are letting the high school golf team practice there. It has really made a difference this year in their playing. They have won a tournament and played well in some others. Before, the only teams that won state were the ones with golf courses where they lived. Milford, Valley, and Beaver usually came away with the championship. There are quite a few people working out up there who really make me look bad. They really work out hard, and they are consistent in showing up.
Summer is coming, and the Lions Club is getting ready for their annual breakfasts. The club is looking for some new members that can help out with the breakfasts and who have some new ideas. The club is helping Sophie Fawson to go to the girls state tournament as a new project. Boys and girls state was held over in Cedar City for many years, and the American Legion used to send many there, but going up north got to be too expensive, and it came to an end. The Lions Club will be one hundred years old in 2029 and has donated over $200,000
dollars back into the community from the breakfasts. Come and join in the fun. The club meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The third meeting is held at the Panguitch Senior Citizens Center.
My wife and my daughter, Kelly, both received a troubling letter the other day. It listed all kinds of things that might have been a problem. This letter came from the office of the lieutenant governor. I received one from the same place last week.
It said that we were receiving this notice because, currently, our voter registration record is classified as a private record. During the 2026 general legislative session, the Utah Legislature passed SB 153, which removes most voter’s privacy protections. As of May 2026, your voter registration record will become public information and will be available to members of the public.
This will include the voter's full name, voter identification number, residential address, mailing address, voting precinct and districts, party affiliation, and status as an active or inactive voter.
This bill puts you in
Obituaries
Ken G. Roberts
the hands of people that could do you a lot of harm. The president is bringing charges against people that found him guilty of fraud, like the seven FBI members who were fired because they worked on his case. There are rumors that they are going to bring back the draft, and all men ages 18 to 26 need to register.
It looked like the president’s war against Iran was going to have a ceasefire agreement. However, there was no way that Iran was going to go along with our list of terms. Iran only wanted us to stop bombing them, to return all of their money that was seized, and to leave them control of the Strait of Hormuz. Ours terms included fifteen items, and no one knows what they are. The truce was not signed, and the president said we were going to blockade the strait with our ships. Now, we have two blockades, and the price of oil is over $100 a barrel.
It has only been a week since Easter, and Dalen H. Oaks, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said we should take on the role of peacekeepers. Mack O.
ANTIMONY - Ken G. Roberts was born to Elvera Ilene Helquist and Garth Gleave Roberts on February 13, 1948. He loved horses, hunting, and fishing from the very start. His earliest years were spent behind his father on the back of a horse. His favorite childhood companion was Grandpa Wib Roberts. Grandpa Wib taught Ken to shoot, hunt, ride, and fish. He continued with those hobbies all his life.
Another of his loves was basketball. He played at Piute High School, and many of his fans will remember his trademark head toss to get his hair out of his eyes as he ran down the court. He loved basketball to the end of his life. He went to every high school game that he could and, along with his friend, Leon Twitchell, was the fan of the year.
Ken's nickname in high school was "Coug" because of his love of cougar hunting. Ken was a guide on the hunt that brought down the world record cougar at that time. Ken and Garth also caught a cougar that later starred in Walt Disney movies.
Ken proudly served his country in Vietnam with the Army.
He then met Valeene Sawyer in 1973. After winning over her two kids with Chick-o-Sticks, they married in 1974. He made Valeene promise they would not have any ugly kids (promise fulfilled!). He loved working with cattle and raised a family of six kids on his ranching salary for years. He worked for Herb Gleave, Hal Jensen, Sam Duncan, Phil Allen and Son Polled Herefords, where he remained until just a few years before his death. He worked in all weather conditions and on every holiday, except for the deer hunt. He loved to bow hunt and rifle hunt. And, in good weather, he'd collect his pole and gear and drive to the reservoir to fish as soon as he was done with work.
Ken never met a stranger. He enjoyed talking to people and had several long conversations with wrong-number calls. His famous phrase was "he sure thinks a lot of me." He was also notorious for slaughtering the English language. "Aluminum" and "linoleum" were his two worst enemies. When Dad knew he got a word wrong, he would smile and say, "Pretty close, right?"
In 2008, Ken got very sick and spent several weeks in the St. George hospital. He had a life-threatening lung infection. He made a deal with God that if he was healed, he would quit drinking and smoking, and he'd go back to church. He was, and he did. He was sealed to Valeene in the St George Temple on October 7, 2009. Ken remained faithful and served in various callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including a priesthood instructor and counselor in the bishopric. He was able to touch many hearts through his service to the Lord.
Ken passed from this life on April 7, 2026, from complications of COPD and emphysema. In his last days, he was able to visit and laugh with the family and friends that he so treasured. His last meal was an Eskimo Pie ice cream bar, and his last words were "Aw, hell".
He is survived by his children: Tracy (Renato) Matheson, David (Stephanie) Roberts, Kena (Ryan) Toone, Riley (Crystal) Roberts, Amberly (Jerrod) Mallinger, and Gannon (Kambri) Roberts; 32 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; sisters: Darlene Evans, Kim (Scott) Adams, and Elaine (Nate) Tebbs.
He is preceded in death by Valeene (wife), Garth and Ilene Roberts (parents), LeVere, LaRell, and Keith Roberts (brothers), Ken Jr. (son), April Roberts (daughter-inlaw), Lynn Pierson (brother-in-law), and Doug Evans (brother-in-law).
Special thanks to Bill Wiley, Garfield County Hospital Staff and Hospice Care, the townspeople of Antimony, and the Antimony Merc Coffee Club for all your dedicated care and kindness. Thank you for helping him and loving him.
Funeral Services will be at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in the Antimony Ward Chapel. Viewings will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm and again prior to services on Saturday at the Church from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Burial will be in the Widtsoe Cemetery with Military Honors. An online guestbook with livestreaming can be found at www.maglebymortuary.com
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Schools and Sports
BVHS Students Place at 1A Speech and Debate Tournament
by Samie Ott | Bryce Valley High School
OGDEN - The 1A State Speech and Debate took place at Ogden High School over the weekend of March 20 and 21. Bryce Valley
High School did extremely well, with Jonathan Platt taking 2nd Place in LD Debate, Marius Astalus taking 3rd Place in LD Debate, and Annabella
Vasquez taking
Coach Miller and Coach Jensen said that they couldn’t be prouder
of these kids and their accomplishments this season and look forward to more students joining the team next year and making a run for the state title.
BVHS Student Earns Prestigious Sterling Scholar Honor in Visual Arts
by Samie Ott | Bryce Valley High School
ar program, one of the most prestigious academic honors for high school seniors in Utah.
The Sterling Scholar program, established by the Deseret News and KSL, is designed to recognize outstanding students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. Participants are evaluated through a rigorous process that includes submitting a comprehensive portfolio of their work and completing interviews with judges in their selected category.
has been recognized as the Runner-Up in Visual Arts in the highly respected Sterling Schol-
Each year, only one student per school is nominated in each of the program’s fourteen cat-
egories, making advancement to the regional and state levels a significant achievement. Finalists and runner-ups are selected from among some of the top-performing students across Utah, highlighting the program’s competitive and distinguished nature.
Corrales’ recognition as Runner-Up in Visual Arts places her among the elite students in the state who have demonstrated not only artistic talent, but also dedication, creativity, and a strong commitment to their craft. The Sterling Scholar program is widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence, with honorees receiving scholarships.
Through her work in visual arts, Corrales has exemplified the qualities the program seeks to honor—innovation, discipline,
high school sports: upcoming games...
Panguitch High School
Softball: 04/17: Against Monticello
04/23: Against Wayne
Wayne High School
Softball:
04/17: Against Altamont
04/23: Against Panguitch
04/29: Against Monticello
and a passion for learning. Her accomplishment reflects countless hours of effort and a commitment to excellence that extends beyond the classroom.
The Bryce Valley High community proudly celebrates Corrales’ achievement and the example she sets for her fellow students. Her success stands as a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and the opportunities that come from striving for excellence.
Courtesy Samie Ott
The 1A State Speech and Debate took place at Ogden High School over the weekend of March 20 and 21. Bryce Valley High School did extremely well, with Jonathan Platt taking 2nd Place in LD Debate, Marius Astalus taking 3rd Place in LD Debate, and Annabella Vasquez taking the 1A State Champion title in SPAR.
the 1A State Champion title in SPAR.
TROPIC - Taivee Corrales, daughter of Luis and Tierney Corrales of Tropic,
Courtesy Samie Ott
Taivee Corrales, daughter of Luis and Tierney Corrales of Tropic, has been recognized as the Runner-Up in Visual Arts in the highly respected Sterling Scholar program.
Photo Gallery: 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt
by Jaynie Connor
Courtesy Tammy Barton
Jonie Barton and her nephew, Harrison Cox, pose with the Easter Bunny at the 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Panguitch City Park.
Paige Leach paints faces at the 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Panguitch City Park.
Courtesy Falyn Owens
Chris Longfellow and his son, William, hunt for eggs at the 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Panguitch City Park.
Tera Connor
Volunteers Falyn Owens, Amanda Mecham, and Jonie Barton at the 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Panguitch City Park.
Courtesy Falyn Owens
Tera Connor
Jax Shepherd poses with his finds at the 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Panguitch City Park.
Lots of participants hunting for eggs at the 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Panguitch City Park.
Courtesy Falyn Owens
Tera Connor
Kace Figgins poses at the 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Panguitch City Park.
Courtesy Karie Jo Millett Vince and Kimber Millett pose with the Easter Bunny at the 2026 Panguitch City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Panguitch City Park.
Aging in Place:
The goal is to keep them in their home as long as we can.
—Jill Fulmer, R6 Regional Council
Hill (standing), Five County Area Agency on Aging case manager for the State Caregiver Support Program and Long Term Care Options counselor;
from left to right) Maria Bailey, AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Director; Matt Campbell, Alternatives Program case manager; and Heather Friant, Alternatives Program case manager and Medicare SHIP counselor. In Garfield County, the Alternatives Program, offered statewide, is managed locally by the Five County Area Agency on Aging, and Hill works directly with residents to assess their needs and coordinate services.
assistance.
“The goal is to keep them in their home as long as we can,” Fulmer said.
The program is designed as an alternative to nursing home care for individuals who can remain safely at home with support. Services may be provided at no cost or on a sliding scale, depending on income.
Wayne County residents also have access to the Age in Place program, a newer initiative focused on improving the safety of the home itself. Funded through a federal housing grant, the program provides modifications such as ramps, grab bars, improved lighting, and walk-in showers.
“It’s addressing safety concerns in the home,” Fulmer said. Fulmer conducts in-home assessments and coordinates with contractors to complete the work. While separate from the Alternatives Program, the two can be used together depending on a person’s needs.
“There’s a huge need,” Fulmer said. She
recalled one case in which a woman called after modifications were completed. She was emotional and appreciative as she described how the improvements and changes helped her after a fall. Even small adjustments, Fulmer said, can make the difference between a close call and a serious injury and between staying at home or having to leave it.
There is currently no formal waitlist for the Age in Place program in Wayne County, though the Alternatives Program may have a waitlist depending on available funding. Residents can begin the process by contacting Fulmer to schedule an assessment and determine eligibility.
In Garfield County, similar support is available through the Five County Area Agency on Aging, which serves Washington, Beaver, Garfield, Iron, and Kane counties. The Alternatives Program, offered statewide, is managed locally by the agency. Case manager Bethany Hill works directly with residents to assess their needs and coordinate services.
“The nice thing about the Alternatives Program is that it allows seniors who are Medicaid eligible
but don’t want to be on Medicaid to still receive some help,” Hill said. The program offers a way for seniors to receive support while continuing to live in familiar surroundings. The agency is currently serving more than eighty seniors across its five-county region, with enrollment open for new applicants. In addition to the Alternatives Program, the agency also administers the Aging Waiver, which provides similar in-home services but without the same monthly spending limit.
Together, these programs reflect a broader effort to support aging in place, an approach that is especially important in rural communities with limited access to long-term care. For the people who use them, these programs aren’t just services, they're what make it possible to stay home.
For more information: Wayne County residents can contact Jill Fulmer with the R6 Regional Council at 435-893-0748 or jillfullmer@r6.utah.gov.
Garfield County residents can contact Bethany Hill with the Five County Area Agency on Aging at 435-673-3548 ext. 108 or bhill@fivecounty.utah. gov.
Viewing Event:
We are excited to host this viewing event again, giving visitors of all ages a chance to observe these large birds relatively close. It’s fun to see the young birds interacting with their parents, so we hope the community members will take advantage of this incredible viewing opportunity.
—Robin Goodman, Eccles Wildlife Education Center Coordinator
Viewing Event
Cont'd from A1
The herons primarily feed on fish and amphibians, so they typically build their nests in tree-top colonies near the water. Males collect the nesting material— usually sticks of various sizes—and the females build the nests. The nests can sometimes reach up to 3 ½ feet in diameter. Once constructed, nests are often reused in following years, which is why the rookery at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center is a great place to see these birds.
“We are excited to host this viewing event again, giving visitors of all ages a chance to observe these large birds relatively close,” Eccles Wildlife Education Center Coordinator Robin Goodman said. “It’s fun to
see the young birds interacting with their parents, so we hope the community members will take advantage of this incredible viewing opportunity.”
The herons lay between one and seven eggs each year, and both parents alternate incubating the eggs for twenty-five to twenty-nine days. Young herons can typically fly after two months, but sometimes remain near the nest site for up to five months.
Details for the event
The free viewing event will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center at 1157 S. Waterfowl Way in Farmington. DWR biologists will be available to answer questions and to help participants spot herons in the area. Spotting scopes and
Wayne Commission:
binoculars will be available for use, but you should bring your own if you have them. To avoid disturbing the herons, visitors must stay in the parking lot area and on designated trails while observing the birds and not approach the rookery poles.
A family-friendly egg decorating craft will be available inside the education center, while supplies last. Bathroom facilities are also available at the center.
While the event is free, participants are asked to register in advance on Eventbrite and to bring a nonperishable canned food item to donate to the Bountiful Food Pantry to help support the local community.
—Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
An annual audit and program update from the Central Utah Counseling Center, public comment raising concerns about illegal dumping, approval of several property tax exemption requests, approval of a special event permit for the local farmers market and a court facility contract, and approval of a fee waiver for Women in Business meetings at the community center discussed.
and expressed frustration with how the situation was handled by county staff.
timately restored. Officials said those funds are critical to maintaining services.
The center is also planning a new behavioral health receiving center in Richfield, which will function similarly to an emergency room for mental health crises. The facility is expected to be completed next spring and will allow law enforcement to quickly transfer individuals in crisis for short-term care.
During public comment, Bicknell business owner Isabella Drum raised concerns about illegal dumping near her property
Commissioners clarified that large dumped items are not the county’s responsibility to remove, particularly within incorporated towns, and directed her to work with Bicknell Town for similar issues in the future. In other business, the commission approved several property tax exemption requests, with the exception of Utah Housing Corporation, which was held for further review pending additional information about future development plans.
Commissioners also approved a special event
permit for the local farmers market, a court facility contract, and a fee waiver for Women in Business meetings at the community center.
An engineering fee estimate related to a prairie dog fence project at Wayne Wonderland Airport was tabled for further review and possible negotiation. The commission also approved payment of vouchers with minor adjustments before adjourning the meeting.
The Wayne County Commission meets the first and third Monday of every month at the Wayne County Courthouse in Loa.
Wayne Commission Cont'd from A1
Aging in Place
Cont'd from A1
Bethany
(front
Courtesy Bethany Hill
Wills, Trusts, and More Planning for Incapacity
In doing estate planning, it is essential to plan not only for death—but for life.
Lifetime planning involves preparing for the care and management of assets in the event you become incapacitated.
There are two main objectives of lifetime planning. First, it is important to plan for the effective administration of your estate upon incapacity. Second, it is important to preserve the estate if your incapacity requires professional long-term care.
Effective administration of your estate during incapacity. In planning for the administration of your estate during incapacity, it is critical that certain documents be executed.
All individuals engaging in estate planning should strongly consider executing a durable power of attorney.
by Jeffery J. McKenna
A durable power of attorney will enable someone else to manage your assets should you become unable to manage your own assets for any reason. If the power of attorney is not “durable” (which means it specifically states that it will be effective in the event of your incapacity), it will not be effective if you become incapacitated.
Preservation of your Estate During Incapacity. In addition to concerns related to how your estate will be administered during your incapacity, you must also consider expenses related to an extended period of incapacity.
Medicare and private insurance do not cover long-term care (care for the basic functions of life such as eating, dressing, bathing) for extended periods.
Medicaid is the government program that covers extended long-term care. Because Medicaid is a welfare program for the poor, an individual will only qualify after income and assets have been depleted.
In doing lifetime planning to preserve your estate during incapacity, it is usually not advisable to deplete your estate in order to qualify for Medicaid.
A more effective approach for planning for incapacity would be the purchase of long-term care insurance. Long-term care insurance greatly eases the burden of paying for longterm care.
In working with families that have long-term care insurance within their estate, I have found a much greater degree of comfort and security.
Now with Richfield and Panguitch offices to serve clients in and around the surrounding counties.
Jeffery J. McKenna is a local attorney whose practice has been focused on Estate Planning for over 25 years. He is licensed and serves clients in Utah, Arizona and Nevada. He is a shareholder at the law firm of Barney, McKenna and Olmstead.
If you have questions you would like addressed in these articles, please feel free to contact him at 435 628-1711 or jeff@bmo.law or visit the firm’s website at www.bmolawfirm.com. He would enjoy hearing from you.
country roads
by Lynn Griffin
Question
One day Jimmy got home early from school and his mom asked, "Why are you home so early?"
He answered, "Because I was the only one that answered a question in my class."
She said, "Wow, my son is a genius. What was the question?"
Jimmy replied, "The question was 'Who threw the trash can at the principal's head?'"
Stomach Ache
Little Susie, a six-yearold, complained, "Mother, I've got a stomach ache." "That's because your stomach is empty," the mother replied. "You would feel better if you had something in it."
That afternoon, her father came complaining that he had a severe headache all day.
Susie perked up, "That's because it's empty," she said. "You'd feel better if you had something in it."
Perfect Son
A: I have the perfect son.
B: Does he smoke?
A: No, he doesn’t.
B: Does he drink whiskey?
A: No, he doesn’t.
B: Does he ever come home late?
A: No, he doesn’t.
B: I guess you really do have the perfect son. How old is he?
A: He will be six months old next Wednesday.
THEME: Legendary Athletes
ACROSS
1. Capital of Tibet 6. Templeton of "Charlotte's Web" 9. Maisie Williams on "Game of Thrones" 13. Poisonous plant
UN labor grp.
George Orwell to Eric Arthur Blair
Movie genre
Shark part
Ax mark
*First Native American to win Olympic Gold 21. *The Great One of hockey
Be indisposed
Disfigure 25. Du Bois' initials 28. Hoodwink 30. Baking soda 35. Bypass
37. "Breaking Bad" product
39. Spelunker 40. Orchestra member
41. Charles Dickens' "____ House"
43. Family room staple
44. Like United States Capitol
46. "Cogito ____ sum"
47. Tongue-____ 48. Stockholm dwellers
50. *Tiger Woods has won this award the most times 52. On the wagon
Silage
Almond-induced state?
57. *Jordan or Phelps 61. *Female player with most Open Era Grand Slams
Infant's
Mother and Son
A mother said to her son, "Look at that kid over there; he's not misbehaving."
The son replied, "Maybe he has good parents then!"
PUNishment
Report Card
Dad: "Can I see your report card, son?"
Son: "I don't have it."
Dad: "Why?"
Son: "I gave it to my friend. He wanted to scare his parents."
Legal Notices
NOTICE TO WATER USERS
The applications below were filed with the Division of Water Rights in Wayne County. These are informal proceedings per Rule 655-6-2. Protests concerning an application must be legibly written or typed, contain the name and mailing address of the protesting party, STATE THE APPLICATION NUMBER PROTESTED, CITE REASONS FOR THE PROTEST, and REQUEST A HEARING, if desired. Also, A $15 FEE MUST BE INCLUDED FOR EACH APPLICATION PROTESTED. Protests must be filed with the Division of Water Rights on or before May 6, 2026 either electronically using the Division`s on-line Protest of Application form, by hand delivery to a Division office, or by mail at PO Box 146300, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6300. Please visit waterrights.utah.gov or call (801)538-7240 for additional information.
GARFIELD COUNTY
CHANGE APPLICATION(S)
61-3131 (a54374): Brant Wojack propose(s) using 0.0086 cfs OR 1 ac-ft. from groundwater (3 miles NE of Hatch) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.
61-3563 (a54381): Red Butte RV Village, LLC propose(s) using 0.0226 cfs OR 10 ac-ft. from groundwater (10 miles S of Panguitch) for IRRIGATION; COMMERCIAL: Red Butte RV Village.
95-5583 (a54382): State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration propose(s) using 0.015 cfs OR 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (30 miles south of Hanksville) for STOCKWATERING.
95-655 (a54402): Richfield District USA Bureau of Land Management propose(s) using 0.015 cfs from the Hancock Spring (NW of Mount Pennell) for DOMESTIC; STOCKWATERING.
NONUSE APPLICATION(S)
97-2074 (A69671): Bicknell Investments LLC is/are seeking a nonuse period for 1.362 ac-ft. from groundwater (North of Boulder) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.
97-2249 (A40416): Bicknell Investments, LLC is/are seeking a nonuse period for 21.78 ac-ft. from groundwater (4 miles North of Boulder) for IRRIGATION.
WAYNE COUNTY
NEW APPLICATION(S)
95-5591 (A85105): State of Utah School & Institutional Trust Lands propose(s) using 0.015 cfs OR 1.148 ac-ft. from groundwater (10 miles SE of Hanksville) for STOCKWATERING.
95-5592 (A85110): Steve Turek propose(s) using 0.33 ac-ft. from groundwater (11 miles W of Hanksville) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.
95-5593 (A85111): Sagebrush Family Trust propose(s) using 0.015 cfs OR 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (2 miles East of Caineville) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.
CHANGE APPLICATION(S)
95-514 (a54346): Trinity R. Edwards Living Trust propose(s) using 0.142 cfs OR 9.8204 ac-ft. from the Unnamed Spring (2.5 miles north of Loa) for IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.
EXTENSION(S)
95-5288 (A79241): Justin Lawrence Martin and Dolores Shavonne Martin is/are filing an extension for 0.015 cfs OR 0.45 ac-ft. from groundwater (2 miles South of Teasdale) for DOMESTIC.
Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E.
State Engineer
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on APRIL 9 & 16, 2026
NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGE WAYNE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Please take notice that the Wayne County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following:
PROPOSED CHANGE: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION
INTENDED USE: TWO (2) PARK MODEL UNITS, SAUNA & PERGOLA FOR SEATING AREA
CHANGE REQUESTED BY: ADAM WHITE/ A & B INVESTMENTS
A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD DURING THE PLANNING & ZONING MEETING ON: April 22, 2026 @ 7:00 PM AT THE WAYNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Located at: 2050 E SR 24 Caineville, UT 84775
LEGAL DES: Approx 4 acres of previously zoned Resort/ Rec property located in the:
SW1/4NE1/4 Sec 30 T28S R9E
Parcel 01-0081-0555/ O-550-1A
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on APRIL 9 & 16, 2026 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS HANKSVILLE TOWN
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of Hanksville will receive sealed bids for the sale of the following surplus equipment:
EQUIPMENT: 2015 Bobcat Compact Excavator E42 T4 Serial #B2VW11797
Enclosed cab, working hydraulic thumb, 600 hours and recently serviced.
MINIMUM BID: The Town has established a minimum acceptable bid of $46,000
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sealed bids must be received no later than May 7, 2026. Bids received after this deadline will not be considered.
SUBMISSION ADDRESS: Hanksville Town PO Box 127
Hanksville UT 84734
INQUIRIES: For questions or to schedule an inspection, please contact the town clerk clerk@hanksvilleutah.gov
The Town of Hanksville reserves the right to reject any and all bids.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on APRIL 16, 23 & 30, 2026
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
DISTRICT COURT, STATE OF UTAH, GARFIELD COUNTY 55 South Main Street, Panguitch, Utah 84759, Telephone: (435) 676-1104; Facsimile: (435) 676-8239.
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LARRY DOYLE MAPES deceased, NOTICE TO CREDITORS, Case No. 263600005, Assigned: JUDGE LARSEN. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that JERRY MAPES was appointed as Personal Representative of the estate of LARRY DOYLE MAPES and creditors of the estate are given notice to present their claims to BARRY L. HUNTINGTON, attorney for the estate, P.O. Box 388, 55 South Main Street, Panguitch, Utah 84759, within 3 months after the first publication of this notice or be forever barred.
DATED this 8th day of April, 2026. BARRY L. HUNTINGTON
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on APRIL 16, 23 & 30 and MAY 7, 2026
NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPROVE
UTAH STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY
A Notice of Intent for the following project submitted in accordance with R307401-1, Utah Administrative Code (UAC), has been received for consideration by the Director:
Company Name: Anfield Resources Holding Corp.
Location: Anfield Resources Holding Corp. - Uranium Shootaring Canyon Mill - 3 Miles North of, Ticaboo, UT
Project Description: Anfield Resources Holding Corp. (ARHC) owns the Shootaring Canyon Mill facility in Garfield County, approximately three miles north of Ticaboo. No Approval Order (AO) currently exists for this site.
ARHC is proposing to restart operations at a previously shut down uranium mill. Before the Shootaring Canyon Mill can be fully functional again and reopen for operation, a multitude of construction projects need to take place at the facility to ensure it meets both safety and environmental standards.
For ARHC to reconstruct the mill, onsite power is needed. Since the site is in a remote location and line power is not available, diesel generators are proposed to provide the site with sufficient power for construction activities to take place. Thus, ARHC is proposing to install two (2) new diesel-fired, non-emergency Tier 4 engines on site. These generator engines are proposed to be operated 24 hours per day, for 350 days per year.
Due to the long-term inactivity of the mill since its 1970s authorization, and to account for updated air permitting regulations, the facility is classified as a new minor source.
Through this AO, ARHC is permitted to install the two (2) proposed engines. However, a new NOI and new AO will be required before ARHC can commence any milling operations.
The completed engineering evaluation and air quality impact analysis showed the proposed project meets the requirements of federal air quality regulations and the State air quality rules. The Director intends to issue an Approval Order pending a 30-day public comment period. The project proposal, estimate of the effect on local air quality, and draft Approval Order are available for public inspection and comment at the Utah Division of Air Quality, 195 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116. Written comments received by the Division at this same address on or before May 16, 2026, will be considered in making the final decision on the approval/disapproval of the proposed project. Email comments will also be accepted at cbodell@utah.gov. If anyone so requests to the Director in writing within 15 days of publication of this notice, a hearing will be held in accordance with R307-401-7, UAC.
Under Section 19-1-301.5, a person who wishes to challenge a Permit Order may only raise an issue or argument during an adjudicatory proceeding that was raised during the public comment period and was supported with sufficient information or documentation to enable the Director to fully consider the substance and significance of the issue.
Date of Notice: April 16, 2026
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on APRIL 16, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE PANGUITCH CEMETERY DISTRICT
It is that time of the year. Please have all your flowers, and any items, removed from around your headstones by April 15 so that the Cemetery maintenance can get the grounds ready for the coming summer season and Memorial Day.
Thanks, Panguitch Cemetery Board
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on APRIL 9 & 16, 2026
NOTICE OF PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AN AGRICULTURE PROTECTION AREA WAYNE COUNTY
This notice is to notify you that an application has been submitted to establish an Agriculture Protection Area on approximately 57.69 acres of property located at:
Proposed Use: Continued agricultural use and protection of agricultural operations
The purpose of establishing an Agriculture Protection Area is to preserve and protect agricultural land, promote agricultural production, and help ensure the long-term viability of farming activities within the area.
As part of the review process, the proposal will be considered by the Wayne County Planning & Zoning Commission and County Commission. A public hearing will be scheduled to allow interested parties to provide comments.
Public Hearing Information:
• Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM
• Location: 18 S Main, Loa UT
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on FEBRUARY 26 and MARCH 5 and APRIL 16, 2026
C lassified a ds
We are looking for friendly, hardworking professionals who enjoy the hospitality industry and interaction with guests.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Front Desk Agents
Laundry Services
Housekeepers Maintenance Bellmen
Positions to start April 1st through October 31st At Capitol Reef Resort we promote from within. Please stop by in person to complete an application. We are located at 2600 E SR 24, Torrey, UT 84775 435-425-3761
Position Announcements
POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Garfield County School District is hiring for the following positions. For the application process and description of each, please see the district website www.garfk12.org
• Para-Professional at Panguitch Elementary School
• Substitutes for Teachers, Custodians, and Food Service Workers
SALARY: Please see 2025-2026 Garfield County School Districts Classified, District Office, and Certified Salary Schedules on the district website.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be fingerprinted and satisfactorily pass an employment background check.
Garfield County School District is an equal opportunity employer. Garfield County School District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications.
RESTAURANT FOR LEASE 5 NORTH MAIN STREET, PANGUITCH. CALL @ 435-676-8844 OR 801-879-0669 OR 801-913-3205 (TARLA OR HARSHAD) OR STOP BY AT MARIANNA INN MOTEL. MINIMUM ONE YEAR LEASE + ONE MONTH DEPOSIT REQUIRED. ALSO, MAID TO DO ROOMS NEEDED ($10 / ROOM. NO LAUNDRY).
MEETINGS
TROPIC AA MEETING
Wednesday at 6 PM. Tropic Heritage Center. All meetings are closed discussion. Escalante AA Meeting Tues. & Fri. at 6pm 190 W. Main St., Escalante
The only requirement is the desire to stop drinking.
Part-Time Dental Patient Relations
Escalante
Job Title: Dental Patient Relations
Location: Escalante, UT
Position Type: Part-Time
About Us
Wayne Community Health Centers - Kazan Memorial Dental is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We are looking for a reliable and friendly Patient Relations team member to support our front office operations on a Part-Time basis.
Position Summary
The Patient Relations Front Desk is the first point of contact for patients and visitors. This role is responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, handling phone calls, and providing excellent customer service to ensure a positive patient experience.
Responsibilities
• Greet patients and visitors in a professional and welcoming manner
• Answer and direct incoming phone calls
• Schedule, confirm, and update patient appointments
• Verify and update patient information and insurance details
• Collect co-pays and balances as needed
• Provide accurate information and assist patients with questions or concerns
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information in accordance with HIPAA
Qualifications
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment
• Basic computer skills
• Flexible availability to cover shifts as needed
Interested candidates may apply by submitting a resume to aellett@ waynechc.org.
SERVICES
When in Need, There are Resources in Wayne & Garfield Cos.
For Victims of Domestic Violence, Rape, and Sexual Assault
Canyon Creek Services
Emergency Safehouse 435-865-7443
Mobile Team 435-233-5732
New Horizons Crisis Center
145 East 100 North, Richfield Office Hours
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Shelter is open 24 hrs, 7 days a week Phone Number 435-896-9294 Counseling Services
Central Utah Counseling Richfield Office
255 S Main Street, Richfield Office Hours 435-896-8236
24 Hour Emergency Service 877-469-2822
Southwest Behavioral Health Center 601 E Center Street, Panguitch 435-676-8176
24 Hour Emergency Service 800-574-6763
Wayne Community Health Center
128 South 300 West Bicknell, 84715 435-425-3744
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988
The Wayne Community Health Centers are committed to providing high quality health services to our communities’ residents and visitors. Its purpose is to provide quality health services to all people including those facing financial, geographic and/or cultural barriers to healthcare.
Town Maintenance Employee
Bicknell Town is accepting applications for a 40 hour a week Town Maintenance employee. This position involves a variety of duties related to the maintenance and operation of town infrastructure, facilities, and public areas.
Applicants must have a valid Utah driver’s license, be able to perform physical labor, demonstrate reliability and good communication skills.
Experience in public works, construction, equipment operation, or related fields are helpful.
Water Operator Certification and Cross Connection Certification is preferred but not required. The Town will support training for the right candidate.
Competitive wage based on experience.
Application is available at the Town Hall. For questions about the position, please contact Noreen Johnson at 435-425-2215.
Now Hiring Line Cooks
To Apply: Email admin@escalanteoutfitters.com with your resume and letter of interest in joining our team or stop in the store and fill out an application. 310 W Main St. Escalante, UT 84726
