The Wayne & Garfield County Insider December 18, 2025
Planning to Go Ice Fishing This Winter?
What Anglers Should Know
SALT LAKE CITY -
While skiing and snowboarding are often what first comes to mind when people think of Utah and winter recreation, ice fishing is another great way to get outside and enjoy the season. If you are planning to go ice fishing this winter, here are a few things you should know before hitting the ice.
Safety tips for anglers
Staying safe is the most important aspect of ice fishing—and staying safe includes staying warm. Be sure to dress in layers and have all the needed food and equipment to stay warm. To avoid falling through the ice, a general safety recommendation is to not go onto the ice unless it is at least four inches thick. Keep in mind, though, that ice thickness can vary across a lake, especially in
Ice Fishing
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New Multicounty Bookmobile Driver Jakob Thygerson
by Jaynie Connor
Thygerson was inspired to become a bookmobile driver by
way back, growing up, I was always the kid who would
chin,” said Thygerson. “And so reading has always been a huge part of my life, and I know how important that is.”
GARFIELD / KANE COS. - In some rural Utah communities, the nearest public library can be more than a two-hour drive away. That is why the Multicoun-
Panguitch Students Light Up the Holidays at Zions Bank
Courtesy Zions Bank
Panguitch preschool students perform at Zions Bank on Thurs. Dec. 4 for the bank's “Lights On” tree-trimming tradition.
PANGUITCH - More than 200 children from Panguitch Elementary School helped ring in the holiday season at Zions Bank. On Thurs., Dec. 4, every class from preschool through sixth-grade students walked to the Zions Bank branch throughout the day. Each student placed their handmade ornament on the Christ-
mas tree inside the branch lobby. In return, Zions Bank made a donation to the school. The children also performed holiday carols and enjoyed bags of popcorn and candy canes. The decorated tree will be on display in the bank’s lobby through the Lights On Cont'd on B1
ty Bookmobile, a service dating back to the 1940s, remains essential, and this year, the program has a new driver: Jakob Thygerson. The MultiCounty
Bookmobile is available to all residents of Garfield and Kane counties, offering both on-site library assistance and mobile library resources to remote com-
munities lacking immediate access to city libraries. It makes twenty-one stops
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Pile Burns Planned in BCNP
BRYCE - Bryce Canyon National Park fire managers plan to conduct pile burning operations this winter and early spring as conditions allow. These pile burns are part of a 55-acre fuel reduction project to minimize wildfire risk and protect park infrastructure, in accordance with the park’s fire management plan. Over the last two years, Bryce Canyon National Park has partnered with the American Conservation Experience and the Utah Conservation Corps to selectively thin areas of dense vegetation that could contribute to high-intensity wildfire. Material from this selective thinning has been gathered into handbuilt piles, which will be ignited when weather conditions are optimal. It is difficult to predict exactly when the burning will occur because piles are only ignited under certain conditions, including favorable smoke disper-
Community Potluck In Torrey Nets $9.7K for Wayne County Food Pantry by Dave Cushing | Rural Voices of Utah
KANE CO. - The Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (TLA) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the individual or individuals responsible for removing a human skull from a protected ancient burial site in southern Utah.
In January 2025, investigators from the Attorney General’s Office assigned to the Trust Lands Administration became aware of the incident after viewing social media, prompting a search of a site
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TORREY - Roughly
sixty people showed up at the Torrey Pavillion for the Wayne County food pantry potluck fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 6th, with three things in mind:
1) enjoying plenty of food and drink that folks had prepared for the event; 2) spending time with friends and neighbors from the area in the off-season dark days; and 3) raising a bit of money to help out families and individuals who don’t have enough to keep their kitchens
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Courtesy David Cushing
Danny Emerich, Joanne Stenten, Linda Ward and Bernie Wuestefeld, representing Rural Voices of Utah, hand over Royal's Foodtown gift cards to Mike Riddle (center) at the Wayne County food pantry after a potluck fundraiser in Torrey on Dec. 6 netted $9,700 in donations.
Jaynie Connor
From the Publisher's Desk
The Insider Needs Your Help: An Appeal to Our Friends and Readers for Support for Corner Post Media, from Mark Austin and Erica Walz, December 2025
Each year we come to readers at the end of the year asking you to part with some of your hard-earned money. This is Corner Post Media’s fifth year participating in NewsMatch, the matching gift campaign offered to us (and over 400 other nonprofit media companies) as a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News.
And here we are again, asking for your support. Donations during NewsMatch, from Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, are doubled (up to $1,000 per donor), and this is an extremely important source of support for our organization.
This time, in our letter to you, we want to dive a little deeper into what is happening at our organization, what it means to us, and what we hope it might mean to you.
We’re at the culmination of almost fourteen years of effort at maintaining and growing The Insider, a community newspaper serving Wayne and Garfield counties and, going into our fifth year of more broadly developing regional reporting on issues related to culture and land on the Colorado Plateau, through our Corner Post Journalism Fund and platform.
To put fourteen years in a nutshell, how this has gone is that we (Mark and Erica) bought The Insider newspaper in 2012, as a privately-owned venture, producing 52 print and digital issues each year (over 14 years that’s 728 weekly issues!). Then we started the nonprofit, Corner Post, in 2020/21to raise funds for regional reporting on topics related to culture and land, and have been able to produce a number of professionallyedited stories reported by regional writers.
Somewhat recently,
as the newspaper struggled financially, in 2023, we donated the newspaper to the nonprofit so that the reporting and media efforts were all rolled into one. We combined The Insider with Corner Post to become Corner Post Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The nonprofit status for the newspaper immediately saved significantly on USPS postage costs—the print version of The Insider is delivered free-of-charge to every household P.O. Box in Wayne and Garfield counties (yes, this is both anachronistic and a little nuts). But not only did we save on postage, nonprofit status for The Insider has also helped to raise community financial support for the newspaper, in addition to our efforts at raising money for the Corner Post journalism fund. Running a newspaper and media outfit out of Escalante has been anything but easy. As many of you who have been in business in our area, or in any rural area, know, a sparselypopulated region with a scarcity of human resources makes it difficult to run anything. So why do it?
Here is Mark’s response to this question: Because we care, as all of you do who have donated previously to this cause. Prior to us operating the paper it had very little original content or local reporting. We wanted to produce a centrist community paper representing and serving everyone. And to provide the resources for quality reporting and journalism for the region.
Here’s Erica’s response to this question: I am not certain whether, if I lived somewhere else, I’d be involved in media or journalism. But I chose this —Escalante/Garfield County/the Colorado Plateau—specifically as my
place. And having chosen (or perhaps stumbled into) also stewarding this newspaper and media project, the importance of offering community reporting and quality regional journalism, as well as growing the quality of our services in a way that can be sustained for years to come, has become an ardent goal of mine. As a board member of the Utah Press Association for eight years, I’ve seen over time how media in the state has struggled, with four newspapers closing or merging in the past year alone. For me, our area is too important to those of us who live here, as well as to a lot of others who care about it, to not fervently keep a toehold and grow reporting that will serve our communities into the future.
We’ve got skin in this game. Fourteen years ago we split the cost of buying the newspaper. Mark donated land and construction costs and his time to build an office building to house The Insider/Corner Post on Main Street, in Escalante. Erica footed additional financing for the project, and in the meantime has forgone what might be a regular professional salary for a limited salary to help grow and support the jobs and careers of staff and freelance reporters. We each give sizeable donations each year as a way of joining in on what we are asking you to do—to support quality community reporting and regional journalism as a public service. Both now and into the future, Corner Post Media (The Insider and Corner Post) will only survive with support from our community, which is why we’re asking for your financial support. This is not an exaggeration. Readerand community-supported media is proving to be among the most viable
Mark Austin Erica Walz
means of keeping media services viable throughout the country. We feel we’ve been smart in terms of providing for the sustainability of independent media serving our region by going nonprofit. But this means we are counting on you. Some very good news is that our NewsMatch campaign so far is going well. We’ve raised over $14,000 to date but currently need to raise approximately $4,000 by December 31, 2025 to meet the full $18,000 matching grant provided by NewsMatch. A number of you have supported The Insider with $1,000 gifts representing the highest individual donor match amount. We are so grateful for this support! Most of you can only give a much more modest donation, and many of you have helped with $10, $25, $50 donations, and these are very helpful. If we meet our fundraising goal (or even a stretch goal), it will mean at least $36,000 in funding for Corner Post Media. This goes a long way with us and will help us increase our local reporting. In this past year, due to the additional resources provided by reader support during our previous NewsMatch campaigns, we’ve produced over 200 original local stories, and your support will help us do more! You can donate to The Insider through our website at insiderutah. com, or donations can be sent to The Insider, P.O. Box 105, Escalante, UT 84726. And your donation received by Dec. 31 will doubled!
Thanks for reading our letter and for considering the value of The Insider to our region’s future. We hope you will support our collective investment in responsible and responsive reporting and journalism for our communities.
Founding Board Member Publisher, The Insider and Corner Post
Corner Post Media
Executive Director, Corner Post Media
The Insider, Corner Post Media, P.O. Box 105, Escalante, UT 84726 snapshot@live.com 435-826-4400 insiderutah.com
The Wayne & Garfield County Insider, Corner Post and Corner Post Media are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Our Tax ID number is 81-4388951.
Celebrating 54 Years of Capitol Reef: A Landscape Shaped
by Time
Happy 54th Birthday, Capitol Reef National Park
South Fruita Overlook at Capitol Reef National Park. CAPITOL REEF
N.P. - Long before Capitol Reef carried an official title, the landscape was already shaping its story. Ancient seas rose and fell, layers of rock were laid down and lifted skyward, and the Earth folded into the 100-mile-long Waterpocket Fold that remains the signature feature of the park today. For thousands of years, people lived, traveled, and created here, leaving behind a rich cultural legacy that continues to guide how we understand this remarkable place.
On December 18, 1971, Capitol Reef became a national park when President Richard Nixon signed an Act of Congress protecting 241,904 acres. This designation brought stronger protections for scientific research, cultural and natural preservation, and long-term stewardship, ensuring the landscape can be enjoyed by current visitors and future generations. As public land, Capitol Reef remains a place that belongs to everyone.
That moment in 1971 was not the beginning of protection here, but a turning point. Before achieving national park status, the area was protected as a national monument. While monuments often safeguard specific historic or natural features, national parks are recognized for their broader landscape-
scale significance. Capitol Reef’s expansive geology and cultural history helped elevate it to national park status and continue to define the character of the region today.
As protections grew, so did the work to restore and care for the wildlife that inhabits this space.
Wildlife conservation has shaped the park’s modern story in powerful ways. In the 1980s and 1990s, desert bighorn sheep were reintroduced after historic populations in southern Utah declined, likely due to disease and overhunting.
Wildlife crews used helicopters and specialized nets to safely relocate bighorns from Canyonlands National Park, restoring a species that had been missing from this landscape for decades. Their return remains one of Capitol Reef’s conservation success stories and a visible reminder of how intentional stewardship can help repair past losses.
The human story here runs just as deep as the geologic one. Cultural history is woven into the orchards, irrigation ditches, and historic buildings that still anchor the Fruita area. The Gifford House, a reminder of this pioneer community, became part of the park’s museum sales program in 1996. By 2006, it began offering the pies that have since become a beloved tradition for visitors. These handmade treats
connect past and present, giving people a small taste of Fruita’s agricultural heritage.
In recent years, the park’s story has expanded upward into the night sky. In 2015, Capitol Reef was designated an International Dark Sky Park. The park’s exceptional night skies and commitment to protecting natural darkness create unforgettable opportunities for stargazing, photography, and scientific study. In 2025, Capitol Reef celebrates ten years of dark sky conservation, adding another chapter to its legacy of protection.
Stewardship also means caring for how people experience the park. The Scenic Drive rehabilitation project, completed in 2025, improved one of Capitol Reef’s most iconic routes and ensured safer, more sustainable access.
For many visitors, this drive is their first introduction to the landscapes that inspired the park’s creation.
After 54 years as a national park, Capitol Reef continues to reveal new insights into its geologic, cultural, and ecological history. From the deep time recorded in its cliffs to the people who have cared for it across generations, this landscape is still writing its story and will remain a place of discovery, wonder, and connection for years to come.
—National Park Service
Ice Fishing: While skiing and snowboarding are often what first comes to mind when people think of Utah and winter recreation, ice fishing is another great way to get outside and enjoy the season. If you are planning to go ice fishing this winter, here are a few things you should know before hitting the ice.
Ice Fishing
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larger reservoirs or areas of inflow. If you see the ice is four inches thick in one spot, don't assume it’s four inches thick across the entire lake.
Be sure to drill test holes into the ice as you venture onto it or take a spud bar (ice chisel) if it is early in the season, so you can test the ice regularly as you walk out. You should also avoid putting large groups of people and equipment in one small area— spread the weight out.
“As a basic precaution, you should always bring and wear ice safety picks while ice fishing, which can help you get out of the water if you fall through the ice,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Sportfish Coordinator Trina Hedrick said. “I’d also recommend taking a throw rope with you and having someone else with you when ice fishing.”
Staying warm is the most important safety aspect when ice fishing, especially when bringing kids with you. If you are bringing children, it’s nice to have hot chocolate or even hot soup available to help them stay warm. You can also bring hand and toe warmers that you can put in your gloves or boots. Ice fishing bibs are another great way to bundle up and stay warm, and they also use material that keeps the angler afloat in case they fall through the ice.
Find more ice safety tips on the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation website.
Common mistakes to avoid when ice fishing
Another important element of ice fishing is to make sure you are following all the laws. A few of the most common mistakes that Utah Department of Natural Resources officers encounter are:
• License violations (fishing without a license or with an expired fishing license)
• People catching and keeping too many fish (over the legal daily limit)
“Quite often, ice fish-
ing is so good that people can forget about the regulations and take too many fish,” DNR Lt. Casey Mickelsen said. “If you are lucky enough to experience one of those kinds of fishing trips, please remember the rules so other anglers can enjoy that same kind of day later on. Make sure to know the rules and regulations for each waterbody before you head out on the ice.”
Anglers can find all the rules and regulations for each waterbody in the 2025 and 2026 Utah Fishing guidebooks.
Catch-and-release tips for ice fishing
If you want to release the fish that you catch while ice fishing, there are a few things you can do to help decrease stress to the fish and increase their chance of survival.
Just like hot temperatures and warm water can have impacts on certain fish species, freezing weather can also be tough on fish. Anglers have to remember that even though they are ice fishing, the fish they are catching are living in water that is not frozen—which means that the water temperature that the fish are experiencing is often warmer than the temperatures they are exposed to coming out of the water.
“If an angler is fishing on a particularly cold day, pulling a fish up through a hole and exposing them to freezing conditions can be stressful to the fish,” Hedrick said. “The water that remains on sensitive areas—such as the gills or eyes—can begin to freeze and this can cause damage to a fish. So, it is best to minimize exposure time and, just like the rest of the year, release the fish as quickly as possible after catching it.”
One way to eliminate the air exposure time is to make sure you have quick access to all the tools you will need to easily and quickly release the fish.
“A unique aspect of ice fishing is that anglers tend to dress in layers and bulky clothing to keep warm, which is definitely recommended,” Hedrick said. “However, they often bury key equipment, such
as pliers and cameras, under those layers. Anglers also often fish with two holes (or more at certain waterbodies around the state) that are somewhat separated from each other. This makes it easy to forget key equipment for releasing the fish when you head to another hole in response to a strike. What you don't want to do is increase air exposure time for the fish because you are scrambling to find equipment. Anglers should carry the equipment that they need to release their fish in an easily accessible location.”
One idea for doing that is to keep your pliers on a lanyard around your neck to make them easy to find and access while ice fishing. Another idea is to keep all your equipment in a bucket or sled so that it’s easy to find and doesn’t get buried in the snow on top of the ice.
Another tip for decreasing the stress on a fish is to remove your gloves before handling the fish. Wearing gloves while ice fishing is typically recommended to protect an angler’s hands from freezing conditions. However, winter gloves are often made of absorptive fabric. Fish have a protective slime coat on their skin, and wearing gloves while handling the fish can remove the slime coat.
“That can leave fish more susceptible to various skin issues, such as fungal diseases,” Hedrick said. “I know that it is tough to take gloves off while ice fishing because it’s cold, but handling fish with your bare hands is best —and when the fishing is hot, your hands just don’t seem to get as cold! Once the fish have been safely released, then you can put your gloves back on. This also keeps your gloves drier throughout the day, which will help keep your hands warmer in the long run.”
Find more information about where to go ice fishing in Utah on the DWR Fish Utah map.
—Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Courtesy National Park Service
Wills, Trusts, and More
How Do I "Maintain" My Trust?
If you don’t maintain your car, it will break down and fail to perform. Like a car, if you fail to maintain your trust, it will not achieve the desired purpose when needed.
Many people choose a revocable living trust instead of relying on a will or joint ownership in their estate plan. They like the cost and time savings, plus the added control over assets that a living trust can provide. When properly prepared, a living trust avoids the public and often costly, court processes at death (probate) and incapacity (conservatorship or guardianship). It can let you provide for your spouse without disinheriting your children, which can be important in second marriages. It can save estate taxes. And it can protect inheritances for children and grandchildren from the courts, creditors, spouses, and irresponsible spending. However, many people make a major mistake in that they do not properly maintain their trust by keeping it properly funded.
Funding your trust is the process of transfer-
by Jeffery J. McKenna
ring your assets from you to your trust. To do this, you physically change the titles of your assets from your individual name (or joint names, if married) to the trustee of your trust. You also will change beneficiary (or contingent beneficiary) designations to your trustee. The trustee you name for your living trust controls the assets in your trust. Most likely, you have named yourself as trustee, so you will still have complete control. Remember, one of the great features of a revocable living trust is that you can continue to buy and sell assets just as you do now. You can also remove assets from your living trust should you ever decide to do so. If you have signed your living trust document but haven’t changed titles and beneficiary designations, your trust will likely not achieve the desired results. You may have a great trust, but until you fund it (transfer your assets to it), it doesn’t control anything. Your revocable trust can only control the as-
sets you put into it. If the goal of your living trust is to avoid probate at death and court intervention at incapacity, then you must fund it now, while you are able to do so. If you have a trust, you should also have a “pour-over will” as a safety net. When you pass away, it directs any assets you forgot to place in your trust. Those assets may need to go through probate first, but they can then be transferred to your trust as intended. You are ultimately responsible for keeping your trust funded. Attorneys usually transfer real estate into the trust and provide instructions or forms for adding other assets. The process is generally simple, and most institutions are familiar with handling revocable living trusts.
Like maintenance on a car, funding your trust and keeping your assets properly titled in the trust brings peace of mind because you know, that just like a well tuned car, your trust will perform properly when needed.
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
Sanity Test
During a visit to the mental asylum, a man asked the director, “How do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized?”
The director said, “Well, we fill up a bathtub. Then we offer the person a teaspoon, a teacup, and a bucket and ask them to empty the bathtub.”
The man nodded, “Oh, I understand! A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”
The director frowned and motioned to the orderlies, “No, a normal person would pull the bathtub drain plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”
The Cure
A lady goes to her doctor for a checkup. The doctor asks her if she is having any problems. “Yes, doctor,” she says. “I have to fart a lot. Fortunately, no one can hear them or smell them. In fact, I’ve farted twice since you came in and they were silent and odorless.” The doctor nods and says, “I can treat this problem with an over-thecounter medication, a prescription, and a referral. The medication will help your body produce less gas. The prescription will help you recover your sense of smell. I’m giving you a referral to an audiologist to see if they can help you hear better.”
THEME: Year-in-Review
ACROSS
1. W.E.B Du Bois' org.
6. Rascal
9. Ho-hum
13. "Pomp and Circumstance" composer
14. Tropical constrictor
15. Forgo
16. Tequila source
17. + or - atom
18. Reason by deduction
19. *Trade war "weapon," pl.
21. *2025 MLB World Series winners
23. ____-tzu
24. C&H crop
25. Dunce
28. Western necktie
30. Catch in a snare
35. Ginger cookie
37. Master of his castle
39. Use a razor
40. British slang for donkey
41. Arch and ball locations
43. Winglike
44. March celebrants
46. *Arthur Sze, 2025 ____ Laureate
47. Dam-like structure
48. *Beyoncé's "Cowboy ____," 2025 Grammy winner
50. King Kong and Curious George, e.g.
52. Like a fox
53. What Pinocchio did
55. *Florida Panthers won this org.'s '25 championship
57. *"Wicked: ____ ____"
61. *Late environmentalist and chimpanzee expert
65. German submarine destroyer
66. *2025 Ryder Cup loser
68. Manuscript sheet
69. Brazilian coins
70. Roll-your-own one, for short
71. To the left, on a boat
72. Orpheus' instrument
73. Geological time period
Truck Driver
A truck driver is starving and stops at a biker bar to eat. He goes inside, sits down at the bar, and orders a beer and some food. Right after he’s served, a biker gang enters the bar, eager for a fight. One walks up to the trucker, and slaps his hat off. The trucker takes a sip of beer. Another biker swats his food off the bar. The trucker takes another sip of beer. So a third biker grabs the beer and pours it over the trucker’s head. The trucker gets up, pays the bill, and leaves. The biker leader says, “That trucker sure wasn’t much of a fighter.” The bartender glances out the window and says, “He’s not much of a driver either. He just smashed his truck into a row of motorcycles.”
You’re living, you occupy space, and you have mass. You matter.
PANGUITCHJohn Ward Houston of Panguitch, Utah, passed away on December 5, 2025, holding the hand of Diane and surrounded by their three sons. John was born July 22, 1947, in Panguitch to Dee Fred and Dorothy May Ward Houston. The oldest of four boys, he grew up with his brothers Fred, Frank, and Dave, sharing small bedrooms, big imaginations, and a bond that lasted their whole lives. He was shaped by hardworking parents and grandparents, long days on the farm with his Grandpa Houston, and early mornings at the family grocery store, the S.U.E., where he began working at the age of five, mopping floors and sacking potatoes. After graduating from Panguitch High School, he served in the Utah National Guard while continuing his education at the University of Utah and Southern Utah State College. The love of John’s life was Nida Diane Jensen, daughter of Doug and Nida Mae Jensen. They were married on June 28, 1969, in the St. George Temple. From the beginning, their marriage was a partnership built on loyalty, sacrifice, humor, and a great deal of hard work. They lived in Logan and Cedar City while finishing their schooling, then settled in Panguitch to raise their family.In 1975, John and Diane moved back home to Panguitch, and that same month, their first son, Eric, was born. Two more sons followed: Erin in 1977 and Nate in 1983. Together, they juggled long hours at the S.U.E., the Horizon Motel, AHA trucking, Diane’s teaching, and the joyful chaos of three energetic boys. Service to his community was a constant thread in John’s life. He served on the Panguitch City Council and later as Mayor, and spent many years on the Garfield County Travel Council. He was proud to help improve his hometown and to share the beauty of “Color Country” with visitors from around the world. Away from work and civic duties, he loved golf, time in the backyard at the Horizon, visiting with neighbors, and reminding his children and grandchildren to remember who they are and what they stand for.
John is survived by his wife, Diane; their sons, Eric (Tammy), Erin (Robyn), and Nate (Jana); his brothers, Fred, Frank, and Dave; fourteen grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and another great-granddaughter expected to join the family this month. John’s life was defined by hard work, quiet service, deep love for Diane, devoted commitment to his family, and a lasting appreciation for the little town that raised him and his family. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
Funeral Services were held on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 12:00 Noon in the Panguitch Stake Center.
Viewings were held on Sunday from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the Church and again prior to services from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Burial was in the Panguitch Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina, and Manti
It is only five more days till winter will be here, or should it be spring with how many warm days we have had. December is supposed to be cold, but it is acting more like last month, November, which was the warmest month on record. So far, it doesn’t look like we are going to have a white Christmas, unless the weather changes. Up north, it has been 277 days since they have had snow. Most of the resorts are open to beginner skiers, with only man made snow. Bryan Head only has two lifts operating, and they are on the beginner’s slopes. Shawn, our daughter, was there on Saturday, and the temperatures were at 48 degrees.
Last week’s article about two really great men, Dave Dodds and Russell Bulkley, was done really well. Having served in the fire service, I know a few things that most people don’t know about. Both of these men did the work of seven men in a paid department. They were the chiefs, battalion chiefs, captains, engineers (keeping the apparatuses clean and working), and, many times, worked as firefighters. They were also the training officers. They were also responsible for getting grants so we could afford new engines, and, above all, they were responsible for the safety of the men that they commanded. When I was working as a volunteer, we had a lot of chimney fires, and these two guys were the ones on the roof putting out the fires. Like Dave, I really liked the job
by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com
and never had a day when I didn’t want to go to work because there was always something that was a challenge each shift. For fifteen years, the two sat at Foy’s Diner designing the station, and if you look at the front of the station, it is the old Cowboy's Smokehouse Cafe design.
As the year is coming to an end, it seems like more and more things are going on. Friday had the Panguitch High School (PHS) boys team playing Tintic, and there was the Christmas Light Parade going on at the same time. Many cars were in the parade, and it seems to be getting bigger every year. My daughter, Kelly, drove our yellow truck, which I found an inverter to run the lights with. Unfortunately, I used the old type of Christmas lights and they were too much for the battery; they only stayed lit for a short period. So, next year, I will spend the money for the other lights.
Also on Friday, the Community Baptist Church had a free warm clothing event to give away the clothing that they have recently collected. It was at the Panguitch Senior Citizens Center.
Saturday, it didn’t let up because there was a car show at the Triple C Arena, and it lasted till 2:00; many cars received trophies. There were so many beautiful cars there that it is really hard to pick a favorite. My favorite was a 37 Chevy, probably because I have had one for thirty years, and it is sitting over in Cedar. But since my two trucks are
almost finished, it got me stoked to go get it and work on it.
At 5:00, there was the Christmas home tours, and Mandy Soper outdid herself this year and had four really splendid homes on the tour. They were all well thoughtout homes that were beautiful. Many thanks go out to Mark and Kayla Boshell, Jeff and Mimi McKenna, Alice and Christian Tebbs and Josh and Jennifer Rushton for showing off their homes. Thank you for all your work and kindness and for showing yours homes for the Sub for Santa children. There is still time to get a Sub for Santa list. Call Kelly at 690-9208 or Pat at 676-2418 and leave a message.
Then, to close off a very busy day, there was a well-attended concert at the Stake Center. They were here for almost two hours and did many of the old favorite Christmas music. Kathy Woolsey did the closing number, "Silent Night," and she sang beautifully.
This last Tuesday was the 3rd Ward's Christmas dinner, and tonight the 1st Ward will be having their dinner, and it starts at 5:30. You don’t have to belong to the church to come, so come and get the Christmas spirit; you will be very welcomed.
Well, the college season is over, and none of my teams made the cut for the twelve championship slots. Somehow they picked Alabama, who had three losses, over BYU (with two losses), Utah (who had two losses), and USC (who also had three losses). Also, they
Obituaries
Vaughn William Heaton
passed on Notre Dame, who had two losses. I guess because Alabama has been in the play-offs for forever, there must be a permanent spot for them. There are thirty-four bowl games that will be played, so BYU, Utah and USC will be in one of them.
There will be a New Year’s Eve Party, and it will be at the Triple C Arena. This is a really good way to finish out the year with your friends and a little entertainment.
There will be a couple of PHS ball games at the end of the week. The boys play a really tough Piute team on Thursday night, and the girls play another tough 2A team in Duchesne on Saturday. Endurance is about adapting and maintaining space with intention. Nothing in nature can endure by remaining static. Rivers carve new paths; forests regrow from ash. So we too must adapt and change with imagination. We thrive in relationships, in our community growing stronger when nourished by shared purpose, mutual care and cooperation. To endure together is to weave a web of belonging. It’s choosing to stay connected to the land, to one another and to the future [that] we have the power to shape. (Rosario Dawson) We will be gone next week, and we wish you all a Merry Christmas from the Oettings and remember the reason for the Season.
Mack Oetting
PANGUITCH - Vaughn William Heaton, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2025, in Panguitch, Utah. He was born on May 11, 1930, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Merrill and Afton Heaton.
On July 3, 1953, Vaughn married his high school sweetheart, Lenore Russell in the St. George Temple and together they built a life filled with love, faith and family. They were blessed with three children: Jeri Lu (Frank) Houston, Lorilee (Don) Cannon, and Craig (Maggie Reeves) Heaton. Vaughn's legacy continues through his 14 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren, who brought him immense joy Surviving Vaughn is his children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren, His brother Dennis Heaton and sisters, Irene Jones & Sarah Fisher.
He was preceded in death by parents, Merrill W. Afton Jenkins Heaton; grandson, Austin Craig Heaton; great-granddaughter, Avery Houston; Brothers Richard Heaton & Darol Heaton; Sisters Marjorie Andersen & Carol Jean Eves. Vaughn dedicated time as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the North Central States Mission from 19501952. He also held numerous leadership positions throughout his life. He proudly served his country in the United States Army from March 1954 to March 1956. His professional career began as an accountant for Kaibab Industries, but his entrepreneurial spirit led him to purchase and develop several retail outlets and be involved in other business adventures, including his ranch.
Vaughn will be remembered as a man of many talents and passions. He enjoyed being in the outdoors. He found peace in nature, whether fishing, hunting or camping with family and friends. He was especially known for his skill in Dutch oven cooking, pleasing family and friends with his meals. Vaughn had a gift for conversation and a genuine interest in others. He was kind, devoted to family and faith, and had an ability to connect with everyone he met. He spent many hours in his garden, rotor tilling, weeding and harvesting fresh produce to be enjoyed by neighbors and at the family dinner table. He could often be found leaning on his shovel while irrigating in the field, watching his animals graze. He enjoyed seeing wildlife as he was out and about. Vaughn had a great sense of humor and often entertained his grandkids with his famous one-liners. His life was a testament to service, hard work, and love.
The family is appreciative of the health professionals and caregivers for their patient and caring assistance during the last few years that allowed Vaughn to live at home to the end.
A service will be held at the Panguitch Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Saturday, December 20 at 12pm, preceded by a viewing from 11am. Interment will be at the Panguitch City Cemetery. Service is provided by Cedar Valley Funeral & Cremation.
Schools and Sports
KSL News Brings Warmth and Joy to Loa and Hanksville Elementary Schools
by Amiee Maxwell
coats and shoes on Nov. 19 thanks to a generous
LOA / HANKS -
VILLE - KSL News delivered early holiday cheer to Loa and Hanksville Elementary Schools on November 19, 2025, donating new coats and shoes to 72 students. As
volunteers handed out the packages, students eagerly tried on their bright, warm coats, filling the halls with smiles and gratitude.
Teachers described the moment as heartwarming and deeply meaning-
ful, especially as winter temperatures drop across Wayne County. School staff and volunteer “elves” said they were moved by the students’ reactions and thankful for KSL’s continued support of Utah
families. “The donation ensures that dozens of children will head into the season feeling warm, supported, and seen,” said Loa and Hanksville Elementary Principal Wendy Potter.
Garfield County School District Announces Christmas Card Contest Winners
by Garfield County School District
Syrett was presented with a $100 Amazon gift card from GCSD Superintendent John Dodds (left) and Bryce Valley High School Principal Samie Ott (right). Syrett’s artwork will be featured on the district’s official Christmas cards. Second place was awarded to Mitch Menet, whose design will appear on the back of the district Christmas card. Menet received a $50 Amazon gift card for his work. Third place went to Deacon Henrie, who earned a $25 gift card for his contribution.
GARFIELD CO.The Garfield County School District Board of Education has announced the winners of its annual Christmas Card Design contest, an event open to all students across the district.
This year’s top honor was awarded to Raymee Syrett, an eighth-grade student at Bryce Valley High School. Syrett’s artwork was selected as the winning submission and will be featured on the district’s official Christmas cards, which are sent to all employees and school districts throughout the state. In recognition of her achievement, she received a $100 Amazon gift card.
The Board also recognized two additional standout entries. Second place was awarded to Mitch Menet, whose design will appear on the back of the district Christmas card. Menet received a $50 Amazon gift card for his work. Third place went to Deacon Henrie, who earned a $25 gift card
for his contribution.
On behalf of the Board of Education, district staff, and patrons, we congratulate Raymee Syrett, Mitch Menet, and Deacon Henrie on their outstanding accomplishments, and extend our sincere appreciation to all students who submitted designs for this year's contest.
by Mack Oetting
Both of the basketball teams had mixed troubles.
On Thursday night, the Wayne Badgers came to town. They are a really good team, however, neither team looked very good at the time, with Wayne leading at the halftime, 13-9. Both teams got their act together and started to hit baskets, and the Badgers pulled away with a 52 to 37 victory.
Makena Owens was high scorer for the Cats with ten, followed by Katie Hatch with nine.
The ladies have one more game before Christmas, and it is against Duchesne on Saturday. On Tuesday, the boys also played the Wayne Badgers, and the score was a lot closer, with Wayne winning 57-51.
Trenton Virga was the high scorer in the game with twenty-one, and Casey Walters finished with thirteen. On Friday night, Tintic was here, and the Cats beat them quite handily, winning 63 to 44.
Casey Walters led all scorers with twenty-six points, and Coby Bentley finished with twelve. The Cats play the always tough Piute Thunderbirds on Thursday night.
Lights On: We love this annual tradition because it gets us into the holiday spirit and celebrates the true spirit of the season, which is giving. We hope everyone will enjoy the creativity of the children’s ornaments as much as we do.
Lights On Cont'd from A1
holidays. “We love this annual tradition because it gets us into the holiday spirit and celebrates the true spirit of the season, which is giving,” said Marc Henrie, manager of Zions Bank’s Panguitch branch. “We hope everyone will enjoy the creativity of the children’s ornaments as much as we do.”
More than 3,500 students from elementary
—Marc Henrie, manager of Zions Bank’s Panguitch branch schools across Utah are participating in the “Lights On” tree-trimming tradition this year by making colorful decorations for holiday trees in Zions Bank branch lobbies. In addition, a number of Zions Bank branches have invited students from special-needs classes and Title 1 schools to decorate the trees in their lobbies. Zions Bank has been inviting students to participate in this annual holiday event for fifty-three years. —Zions Bank
All students at Hanksville Elementary received brand-new
donation from KSL News. At Loa Elementary, 50 of the 240 students received gifts.
Courtesy Wendy Potter
Courtesy Garfield County School District
Raymee Syrett (center), an eighth-grade student at Bryce Valley High School, is the 2025 Garfield County School District (GCSD) Christmas Card contest winner. In recognition of her achievement,
Schools and Sports
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah and Southern Utah University Win Golden Spike Award for Collaborative Study
CEDAR CITY - On Thursday, Nov. 13, representatives from the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (PITU) and Southern Utah University (SUU) traveled to the University of Utah for the annual Golden Spike Awards, hosted by the Public Relations Society of America, Utah Chapter, in recognition of outstanding work in public relations, marketing, and communications.
The collaborative effort between PITU and SUU on the Paiute Willow Basket Community Assessment earned the two organizations the Golden Spike Award in the category of "Research," which addresses "a meaningful contribution or input to a public relations program, or an evaluation documenting the value or benefit of a public relations program or tactic."
The Paiute Willow Basket Community Assessment is the first comprehensive study on the Paiute Tribe in more than 50 years, capturing the experiences and aspirations of Tribal Members and comparing them with the only other prior Tribal assessment, conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1968.
In 1954, the Utah Paiutes were wrongfully subjected to the Tribe’s federal recognition and federal trust responsibility. By 1968, many Southern Paiute families were left living in overcrowded homes or along riverbanks in southern Utah. Medical care was scarce, jobs were limited, and nutrition and sanitation were poor. Life expectancy had dropped to age 42.
“In 1980, our federal recognition was again restored, bringing back benefits and life to our people,” said Tamra Borchardt-Slayton, who is the PITU Puow’wan Program manager and a member of the Paiute Willow Basket research team. “Today, our community has built back, and the Paiute Willow Basket study captures the voices of our community, including our Elders. It tells a story of how far our Tribe has come and where we now want to go.”
A sovereign nation, PITU comprises five constituent bands—the Shivwits Band, Kanosh Band, Koosharem Band, Indian Peaks Band, and Cedar Band—located within Utah’s Iron, Millard, Sevier, and Washington counties. These bands together represent a resilient Tribal community with deep ancestral ties to their respective regions and honor for their cultural traditions and lands.
Co-designed by PITU administrators and SUU researchers, the Paiute Willow Basket Community Assessment used Indigenous research approaches and an Elder-supportive process, including offering both online and paper surveys in order to reach as many Tribal Members as possible.
by Southern Utah University
The collaborative effort between the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (PITU) and Southern Utah University (SUU) on the Paiute Willow Basket Community Assessment earned the two organizations the Golden Spike Award in the category of "Research," which addresses "a meaningful contribution or input to a public relations program, or an evaluation documenting the value or benefit of a public relations program or tactic."
“We wanted to make sure this wasn't necessarily a Western-driven study, but that Indigenous voices were heard and interpreted,” said Borchardt-Slayton, who is also the chair of the Indian Peaks Band.
The findings of the study, which were recently published on the PITU website, will inform strategic planning in health, education, workforce development, housing, and cultural preservation to ensure that programs are community-driven, culturally grounded, and cohesive across all five bands of the Tribe.
With this goal of cohesion in mind, the research team knew it was important to get feedback from members of all five bands, which was ultimately achieved in proportions similar to the populations of the bands, with one outlier. The team was also pleased with the overall response rate: twentysix percent of the eligible population took the assessment. Joel Vallett, who holds a doctorate in public policy and administration and is an associate professor in the MPA program at SUU, called the response rate “particularly impressive.”
“When we do this type of community assessment survey, we usually see about 10-15% response at the high end,” Vallett said, adding that the 26% response rate of the Paiute Willow Basket assessment signified to him that the respondents trusted the survey instrument. “They trusted where it was coming from, they understood its value, and they were willing to respond.”
Vallett said the study is an “incredible demonstration of what good public administration can do.”
“We assess where our communities are doing well, where they can improve, and where they can grow,” he said. “As I went through this assessment, I immediately saw that there was a genuine effort to really understand what was going on with the Tribe and being able to make sure their needs were being met and that growth had occurred, especially since it had been such a long time since the last study.”
Key progress indica-
tors identified by the study include a 129% increase in Tribal enrollment between 1968 and 2025, from 397 members to more than 900. The study also showed marked gains in educational attainment, diversification of employment opportunities, and expanded access to health services, including the presence of five culturally responsive FourPoints Health clinics now located throughout the bands’ service areas.
All FourPoints clinics are open to both Tribal Members and the community and offer a slidingfee scale based on a patient’s income. FourPoints Health Director LaTosha Mayo, who is a member of the Koosharem Band and served on the research team, said the Paiute Willow Basket Community Assessment is more than just numbers compiled together. “It’s a way that our Tribal Members can voice their stories to help us create a better vision for our future.”
From a health standpoint, Mayo said the study provides a roadmap for purposeful action. “When our Nung’wu People are invested in the health of the community, everyone benefits. With their voices and stories, we are able to ensure that each action we take chips away at the hardships and challenges we face as a community, family, or individual. Our Nung’wu People are our community’s greatest wealth, and when we are able to pour into them so they are healthy in mind, body, emotions and soul, they are able to actively participate in building our Tribe’s future for generations to come.”
When it comes to the future, research team members also highlighted the education and employment findings. Forty-three percent of respondents have completed high school, compared with 12% in 1968, and post-secondary education attainment has grown dramatically, with 47% of high school graduates reporting continuing their education, compared with just 1% in 1968.
Additionally, employment has diversified beyond low-wage manual labor roles; 18% now serve in leadership positions,
with strong representation in the fields of health care, education, business, and skilled trades.
Vallett noted that several respondents expressed interest in moving into upper management in those career fields.
“In terms of how we move forward with this information, I think about the types of services we can provide in terms of education,” he said, “not necessarily your typical undergraduate degrees, but leadership certificates and stackable credentials that individuals can earn and continue to elevate within their career.”
Melynda Thorpe, assistant vice president of Workforce and Educational Opportunity in the SUU Provost’s Office, took it a step further.
“At SUU, we are dedicated to helping local residents of southern Utah—especially in our rural communities—get access to the training and connections they need to gain a living wage job,” she said, “so when we saw the aspirations of Tribal Members saying they want to have jobs in business management and in health care and be leaders in those fields, it gave me a sense of validation for the work that we are actively engaged in, to make sure that we're designing education that will help our rural communities get there.”
This isn’t the first time PITU and SUU have worked together. The two organizations maintain a longstanding partnership centered on cultural, educational, and health collaborations, including the Southern Paiute Language Preservation Project, FourPoints Health clinic services for students on the SUU campus, and community-based cultural programming.
When it came to the Paiute Willow Basket Assessment, Thorpe said the university put the project into its Industry Challenge Lab, which allows faculty, students, and researchers at SUU to contribute to scholarly or applied research projects that impact communities. For this project, student research assistants represented multiple disciplines including history, social work, busi-
away by the Tribe is significant to the mission of SUU to be community responsive and engaged.”
Laurel Yellowhorse, the PITU Tribal Chairwoman, expressed gratitude for the partnership with SUU, especially when it came to the community assessment.
ness management, communication, and business analytics (MBA).
“The fact that we were able to work with PITU—which is a valued community partner—and to engage our faculty, our staff, and our students to create meaningful research that can be put to use right
“We are grateful for the collaborative opportunity to help gather and sort contemporary data, engage in rich discussion, and together conclude that the Tribe’s greatest strengths remain its culture, its people, and its enduring resilience,” she said. “These vital virtues are the keys to addressing today’s most pressing challenges, and those yet to come. Together, Tribal Members are shaping and weaving the future of PITU programs and services while honoring the past, strengthening the present, and empowering well-being for future generations.”
For more information about the Paiute Willow Basket Community assessment, view the study results at pitu.gov.
Snow College Receives Gift from Ennoble Foundation
EPHRAIM - At a special holiday concert sponsored by Cache Valley Bank, President Stacee Y. McIff announced a generous gift from The Ennoble Foundation that will significantly expand organ education for students and community members. The donation includes funding for four new practice and performance organs, organ shoes and music, organ lesson fees and instruction, and full scholarships for organ emphasis majors.
Through this collaboration, The Ennoble Foundation will provide comprehensive scholarships for all students pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree with the organ as their major instrument. After accounting for any Snow College academic or departmental awards, the Foundation will contribute the remaining amount needed to reach full tuition.
In addition, all students enrolled in private organ lessons at Snow College will receive scholarships to offset course fees. For example, a non-music major student enrolled in a half-hour organ lesson will receive a $420 scholarship which will reduce the class fee to $0. Students enrolled in one-hour lessons will also receive a $420 scholarship, which will cover half of the lesson fee. Non-resident students may access these funds at resident tuition rates. In addition, each student will be provided with a pair of organ shoes and the music needed for their lessons—
all generously provided by The Ennoble Foundation. Community members interested in taking 30-minute organ lessons are also eligible for the scholarship.
A 4-Manual Rodgers performance organ, selected after a thorough review of several high-quality instruments, will be installed in the Jorgensen Concert Hall in the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts at Snow College. The Horne School of Music looks forward to the many ways this new performance organ will enhance their concert offerings.
In conjunction with this new collaboration, Snow College has hired Dr. Mark Campbell as their new professor of organ. Dr. Campbell brings a wealth of teaching and performing experience to Snow College.
“We are grateful for The Ennoble Foundation’s remarkable commitment to organ studies at Snow College,” said Dr. Madeline LeBaron, chair of the music department. “This partnership opens the door for many students to study the organ and share their talents with communities locally and around the world.”
For more information about organ studies at Snow College or enrollment in private lessons, please contact Katie Silvester, music advisor, at 435-283-7309 or katie. silvester@snow.edu. —Snow College
Courtesy Southern Utah University
Bookmobile: I guess going way back, growing up, I was always the kid who would walk out of the library with books stacked up to my chin. And so reading has always been a huge part of my life, and I know how important that is.
—Jakob Thygerson, new driver of the MultiCounty Bookmobile
The Multicounty Bookmobile, a service dating back to the 1940s, is available to all residents of Garfield and Kane counties, offering both on-site library assistance and mobile library resources to remote communities lacking immediate access to city libraries. It makes twenty-one stops and serves fifteen communities and nine schools.
and serves fifteen communities and nine schools.
With a collection boasting over five thousand items, it provides a diverse selection. Additionally, access to interlibrary loans is available for those elusive titles. This service is a collaborative initiative between the Utah State Library and Garfield and Kane counties.
Bookmobiles have been catering to readers in Utah since 1947. In 1959, the Utah State Library Bookmobiles Program officially commenced, providing services to Kane, Garfield, Piute, Sevier, and Wayne counties. Beyond tangible items, the program also offers support for digital services. Through Utah's Online Public Library, patrons can enjoy access to eBooks, audiobooks, e-videos, online research resources, free on-site Wi-Fi, and much more.
Thygerson was inspired to become a bookmobile driver by his childhood love of books.
“I guess going way back, growing up, I was always the kid who would walk out of the library with books stacked up to my chin,” said Thygerson. “And so reading has always been a huge part of my life, and I know how important that is.”
Before taking this position with the MultiCounty Bookmobile, Thygerson says that he had worked multiple commercial jobs but was starting to wonder
whether what he was doing was benefiting people, “and so I wanted to find something that really was making an impact, a positive impact, in the community,” said Thygerson.
Thygerson’s favorite part of his job is the people. He loves meeting everyone along his route and connecting with them. “I have the regular people who are there every two weeks come on, and they're so excited to get their books and come in, and I get to know what they're interested in and what kind of things they are reading,” said Thygerson. He takes great joy in successfully locating the book that a patron is seeking and delivering it to them along his routes.
Thygerson begins his route at his office in the Panguitch City Library, where, upon arrival, he checks which books he needs to deliver. Each day brings its own surprises, as stop locations rotate every two weeks. Many of Thygerson's stops include high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools, and he spends a few hours at each. During his visits, classes come out one at a time to return their books and borrow new ones, while gazing at the new selection of books on the shelves. Patrons can place holds online for books they are after on the Bookmobile website, or they can put in a request through Thygerson, whether that's face-to-face or through email. The route reaches from Panguitch over to Boulder, and as far east as Big Water and as far south as Kanab and back.
When questioned about any literary trends he has observed among children today, he mentioned a noticeable increase in the rental of graphic novels for kids. He acknowledged that some individuals may view graphic novels or comic books as not being “real” reading, however, he emphasized, “If I have a kid getting a book, it's still reading; even if it's a lot of pictures, it's still reading. And I think I would much rather have kids grabbing comic books and reading those than just being on technology all the time,” said Thygerson. According to Thygerson, those he sees utilizing the service the most are children and the elderly. “It’s just so important having that access,” said Thygerson. “And I think just giving them the access to books when they're
young and being able to have that and have new things to read so that they can be excited about reading and really want to keep learning and kind of light that spark, I think is really, really important.”
Thygerson also says that the bookmobile can be a kind of social gathering place. “I’ll have people come onto the bookmobile, and they're saying hi to all their friends, and it's kind of an opportunity for them to get out, to see other people in their community, and then to have a touch point to connect with the rest of the world when they're so far out there and don't get much chance to get out.”
For more information about the Multicounty Bookmobile and its services, including contact information and current schedules, visit bookmobiles. utah.gov/multi.
Reward: The theft of human remains from a burial site is a crime and a violation of human dignity. This act not only breaks the law—it is disrespectful to those who lived here long before us and the scientific integrity of Utah’s archaeological record.
—Michelle McConkie, executive director of the TLA Reward
Cont'd from A1
near Kanab. During the extensive investigation, state archaeologists visited the location and confirmed that a human skull had been removed.
“The theft of human remains from a burial site is a crime and a violation of human dignity,” said Michelle McConkie, executive director of the TLA.
“This act not only breaks the law—it is disrespectful to those who lived here long before us and the scientific integrity of Utah’s
archaeological record.” The Trust Lands Administration is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.
Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators with the Utah Attorney General’s Office at 801-538-5113 or by emailing aginvestcomplaints@agutah.gov. Individuals with tips may remain anonymous.
—Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration
Jaynie Connor
Bookmobile
Cont'd from A1
SkyWatcher Leo T
Comet 3I/ATLAS, the Juice Mission, & Octopus Sky Lore by Leonard Thomas
SPACE - The Moon is waning away from full and getting together with Jupiter, Castor, and Pollux for two nights. Last week, the Geminid meteor shower was in full swing.
Outer space comet, C/3IATLAS is high somewhere in the eastern sky before dawn, competing with moonlight, and will be on the other side of the sun and at its closest to Earth on its pass back out of the solar system at a mere 167 million miles away.
The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, mission is en route to study Jupiter and its icy moons and shows intriguing activity around the comet, which is sporting two tails on its way.
The intriguing Juice mission will investigate the potential of life and more of Jupiter's three largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. The moons host subsurface oceans beneath their icy crusts that could support life.
But first, Juice has to reach Jupiter. The mission launched in April 2023 and is expected to arrive at its destination in July 2031.
But Juice was on hand to take snapshots of the comet at the beginning of November, being in a prime position to observe the comet from about 41 million miles away, which is about the closest any craft has gotten to the intrepid wanderer, and is sending some images— some better ones will be
Potluck:
sent in February—to join with amazing photos from the Hubble and other spacecraft out near Mars.
With the winter solstice coming up on December 21st, you might think that the latest sunset would be close to this date, but the December 7th sunset was the earliest sunset of the year in this neck of the woods.
Balancing this out, the latest sunrise will come on January 4th. These offsets are from the solstice date, which arise from the amazing tilt of Earth's axis and the ellipticity of Earth's orbit.
This is the time of year when M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, passes your zenith around 7 or 8 p.m. Binoculars will show Andromeda as a faint, fuzzy little glow just off the knee of the coast of Cassiopea.
And taking a look into space lore, let's check on the fascinating octopus, which is seemingly a multidimensional being.
"Sky lore" for octopuses blends ancient myths of them being cosmic survivors from other worlds in Hawaiian lore, celestial creators of tides in Polynesian and Native American mythology, to powerful gods for the Japanese. Or even modern scientific theories of panspermia, which suggests that they arrived via meteorites, linking them to the vastness of the cosmos.
Cosmic and creation myths include, from Hawaii, octopuses being seen as survivors from a previous universe, uniquely capable
of slipping between dimensions, which makes them ancient beings connected to creation and destruction.
They represent the boundary between worlds, holding deep secrets and ancient wisdom, much like the vast sky itself.
While there are no official octopus constellations, that I know of, most constellations are what people see and name themselves, not neccessarily official groupings of stars. There is Hydra the Water Snake and Aquarius (Water Bearer), Pisces (Fishes), But, Cetus (the Whale/Sea Monster) has been depicted in Sicily and islands around here and Italy in the Mediterranean or Tyrrhenian Sea as a giant octopus that raised hell with ships and sailors out off of the coasts in turbulet waves.
Other sea creatures in the sky include Capricornus the Sea Goat, Delphinus the Dolphin, and Eridanus (River).
Many of these are located in the same part of the south east sky.
References include Sky and Telescope Magazine, Wikipedia, Space.com NASA/JPL, the European Space Agency and Anthony Aveni Sky Stories.
Leonard Thomas has a Bachelor of Science degree in Comprehensive Broadcasting and worked as a park ranger as a star guide at Capitol Reef National Park. He is a resident of Torrey, Utah, and is the creator of the podcast SkyWatcher Leo T, which is available to listen to on Spotify.
It was a joy to see so many people coming together, sharing time and generosity and getting into the holiday spirit. The turnout was better than we expected.
Potluck Cont'd from A1
well stocked.
When the evening ended, all three goals were not only met, but exceeded.
Foods were varied, plentiful and delicious, according to many who attended. Highlights included Jim Robinson’s chili verde; Susan Snow’s Korean beef on rice, as well as her Spicy Cowgal meatloaf with lemony mashed potatoes, from one of the Hell’s Backbone Grill cookbooks; smoked salmon alfredo from Bernie Wuestfeld’s kitchen; tangy meatballs courtesy of Bob Emerich; and a host of meats, soups, lasagna and veggies, topped off with bountiful desserts such as homemade pies, cookies and John Lee’s pumpkin flan.
Pile Burning:
Pile burns are planned along Highway 63 between the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance sign, the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, and in the park’s residential area. Smoke may be visible from viewpoints, roads, and neighboring communities, though impacts are expected to be minimal and short-lived.
Before (top) and after photo (bottom) of the Bryce Canyon National Park fuel reduction project. Over the last two years, Bryce Canyon National Park has partnered with the American Conservation Experience and the Utah Conservation Corps to selectively thin areas of dense vegetation that could contribute to high-intensity wildfire. Material from this selective thinning has been gathered into hand-built piles, which will be ignited when weather conditions are optimal.
Pile Burning Cont'd from A1
“There were so many crockpots plugged in; it was a miracle that we didn’t pop a circuit breaker,” said Joanne Stenten, one of the organizers.
As for goal two, said Linda Ward, another organizer, “It was a joy to see so many people coming together, sharing time and generosity and getting into the holiday spirit,” she said. “The turnout was better than we expected.”
But it was the huge gift tally that really amazed everyone. “The event brought in $9,700,” said Mike Riddle, the
Friends and neighbors who attended the potluck donated $3,700, supplemented by two major anonymous gifts totaling $6,000. Volunteers delivered the funds to Royal’s Foodtown in Loa, where they were exchanged for 194 $50 gift cards. Riddle said that the cards are offered to people visiting the pantry, who also can shop for food items on the pantry’s shelves.
“We currently serve forty registered households in the Loa-Torrey area, with another twentyfour in Hanksville,” Riddle said. “These cards will last us through January and possibly longer.” Registration means providing a name and address, that’s all. No income verification is required.
As a bonus, attendees were treated to plenty of music by local instrumentalists and singers. Performers included Ward, Floyd Hair, Lindsay Shelar, Sandy Borthwick, Bernie Wuestefeld, Joy Morris, plus Margaret and Paul Smith, Rod Frazier and Scott Smith of the Moony Wash Boys. Becky Pace launched the night with forty minutes of pi-
ano music as the crowd gathered and set out the many dishes they’d prepared.
Wuestefeld noted that Torrey Town provided the space at no charge, which helped boost the total take.
—Linda Ward, Rural Voices of Utah Wayne County food pantry potluck fundraiser organizer volunteer in charge of the Bicknell-based food panty, located in the Wayne County Community Center. That amount is about equal to all funds raised so far this year, he said, “so we’ve basically doubled our ability to provide food assistance…in one night.”
The event was put on by Rural Voices of Utah (RVU), a group of local residents who foster civic engagement and quality of life in south central Utah.
RVU volunteers decorated and lit the pavilion to create a festive holiday vibe.
“No glaring fluorescent lights,” said Wuestefeld. Snow created centerpieces for each table using various evergreens, dry grasses, willow shoots and other native plant material bursting up from Mason jars adorned with red ribbon. Tinsel garlands edged the buildings windows.
“The place looked great,” said Chip Ward.
RVU has been holding monthly meetings this year to discuss ways to build involvement in local, regional and national issues. For information about the group and to be notified about the January meeting, email ruralvoicesofutah@gmail.com.
sal and weather conditions that limit the chance of fire spread. Before any ignition, fire managers evaluate weather, wind, fuel moisture, and air quality to ensure operations meet strict safety and prescription standards.
Pile burns are planned along Highway 63 between the Bryce Canyon National Park entrance sign, the
Bryce Canyon Visitor Center, and in the park’s residential area. Smoke may be visible from viewpoints, roads, and neighboring communities, though impacts are expected to be minimal and short-lived. Updates will be provided via the park’s social media accounts.
Public and firefighter safety is always the top priority in all fire operations. Visitors are encouraged to avoid areas where burn
Legal Notices
operations are occurring. Motorists should be aware of firefighting activity along roads and occasional smoke on or near roadways, as well as obeying posted speed limits. For more information, please contact BRCA_information@nps.gov. Check https://www. nps.gov/brca/learn/news/ newsreleases.htm for past releases.
—Bryce Canyon National Park
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 Jan. 14, 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)
61-3592 (a53885): Family Trust of The George R. Aiken Jr. and Donna M. Aiken Revocable Trust propose(s) using 1 ac-ft. from groundwater (3.5 miles NE of Hatch) for IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.
61-2816 (a53899): Christopher Jon and Dionne Lynn Klemp, State of Utah Board of Water Resources, West Panguitch Irrigation and Reservoir Company propose(s) using 0.45 ac-ft. from groundwater (6 miles north of Panguitch) for DOMESTIC.
61-3589 (a53901): Randy L and/or Treena L Bridges, State of Utah Board of Water Resources, West Panguitch Irrigation and Reservoir Company propose(s) using 0.5344 ac-ft. from groundwater (10 miles SW of Panguitch) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.
KANE COUNTY
CHANGE APPLICATION(S)
61-3591 (a53884): Family Trust of The George R. Aiken Jr. and Donna M. Aiken
Revocable Trust propose(s) using 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (8.8 miles SE of Hatch) for DOMESTIC.
Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E. | State Engineer
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on DECEMBER 18 & 25, 2025
Courtesy Bryce Canyon National Park
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED SALARY SCHEDULE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS’ ORDINANCE
WAYNE COUNTY
The Wayne County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Monday, December 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM, at the Wayne County Courthouse 18 S Main, Loa, Commission Chambers, to receive public comments regarding proposed wage increase for elected officials.
The purpose of this hearing is to consider adjustments to the elected officials compensation structure, including a proposed salary increase intended to support competitive pay and continued delivery of high-quality public services
All interested persons are invited to attend and will have the opportunity to speak. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing by contacting the Clerk/Auditors Office at 435-836-1301 or info@wayne.utah.gov.
Date of Notice: Posted to website on 12/5/2025
By Order of: Board of Commissioners
Felicia Snow
Wayne County Clerk-Auditor
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on DECEMBER 11 & 18, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE
ESCALANTE CITY
Escalante City Office Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Escalante City Council meetings will be held on the dates listed below unless there is no need for a meeting. They are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., in the Escalante City Council Chambers, 65 North Center Street. 2026 MEETINGS
January 06
January 20
February 03
February 17
March 03
March 17
April 07
May 05
May 19
June 02 June 16
July 07
July 21
August 04
August 18
September 01
September 15
October 06
October 20
November 03
November 17
December 01
Escalante City Planning and Zoning meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. or as needed in the Escalante City Council Chambers, 65 North Center Street.
Escalante Cemetery Maintenance District meetings are held the first Monday of each quarter at 6:00 p.m. or as needed in the Escalante City Council Chambers, 65 North Center Street.
The Municipal Building Authority of Escalante City will be held as needed in the Escalante City Council Chambers, 65 North Center Street.
Stephanie Steed MMC, UCC
City Recorder
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on DECEMBER 18, 2025
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 ELAINE COOMBS ROUNDY, deceased, NOTICE TO CREDITORS, Case No. 253600020, Assigned: JUDGE LARSEN. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that WESLEY ROUNDY was appointed as Personal Representative of the estate of ELAINE COOMBS ROUNDY 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 25th day of November, 2025. BARRY L. HUNTINGTON
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on DECEMBER 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2025
REQUEST
FOR STATEMENT OF
QUALIFICATIONS
AND EXPERIENCE FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR WAYNE WONDERLAND AIRPORT PRAIRIE DOG FENCE
Wayne County is hereby soliciting Statements of Qualifications and Experience from airport consultants to provide airport engineering services for a prairie dog fence project at Wayne Wonderland Airport.
A complete copy of the Request for Statement of Qualifications and Experience may be obtained from: Felicia Snow, County Clerk, 435-836-1300, or felicia@wayne. utah.gov.
The project will depend upon available funding from various sources, which may include the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Utah Division of Aeronautics, and Wayne County. Selection of the short-listed consultant and/or the top ranked consultant (unless supplemented by secondary selection criteria) will be based upon the criteria in FAA Advisory Circular (AC 150/5100-14E) "Architectural, Engineering, and Planning Consultant Services for Airport Grant Projects” and relative importance of the required information.
This contract is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 11246 (Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity) and to the provisions of Department of Transportation Regulations 49 CFR, Part 26 (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Participation). DBE firms are encouraged to submit.
Wayne County invites consultants to submit qualifications to perform the abovedescribed services. Interested consultants shall email their Statement of Qualifications and Experience on or before December 19, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. local time to: Felicia Snow at felicia@wayne.utah.gov.
Issued by:
Owner: Wayne County
By: Roger Brian
Title: County Commissioner
Date: November 26, 2025
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on DECEMBER 4, 11 & 18, 2025
NOTICE OF SUMMONS
SUMMONS TO: VELMA L. ELMER, JAMES HYRUM “JIM” ELMER, JANE MUIRHEAD, ARTA HEPWORTH, CHESTER ELMER, JULIA MUIRHEAD AND KNOWN AND UNKNOWN DEFENDANTS AND DOES I-IV, HYRUM ELMER is seeking quiet title to himself and against you and any other person claiming an interest in the following land located in Garfield County, State of Utah: BEGINNING AT A POINT IS AT A FENCE CORNER, SAID POINT BEARING NORTH 36°39'26" EAST 3,085.76 FEET FROM THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SECTION 29, TOWNSHIP 34 SOUTH, RANGE 5 WEST, SALT LAKE BASE AND MERIDIAN; SAID POINT ALSO BEARS SOUTH 84°31'47" EAST 1,822.46 FEET FROM THE WEST QUARTER CORNER OF THE BEFORE MENTIONED SECTION; THENCE SOUTH 87°39'48" WEST 163.20 FEET ALONG A FENCE TO A FENCE CORNER; THENCE NORTH 00°08'24" EAST 178.95 FEET ALONG A FENCE; THENCE NORTH 89°23'10" EAST 159.70 FEET TO A FENCE; THENCE SOUTH 00°58'01" EAST 174.03 FEET ALONG SAID FENCE TO THE BEGINNING.. YOU ARE REQUIRED to file an Answer to the Complaint on file in the 6th Judicial District Court case #250600031 at 55 South Main, Panguitch, Utah 84759 within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice. Failure to do so will result in a default being entered against you and the relief requested in the Complaint being granted in favor of the Plaintiff. Signed: Barry L. Huntington, Attorney for Plaintiff. 435-676-1103. Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on DECEMBER 11, 18 & 25, 2025, and JANUARY 1, 2026
in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on DECEMBER 11 & 18, 2025
Published
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
• Part-Time Custodian in Bryce Valley
• Substitute/Activity Bus Drivers
• 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.
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.
Announcement of Positions
Wayne High School is accepting applications for the following positions: Head Volleyball Coach – Start before the 2026/27 School Year Head Baseball Coach – Start before the 2026/27 School Year
These positions will require adequate knowledge and skills to properly prepare students to participate in sports activities. Applicants must possess the ability to work and interact well with student athletes, demonstrate professional and ethical character, and possess excellent communication skills. Applicants must commit to the appropriate amount of time and effort, to facilitate effective practices and scheduled events.
The chosen applicant must be fingerprinted and satisfactorily pass an employment background check. They will also need to complete the necessary employee paperwork, training, and policy review.
We Buy 8,000 Cars a Week. Sell your old, busted or junk car with no hoops, haggles or headaches. Sell your car to Peddle. Easy three step process. Instant offer. Free pickup. Fast payment. Call 1-855-542-0335
sudoku
Answers for this week ISO
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
Questions about these positions can be answered by calling Heidi Woolsey or David Chappell at Wayne High School 435-425-3411 Interested individuals should submit a Classified Application that can be found on the district webpage www.waynesd.org, or picked up at the District Office. Applications can be emailed to: Heidi.woolsey@waynesd.org, David.chappell@waynesd.org, Randy.shelley@ waynesd.org or taken to Wayne High School.
CLOSING DATE: This job will be open until filled, with the first review of applications on Wednesday, January 7. Wayne School District is an equal opportunity employer and reserves the right to reject any or all applications.
