The Wayne & Garfield County Insider January 29, 2026

Wayne Co. Rural Health Champion Honored for Commitment to Care

WAYNE CO. - The Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (PCRH) is pleased to announce that Josie Moosman, the nursing director at Wayne Community Health Center, has received two awards for her commitment to rural healthcare. The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) chose Moosman as the 2025 Community Star, and PCRH has awarded her the Impact Award in honor of National Rural Health Day.

Josie Moosman provides a wide range of care to her community, from prenatal checkups to endof-life planning and everything in between.

"Working in Wayne County is very dynamic. We work at the top of our licenses,” said Josie Moos-

Two Awards Cont'd on A3

by Jaynie Connor

UTAH - A Utah State University Extension Program has been helping rural businesses and business owners use a free, hands-on initiative with digital and e-commerce tools to boost

Patches Quilt Shop Quilt Auction Raises Funds for Local Woman in Need; Tickets Available Until Early March by

Jaynie Connor

Patches Quilt Shop in Panguitch is auctioning tickets for a chance to win a beautifully crafted, handmade opportunity quilt. Proceeds will go to Amber Barnson, a mother of six from Piute County, who is currently facing a battle with metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma.

PANGUITCHPatches Quilt Shop in Panguitch is reaching out to the local community for support in raising funds for a mother in need. They are auctioning tickets for a

chance to win a beautifully crafted, handmade opportunity quilt. Amber Barnson, a mother of six from

their rural and agricultural businesses and sell their products online.

The program is called the Utah State University Extension E-Commerce Accelerator (ECA) pro-

5 New Utah Fishing Records

Set in 2025

SALT LAKE CITY -

Anyone who goes fishing knows how thrilling it is to catch a fish, especially if it is a large, potentially record-breaking one. And in 2025, anglers set several new fishing records in Utah.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources began tracking records for harvested fish in the early 1900s. Since then, the record fish program has expanded to also include catch-andrelease records and records for fish caught using alternate tackle, like spearfishing, archery and setline.

“The primary reason that the DWR tracks record fish is to provide anglers with recognition of their achievements,” DWR

Fishing Records Cont'd on B3

gram, and it supports businesses that either have not set up an online store for their products or who are struggling to generate sales through their existing website.

Panguitch local and Statewide Program Specialist with the Rural Online Initiative for Utah State

WAYNE CO. - Tourism Board appointments led off discussion at the Wayne County Commission’s January 20th meeting, as board members and commissioners worked through questions of experience, participation, and who should have a seat at the table.

Tourism Director Nycole Durfey introduced board member Jessica Alvey of Hanksville, who said the issue goes beyond routine appointments. “This is my livelihood,” Alvey told commissioners. “It’s not a hobby.” She said frequent turnover makes it hard to keep projects moving and pointed out that the board had recommended keeping Tracy Potter and Gary Brian for continuity while newer members get their footing. Alvey and Durfey also raised concerns about Wayne Commission Cont'd on B4

2025 Escalante Christmas Bird Count Sees Decreased Numbers in Comparision to Previous Years

by Allysia Angus | Escalante CBC Compiler

ECA Program Cont'd on B3 Quilt Auction Cont'd on B3

|

Brewer’s blackbird photographed in Escalante, Utah. The 2025 Escalante Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place on December 18, 2025, and this time around, ten participants covered almost twenty miles by foot and ninety driving miles to document bird sitings within the Escalante CBC coverage area.

ESCALANTE - The 2025 Escalante Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place on December 18, 2025. It was an unseasonably warm day, with temperatures rising up around 60 degrees in the after-

noon, the warmest count day to date. The warm temperatures caused creeks and reservoirs to have much less ice than is typical, and flowers were even blooming on the Fremont’s Mahonia (Grape Holly).

The Escalante CBC began in 1998, making this the 28th year one has been hosted here.

Ten participants cov-

Escalante CBC Cont'd on B4

Jaynie Connor

Jon Gray

Emily Leach

Insider

America250 Utah | Garfield County Hosts Events to Commemorate America’s Anniversary

Two upcoming Garfield County projects are the America 250 quilt contest and the Revolutionary War ancestry book.

The quilt contest theme is “250 Years of Freedom,” where quilt creators can explore their patriotic feelings

GARFIELD CO.Garfield County’s America 250 Committee is joining with the county’s individual communities and with the state in hosting celebratory projects and events commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago. Events will be scheduled throughout the remainder of the year.

in fabric. Deadline for submitting completed quilts is April 15. More details about submitting and subsequent judging and the display itself will be coming out.

Secondly, do you know if any of your ancestors fought—one side or the other—in the Revolutionary War? The committee is col-

Guest Contribution

Making a Plug for Balcony Solar

by Linda Peer | Rural Voices of Utah

lecting family stories about these individuals to be published in a commemorative publication. Please submit your story(ies) to Elaine Baldwin at 5elainebaldwin@gmail.com anytime between now and April 15. —America250

Utah | Garfield County Committee

Balcony solar systems are compact, easy to install solar setups. In Europe, where they are popular, they’re often installed on apartment balconies (hence the name), although they can be used for homes, small businesses, cabins, garages, and workshops. They typically consist of one or two solar panels installed on a sunny surface, like a roof or wall, and a micro inverter.

UTAH - Small, portable solar generation, often called balcony solar, can be a simple, affordable option for people put off by the cost of net-metered solar power. Utah is the first state to allow it.

Balcony solar systems are compact, easy to install solar setups. In Europe, where they are popular, they’re often installed on apartment balconies (hence the name), although they can be used for homes, small businesses, cabins, garages, and workshops. They typically consist of one or two solar panels installed on a sunny surface, like a roof or wall, and a micro inverter. The system plugs into a standard electrical outlet. Because it is not a permanent installation and it is free to connect to the grid, it can even be installed by renters. Recent revisions to H.B. 340 S1 (https:// le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/ static/HB0340.html) make Utah the first state to allow these “Balcony Solar” installations, creating “a new category for small portable solar generation devices.”

The relevant, revised section of the law states:

(13) "Portable solar generation device" means a moveable photovoltaic generation device that:

(a) has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts;

(b) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard 120-volt alternating current outlet;

(c) is intended primarily to offset part of the customer's electricity consumption;

(d) meets the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code; and

(e) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory.

Balcony solar systems are primarily intended to replace electric consumption from the grid. In other words, power is for selfconsumption and saves the consumer money. In the simplest balcony solar system, the solar panels generate electricity when it’s sunny and that is fed through the inverter into the household electrical system by plugging into a 120V outlet. That decreases the amount of electricity the consumer buys from the power company.

The inverter makes sure that the correct current, 1,200 watts maximum, goes into the household or small business electrical system.

What will 1,200 watts run? An internet search says that a home refrigerator uses 300 to 800 watts while it runs. A home freezer uses about 100 to 200 watts, and a 1/3 HP well pump takes about 750-

800 watts to run. But each of these appliances require more watts to start up. For example, a well pump can require 3,000 watts for start-up. Where does that come from? The balcony solar system is plugged into the existing electrical grid, and the extra watts come from the grid. In our region, they come from Garkane Energy.

With the addition of a battery to store power, a balcony solar system can also be used in the event of a power failure, to power some small devices, or larger devices, although not all at the same time.

When there is no electricity coming from the grid into your house, the stored energy in the battery provides power. The system has 120V outlets into which you can plug whatever you want to run. This requires some attention. For instance, you might run a well-pump first, then the frig. And, as long as it is sunny during the day (and even on a cloudy day) your solar panels will make electricity.

Balcony solar can help make a home and a town more resilient when the power is out, because there will be power in some places. Balcony solar systems can help to make our region more resilient in general, because with planning, we can decrease our demand for electricity during peak demand hours. During high demand hours, we can use energy we have stored in batteries.

My solar informant tells me that one company that provides these systems, and especially the batteries, in the U.S. right now is Ecoflow, https://www.ecoflow. com/us/about-us. These are early days of balcony solar in the U.S., so presumably competition will appear.

Yuma Solar | Unsplash

Opinion

SE County in Utah Has a Radioactive Target on Its Back

by Zak Podmore | Writers

SE UTAH - In the early 1980s, southeast Utah was targeted as a potential dump site for high-level nuclear waste, the kind that comes from nuclear reactors. The Department of Energy considered storing 8,000 tons of this highly radioactive material near Canyonlands National Park, boosting the idea as spurring “nuclear tourism.”

Who wouldn’t want to see Delicate Arch in the morning and casks of plutonium in the afternoon?

Like the radioactive waste itself, some bad ideas won’t disappear. Southeast Utah is in the crosshairs once again, aided by a $2 million Biden-era grant given to two pro-nuclear nonprofits based in California, Mothers for Nuclear and Native Nuclear, along with North Carolina State University.

San Juan County, where I live, is Utah’s only majority-Indigenous county and the state’s poorest. Last year, the county hosted a number of meetings as part of the Energy Department’s “consent-based siting consortia,” an attempt to get buy-in from residents for accepting radioactive waste. At local meetings, Mothers for Nuclear argued that the nuclear industry is much safer than the public has been told.

It’s true that forty years ago some locals eagerly pushed for a nuclear dump. One pro-repository activist in Moab even called it preferable to national parks, because parks attracted “drugs, homosexuals, and environmentalists.” Utah’s governor opposed the dump plan, however, and after it was defeated, the town of Moab worked to create a new identity, Now, the Moab area has become an international tourist destination.

Yet the question of what to do about spent nuclear fuel remains, and the area surrounding Bears Ears National Monument and Canyonlands continues to be targeted as a suitable dumping ground.

Would welcoming ra-

on the Range

dioactive waste lead to an economic revival?

Probably not.

Mothers for Nuclear’s co-founder, Heather Hoff, acknowledged in a webinar that a nuclear repository wouldn’t directly create many long-term jobs for poverty-stricken areas like San Juan County. Unless, she added, locals embraced the old goal of nuclear tourism.

Though the Cold War rush for uranium created economic booms for San Juan County and Grand County’s town of Moab, prosperity spawned public health crises. Residents of Monticello, San Juan County’s seat, and the site of a uranium mill from 1942 to 1960, awoke to a fine yellow dust on windowsills during the mill’s heyday. Decades later, rates of lung and stomach cancer in the town were found in one study to be twice the state average.

Courtesy Writers on the Range

Zak Podmore is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring conversation about the West. He is the author of Life After Deadpool and lives in Utah.

tion from the transport ban in early 2025. The mill has been accepting radioactive waste for years, including waste from Japan and Estonia. Recently, it began processing ore from a mine the company owns just outside Grand Canyon National Park.

The Navajo Nation experienced widespread uranium mining in the 20th century, followed by one of the highest incidences of uranium-linked health issues in the United States. In 1979, Tribal land was also the site of the secondlargest accidental release of radioactive material in history, after a wastewater pond burst near Church Rock, New Mexico. Only the Chernobyl meltdown seven years later surpassed that disaster.

Mills for processing uranium are also harmful. After a mill site in Halchita, Utah, was capped in the early 1990s, workers who cleaned it up fell victim to some of the same diseases as uranium miners of the previous generation. Still contaminating air, livestock and humans are more than 500 unreclaimed uranium mines on Navajo land.

The Navajo Nation banned uranium mining in 2005 and uranium transport in 2012. But Energy Fuels, the company that operates the White Mesa uranium mill just outside San Juan County, secured an exemp-

Two Awards:

Around ten trucks leave the Arizona mine each day, crossing unceded Havasupai and Hopi lands, the Navajo Nation, and the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation before reaching the mill—all over the objections of Tribal leaders and members of the tribes along the route.

But that waste and ore is far less radioactive than the spent nuclear fuel that Mothers for Nuclear promotes at San Juan County meetings. There, the group stays away from discussing cancer rates or birth defects, instead showing slides of pregnant, smiling women sitting next to containers of nuclear waste.

It is going to take time and vigilance, but once again my fellow residents of San Juan County intend to fend off the Department of Energy, which has adopted even more pro-nuclear policies under President Trump.

Zak Podmore is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring conversation about the West. He is the author of "Life After Deadpool" and lives in Utah.

Josie is a visionary and a problem solver. She continuously seeks ways to improve healthcare access and outcomes in some of Utah’s most remote areas. Her ability to lead in a crisis exemplifies what it means to be a rural healthcare hero.

Two Awards Cont'd from A1

Donavan Smith, CEO of Wayne Community Health Center tion. This testing can identify HPV infections, so treatment can begin promptly. Untreated HPV can cause infertility and cancer.

man, nursing director at Wayne Community Health Center. “It is fulfilling to care for my friends and neighbors and give back to the community."

Moosman brings healthcare providers from other facilities to Wayne County to offer specialty care, allowing patients to receive services, including prenatal care, without long travel times. She is an innovator, using new technology to help patients get care closer to home. Moosman started a program for human papillomavirus (HPV) self-testing, enabling patients to collect their own samples without requiring them to travel for a full examina-

In addition to her clinical duties, Moosman manages operations, oversees nurses and medical assistants, serves on the executive committee, and acts as the point-of-contact for infectious diseases.

Moosman also volunteers with the local emergency medical team, continuing a family tradition—her mother was an emergency medical technician and instructor. Moosman holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

Courtesy Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Josie Moosman, nursing director at Wayne Community Health Center.

"Josie is a visionary and a problem solver. She continuously seeks ways to improve healthcare access and outcomes in some of Utah’s most remote areas.,” said Donavan Smith, CEO of Wayne Community Health Center. “Her ability to lead in a crisis exemplifies what it means to be a rural healthcare hero."

—Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Wills, Trusts, and More

How Do You Write Your Own Will?

A holographic will is a will that is written entirely in your own handwriting. No witnesses are required, and no portion of the will may be typed. If you type some or all of the words, or you incorporate other markings or other documents into the text, you could inadvertently invalidate the will.

The idea behind holographic wills is that since the entire document is in a person's handwriting, there is no need for witnesses to sign it to establish its validity. Holographic wills don't need to be notarized either, but they do need to be signed.

Most lawyers would tell you it's a bad idea to write your own will because you can easily create ambiguities and other defects that can lead to litigation following your death. This is especially true in second marriage situations when one or both spouses have children from prior marriages or relationships.

If you decide to write your own will, you should be sure to say in the introductory sentence that

by Jeffery J. McKenna

it is your will, and that you are revoking all prior wills. If you don't revoke all prior wills, your handwritten will and any other wills that have not been revoked will be looked at together to determine who inherits your estate. As you may expect, problems arise when the various documents conflict.

Be sure to identify each bequest clearly and to give away all of your property. A frequent problem with handwritten wills is that they list some accounts and properties, but then leave out others. Property that you don't mention in your will passes to your heirs as determined by the courts. Your heirs may not be the same persons named in your will, and may not be the ones you would have chosen to receive the assets. Also, going to court and figuring out who your heirs are can be an expensive and time-consuming matter. In addition, courts will require two witnesses who are familiar with your handwriting to testify that

the will was, in fact, written by you.

It's often the case that handwritten wills don't name a personal representative. Failure to name a personal representative could result in an administration of your estate that is fully court-supervised, expensive, and lengthy.

Another important provision that is often left out of a holographic will is a waiver of bond. When you don't request a waiver, the judge can require that your personal representative post a bond. Sometimes, it's not possible to even get a bond, and if your personal representative can get one, it is generally expensive.

There are a number of other provisions that should be included in wills that the average person would almost certainly leave out of a holographic will.

Handwritten wills are valid if they are properly drafted. However, they are almost always more difficult to probate than typed wills.

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

tHe lAuGhiNg

An Elephant in a Movie Theater

One day, a man with an elephant walks into a movie theater.

“I’m afraid I can’t let your elephant in here, sir,” the manager says.

“Oh, I assure you, he’s very well behaved,” the man says.

“All right then,” the manager says. “If you’re sure.”

The man said, “Trust me. He’ll be perfectly quiet.”

After the movie, the manager goes up to the man and the elephant and says, “I’m very surprised! Your elephant was very well behaved. He even seemed to enjoy the movie!”

The man shot a look at the elephant and said, “Yeah, I was surprised, too. He hated the book.”

Two Coats

A businessman went into the office and found an inexperienced handyman painting the walls. The handyman was wearing two heavy parkas on a hot summer day.

Thinking this was a little strange, the businessman asked the handyman why he was wearing the parkas on such a hot day.

The handyman showed him the instructions on the can of paint. They read: “For best results, put on two coats.”

THEME: Love's in the Air ACROSS

1. Biology lab supply

5. Aldous Huxley's drug of choice

8. *Certain Courtney

12. Tear violently

13. Color of a bruise

14. Al Roker's show

15. Pupil control

16. Any minute, to Shakespeare

17. Sheep-like

18. *H. P. of science fiction fame

20. Hibernation stations

21. Boat station

22. Tennis shot

23. Packed in container

26. User-friendly interface, acr.

30. Genetic info carrier, acr.

31. *Love unquestioningly

34. Equal to 1.3 ounces in Asia

35. Not a minor

37. Poem addressed to certain subject

38. Hundred, in Italian

39. Nothing

40. Relating to clone

42. Division, abbr.

43. Sloughed off skin

45. Fluffy dessert

47. All good things come to this?

48. Between Octs and Novs

50. ____ Verde National Park

52. *B-52s' "little old place" (2 words)

56. Singing femme fatale

57. Deed hearing

58. Reverberated sound 59. Blue-Green scum, pl.

60. Misery cause 61. Actress Perlman

Squirrel

A man comes home after a hard day’s work and opens the refrigerator to get a soda. Inside, he sees a squirrel taking a nap. “What are you doing in my fridge?” the man asks. The squirrel opens one sleepy eye and says, “Isn’t this a Westinghouse?” “Um, yes. It is,” the man replies. “Well then,” the squirrel says, shutting his eyes again, “I am twying to west.”

PUNishment

My math teacher called me average. How mean!

Fresh Coffee

A man goes into a restaurant and orders a cup of coffee.

The waiter brings it out to him. The man takes a sip and immediately spits it out. He turns to the waiter and says, “Waiter! What is the meaning of this? This coffee tastes like mud!”

The waiter, looking surprised, turns to the man and says, “But, sir, you ordered fresh ground!”

62. Scheme

Right coast time

Made by tailor

Seed cover

Biking helmet manufacturer

Tel ____, Israel

#64 Across, redone

Like 1969 landing

Laugh with contempt

Fender-bender damage

*a.k.a.

Obituaries

Greg John Southwick

RICHFIELD - Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, coach, and friend, Greg John Southwick, age 60, passed away unexpectedly on January 21, 2026. He was born on September 6, 1965, in Cedar City, UT, and lived a life defined by service, leadership, and deep love for his family, faith, and community.

Greg graduated from Richfield High School, class of 1984. He was active in all sports and was the most Preferred Senior. He pursued his education in receiving degrees in Athletic Training, Education, and later received his Master's of Administration. He attended BYU, USU, and SUU.

On May 21, 1988, Greg married the love of his life, Robyn Lee Jensen. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti Temple. Together, they loved golfing, going on UTV rides, riding horses, and spending time outdoors. Above all, they cherished time spent with their children and grandchildren.

Greg found his greatest joy in spending time with his children and his fourteen beloved grandchildren, whether that meant working on the farm, riding horses, being in the mountains, watching and participating in sports, or simply being together. Family was always at the center of his life.

Greg was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, golfing, and everything that came with farm life. Greg was also a passionate sportsman and lifelong fan of BYU football and basketball. His love of sports naturally extended into his career, where he made a lasting impact as an educator, coach, and mentor. He dedicated 31 years to education in the Wayne and Granite School Districts, serving not only as a teacher but also as a coach of boys basketball, girls cross country, track, golf, and as an Athletic Director. He was widely respected as an outstanding leader, teacher, and coach.

Working with youth was more than a profession for Greg. It was his life’s mission. He believed deeply in the potential of young people and devoted himself to influencing their lives in positive ways, where his impact reached far beyond the classroom and the court. His legacy lives on through the countless students and athletes he mentored.

As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Greg served in many callings throughout his life. He served a full-time mission in Manchester, England. His faith was impactful to all who knew him, and his testimony of the gospel was strong.

Greg’s passing leaves a profound void in the lives of his family, friends, students, athletes, and colleagues. He will be remembered for his strong work ethic, steady leadership, and commitment to those he served.

He is survived by his loving wife, Robyn, of Central Valley, Utah; his five children, Ashlee (Jason) Jackson, of Caineville, UT, Mayson (Kelsey) Southwick, of Bicknell, UT, Timberlee (Nick) Wood, of Lyman, UT; Weston (Kemree) Southwick, of Elsinore, UT; and Karlee (Keldon) Johnson, of Nampa, ID; his fourteen grandchildren - Paizlee, Payden, Tynnlee, Camden, Jensen, Henley, Crew, Kennedee, Harper, London, Claire, Lextyn, Kort, and Taytum; his parents, John and Sue Southwick of Richfield Utah; and his three siblings, Shane Southwick, Sindi (Thurl) Bailey, and Jed (Jamie) Southwick; his father-inlaw Eddie Jensen, of Thatcher, ID; and his 3 in-laws, Tod (Deita) Jensen, Shane (Sid) Jensen, and Brandon (Amy) Jensen.

Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 11:00 am in the Central Valley Stake Center. Viewings were held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at Magleby Mortuary from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and prior to services on Wednesday at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Burial was in the Richfield City Cemetery. Funeral Directors Magleby Mortuary of Richfield, Salina, & Manti.

An online guestbook and livestreaming of services can be found at www.maglebymortuary.com

On Friday afternoon, the big news in town was the sirens blasting away. No, it wasn’t an air raid; it was the Panguitch High School cheerleaders coming home with the Bobcats' fifth state championship this year. Cheerleading requires a lot of practice time, usually early in the morning. Cheerleaders, you are the best, and congratulations to you. Next week, I will have your names in the article.

The fishing derby is scheduled for February 7th, and it looks like the lake is finally frozen over. You should just be careful because the water is really cold. This is a big event, so get registered, and come early for your spot. It did snow up at Brian Head Ski Resort for the skiers to finish out the ski year. Easter comes early this year on April 5th, and

FYI PanguItch

by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com

the season comes to a halt a week later.

Salt Lake City has only had a tenth of an inch of snow so far, and we aren’t much above that, even with our two small storms this week.

The NFL games are coming to an end, with the Super Bowl just two weeks away. New England beat Denver in a snowstorm, 10 to 7, in a really dull game. The afternoon game was much better. It was Seattle against the LA Rams, and it was exciting all the way to the end, with the Seattle Seahawks winning by a touchdown. Both of the team's quarterbacks were outstanding and made the game a nail biter to the end. So in the Super Bowl, it will be between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. New England hasn’t been there since Tom Brady

was their quarterback, and they won seven times. The Seahawks have been there twice, with one win. I don’t know what is better, freezing temperatures like two-thirds of our country is dealing with now or dealing with a drought, which is our current situation. It used to be that when California got rain, we got snow. This is not the case anymore. This year, for the first time in twenty years, California is at 100% for the whole state with moisture. Their lakes and reservoirs are not full yet, but with all of the snow they have in the mountains, it will go a long way to filling them.

Much of the talk among business people is another knife to the belly to the tourist trade here in southern Utah by the president. Everyone who isn’t a U.S. citizen has to

pay another $100.00 to enter eleven designated national parks, on top of the park fees. This is going to kill the tourist bus business. A family of four going into Bryce Canyon would run over $500.00.

The president went to Europe for a meeting of many of our ally countries. Before he went, he said that he wanted Greenland and would take it by force if need be. If any of the countries objected, he would up their tariffs. However, when he got there, he made no talk of taking Greenland by force. This made everyone happy. The best thing that the president can hope for is that the Supreme Court will say that his tariffs are illegal.

I guess he feels no matter what he does to Utah, they will still love hi m.

Mack O.

Downwinders Clinic Holding Free Public Meetings in Utah and Idaho Cities to Discuss Recent Reauthorization and Expansion of the Program

ST. GEORGE - The RESEP (Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program) clinic from Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital is holding public informational meetings in several Utah cities and in Nampa, Idaho, on Jan. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and Feb. 2. These meetings are to inform the public about the reinstatement and expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and what areas now qualify.

The public is invited to attend and receive information regarding what new areas now qualify to apply for the RECA compensation as well as the new increased compensation amount.

If residents have

called asking for an application to be sent, and they have not received one yet, applications will be available at the meetings.

Experts will also be available to review applications one hour prior to the Jan. 29, Salt Lake City, meeting and one hour before the Provo and St. George meetings. This is a free service.

Unfortunately, for those who have already been compensated by the RECA program, the law does not allow them to apply for any additional money.

The term “Downwinder” is used to describe people who were exposed to radioactive fallout in Arizona, Nevada and Utah, Idaho and New Mexico during the nuclear

testing at the Nevada Test Site. Residents, and their families, are encouraged to come have their questions answered about the program. There is no prior registration needed to attend.

Meetings will be held at the following dates and sites: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, Salt Lake City - at the Downwinders Day of Remembrance w/Heal Utah—Salt Lake Public Library, 210 E. 400 S, 6:00-8:30pm • Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, Richfield - Snow College Admin Bldg., Rm 147 B&E, 1:00-2:00pm • Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, Salt Lake City - Intermountain Medical Center, Doty Family Educa-

Obituaries

Verlene J. Clark

tion Center, Bldg. 6, East Auditorium, 5121 S. Cottonwood St, 5:00-6:00pm • Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, Provo/Orem - Utah Valley Hospital, Sorenson Tower, Bldg. 4, 2nd Floor, Classrooms 1, 2 & 3, 395 Cougar Blvd, 12:00 - 1:00pm Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, Nampa, Idaho - Public Library, Rooms A & B, 215 12th Avenue , South, 10:30am-2:00pm • Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, St. George - Cancer Center, Bldg. 7, Classrooms A& B, 600 South Medical Center Dr, 5:00-6:00pm For questions, please call 435-251-4760. —Intermountain Health

FREMONT - Verlene Jackson Brown Clark, 89, of Orem, Utah, passed away Friday, January 16, 2026, with her daughters by her side. She was born December 10, 1936, in Fremont, Utah. She was the second child and first daughter of seven children born to Jeremiah Worthen and Thora Taylor Jackson. She was lovingly known as Nean, Neanie or Grandma Neanie. This nickname started when her younger siblings could not pronounce her name, and it carried on with her nieces and nephews and finally her grandchildren.

She attended school through the 8th grade at Fremont Elementary School, which was directly across the street from her childhood home. She later attended and graduated Valedictorian of her class at Wayne High School in Bicknell, Utah. In her youth, she enjoyed playing many different sports and activities including: baseball, basketball and gymnastics. She loved the game of horseshoes and developed a life long love for arrowhead hunting which she inherited from her father. She said her favorite outdoor activity was boating with her family and water skiing. Mom could slalom with the best of them. Later in life she started nursing school at SVATC in Richfield, Utah, but went onto complete her associates degree in business and computers. She was also a volunteer for many years on the Wayne County Ambulance.

Mom had many hobbies that we would call talents. She loved to crochet, which continued right up until a couple months before she passed. She carried on a tradition that her mother taught her by making a baby afghan for each of her great grandchildren. Some of her grandchildren received either a quilt or an afghan, but all received something. We all have many beautiful quilts she made that were hand quilted, or afghans she crocheted. She loved to play the piano and especially the organ, and she was an amazing cook.

She also enjoyed the times she got to spend with her family playing cards and board games, putting puzzles together, going for drives or just visiting and telling stories of her youth. And she LOVED the Utah Jazz, win or lose. Go Jazz!

Mom made sure every child and grandchild received a birthday card and a Christmas card with a $2 dollar bill each and every year.

She married Dale Jay Brown, September 15, 1955, in the Manti Utah Temple. To their union were born four children: Lee Ann, Elizabeth (Liz), Dale Gordon and Patti Sue. They were later divorced.

She married Randall D Clark in 1995 and later divorced.

She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was blessed to serve in each auxilary either as a teacher or a councilor. Her favorite calling was an ordinance worker in the Manti Temple, and she especially loved the time she served as a temple organist.

Verlene is survived by her children: Lee Ann (Curtis) Johnson, Elizabeth (Paul) Pace, Patti Sue (Jeff) Jackson. Twelve grandchildren and many great greatchildren. Her sisters: Judy Ekker, Sandy New, Kathy (Dan) Howlett, and sister in law, Miriam Jackson. She is preceded in death by her parents; son, Dale Gordon Brown; son in law, Curtis J Johnson; sister, Ann Avon Jackson; brothers: Malan Robert Jackson and Kent Worthen Jackson; sister in law, Linda Jackson; and brothers in law: Don Ekker and Ronnie New.

Funeral services were held Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 11:00 in the Olpin Family Mortuary Chapel, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove, Utah. Family and friends attended a viewing from 9:30 - 10:45 am prior to the service. Interment took place that afternoon in the Fremont Utah Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary. com.

Schools and Sports

EHS Student Body Secretary Leads School Locker Painting Project

by Kathryn Chamberlain

ESCALANTE - Asa Davis (above), the Student Body Secretary at Escalante High School, has been instrumental in getting the school lockers painted in the Escalante Moqui colors of red, white, gray and black.  He put together all the material and proposed the locker painting project to the administration and school board.  He went the extra mile to get it going, and the first row of lockers has been painted with plans to paint the next hallway of lockers next Thursday.

Panguitch Bobcat Cheerleaders Win 1st place Overall Champion at UHSAA Cheerleading Competition

on Jan. 17.

Sports Sidelines

by Mack Oetting

The Bobcats had another great week. The Bobcat boys had a good game against Milford. The Cats pulled away early with a dominant first quarter, outscoring the Tigers, 23-7. Trenton Virga led all scorers with seventeen, and Cory Bentley finished with ten and two threepointers. The Cats really made this into a one sided affair, winning 64-37.

On Friday night, they played their best game of the year against a very big Wayne Badgers. I came into the game at the end of the first quarter, and the game was tied at ten. What I saw was some really tall Badgers that handled the ball really well, and it was no wonder to me why they had been doing so well. The Cats really clamped down defensively, and they weren’t getting any inside baskets. Trenton Virga was really holding his own against the Badgers' big men. At the half, the Cats trailed, 16 to 21. However, in the third quarter, the Cats caught them, and the game was tied at 31. They see-sawed back and forth in the fourth quarter, with Wayne pulling out the victory in the last few minutes of the game, winning 4942. It was a fun game to

watch. Trenton Virga had seventeen, and Camden Englestead finished with eleven. The Cats have three more games left. Last Tuesday, they played against Kanab in the HOF game. On the 29th, they will be in Bryce Valley, and they will finish up their season with a home game against Water Canyon on Feb. 4th. Region for the boys and the girls will be here on Feb. 12 and 13th.

The Lady Cats had a game on Thursday at Piute, and it was close. At the beginning of the season, the ladies played the T-Birds in a one sided game that didn’t make their coach any too happy. But what a difference a season makes. This time, the Cats had to really work hard to pull out this game, as the T-Birds upped the score to 5247. The Cats had a really strong second quarter, outscoring Piute, 16-6. Annie Yardley had a big night with eighteen, and Tayt Miller chipped in twelve. The Lady Cats have three more games for the season. Last Tuesday, they were out at Beaver, and then they were down in Valley the next night. Finally, Milford will be here on Feb. 5th. This Friday on the 30th, the wrestlers will be holding their Southern Divisional matches here in Panguitch. Come on out and root for your favorite tough guy. I think that the Cats will be going for their seventh championship in a row.

high school sports: upcoming games...

Escalante High School

Boys Basketball: 1/29: Against Milford

01/31: Against Monticello

02/02: Against Whitehorse

02/05: Against Valley

Girls Basketball: 01/31: Against Monticello

02/02: Against Whitehorse

02/05: Against Piute 02/07: Against Green River

Bryce Valley High School

Boys Basketball: 01/29: Panguitch (Home)

02/04: Against Milford (Home)

02/11: High Seed-Region Tournament (Away)

Girls Basketball: 01/30: Against Monument Valley (Home)

02/05: Water Canyon (Away)

02/10: High Seed-Region Tournament (Away)

Wrestling:

01/31: Divisional Tournament

02/14: State Tournament

Panguitch High School

Boys Basketball:

01/29: Against Bryce Valley

02/04: Against Water Canyon

Girls Basketball: 02/05: Against Milford

Wayne High School

Boys Basketball:

01/29: Against St. Joseph

01/30: Against Wendover

02/03: Against Whitehorse

02/04: Against Piute

02/06: Against Whitehorse

Courtesy Cathy Woolsey

Panguitch Bobcat cheerleaders pose with their banners at the Divisional 3 UHSAA Cheerleading Competition held at Crimson Cliffs High School

Panguitch won 1st place Overall Champion, 1st in Show Cheer, 1st in Time Out Dance, and 3rd in Pom Dance.

Kathryn Chamberlain

SkyWatcher Leo T

Artemis II, the Anniversary of New Horizons Launch, Pluto, Coronal Mass Ejections & New Photos of the Helix Nebula

by Leonard Thomas

SPACE - As we look around at our planet and do our best to save its oceans, lakes, rivers, mountains and deserts, we also get to let our consciousness out for a romp and the imagination drift outward.

Artemis II moon rocket is at the launch the pad, and mission managers and ground teams will conduct a series of systems integrations and tests to ready Orion and the rocket for a fueling and countdown simulation called a "wet dress rehearsal."

NASA's goal is to perform Artemis II's wet dress rehearsal on Feb. 2, then turn the pad over for a launch as early as Feb. 6, if all goes right.

This is essentially a test flight facing unknown circumstances. Artemis I, SLS, experienced fueling issues, hydrogen leaks and ground infrastructure process problems, but this is always the case with space flight.

There are millions of systems and subsystems, electrical fueling and an almost infinite number of facets to be checked and rechecked before launching. These take time, and NASA will not risk people’s lives any more than they already are just by going on this amazing historical flight.

In space history, on January 19, 2006, NASA

and JPL launched New Horizons on a nine-year voyage that took it to our tiniest, but mighty, ninth planet, Pluto. The grand piano sized probe went approximately three billion miles to reach Pluto, making a high-speed flyby on July 14, 2015, after launching in January 2006 to the edge of the solar system. This is a huge date in space exploration, as New Horizons discovered mountains, tectonic plates, glaciers, and grand canyons and checked out the moons of Pluto. Pluto has five moons. Its largest moon, Charon, is about half the size of Pluto, making it the largest known moon relative to its parent planet in our solar system. Pluto's other moons are Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx. New Horizons then went out into the Kuiper belt for more explorations.

It seems to happen a lot lately, doesn’t it? Our Sun unleashes powerful X-flare, and a coronal mass ejection hits Earth, sparking fun geomagnetic storms.

The geomagnetic storm didn't disappoint on January 19th, with northern lights reported far beyond their usual polar limits.

It may be a famous sight in the night sky for deep sky enthusiasts, but astronomers have never seen the Helix Nebula like this before.

They’ve been given a new and incredibly detailed look at the Helix Nebula thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope. The new image shows the ring-like structure that looks like a big, stellar eye.

The Helix Nebula is composed of stellar material shrugged off by a dying star, as its outer layers were blasted away and its core collapsed to form a dense stellar remnant called a white dwarf.

This intricate view of the Helix Nebula, located some 650 light-years away

from Earth in the constellation Aquarius, gives scientists a hint of what is to come for our own star when it exhausts its hydrogen fuel in around five billion years.

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.

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGE

WAYNE COUNTY

Please take notice that the Wayne County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following:

PROPOSED CHANGE: FROM RES/ AG TO RESORT RECREATION WITH A CONDITIONAL USE

PERMIT INTENDED USE: 5 CABIN SITES, AQUAPONIC GREENHOUSE & E BIKE RENTALS

CHANGE REQUESTED BY: BLAKE KIRKPATRICK / KELLY TAYLOR

A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD DURING THE PLANNING & ZONING MEETING ON: FEBRUARY 11, 2026 @ 7:00 PM AT THE WAYNE COUNTY

COURTHOUSE

Located at: Approx 4 miles West of Hanksville, UT

LEGAL DES: 44.023 acres located in the N1/2NE1/4

Section 22 T28S R10E

Parcel Being a part of parcel 01-0087-0572 / O-572

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 29 and FEBRUARY 5, 2026

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGE

WAYNE COUNTY

Please take notice that the Wayne County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following: PROPOSED CHANGE: FROM RES/ AG TO RESORT RECREATION WITH A CONDITIONAL USE

PERMIT

INTENDED USE: 21 SITE RV PARK w/ OFFICE, RESTROOMS & GATHERING AREA

CHANGE REQUESTED BY: BABKEN HARUTYUNYAN

A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD DURING

THE PLANNING & ZONING MEETING ON: FEBRUARY 11, 2026 @ 7:00 PM AT THE WAYNE COUNTY

COURTHOUSE

Located at: 551 WEST SR 24 TORREY UT 84775

LEGAL DES: Parcel 2-0020-0699 / O-699 4.34

ACRES

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 29 and FEBRUARY 5, 2026

All Cannonville Town Council Meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm DST, 6pm MST. 2026 Meeting Dates Jan 21 Feb 18 Mar 18

NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPOINT TRUSTEES FOR WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at its regular meeting to be held on Monday, June 1, 2026, the Wayne County Commission will appoint or reappoint three (3) trustees to the governing board of the Wayne County Water Conservancy District.The appointments will include trustees representing the divisions of Lyman, Hanksville, and At-Large, each to serve a three-year term. Any qualified person interested in serving on the Wayne County Water Conservancy District Board shall submit a resume and cover letter to: Jakelle Pace Wayne County Commission Secretary P.O. Box 327 Loa, Utah 84747 or by email to jakelle@wayne.utah.gov

All applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026. For additional information, interested persons may contact Roger Brian 435691-1995.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 22 & 29 and FEBRUARY 5, 2026

PUBLIC HEARING FOR A MINOR SUBDIVISION APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR THE ADDRESS OF 27 N 200 W LOA LOA TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION

Loa Town Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a minor subdivision (6 or fewer lots) submitted for the address of 27 N. 200 W. Loa. The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 4 at 6:30 pm in conjunction with its regularly scheduled meeting at the Loa Town Hall located at 80 W. Center. For more information on the minor subdivision request you may contact Michelle Brian at 435-836-2160.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 22 & 29, 2026

PUBLIC HEARING ON A RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE OVERLAY ORDINANCE LOA TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION

Loa Town Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a Residential Mixed Use Overlay Ordinance on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:00 pm in conjunction with its regularly scheduled meeting starting at 6:30 pm. This hearing will be held at the Loa Town Hall located at 80 W. Center. For more information or to view a copy of the ordinance you may contact Michelle Brian or Amber Perkins at 435-836-2160.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 22 & 29, 2026

PUBLIC HEARING ON A RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE OVERLAY ORDINANCE LOA TOWN COUNCIL

Loa Town Council will hold a public hearing on a Residential Mixed Use Overlay Ordinance on Thursday, February 12 at 7:00 pm in conjunction with its regularly scheduled meeting starting at 6:30 pm. This hearing will be held at the Loa Town Hall located at 80 W. Center. For more information or to view a copy of the ordinance you may contact Michelle Brian or Amber Perkins at 435836-2160.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 29 and FEBRUARY 5, 2026

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 Feb. 25, 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

NEW APPLICATION(S)

97-2538 (A84945): Bruce Chesler propose(s) using 1.73 ac-ft. from groundwater (6 miles west of Escalante) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.

CHANGE APPLICATION(S)

61-3585 (a54015): Alyx and/or Mike Cohen, State of Utah Board of Water Resources, West Panguitch Irrigation and Reservoir Company propose(s) using 1.6 ac-ft. from groundwater (7 miles NE of Panguitch) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.

61-2398 (a54043): Reno Eagle Peak, LLC, State of Utah Board of Water Resources, West Panguitch Irrigation and Reservoir Company propose(s) using 1.72 acft. from groundwater and spring (1 mile W of Panguitch Lake) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.

61-2669 (f54010): QSE, LC propose(s) using 2.16517 ac-ft. from groundwater (4.5 miles N Hatch) for DOMESTIC; STOCKWATERING.

EXTENSION(S)

89-1592 (A30414dkb): Cannonville Town, State of Utah Board of Water Resources is/are filing an extension for 643.711 ac-ft. from groundwater (SE part of Cannonville) for MUNICIPAL: In Cannonville. Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E., State Engineer

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 29 and FEBRUARY 5, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ROGER CLYDE BEHUNIN

Agenda items can be emailed to clerk@cannonville. gov. Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 22 & 29 and FEBRUARY 5, 2026

Donald Clyde Behunin whose address is 216 W. St. George Blvd., Ste. 200 St. George, UT 84770, is the Personal Representative, upon appointment, of the Estate of Roger Clyde Behunin, also known as Roger C. Behunin. Roger Clyde Behunin died on October 27, 2025. Utah Code Annotated § 75-3-801, provides that any creditor having a claim against the Estate of Roger Clyde Behunin must file their claim with Donald Clyde Behunin, Personal Representative, or Phillip G. Gubler, attorney for Donald Clyde Behunin, Personal Representative, at 216 W. St. George Blvd., Ste. 200, St. George, UT 84770 within three months after the date of first publication of this notice or be forever barred from presenting their claim.

Date of first publication: January 29, 2026

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JANUARY 29 and FEBRUARY 5 & 12, 2026

@SkyWatcherLeoT

Artemis II on the launch pad.

ECA Program:

Many of our clients have managed to build simple websites for their businesses but simply lack the time it takes to build an e-commerce enabled website. If we can help them get their revenue levels up high enough, they can hire local employees to maintain it for them, handle the marketing and social accounts, etc…And while time is an issue, so is digital literacy. The ECA provides personalized technical assistance to help clients learn how to navigate digital tools and use them to grow their business through online sales.

—Mike Sarles, Panguitch local and Statewide Program Specialist with the Rural Online Initiative for Utah State University Extension

gram, a business must have been operating for at least one year.

University Extension

Mike Sarles has seen firsthand how this program is helping businesses across the state.

“Many of our clients have managed to build simple websites for their businesses but simply lack the time it takes to build an e-commerce enabled website,” said Sarles. “If we can help them get their revenue levels up high enough, they can hire local employees to maintain it for them, handle the marketing and social accounts. And while time is an issue, so is digital literacy. The ECA provides personalized technical assistance to help clients learn how to navigate digital tools and use them to grow their business through online sales.”

To qualify for the pro-

The ECA emphasizes practical, real-world application, helping participants build tools they can use long after the program ends. During a six-week program, each participating business works with USU Extension experts for one-on-one technical assistance and mentoring. Business owners receive support building or improving a website, setting up online payment systems, and managing shipping and fulfillment. They also learn the basics of digital marketing, search engine optimization, and website analytics. By the end of the program, participants leave with a fully functioning online storefront and the skills needed to manage and grow independently.

The ECA program is specifically tailored to the

needs of rural Utah businesses and agricultural producers, many of whom rely heavily on word-ofmouth sales or local foot traffic. These businesses often lack access to web developers, marketing teams, or technical support, making it difficult to compete in the digital marketplace. By providing personalized guidance that accounts for rural realities—such as limited time, staffing, and resources—the program helps level the playing field for small, locally-owned operations.

Sarles said, “We needed to help them by providing personalized technical assistance and training for them to succeed. Our clients often comment that just having someone in their corner who understands what must happen, and in what order, makes all the difference for them.”

Since launching in Oc-

Fishing Records: The primary reason that the DWR tracks record fish is to provide anglers with recognition of their achievements. The public records are also a fun way to encourage anglers to get out on the water and hopefully encounter some of the large fish Utah has to offer. Fishing is a great way to explore Utah’s beautiful outdoors, and the excitement of setting a record can make it even more fun.

Fishing Records

Cont'd from A1

—Trina Hedrick, DWR Sportfish Coordinator

Sportfish Coordinator Trina Hedrick said. “The public records are also a fun way to encourage anglers to get out on the water and hopefully encounter some of the large fish Utah has to offer. Fishing is a great way to explore Utah’s beautiful outdoors, and the excitement of setting a record can make it even more fun.”

Here is a look at the five new state fishing records set last year: Catch-and-release records

White crappie: Set by Jesse Pashia on Jan. 4, 2025, at Gunnison Bend Reservoir. The fish was 13 ⅜ inches long. Pashia then broke his own record on Feb. 22 after catching a 14inch white crappie at Gunnison Bend Reservoir.

Wiper: Set by Adam Cunningham on May 4, 2025, at Huntington North Reservoir. The fish was 29.5 inches long.

Catch-and-keep records

Wiper: Set by William Stafford on April 20, 2025, at Otter Creek Reservoir. The fish was 29.5

inches long, weighed 18 pounds and 1.5 ounces and had a 25-inch girth. Hybrid sunfish (mix between a bluegill and green sunfish): Set by Chris Anderson on June 15, 2025, at Sand Hollow Reservoir. The fish was 1 pound and 1 ounce, 12 ⅝ inches in length and had a 10.25-inch girth.

Spearfishing records

Arctic grayling: Set by Garion Rowett on June 21, 2025, at Fish Lake. The fish was 10.5 inches long, weighed 4.16 ounces and had a 4.75-inch girth.

There are currently thirty-six state catch-andkeep angling records, thirtyeight state catch-and-release records, twenty-four state spearfishing records, six state setline records and three state archery records in Utah. You can view all the state fishing records on the DWR website. While these records were set at various waterbodies around Utah, these areas are not the only waters that offer large fish in the state. Visit the DWR Fish Utah map to find other waterbodies with great fishing—including Blue Ribbon Fisheries—where you could try for a state record

tober 2023, the program has helped dozens of rural businesses launch e-commerce websites and generate more than $1 million in new online revenue, with the majority of participants reporting increased sales.

Due to growing demand and a long waitlist of qualified businesses, USU Extension is seeking continued legislative funding to ensure the program remains available to rural communities across the state.

Aaron Rees from Provident Meat Company, a locally owned meat processing business in Fillmore, Millard County that provides high-quality meat services and products for the rural community, said, “The ECA Program has been a huge asset to our business. Even though we are based in Millard County, we have had people as far as New Jersey find us online through our website and purchase our meat. In the past year of having our website up, we have made over $250,000 on top of our regular sales. Most people find us on Google and stop into the store to buy their meat. We’ve never been so busy, it's been great.”

for one of the thirty-four eligible fish species.

Submitting a fish record

If you think you may have caught a record catchand-release fish, you can submit the record application form on the DWR website. Your submission must include a photo that shows the fish next to a measuring device such as a yardstick or tape measure, and your release of the fish must be witnessed and certified in writing.

To submit a catch-andkeep record, you must submit a photo of the fish, as well as its total length, girth and weight. The fish must be weighed using a certified commercial scale, and the weighing must be witnessed and certified in writing by two independent witnesses who are not members of the individual's fishing party or family. A Utah Division of Wildlife Resources employee must witness and certify in writing the species, total fish length and girth verification.

“We must be able to verify the catch in order to declare it a record fish, so please make it easy for our employees to do this by having clear pictures with very clear documentation,” Hedrick said. “Any submission that does not meet the requirements can’t be certified as a state record to ensure fairness and equity with the current record holders.”

Here are the Utah fishing records that have been set over the past few years:

2024: Seven new records were set

2023: Six new records were set

2022: Eleven new records were set

2021: Four new records were set

2020: Eleven new records were set

2019: Five new records were set

—Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Cox has referred to the Rural Online Initiative as "one of the best rural economic development initiatives that we've implemented in Utah's history," highlighting its success in showcasing that Utah's rural talent can thrive in the global market.

Many of these businesses are seeing success that is allowing them to expand their operations, hire new employees and offer more products. “That’s the trend we’d like to see in ever-greater measure. According to our evaluation surveys, over 80% of our clients expect to create new positions to meet the growth that is directly attributed to the new online sales. We see a lot more hope and optimism for the future of their business upon completion of the ECA,” said Sarles.

The ECA was established through USU Extension’s Rural Online Initiative, broadening its mission to foster economic prosperity in rural Utah via digital tools and e-commerce training. Governor Spencer

“We want these businesses to grow to a level that will necessitate their hiring more local people, that increases the diversity of jobs available in any given area," added Sarles. “It’s always risky for any geographic area to be dependent on only one or two industries because if one or more of those industries declines, not only are its employees hurting, but all the businesses who serve those employees are hurting, as well. To have revenue coming into the area from multiple sources makes its economy more robust.”

With a year-long waitlist of over eighty qualified businesses, the rising demand for the program underscores its essential role in enhancing Utah's rural economy. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, greater adoption of digital tools could contribute an additional $216 million to Utah's GDP each year, and the ECA is dedicated to making this vision a reality.

To put your business on the ECA waitlist, or to see the latest outcomes of the ECA program, visit: usuecommerce.com

Heart L Ranch is a small, family-owned cattle ranch and beef producer based in central Utah. The ranch has been operated by the Bagley family for generations and specializes in raising high-quality cattle and selling beef directly to consumers. Mikayla Bagley said, “My family has been selling beef direct for several years by word of mouth, but when my dad learned about the USU E-Commerce program, we were excited to expand our business and reach a new audience. Having the website up and functional has allowed us to reach new customers and increase the amount of direct-toconsumer sales that we have at Heart L Ranch in Piute County. We've made about $10,000 in extra sales through the website in about four months.”

Quilt Auction: I like helping people. Life is really hard. It’s too hot, too cold, too quiet, too loud, too long, and too short. It’s unforgiving, cruel, and neverendingly inconvenient. People, however, have the power to be whatever they want, and we wanted to be helpful. Helping our neighbors is what God wants us to do, and it’s very easy to see why when we do it.

Piute County, is currently facing a battle with metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma. Tickets will be available for purchase until the first week of March, when the lucky winner will be revealed. All proceeds will be donated directly to the Barnson family as they navigate this challenging period.

Tickets are available for $5 each, or $20 for a bundle of five. There is no limit on the number of tickets sold, and purchases can be made remotely, allowing anyone outside of Panguitch to join in and have a chance to win. If the winner resides outside of Panguitch and is unable to collect their prize in person, it will be shipped directly to them free of charge. To obtain more publicity, the quilt will be displayed with tickets for sale and rotating through other Panguitch businesses for the next few weeks. Participating businesses include Zions Bank, The Cowboy’s Smokehouse Cafe, Panguitch Drug, Legacy Ace Hardware, and Joe’s Main Street Market. Patches Quilt Shop will be posting updates on the location of the quilt via their Facebook page. Those not from Panguitch wanting to purchase raffle tickets

Jon Gray, Patches Quilt Shop can do so by calling the shop and paying over the phone at 435-676-2511, or by sending payment to the shop’s Venmo account, @ patchesqs.

Metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma is a type of mouth cancer that starts in the tissues of the mouth and can spread beyond its original location. Fundraisers like this help support awareness, early detection, and ongoing efforts to improve treatment and outcomes for patients. Amber was recently doing radiation five times a week and chemo once a week. Since her diagnosis, the Barnson family has been well supported by their local community with fundraising dinners, raffles, silent auctions, bake sales and more. Most recently, the Piute High School hosted the “Grit over Quit Amber Barnson Benefit Game” on January 15th, where attendees of the basketball game could participate in a silent auction, which included beef cuts and gift baskets.

“We saw the advertisement for another fundraiser the community hosted for Amber. We did a quilt like this a while ago for a boy in Panguitch going through medical treatment and the community really came together, so we decided to do it again,” said Jon Gray from Patches

Quilt Shop, also known as @TheQuiltyDude on social media.

Panguitch has a strong quilting community and the craft is well-loved in the town. The quilt was pieced by Patches Quilt Shop owner Donna Gray, free hand and ruler long arm quilted by Jon, and bound by Panguitch local Linda Olsen. Jon, who takes great pride in his long arm quilting ability stated, “We had a lot of fun. I did a free hand design in every large block of the quilt. No two are the same and each one was an experience of its own to create.”

“I like helping people,” sad Jon. “Life is really hard. It’s too hot, too cold, too quiet, too loud, too long, and too short. It’s unforgiving, cruel, and neverendingly inconvenient. People, however, have the power to be whatever they want, and we wanted to be helpful. Helping our neighbors is what God wants us to do, and it’s very easy to see why when we do it.” Jon says that he hopes that the winner of the quilt will remember what it represents: comfort. According to Jon, it is an “opportunity to sink in and smile, even when the world around is cold. That’s what I want for Amber, too. She deserves it.”

Quilt Auction Cont'd from A1

Escalante CBC: Due in part to the odd weather, the bird numbers were concerningly low this year. Participants recorded only 2,902 total individuals and 59 species. As a comparison, last year’s count tallied 5,663 birds representing 74 species, and the 2023 count recorded 4,124 birds representing 75 species.

ered almost twenty miles by foot and ninety driving miles to document bird sitings within the Escalante CBC coverage area, which stretches from the Roundy Trailhead along Pine Creek Road to Liston Flat in Upper Valley and from just below North Creek Reservoir to several miles down Alvey Wash Road. Seven people provided numbers of birds seen in their yards and at their feeders. Most counters have participated in the Escalante count for many years, but two new people, Marla McPherson and Matt Colbert, joined this year’s count and covered several miles on foot, noting species that would have likely been missed otherwise.

Due in part to the odd weather, the bird numbers were concerningly low this year. Participants recorded only 2,902 total individuals and 59 species. As a comparison, last year’s count tallied 5,663 birds representing 74 species, and the 2023 count recorded 4,124 birds representing 75 species. Most years, a new species is added to the Escalante CBC bird list (currently at 147 species), but unfortunately this year, that was not the case. Like in previous years, most birds were seen around agricultural fields and bodies of water. But unlike previous years, the numbers of birds seen at feeders were disappointingly low in or out of town. The three most abundant birds this year were wild turkeys, which were primarily seen in the fields on the north side of the Escalante River in town late in the afternoon by Matt How and Allysia Angus; and American coots and Canada geese, which were both mainly counted on Wide Hollow Reservoir by experienced birders Kathy Munthe and Matt Colbert.

Waterfowl and wetland birds are usually recorded at Wide Hollow Reservoir, the sewer ponds, and the gravel pit pond east of town. Wide Hollow was the only location with much bird activity this year. American coots, Canada geese and ring-necked ducks led the pack in numbers for this group:

• American coots (300) Canada geese (291)

• Ring-necked ducks (209) Ruddy ducks (122)

• Redheads (103) Mallards (32)

• American widgeons (29)

Lesser scaups (24)

• Buffleheads (11) Common mergansers (8) Sandhill crane (3)

• Canvasbacks (2)

• Green-winged teal (1)

Common goldeneye (1)

Pied-billed grebe (1)

Comparing waterfowl numbers to past years, the most striking difference is that triple digits of mallards are typically counted instead of lowish double digits.

The only waterfowl seen at the gravel pit pond were American wigeons (20) by Julie Brugger and Jim Whipperman. Kathy

Munthe captured the rare pied-billed grebe at Wide Hollow and she and Matt Colbert saw the sandhill cranes in the morning and afternoon. The pied-billed grebe has only been seen during the count three other years, the last time back in 2015. The sandhill crane was first recorded here in 2021, but has been a regular visitor since.

Predatory birds are typically present on most routes throughout the count circle, but this year, they were spotted on only half of the thirteen routes. Red-tailed hawks and bald and golden eagles were the most abundant this year:

• Red-tailed hawk (6)

• Golden eagle (3) Bald eagle (3)

• Ferruginous hawk (2)

Sharp-shinned hawk (1)

• Cooper’s hawk (1) Northern harrier (1)

• American kestrel (1)

• Northern shrike (1)

Most of the predatory birds were seen north of the Escalante River either by the agricultural fields or along Pine Creek Road. Brigitte Delthony recorded two of the golden eagles from her home west of town. The numbers of eagles were within typical ranges, but doubledigit counts of red-tailed hawks are often recorded. For comparison, last year there were twenty-eight red-tailed hawks counted. The northern shrike, nicknamed “Butcher Bird” for how it kills its prey by impaling them on thorns or wires, has only been seen three other times during the count, so it is exciting that Marla McPherson spotted this one east of town. A few owls are typically seen during count week, if not on count day, but this year, we had no owls to record.

Ground birds made a decent showing, with wild turkeys leading the pack, with 275 of the 329 being seen in the fields north of the Escalante River; this was just slightly below the record number (346) seen last year. Ground birds seen this year:

• Wild turkeys (329)

European starling (259)

• Eurasian-collared dove (164)

• Western meadowlark (110)

• Spotted towhee (6)

• Rock pigeon (5) Mourning dove (3)

• Green-tailed towhee (1) Western meadowlarks were almost double their prior highest count; they were seen on the east side of the circle by Craig Sorenson, Marla McPherson, Julie Brugger and Jim Whipperman. European starlings and Eurasian-collared doves, both invasive bird species, were plentiful, though the number of starlings was almost half the median number recorded over the last ten years. Is that good news? Greentailed towhee are rarely seen during count week, but Jen Aliprandini spotted one in Moqui Gardens this year. Though roadrunners started intermittently showing up during count week back in 2006, the one Craig Sorenson saw in the prior week (or any of its friends) did not make another appearance during this year’s count.

Woodpeckers and gleaners (bark or rock) were harder to find this year. Bushtits and northern flickers were the only

double-digit birds in this group:

Bushtit (25)

• Northern flicker (16)

• Mountain chickadee (7)

Juniper titmouse (3)

• Red-naped sapsucker (1)

• Downy woodpecker (1)

Hairy woodpecker (1)

• Brown creeper (1)

• Canyon wren (1)

Woodpecker numbers were low, and the hairy woodpecker who is typically seen on count day was only observed early in count week. Sadly, no nuthatches, which are often seen in the Ponderosa forests on the western edge of the circle, were around this year. On a positive note, a brown creeper was discovered in Allen Canyon by Allysia Angus with the help of the Merlin app—a bird recorded only once before back in 2019. Wrens have been seen less in recent years, but, thankfully, Matt Colbert spotted the canyon wren along Pine Creek.

Corvids were the group of birds with the most stable numbers:

• Pinyon jay (224)

Black-billed magpie (81)

Common raven (56)

• Western scrub jay (54)

American crow (17)

• Clark’s nutcracker (3)

The absence of Stellar’s jays, likely influenced by the warm temperatures, was the anomaly for this group. The numbers of Pinyon jay were heartening as this species has in recent decades moved onto the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species as being “vulnerable” to extinction. Ruthanne Oliver and Brad Spencer, who provided feeder/neighborhood counts from Moqui Gardens, saw almost half of the recorded Pinyon Jays in two large flocks.

The numbers of icterids and thrushes were down across the board. Both blackbird species numbers were less than half their twenty-year median. The quintessential early bird, American robins, have been seen almost every year, usually in the tripledigits and even peaked at over 2000 in 2012, so seeing only five of these cheery vocal birds is jarring. Icterids and thrushes counted:

• Red-winged blackbird (53)

• Brewer’s blackbird (9)

• American robins (5)

• Townsend’s solitaire (1)

Fifty of the redwinged blackbirds were recorded by Susan Nelson near Wide Hollow. Townsend’s solitaire have been seen regularly since the beginning of the count, often in double digits, but in the last few years have been hard to find. This year, Matt How and Allysia Angus spotted the one in Allen Canyon. Sadly, no bluebirds were seen this year.

Species of desirable sparrows, finches, and allies were few. The numbers of the non-native and ecologically bullying house sparrows have increased in the past ten years compared to the first decade of the count. This year, they are close to matching last year’s tally (225). The numbers of white-crowned sparrows and dark-eyed juncos was a tenth of their last ten-

year medians. Finch numbers were also quite low. Pine siskins were nowhere to be seen, though in the past few years, they have been recorded a few times in triple digits. Grosbeaks have become scarce in recent years, and this year, none were spotted. Details for sparrows, finches, and allies:

House sparrows (215)

• White-crowned sparrows (36)

• Dark-eyed juncos (31)

• Song sparrows (8)

• American goldfinches (8)

House finches (8)

• White-throated sparrows (4)

• Cassin’s finch (1) The white-throated sparrow has only been seen once before (in 2008), so the four of those spotted by Marla McPherson out in the Lizard Ranch area is a highlight of this bird group. Song sparrows,

Wayne

who are not around every year, were seen in two locations by the new birders on routes to the north and east of town.

Birds recorded on 50-100% of all counts since inception that were not seen this year include birds across most categories: great-horned owl, merlin, loggerhead shrike, Stellar’s jay, horned lark, white-breasted nuthatch, ruby-crowned kinglet, Western and Mountain bluebird, Cedar waxwing, chipping sparrow, pine siskin, and evening grosbeak. Here’s hoping that the 2026 CBC will return to more normal temperatures and bird numbers.

The field survey team of GK Reiser and Howard Hutchison had the distinct (discouraging) honor of seeing zero birds on one of their routes (Alvey Wash Road to Coal Bed Canyon), but along the Old

Sawmill Road, they spotted almost half of the over 200 starlings, so I guess that’s something. After a day of wandering around counting birds, many of the participants gathered at Escalante Outfitters for a soup and snack potluck to share tales from the field and lament how few birds were out and about. The group is grateful to the Waggoners, and especially Scott Hartman, for graciously hosting us. For more information about the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, please visit: https://www. audubon.org/communityscience/christmas-birdcount. If you would like more specific information about the Escalante CBC or would like to be added to the group email, please contact Allysia Angus at allysia.angus@gmail. com.

Commission: Tourism Board appointments and a property line issue in Fremont discussed.

Wayne Commission Cont'd from A1

attendance, noting that some recently appointed members rarely show up.

“We’ve had board members who were very active when we worked for months on trails and the ATV map,” Durfey said, “and now we’re seeing people miss more meetings than they attend, and that’s frustrating.”

Alvey added that geographic balance matters."I think that Hanksville needs more representation than just one person. We represent half the geographical area of the county, and yet we don't get very much representation.” Hanksville is emerging as the offroad development center of Wayne County, with the Robbers Roost Trail System positioning the area to become "the off-road mecca of our county."

Commissioners said they value experience but also believe rotating members can bring in fresh perspectives.

Commissioner Brian said turnover isn’t meant to dismiss the board’s work, but to make sure different voices and skills are represented.

After extended discussion, the commission voted to appoint Gary Brian, Jake Velky, and Jayden Black-

burn to the Tourism Board, maintaining some institutional knowledge while adding new representation.

Commissioners also discussed recognizing longtime board members Tracy Potter and Forrest Sims for their service.

Next, the commission heard from Tammy Perkins regarding a property line issue in Fremont that could affect several homes along 200 West. The problem came to light after a recent survey showed that longused fence lines do not match the legal property boundaries.

County officials explained that the original 1890s plat places the boundary along a historic “40 line.” If enforced, that line would run through the middle of multiple houses on the west side of the street, effectively cutting homes in half. The discrepancy stems from early land deeds and unusually wide road rights-of-way shown on the original plat, which were never built or used as mapped.

In other items of business, the commission:

• Approved twenty-six volunteers to assist with trail maintenance, in addition to four grant-funded part-time trail employees; Approved the 2026 commission assignments, largely unchanged, with an update reflecting the shift to the R6 region;

• Appointed Colleen Allen as Board of Equalization hearing officer to meet new state requirements for property tax appeals;

• Approved a $1,000 contribution to a Snow College led entrepreneur pitch competition supporting Wayne County businesses; Approved vouchers for county operations, health insurance, tourism services, and trail work expenses.

The Wayne County Commission meets the first and third Monday of every month at the Wayne County Courthouse in Loa.

Commissioners discussed a possible shortterm fix involving a narrow strip of land deeded to the county in 1991. Deeding that strip back could resolve Perkins' situation but would not correct similar issues farther south on the street. No action was taken, with commissioners noting the problem is common in older Utah towns where historic plats don’t align with how neighborhoods developed over time.

Escalante CBC Cont'd from A1

C lassified a ds

HELP WANTED

Announcement of Positions

Instructional Assistant - SPED

Loa Elementary - Wayne School District is accepting applications for a Special Education Assistant Applicants will be required to work closely under teacher supervision with individual students or small groups of students. You will be performing a variety of tasks relating to the physical and instructional needs of students in a classroom setting, assisting with the implementation of instructional programs, including self-help and behavior management, as well as instruction and providing assistance to teachers in various capacities as assigned. Candidates must have the following skills: good communication, conflict resolution, professionalism, and help to establish an educational climate that facilitates student success and academic achievement.

This position is for 28 hours a week, with no benefits. The chosen applicant must be fingerprinted and satisfactorily pass an employment background check, and will need to complete the necessary employee paperwork and policy review.

Interested individuals should submit a General Application that can be found on the district webpage www.waynesd.org, or picked up at the District Office. Applications can be emailed to Jennifer.batty@waynesd.org or taken to the District Office.

CLOSING DATE: Open until filled, with the first review of applications on February 5. Wayne School District is an equal opportunity employer and reserves the right to reject any or all applications. Applicants are considered on the basis of employment qualifications without regard to race, color, political affiliation, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, medical condition, or disability.

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

• 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.

HOT LUNCH PROGRAM 87 N 50 W • 676-2281/676-1140

Suggested donation $4.00 60 & older, $10.00 under 60 Call before 10 AM of the day of attendance to reserve a spot. Meals include milk & bread.

Tues. Feb 3rd Wed. Feb 4th Thurs. Feb 5th

Goulosh w/ Meat & Macaroni, Corn, Salad Bar, Fruit Cocktail, Fruit Cobbler

Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, Peas & Carrots, Salad Bar/White Roll, Pineapple Rings, Lemon Cheesecake

Cheeseburger, Lettuce, Pickles, Tomatoes, Green Beans, Salad Bar, Pears, Magic Bars

NOTE:

Classified ads

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.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Equivalent –Integrated Care (Full Time)

Job Title: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Equivalent – Integrated Care (Full Time)

Location: Wayne Community Health Center – Bicknell, UT (and surrounding service areas)

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Work Setting: Primarily On-site + Telehealth + Travel Required

About Us

Wayne Community Health Center (WCHC) is a rural, patient-centered, federally qualified health center serving communities across Wayne County and surrounding regions. We provide primary care, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and supportive services with a strong commitment to integrated, team-based care. Our mission is to improve the health and wellness of our community through compassionate, accessible, and evidence-based care.

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

Position Overview We are seeking a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or equivalent independently licensed mental health clinician (such as LMFT or CMHC) to join our Integrated Care Team. This clinician will work collaboratively with primary care providers, medical assistants, nursing staff, and behavioral health colleagues to deliver brief, solution-focused interventions, conduct mental health assessments, and support whole-person care within a rural health setting.

This role requires on-site clinical care, telehealth services, and regular travel to satellite clinics or community locations. The ideal candidate is flexible, collaborative, and comfortable working with a diverse population across multiple environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide brief, evidence-based interventions within a primary care environment (e.g., CBT, ACT, DBT-informed, solution-focused, MI).

• Conduct mental health assessments, including diagnostic impressions, suicide risk evaluations, and treatment planning.

• Collaborate closely with medical providers to support integrated, same-day access for behavioral health needs.

• Offer crisis intervention, emergency de-escalation, and safety planning.

• Deliver services in person and via telehealth, ensuring continuity of care across settings.

• Travel between clinic sites or community settings as needed to support patient access.

• Provide care to diverse populations, including children, teens, adults, families, and individuals with a wide range of diagnoses and psychosocial needs.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation consistent with Medicaid, HIPAA, HRSA, and organizational standards.

• Participate in care team meetings, quality improvement initiatives, and ongoing program development.

• Support behavioral health needs related to chronic disease management and integrated medical care as well as knowledge and experience with trauma informed modalities.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s degree in a mental health field with independent clinical licensure in Utah, such as:

o LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)

o LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)

o CMHC (Clinical Mental Health Counselor) or the ability to obtain appropri

ate Utah licensure prior to start date.

• Ability to provide services on-site, via telehealth, and across multiple clinic locations

• Strong aptitude in evidence-based interventions and crisis assessment.

• Effective collaboration skills for working within multidisciplinary medical teams.

• Demonstrated commitment to ethical practice, cultural humility, and patientcentered care.

Preferred:

• We strongly prefer candidates with LCSW licensure; however, qualified CSWs who are working toward independent licensure will be considered.

• Experience in integrated care, PCBH model, or FQHC settings. Training or experience in trauma-informed care.

• Experience providing services to children, adolescents, families, and adults across diverse diagnostic profiles.

• Familiarity with EHR systems, particularly within integrated workflows.

Schedule & Environment

• Full-time (40 hours/week)

• Monday–Friday, with occasional flexibility based on patient needs

• Combination of in-person, telehealth, and travel-based clinical work

• Collaborative and supportive team-oriented environment Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary (DOE)

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Retirement benefits

• Paid time off and holidays

• Continuing education support and licensure renewal assistance

• This position is located at an NHSC-approved site and is eligible for federal student loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Qualified full-time clinicians may receive up to $50,000 in tax-free loan repayment for a two-year commitment. Part-time options may also be eligible.

• Opportunities for growth within a developing integrated care program

How to Apply

Submit your résumé, cover letter, and three professional references to: aellett@waynechc.org Subject Line: Behavioral Health Clinician – Integrated Care Application

Public Works Department – Panguitch City

Panguitch City is accepting applications for a position with the Panguitch Public Works Department. This is a full-time position with a pay range of $20–$25 per hour, depending on experience.

Applicants must submit a completed application, cover letter, and resume

Applications must be received no later than February 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM at the Panguitch City Office or by email to mat@panguitchutah.gov. A full job description and application are available at the Panguitch City Office or online at www. panguitch.com

For more information, contact Mat Houston, Panguitch City Manager. Panguitch City is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Panguitch Senior Center Cook

Garfield County is accepting applications for part-time kitchen help at the Tropic and Panguitch Senior Citizen’s Center

Working hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Applications are available at the Garfield County Clerk’s Office, 55 South Main, Panguitch or at www.garfield.utah.gov and will be accepted until the position is filled Garfield County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications. Garfield County is an equal opportunity employer.