UT Cutthroat Slam Releases Newest Medallion After Reaching Over 1,750 Completions
SALT LAKE CITYThe Utah Cutthroat Slam has reached a new milestone of over 1,750 slam completions and is releasing the newest medallion—featuring the Bonneville cutthroat trout —for anglers who complete the fishing challenge.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Trout Unlimited launched the slam in 2016 to create a fun fishing challenge for anglers and as a way to raise funds for native cutthroat trout conservation and outreach efforts. To successfully complete the slam and receive a medallion, anglers must catch Utah’s four native subspecies of cutthroat trout in their native ranges.
The original medallion was released in 2016 and awarded to the first 1,000 anglers to complete the slam, a milestone that was reached in Septem-
work, lifelong friends Jaynie Connor and Maiyah Grant welcome guests to stay in one of five unique, vintage trailers by
Kathryn Chamberlain
PANGUITCH -
There’s a new place to stay on Center Street in Panguitch. It’s called Nettie's Vintage Trailer Resort—a lovingly restored cluster of vintage trailers, which have been brought to life by Jaynie Connor and
Jaynie Connor
Panguitch Middle School has acted as Incident Command for the France Canyon Fire. The France Canyon Fire started by a lightning strike on June 11th and has been burning ever since on the Powell Ranger District on the Dixie National Forest.
PANGUITCH - The France Canyon Fire, located seven miles southeast of Hatch, started by a lightning strike at approximately 3 p.m. MST on June 11th and has been burning ever since on the Powell Ranger District on the Dixie National Forest.
As of the writing of this article, the fire has burned 34,943 acres, is 90% contained, and has 118 firefighter personnel assigned to it— at one point, there were over 800 firefighters responding. These men and women come from all over
Bluff Named as Utah’s Newest International Dark Sky Community
BLUFF - The Utah Office of Tourism celebrates Utah’s newest dark sky community—Bluff, Utah. Utah is home to some of the darkest skies on Earth, currently leading the world in dark sky preservation with twentyseven accredited Dark Sky International places.
Located in the southeastern corner of the state and with a population of nearly three hundred, Bluff is home to red rock landscapes and the San Juan River. Bluff serves as a gateway for the surrounding region, including destinations such as Bears Ears National Monument, Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods and Hovenweep National Monument.
Maiyah Grant. Connor and Grant always shared the dream of owning a business. They both come from entrepreneurial families rooted in building and hands-on work. While attending Utah Valley University—Connor in Art and Design and Grant in Outdoor Recreation—they began restoring vintage trailers in their spare time, often working on them in the backyard of their rental in Lindon, Utah. In 2020, the lot came up for sale. "We had just gradu-
SALT LAKE CITYWith the peak of summer ahead, state water officials are planning for hot, dry weather driving up demand. With drought conditions persisting across the state, using water wisely is more important than ever. Storms in the southern part of the state have improved the situation, while drought conditions have worsened in the northern part of the state. Overall, 91% of the state remains in moderate to
ated and pooled our money together and said, 'Let’s do it,'" Connor recalls. They’ve spent the past five years building the resort from scratch—everything
“Preserving the night sky is vital not only to Utah’s long-lasting tourism economy but also to creating opportunities for generational economic prosperity and a dynamic
3rd Annual Elkhorn Skills Gathering to Be Held at Sugarloaf Valley Farms in Boulder, July 27 - August 2 by Tessa
Barkan
BOULDER - The third
annual Elkhorn Skills Gathering will be held from July 27 - August 2 at Sugarloaf Valley Farms in Boulder. Elkhorn is an “earth skills” gathering, focusing
on skills-based education, community, and nature connection. Gatherings similar to Elkhorn have grown in popularity over the last few decades, inviting participants to learn and practice
ancestral skills. Both “hard skills,” meaning building or creating something, as well as “soft skills,” such
Courtesy Kelly Magleby
Valley Farms in Boulder.
Dark Skies: Preserving the night sky is vital not only to Utah’s long-lasting tourism economy but also to creating opportunities for generational economic prosperity and a dynamic visitor experience. We are thrilled to celebrate and support the town of Bluff's achievement. I am proud of the incredible leadership and dedication the community has shown in preserving their night sky.
—Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film
visitor experience,” said Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film. "We are thrilled to celebrate and support the town of Bluff's achievement. I am proud of the incredible leadership and dedication the community has shown in preserving their night sky."
Acquiring a Dark Sky designation is a very rigorous process. According to DarkSky International, to ensure and protect dark sky preservation, Bluff adopted an exterior lighting ordinance to ensure that homes and businesses use night-sky-friendly lighting. Additionally, the Bears Ears Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the natural and cultural
landscapes of Bears Ears National Monument, has agreed to provide at least two dark-sky educational programs per year, as well as conduct sky quality monitoring on a seasonal basis. Astrotourism and dark sky messaging complement the Utah Office of Tourism’s Red Emerald Strategic Plan, which aims to elevate life in Utah through responsible tour-
ism stewardship. To celebrate this designation, the town of Bluff, along with Business Owners of Bluff, Bears Ears Partnership and Bluff Community Foundation, is holding a Dark Sky Festival on November 14 - 15th. For additional information on the festival, visit: https://bluffutah.org/ star-gazing/. —Utah Office of Tourism
Water Update: Right now, we’re generally seeing outflows from reservoirs begin to exceed inflows. That pattern typically sets in later in the summer, but this year’s heat is accelerating things. Across all sectors, we need to look for ways to be efficient with our finite water supply.—Candice Hasenyager, director at the Utah Division of Water Resources Water Update
Cont'd from A1
severe drought.
“Temperatures have soared, and with that comes a natural increase in outdoor watering,” Candice Hasenyager, director at the Utah Division of Water Resources, said. “We want our lawns and gardens to look nice, and there are ways to do this through smart planning and new technologies that save water.”
High spring temperatures and a normal to below-normal snowpack in many areas this past winter resulted in a quick runoff season. Meteorological spring is defined as March, April and May. During that period, temperatures were 2.36°F above normal (normal is the average of the 1991-2020 time period).
Great Salt Lake has seen a modest increase of about 1.5 feet since its seasonal low in November. According to USGS, Great Salt Lake peaked in mid-April at an elevation of 4193.6.
Reservoir levels are starting to decline, but remain 8% higher than normal thanks to strong water supply from previous years.
“Right now, we’re generally seeing outflows from reservoirs begin to exceed inflows,” Hasenyager said. “That pattern typically sets in later in the summer, but this year’s heat is accelerating things. Across all sectors, we need to look for ways to be efficient with our finite water supply.”
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is offering lowinterest Emergency Disaster Relief Loans (EDRL) to agricultural producers in seventeen counties affected by the ongoing drought. Governor Spencer J. Cox declared a state of emergency on April 24, 2025,
highlighting the drought’s impact on the state’s agricultural economy.
Farmers in the designated counties—Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Washington and Wayne—can apply for loans of up to $100,000 per entity. A total of $2 million is available through the EDRL program. These seven-year loans offer a significant benefit: no interest for the first
two years, followed by a 2.75% interest rate for the remaining five years. Applications for these relief loans will be accepted until October 23, 2025. In Utah, about 95% of our water supply comes from snowpack. Reservoir storage helps us preserve that water for use in dry summer months and drought years. To encourage water conservation among Utahns, the Department of Natural Resources continues to promote initia-
tives such as the Agricultural Water Optimization Program for farmers and SlowtheFlow.org for residents. These programs aim to educate and incentivize water-saving practices, ensuring Utahns become more drought-resilient and prepare for future conditions. Many indoor water-saving tips are available on the Slow the Flow website.
—Utah Department of Natural Resources | Division of Water Resources
Harshad Desai for Panguitch City Council
1853 Panguitchians deserve $750 to $1000 / Panguitcian refund (in 2025). How? (1) When you buy something online, $s drop into the City coffer. When a guy stays in Panguitch, he/she pays sales/resort tax, which drops into the city coffers. In 2024, it was $910,242 /year. (2) $80,000 in interest income. How much money is sitting there (at 1% interest rate?)? (3) Law enforcement services should cost about $500,000/year, but are contracted with the county sheriff's department. Instead of spending $500,000/year, the city is making money (>$100,000/year ?). So > $600,000 belongs to Panguitchians. (4) The city gets Road Fund C. ($289,911 in 2024). This comes from the state ( we pay as a gas tax) to chipseal all streets in Panguitch City. This is a matching fund. The city has to spend its share (50%, 75% ?). The city has to submit all street roads in Panguitch. The city chipseal only 25% of the streets (this may be illegal – getting money for all streets but chipseal only 1/4th of the streets). So here > $300,000 (savings refundable to public). (5) For labor, Panguitch City uses state prisoners and others (free labor of $100,000 ?). (6) The State does not mandate Panguitch City to have a city justice department. Why do we have it (corruption)? It makes money (> $20,000 ?). What about free labor ( by your son, grandkid, etc.)? (7) Panguitch is nothing but 50% US Highway 89 (Main Street, Center Street). The state takes care of it. If we have to take care of it, >$200,000 / year? (8) Water Fund is always in surplus ($ ?). In the last 10 years, the city council transferred the surplus to the general fund (>3 times?). HARSHAD asked for, but it was denied. Why not credit towards water bills? (9) Sewer Fund is in surplus ($ ? HARSHAD asked for but denied). It is usually transferred to the general fund. Why not give credit to residents? Is the legal process followed? (10) Airport – It was for IHC to transport patients to a bigger hospital. Now, IHC has its own pad at the hospital for helicopters (does not use the airport). In 30 years, I received only 2 calls to pick up ( because the airport has no rental car facility). It is for millionaires (maybe 2 to 3 / year) with small planes like 2-4 seaters. $2 million from the federal government. Who is benefiting from this bounty? (11) New Fire TRUCK ( $700,000.00?). Why did we buy a new one? Is it because the mayor is a retired firefighter/loves fire trucks? My granddaughter loves Barbies. Do we have a 10-story building? OK. Did we sell the old working / perfectly good old fire truck? The city was going to sell it to poor communities ( like a pre-owned fire truck). What happened? Why can’t we put it on the state website to sell it ($100,000)? (12) TRUMP is bragging about the collection of $200 billion from his tariff drama. ---- OK. We all paid into it (as increased prices). ------ OK. Where is that bounty going? Are you going to get anything? Think – If TRUMP asked >50 federal agencies, 50 states, > 50,000 counties, >100,000 cities/towns to let him know the wastages in their entities, what do you think TRUMP would get? Africa is the richest continent (with 30 countries), but Africans love cesspools/in their DNA (for centuries). HARSHAD doesn’t have to put his hands in your pocket (guaranteed). Folks! Wake up. Paid for by Harshad P. Desai
Publisher:
Reporter: Amiee Maxwell
Reporter: Ian Marynowski
Reporter: Jaynie Connor
Trudy Stowe Illustrator: Kadi Franson
Courtesy Utah Office of Tourism
Bluff has been named as Utah's newest dark sky community. Utah is home to some of the darkest skies on Earth, currently leading the world in dark sky preservation with twenty-seven accredited Dark Sky International places.
Dark Skies Cont'd from A1
News from Wayne County
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by Adus F. Dorsey
Although loosely interpreted, the phrase "for whom the bell tolls" became quite relevant when construction crews, who were working on the new Wayne Stake Building in Loa, unceremoniously removed the old bell from the iconic Wayne Tabernacle bell tower. It has now been relegated to a wholesome spot on the back lot of the New Wayne Stake building in Loa.
WAYNE CO. - The phrase "for whom the bell tolls" comes from a sermon by John Donne, an English poet and preacher.
Donne's sermon argues that every human death diminishes all of humanity because we are all interconnected. The phrase suggests that no one exists in isolation and that the death of any individual affects everyone. And as symbolic as the toll of the bell is, it also implies that the bell will eventually toll for each person.
Although loosely interpreted, the phrase "for whom the bell tolls" became quite relevant when construction crews, who were working on the new Wayne Stake Building in Loa, unceremoniously removed the old bell from the iconic Wayne Tabernacle bell tower. The bell has been a symbol that has welcomed visitors to Wayne County since the infant days of the 1900s.
After the turn of the century, shortly after the Wayne Stake was divided from the Sevier Stake in 1893, work began on the building; it was then called the Wayne Stake Tabernacle
Originally, the Wayne Stake Tabernacle was and is the most recognized building in Rabbit Valley, viewable for miles. Ground was broken for the Wayne Stake Tabernacle in fall 1906. A team of horses was used because the ground was already frozen at the time. The cornerstone was laid on November 23, 1906, and the building was completed and dedicated by October 24, 1909, after three years of construction. Local settlers used their skills to cut and hew lumber and quarry three colors of native rock. The steeple bell was ordered from Europe. The main worship hall's interior was lined with a balcony and fronted by elevated choir seats, resembling the Tabernacle on Temple Square. It was dedicated by President Joseph F. Smith. Over the years, there have been four improvements to the building, which included a cultural hall. The last was when it was re-dedicated March 31, 1991, by Stake President Scott L. Durfey. The building had major expansion that included additional ward and stake
offices and classrooms.
A few local residents of the time, including 97-year-old Viola Rees, relayed memories of the dedication. "I remember it as though it happened yesterday," said Sister Rees. "I was not yet 13 years old; I sang in the choir and was honored to shake the hand of President Smith."
For more than forty years thereafter, quarterly stake conferences were conducted in the building, with local church leaders driving their spirited buggy teams to meet the train at Sigurd, then escorting General Authorities fortytwo miles back to Loa to "preach to the people."
Stake members traveled from as far away as Giles, seventy-two miles to the east
In 1947, work began on the first of four major improvements to the building. A large cultural hall was added, using the same native rock on the exterior to match the original walls.
In 1962, it was observed that the original trusses holding the building together and supporting the massive steeple were failing. The building was condemned, and the entire roof, steeple and belfry were removed and restored, and the inside was refinished with exposed beams, oak trim and oak benches. Later work added classrooms, offices, a library, family history and record extraction facilities, and an upgraded kitchen and cultural hall.
True to Wayne County’s rich cultural heritage, Loa, too, possess a colorful history of its own.
The settlements directly responsible for this location date back to 1875, when Hugh Jefferson McClellan came with his cattle, summering them on the then verdant meadows and grassy lands of the valley and finding winter ranges in the desert lands east of the Thousand Lake Mountain.
On May 29, 1876, Hugh J. McClellan—with his brother, Sam, and his family (or part of his family)—arrived in Rabbit Valley and made a permanent settlement. These families located near water at the upper end of the meadow land, which Hugh J. later secured for his own. But a short time elapsed until he and his brother, Sam,
plowed a furrow from Spring Creek to bring water to the place he settled on. This was the first water taken from its natural channel in Rabbit Valley.
The McClellans came into the valley prepared for making cheese, bringing with them a vat, hoop and presses, and as soon as possible, they started in the dairy business. They were eventually milking about seventy-five cows and making seventy five pounds of cheese daily. These were the first cheeses made in Wayne County, and Sam McClellan and his wife, Almada, were the cheesemakers, using a tent for that purpose, while Hugh J. and the boys looked after the cattle. Mrs. Hugh J. did the cooking and Elsie, her daughter, helped milk the cows.
On July 29, 1878, a general business meeting was called to consider the establishment of a town. A committee of five men were appointed to select its location. The commission included Levi Brinkerhoff; Jeremiah Stringham; the presiding elder of the Fremont Valley Ward, Elija Maxfield; William W. Morrell; and Franklin W. Young. Within two days or by July 31, the site had been selected, and eight blocks of four lots each had been surveyed and mapped; however, nothing more was done about establishing the town of Loa until two years later at the time of the visit of Apostle Snow in May 1880. The people were living in scattered conditions all through the Fremont Valley Ward, and at this time, Apostle Snow personally reviewed the proposed location and advised the building of a town upon the present site of Loa.
On the 29th day of May 1880, Bishop Elias H. Blackburn laid out a townsite according to the suggestions of Apostle Snow. Loa Town was the second to be laid out in the valley.
As for the bell, it has been relegated to a wholesome spot on the back lot of the New Wayne Stake building in Loa. And as for the answer to the question that asks "for whom the bell tolls," “it tolls for thee.”
References include resurrected and resurfaced 1947 historical Wayne County documents.
Adus F. Dorsey II
Wills, Trusts, and More
Funeral Wishes Can Be Addressed in Estate Planning Documents
Who will decide what happens to your body when you die? Who will decide your burial location and the funeral arrangements?
If a daughter from an earlier marriage wants her father buried near her mother in Los Angeles but the daughter’s stepmother wants her husband buried in southern Utah or Nevada, whose desire will prevail? If a person wants to be cremated but never told those close to her, will she be cremated?
Answers to the above questions depend on you. You must make the decisions in writing regarding your funeral and burial before you die. Part of your estate planning should entail addressing these issues.
State law provides that the person named in your will (an “executor,” or now more commonly referred to as “personal representative”) shall have authority prior to appointment by the court to carry out written instructions of
by Jeffery J. McKenna
the decedent relating to his body, funeral, and burial arrangements.
This means two things. First, you should have a will naming someone as executor or personal representative. Second, you should provide written instructions to your personal representative regarding your burial and funeral arrangements. Both of these steps are vitally important.
If you have not left a will naming an executor or personal representative and written directions (whether in your will or some other document), the law is unclear as to who has authority to make those decisions. This uncertainty can and has lead to terrible disagreements between family members which is something everyone probably wants to avoid.
On occasion, fam-
ily members have discussed with me and others in our office their desire to change, or their fear that another family member will want to change, the location of burial of a loved one.
Significantly, the courts have stated that it is a sound and well-established policy of law that a person, once buried, should not be exhumed except for the most compelling of reasons.
Because burial decisions have to be made very quickly after death and are almost impossible to change once made, you should set forth your desires regarding your funeral and burial when doing your estate planning.
Meeting with a funeral planner at the mortuary of your choice and having your desires set forth in a prearranged plan can be very helpful to all involved.
Now with a Panguitch and Richfield Office to Serve Clients in and around Garfield and Sevier 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 jmckenna@barney-mckenna.com or visit the firm’s website at WWW.BARNEY-MCKENNA. COM; he would enjoy hearing from you.
roads
by Lynn Griffin
Taxi
A taxi passenger tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question.
The driver screamed, lost control of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the footpath, and stopped inches from a shop window.
For a second everything went quiet in the cab, then the driver said, "Look, don't ever do that again. You scared the daylights out of me!" The passenger apologized and said, "I didn't realize that a little tap would scare you so much."
The driver replied, "Sorry, it's not really your fault. Today is my first day as a taxi driver—I've been driving a hearse for the last 25 years."
CEO
The new CEO of a company comes into work determined to turn things around. Trying to prove himself to his new employees he looks around the office and sees a guy leaning against a wall doing nothing. He approaches the guy and asks him, "What do you think you're doing?" The man replies, "I'm just killing time, waiting to get paid."
The CEO is furious, "What do you make a week?" The man tells him, "About $200 a week."
The CEO pulls out his wallet and hands the man $400 and says, "There's your two weeks, now get out of here!" After the man leaves he turns to his employees and asks, "What do you think about that?"
One of the employees stands up and says, "I think he just got the largest tip he's ever gotten on a single pizza."
THEME: At the Circus ACROSS 1. *Jumbo The Elephant or Sirius in space 5. "But I heard him exclaim '____ he drove out of sight" 8. Young salmon
Blood component 13. What Lizzie Borden did
Leather razor sharpener 15. "The Famous Five" author ____ Blyton
Back of the neck 17. Letter-shaped girder
*Feats-of-strength circus performer 20. Indian restaurant bread
In need of a muffler
Away's partner
Backward
Same as ruin
Greek R 31. Net sales minus cost of goods sold 34. Europe/Asia mountain divide 35. Approximately, as in date
37. Overnight lodging 38. Inflicted a blow 39. Celestial bear
Goose egg 42. ____-AFTRA 43. Frying pan 45. Eating establishment 47. Type of English crs. 48.
Seeing-Eye Dogs
Two friends are walking their dogs—a Dalmatian and a Chihuahua—when they smell something delicious coming from a nearby restaurant.
The guy with the Dalmatian says, “Let’s get something to eat.” But the guy with the Chihuahua says, “We can’t go in there; we have dogs with us.”
So the first guy says, “Just follow my lead.” He puts on a pair of sunglasses and walks into the restaurant.
“Sorry,” says the owner, “no pets allowed.”
“But this is my seeing-eye dog,” the guy with the Dalmatian says.
“A Dalmatian?”
“Yes, they’re using them now.”
The owner says, “Very well, then, come on in.”
The guy with the Chihuahua repeats the process and gets the same response from the owner: “Sorry, pal, no pets allowed.”
“But this is my seeing-eye dog,” says the second guy.
“A Chihuahua?” asks the incredulous owner.
“A Chihuahua?!” says the man in the dark glasses. “They gave me a Chihuahua?!”
Run off, as in couple
Obituaries
Saddi Salome Platt
HENRIEVILLE - It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Saddi Salome Platt, who passed away on July 2, 2025, at the age of 30, due to complications with asthma.
Saddi was born on February 11, 1995, in the Marshall Islands. In 2002, she was lovingly adopted by her parents, Spencer and Tami Talbot. She was raised in Taylor, Utah.
FYI PanguItch
by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com
4-H projects on display. There is always a lot of fun things to do during the fair, so come on out and join in the fun.
The Bryce Canyon half marathon is over. I don’t know who won, but it is run through some beautiful country, and it is downhill. Anyone who ran and completed the run is a winner.
Growing up, Saddi cherished time with her family, especially on camping trips in the mountains. These moments of togetherness were a hallmark of her early life. From a very young age, Saddi often declared that she wanted to be a mom when she grew up, a dream she held close and spoke of frequently. She was an amazing aunt, who delighted in spending quality time with her many nieces and nephews, showering them with love and attention.
In 2020, Saddi met and married her beloved husband, Adam Platt. Together, they built a beautiful family, and Saddi embraced her role as an incredible mother to their four young children: Sage (4), Saylor (3), Kaiya (18 months), and River (2 months).
Saddi was a compassionate soul with a heart full of love and laughter. She loved life deeply and lived it with intention. Saddi's eyes lit up when she was singing or dancing around the house and her kindness radiated in everything she did. She loved being able to help and support others, whether it was comforting a crying baby, sending an encouraging text, going to help with niece and nephews or staying up late to help a friend.
Saddi is survived by her husband, children, and parents. She will be deeply missed by her very large, loving family, and the many friends whose lives she touched with her warmth, kindness and Big Smile.
Viewings were July 11 at 10:00 a.m. at the Henrieville Chapel at 95 N. Center St. Henrieville, Utah 84736, with funeral services from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Interment followed at the Henrieville Cemetery— 204 N. Cemetery Rd., Henrieville, UT 84736—under the direction of Heartlight Funeral Services.
Douglas West
ALPINE / WAYNE CO. - Douglas E West, 78, of Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Grover, and St. George, Utah, died early July 4, 2025, after a months-long struggle with the effects of lupus nephritis and chronic kidney disease.
Doug was born July 11, 1946, the only son of Thomas E. West and Lela Myers West. He was preceded in death by his parents, by his beloved only sibling, older sister Diane West Hiatt, and by son Stacy Murdock West, who died at birth in 1986.
Raised in Pleasant Grove, Doug was the first member of his family to complete college, graduating from Utah State University a proud Aggie. He completed his Masters Degree at Brigham Young University before beginning a 30+ year career in public service.
Doug’s career took him to a leadership position as a Deputy Auditor General for the State of Utah. In this role Doug relentlessly pursued accountability in government spending, refusing to bend to political pressure, often fearing for his job as political tides changed. Doug later took a role as Deputy Director for the Department of Human Services for the State of Utah, before taking an early semi-retirement and running his own consultancy business for a decade. In his career Doug was appreciated by those who believed in accountability and transparency, and disliked by those who attempted to misuse public funds for their own benefit.
Doug’s greatest passions were the public lands of the Western United States, and his animals. He spent his life and wore out his body exploring the beautiful country entrusted to us all, with a specific passion for red rock canyons. A lifelong horseman and supporter of Back Country Horsemen of Utah, Doug kept riding even after falls fractured ribs and punctured his lung. He rode well into his 78th year, before being incapacitated by illness. The best and perhaps only way to get to know Doug was through his passion for the outdoors and animals, and he eagerly shared his knowledge and experience with all who were interested, making many lifelong friends who he dearly loved.
Doug is survived by his wife of 55 years, Petrea Murdock, son Benjamin West and family, nephew David Hiatt and family, niece Lisa Hiatt Hamilton and family, sheepdog Maynard, four horses, and his lifelong friend Jack Barratt, with whom he formed a bonded pair, and whose five children he considered his own.
Doug long ago set aside the Mormon faith he was born into, believing at death his energy would return to the potential of the macrocosm. Now, beyond the reach of anxiety or discomfort, he belongs to the same silence that surrounded us all before our births. Though he is gone, the tenderness he felt for his friends and family endures. He is badly missed.
Doug’s remains will be privately cremated and memorials are planned in Alpine, Utah and on Boulder Mountain in Wayne County. Contact the family for information.
One more week, and it will be Pioneer Day, which is another day spent with family. The actual holiday is on the 24th, but that is a Thursday, so it is being celebrated on Saturday. It starts off with the Lions Club breakfast at Zions Bank, and it will be all-youcan-eat for just $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for kids from 6 to 10, and free to kids 5 and under. They will be serving pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and drinks.
Then comes our biggest parade of the year, with floats, dancers, old cars, old people, fire engines, and the ambulances. There will be many floats for class reunions. Pat is under the weather, so her class of '55—which is celebrating its 70th reunion—probably won’t have a float. The DUP will have a presentation at the Panguitch Stake Center at 11:00, and the firefighters will have their annual luncheon in the fair building at about 12:30. The rodeos will be going on all week, and the finals will be in the afternoon. That will be all for the rest of July, but in August, there will be the Garfield County Fair. It is time to get your crafts ready to enter and for the kids to get their
The Frandsen and Hatch reunion out at Widtsoe was a really big success; it gets bigger each year. There is always good food, good games, and good friendships, which is all that you can ask for. Tammy Barton—one of our nieces who has been a head of the EMTs for thirty years—was there. I asked her if, in the morning, she finally slept because she has retired, and Tammy had been running that race for the EMTs for about twenty years. She had to get up at 4:00 in the morning to get everyone in place for the race. Tammy said she did sleep in, and she really enjoyed it. Thanks, Tammy, for all thirty year of your dedicated service. You made Panguitch and Garfield County EMTs the finest teams in the state, and that includes all of the paid departments.
Our president felt that
he had to send more National Guardsmen back into LA to handle the crowds at MacArthur Park. The only problem was that there wasn’t anyone there but a few women pushing their children in their carriages. The Guardsmen looked rather foolish just standing there with their guns.
Last week, the president said that one of his reasons for implementing tariffs was that they had been last used to help end the depression. He doesn’t know much about history. Those tariffs were so bad that, to this day, they carry the founders' names on them: Senator Smoot from Utah and Senator Hawley, They were both members of the GOP, and they were signed by GOP President Herbert Hoover.
President Trump, by his actions, has positioned himself as Sen. Smoot’s heir. He has killed off the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which has been agreed to by all twelve Pacific Rim countries. He has condemned the twenty-two-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
As then as it is now, America’s trading partners reacted in kind. Canada
slammed tariff on goods that accounted for 30% of America's exports. France, Germany and the British Empire followed suit, turning to other markets.
Between 1929 and 1933, U.S. imports collapsed by 66%. Exports plummeted by 61%, and total global trade fell by a similar amount. Unemployment was at 8% and went to 25%. Like our president, Smoot wasn’t a man to admit he might be wrong. Both times tariffs have been put on, it wasn’t even necessary. At the end of 2024, our economy was the greatest in the history of the world.
The president said that in ninety days, he would have the tariffs straightened out, but so far, only the EU has settled. Last week, he said seven countries were ready, but he has merely sent these countries letters telling them if they don’t sign by August 1st, he will double their tariffs to 50%. He has tariffs on all countries, except for Russia. If it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it. Mack O.
Utah Women Often Face Career 'Segregation,' Significant Pay Gaps
UTAH - Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study revealed women from Utah and other states who earned bachelor's degrees within the past seven years made an average of 18% less than similarly educated men.
Research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found segregated work environments are the main reason for the disparity.
Mary Gatta, director of research and public policy for the National Association of Colleges and Employers, said the problem is so prevalent, job analysts gave it a
by Mark Richardson | Utah News Connection
formal title.
"Some of that, as we see in our survey, is attributed to men and women working in different industries and different types of work," Gatta explained. "We called it 'occupational sex segregation.'"
The Early Career Talent Survey interviewed 1,400 professionals who graduated between 2017 and 2023, including about 500 men and 900 women. It found the gap brings financial challenges for women, who are more likely to have student loans but less confident of their ability to repay them. Despite financial disparities, career satisfaction was similar between
genders among early-career professionals. Both men and women share comparable views on the speed of their career progression, although they cite different factors affecting their advancement. Gatta pointed out it can cause long-term problems.
"The pay gap continues as women continue in their careers, with less money they are paying into Social Security, it's less money they are putting into their retirement," Gatta outlined. "It has immediate impacts around economic security, but also economic security as we age."
Nearly three-quarters of men surveyed work for private-sector companies,
while just over half of women do. It found 30% of women work for nonprofits, where compensation is typically lower than in the private sector. Gatta stressed women need to gain more opportunities to explore nontraditional roles.
"The importance of helping introduce women and men to atypical occupations is really important," Gatta emphasized. "Introducing women to STEM at an early age, getting that career exploration—we know that is important in helping to break some of that."
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.
New Medallion: Watching the success of the Utah Cutthroat Slam is a testament to the value of fishing in general, and in supporting native sportfish in our state.
—Brett
Prettyman, Utah Cutthroat Slam Program Director for Utah Trout Unlimited
Courtesy Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
The Utah Cutthroat Slam has reached a new milestone of over 1,750 slam completions and is releasing the newest medallion—featuring the Bonneville cutthroat trout —for anglers who complete the fishing challenge.
each new medallion was released to the first 250 anglers to complete the slam.
New Medallion Cont'd from A1 work and outreach that benefits all four subspecies.
ber 2022. Later that year, the partners of the slam announced a new series of four medallions—one for each of the cutthroat trout subspecies—that anglers could earn when completing the slam.
“The Bonneville cutthroat trout medallion is the fourth and final medallion to be released in this new collectable series,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Sportfish Coor-
dinator Trina Hedrick said. “We’ve been excited to see the increased participation in the slam, with anglers completing it multiple times in order to collect each new medallion. So far this year, 101 people have completed the slam and $11,560 in revenue has been generated for native cutthroat trout conservation. We are grateful for our partners, Utah Trout Unlimited, and others involved in these efforts.”
The artwork for the medallions was created by artist Tim Johnson, and
Colorado River cutthroat trout medallion: Released in October 2022 when 1,000 slam completions were reached. Yellowstone cutthroat trout medallion: Released in December 2023 when 1,250 slam completions were reached.
• Bear River cutthroat trout medallion: Released in November 2024 when 1,500 slam completions were reached.
• Bonneville cutthroat trout medallion: Released in July 2025 when 1,750 slam completions were reached.
Since 2016, the Utah Cutthroat Slam has:
• garnered over 5,466 registered anglers, including anglers from 48 U.S. states and one angler from outside the U.S;
• been completed 1,755 times; and raised more than $118,920 for native cutthroat trout conservation
“Watching the success of the Utah Cutthroat Slam is a testament to the value of fishing in general, and in supporting native sportfish in our state,” said Brett Prettyman, Utah Cutthroat Slam Program Director for Utah Trout Unlimited. “The slam promotes all the wonderful benefits of fishing, like getting out with family and friends, challenging anglers to be better at the sport, and taking advantage of the amazing outdoor experiences Utah offers. Fishing in new areas and discovering the beauty of native cutthroat are just bonuses. Raising money for conservation just by encouraging people to fish is the magic of the program.”
Anyone interested in participating in the Utah Cutthroat Slam can learn more and register on www. utahcutthroatslam.org.
—Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Utah Hospitals ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Medicaid Cuts. Rural Areas Could Lose an Estimated $870M
UTAH - Kane County Hospital, in Kanab, is one of the state’s most remote hospitals. It’s the furthest south, close to the Arizona border, and it’s more than an hour away from St. George, the nearest major city in the state.
Though it will likely take years for the full ramifications of the slashes to Medicaid benefits and other health care spending cuts included in congressional Republicans’ “big, beautiful bill” to come to fruition, Utah Hospital Association officials are concerned about what they could mean for the state’s health care system. In particular, they worry about rural hospitals, like the one in Kanab.
Matthew McCollough, rural hospital improvement director for the Utah Hospital Association, posed a hypothetical.
“Worst case scenario, they have to reduce services and they get rid of labor and delivery, and they close their maternity services,” he said, which he noted is usually the first service to “get cut, because it’s not a revenue generating service.”
So if labor and delivery services get cut, expecting mothers in that area would then have to drive more than an hour to St. George to the nearest hospital equipped to deliver their babies.
“An hour is an eternity if you’re going into labor,” McCollough said.
Kanab’s not alone.
“A lot of communities in Utah, if they lost their hospital, they’re looking at an hour drive to the next location for emergency care,” he said.
For those living along the Wasatch Front, imagine needing to drive up to Logan to get to the nearest emergency room.
“That’s the kind of real world impact,” he said. “Health care isn’t about hospital finances. It’s about caring for people.”
After the megabill’s passage, the Utah Hospital Association issued a prepared statement warning of
the bill’s impacts to hospitals’ ability to deliver quality care without increasing prices.
“While we support efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicaid system, we are deeply concerned about the magnitude of the Medicaid cuts included in this legislation,” the Utah Hospital Association said.
“These cuts will significantly impact the ability of Utah hospitals to deliver high-quality care in our communities and to keep healthcare costs down for patients,” the association continued. “We are disappointed that the Senate’s proposed reductions were ultimately signed into law. The result will likely be reduced access to care, higher insurance costs, and increased pressure on Utah’s state budget.”
The megabill, pushed by President Donald Trump, included about $1 trillion in total Medicaid cuts over ten years, according to KFF, a nonprofit health policy research organization. That could result in a $4 billion to $7 billion loss in federal dollars for Utah, according to that analysis.
However, that analysis did not include the $50 billion provision that was added into the bill to create the Rural Health Transformation Program to provide state grants meant to help offset the impacts to rural hospitals. McCollough said that could help—the program is expected to provide about $100 million to Utah each year for five years— but it won’t fully offset the cuts. And it also depends on how Utah lawmakers decide to divvy up those funds.
A separate analysis by KFF estimated federal Medicaid spending in rural areas across the country is estimated to decrease by $155 billion over ten years. In Utah, KFF estimated a total loss of $872 million in that time period.
While that’s a significant number, it pales in comparison to other states that have larger rural populations. Kentucky, for example, is expected to see
by Katie McKellar | Utah News Dispatch
the most dramatic decline, at an estimated drop of $12 billion.
Impact to rural hospitals
Rural hospitals, in particular, are expected to be hit the hardest.
“Rural communities have a higher proportion of their population that are on Medicaid,” McCollough said. “But, you know, these people are our farmers and ranchers. They grow our food, produce our energy. And they rely on Medicaid, and the hospitals and clinics that serve on them rely on Medicaid to pay them for the services they provide.”
Utah has twenty-one rural hospitals. Of those, thirteen are “critical access hospitals,” meaning they’re designated by Medicare to ensure health care access in remote areas. To have that status, they must have no more than twenty-five inpatient beds, be located at least thirty-five miles from other hospitals, and provide 24/7 emergency care.
Of Utah’s twenty-one rural hospitals, nine are also known as the “Rural 9,” or part of the Utah Rural Independent Hospital Network, a nonprofit that formed to help financially stabilize those hospitals and improve their care in rural areas. All of Utah’s other rural hospitals are part of Intermountain Health’s larger network, which helps keep them financially secure.
Those not part of Intermountain Health’s network, like the “Rural 9,” said McCollough (who is also the network’s director), are likely the most at risk of losing services due to Medicaid cuts—though he emphasized that it’s not all “doom and gloom” for several reasons.
First of all, he said, “there’s no panic,” among rural hospitals right now because the cuts are not “immediate.” Hospital officials are concerned, he said, but it will likely take three to five years for the cuts to take effect and show their “real toll on hospitals.”
Second, Utah’s rural hospitals are generally in better financial positions
than many in other states.
Even before the “big, beautiful bill’s” passage, more than seven hundred rural U.S. hospitals—onethird of all of rural hospitals in the country—were at risk of closure due to “serious financial problems,” according to an analysis by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. At the time, Utah had zero hospitals at risk of closure as of June 2025, though it did have six that reported losses on services, according to that report.
But now that Trump has signed the “big, beautiful bill” into law, state officials are still unpacking its impacts to Utah’s hospitals, and it’s not yet clear exactly how much revenue Utah hospitals will lose due to the Medicaid cuts and other provisions in the bill.
“We really don’t know yet,” McCollough said, adding that the Utah Hospital Association is trying to come up with a “model” to project what the impact will be hospital by hospital. He noted that those figures will likely depend on what Utah lawmakers decide to do with the state’s Medicaid programs in reaction to the cuts.
However, because of the sheer size of the federal cuts, he said it’s likely to mean a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for Utah hospitals.
How will Utah lawmakers react?
Until Utah’s Republican-controlled Legislature decides how to handle the billions in lost federal Medicaid dollars, it’s not yet clear exactly how many
people will lose coverage and how much revenue will be lost for hospitals.
However, according to a report issued by the Congressional Joint Economic Committee’s Democratic staff, the bill puts at estimated 188,494 people in Utah at risk of losing coverage. That number goes up to 237,370 if Utah leaders decide to allow a trigger law to go into effect that ends the state’s Medicaid expansion program if the federal matching percentage is reduced.
There’s a long list of tough questions facing lawmakers now. Is Utah going to keep its Medicaid expansion program? Given the cuts, how will the state continue to fund its program? Who will continue to receive Medicaid coverage—and who won’t? And for hospitals, how will the state’s reimbursement rate for Medicaid change?
Spokespeople for both the state’s House and Senate Republican majority told Utah News Dispatch that it is too soon to provide answers to those questions.
“Senators are working with Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services to review the bill to understand its implications and proposed changes,” said Aundrea Peterson, deputy chief of staff for the Utah Senate majority. “Until there has been a more thorough review, it would be premature to provide answers.”
“We are only beginning to understand the full impact of these changes, and we expect to have a clearer picture in the coming months,” said Alexa
Musselman, the House majority’s director of strategic communications, in a text to Utah News Dispatch. “That said, we fully support implementing a work requirement as a condition for receiving government assistance.”
In anticipation of the Trump’ administration’s appetite to impose work requirements on Medicaid, Utah state officials had already started drafting a new waiver to implement those requirements on Utah’s adult Medicaid expansion recipients—months before the “big, beautiful bill’s” passage. That waiver was submitted July 3, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, and awaits consideration by federal officials.
However, the megabill’s cuts to Medicaid go far further than that waiver, and lawmakers will likely need to start dealing with its ramifications in a legislative session. That could be a special session this fall—or lawmakers may choose to wait until their general session in January. Until those decisions are made, a cloud of uncertainty hovers over the future of Utah’s Medicaid programs. But one thing’s for certain: there will be a big hole in federal revenue that lawmakers will either need to find a way to fill or allow it to fall away. This article was originally published on utahnewsdispatch.com on July 11, 2025.
Out and About for the Summer
Photo Gallery: Panguitch July 4th Kids Parade
by Jaynie Connor
Holiday Cheer Comes in July with the Annual Tuacahn Christmas Summer Sale
IVINS - It’s hard to believe as the sun beats down in triple digit temperatures and the smell of sunscreen permeates the air, but soon people will be swapping beach bags for shopping bags, and the hunt for the perfect Christmas presents will begin.
Luckily, you don’t have to wait for the holiday rush—you can get the perfect gift right now during Tuacahn’s Christmas in July sale.
Beginning July 10 through 26, use the promo code ELF25 to get 25 percent off tickets to select performances of Elf the Musical in the Indoor Hafen Theatre.
“Christmas is such as magical time here in our beautiful canyon,” said Kevin Smith, Tuacahn CEO. “Having an indoor musical like Elf fits so perfectly with our other festive offerings”
Known for being hilarious and heartwarming, Elf the Musical is the stage adaptation of the popular film Elf, which tells the story of the loveable oversized elf, Buddy, who is actually hu-
Elkhorn:
man, but was raised by Santa’s helpers in the North Pole. When Buddy learns of his true identity, he goes in search of his birth father in the wide and overwhelming world of New York City—and in the process, helps his newfound friends rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.
“There is so much heart, and such great music in this show,” said Stephanie Finck, marketing director for Tuacahn. “If you haven’t already secured your seats, the Christmas in July sale is a great time to get tickets to this fantastic show.”
The Christmas in July sale offers 25 percent off Elf performances Nov. 21 through Dec. 20, except Nov. 28, 29 and Dec. 20. Sale applies to new sales only, areas 1 and 2, limit six tickets per customer. For more information go online to www.tuacahn. org or call the box office at 435-652-3300.
—Tuacahn Center for the Arts
Participants at Elkhorn range from seasoned experts to beginners and everyone in between. The focus is on sharing knowledge, learning and teaching, and creating a “home away from home” community where connections are made.
Elkhorn Cont'd from A1 as storytelling and awareness practices, are taught and experienced.
Classes will include tanning, pottery, willow basketry, quillwork, cordage and many more. There are about ten new instructors this year, and there will be a presentation by archaeologist Chuck Larue.
Participants get to make their own schedules, choosing which classes they want to take throughout the week. Some classes last for a few hours, while others that entail bigger projects (such as animal processing or hide tanning) may be taught over the course of a few days.
The classes are taught by experts in their fields. Many of these expert teachers are locals, as Boulder and the surrounding area have attracted many residents who practice earth skills, in part due to the influence of the Boulder Outdoor Survival School.
A kids program for ages 5-12 will be offered each morning from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The program balances both structured classes and free play, including skills, field games, and nature awareness practices.
Participants have the opportunity to camp on-site for the week, with break-
fast and dinner included, featuring local beef. After the day’s classes, activities continue into the evening with music around the fire, an acoustic music night, and a talent show.
This year, Elkhorn is hosting the Utah Championship Atlatl Competition. The competition will be held from Tuesday - Friday, and the highest scorer from these throws will be the new Utah State Champion. The competition is open to the public, not just for Elkhorn participants. Following last year, there will also be a “Primitive Olympics” event.
There will also be a memorial tribute for John Olsen, who died earlier this year. Olsen, a Boulder local, was a master potter, a notable contributor to the primitive skills world, and a friend and mentor to many.
Participants at Elkhorn range from seasoned experts to beginners and everyone in between. The focus is on sharing knowledge, learning and teaching, and creating a “home away from home” community where connections are made.
Registration is open, and locals can receive a 30% discount by using the code BURRTRAIL at checkout. Visit www. ElkhornGathering.com to register.
The 2025 Panguitch 4th of July kids parade took place down Main Street on Friday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Jaynie Connor
Kace Figgins drives by in his Jeep during the 2025 Panguitch 4th of July kids parade, which took place down Main Street on Friday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Jaynie Connor
Heidi Nez flys by on her scooter during the 2025 Panguitch 4th of July kids parade, which took place down Main Street on Friday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Jaynie Connor
The 2025 Panguitch 4th of July kids parade took place down Main Street on Friday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Jaynie Connor Elly Henrie skates down Main Street during the 2025 Panguitch 4th of July kids parade on Friday, July 4, at 10 a.m.
Jaynie Connor
Nettie's: She was brave, wild, and totally herself. This resort carries her name, but more than that, it carries her values. —Maiyah Grant, co-owner of Nettie's Vintage Trailer Resort
Kathryn Chamberlain
Nettie's Vintage Trailer Resort in Panguitch features five vintage trailers, each with a unique history—most were salvaged from backyards around Panguitch and brought back to life.
from framing and wiring to styling each trailer by hand.
“We worked sun-up to sundown for months,” Connor says. Connor’s roots in Panguitch run deep: her family has lived here for over forty years. “My parents have restored old homes for years,” she said.
“I’ve been installing tile since I was like six.” Connor, who spent her childhood going back
and forth between Las Vegas and Panguitch, met Grant in first grade, and the two have been lifelong friends ever since. She began bringing Grant to Panguitch to visit in 2013. They were both drawn to the landscape, the history, and the opportunity to build something meaningful in a place that already felt like home.
Financing wasn’t easy.
“We got turned down so many times,” Grant said.
“Banks didn’t get it—too
small, too weird.” Eventually, Utah Independent Bank in Monroe believed in their vision and approved a construction loan. “It only paid for the main bathhouse and office,” Connor explains. Everything else—fencing, gravel, sod, picnic tables, the trailer rehabs, even the washing machines—was paid for out of pocket. “Each trailer cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to redo, and that’s just materials,” Connor said. “My time was free. We worked twelve-
hour days. We painted the interior and exterior, did the trim and baseboards, and insulated everything. Anytime we could avoid hiring out, we did it ourselves.” Specialized work like plumbing, framing, and electrical for water heaters and laundry was left to licensed contractors. “We did as much as we could ourselves,” Connor said, “and called in help when safety required it.” The lot where Nettie’s now stands was once an overgrown dumping ground with the remnants of an old house. But it had utilities in place, which they saw as a rare stroke of luck. “This was the only piece of property we could find that wasn’t way out of town,” Connor said. “We knew if we were going to do this, it had to be walkable.”
The resort itself is named after Grant’s late mother, Nanette Grant, who passed away in 2023 after a battle with breast cancer. According to Grant, Nettie valued her family and heritage and reminded those around her to live boldly and dream big. “She was brave, wild, and totally herself,” Grant says. “This resort carries her name, but more than that, it carries her values.”
The resort currently
features five vintage trailers, each with a unique history—most were salvaged from backyards around Panguitch and brought back to life. Scarlett, a 1953 beauty with velvet bedding and a chandelier, has a "Gone With the Wind" theme. Peggy, a 1958 KenCraft, once belonged to Connor’s grandmother and honors their family legacy with heirloom touches and soft purples. The Buck, a Field and Stream, came from a local butcher’s lot. Daisy, a 1961 Ideal, stands out for its spacious V-front and tall ceilings. And The Duke, a 1974 Streamline, tips its hat to John Wayne. Nettie’s is not an RV park. The trailers are stationary and fully restored, with no hookups. Because of glamping ordinances, none have running water or bathrooms. Instead, Connor and Grant built a communal bathhouse with motion-sensor lighting, showers, and an ADAcompliant restroom. “We wanted it to feel more like a spa than a campsite,” Grant says. Each trailer has a grill and microwave. Guests can find snacks, toiletries, and laundry detergent in the office, plus a 24/7 coin-op laundry room. They intentionally left out kitchens to encourage guests to support local restaurants. “That’s part of why we’re here,” Connor says. Each trailer includes a guidebook with local hikes, restaurants, and insider tips to help visitors connect with the town and its surroundings.”
On May 17, 2025, the
resort's grand opening drew over three hundred people. “We bought three hundred hot dogs thinking we’d have leftovers,” Grant laughs. “But we gave them all away.” The community has embraced the project. “People at the post office or gas station will stop and say, ‘Hey, it’s looking great,’” Connor says. “This really kept us going during the hard months.”
The pair used TikTok to document the journey and now have over 33,000 followers. “Some guests say they booked just from watching our videos,” Grant says. Their plan is to stay small—for now. One final trailer will be added this winter, with upgrades planned during the off-season. “We’re able to grow it slowly and intentionally,” Grant says. For Connor and Grant, it’s been deeply satisfying to see their vision come to life. After years of long hours and DIY effort, they’re finally able to enjoy what they’ve built. “We’ve learned so much,” Connor says. “We’re not chasing growth — we’re chasing a good life.” At its heart, Nettie’s is more than a resort. It’s the result of family heritage, handson hard work, and a deep respect for restoring the past—offering every guest not just a place to stay, but a story to take with them. You can find Nettie's Vintage Trailer Resort online at nettiesresort.com or @nettiesresort on TikTok and Instagram.
Courtesy Alexis Poelman
Owners of Nettie's Vintage Trailer Resort in Panguitch Jaynie Connor (left) and Maiyah Grant. Connor and Grant have spent the past five years building the resort from scratch, and on May 17, 2025, the resort's grand opening drew over three hundred people.
Nettie's
Cont'd from A1
France Canyon Fire:
Everyone's here to help. There is some hardship associated with it, everyone's leaving their family for two weeks, working sixteen-hour days, sleeping on the ground, in a very grueling job. But everyone by and large is happy to do it; there’s a lot of givers in this line of work.
—Marilynn Davis, Great Basin Team 5 Public Information Officer
An aerial shot of the France Canyon Fire camp, which was set up just east of Panguitch to accommodate firefighters, during the 2025 Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally. The camp facilities include a shower truck for hygiene needs, hand washing stations, a spacious area for firefighters to set up their tents, inventory and supply tents, medical facilities, and a caterer and mess tent.
Clerical Trailer employees from Smoky Mountain Contracting. Each day, every individual assigned to the France Canyon Fire receives an Incident Emergency Plan (IEP), which is an informational packet outlining the day's work, assignments, relevant information, inventory order sheets, and more. To facilitate this, a Clerical Support trailer is stationed at the incident command, equipped with both large-format and small-scale printers, staffed by three employees from Smoky Mountain Contracting. These workers reside on-site, and their primary responsibility throughout the duration of the fire is to print documents for Incident Command, including the large-scale maps featured in the daily operations briefing videos shared online for the public.
the country to answer the call, and, with that, they need somewhere to eat, sleep, recuperate. These crews work for fourteen days at a time, working up to sixteen hours a day. A temporary “Fire Camp” was set up just east of Panguitch to accommodate such a large group, and Panguitch Middle School is acting as the France Canyon Fire Incident Command.
The France Canyon Fire initially was under the management of Color Country Incident Management Team 1, a Type 3 Incident Management Team, from June 11th to June 22nd. As the fire expanded, Great Basin Team 5 took over command on June 22nd. Subsequently, Color Country Incident Management Team 1 resumed control of the fire on July 4th and continues to manage it to this day. Managing a fire involves many elements that often go unnoticed by the public. Numerous moving parts are essential to ensure the safety of the land, the community, and the firefighters.
As the temporary Incident Command center for the France Canyon Fire, Panguitch Middle School currently has its own financial and IT departments, security, administration, a Fire Behavioral Analyst (who happens to be Kim Soper, the Mayor of Panguitch), logistics, operations, decontamination and weed wash stations, and a public information office. Each day, every indi-
vidual assigned to the fire receives an Incident Emergency Plan (IEP), which is an informational packet outlining the day's work, assignments, relevant information, inventory order sheets, and more. With approximately 800 firefighters involved, that's a significant number of packets to print. To facilitate this, a Clerical Support trailer is stationed at the incident command, equipped
vehicles daily. There is also a spacious area for firefighters to set up their tents each night for rest. Inventory and supply tents are essential for equipment and logistics. There are also medical facilities onsite, including medic tents and ambulances.
Each camp was equipped with a caterer and mess tent, receiving daily food shipments.
Firefighters enjoyed a hot breakfast served every morning, a hot dinner provided in the evening, and bagged lunches packed with snacks and food to fuel them throughout the day. Wildland firefighters often need a high caloric intake due to the physically demanding nature of their work. Their daily energy expenditure is estimated to range from 4,000 to 6,000 calories and could occasionally exceed 6,000 calories on particularly strenuous days.
with both large-format and small-scale printers, staffed by three employees from Smoky Mountain Contracting. These workers reside on-site, and their primary responsibility throughout the duration of the fire is to print documents for Incident Command, including the largescale maps featured in the daily operations briefing videos shared online for the public.
The France Canyon Fire Camp was set up in an open field just east of Panguitch, where firefighters were able to enjoy hot air balloon flyovers as pilots launched for the 2025 Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally. This field serves as a home base for crews battling the fire, complete with on-site security to ensure that only authorized personnel are entering camp. A specific Fire Camp Crew, mostly made up of young adults, work the camp, making sure everything runs smoothly, taking care of trash and waste, and keeping things clean.
The camp facilities include a shower truck for hygiene needs and hand washing stations located throughout the site. The parking area accommodates approximately 600
This requirement is comparable to that of professional athletes involved in endurance sports, while the average adult typically consumes between 1,600 and 3,000 calories daily.
Ground Support plays a vital, yet often overlooked, role at fire camp. Their responsibilities include thoroughly inspecting every vehicle that arrives on-site. They ensure that the tires are in good condition, the oil has been changed, the vehicles are fully functional, the lights are operational, the horns are working, and the paperwork is in order. Crews are required to check in with Ground Control upon arrival and again before departing. Additionally, Ground Control is responsible for managing vehicle breakdowns or flat tires and, when necessary, coordinating with a mechanic to assist crews. As if that weren't enough, they also handle all deliveries to the spike camp. Their responsibilities include delivering Incident Emergency Plans (IEPs); providing food and beverages, such as water and Gatorade; collecting waste and garbage; and transporting hoses to the site and retrieving them once the task is complete. Thus, Ground Support essentially serves as the vital delivery system for firefighting efforts. In wildland firefighting
operations, a spike camp functions as a smaller camp that operates independently from the primary fire camp. Typically, spike camps obtain their supplies and food from the main camp and are established to support operational areas that require personnel to travel long distances to return.
“We are our own little city, so we try to provide all the things that someone would need, without stressing out a city’s system,” said Great Basin Team 5 Public Information Officer Marilynn Davis. “So, in this case in Panguitch, we have resources, but sometimes we're in the middle of nowhere in the middle of a forest, or the town's 50 miles away, in which case the self-reliance is more important there.”
The presence of the firefighters was felt in the town, whether that was at local laundromats, coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. “We try to be really respectful of the local community. And we try to pour some money back in while we are here,” said Davis. “Everyone's here to help. There is some hardship associated with it, everyone's leaving their family for two weeks, working sixteen-hour days, sleeping on the ground, in a very grueling job. But everyone by and large is happy to do it; there’s a lot of givers in this line of work”
The France Canyon Fire operation highlights the incredible commitment and resilience of wildland firefighters and their support teams. As the flames have endangered extensive areas of land, the collaboration, coordination, and independence demonstrated by the teams reveal the complex processes that goes into fighting a forest fire. From the solid infrastructure of the fire camp to the essential role of Incident Command, each element of the operation has worked seamlessly together. Firefighters from various backgrounds worked together aiding not only in the containment of the fire but also benefiting the local economy and the spirit of Panguitch.
Courtesy Bryan Hill
Jaynie Connor
France Canyon Fire
Cont'd from A1
INVITATION FOR BIDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO PANGUITCH
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
TURNAROUND, RUN-UP AREA, AND APRON PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
PANGUITCH, UTAH UDOT NO. XXX
Online bids for improvements to the Panguitch Municipal Airport will be received by Panguitch City Corp. through Quest CDN at www.hwlochner.com beginning on July 21, 2025, and extend through bid closing on July 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (MDT).
The work involved includes the following: SCHEDULE I
TURNAROUND, RUN-UP AREA, AND APRON PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
A digital download of Project Documents and other related contract information may be ordered online at www.hwlochner.com. These project documents may be downloaded for $60.00. Payment must be made directly to QuestCDN. This cost includes access to online bidding. There will be no refunds. The QuestCDN project number is 9758073. Bid quantities and schedules may be viewed prior to purchase under the “view bid documents” section on QuestCDN.
Each bid must be accompanied by a Bid Bond executed by a Surety Company in an amount not less than five (5) percent of the total bid made payable to Panguitch City Corp.
The Bidder must supply all the information required by the proposal forms and specifications and must bid on all items of every schedule. Panguitch City Corp. reserves the right to waive any informality in, or to reject any or all portions of, the various bid items. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days from the opening thereof.
A non-mandatory virtual pre-bid meeting for all prospective bidders will be held via Microsoft Teams on July 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (MDT). Meeting access instructions will be sent to all plan holders or you may request an invitation to the pre-bid meeting by contacting Connor Butterfield with Lochner at cbutterfield@hwlochner. com.
The proposed contract is subject to:
• Civil Rights Title VI Assurance (49 USC § 47123 and FAA Order 1400-11)
Minimum wage rates as established by the Secretary of Labor are applicable to all schedules awarded for this project.
Any questions regarding this project are to be directed to Connor Butterfield at cbutterfield@hwlochner. com or the office of Lochner, Salt Lake City, Utah (801) 644-8294 for interpretation.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 3, 10 & 17, 2025
NOTICE
TO AIRPORT CONSULTANTS ESCALANTE CITY
Escalante City, Escalante, Utah is soliciting statements of Qualifications and Experience from consulting firms to provide professional airport planning services and Professional engineering services for the Escalante Municipal Airport.
A complete copy of the request for Statements of Qualifications and Experience may be obtained from the office of Stephanie Steed, City Recorder, 56 N. 100 W. Escalante, UT 84726, 435-826-4644, ssteed@escalanteutah.gov.
DBE firms are encouraged to apply. All proposals received will be evaluated based on FAA advisory Circular 150/5100-14D and on compliance with the request. Interested consultants are to submit six (6) complete copies of the Statements of Qualifications and Experience by 4:00 p.m. Local Time on August 4, 2025 to the above address.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 17, 24 & 31, 2025
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 Aug. 13, 2025 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)
61-2088 (a53336): J. Ivor and Elaine T. Riggs Living Trust propose(s) using 1 cfs from the Burrows Wash (1/2 mile south of Hatch) for IRRIGATION.
61-2934 (a53339): Parsons Realty, LLC propose(s) using 2 ac-ft. from groundwater (4 miles SW of Hatch) for DOMESTIC.
61-3574 (a53355): William L Bernard Trust Agreement dated October 19, 2005 propose(s) using 0.0032 cfs OR 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (3 miles southwest of Hatch) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.
61-3575 (a53356): William L Bernard Trust Agreement dated October 19, 2005 propose(s) using 0.0032 cfs OR 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (3 miles southwest of Hatch) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.
EXTENSION(S)
61-443 (a36851): Lion`s Head Property Owners` Association is/are filing an extension for 0.054 cfs OR 16.2 ac-ft. (8 miles South of Hatch) for DOMESTIC. Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E.
State Engineer
Legal Notices
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE
The real property described in Exhibit A will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder, payable in lawful money of the United States, at the front entrance of the Sixth District Courthouse, Garfield County, 55 South Main Street, Panguitch, Utah 84759, on August 5, 2025 at 3 p.m. on said day, for the purpose of foreclosing a Deed of Trust originally executed by Holm Square LLC as trustor, in which HS Bryce Canyon, LLC is named beneficiary and Southern Utah Title Company as trustee, and filed for record November 5, 2024, and recorded in Book 582, Page 876, Records of Garfield County, Utah, with recorder's entry No. 287786 (the "Trust Deed"), covering that certain real property described in Exhibit A (the "Trust Property").
The current beneficiary of the trust deed is HS Bryce Canyon, LLC and the record owners of the property as of the recording of the notice of default is Holm Square LLC.
Said Trust Property will be sold without warranty as to title, possession, or encumbrances, and will be subject to all prior liens and encumbrances.
Bidders must tender to the trustee a $5,000.00 deposit at the sale, and the balance of the purchase price must be paid by 2:00 p.m. the day after the sale. Both the deposit and the balance must be by cashier's check or certified check payable to Fabian VanCott.
Notice to Tenant
As stated in the accompanying Notice of Trustee's Sale, this property is scheduled to be sold at public auction to the highest bidder unless the default in the obligation secured by this property is cured. If the property is sold, you may be allowed under federal law to continue to occupy your rental unit until your rental agreement expires, or until 90 days after the date you are served with a notice to vacate, whichever is later. If your rental or lease ageement expires after the 90-day period, you may need to provide a copy of your rental or lease agreement to the new owner to prove your right to remain on the property longer than 90 days after the sale of the property
You must continue to pay your rent and comply with other requirements of your rental or lease agreement or you will be subject to eviction for violating your rental or lease agreement.
The new owner or the new owner's representative will probably contact you after the property is sold with directions about where to pay rent.
The new owner of the property may or may not want to offer to enter into a new rental or lease agreement with you at the expiration of the period described above.
DATED this 24th day of June, 2025.
Robert G. Crockett, Trustee
Fabian VanCOtt
95 South State Street, Suite 2300
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Telephone: (801) 531-8900
STATE OF UTAH COUNTY OF SALT LAKE
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 24th day of June, 2025 by Robert G. Crockett, Successor Trustee, who, in his capacity as Successor Trustee, signed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same as Successor Trustee.
THIS FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
TRUSTEE INFORMATION
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE IS PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NOTICE OF DEFAULT OR NOTICE OF SALE TO WHICH THIS DOCUMENT IS ATTACHED.
1. Name of Trustee: Robert G. Crockett, attorney at law.
2. Mailing address of Trustee: Robert G. Crockett | Fabian VanCott | 95 South State, Suite 2300 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-2323
3. Address of Trustee's Bonafide Utah Office: Fabian VanCott | 95 South State, Suite 2300 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
4. Trustee's Regular Business Hours: Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Unavailable Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays and vacations, secretary will be available on vacation days.
5. Trustee's Telephone Number: (801) 531-8900 Exhibit A
Parcel 1:
Beginning at the Northeast corner of Lot 1, Block 1, Plat "B", TROPIC TOWN SURVEY: and running thence West 238.92 feet; thence South 217.80 feet; thence East 61.92 feet; thence North 60.00 feet; thence East 177.00 feet; thence North 157.80 feet to the point of beginning.
SUBJECT TO a right of way and easement for ingress and egress 15.00 feet in width with a centerline described as follows: Beginning at a point 184.5 feet West of the Northeast comer of Block 1, Plat TROPIC TOWN SURVEY; running thence South 217.80 feet to the point of beginning.
Parcel 2:
All of Lot 2. Block 1, Plat TROPIC TOWN SURVEY.
Excepting therefrom, the North 120 feet of the West 74.00 feet.
Parcel 3:
Beginning at a point 10.00 feet North of the Southeast corner of Lot 1, Block 1 Plat "B", TROPIC TOWN SURVEY; and running thence North 50.00 feet; thence West 177.00 feet; thence South 50.00 feet; thence East 177.00 feet to the point of beginning.
Tax I.D. No. 08-0073-0001 , 08-0073-0422, and 08-0073-0465
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 3, 10 & 17, 2025
Legal Notices
TRUTH IN TAXATION NOTICE
FAQ: Understanding the School District's 2025 Tax Rate Reset and What It Means for You
In the coming weeks you will be receiving your tax valuation notices. This year, you’ll probably notice an increase in your tax bill from the rates levied by the School District. We want to address some of the common questions regarding these tax rate changes.
Q: Why is the School District resetting its tax rates this year?
A: The District is resetting its tax rates for the Capital Local Levy, Board Local Levy, and Voted Local Levy to maintain eligibility for state matching funds. These rates are critical for receiving support from the State of Utah through funding mechanisms that reward local effort. Simply put: the State’s funding formulas require a minimum local levy to guarantee its matching funds. The district has reset its rates to the same levels as these proposed rates for many years. However, due to large valuation adjustments in the last two years the effects of this reset will be more pronounced than in past years.
Q: How do certified tax rates work in Utah?
A: Utah uses a system called the "certified tax rate" to ensure that tax levels remain stable even as home prices rise. As property values go up, the tax rate typically "floats" down, offsetting the impact of increasing home values. However, when a taxing entity proposes to collect more revenue than the certified amount, even at the same rates as previously approved rates, a process called "Truth in Taxation" is triggered.
Q: What is the Small Schools Capital Projects Fund, and why does it matter?
A: This is a special state fund designed to help small school districts—like ours— pay for capital projects, such as facility repairs, improvements, and new construction. To qualify for the maximum guarantee from the State, the District must maintain a Capital Local Levy tax rate of 0.002250. We initially adopted this rate in 2022 and are simply resetting it this year to remain eligible.
Q: What about the Board and Voted Local Levies?
A: In order to receive full matching revenues from the State, the combined rate of the Board and Voted Local Levies must equal 0.002. Previously, the State only required us to reset these rates every 5th year. The legislature made a change to this requirement in its last session which essentially will require us to reset these rates every year or every other year. Our District has historically set these levies at this combined level during previous resets. However, this year, with significant adjustments in home values, maintaining these same rates will result in a more noticeable impact on individual taxpayers.
Q: Is this a new tax or a tax hike?
A: No, this is not a new tax. The rates are not being increased beyond what was previously established. What has changed is the market value of local properties. As property values rise, the same rate will generate more tax revenue per home. Property values have seen large adjustments in value in the last two years and therefore even small changes to rates will have a more noticeable impact.
Q: Why is the district pursuing state matching funds?
A: Matching funds from the State reduces the burden on local taxpayers long-term by providing significant additional revenue for our schools. By showing local effort— through maintaining certain minimum tax rates—we qualify for substantial state support, making our dollars go further.
Q: Where can I learn more or provide input?
A: The District will hold a public hearing as required under Utah’s Truth in Taxation law. This will provide an opportunity for taxpayers to ask questions and offer feedback. Details will be published in local media and on the district’s website.
Bottom Line: The School District is continuing its long-term strategy of keeping rates stable while securing critical state funding. The resulting increase in your tax bill is tied to adjusted property values—not new local taxation. Although this will result in an increase to local property taxes, this keeps overall rates lower long-term because it optimizes revenues received from the State.
For further information or to speak directly with District officials, you may contact: Lane Mecham, Business Administrator lane.mecham@garfk12.org 435-676-1302.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 17, 2025
UPDATE TO BOARD MEETING LOCATION GARFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The July board meetings will be held on July 17th as part of the Board's Summer Retreat. The morning session will take place at Bryce Canyon Lodge in the Auditorium from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The remainder of the meetings will continue at Bryce Valley Elementary.
Please join us for the work meeting starting at 10:00 a.m. and the regular board meeting starting at 5:00 p.m.
To participate virtually, a zoom link will be available on the day of the meeting.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on JULY 17, 2025
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
Head Football Coach at Escalante High School
Para-Professional in Preschool at Panguitch Elementary
Full-Time Instructional Coach/Reading Specialist
Administrator for Garfield Online
Elementary School
Food Service Worker at Bryce Valley High School
Substitute/Activity Bus Drivers
Para-Professionals/Aides at All Schools
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.
FREE TO GOOD HOMES
FREE GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPIES DUE TO RELOCATION, THESE PUPPIES NEED FOREVER HOMES: * 1 Male, 1 Female * Excellent Temperament * House Trained INTERESTED? EMAIL FIRST AT: STEPHANIE CHRISTENSEN59@ GMAIL.COM IF NO REPLY, THEN TEXT 541-655-9477 SERIOUS ENQUIRIES ONLY! WILL NOT RE-HOME TO JUST ANYONE.
MEETINGS
TROPIC AA MEETING Wednesday at 6 PM. Tropic Heritage Center. All meetings are closed discussion. Escalante AA Meeting Tues. & Fri. at 6pm Call 435-676-3653
The only requirement is the desire to stop drinking.
FOR RENT
APT FOR RENT
2BR/1BA partially furnished No Smoking, No Pets at 35 N. Main St., Panguitch Above Straight Arrow Saddlery Call 801-870-8004
$$ PAYING TOP DOLLAR $$ for Sports Card Collections & Pokemon. Premium Paid for Vintage. Please leave a detailed message and phone number. Call Corey 541-838-0364. MISC
Join
Are
• Escalante Dental is currently seeking a Part-Time Dental Assistant to join our dynamic team. Why choose Escalante Dental
• Competitive benefits package tailored to your working hours
• An inclusive and supportive work environment
• Opportunity for professional growth and development
Position Overview:
As a Dental Assistant at Escalante Dental, you will play a crucial role in ensur-
ing the smooth and efficient operation of our dental practice. Your responsibilities will include:
• Interacting with patients in a friendly and compassionate manner
• Proficiently taking X-rays and supporting chair-side procedures
• Managing scheduling, charting, and documenting dental visits using computer systems
• Ensuring thorough sterilization of dental instruments
• Setting up and maintaining a clean and organized operatory and office space
Preferred Qualifications (not required):
We value experience, but are also excited to provide training to individuals new to the field. If you have any of the following qualifications, it’s a plus:
• Dental assisting experience
• Exposure to Pediatric, Endodontic, Oral Surgery, and General Dentistry
• Familiarity with computer charting and Digital X-rays
• X-ray Certification
• CPR Certification How to Apply: We encourage all interested candidates to apply, regardless of your level of experience. I you’re passionate about dental health and eager to contribute to a supportive team, we want to hear from you! Please email your resume to aellett@waynechc.org and take the first step toward an exciting career with Escalante Dental. Join us in making a difference in the lives of our patients. Apply today!
The Wayne Community Health Centers are committed to providing high quality health services to our communities’ residents and visitors. Its purpose is to provide quality health services to all people including those facing financial, geographic and/or cultural barriers to healthcare.
Wayne Community Health Center
Pharmacy Tech (3/4 or Part-time) at Kazan Pharmacy
Job Title: Pharmacy Tech (3/4 or Part-Time)
Location: Kazan Pharmacy, Escalante, Utah Kazan Pharmacy seeks a 3/4 or Part-Time Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Technician Trainee for our Escalante location. The ideal professional for this role loves personal interaction, problem solving, and improving community health and wellness in general. As part of the healthcare clinic team, they assist the Pharmacist in prescription management, communication with physicians' offices, community wellness programs and pharmacy office management. The ideal candidate possesses strong communication skills, and must pass a comprehensive background check and drug screening.
The selected individual answers telephones, coordinates with providers’ offices and insurances on behalf of patients, collaborates on development of community wellness initiatives and responds to inquiries related to medications. User-level proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel) is required. General familiarity with computer systems is desirable. Training via an apprenticeship is offered. We offer competitive compensation, year round employment and a comprehensive benefits package based on hours worked.
Pharmacy Technician Trainee Responsibilities:
• Provide exceptional customer service in personal interactions
• Learn and undertake duties outlined in the Pharmacy Technician job description
• Acquire and uphold a valid pharmacy technician trainee license
• Implement life coach training and certification
• Successfully complete the pharmacy technician apprenticeship
• Pass the pharmacy technician licensing examination Coordinate and administer clinic wellness initiatives
• Manage wholesale orders across multiple accounts and reconcile invoices
• Support daily pharmacy operations in collaboration with the Pharmacist
• Assist with daily, monthly and quarterly audits
• Manage secretarial and office management functions of the pharmacy
• Perform all functions of a clerk and office manager
• Exhibit proper phone etiquette and skillful task prioritization
Pharmacy Technician Job Description:
• Possess and apply knowledge of the 340B Program
• Participate in Medication Therapy Management programs
• Record and review patient information with their prescriptions
• Dispense confirmed and completed prescriptions to patients
• Manage incoming calls and address patient inquiries
• Keep up pharmacy cleanliness and adherence to regulations and protocols
• Perform daily deposits and file prescriptions appropriately
• Preferential familiarity with PioneerRx pharmacy management systems
• Administer insurance billing procedures, issues and coordinate for payment
• Maintain accurate patient profiles, including demographics, insurance details, and allergies
• Demonstrate basic and intermediate computer skills
• Assist in mandatory biannual inventories
• Attend staff meetings and incorporate policies and procedures Compensation commensurate with experience ($15 to 25/hour) Typical work schedule: Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM, Friday 9 AM to 1
PM Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to ztaylor@ waynechc.org or drop
Utah Connection Support GroupOnline For people with mental health conditions Mon, Wed, Fri 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Wed 12:30 - 2:00 pm Sat 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Family Support Group - Online For loved ones of people with mental health
Mon, Tues, Thurs 7:00 - 8:30 pm Register at namiut.org
