The Wayne & Garfield County Insider March 26, 2026

Bryce Canyon N.P. Sees

Nearly 2M Visits in '25 with Enhanced Visitor Counting Procedures

BRYCE - On March 17, Bryce Canyon National Park announced it welcomed 1,967,367 recreation visits in 2025, reflecting the implementation of a more precise and refined visitor counting method that will significantly enhance future planning and park management. Despite a fortythree-day partial government shutdown—the longest ever—the National Park Service worked to keep parks open and accessible whenever possible so visitors could continue to experience the nation’s natural and historic treasures.

In 2024, Bryce Canyon reviewed its visitor use counting procedures

Bryce Cont'd on B2

ESCALANTE - Just a few miles west of Escalante at Slot Canyons Inn sits the North Creek Escalante restaurant, which has recently reopened under new management—Samantha Starr

Courtesy Jonie Barton

Tammy Barton, former director of the Garfield County Ambulance Service, was recently honored with the Kevin Barlow Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rural EMS Directors Association of Utah Conference (REMSDAU) held March 17 in Price.

by Kathryn Chamberlain

and chef Brendan Kawakami, who bring years of experience from Salt Lake City. From the start, Starr said they want the space to feel casual and welcoming. “We want it to be a

place where people can come sit on the patio, take in the view, and have a drink with charcuterie or a small plate,” said Starr. Starr and Kawakami both come out of Salt Lake

SALT LAKE CITYWith warmer weather on the near horizon, rattlesnakes will begin emerging from their winter dens, and you may encounter one while hiking or spending time outdoors. Here are some tips to help you stay safe and aware while recreating outside this spring and summer.

Rattlesnakes in Utah

Native snakes are an important part of Utah’s ecosystem. There are five rattlesnake species in Utah, and the most common is the Great Basin rattlesnake, which is a subspecies of the Western rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes help Rattlesnakes Cont'd on B2

City’s restaurant scene. Starr worked in management, including at Mazza on 9th and 9th, and has

WAYNE CO. - The Wayne County Commission moved through a full agenda during its March 16th meeting.

One of the biggest actions was approval of Resolution 25-02, imposing a 0.30% local option sales and use tax to fund public safety. The tax amounts to about 30 cents on every $100 purchase. Commissioners said the added revenue is important as federal funding tied to Secure Rural Schools remains uncertain, and noted that sales tax helps capture revenue from visitors, as well as residents. The commission also approved a letter of support for Torrey City’s splash pad grant application after being assured it would not affect Wayne County’s own request.

Commissioners

CAPITOL REEF N.P.The Gifford House at Capitol Reef National Park opened for the season on Pi Day, March 14, 2026,

Barton retired in December 2024 after a thirtytwo-year career serving

Tammy Barton Cont'd on A3

GARFIELD CO.Tammy Barton, former director of the Garfield County Ambulance Service, was recently honored with the Kevin Barlow Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rural EMS Directors Association of Utah Conference (REMSDAU) held March 17 in Price.

as it does each year, with a line stretching all the way to the Scenic Drive. Staff made 72 dozen pies for the occasion, selling them for $3.14 each. The final tally for pies sold in 2025 was 81,221.

North Creek Escalante Cont'd on B3

Opinion

Colorado River Faces a Day of Reckoning

UTAH - We are two and a half decades into the Southwest’s most severe drought of the last 1,200 years, and this winter’s snow dearth is one of the most extreme on record.

Without an AprilMay miracle, humancaused climate change likely will finally catch up with the Colorado River—and the 40 million people who rely on it—in the form of a full-blown crisis later this year.

“Drought” may be too hopeful a word, since it implies an eventual end. Most climate scientists refer to the phenomenon as “long-term aridification,” caused by a lack of rain and snow and warming temperatures.

The West has just experienced its warmest winter since record-keeping began in 1895. The average October-throughDecember temperature in some parts of the region has been more than 8° F warmer than the 20th century mean. This is a huge anomaly.

In Gunnison County, Colorado, one of the colder places in the nation, the average minimum temperature for that four-month stretch was about 19° F. That doesn’t seem so bad until you realize that back in 1990, another dry, warm winter, the corresponding measure was 13.6° F. For the Upper Colorado River Basin, the average minimum temperature for that four-month stretch was about 26° F, the warmest on record.

The warmer temperatures tinker with the health of the watershed.

This water year, which began Oct. 1, started out with record-high precipitation in some areas, most of which fell as rain. That helped fend off severe drought conditions. But what really counts is the mountain snowpack, which serves as a giant natural reservoir that supplies at least 70% of the Colorado River’s water each year. Warm temperatures have left some areas

by Jonathan Thompson | Writers on the Range

snow-free even in parts of Wyoming, where the white stuff normally would be piled high in March.

The diminishing snow has, in turn, shrunk the Colorado River. The “natural” flow—or an estimate of how much water the river would carry without upstream diversions or human consumption—has been below 15 million acre-feet (MAF) at Lees Ferry during 20 of the last 26 years, with an average flow of 12.25 MAF during that time.

This matters, because when the Colorado River Compact of 1922 parceled out the river’s waters, the river was assumed to carry an average annual flow of at least 16.5 MAF. Demand has significantly exceeded supply for the last 26 years, forcing the drawdown of the watershed’s big savings accounts, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, to about one-third of their capacity.

Meanwhile, to comply with the Colorado River Compact of 1922—the document that serves as the Ten Commandments for the management of the river’s waters—the Upper Basin States must release, on average, at least 7.5 MAF from Glen Canyon Dam each year.

Given that the Upper Basin states need a bunch of water to keep their cities and farms from drying up, and that an additional 800,000 acre-feet evaporates or seeps into the un-

derlying rocks at Lake Powell each year, you can see how the warming climate wreaks havoc on the math of the Colorado River.

The entire river system now teeters on the brink, and this year’s snow drought may be what pushes it over the edge.

The Bureau of Reclamation’s latest forecast says Lake Powell’s surface level is likely to drop below the minimum level needed for power production later this year. This so-called “deadpool” would not only mean the end of hydropower production, it would also force all of the dam’s releases to go through the river’s eight-foot-wide, steel outlet tubes, which were not made for sustained use. This could compromise the tubes and the dam itself.

Jonathan Thompson is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is a longtime journalist and author about the West.

It’s possible that the dam would even be shifted to a run-of-the-river operation, in which releases equal the amount of water flowing into the reservoir, minus evaporation and seepage. That would almost certainly result in water shortages downstream, at the very least for the Central Arizona Project, which serves the Phoenix metro area.

This quandary didn’t sneak up on us.

The seven Colorado River states and the federal water managers can’t agree

on who should make what cuts in consumption. The feds, meanwhile, haven’t gotten around to re-engineering Glen Canyon Dam or creating a bypass around it that would enable the water to keep flowing. It’s almost as if they’ve been paralyzed by the belief that dry winters were just a minor glitch.

Now, as the spring runoff gets underway, it has become clear that nature won’t save us: We have no choice but to live within increasingly meager limits.

Jonathan Thompson is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is a longtime journalist and author about the West.

BLM Seeks Initial Input for September 2026 Sale of Oil and Gas Leases in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY -

On March 16, the Bureau of Land Management opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on 35 oil and gas parcels totaling 34,655 acres that may be included in a September 2026 lease sale in Utah. The scoping period ends April 15, 2026.

Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Before development operations can begin,

an operator must submit an application for permit to drill detailing development plans. The BLM reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders.

All parcels that are included in a federal oil and gas lease sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources. Information on current and upcoming

BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System. BLM lease sales are held online through Efficient Markets. The parcels BLM is analyzing, as well as maps and instructions on how to comment, are available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/ProjectHome/?id=759276D6511E-F111-8341001DD800B811

—Bureau of Land Management

Courtesy Writers on the Range

Glen Canyon Announces Uplake Marina Adjustments for 2026 Boating Season

GLEN CANYONGlen Canyon National Recreation Area is taking proactive steps to maintain uplake boating access at Lake Powell during the 2026 summer season. With lower water levels expected throughout the summer, the park and its partners are adjusting facilities to ensure visitors can continue accessing services in the Bullfrog and Halls Crossing areas.

Temporary Relocation of Bullfrog Marina and Bullfrog Boat Rentals/Fuel Dock

In the coming months, Aramark will begin moving the Bullfrog Marina and Bullfrog Boat Rentals and Fuel Dock into deeper water near Halls Crossing Marina. This temporary move will position marina services in a more reliable location for the 2026 sum-

mer season and beyond. The land-based services at Bullfrog remain open. Fuel will remain attached to the Bullfrog Boat Rentals dock. Information on the Bullfrog Marina relocation can be found on Aramark’s website at: www.lakepowell.com/houseboating/bullfrog-marina-houseboatrentals

Stanton Creek Ramp Project

The National Park Service is finalizing plans for a new, permanent longterm ramp at Stanton Creek at Bullfrog. Designed to function at lower lake elevations, the Stanton Creek ramp will improve uplake motorized boat access once completed. Due to the project’s size and complexity, the ramp will not be completed for the summer 2026 season but remains a key component of Glen

Canyon’s long-range infrastructure strategy. After the Stanton Creek ramp project is completed, the Bullfrog Marina will be permanently moved to that location, near the established community and facilities of Bullfrog. The park is exploring options for a primitive ramp in the Bullfrog/Stanton Creek area for this summer; however, it is unknown at this time how deep the ramp could extend.

Visitor Information

Lake Powell remains open for water-based recreation, and boaters are encouraged to check current lake levels, ramp status, and operating conditions before traveling. The most up-to-date information on lake levels and park projects is available at www. nps.gov/glca/learn/changing-lake-levels.htm.

—National Park Service

Tammy Barton: In addition to her local service, Barton dedicated significant time working with the State Bureau of EMS, advocating for the unique needs of rural emergency medical systems across Utah. She played an important role in educating state leaders and legislators on the challenges faced by rural agencies and worked tirelessly to ensure those voices were heard.

Tammy Barton Cont'd from A1

the residents of Garfield County. During that time, she wore many hat, including Advanced EMT, director, educator, and instructor, leaving a lasting impact on both her colleagues and the community.

In addition to her local service, Barton dedicated significant time working with the State Bureau of EMS, advocating for the unique needs of rural emergency medical systems across Utah. She played an important role in educating state leaders and legislators on the challenges faced by rural agencies and worked

tirelessly to ensure those voices were heard.

A respected member of the Rural EMS Directors Association, Barton was named Rural Director of the Year in 2020. She was also recognized in 2021 as a Utah Community Star by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

Courtesy National Park Service

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is taking proactive steps to maintain uplake boating access at Lake Powell during the 2026 summer season.

News from Wayne County

The Way Things Were

by Adus F. Dorsey II

Adus F. Dorsey II

Some of the more curious and extraordinary structures that dot the range out on the Roost and beyond are the RipGut Corrals, a type of enclosure made of dead or dying cedar trees and scrub brush, ingeniously constructed to keep cattle in one place to be branded or any other indescribable ranching type procedure that cattlemen do at certain times of the year with pocket knives and hot irons.

WAYNE CO. - Just like the Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford blockbuster movie, in Wayne County, wherever you go, there are relics of "The Way We Were."

It is generally understood that tracks and bones of the dinosaurs litter the landscape of Wayne County, like they were intentionally put there for us to find. Then, there are the husks and dung of ice age mastodons and animals the size of giants that often get uncovered in remote places like Cowboy Cave, where they were so carefully excavated, cared for, and preserved for us to ponder and, for some, to argue their existence.

It is true that Wayne County is an open book into the past, a treasure trove of artifacts yet to be discovered and histories yet to be told.

In more recent times, the stories of cowboys and their struggle to survive in a harsh environment seems to have captured the imagination of a rising generation.

The story goes that a major turning point in the history of the American West came when fur traders broke the wagon trail across the South Pass of the Continental Divide in Wyoming about 1832. Later, along this trail, there would be deep ruts to be followed by each new family or group of families headed west, and these helped to guide them to coastal destinations. Proof that common vehicles of the day could traverse the Rockies made possible the most significant single event in the West’s evolving history. This was the coming of white women to share pioneering wealth and woes with their men and to bear their children. In due time, this would come to mean the development of villages— instead of isolated camps—towns, schools, churches, stores, factories, government, and all the rest of the symbols and trappings of our civilization. The first group containing women went westward in 1836.

It was in this period that livestock ranching had its start in the interior West, but it was far from new elsewhere. Livestock ranching had been practiced for upward of two centuries in the southwest, where each Spanish mission had flocks of sheep and cattle, and where favored men grew wealthy on extensive crown grants

of prized rangeland.

The population and ranching build-up was a relatively slow process in ox team and Conestoga wagon times.

The passage of the 160-acre Homestead Act, the close of the war, the first drives of Texas Longhorn cattle to Kansas, and the linking of the east and west coast by rail all took place in less than ten years. One of the results would be filling what was once considered the last frontier with an abundance of unattended livestock.

Sandwiched between the Colorado, Green, and Dirty Devil rivers is a savage stretch of land crisscrossed with steep-walled canyons and hidden ravines. For over thirty-years, this inhospitable terrain served as a hideout for outlaws of every sort. Robbers Roost was a stronghold of the Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy’s motley band of bank robbers, train stickup men, and horse and cattle rustlers.

Utah was different from its surrounding neighbors. There were fewer cattle barons. The land around the Roost (including Hanksville and Green River), for example, was dotted with small cattle ranches. Since the best farmland that could be irrigated had been previously taken, later Mormon converts were assigned cattle ranches on the more arid land. Cattle did well on the desert plains, but it sometimes took between twentyfive and fifty acres per cow to make it pay. There was rustling, but nothing like the rustling that took place in Colorado, Wyoming, and Arizona, where large herds were taken at one time. Utah rustling was done a little bit differently. Certainly, there were some wild cattle roaming the territory by the latter part of the nineteenth century. With the number of rugged canyons and arroyos

on the vast plateau, wild cow hunting was a good business. There were also a number of stray mavericks near traditional rangelands that a rustler might find and brand if he felt brave. And then, of course, there were the branded cattle— also potential targets for the courageous rustler. In Utah, more often than not, a rustler took a handful of cattle and hoped his efforts wouldn’t be spotted for a while—wholesale theft being somewhat uncommon since the outfits were small, and ranchers could keep closer tabs on their animals. Some ranchers did a little bit of rustling themselves. Many ranchers, even the honest ones, were hired to help push herds toward the Roost, knowing full well there wasn’t a bill of sale for some of the cattle.

That is to not say that there were not honest, hardworking individuals willing to take their ranching chances out on the Roost. In fact, some ranching operations, with a lot of hard work, still prosper and exist today, one of which is the old Ekker Ranch, where relics of the past still stand.

Some of the more curious and extraordinary structures that dot the range out on the Roost and beyond are the RipGut Corrals, a type of enclosure made of dead or dying cedar trees and scrub brush, ingeniously constructed to keep cattle in one place to be branded or any other indescribable ranching type procedure that cattlemen do at certain times of the year with pocket knives and hot irons.

These amazing manmade structures are often cause for long and contemplative sessions of wonder to the city slickers, casual passersby and observers visiting the area from places like Vermont or the Big Apple. Either way, the way “things” were still exists in the Wild West.

We must be skipping spring and going right into summer. It was 82 here on Friday, and it isn’t going to cool down anytime soon. With the warm weather, you can look for an early runoff of the snow, if we had any. The lake was frozen for about a month, just in time for the fishing derby. We have three candidates for the Garfield County Commissioner position, and since they are all running as Republicans, you have to register as one if you want to vote. You must register by April 1st to qualify.

You can get your income taxes done for free by VITA. For an appointment call (801) 882-8811. They are doing them at the Care and Share by Angeli Sheffer. Please bring your Social Security card, tax documents and your bank account information.

The old Ford dealer lot is going to be a Dollar General store. I also heard that they aren’t going to wait a year to tear down the Chevron station, and I would imagine it will be done before the summer season starts.

FYI PanguItch

by Mack Oetting ~ mackoetting @gmail.com

It is March Madness time, and Utah had two team in the big dance, but BYU lost out in the first go around and Utah State is playing the number 1 team in Arizona and is trailing at half time.

In the NBA, a number of records were set this week. For the Miami Heat, a player by the name Bam Adebayo scored a whopping eighty-three points against the Washington Wizards. He beat out Kobie Bryant for second only to Wilt Chamberlin’s one-hundred point record. Bam's highest game this season was thirty-two points; this was before his eighty-three point game. Wilt held the record for the most free throws made in that game, thirty-two, but Bam made thirty-six.

I am probably the only one that is old enough to have seen Wilt play for the Lakers. There isn’t anyone that compares to Wilt. During all of those games, his point average was fortyeight points a game, and during his career, he played every minute of every game. He averaged twenty-

two rebounds a game. LeBron James also added to all of his records by playing in his 1,614th game, which is more games than anyone.

In Salt Lake City, the feds bought a large ICE warehouse. It is at the airport and has very little facilities for restrooms or showers. No one was asked, and there are protesters there already. The city loses a million dollars a year in property tax on the building and will have to supply the people to man the place. I hope that the city will be like the other fourteen states that rejected this kind of housing for people that haven’t had a trial.

The stock market has fallen down to the point it was when the president took office. It was only three weeks ago that he was bragging that it had gone up a record fifty-four times since he took office. Gold and silver have gone down also, which is alright with me because I collect silver, and it got too expensive for my pocket book.

The president keeps changing the reasons for

why we are at war. Now, it is because they were close to making A bombs. Last time he was in office, he said that we had blown up all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, so I guess that won’t be much of an excuse. He will change his mind tomorrow, probably.

The president asked for NATO help, and he didn’t receive any replies; maybe someone needs to tell him what NATO is for. It was set up to protect its members from attack from larger countries, like Russia, not to help with the invasion by our country. It seems like his plan to keep Cuba from getting any oil is working. They are having power outages all the time. It was only a year ago that he stopped the US from going into Cuba to visit or sightsee.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and it will only be six days to the Easter Egg Hunt. This year’s hunt will be by a group and should be a fun event. If you can’t do anything about an event, don’t worry about it.

Mack O.

Luke Grimes to Headline Inaugural Zion Forever Project “Red Rock Blue Sky” Benefit Concert

SPRINGDALE - Zion

Forever Project is thrilled to announce its inaugural Red Rock Blue Sky Benefit Concert featuring acclaimed country musician and star of Yellowstone and Marshals, Luke Grimes.

The benefit concert will take place July 4, 2026, at the breathtaking O.C. Tanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah. Grimes will be supported by opening act Eli Shay and the Slouchers. Eli is a Utah native and has a great love for Zion National Park. Attendees can expect a spectacular night of entertainment set against the stunning backdrop of southern Utah's majestic red rock landscape.

“We are thrilled to welcome Luke and his band to Zion for the inaugural Red Rock Blue Sky concert to celebrate America’s founding,” said Natalie Britt, president and CEO, Zion Forever Project. “This July 4th, we are honored to celebrate America’s greatest idea— our national parks—against Zion’s red cliffs. Red Rock Blue Sky is a concert and a commitment to protect this sacred landscape, inspire future stewards and carry Zion 250 years into forever.”

Luke Grimes is a natural-born creative: an actor, musician, singer, and songwriter.

Best known for his role

as Kayce Dutton on the hit TV drama Yellowstone and reprising that role in the new TV series Marshals, Grimes grew up in Ohio playing music in the church and listening to the Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings records his father played him. Later, he moved to L.A. and joined an Americana band as its drummer before relocating to Montana, where Yellowstone filmed. Now writing in Nashville with hit songwriters like Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon, the Love Junkies, Aaron Raitiere, and Brent Cobb, Grimes is sharing his personal story—of the loss

of his father and meeting his wife—with country fans. His self-titled debut album Luke Grimes, produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton) arrived on the heels of Grimes’ gritty, acclaimed 2023 EP, Pain Pills or Pews. Ten songs were co-written by Grimes, including “No Horse to Ride,” which debuted at No. 7 on the Country Songs sales chart in 2022 and accumulated 45M release-to-date global on-demand streams. Spotify highlighted the song on the cover of its Country Hits 2023 playlist, with the song in the No. 1 position. Grimes’ recording of “Hold On,” a highlight of Pain

Obituaries

Pills or Pews that also appears on Luke Grimes, has amassed 30M global ondemand streams, adding to Grimes’ 100M total global streams to date of all his music.

The concert will not only celebrate America’s 250th anniversary but will also raise critical funds in support of the Zion Forever Project's mission to conserve and enhance public lands in the Zion region for current and future generations. For more information or tickets, go to https:// www.zionpark.org. —Zion Forever Project

Vance Dee Brinkerhoff

TORREY - Vance Dee Brinkerhoff, 89, passed away peacefully at his home in Torrey, Utah, on March 10, 2026, with his loving wife by his side. Vance was born July 21, 1936, in Bicknell, Utah, to Dennis Jay and Nila Behunin Brinkerhoff.

Vance began his career in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic and was stationed in Kansas, where he met his first wife, Judith LeBlanc. They were married May 26, 1962, and together had three children: Katherine, Daniel, and Teresa. Judith passed away on December 13, 1974.

In 1979, Vance met his second wife, Vanetta Christensen. They were married June 1, 1979, and through this marriage he gained another son, Doyle.

Vance loved his career in the Air Force and was stationed at many bases during his 22-year military career. He was a veteran of the Vietnam and Korean wars. After retiring from the Air Force and marrying Vanetta, the two spent many summers traveling throughout the United States in their truck and fifth-wheel trailer—from Alaska to Mexico. When his children were young, those trips were family adventures; later they continued traveling with friends. Vance also loved camping and hunting trips in the mountains around Wayne County.

Vance had a remarkable talent for fixing and building things and was skilled in many kinds of electrical and mechanical work. No matter the problem, family and friends knew they could rely on him to figure it out. More importantly, he was always there when his family needed him—no matter how far away he might be.

Vance was a compassionate, loving, and generous man who always put his family first. His kindness, strength, and willingness to help others will be remembered by all who knew and loved him.

Vance is survived by his loving wife, Vanetta Brinkerhoff of Torrey, Utah; his children, Katherine and Flint Gleave of Richfield, Utah; Daniel Brinkerhoff of Richfield, Utah; Teresa and Durran Brian of Loa, Utah; and Doyle and Tiffany Stock of Roy, Utah; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Judith Brinkerhoff; his brothers, Richard Brinkerhoff and his wife Zola, and Earl Brinkerhoff and his wife Eunice; and his sister, Dorothy Martin and her husband William.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Teri Meacham, Julie Jeffery, and the rest of the team from Gunnison Home Health for their compassionate care and support of Vance.

Vance will be cremated and graveside services with Military Honors accorded by the Harold Brown American Legion Post #92 and the United States Air Force Honor Guard will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in the Bicknell Cemetery, 900 South 200 East, Bicknell, Utah, under the care of Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina, Utah.

Utah Lieutenant Governor Says SAVE Act Would ‘Hurt Utah Voters’ as Sen. Lee Leads Its Charge Utah’s top election official says the bill would be ‘impossible to implement.’ Gov. Spencer Cox says he supports bill’s ‘goals,’ but has concerns

by Katie McKellar | Utah News Dispatch

UTAH - As Utah’s senior U.S. senator helps lead a Republican charge to make sweeping changes to voting, the state’s top election official has raised numerous red flags about the bill, saying it could violate constitutional secret ballot rights and federally preempt states’ rights.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, a Republican, shared a series of posts on multiple social media platforms on Wednesday, March 18, expressing frustration with Sen. Mike Lee and his push for the legislation, called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE America Act.

“I can count on zero fingers the number of times Sen. Lee has reached out to ask how his bill will affect our state,” Henderson wrote in a post on Threads.

In another Threads post, Henderson referred to a 2022 op-ed Lee and Henderson jointly wrote for the Deseret News at the time, and said: “POV: That one time your senior senator wrote a joint op-ed with you touting the trustworthiness of your state’s election system and lauding the virtues of federalism before running a bill demanding we throw it all out the window three years later.”

“Utah law already requires both voter ID and American citizenship to vote,” Henderson wrote in a post on Facebook. “The SAVE America Act would hurt Utah voters and preempt state laws in ways that don’t make sense.”

Henderson’s post also blasted the effort to pass the voting bill quickly, ahead of the November midterm elections. President Donald Trump has called the bill his top legislative priority, and he has said it will be crucial for Republicans to

keep control of Congress after the midterms.

“If we want a federal law mandating voter ID or Documentary Proof of Citizenship, and it’s really not about disenfranchising a bunch of voters, then states and voters need an onramp with time to prepare—get the documents, obtain the right ID, set up the system,” Henderson wrote. “That’s not what’s happening with the SAVE America Act. This bill would be effective immediately in the middle of an election year.”

The bill, Henderson said, “would be impossible to implement, on top of all its other problems.”

Henderson lists problems with SAVE Act Henderson listed several facts about Utah’s voting landscape. It’s long been a vote-by-mail state, where the Utah Constitution guarantees the right to a secret ballot for both federal and state elections.

The SAVE voting bill, Henderson noted, would require voters to include photocopies of their IDs in the return envelope of a by-mail ballot, “violating our Constitutional right to a secret ballot.”

Utah already uses signature verification on bymail ballots—and in 2029, Utah voters will be required to write the last four digits of their driver license or Social Security number along with their signature to verify their

“other states are.”

“Federal law is needed to protect federal elections,” he said.

However, in another post, Lee added: “Utah itself has plenty of its own problems. What I meant to say is that it was the federal government, not Utah, that created the particular set of problems making the SAVE America Act necessary.”

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday, March 17, voted to begin a long debate on the bill that has the potential to span days or weeks. Lee and other Republican senators have held multiple press conferences expressing their support for the legislation, including one Thursday, March 19, afternoon.

identity “in a way that preserves ballot secrecy,” Henderson said.

The SAVE America Act, she wrote, “would preempt that.”

Additionally, Henderson said that if Congress passes the bill, county clerks would need to change how they currently verify voters’ citizenship, which they currently do through the state’s Driver License Division and the state’s REAL ID system.

“Remember when you had to dig up all your documents and show them to the DLD when we switched to REAL ID?” Henderson wrote. “For the SAA, you’ll have to do that all over again to register to vote.”

She said only five states—Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, New York and Vermont—currently offer the “enhanced” REAL ID system required in the SAVE voting bill.

Sen. Mike Lee responds Lee, in response to Henderson’s posts, wrote on X that “Utah has never been the problem,” but rather

Lee, during Thursday’s news conference, told reporters he was “open” to changes to the bill—which the House passed—in order to “help us get it passed easier” in the Senate.

“We have an obligation to do everything we can to get this passed,” Lee said. He added that a drawn out debate could help muster support, similar to the 60 days it took to eventually pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Lee and other Republican senators argued that voter ID requirements are popular with the American public, and it shouldn’t be something Democrats oppose.

Democrats have ardently argued the bill would add unnecessary obstacles to voting, especially for those who don’t have access to their birth certificates or passports to prove their citizenship when they register to vote.

Utah Gov. Cox says he supports the ‘concept,’ but the bill has implementation problems

Henderson’s boss, Utah

Gov. Spencer Cox, told reporters during a press conference broadcast by PBS Utah on Thursday that he and Henderson are supportive of the concept behind the SAVE Act—to ensure only U.S. Citizens are voting—but they have some concerns about its implementation.

“I think we’re all supportive, including the lieutenant governor, of the goals of the SAVE Act,” Cox said. “It’s just on how it’s practically implemented. So we can do it and keep people safe and make sure we’re not preventing American citizens from voting.”

Cox said that Henderson was understandably “frustrated” by the SAVE Act, while also pointing out Lee’s posts in response, which Cox characterized as Lee “defending” Utah. Cox said the state is “constantly improving elections.”

Henderson is “entitled to be frustrated,” Cox said, since Lee hasn’t communicated with her about the SAVE Act.

“Look, running elections is very hard. The lieutenant governor has the hardest job in the state,” he said. “And so she is entitled to be frustrated when there is a lack of communication. We should have more communication with our federal delegation. Sometimes that’s on us…Sometimes that’s on them, they should be reaching out to us just to talk through some of the issues.”

The governor pointed out that Utah started voting by mail more than ten years ago—before the COVID-19 pandemic—and he said other states haven’t spent the same amount of time or effort as Utah leaders have improving security around voting by mail.

Cox also noted that

Utah lawmakers this year passed a law that would require voters to prove they are U.S. citizens for local elections if election officers lack confirmation and get in touch seeking documentation. That law bifurcated federal elections from local elections, since the state has the authority to make the requirement for local elections, but not federal ones.

The Utah Legislature this year also weighed a bill to further unravel Utah’s automatic vote-by-mail system and require in-person ID for voting with a bymail ballot, but it hit a dead end. Instead, they passed a bill to commission a Utah Valley University study on “the security of in-person voting versus voting by mail” and “best practices” for ID requirements.

Pressed on Henderson’s concerns about the federal government infringing on states’ rights to administer elections, Cox said the federal government has “always” had some election restrictions, but it can only go so far to tell states what they can or can’t do.

“Federalism matters, but again, immigration is in the purview of the federal government,” he said. “So the federal government does have a role (to) make sure that noncitizens are not voting.”

In January, Henderson’s office reported that an ongoing review of Utah’s voter rolls hasn’t found any cases of noncitizens voting in a Utah election. That most recent review resulted in one noncitizen registered voter being removed, in addition to four that were found last year.

This article was originally published on utahnewsdispatch.com on March 19, 2026.

Spenser Heaps Utah News Dispatch

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson listens as Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a press conference at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on the final night of the legislative session, Friday, March 6, 2026.

Schools and Sports

Kansas City Chiefs Assistant Special Teams Coach Porter Ellett Discusses ‘Resiliency and Overcoming Challenges’ at Prevention Coalition

PANGUITCH - On

Wednesday March 10, Kansas City (KC) Chiefs

Assistant Special Teams

Coach Porter Ellett visited Escalante and Panguitch high schools to speak on the topic of resiliency and overcoming challenges in life and sports.

These events were put on by the Panguitch and Escalante prevention coalitions, which are community led groups who work to prevent alcohol and substance abuse in youth and teens.

Ellett, born in Loa, Utah, experienced a severe injury at age four when he fell from a truck, resulting in significant nerve damage and loss of his scalp. After being airlifted to Salt Lake City, he was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury that severed nerves from his spinal cord. Despite losing use of his dominant right hand, he adapted to using his left hand. At sixteen, after sustaining further injuries during a basketball game, he chose to amputate his injured arm.

Ellett excelled in sports at Wayne High School—such as basketball, cross country and baseball—and earned the 1A Baseball MVP title. Due to limited sports options, Ellett learned to adapt and excel individually, despite the challenges of having one arm. He

Speaking Engagements in Panguitch and Escalante

by Jaynie Connor

taught himself, with the guidance of coaches, various techniques in different sports that enabled him to perform at his best. During his speech, Ellett showcased for the crowd his impressive ability to catch and throw a baseball with one hand. In one seamless motion, he dropped his glove to snag the ball mid-air and prepared to throw it, with the help of a young volunteer who threw the ball to him.

Ellett studied Economics at Brigham Young University. Despite a job at

Goldman Sachs, he felt unfulfilled and pursued a master's in Sports Management at Baylor University.

Through a connection with KC Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid, he learned of a job opening. In 2017, Ellett became the assistant to the head coach, and famously is referred to as being Reid’s “Left Hand Man.” He has now been with the team for nine seasons.

Since 2017, Porter Ellett has worked for the KC Chiefs as assistant to the head coach, assistant run-

ning back coach, and has been on the coaching staff for the Chiefs last three Super Bowl wins. Ellett brought his Super Bowl rings with him and passed them throughout the crowd, allowing patrons to take pictures of and with them. He stated, “To me, the rings are too big to wear. And I'll never sell them. So really the only fun part about having the rings is showing the people. Because when I was a kid, I never thought I'd see anything like that.”

During the event, Ellett

BVHS Students and Athletes of the Week

by Samie Ott | Bryce Valley High School

BRYCE - Kafferin

Roman-Rodriguez has been nominated by Mr. Platt as Bryce Valley High School's (BVHS) Student of the Week

Roman-Rodriguez always has a smile on her face and is willing to put in the work, even when she needs a little extra help with translating. She does not get frustrated easily and continues to persevere through challenges. She is also willing to ask questions, which is a great sign of future success. We are proud of Roman-Rodriguez for her hard work and positive attitude.

Taivee Corrales and Hannah Shakespeare have been nominated by Mr. Platt and Mrs. Willis as the BVHS Club Students of the Week in Drama.

Corrales and Shakespeare have worked hard all season and have done an amazing job learning all the songs and choreography. Their positive attitudes have uplifted the ensemble and brought so much magic to the supporting characters in the play. It has been such a joy to watch them have so much fun while sharing their talents. We are proud of both of them.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: UPCOMING GAMES...

Escalante High School

Track and Field Schedule:

03/27 & 28: Desert Hills Invitational

03/28: North Sevier Invitational

04/02-06: Spring Break

04/11: Milford Invitational

Wayne High School

Softball:

03/27: Against Milford

04/07: Water Canyon

04/10: Against Water Canyon

04/14: Against Delta

04/17: Against Altamont

04/23: Against Panguitch

04/29: Against Monticello

Panguitch High School

Softball:

03/27: Against Pinnacle

03/31: Against Piute

04/07: Against Milford

04/09: Against Milford

04/11: Against Altamont

04/15: Against Piute

04/17: Against Monticello

04/23: Against Wayne

Bryce Valley High School

Track and Field Schedule:

03/27 & 28: Desert Hills Invitational

03/28: North Sevier Invitational

04/02-06: Spring Break

04/11: Milford Invitational

“There's great power in gratitude and being grateful for opportunities and for the moment,” said Ellett. “And when you're grateful like that, it keeps you from quitting...and if you're passionate about something, that helps you not to quit, as well. Not quitting has been big for me my whole life.”

He expressed that the choice to persevere in life is a daily decision we make moment by moment, particularly for him, as he navigates life with only one arm. Even now, as an adult playing in the NFL, he must consciously choose not to give up each day. Ellett is immensely thankful for the life he has experienced and the path his choices have forged. Ellett concluded his event with a question-andanswer session, inviting attendees to ask about his presentation or personal experiences. Many children eagerly took the opportunity to engage. One asked him who his hero was, and Ellet was quick to answer. “My wife,” said Ellett, stating that she encourages him every day to continue to chase his dreams.

chose to talk about qualities he has learned throughout his life and from Coach Reid over the years. He started out by giving credit to his parents, who even from a young age, treated him the same as everyone else. “They encouraged me. They pushed me to do things I didn't think I could do. And a lot of times when I was growing up with one hand, I think it would have been easy for my parents to baby me. But a lot of times, from the perspective of other people, it was very tough love. Like, go figure it out, you're going to have to do it on your own, so figure it out. And I'm so grateful for that now, that they pushed me to do that, and they weren't easy on me,” said Ellett. “This is what I was dealt, and you make the best of it, and that's all you got.” He went on to discuss Coach Reid's four pillars of success and how listeners could apply them to their lives, as athletes or just in general. The four pillars are to fear nothing, attack everything, eliminate distractions, and create positive energy. Ellett added in a pillar of his own, which is to be grateful.

Courtesy Samie Ott

(From left to right) Kafferin Roman-Rodriguez has been nominated by Mr. Platt as Bryce Valley High School's (BVHS) Student of the Week, and Taivee Corrales and Hannah Shakespeare have been nominated by Mr. Platt and Mrs. Willis as the BVHS Club Students of the Week in Drama.

Jaynie Connor

Wayne County native Porter Ellett speaks to attendees at an Panguitch Prevention Coalition event held in the Panguitch High School auditorium on March 10th.

Rattlesnakes: It is important to become more knowledgeable about the rattlesnakes that you may encounter around your residence or during outdoor recreational activities. Being aware of species you may encounter is a great way to be proactive in avoiding any unwanted interactions with rattlesnakes and prepares you to respond in a safe manner.

Rattlesnakes

Cont'd from A1

to reduce diseases that are spread by rodents, and their dens may provide shelter for other snake species.

“It is important to become more knowledgeable about the rattlesnakes that you may encounter around your residence or during outdoor recreational activities,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Native Herpetology Coordinator Alyssa Hoekstra said. “Being aware of species you may encounter is a great way to be proactive in avoiding any unwanted interactions with rattlesnakes and prepares you to respond in a safe manner.”

Rattlesnakes are most active during the late spring and early summer months. This is when they are on the move, looking for food, water and mates. Although their activity levels peak at dawn and dusk, rattlesnakes can be encountered at all hours, especially in the spring.

Rocky benches, high-elevation slopes and dry canyons are the most common places in Utah to encounter rattlesnakes, often while people are out hiking, rock climbing or biking. However, you may also encounter rattlesnakes at lower elevations and in open areas. Individual rattlesnakes move around a large area (known as their “home range”) and will usually move on from a specific location within a short period of time.

A rattlesnake’s camouflage helps it to blend into its surroundings, so you may pass by a rattlesnake and never know it.

What to do if you encounter a rattlesnake

Rattlesnakes are protected under Utah law, making it illegal to harass or kill one. Rattlesnakes use their venom to subdue prey so they can eat it, and a snake will only bite defensively if it feels threatened.

Rattlesnakes do not chase people and will stop aggressive or defensive behavior once you are far enough away. Snake bites are quite rare, and harassing or trying to illegally kill the snake greatly increases the risk of being bitten. Never corner a rattlesnake or get close enough for a bite to occur.

When you are out hiking, make sure to always watch the trail ahead of you and check carefully before stepping over rocks, reaching onto ledges or sitting down on a rock or log. Keep your hands and feet where you can see them and avoid reaching into dense brush or crevices before visually checking to make sure they are clear.

“Like most wild animals, rattlesnakes fear humans and will do anything they can to avoid us,” Hoekstra said. “If a snake is feeling threatened, it may act in defense. The best course of action is to maintain a safe distance from rattlesnakes and other native snake species.”

If you do encounter

—Alyssa Hoekstra, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Native Herpetology Coordinator

a rattlesnake, the following tips can help you—and others—stay safe:

Remain calm and stay at least ten feet from the snake. Make sure to give it plenty of space. If the snake is in the middle of the trail, step off the trail and go around it. Do not try to kill the snake. Doing so is illegal and greatly increases the chance that the snake will bite you. Do not throw anything at the snake (rocks, sticks, etc.). Rattlesnakes may move toward you as they attempt to flee.

• Alert other people to the snake’s location. Advise them to use caution and to avoid getting close to the snake. Keep children and pets away. If you hear a rattle, try to locate where the sound is coming from before you react, so you don’t step closer to the snake or on top of it.

There is no need to kill a rattlesnake for fear of its return to an area. If you do repeatedly see a rattlesnake in a problematic area or if you encounter a rattlesnake in a public park, yard or play area, you can contact the nearest DWR office to report it.

Helping prevent rattlesnake encounters with dogs

To avoid conflicts between dogs and rattlesnakes, keeping your dog on a leash is highly recommended—especially when you hike during the late spring and early summer months. Allowing your dog to roam without a leash increases the likelihood of a rattlesnake encounter. You can also do rattlesnake aversion training for your dog, which can help them learn to avoid rattlesnakes.

Pet owners should also be aware that not all emergency veterinary hospitals keep antivenom at their facilities. Be sure to check with the emergency veterinary hospitals in your area to learn which locations keep antivenom in stock, so you know ahead of time where to take your pet if it’s bitten by a rattlesnake.

What to do if you or someone you are with is bitten by a rattlesnake

Rattlesnake bites are a serious medical emergency and require getting medical attention at a hospital as soon as possible. Rattlesnake bites in the U.S. are seldom deadly, especially when the appropriate medical care is received.

If you are bitten by a rattlesnake:

• Do not attempt to suck the venom from the wound—this can introduce bacteria from your mouth to the bite and can increase the risk of infection.

• Do not apply heat, cold or a tourniquet to the bite; these steps may increase the risk of tissue damage.

• The best course of action is to remain calm and immediately go to the nearest hospital.

If you regularly recreate in areas outside of cell phone service, you may want to consider invest-

ing in a satellite phone for emergencies.

Keeping rattlesnakes out of your yard

Depending on where you live, you may occasionally find a snake in your yard. Here are some useful tips to help keep rattlesnakes out of your yard:

Reduce the number of places that provide snakes with shelter. Brush, wood, rock and junk piles are all things you should eliminate from your yard.

Control rodent populations: Bird feeders may draw rodents to yards, which in turn can attract snakes.

Block off crawl spaces. Large holes underneath sheds and porches can provide shelter for rattlesnakes.

Don’t leave standing water in your yard. Rattlesnakes may come to water sources, especially during drought years.

Identifying a rattlesnake Gopher snakes (also referred to as bull snakes and blow snakes) are very abundant in Utah. They are often mistaken for rattlesnakes due to similarities

in their appearance and behavior. When alarmed, gopher snakes hiss loudly, flatten their heads into a triangular shape, curl their bodies into an S-like shape and vibrate their tails.

A rattlesnake's tail is wide and blunt—and tipped with a rattle, hence the name. A gopher snake's tail is slender, pointed and lacks a rattle. However, rattlesnakes may lose their rattles or sometimes may not rattle when they are disturbed. Do not count on a rattlesnake to reveal its presence by rattling.

Rattlesnakes also have broad, triangularshaped heads and vertical eye pupils, while non-venomous snakes in Utah tend to have longer snouts and round pupils. If you cannot identify a snake you encounter, the best course of action is to move away and treat the snake as if it were venomous.

You can get additional rattlesnake safety tips on the Wild Aware Utah website. You can also listen to the DWR Wild podcast to learn more information about rattlesnakes in Utah.

—Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Bryce:

On March 17, Bryce Canyon National Park announced it welcomed 1,967,367 recreation visits in 2025, reflecting the implementation of a more precise and refined visitor counting method that will significantly enhance future planning and park management.

Bryce Cont'd from A1

and identified an opportunity to improve accuracy. Previously, visitation figures were based on total boardings of park shuttle buses. Since some visitors board shuttles multiple times during their visit, this approach overestimated visitation. Beginning with 2025 data, the park counted only unique passengers entering via shuttle, providing a clearer and more accurate picture of visitor numbers.

As a result of this improved accuracy, the official 2025 visitation number shows an adjustment from the previous count of 2,498,075 visits in 2024. However, when calculated using the former counting method based on total shuttle boardings, 2025 visitation would have been reported as 2,437,461—reflecting just a modest 2.4% change from the prior year.

2025 Visitation Highlights

1,967,367 recreation visits

• 11,606,250 visitor hours spent in the park

• 153,741 overnight stays Visitation figures and trends help guide how the National Park Service manages parks to ensure the best possible experience for visitors. The Visitation Statistics Dashboard on NPS.gov provides recreation visit data for every park in the U.S. for 2025 and previous years—dating back to 1979 for some parks. Of the 433 parks in the National Park System, 406 reported visitation in 2025.

With at least one in every state, national parks throughout the country provide a wide range of opportunities for recreation and inspiration for visitors of all ages. For an in-depth look at 2025 visitation, including individual park figures, please visit the NPS Social Science web site. —National Park Service

North Creek Escalante: I believe the world can be changed through food practices. It starts with how we source and prepare food.

North Creek Escalante

Cont'd from A1

spent the past decade with the Caputo’s family through A Priori Specialty Foods Importing & Distribution. Kawakami spent more than two decades in kitchens, most recently as executive chef at Post Office Place, where his menu traveled widely and changed often. During that time, the restaurant received two nominations from the James Beard Foundation and was named one of Utah’s best restaurants multiple times by Salt Lake Magazine.

The two met while working in restaurants, and over time, the idea of opening a place of their own started to take shape.

Kawakami got his start as a prep cook and dishwasher while studying philosophy at the University of Utah and stayed, building a career in kitchens. He said his approach to cooking was shaped early on by his mother.

“I cook like I like to eat, which is just all over the world,” he said.

The menu reflects that, moving across different places and traditions, balancing the familiar with the unexpected. Variety, he said, is part of the point.

Kawakami said the goal is to keep that level of thoughtfulness without making the food feel out of reach. “I like food to be disarming,” he said. “Especially food that can be perceived as fancy.” At Post Office Place, he served a ceviche tucked inside a resealed bag of Taki chips during a multicourse tasting dinner.

For both Starr and Kawakami, the food starts with sourcing. Starr, through her work with Caputo’s, has built relationships with producers around the world, shap-

ing how they approach the menu. “I believe the world can be changed through food practices,” she said. “It starts with how we source and prepare food.”

That shows up in the ingredients they choose.

The pork chop on the menu comes from Olympia Provisions in Oregon, a producer known for wholeanimal butchery and strict sourcing standards. The peach ice cream is made from fruit grown from a pit Kawakami planted himself, and the quince mole comes from fruit he harvested and preserved from friends’ trees in the fall.

They’re also working to source locally where possible, including with growers like Rabbitbrush Farm in Escalante, keeping the menu flexible. “If someone shows up with something great,” Starr said, “we’ll use it.”

Opening a restaurant of their own had long been the goal. They had planned to do that in Salt Lake and were close to signing on a space when COVID-19 hit. “It really changed our focus,” Kawakami said. “They stepped back and started thinking about where and how they wanted to live and work.

“We’d fallen in love in the desert,” Starr said. “We got married in Bears Ears. We’ve hiked so many canyons around here.”

Starr grew up in Salt Lake City, but her family is from southern Utah, and she spent time in Kanarraville and Cedar City growing up.

“The red rocks have always been part of my soul,” she said.

In 2021, they built a home near Kodachrome Basin State Park and got to know Joette Rex and her son, Adam Rex, a contractor who helped build it.

The property at Slot Canyons Inn, including the restaurant, has long been

Samantha Starr, co-manager of North Creek Escalante

part of the Rex family, built and run by Joette and her late husband, Jeff Rex. Kawakami had met Adam nearly a decade earlier through an old high school friend, when Adam joked about him moving south to open a restaurant. Adam and his wife, Kristen Rex, first operated the restaurant, laying the groundwork for what it is today. When Joette reached out last year, the couple revisited a longstanding business plan and decided to move forward.

Running a restaurant in a rural setting has required adjustments, from sourcing ingredients to managing a small team of eight. “Cooking in a city is one thing,” Kawakami said. “Cooking out here is a different animal.”

Wayne Commission: Approval of Resolution 25-02, imposing a 0.30% local option sales and use tax to fund public safety; approval of a letter of support for Torrey City’s splash pad grant application; approval of an outdoor recreation grant application to help complete the ballfield next to the Wayne County Fairgrounds; and approval of economic development grants totaling $103,454 for Johnson Saddlery, Ant Hill RV Park, Black Sheep Blooms, Desert Blossoms Daycare, GAC Customs and Little Wayne Wonders discussed.

Wayne Commission

Cont'd from A1

separately approved an outdoor recreation grant application to help complete the ballfield next to the Wayne County Fairgrounds. The roughly $238,000 project would be funded through a grant and matching funds from the Wayne County Special Service District, with no impact to the county’s general fund.

The commission also approved six economic development grants totaling $103,454 for Johnson Saddlery, Ant Hill RV Park, Black Sheep Blooms, Desert Blossoms Daycare, GAC Customs and Little Wayne Wonders. The reimbursementbased grants are expected to support eleven fulltime, nine part-time and five seasonal jobs. Commissioners said zoning and licensing requirements must be verified before reimbursements are issued.

In other business, the commission approved 2025 Board of Equalization dates of Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, accepted conflict-of-interest disclosure forms, approved additional grant-writing support tied to recreation projects, and renewed its co-

operative extension agreement with Utah State University before moving into a budget review.

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

Support from the community has come quickly. Starr said people have stepped in to help, including the manager at Hell’s Backbone Grill, who helped install their pointof-sale system and showed up with banana bread and fresh butter. Others have pitched in as well, including Nina and Tony at Boulder Mountain Lodge, who built a host stand ahead of opening night.

In addition to the patio,

North Creek Escalante’s main dining room is tucked inside, with thoughtful place settings and work from friends and Utah artists displayed throughout the space. A large, dramatic painting of a bison’s eye, looking over the monument—by Boulder artist Tony Jacobsen—anchors the dining room.

For Starr and Kawakami, the focus is simple: build something that fits the area, a place people can

return to again and again. As they put it, it’s about “serving what is good at its best.” The restaurant is located at 3984 W Ephriam's Camp Rd, Escalante, Utah 84726 It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. To view the current menu and make a reservation go to www.northcreekescalante. com.

The North Creek Escalante restaurant has recently reopened under new management—Samantha Starr and chef Brendan Kawakami, who bring years of experience from Salt Lake City. In addition to a patio space, the main dining room of the restaurant is tucked inside, with thoughtful place settings and work from friends and Utah artists displayed throughout the space. A large, dramatic painting of a bison’s eye (above), looking over the monument—by Boulder artist Tony Jacobsen—anchors the dining room.

Kathryn Chamberlain

Wills, Trusts, and More

Dirty Garage and Estate Planning

What does cleaning a dirty garage have to do with estate planning?

It’s spring. I love spring, except for one flaw. I know my wife will request that I join her in cleaning the garage as part of our spring-cleaning.

As I clean the garage, I can think of three similarities to estate planning.

First - Most of us would prefer to procrastinate cleaning the garage.

This is true with estate planning as well. An AARP study found that approximately 60% of the adults in the United States have not done any estate planning. A Forbes report confirmed that almost half the adults age 55 and older do not have a will or trust.

Second - Most of us like a clean garage.

by Jeffery J. McKenna

I have served clients as an estate planning attorney for 25 years. I have met few people that want to leave a mess for those they love upon their death. It is one thing to leave a messy garage. It is much worse to leave a messy estate, upon your death, to those you love.

Third - Even though cleaning the garage takes time, effort and work, we feel a keen sense of accomplishment when it is completed.

I have done over 4,500 estate plans. I can recall hundreds of comments from clients upon the signing of their documents. They repeatedly state that is was much easier than

they anticipated and how great it feels to now have a will and trust for their affairs.

Yes, estate planning does require us to “clean up” our affairs. However, I believe you will find it a lot easier and more rewarding than cleaning the garage.

It’s spring. I will be cleaning my garage. When I finish, I will be glad my wife “strongly encouraged” me to get it done.

If you or someone you know, has a messy or old or NO estate plan, strongly encourage them to “clean it up.”

They will likely find it more fulfilling and less painful than cleaning the garage this spring.

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

Art Collector

A wealthy art collector called an artist and said, "I've just bought one of your paintings, but I have one question."

The artist, eager to hear the question, asked, "What is it?"

The wealthy collector inquired, "Why is the paint still wet?"

The artist chuckled and said, "Well, you said you wanted one of my freshest works!"

No Beans About It

During a family dinner, a little girl said, "Dad, I've noticed you've been eating a lot of beans these past few months."

The dad looked at her and replied with a grin, "Well honey, I've been trying to toot my own horn without making any noise!"

Ice Cream Parlor

In a small-town ice cream parlor, a boy licked his cone and made a face.

The shopkeeper asked, "What's wrong, son? Not sweet enough?"

The boy, looking thoughtful, replied, "No, it's not that. I was trying to figure out if this is chocolate or super dark vanilla!"

The shopkeeper chuckled, "Well, that's a flavor mystery for the ages!"

The boy nodded, "I'll be back tomorrow with my detective kit!"

THEME: 21st Century Songs

ACROSS 1. Smacks 6. Marketing pop-ups 9. Kindred

Jeopardy

Dog foot 15. Threefold 16. Throat dangler 17. Mogul rider 18. Right-hand page 19. *Lady Gaga: "You and me could write a bad ____"

21. *Missy Elliott: "Get Ur ____ ____"

23. Exclamation of disgust

24. At the apex

25. Pérignon of champagne fame

28. Two-masted vessel

30. Cast out

35. Larger-than-life

37. Electrical resistance units

39. Star bursts

40. Silicate mineral

41. Alexander, for short

43. ____ of the valley

44. Sushi option

46. Alpine lift

47. Impose a tax

48. Forward and email, e.g.

50. Made in Vegas

52. Siren's domain

53. Cajole

55. *Drake: "I need a ____ dance"

57. *Adele: "We could've had it all ____ in the deep" 61. *Olivia Rodrigo: "I got my ____..."

65. Earliest stage of sickness 66. Ribonucleic acid, acr.

Tipi, alt. sp. 69. Drugstore shampoo brand 70. Many, many moons 71. Witchy

Dogs

Two dogs met at a park. One says to the other, "Do we go to the same church? You look familiar."

The other dog tilts its head, "I think you're confusing church with the local butcher's shop. Their bones are divine!"

Shower Thoughts

If you’re considering the possibility of working in a prison library, consider both the prose and the cons.

Pigeons

A mother was talking to her friend, "My son is such a very nice boy. Just yesterday, he helped an old lady bark at some pigeons!" The friend looked confused, "Bark?" The mother nodded, "Yes, he said it was more effective than shooing them away!"

____ Prescott of Dallas Cowboys

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF SUMMONS

SUMMONS TO: THE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN DEFENDANT’S JOHN DOES I-V. VICTOR SEBASTIAN VALDES is seeking quiet title to himself and against you and any other person claiming an interest in the following land located in Garfield County, State of Utah:

PARCEL 1: BEGINNING AT A POINT N89°42’44”W 178.61 FEET FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 35 SOUTH, RANGE 7 WEST, SLB&M. SAID POINT BEING ON THE NORTH SECTION LINE; THENCE DEPARTING SAID SECTION LINE RUNNING S00°36’07” E 29.77 FEET; THENCE S89°07’04” W. 438.61 FEET; THENCE N00°38’54” E 29.00 FEET; THENCE S89°02’35” W 50.26

FEET TO A POINT ON THE WEST LINE OF THE NE ¼ OF THE NW ¼ OF THE NE ¼ OF SAID SECTION; RUNNING THENCE N00°52’00 W ALONG SAID WEST LINE 10.81 FEET TO THE NORTHWEST 1/64 SECTION CORNER; THENCE DEPARTING SAID 1/64 SECTION CORNER; THENCE DEPARTING SAID 1/64 CORNER RUNNING S89°42’44” E ALONG THE NORTH SECTION LINE TO 488.34 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING AND CONTAINING 0.36 ACRES. PARCEL 2: BEGINNING AT A POINT N89°42’44”W ALONG THE NORTH SECTION LINE 178.61 AND S00°36’07”E ALONG THE WEST LINE OF HAYCOCK CREEK SUBDIVISION 673.11 FEET FROM THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 35 SOUTH, RANGE 7 WEST, SLB&M. RUNNING THENCE S00°36’07”E 136.43 FEET TO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF FALLS AREA SUBDIVISION. RUNNING THENCE S88°22’59” W ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID SUBDIVISION 484.54 FEET TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID SUBDIVISION SAID POINT ALSO BEING ON THE WEST LINE OF THE NE ¼ OF THE NW ¼ OF THE NE ¼ OF SAID SECTION; RUNNING THENCE N00°52’00”W ALONG SAID WEST LINE 143.40 FEET; THENCE DEPARTING SAID WEST LINE RUNNING N89°12’27”E 485.13 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING AND CONTAINING 1.56 ACRES.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2026

MARCH 26 COMMISSION MEETING CANCELED

TORREY PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

Torrey Planning and Zoning Commission's March meeting originally scheduled for March 26 at 6:30 p.m. is hereby canceled. The meeting will be rescheduled for April 2nd.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 19 & 26, 2026

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TORREY PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

The Torrey Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on April 2nd at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of taking public comments regarding amendments to the town's Annexation Policy Plan. The hearing will be at the Torrey Town Hall, Bay 1, 75 E 100 N, Torrey, Utah. A digital copy of the document may be requested by emailing <karen@torreyutah.gov>

Comments may be made in person at the hearing or may be submitted in writing or by email no later than 5:00 p.m. April 2nd.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 19 & 26, 2026

MEETING NOTICE - CHANGE OF DATE

TORREY PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

The Torrey Planning & Zoning Commission will hold its rescheduled meeting on April 2nd at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Torrey Town Hall, Bay 1, 75 E 100 N, Torrey, Utah. The agenda and remote access information will be posted on the Torrey Town website "torreyutah.gov"

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 19 & 26, 2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office is currently in possession of unclaimed property held for more than 90 days, for which ownership is undetermined, or we have not been able to contact the owner.

This was property seized as evidence and is no longer needed, property held for safekeeping, and/or found property where the owner is unknown. Property consists of: Black/Blue Backpack, Cameras, Trailer Breakaway system, Holy Bible, Knife, keys, Purple Motorola Cellphone, Gloves, Purple Baseball mitt with "Rocco" stitching. Garfield County Sheriff's Office issues notices to known owners of property or their beneficiary/heir: Dominic Thompson, Kevin Shakespeare, Dylan Lesuer, Kacy Cronin, Derrick Edwards, Brecken Zieber, Jaquelyn Brooks, Curtis Heisler, Patricia Browning, Jens Munthe, Thomas Stevens, McKay Hafen, William Dunham, Kaden Talbot, Joshua Svedin, Freemon Burbank Jr, Adrain Romero Dean Wilson, Kyle Bushnell, Jaxon Larsen, Jose Casillas, Pamela Clay

The above-named individuals must contact Sgt. Tom Talbot to claim property belonging to the listed persons. We have additional property where the owners are not known, therefore not listed. Pursuant to Utah State Code 77-11d-105, if the abovedescribed property is not claimed by April 20, 2026, at 12 PM, it will be disposed of or prepared to be sold. If you believe the Garfield County Sheriff's Office has property belonging to you, contact Sgt. Tom Talbot at 435-676-1126.

Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MARCH 19 & 26, 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 Apr. 22, 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)

97-2550 (A85078): State of Utah School & Institutional Trust Lands propose(s) using 1.008 ac-ft. from groundwater (4 Miles south of Ticaboo) for STOCKWATERING.

CHANGE APPLICATION(S)

97-2549 (a54279): Steven M. Gessig Revocable Trust propose(s) using 13 ac-ft. from groundwater (Escalante) for IRRIGATION.

97-2212 (a54281): Robinson Hensel Revocable Trust propose(s) using 0.75 ac-ft. from groundwater (Black Boulder Mesa Subdivision) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION.

IRON COUNTY

EXTENSION(S)

61-658 (a20557): John W. and Sonja S. Brouwers is/are filing an extension for 0.01785 cfs OR 0.34 ac-ft. from the 3 Underground Water Wells and 8 Springs (East of Cedar Breaks N.M.) for DOMESTIC; STOCKWATERING.

Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E., State Engineer

Calassified ds

Construction / Maintenance Mechanic / Truck Driver Wayne County Road Department

Position

• Qualified applicants must possess the ability to perform entry level - construction, repair, maintenance, and upkeep of county roads, bridges, culverts

• And flood channels.

• Understanding of regulations relating to chemical storage and application, (training provided.)

Minimum Qualifications

• Utah Commercial Driver’s License (Willing to get a license)

Entry-level knowledge of;

• General maintenance and construction,

• Vehicle repair and specialized equipment operations.

General Purpose

This is an entry-level position, which includes job training and experience. The position will report directly to the Wayne County Road Foreman and Supervisor. Wayne County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to political, religious or labor organization affiliation or non-affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, age, national origin, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap. Applications can be picked up at the Wayne County Clerk's Office. Please include cover letter and resume. Job is open until filled. Call the Wayne County Clerk's Office at 435-836-1300 with any questions.

Utah Connection

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 conditions Mon, Tues, Thurs 7:00 - 8:30 pm Register at namiut.org

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

• Full-Time SpEd Teacher at Escalante Elementary & High School

• Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at Panguitch Elementary School

• Para-Professional at Escalante Elementary School

• Para-Professional at Panguitch Elementary School

• Substitutes for Teachers, Custodians, and Food Service Workers SALARY: Please see 2025-2026 Garfield County School Districts Classified, District Office, and Certified Salary Schedules on the district website.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be fingerprinted and satisfactorily pass an employment background check.

Garfield County School District is an equal opportunity employer. Garfield County School District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications.

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

FOR RENT

Equipment Operator

The Garfield County Public Works Department is accepting applications for an Equipment Operator

Applicants must reside in the Bryce Valley Area and be able to pass a preemployment drug test. A valid Commercial Driver’s License is preferred.

Newly Renovated 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Unit located at 209 E. 100 S. Bicknell. $1250/month. Miguel at 801-870-9381.

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

The only requirement is the desire to stop drinking. sudoku

Answers for this week

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

Applications are available at the Garfield County Courthouse, 55 South Main St., Panguitch or online at garfield.utah.gov.

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 P.M., Friday, March 27th, 2026, to the Clerk’s Office. For questions, contact the Public Works Department at (435) 676-1101

Full-Time Dentist

Bicknell / Escalante

Position: Full Time Dentist

Location: Bicknell, UT / Escalante, UT

Company: Wayne Community Health Center, Inc

About us: Wayne Community Health Center is a reputable dental clinic committed to providing high-quality oral healthcare services to our community. We strive for excellence in patient care, utilizing the latest technology and techniques to ensure optimal dental health and satisfaction. Bicknell, UT is situated in a picturesque valley surrounded by the stunning red rock formations and expansive desert landscapes characteristic of southern Utah. It is located along Utah State Route 24, providing convenient access to nearby national parks and outdoor recreational areas. The landscape surrounding our clinic is nothing short of spectacular, with towering sandstone cliffs, colorful rock formations, and wide-open vistas stretching as far as the eye can see. We enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and mesas, providing ample opportunities for outdoor exploration and photography. Escalante, UT is a small town nestled in the heart of southern Utah, surrounded by stunning red rock landscapes and rugged wilderness. Located within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, it's a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers seeking to explore the natural wonders of the region. Whether you're an avid hiker, a nature photographer, or simply someone seeking solitude in the wilderness, Bicknell & Escalante provide a gateway to unforgettable adventures in one of the most beautiful and unspoiled corners of the United States.

Job Description: We are seeking a skilled and compassionate dentist to join our team, willing to possibly relocating to our service area. The ideal candidate will be dedicated to providing exceptional patient care and possess excellent clinical skills. This position offers the opportunity to work in a facility alongside a supportive team of dental professionals.

Responsibilities:

• Perform routine dental procedures such as cleanings, fillings, extractions, and root canals

• Diagnose and treat dental issues in a timely and efficient manner

• Educate patients on proper oral hygiene techniques and preventive dental care

• Collaborate with other members of the dental team to ensure the best possible patient outcomes

• Maintain accurate patient records and uphold high standards of confidentiality

• Stay updated on advancements in dentistry and participate in continuing education opportunities

Requirements:

• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited dental school

• Valid state dental license in good standing

• Proven experience in general dentistry, preferably in a clinical setting

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment

• Dedication to providing compassionate care and building lasting relationships with patients Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience

• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life insurance, retirement savings plan, with a 5% match, and paid time off

• Disability insurance 50% covered

• Malpractice insurance covered

• Licensure and credentialing are covered

• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education offered

• Supportive work environment with a focus on work-life balance

How to apply: If you are interested in joining our team, please submit your resume and cover letter to AmberLee Ellett, aellett@waynechc.org

Wayne Community Health Center, inc is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We look forward to hearing from you!

Maintenance Mechanic / Noxious Weed Control

Wayne County Road Department

- Work well with others

• Qualified applicants must possess the ability to perform entry level - construction, repair, maintenance, and upkeep of county roads, bridges, culverts and flood channels.

• Knowledge and qualifications to locate and treat noxious weeds and operation of

• Weed-mosquito abatement spraying equipment. Understanding of regulations relating to chemical storage and application (training provided).

• Some mosquito abatement duties may require working evenings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Utah Commercial Drivers License

• Willingness and ability to obtain chemical applicator licensing Entry-level knowledge of;

• General maintenance and construction,

• Vehicle repair and specialized equipment operations.

General Purpose

This is an entry-level position, which includes job training and experience. The position will report directly to the Wayne County Road Foreman and Supervisor. Wayne County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to political, religious or labor organization affiliation or non-affiliation, marital status, race, color, sex, age, national origin, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap.

Applications can be picked up at the Wayne County Clerk's Office. Please include cover letter and resume. Job is open until filled. Call the Wayne County Clerk's Office at 435-836-1300 with any questions.