Join R6 AAA for Free Caregiver Conference in Richfield, May 20
RICHFIELD - On Wednesday, May 20, join the R6 Area Agency on Aging for a free inspiring and resourceful upcoming Caregiver Conference at the R6 Regional Council Building at 82 East 600 North in Richfield from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a speaker from the AARP, and then lunch will be served. This conference is designed for those who dedicate their time and energy to supporting others. Whether you are a professional caregiver, healthcare worker, or caring for a loved one at home, this event offers valuable tools to strengthen your skills and sustain your well-being.
Attendees will gain insight on practical caregiving tips, dementia awareness, brain health,
The Mountain Mobile Offers Free Trail
Wheelchair Tours in Bryce Canyon
BRYCE - Attendees to Bryce Canyon National Park may see a new sight on many of the trails this summer. Cody Dotson, also known as “The Mountain
during their annual migrations—and enjoy the fun challenge of trying to identify them.
UTAH - Spring is here, which means wildlife migrations are in full swing in Utah. Birdwatching is a great opportunity to get outdoors and see a wide variety of birds during their annual migrations—and enjoy the fun challenge of trying to identify them. Whether you are a bird-watching enthusiast or just like being outside in nature, here are some events to check out and several other great places to see migrating birds in
Utah this spring: EVENTS
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
The 28th annual Great Salt Lake Bird Festival is an exciting opportunity to see and learn more about birds in Utah. Sponsored by Davis County, this event will take place May 1417 at locations around the Wasatch Front. The festival offers a variety of birding field trips, some of which Bird-Watching Cont'd on A4
Mobile”, uses a functional prototype trail wheelchair to offer free tours along single track trails in the area to help those with disabilities experience the
BLM Seeks Input on Travel Routes in the San Rafael Swell and Desert Areas
PRICE - The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on proposed changes to motorized vehicle route designations within the San Rafael Swell and Desert travel management area plans in central Utah. The BLM is reassessing whether certain routes currently designated as closed to off-highway vehicles (OHVs) should be changed to open or limited. The process will continue to be informed by agency specialists, cooperating agencies, and the public.
In the San Rafael Swell Travel Management
beauty of nature in and around the national park.
Inspired after his close friend was injured a few years ago and was temporarily confined to a
wheelchair, Dotson realized how limited the options are for those with
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WAYNE CO. - The Wayne County Commission moved through a short agenda during its May 4 meeting. Commissioners approved letters of support for Lyman Town and Loa Town as both communities pursue funding for master recreation plans. The commission also approved a letter supporting Thousand Lakes Lumber’s application for the Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program. Commissioners said the grant support could help strengthen the local timber industry and reduce wildfire risk. “The timber industry, it needs all the help it can get to get revitalized,” Commissioner Blackburn said.
The commission approved a special event permit for the Top of Zion Relay on June 12. The
Wayne Commission Cont'd on B3
PAGE, ARIZ. - The LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation voted unanimously in February to pass a resolution opposing the City of Page’s decision last year to sell 500 acres of recreational land for a $10 billion data center development. The proposed development site borders the LeChee Chapter, a home to the internationally popular tourist destination of Antelope Canyon. Chapters are political subdivisions of the Navajo Nation that operate on a democratic basis.
LeChee resident Teyana Begay staged protests
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“People come to visit for the beauty,” said LeChee Chapter President Irene Whitekiller. “We just want nature, the land, and water. We don’t need a data center.”
Courtesy Cody Dotson
Data Center: People come to visit for the beauty. We just want nature, the land, and water. We don’t need a data center.
—Irene Whitekiller, LeChee Chapter President Data Center
in Page opposing the data center and said, “Not only will the data center destroy native plants, it will destroy memories we have on this land, which we use to ride horses, dirt bikes, quads, and walk our dogs.”
The resolution states that “the lack of transparency from the City of Page about risks of harm and environmental impact on Navajo people is not being considered in this business transaction.”
Residents and chapter leaders worry that the data center will draw water from Page’s water system, which comes from the shrinking Lake Powell, or tap into sparse groundwater sources.
“Our people, from LeChee east to highway 98, we live without water, we live without electricity,” Whitekiller said.
Navajo Safe Water, a multi-agency coalition, estimates 37,000 people on the Navajo Nation, including many LeChee residents, live without piped water in their homes.
Page is surrounded by Navajo Nation to the east and south, and residents from towns like Gap, LeChee, and Kaibito, drive to Page to haul water from the Marathon gas station.
“Hauling water is hard on vehicles, especially for residents who have to drive up to 60 miles on sandy roads,” Whitekiller said.
As of April 2026, Lake Powell is 23% full, and Glen Canyon Dam’s operators plan to stem releases and draw from upstream reservoirs to keep the reservoir from dropping below minimum power pool, when the dam would no longer be able to produce electricity.
Page’s city website says that “no water source has been identified,” and “the developer is responsible for securing a water supply.”
The data center operator’s identity is obscured by a non-disclosure agreement, but the developer is a U.K. company, Huntley LLC. In a public presentation, the firm said, “We want to be good neighbors.”
But neither the firm nor Page officials consulted with or informed LeChee residents and leaders about the project. LeChee residents found out through Facebook posts and Page residents reaching out. The chapter’s resolution also states that “officials have attempted to get further information and have not been met with favor nor any answers to requests.”
Nor did the city con-
Beth Henshaw
Irene Whitekiller, LeChee Chapter President, standing in front of the LeChee Chapter House. The LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation voted unanimously in February to pass a resolution opposing the City of Page’s decision last year to sell 500 acres of recreational land for a $10 billion data center development. The proposed development site borders the LeChee Chapter, a home to the internationally popular tourist destination of Antelope Canyon.
sult with the Navajo Nation, even though the parcel lies just outside its boundaries. Page’s website justifies this by saying that since the potential project area is located entirely within the city’s boundaries and jurisdiction, “no separate governmental approvals or consultations outside the City’s jurisdiction were required as part of that action.”
Relations between the City of Page and Navajo Nation have a long history of strain.
Until the 1950s, the current land on which Page sits was within the Navajo Nation. “It was quiet and peaceful. People moved their livestock here, camped out, and used the water,” said Whitekiller. In 1958, the Bureau of Reclamation gave the Navajo Nation a tract of land in southeastern Utah in exchange for the 24-squaremile parcel in Arizona that would become the site for Glen Canyon Dam and Page.
The settlement was constructed rapidly to house workers on the dam and over time became the gateway community for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell. But it is also a reservation border town and has been plagued with some of the same problems.
In 2002, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued current Mayor Steve Kidman and his father, Richard Kidman, for prohibiting Navajo employees from speaking their native language at the Kidmans’ restaurant, R&D’s. The Court ordered the Kidmans to rescind the English language policy and prohibited them from engaging in further discrimination or retaliation.
The opposition to the data center in Page is part of a wider backlash against
AI and the server farms that power it. From Tucson, to Virginia, to Maine, residents have pushed back against the facilities’ outsized water and power use, the effect on utility rates, and noise, light, and air pollution from the buildings themselves. And, once the infrastructure is in place, the centers offer a relatively small number of permanent jobs. According to Bloomberg, about half of the data centers slated to open in the US in 2026 will either face delays or cancellations due to supply chain issues and public opposition.
In Oregon, residents of Morrow and Umatilla counties filed a class action lawsuit against Amazon alleging the water used to cool their data center contaminated the groundwater with toxic levels of nitrate, which has been linked to rare cancers and increased miscarriages. Amazon denied the allegations, but agreed to pay a $20.5 million settlement to residents this spring.
“What kind of illnesses will the data center bring?” Whitekiller wondered. “Our people are dying from cancer and dementia. We suffer birth defects because uranium mines on our lands have never been cleaned up.”
On March 25, 2026
Senator Bernie Sanders (IVt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) introduced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center Moratorium Act, legislation that would pause the development of AI and new data centers to ensure the safety of humanity.
“We have seen ICE partner with AI companies to surveil Americans, social media users employ AI bots to create sexually explicit deepfakes of women and children, and data center construction inflate electric bills in communities across
the country. And all of this harm has occurred because of the absence of federal legislation to regulate AI,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Indigenous leaders across the nation are at the forefront of the data center opposition movement. The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma just became the first tribe in the United States to unanimously pass a moratorium on data center development within its jurisdiction.
“My hope, my prayer, is that the stance we’ve taken will serve as a catalyst for all Indigenous communities to provide resistance to any kind of extractive developments that will harm their people, their communities, and this Earth,” said Mekusukey Band Representative Glen Chebon Kernell, who introduced the resolution.
Navajo Nation communities Coppermine and Kaibito passed resolutions similar to LeChee’s opposing the data center development in Page.
Honor the Earth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to Indigenous environmental justice, launched the No Data Center Coalition to track and oppose data centers built on or near native land.
According to the coalition’s website, “These companies target our resilient lands because they believe rural, coal-dependent communities lack the political power and financial resources to fight back. They bank on us being divided and overlooked. Data centers are the next frontline of water protection.”
This article was originally published on cornerpost.org on May 6, 2026.
Opinion
Why Grand Staircase-Escalante N.M. Relies on a Strong Management Plan
by Bob Stevenson | Utah News Dispatch
GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE
N.M. - I was a park ranger at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument for twenty-one of my thirty-six-year career.
Now I’m afraid that partisans in Congress will abuse the Congressional Review Act to overturn its management plan, dismiss the public’s voice in public land management, and corrupt the planning process across the country.
Like other national monuments, this one is beloved by people from every state. Recent polling shows that large majorities of Utah and Western voters, including a majority of Republicans, want to keep Grand Staircase-Escalante protected and whole. The current management plan also reflects years of close collaboration with the Grand Staircase-Escalante InterTribal Coalition, six tribes who united to advocate for the continued protection of the cultural and ecological resources within their ancestral homeland.
My own neighbors and friends depend on stable management of these lands. Some run guide services; others graze cattle on allotments within the monument. Our grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and motels are owned and staffed by people who live here. Multiple economic studies, as recent as January, confirm what we already know: communities like ours benefit greatly from the stability that a wellmanaged national monument provides.
Grand StaircaseEscalante is the original multi-use national monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Its current management plan protects the resources named in the monument’s proclamation while accommodating a genuine mix of uses: anyone can camp, hike, backpack, hunt, fish, and ride
OHVs on designated roads; scientists conduct research; cattle graze on allotments managed collaboratively by ranchers and BLM range specialists; cultural sites are protected; habitat for at least 660 species of bees is preserved; and dozens of previously unknown dinosaur species are being discovered here. Every modern land use involves trade-offs, but distributing a careful variety of uses across a whole landscape is precisely what multiple use management means, and this plan achieves that balance.
Park rangers are the bridge between the BLM and the visitors and land users: helping people plan trips, patrolling the backcountry, monitoring resources, leading volunteer stewardship projects, and interpreting desert ecology, human history and geologic time.
I often fielded questions from visitors like: Why do I have to pack out my poop when there are cows pooping everywhere? Why is there an oil field inside a national monument? Why do I need a camping permit on BLM land? Some conversations weren’t easy, but they were always friendly and thoughtful. Free overnight camping permits, which some have called “government overreach,” serve multiple purposes: they enhance public safety, provide valuable management data, and most importantly, create opportunities for real, face-to-face conversations between visitors, residents, and land managers. In twenty-one years, those conversations were universally appreciated. I thought of my work as “making friends for public lands.” It was fascinating, challenging, and deeply rewarding. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when stable management is thrown into chaos. The original management plan was 111 pages, clear enough that I could use it to explain our
practices and philosophy to anyone who asked. But the first Trump administration shrank the monument by 50%, sliced it into four separate units, stripped protection from numerous cultural, historical, and scientific resources, and produced a replacement plan of 660 pages across two volumes—so indecipherable that our staff never figured out how to communicate its reasoning to visitors or land users. It was a betrayal of my career and the job I was hired to do. I was relieved when the monument was restored with a coherent plan developed in accordance with relevant federal laws and input from local people, local governments, Tribal nations, various user groups, and Americans across Utah and nationally.
Using the Congressional Review Act to overturn this management plan—as proposed by Utah Sen. Lee and Rep. Celeste Maloy— is not reform, it’s a demolition that will upend the lives of communities, visitors, ranchers, and scientists who have learned to work within its framework, and will corrode intergovernmental trust with Indigenous tribes. It will also throw into question management plans for other land and water conservation areas across our United States.
This multi-use national monument sustains our local and state economy and inspires people from around the world—and it is our home. We live and work with the land, we don’t just take from it.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has a balanced, multi-use management plan carefully and lawfully crafted for everyone. Smashing it in a partisan vote contradicts the will of voters in Utah and nationwide.
This article was originally published on utahnewsdispatch.com on May 5, 2026.
Utah Homeless Services Board Briefed on 'High Utilizers' in Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITYOn May 5, the Utah Homeless Services Board received a detailed briefing on the impact of “high utilizers.” High utilizers is a term used to define the small group of individuals whose repeated interactions with shelters, law enforcement, courts and emergency medical services are driving significant system costs and overwhelming homeless services. These are also some of the most vulnerable Utahns, often living with complex trauma, untreated mental illness, addiction or some combination of all three.
The groundbreaking report focused on one thousand and twenty-one individuals in Salt Lake City with four or more arrests within a year. This group accounts for an estimated $51.1 million in annual system costs, including shelter, policing, court and medical expenses.
More than 75% of people in the high utilizer population (783 people) are ex-
periencing homelessness. The majority of them have cycled through the system for years and are stuck.
A deeper look at the data revealed that just 255 individuals, the top 25% of high utilizers, account for 50% of all arrests within the group, averaging 11 arrests per person annually. This group alone accounts for $16.1 million in yearly costs, underscoring the outsized impact this population has had on the broader homeless service system.
“Homelessness sits at the intersection of housing, healthcare, public safety, behavioral health and more,” said Nate Meinzer, assistant director of external operations for Utah's Office of Homeless Services. "Many times, these systems exist in silos. Somewhere in the space between them, Utahns in crisis are trying to find a way through. We want to connect people to the services they need to break the cycle."
The briefing highlight-
ed promising local efforts, including Salt Lake City’s Project Connect and Project RIO through the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association. These initiatives focus on the highest-frequency arrestees in the community. Early outcomes show that eight of the top fifty individuals engaged through Project Connect have had no further police contact after receiving coordinated support and intensive case management.
“Homelessness is a top priority for Governor Cox,” said Meinzer. "We have the data, we have models showing results and we have the leadership willing to act on both."
The Board is expected to use this data to continue discussions on coordinated strategies in the coming months. Governor Cox has outlined a three-pillar vision to confront this crisis, backed by nearly $45 million in new investment from the 2026 legislative session.
—Utah Department of Workforce Services
Bird-Watching:
If you want to do some bird-watching on your own this year, early mornings (between 6-9 a.m.) are great times to locate birds, since they tend to be very vocal and active during those hours. It’s also helpful to use binoculars and to have a bird identification book—or an online resource like eBird or Merlin—during your birding trip. Both can be very useful in identifying the different bird species you may see. Visit the DWR website for more bird-watching resources.
Bird-Watching
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will be led by DWR biologists and take place at DWR waterfowl management areas. The 3-day event will also offer other activities, including workshops, family events and a vendor fair. Visit the website and register in advance.
BIRD-WATCHING LOCATIONS
If you want to do some bird-watching on your own this year, early mornings (between 6-9 a.m.) are great times to locate birds, since they tend to be very vocal and active during those hours.
It’s also helpful to use binoculars and to have a bird identification book— or an online resource like eBird or Merlin—during your birding trip. Both can be very useful in identifying the different bird species you may see. Visit the DWR website for more bird-watching resources.
Northern Utah
• Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge: Visitors can enjoy a self-guided twelve-mile automobile tour at this national wildlife refuge and see a variety of birds that use the refuge as a migratory stopover. The tour route is open every day from sunrise to sunset. Find more details on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
• Antelope Island State Park: This is a great spot to see a variety of shorebirds that use the Great Salt Lake and is also home to burrowing owls.
• The Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve— along the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake between Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and the Antelope Island State Park Causeway—is a unique system of salt and fresh
water marshes, ponds, sloughs and mudflats. It is a rich feeding ground for tens of thousands of migrating birds.
• Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and the trails around the DWR’s George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Wildlife Education Center: Over 300 species migrate through the area each spring and fall. However, visitors should note that there are seasonal closures each year on parts of the WMA to protect nesting birds.
Mountain reservoirs: East Canyon, Hyrum, Echo and Pineview reservoirs are all great places to view common loons on their migration north to their breeding territories.
Central Utah
• Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge: This is arguably one of the best places to see birds in Utah.
Utah Lake State Park and the Provo River Delta: The park and the airport dike road, as well as the delta, are great places to see migrating birds. Young ducklings and goslings can often be seen in the Provo River and Utah Lake during late April and May.
River corridors and other wetland areas: The Provo River Trail, Spanish Fork River, Hobble Creek Trail and Jordan River Trails are also great bird-watching locations.
Northeastern Utah
• Ouray National Wildlife Refuge: This location also offers a self-guided nine-mile automobile tour that provides a great opportunity to view several different habitats and birds, especially from the observation tower. Find more details
on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
• Pelican Lake: This waterbody has a large diversity of waterfowl and migratory songbirds.
Red Canyon Overlook near Flaming Gorge: This area offers an opportunity to see some high-elevation birds. Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Area Mountain reservoirs: Big Sandwash, Matt Warner, Red Fleet and Steinaker reservoirs are great places to view migrating common loons. You can also often see pelicans at Matt Warner Reservoir this time of year. All of these reservoirs are ideal places to see small songbirds, as well, due to the variety of habitats they offer.
Southeastern Utah Mill Creek: This area near Moab is a great spot for viewing migrating birds. Desert Lake Waterfowl Management Area
• Scott and Norma Matheson Wetlands Preserve: This is a great area to see migrating birds. The main entrance is currently closed due to flooding, but visitors can still get in through the open back entrance. Parking details can be found on the website.
Southern Utah Lytle Nature Preserve Tonaquint Nature Center in St. George Quail Creek State Park
Sand Hollow State Park
Jackson Flat Reservoir in Kanab If you are interested in bird-watching from the comfort of your own home, you can find a few tips on the DWR website. —Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Public Input: The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on proposed changes to motorized vehicle route designations within the San Rafael Swell and Desert travel management area plans in central Utah. The BLM is reassessing whether certain routes currently designated as closed to off-highway vehicles (OHVs) should be changed to open or limited. The process will continue to be informed by agency specialists, cooperating agencies, and the public.
Public Input
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Plan, completed in 2024, the BLM designated about 1,355 miles of routes as open to OHV travel. The BLM also designated about 141 miles of routes as available for limited OHV use, and about 665 miles of routes as closed to OHVs. The BLM is considering opening/limiting approxi-
mately 226 miles in this area during the current reassessment.
In the San Rafael Desert Travel Management Plan, completed in 2020 and amended in 2022, the BLM designated about 600 miles of routes as open to OHV travel, 47 miles of routes as limited OHV use, and 534 miles of routes as closed to OHVs. The BLM is considering opening/ limiting approximately 20 miles in this area during the current reassessment. All current route designations for both plans will remain in effect during the reassessment process. If BLM concludes that any designations should change, the agency will issue new decisions amending the plans. Online area maps show routes the BLM is considering for redesignation. Additional information is available at the San Rafael Swell TMP and the San Rafael Desert TMP project pages, where comments may be submitted through the “Participate Now” options (preferred). Comments may also be delivered to: San Rafael TMP, 125 S 600 W, Price, UT 84501. Please include specific route numbers and/or Segment IDs in comments when possible. The comment period will close June 8, 2026. For more information, please contact BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Jaydon Mead at jmead@blm. gov or 435-636-3646. —Bureau of Land Management
Obituaries
Annette Olsen Elmer
LOA - With her loving husband by her side, a true and faithful daughter of heaven, Annette (Olsen) Elmer was released from the pain and suffering of this life and returned to her Heavenly Father, on Thursday April 30, 2026, at her home in Loa, Utah.
Annette was born on December 23, 1955, in Provo, Utah. She is the 4th child and only daughter of Lamar and June Olsen. Annette was born and raised in Orem, Utah, and was the light of her parents’ life. She met and married Steve Andersen on April 4, 1977; they were later divorced. They are the parents of their only child, Amy, who Annette adored. Annette worked much of her life in banking and finance having worked in management positions in a variety of credit unions and banks. She was a respected professional and well-known for her expertise in finance. She made many friends professionally and loved her work.
Annette met Mark Elmer, and they were married on March 26, 2016, and were sealed in the Manti Temple. Annette and Mark together were truly happy and made a wonderful life together living for a time in Eagle Mountain, Utah, then moving to Loa in southern Utah. They retired together there and promptly got back into the workforce when they purchased a small restaurant. Annette loved the business and loved cooking and preparing food for her customers. Annette always loved animals, and she doted on her dogs, chickens and cats and tended them with loving care and affection.
Annette and Mark loved being together; they loved to travel and did many road trips together. Her life in Loa with Mark was truly a delight and something she treasured.
Annette is survived by her husband, Mark, her daughter Amy (Tom) Andersen, her 4 brothers, Gary, Mike, Kelly and Jeff, and many nieces and nephews whom she loved. We will all miss Annette; we love her and cherish the time we had to spend with her.
The family wishes to express a sincere thank you to the many healthcare professionals, caregivers and hospice personnel who have selflessly and with great care given compassionate service to Annette during this ordeal.
Her funeral and internment were conducted in Eagle Mountain, Utah, on May 6th, 2026.
Watch the Soda Pipeline Facebook page for a forthcoming celebration of Annette's life. To be held at the "Dirty Soda" business Annette and Mark created together.
It’s good to be back home. We did have a wonderful time visiting friends and family. The weather was great, and it allowed us to do a lot of things outside. We went to the San Diego animal park. You take a tram to go around the park, and the area is really big; you can walk it, but it takes five hours. They have all kinds of plains animals, and they all stick to their groups. There are more parts to the park, and we are saving those till next time. We had a Mother’s Day dinner—with all of the mothers in my life, but one—at a Greek restaurant, and the food was great. There is so much to see that you could spend a long time there and still not see it all.
I had an incident that happened toward the end of the week. All of this is all because of timing. I have a friend that lives close to the resort, and we go out to lunch each year and talk about the good old days of the fire department. I called on Wednesday for a date the next day. His wife is in critical care with memory loss, and it is only a mile from where we were staying. He was going to pick me up at 11 in the morning, but he didn’t show. I called his home with no answer, so I went out to his place, which is on four acres. He was nowhere to be found, so I called the sheriff, and they came out but didn’t have any response either. They said that they couldn’t break in, and one of the sheriffs found his car driving down 101. He had given his car to his sister, who lives in that area. I woke up that night and thought that he might have a hideaway
FYI Panguitch COLUMN
key. I took my daughter, Kelly, and when we didn’t get a response, she went to his neighbor's house and got him to come. He pounded on his bedroom window and got a response from my friend that he needed help. Out came the sheriffs again; they called the fire department, and they broke open the door. My friend had fallen off a stool, hit his head, and laid on the floor for forty hours; he was a real mess. I felt like crying when they brought him out, and he was alive. He has a lot of things wrong and is going to need to stay in care for months.
Back in town, we have a new Mexican food place; it is where the the Flying Goat restaurant was. It is getting close to summer, and the town is coming to life. Summer's Kitchen is now open six days a week.
On the 23rd will be the city’s annual Giant Yard Sale on Main Street. This is the start of the Memorial Day weekend. The American Legion and helpers will be putting up the flags out at the cemetery. There will be a lot of little league baseball games going on, so come on out and root for your kids or grandkids.
For the month of May, the DUP is honoring Marianne Crofts. She is a descendant of the Henries, who were early settlers here in Panguitch. She has spent her life here in Panguitch and founded C Stop Pizza. As a hobby, she collects recipes. Give her a thank you for the many things that she has done to make the town better.
Being gone, I missed out on some of the sports. I did get a call from Coach Norris, and both the boys and girls won Region 20 down in Kanab. The boys had a score of 183 to Milford's 141. The girls had a whopping 205 to Valley’s 135. I do know that Max Albrecht won both hurdles and set a record in the 110 meters. State will be this weekend on the 15-16 at BYU. Because it is such a long way to go to get to the events, this may be our first time missing them in a long time. Saturdays are the days that you want to go down to southern California. We only had one slow down the whole trip, and we just set the cruise control to 80 and made our fastest way home. I have had only one day to catch up on what is going on in town. Hopefully, next week’s article will be a little more informative. Mack O.
State, Federal Agencies Recommend Emergency Drought Declaration
by Ben Winslow | FOX 13 News Utah
SALT LAKE CITY
- A group of state and federal agencies met on Thursday, May 7, to recommend Governor Spencer Cox make an emergency drought declaration for all of Utah.
The drought response committee, run under Utah's Department of Natural Resources, includes numerous government entities like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, Division of Water Resources and Division of Emergency Management. No one objected to the recommendation that the governor issue an emergency declaration.
In fact, the presentation on Thursday presented a bleak picture of the state's water situation.
"Ninety-five percent of our water does come from snowpack," said Laura Haskell, the drought coordinator for Utah's Division of Water Resources. "So having that cut back, we just aren’t getting that inflow to our reservoirs."
Utah is facing record low snowpack, low stream inflows, reservoirs will be stressed, and temperatures will be above average.
"By early next week, we’re looking at temperatures forecast in the low 90s along the Wasatch Front, and 100 in southwestern Utah in the St. George area, about 25 degrees above normal," said
Glen Merrill with NOAA, who added that aboveaverage temperatures are expected to last until fall.
This also means a wildfire season that could be bad for the state.
Warmer temperatures means reservoirs will be stressed. In parts of the state, agriculture producers are seeing their water rights cut back to 1853. That means anyone with water rights after that will not get as much. Farmers are choosing whether to plant crops or not.
The Great Salt Lake has already peaked, but it is not forecast to hit a record low this year because more water has been dedicated to it. Lake Powell, however, is in a bad situation with a million acrefeet of water forecast to flow in.
"It’s really bad. Like, we’re seeing conditions we’ve never experienced before as a state," Joel Ferry, the commissioner of Utah's Department of Natural Resources, told FOX 13 News. "And it’s statewide. So we’ve got to raise awareness, we’ve got to use less water, we’ve got to conserve and we’ve got to be smart with how we use this limited resource."
An emergency declaration frees up numerous resources and funding for agriculture, cities and others to help mitigate the impacts of drought. The Department of Natural Re-
sources has urged counties to make their own declarations. So far, Iron and San Juan counties have, but at least a dozen others are in the works.
FOX 13 News is told Gov. Cox is likely to issue the drought declaration later this month, timed to some actions by the Utah State Legislature. That's because during the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature rewrote emergency declaration laws to make them only good for thirty days. At the time, then-Governor Gary Herbert feuded with lawmakers who objected to his emergency health orders so they voted to limit their scope. In retaliation, Gov. Herbert issued new ones every thirty days. The legislature isn't feuding with the Cox administration and is largely supportive of drought declarations. However, to extend them beyond thirty days, lawmakers will need to meet in special session to vote to extend them.
Droughts last longer than thirty days.
This article was originally published on fox13now.com on May 8, 2026.
This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.
paid for by Dan Gardner for Utah House District 69
Dining Guide
Schools
Garfield County High School Graduating Classes of 2026
Panguitch High School Class of 2026
Escalante High School Class of 2026
Hunter Ashby
Ian Nelson Fanny Orvin
Jax Porter Kira Roberts
Taylie Carlisle Jaxen Cottam Kenyon Gurr
Courtesy Kobbi Brooks
Hunter Ashby, Taylie Carlisle, Jaxen Cottam, Kenyon Gurr, Ian Nelson, Fanny Orvin, Jax Porter, and Kira Roberts. Graduation will
Courtesy Sydnee Mecham
Panguitch High School Class of 2026. Graduation will take place in the Panguitch High School gym on Thursday, May 21st, at 5 p.m.
Schools and Sports
Garfield County High School Graduating Classes of 2026
Bryce Valley High School Class of 2026
Wayne County High School
Graduating Classes of 2026
Wayne High School Class of 2026
Courtesy Geneva Peterson
Wayne High School Class of 2026: Kaitlyn Allen, Oaklee Brian, Ethan Beecher, Brakehl Brown, Lacey Brown, Jake Chesnut, Skye Davis, Mateusz Drumm, Kyler Flores, Darrel Helkey, Dawson Giles, Miles Hinkle (Salutatorian), Madilynn Jacobson, Emma James, Stetsyn Lamb, Tristin Martinez, Zaylei Mattingly (not pictured), Gage New, Blake Peterson, Hunter Robins , Alejandro Rosales, Crosby Saign, Kai Sinclair (not pictured), Gracie Snedeger, Lexie Snedeger, Chloe Stewart, Karter Thomas, Bree Torgerson, Tylee Torgerson, Rhylie VanDyke, Miguel Whipple, Audrey White, and Timber Wood (Valedictorian). Graduation will take place at Wayne High School on Thursday, May 21st, at 6 p.m.
Bryce Valley High School Class of 2026: Back row: Mason Ahlstrom, Matthew Pollock, Antonio Moreno, Rodolfo Perez, Brayan Celaya, Rustyn Chynoweth: Front row: Annabella Vasquez, Carina Word, Taivee Corrales, Kira Platt, Maggie Harding, Cavry Brinkerhoff, Shya Holm, Treisy Ruiz, Johanna Felix, and Allie Chynoweth. Graduation will be at Bryce Valley High School on May 21, 2026, at 8 p.m.
Courtesy Samie Ott
Wayne Commission:
Letters of support for Lyman Town and Loa Town as both communities pursue funding for master recreation plans, a letter supporting Thousand Lakes Lumber’s application for the Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program, approval of a special event permit for the Top of Zion Relay on June 12, and plans to move forward with a county wage study discussed.
Wayne Commission Cont'd from A1
three-day, one-hundredand-ninety-five-mile day-and-night relay race involves teams of six to twelve runners traveling from Torrey to Zion. Officials said the event would primarily rely on Utah Highway Patrol for coordination and would not require county law enforcement support.
Wayne County Recorder-Treasurer Colleen Allen also updated commissioners on plans to move forward with a county wage study. Allen said consultant Mike Swallow with Personnel System and Services would help develop both a wage study and a struc-
tured pay schedule incorporating classification, training, longevity and merit considerations. The commission approved moving forward with the study.
Commissioners also approved payment of vouchers with several additions, including sheriff’s office and EMS-related expenses. Commissioners also held one voucher tied to a private property cleanup, saying county funds should not be used for individual private property issues or set a precedent for similar requests in the future. The meeting adjourned shortly after voucher approval.
The Wayne County Commission meets the first and third Monday of every month at the Wayne County Courthouse in Loa.
Mountain Mobile: I think we all have the power to make the world a better place, and I see peoples’ reactions when that happens. Because the outdoor options can be so limited for those with disabilities, giving people this chance to do something they never thought possible really brings out joy in seeing beautiful sights.
Cont'd from A1
disabilities. Driven by his desire to work as a guide in the outdoor industry, he recognized the need for someone to assist those who struggle the most to access the trails.
Knowing how expensive other trail wheelchairs can be, Dotson decided to build his own. “I spent some time designing and testing this mountain mobile, but the whole reason for it is just to provide a way for people who have disabilities to get out on trails; all different trail wheelchairs have their strengths,” he said.
Dotson has been a guide at Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, and, now, here at Bryce Canyon. He feels this area is perhaps the best opportunity to provide a unique experience.
“At Zion, the trails I
took people on for wheelchair tours were paved, and the Grand Canyon is an extreme area for any hikers. Bryce is right in the middle, but I hope to increase access at many national parks, as well. I want to give others the chance to see and enjoy the same breathtaking places that have brought me so much joy,” said Dotson.
According to Dotson, the prototype chair is designed to act a bit like a land canoe. “It has a low center of gravity, which makes it hard to tip over, and four sturdy mountain bike wheels and shocks,” he said. “It has a foot of clearance, meaning it can go up and down steep slopes and over rocks. It requires one to two people steering, has multiple braking methods, and has a motor attachment for when that's allowed. I think it works great, but I hope to improve on it in
Caregiver Conference:
On Wednesday, May 20, join the R6 Area Agency on Aging for a free inspiring and resourceful upcoming Caregiver Conference at the R6 Regional Council Building at 82 East 600 North in Richfield from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Caregiver Conference Cont'd from A1
and healthy aging from the AARP. You will be able to meet with local home health agencies and other providers that have so much to offer and can assist with care.
Beyond education, this conference is about connection and meeting others who understand the unique rewards and demands of caregiving, sharing experiences, and
building a network of support that extends beyond the event.
Invest in yourself, while enhancing the care you provide to others. Join us and be a part of a community committed to compassionate, sustainable caregiving. Spaces are limited—secure your spot today by contacting R6 Aging at 435-893-0731 or by email at tiffanyg@ r6.utah.gov.
—R6 Area Agency on Aging
the next version.”
Typically lasting one to two hours, a tour guided by Mountain Mobile takes participants through both paved and unpaved areas. Dotson often meets visitors in the park, usually near the Bryce Canyon Lodge, where several trail options are available. During the tour, he covers a variety of fascinating topics, including geology, anthropology, hydrology, biology, and his personal favorite, astronomy. Joining a tour provides a deeper understanding of the park than guests would likely gain on their own.
Dotson’s tours cost nothing for participants, he explained. “The tours are free because I don't want any more barriers to prevent people from enjoying the parks,” he said.
“Not every person can go everywhere and that's true for everyone,” said Dotson. “But there are some basic places at national parks that a lot of people can miss out if they're having trouble getting on trails. Like for instance, at Bryce, the beginning of Wall Street and the Navajo Loop is only a few minutes down the trail but can be a huge barrier to some. It's not so much that the paths and trails need to change but having trail wheelchairs for people use and maybe volunteers to push might make a huge difference.”
Dotson has encountered various challenges in launching The Mountain Mobile. It has taken him seven years from the initial idea to the stages of designing, building, and testing, and now he is focused on promoting the brand and creating a website, among other tasks. He is excited to focus on the important things now, stating, “I am just getting started by giv-
—Cody Dotson
ing tours and building a functional prototype, but I hope to build another version with a more polished look. I had this idea for a long time, but I didn't have a backer and was not able to work on this as much as I'd like due to my job and my personal life.”
Through The Mountain Mobile, Dotson is not only leading tours in Bryce Canyon but is also reshaping the concept of accessibility in nature. By merging innovation, determination, and a love for the outdoors, Dotson is creating pathways for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the beauty and awe of national parks in ways that once seemed unimaginable. As he continues to enhance his trail wheelchair and expand his initiatives, his efforts highlight that even small adjustments in accessibility can unlock transformative experiences for numerous visitors.
“I think we all have the power to make the world a better place, and I see peoples’ reactions when that happens. Because the outdoor options can be so limited for those with disabilities, giving people this chance to do something they never thought possible really brings out joy in seeing beautiful sights,” said Dotson.
Donations can be made to The Mountain Mobile at gofund.me/ fa5939337. Donations help fund the costs of patenting, advertising, and travel expenses for participants, and will continue to make the tours free to those who need it. Those who are unable to donate can share the page on their social media platforms, creating awareness for the cause.
Mountain Mobile
Wills, Trusts, and More Estate Planning Binder
For your benefit and your family’s, it’s wise to organize your estate planning documents into a family binder that reflects a complete plan. What’s considered “complete” depends on your situation, but it should include key personal, financial, and essential legal documents.
At the core of any estate plan is either a will or a revocable trust.
Choosing between a willbased or trust-based plan depends on your goals— such as privacy, avoiding probate, and the nature and location of your assets. For example, if you own real estate in more than one state, a trust can help you avoid multiple probate proceedings.
If the cornerstone of your estate plan is a revocable trust, it is important that you still have a will. All "trust based plans" must still have what is called a "pour over will."
It is a simple will that serves as a safety net to "pour over" assets into the trust. This type of will directs the property into the trust. Basically, the "pour over will" takes those assets that were not transferred into the trust while you were alive and gets them into the trust. However, because the assets
by Jeffery J. McKenna
were not transferred into the trust before your death, a probate proceeding is necessary.
In addition to a will or trust, a complete estate plan should include a durable power of attorney for financial matters. This document allows someone to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. You may choose a “springing” durable power of attorney, which only becomes effective upon incapacity. It is important that the power of attorney is durable; otherwise, it will not remain valid if you become incapacitated, and a court proceeding may be required to appoint someone to manage your assets.
In addition to the above documents, your estate planning binder should contain documents pertaining to medical treatment decisions. If desired, a living will for the state in which you now live should be included. A living will (also called a “directive to physician”) specifies that no use of artificial lifesupport systems should be used once you are beyond reasonable hope of recov-
ery. A medical power of attorney is also an important document. A medical power of attorney allows a specified individual to make medical decisions for you in the event you are too ill to do so.
Lastly, your estate planning binder should include your funeral arrangements, such as the funeral home and cemetery, burial lot locations, and any prearranged or prepaid services. Planning ahead helps ease the burden on your family and prevents difficult decisions during an emotional time.
In conclusion, a family estate planning binder is a wonderful way to put your affairs in order. After it is complete, you need to discuss the contents with the children or other loved ones that would be involved in using the documents. You should inform them as to the location of the original binder and consider giving a copy to one or more of these individuals. Although you hope the binder will not be needed for many years, you will feel more secure knowing that it is ready.
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.
Legal Notices
NOTICE Of PROPOSED CHANGE WAYNE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Please take notice that the Wayne County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following: PROPOSED CHANGE: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT INTENDED USE: ADDITION OF 3 GEODESIC DOMES W/ 3 SEPARATE BATHROOM UNITS
To EXISTING 5 DOME SITE
CHANGE REQUESTED BY: WILLIAM HOGAN / CAPITOL REEF RETREAT LLC A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD DURING THE PLANNING & ZONING MEETING ON: MAY 27, 2026 @ 7:00 PM AT THE WAYNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
LEGAL DES: Approx 14.87 acres located at 1722 N Blue Valley Road Caineville, UT Parcel 01-0085-0750 / O-565-1
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MAY 14 & 21, 2026
country roads
by Lynn Griffin
Gifts
Three brothers wanted to give their blind mom a birthday gift.
The first got her a big beautiful house.
The second got her a brand new luxury vehicle with a driver.
The third got her a talking parrot to keep her company.
When they all got together, they wanted to know which gift she liked best.
She said they were all great but she thanked her third son because she liked the chicken dinner best.
Schoolin'
A hillbilly family's only son saves up money to go to college.
After about three years, he comes back home. They are sitting around the dinner table, when the dad says, ''Well son, you done gone to college, so you must be perty smart. Why don't you speak some math fer' us?''
''Ok, Pa.'' The son then says, ''Pi R squared.''
After a moment, the dad says, ''Why son, they ain't teached ya nothin'! Pie are round, cornbread are square.''
Shower Thoughts
If procrastinators had a club, would they ever hold a meeting?
THEME: Mountains
ACROSS
1. Ill-considered
5. Mate 8. "I didn't get the ____"
12. Biblical preposition
13. Down in the dumps
14. Rodgers of NFL fame
15. Proofreader's mark
16. Get bacon?
17. *Any mountain over 3,000 feet, in Scotland
18. *Mount Everest mountain range
20. Research facil.
21. Itsy-bitsy bits
22. Forensic evidence, acr.
23. Relating to sacrum
26. What Cupid did (2 words)
30. Amazement interjection
31. Not victory
34. Eurozone money
35. Whisky measure, pl.
37. Dot-com address
38. Birth-related
39. Auricular
40. Volcanic ash, e.g.
42. Pro baseball's "Master Melvin"
43. Borat's swimsuit
45. Cruel treatments
47. It would 48. Munchausen's title
50. Supernatural life force
52. *Mountain inspiration for a pen name (2 words)
You will
Icelandic epic
Double reed woodwind instrument
Like a good singer (2 words)
Not quite an adult
*Matterhorn site
Like a busybody
Animal Crackers
A mom and a son come home from the grocery store. The boy immediately empties out a box of animal crackers and the mom asks him why. The boy says, "You should not eat it if the seal is broken, so I'm looking for the seal."
Permission
Son: "Dad, when will I be old enough so I don't have to ask mom for her permission to go out?"
Dad: "Son, even I haven't grown old enough to go out without her permission!"
Why did the runner stop listing to music? Because she broke too many records.
Time Off Request
Assistant: "Sir, can I have a day off next week to visit my mother-inlaw?"
Boss: "Certainly not!"
Assistant: "Thank you so much sir! I knew you would be understanding."
Coloring substances DOWN
Calassified ds
HELP WANTED
Part-Time Dental Patient Relations
Escalante
Job Title: Dental Patient Relations
Location: Escalante, UT
Position Type: Part-Time About Us
Wayne Community Health Centers - Kazan Memorial Dental is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We are looking for a reliable and friendly Patient Relations team member to support our front office operations on a Part-Time basis.
Position Summary
The Patient Relations Front Desk is the first point of contact for patients and visitors. This role is responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, handling phone calls, and providing excellent customer service to ensure a positive patient experience.
Responsibilities
• Greet patients and visitors in a professional and welcoming manner
• Answer and direct incoming phone calls
• Schedule, confirm, and update patient appointments
• Verify and update patient information and insurance details
• Collect co-pays and balances as needed
Provide accurate information and assist patients with questions or concerns
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information in accordance with HIPAA
Qualifications
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment
• Basic computer skills
• Flexible availability to cover shifts as needed
Interested candidates may apply by submitting a resume to aellett@ waynechc.org.
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.
Full-Time Custodian
Job Title: Custodian Reports To: Facilities Manager Position Type: Full Time Position Summary: The Medical Office Custodian is responsible for ensuring a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for patients, staff, and visitors at Wayne Community Health Centers (WCHC) facilities. This position plays a crucial role in maintaining infection control standards by adhering to strict cleaning protocols and healthcare-specific sanitation guidelines.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Perform daily cleaning and sanitization of exam rooms, waiting areas, offices, restrooms, hallways, and common spaces. Follow established healthcare cleaning protocols to disinfect high-touch surfaces, medical/dental equipment exteriors, and other sensitive areas.
• Empty, clean, and disinfect trash receptacles, replace liners, and dispose of medical and regular waste according to safety guidelines.
• Sweep, mop, vacuum, and polish floors as required.
• Replenish supplies such as paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap, and sanitizer dispensers.
• Assist with deep cleaning and special project cleaning (e.g., floor waxing, carpet shampooing) as scheduled.
• Respond promptly to spills, contamination incidents, or other urgent cleaning needs.
• Maintain inventory of cleaning supplies and notify supervisor when reordering is needed.
• Report maintenance or safety issues immediately to appropriate personnel.
• Lock and unlock assigned buildings, secure rooms, and set alarms as directed.
• Support emergency cleaning efforts after facility incidents (e.g., infectious disease exposure, weather events).
• Follow OSHA, HIPAA, and infection control regulations, including the proper handling of biohazardous materials. Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times. Qualifications:
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Previous custodial or janitorial experience required; healthcare setting preferred.
• Knowledge of cleaning methods, materials, and equipment.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Basic understanding of infection prevention and control standards.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for long periods, and perform physical tasks.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.
• Reliable, punctual, and trustworthy.
Work Environment:
• Primarily works indoors in a clinical or administrative setting.
• Exposure to cleaning chemicals, biohazards, and bodily fluids (with appropriate PPE provided).
• Regular use of cleaning equipment and tools.
Supervision and Evaluation:
• Reports directly to the Facilities Manager
• Performance evaluated annually and as needed based on quality, reliability, and compliance with WCHC standards.
If interested please send resume to AmberLee Ellett, aellett@waynechc.org
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.
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 Jun. 3, 2026 either electronically using the Division`s on-line Protest of Application form, by hand delivery to a Division office, or by mail at PO Box 146300, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6300. Please visit waterrights.utah.gov or call (801)538-7240 for additional information.
GARFIELD COUNTY CHANGE APPLICATION(S)
61-2708 (a54511): Christopher Robert Clevely and Alise Michelle Clevely, as CoTrustees of the Clevely Living Trust propose(s) using 0.5 ac-ft. from groundwater (6 mi SW of Hatch) for DOMESTIC; IRRIGATION; STOCKWATERING.
61-1834 (a54528): Donaldson Family, LLC propose(s) using 0.25 ac-ft. from groundwater (6 miles S. of Panguitch Lake) for DOMESTIC.
EXTENSION(S)
61-2724 (a32319): Alex Fledderjohn, Jonathan George, Bruce Miklautsch, Seth Hamel, Kane County Water Conservancy District is/are filing an extension for 2.7 ac-ft. from groundwater (8 miles South of Hatch) for DOMESTIC.
Teresa Wilhelmsen, P.E.
State Engineer
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MAY 7 & 14, 2026
LAND OFFERING
UTAH SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONAL TRUST LANDS ADMINISTRATION
The Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration is now accepting offers or proposals for the purchase or development of certain Trust Lands in Garfield County, located near Bryce Canyon City, known as the Coyote Hill Parcel (approximately 200 acres). The parcel is described as the SW¼SW¼ of Section 34 of T35S, R4W, SLB&M, Lot 4 of Section 3 of T36S, R4W, SLB&M and Lots 1 and 2 and SE ¼NE¼ of Section 4 of T36S, R4W, SLB&M. Any entity wishing to submit a proposal for the development or purchase of this property may do so until 3:00 PM on June 29, 2026. Proposals should be e-mailed to Aaron Langston at aaronlangston@utah. gov. Reference: Coyote Hill Parcel. More information can be found at https://tinyurl. com/3u3yjmhx. The Trust Lands Administration reserves the right to reject any proposal.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MAY 7, 14 & 21, 2026
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TORREY TOWN
There will be a public hearing to discuss a proposed Torrey Town Historic Preservation Commission Ordinance Public comments are invited.
May 14, 2026, at 7:00PM at the Torrey Town Office, 75 E. 100 N., Torrey, Utah
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MAY 7 & 14, 2026
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TORREY TOWN
There will be a public hearing to discuss the Torrey Town Annexation Policy Public comments are invited.
May 14, 2026, at 7:00PM at the Torrey Town Office, 75 E. 100 N., Torrey, Utah
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MAY 7 & 14, 2026
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LYMAN TOWN
Lyman Town Council Meeting
May 14, 2026, 7:00 PM Lyman Town Hall
Lyman Town will hold a Public Hearing for the purpose of adopting: An Ordinance Adopting the International Wildlife-Urban Interface Code
An Ordinance of Lyman Town adopting the 2024 Edition of the Interface Code (IWUIC), as currently amended by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands; Regulating and Governing the Mitigation of Hazards to Life and Property from the Intrusion of Fire from Wildlife Exposures, Fire from adjacent Structures, and the Prevention of Structure Fires from spreading to Wildland and Fuels: Providing for the Issuance of Permits and the Collection of Fees; Repealing prior conflicting Ordinances; and providing for an Effective Date.
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MAY 7 & 14, 2026
NOTICE OF FINAL TAX SALE GARFIELD COUNTY
Notice is hereby given that on the 10th day of June, 2026, at 10:00 o’clock a.m. in the Garfield County Courthouse, 55 South Main Street, Panguitch, Utah, I will offer for sale at public auction and sell to the highest bidder for cash, under the provisions of Section 59-2-1351.1, the following described real property located in the county and now delinquent and subject to tax sale. A bid for less than the total amount of taxes, interest, penalty, and administrative cost which are a charge upon the real estate will not be accepted.
NOTICE: The Garfield County Recorder’s Office has maps available upon request for a nominal fee. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BIDDER TO DETERMINE THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE LAND, ITS GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, ACCESSIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY OR VALIDITY OF WATER RIGHTS.
PARCEL 1. Virgin Land Company LLC
P.O. Box 180113 Cannonville, UT 84718
T-231
08-0073-0231
Beginning 945.78 feet West and North 0°05’00” West 2021.58 feet from the South East Corner of the North West quarter of the South East quarter of Section 35 Township 36 South Range 3 West Salt Lake Base and Meridian and running Thence South 88°52’00” West 871.20 feet; Thence North 0°05’00” West 100.00 feet; Thence North 88°52’00” East 871.20 feet; Thence South 0°05’00” East 100.00 feet to the point of beginning containing 2.00 acres more or less.
Total Fees and Taxes Due: $4,323.52
PARCEL 2. Roland Roske 332 Elmwood Rd Bay Village, OH 44140
HU-10-21
14-0053-0321
All of Lot 21 Block 10 Hercules Subdivision Amended containing 0.46 acres more or less.
Total Fees and Taxes Due: $685.66
PARCEL 3. Robert P Laqua 155 South Evergreed Rd. Apt #119
Woodburn, OR 97071
SRE-56
14-0072-0056
All of Lot 56 Sevier River Estates Amended containing 0.44 acres more or less.
Total Fees and Taxes Due: $610.62
PARCEL 4. 7777 LLC
P.O. Box 180113 Cannonville, UT 84718
ZVS-2
15-0095-0002
All of Lot 2 Zakkri Valley Subdivision containing 122.53 acres more or less.
Total Fees and Taxes Due: $569.08 IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 6th day of May, 2026.
Camille A. Moore, Garfield County Auditor
Published in The Wayne and Garfield County Insider on MAY 14, 21 & 28 and JUNE 4, 2026
C lassified a ds
We are looking for friendly, hardworking professionals who enjoy the hospitality industry and interaction with guests.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Front Desk Agents
Laundry Services
Housekeepers Maintenance Bellmen
Positions to start April 1st through October 31st
At Capitol Reef Resort we promote from within. Please stop by in person to complete an application. We are located at 2600 E SR 24, Torrey, UT 84775 435-425-3761
Position Announcements
POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Garfield County School District is hiring for the following positions. For the application process and description of each, please see the district website www.garfk12.org
SpEd Teacher at Panguitch Elementary School
Para-Professional at Panguitch High 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.
HELP WANTED
MEETINGS
TROPIC AA MEETING Wednesday at 6 PM. Tropic Heritage Center. All meetings are closed discussion. Escalante AA Meeting Tues. & Fri. at 6pm 190 W. Main St., Escalante
The only requirement is the desire to stop drinking.
Office Manager - Sheriff’s Office
Job Title: Office Manager- Sheriff’s Office
FLSA: Non-exempt Full Time - Up to 40 hours per week Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications with resumes for the position of Office Manager to be filled immediately.
This is a Full Time position with the following benefits: Medical, Dental, Eye Paid Vacation Paid Holidays Retirement Monday through Friday schedule. Starting Pay $16.65
Duties and Responsibilities
Round oak pedestal dining room table, with leaf. Four chairs. Some water spots. $45 or offer. Pick up in Loa. Text 435-979-2696
SALE FOR SALE
YARD SALE - SATURDAYS 10 AM ESCALANTE at Main and Center in front of the Catholic church. Free to any vendor for anything you have to sell.
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
Computer Data Entry, Filing of Court and Criminal Documentation, Reports to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Monthly Reports, Jail Reimbursement reports. Newsletters to Deputies and Reserve Deputies. Year end reports. Fingerprinting. Maintain Training Records, Prepare Civil Process services, Maintain NCIC validations, Vehicle Maintenance records, prepare bills, assist in budget preparation, light janitorial duties, Assist Search and Rescue with record keeping. Answering phone calls and communicating with the public. May require out-of-town travel for meetings/ training. Other duties as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications:
1) Proficiency in: Microsoft Word, Excel
2) Knowledge of standard office procedures and policies.
3) Capable of operating standard office machinery, telephone etiquette and detailed message taking, computer operation.
4) Effective communication skills, follow written or oral instruction and request in a timely manner, self supervising ability, professional response to requests from the public. Must be self motivated and have excellent teamwork mentality.
5) Task requires variety of physical activities. Applicant must be emotionally mature and capable of maintaining confidentiality concerning criminal information and history. Appearance must appropriate and professional.
6) Given that this position is with the Sheriff’s Office, all applicants will require a full criminal background check prior to selection for interview.
7) Subject to random drug screenings
8) Must have a valid drivers license Applications can be obtained at the Wayne County Court House or the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. 18 S. Main Street Loa, UT 84747. Sheriff’s Office Phone (435) 836-1308 Applications will be accepted until 5:00 PM July 1, 2026.
Weed Specialist
Garfield County is accepting applications for a Weed Specialist in Panguitch and other areas of Garfield County. The position is part-time from May to September Applications are available at the Garfield County Clerk’s Office, 55 South Main, Panguitch or at www.garfield.utah.gov and will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 15, 2026.
Garfield County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications. Garfield County is an equal opportunity employer.
2 Seasonal, Full-Time Wildlife Technicians
Garfield County is accepting applications for 2 seasonal, full-time Wildlife Technicians. The application process closes 5:00 pm Friday, May 15, 2026. Applications are available at the Garfield County Clerk’s Office, 55 South Main, Panguitch, UT 84759 or online at garfield.utah.gov. Additional information can be obtained by calling Dave Dodds at (435) 676-1119.
Garfield County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications. Garfield County is an equal opportunity employer.
Panguitch Care and Share (Food Bank) Worker
Garfield County is accepting applications for the position of Panguitch Care and Share (Food Bank) Worker. The position is part-time (30 hours per month)
Applications are available at the Garfield County Clerk's Office 55 South Main, Panguitch or online at www.garfield.utah.gov. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m., Friday, May 15, 2026.
Garfield County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications. Garfield County is an equal opportunity employer.
SENIOR CENTER MENUS
Escalante Senior Citizens Menu
Tues. May 19th Malibu Chicken, Baked Potato, Pink Fruit Salad/White Roll, Pears, Strawberry Short Cake
Thurs. May 21st Pizza w/ Meat and Veggies, Salad Bar, Watermelon, Chocolate Truffle Cake
All meals are served with milk or juice. If you would like a meal, please call us by 10:00 am. 826-4317. Suggested donation for seniors over 60 is $4.00, and under 60 is $10.00
Bryce Valley Senior Lunches at the BRYCE VALLEY Senior Center
TUES May 19th Meatloaf/Roll, Baked Potato, California Blend Veggies, Green Salad, Sliced Apples, Peach Dump Cake WED May 20th Teriyaki Chicken/Roll, Fried Rice w/Veggies, Green Beans, Pineapple Slices, Coconut Cream Pie
