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Local News Headlines

Name Released From Sunday’s Fatal Accident in Uintah County

Friends and family are mourning the loss of a local young man whose life was lost too soon. According to Utah Highway Patrol, the 24-year-old man was in a fatal accident early Sunday morning in Uintah County while traveling southbound in a 2001 Lincoln Continental on State Road 45 at Mile Marker 36 at about 4:50am. The vehicle drove off the road to the right causing the vehicle to roll. The man was ejected, receiving fatal injuries. On Monday, Utah Highway Patrol identified the man as 24-year-old Jace Bailey of Vernal. Our family at Evans Family Media extends our condolences to the family and friends at this difficult time of loss.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 21, 2020
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Uintah Animal Control Exceeds Initial Target in Abandoned Horse Gathering

The Uintah Animal Control and Shelter Special Service District has exceeded its initial target of gathering 175 horses in their first series of gathers. According to their press release, Uintah Animal Control, working with a licensed and insured horse gather company, has successfully removed 296 estray, abandoned and/or nuisance horses from public lands in Uintah County. Most of the horses were gathered from January 7th to January 11th in an area designated as a “public safety corridor” between Highway 40, State Road 45 and the Green River.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 21, 2020
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Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Phone Scam

Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office is the latest agency to share a scam warning with the public. “Our area is being hit by another round of phone scams from callers claiming to be with the Social Security Administration,” shares the Sheriff’s Office. “These callers demand personal information and may threaten to have you arrested if you don’t provide it. Of course, this is a scam. These callers want your personal information so they can steal from you. They cannot have you arrested for refusing to give them your personal information. Please, if you get a call like this, hang up the phone. It’s the easiest way to protect yourself from being scammed.” If you are concerned about a call you have received, contact your local law enforcement.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 21, 2020
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All Invited to Make Homemade Cards As Part Of ‘Cards 4 Kids @ Heart’

Please share some love this Valentine’s Day with local seniors by gathering friends and family to create generic homemade Valentine’s cards as part of ‘Cards 4 Kids @ Heart.’ The ‘Cards 4 Kids @ Heart’ project is organized each year by KLCY’s morning show host Amy Richards in loving memory of her Grandma. “The last thing I received from [my Grandma] was a handwritten card,” shares Amy. “I never had a chance to send her one back before she passed, and I know in my heart she would have loved one from me.”

Kristin Forbis — Jan 21, 2020
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Vernal Middle School Advisory Classes Prompting Growth for Students

Vernal Middle School is seeing positive results from implementing Advisory class periods, new this school year. “At the beginning of the academic year, Advisory classes completed 13 social skills lessons to help students prepare for the school year ahead,” shares Uintah School District. “Topics covered included team building, organization and study skills, professional language, school-wide expectations, and bully prevention and reporting. These topics were selected to help the students have a smooth transition into middle school, and to equip them with the skills they would need to face some of the daily challenges that middle school students experience.”

Kristin Forbis — Jan 21, 2020
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Local Opioid Drug Abuse Recently Featured on TV

The Uintah Basin is very aware of how the opioid crisis has greatly affected rural communities, especially our own. Robin Hatch, the Prevention Coordinator for Northeastern Counseling Center, was recently interviewed on Fox 13’s The Place. Hatch works for a prevention team that covers Duchesne, Uintah, and Daggett Counties. They rely on local residents, church groups, civic groups and businesses to help spread information to the public. Recently, the team found that individuals were hoarding medications, throwing fire on the opioid crisis.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 21, 2020
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USU Uintah Basin and UBTech Holding Nursing Programs Open House

According to the Utah Department of Health, Utah does not have enough nurses to care for its population. In fact, the shortage is projected to increase each year. Kathleen Kaufman is the co-chair of the Utah Nursing Association and shared in a recent interview that this is especially a huge problem in rural areas of Utah. Utah State University Uintah Basin and Uintah Basin Technical College are doing their part to help the Basin with any nursing shortages and are having two open houses this week.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 20, 2020
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Ashley Regional Medical Center CEO Ben Cluff Announces Retirement

Ashley Regional Medical Center CEO Ben Cluff announced his retirement last week. The hospital issued a statement on Friday morning stating that his plan to retire is effective January 24th. The statement continued:“We are deeply grateful for Ben’s leadership and many contributions to our hospital and the Vernal community through the years, and we wish him well in his retirement. A national search for a permanent CEO is currently underway, and we will inform our community when the right leader has been identified.” Evans Family Media adds our thanks and well wishes for Ben Cluff as he moves on to retired life.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 20, 2020
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DinoSOAR Customer Service Award: Phil Rushton

The Hospitality Committee in Uintah County continues to recognize the faces of customer service in local businesses. The new DinoSOAR customer service award recipient is Phil Rushton of Phil E Rush Ton delivery service. Phil is known for his great customer service and has been running his delivery service for nearly three years. His service picks up groceries, prescriptions, take out food or any small items or packages ordered from local businesses and delivers the items to the recipients homes for a nominal fee of $6.00 dollars.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 20, 2020
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Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Phone Scam

Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office is the latest agency to share a scam warning with the public. “Our area is being hit by another round of phone scams from callers claiming to be with the Social Security Administration,” shares the Sheriff’s Office. “These callers demand personal information and may threaten to have you arrested if you don’t provide it. Of course, this is a scam. These callers want your personal information so they can steal from you. They cannot have you arrested for refusing to give them your personal information. Please, if you get a call like this, hang up the phone.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 20, 2020
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Terra Academy Students of the Week

The Terra Academy Students of the Week are Kennedi Madsen and Wyatt Barton. Kennedi is in Kindergarten and was nominated by Mrs. Magee. “Kennedi Madsen is an amazing student and friend,” shares Mrs. Magee. “She is always looking for ways to be helpful to others, is kind and considerate, loves to participate and work hard in class, and is overall just a delightful student. I am so blessed to have her in my class.” Wyatt is in 6th grade and was nominated by Mr. Simper. “Wyatt Barton continues to push himself academically well beyond the requirements for 6th grade,” shares Mr. Simper. “Currently, [he] is working above grade level in Math and Language Arts. He is conscientious of others' needs and is willing to help his peers when asked.” Congratulations Kennedi Madsen and Wyatt Barton, Terra Students of the Week!

Kristin Forbis — Jan 20, 2020
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Uintah High School Student and Athlete of the Week

The Uintah High School Student of the Week is Melanie Gallardo, nominated by Mrs. Holmes. The Ute Athlete of the Week is Brady Merkley, nominated by Coach Keddy.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 20, 2020
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Fatal Accident on SR-45 Early Sunday Morning

A fatal accident occurred early Sunday morning in Uintah County. According to Utah Highway Patrol, a 24-year-old Vernal man was traveling southbound in a 2001 Lincoln Continental on State Road 45 at Mile Marker 36 at about 4:50am. The vehicle drove off the road to the right causing the vehicle to roll.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 19, 2020
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Pilot Programs Addressing Intergenerational Poverty Seeing Some Success

For eight years, Utah has been working to decrease intergenerational poverty, a situation of poverty and public assistance use that continues from one generation to the next. The Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission and Advisory Committee shared this month that things are headed in the right direction. "I'm thrilled about the incredible progress taking place in our pilot counties," shared Lt. Governor Spencer Cox, chair of the Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 17, 2020
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Roosevelt City Winterfest Activities This Weekend

Roosevelt is in the middle of its Winterfest fun. This weekend there are three activities to enjoy. First, the Roosevelt Aquatic Center will be offering discounted admissions for open swim, which will be every Saturday in the month of January. Second, there will be a Winterfest Paint Night. For $25 per person or $40 per couple all supplies will be provided for any skill level. There is limited capacity for the event at the Villa on Saturday from 7pm to 9pm. The third event is the activity that started Winterfest, cross-country skiing. Individuals need to bring their own gear (or borrow from a neighbor) to the Roosevelt Golf Course on Saturday at 10am and will go until 12pm.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 17, 2020
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TONIGHT: Female Twist of Classic Odd Couple Opening at Vernal Theatre: LIVE

‘The Odd Couple: Female Edition’ opens at Vernal Theatre: LIVE tonight! This contemporary classic comedy explores the real life subject matter of sudden roommates, clean freak Florence Unger and slob Olive Madison. The theatre guideline for the show is that it is for ages 8 and older. Production lead Katie Ufford, who plays Olive Madison, says that the play will be more appreciated by older youth and adults but that a younger audience will still find moments of comedy to giggle at and that a comedy is just what the month of January ordered.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 17, 2020
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Lane Frost Challenge at the Western Park Friday and Saturday

Lane Frost captured the attention of the bull riding world by becoming the 1987 World Champion in bull riding. He became known to the world through the movie ‘8 Seconds’. Unfortunately, he tragically died after a successful ride when a bull turned on him. Lane grew up locally on a Lapoint farm. In his memory, the Lane Frost Challenge was established in 2001 here in Vernal. By 2009 the challenge had 10 events throughout Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota which included Professional Bull Riding and Championship Bull Riding stops.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 17, 2020
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Ashley Regional Medical Center CEO Ben Cluff Announces Retirement

Ashley Regional Medical Center CEO Ben Cluff announced his retirement this week. Ashley Regional Medical Center issued a statement on Friday morning stating that his plan to retire is effective January 24th.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 17, 2020
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Iowa Sex Offender Arrested in Vernal for Alleged Sexual Assault on Greyhound Bus

An intoxicated registered sex offender recently released from prison in Iowa and enroute to California was arrested in Vernal on Wednesday for a sexual assault that allegedly took place on the Greyhound bus he was traveling on. According to the arresting officer’s Affidavit of Probable Cause, the manager of the KFC restaurant in Vernal called police after the bus driver reported that a man on the bus had a bag of alcohol and had inappropriately touched a female passenger.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 17, 2020
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Trapper Mine President Confirms Mine Closure Between 2026 and 2030

While it may not be surprising, it is still a blow to the people and economy of northwestern Colorado and beyond. Trapper Mine president Michael Morriss confirmed to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel this week that with the closing of Craig Station power plant, Trapper Mine will close sometime between 2026 and 2030 as that is the mine’s sole customer. Tri-State Generation and Transmission announced a week ago the retirement of their 3 remaining coal generation facilities; Craig Station and Colowyo Mine in northwestern Colorado by the year 2030 and their New Mexico coal-fired power plant by the end of 2020.

Kristin Forbis — Jan 16, 2020
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