The 17th annual Live Nativity presentation is Christmas Eve, Wednesday December 24 at 5 p.m. sharp in Pioneer Park in Monticello. It runs until approximately 5:30 p.m. Anyone interseted in being involved should call Laura Butler at 435-587-2587 or 435-459-2008. You may bring your own chairs if you’d like. Please dress warm. Hot cocoa will be served. We hope all will come and enjoy a wonderful celebration of the Christmas story with family and friends.

Reindeer have been spotted in area back yards. Staff photo

Dec 10 08 - 08:28 AM |  Full story

The Monticello Elementary Students of the Month for December are: top row left to right Rachel Evans, Dalton Randall, Mathew Doucett, Alma Beh, Jonathan Nye, Mary Beh, and Mya Walker. Bottom row:  Giovanna Alba, Cami Lewis, Barbra Abernathy, Hyrum Johnson, Ben Peterson, Joseph Shumway.  Missing is Carter Hall. Courtesy photo

Dec 10 08 - 08:27 AM |  Full story

Trying to encapsulate the life of Charlie Redd on a single newspaper page is like trying to capture a tornado in a tube. With advance apologies to Charlie, what follows is a thimble-sized summation of his remarkable life and accomplishments.

Dec 10 08 - 08:25 AM |  Full story

Blue Mountain Entertainment further celebrates its golden anniversary year by presenting a bonus concert featuring the return of the popular Bar D Wranglers of Durango, Colorado in their annual Christmas program.

Dec 10 08 - 08:22 AM |  Full story

“Mom, what do you want for Christmas?” My daughter had just drawn my name and there was none of that, “ I’m-not-telling-who’s-name-I-got” business with her.

Dec 10 08 - 08:19 AM |  Full story

NORTHERN NEWSby Maxine Deeter It was a beautiful weekend for doing whatever; great to be out putting up the Christmas decorations, crunching around in the leaves on the grass (I’m waiting for Ma Nature to blow them away) instead of wading in the snow and cold. My neighbor says he can’t get in the mood to go cut a Christmas tree until it snows....

Dec 10 08 - 08:16 AM |  Full story

CEU-San Juan Campus students, instructors, and staff members are closing out fall semester with a flurry of activities.

Dec 10 08 - 08:13 AM |  Full story

Two horses enjoy a little sunshine on a frosty morning in Monticello. Gary Torres photo

Dec 03 08 - 07:57 AM |  Full story

Empire Electric, the Cortez, Colorado-based cooperative that provides electric service to the Monticello area, is proposing a five percent rate increase that would be effective on January 1, 2009.

Dec 03 08 - 07:37 AM |  Full story

A Thanksgiving weekend storm salvaged what had been a warm and dry November. A number of area communities received a long-due drenching on November 26, 27 and 28.

Dec 03 08 - 07:34 AM |  Full story

Monticello residents will gather on Monday, December 8 for an annual tradition: the Shop at Home Christmas Parade. Sponsored by the Monticello Chamber of Commerce, the event is driven by the enthusiastic support of Staci and Jeremy Hoggard at Get Go Imaging.

Dec 03 08 - 07:32 AM |  Full story

Wireless Broadband Internet recently came to southeast Utah when Royce Electronics of Moab completed a new microwave system enabling broadband Internet access into Grand and San Juan counties. The digital signals come from access to the World Wide Web provided by Beehive Telephone’s Gigabit pipeline from Salt Lake City....

Nov 26 08 - 11:43 AM |  Full story

Bureau of Land Management Utah State Director Selma Sierra announces the release of the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan for the Monticello Field Office. The Record of Decision was recently signed by Department of the Interior, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, C. Stephen Allred.

Nov 26 08 - 11:40 AM |  Full story

San Juan County is considering a public assembly ordinance in an attempt to get a leash on large gatherings, primarily in northern San Juan County. They may need another leash to control San Juan County residents who are concerned that the ordinance may go to far.

Nov 26 08 - 11:35 AM |  Full story

Monticello Elementary School Students of the Month for November are: (Bottom row L to R) Lacy Jenkins, Colton Lewis, Joseph Boyle, Brayson Wilcox, Shelbie Musselman, Kennedy Brewer, McKayla Randall. Top row: Jesica Greenway, Carson Duncan, Alex Hall, Yeni Carranza, Eli DeMille, Timothy Erickson....

Nov 26 08 - 11:29 AM |  Full story

There’s a rumor in the historic copper mining boomtown of Jerome, Arizona that river runner, rabble rouser, and eco-activist Katie Lee celebrated her 80th birthday by riding naked on her mountain bike through town.

Nov 26 08 - 11:21 AM |  Full story

The 4th Annual Bluff Arts Festival scheduled from November 28 through November 30, 2008 will showcase the beauty, numbers and magic behind this year’s theme, “The Science of Art, The Art of Science”.

Nov 26 08 - 11:18 AM |  Full story

A new parking lot and retention basin for snow removal is complete in Monticello. Construction of the new fire and public works building on the west side of the block will begin this week. Staff photo

Nov 19 08 - 09:08 AM |  Full story

A new elementary school is on the drawing board for Monument Valley and the San Juan School District is moving forward on the selection of an architectural firm for the project.

Nov 19 08 - 09:04 AM |  Full story

The San Juan Health Service District is part of a group of rural hospitals that is seeking an adjustment in the way that the State of Utah pays Medicaid bills. Without an adjustment, administrators say that rural hospitals will continue to struggle to survive.

Nov 19 08 - 08:56 AM |  Full story

At the November 17 meeting of the San Juan County Commission, commissioners approved tax-exempt status for the Blue Mountain Hospital in Blanding. The facility, which is looking to open in 2009, faced a $38,855 property tax bill that was due this month.

Nov 19 08 - 08:54 AM |  Full story

Landowners at the Elk Meadows subdivision north of Monticello are concerned that the proposed new location of the Monticello airport will have a negative impact on their neighborhood.

Nov 19 08 - 08:51 AM |  Full story

About 85 fifth-grade students from Blanding Elementary School learned about the infamous 1863 Long Walk of the Navajos step by step along a dusty trail, eating “hard-tack” biscuits and enduring the harassment of “soldiers.”

Nov 19 08 - 08:43 AM |  Full story

After almost four years, 17 doctorate-level classes, and a successful dissertation, CEU-SJC business instructor Steve Black has earned the distinction of becoming Dr. Steve Black.

Nov 19 08 - 08:41 AM |  Full story

Recently, I heard a wise man say that the average human being simply cannot get his brain around the concept of how many is a billion.

Nov 19 08 - 08:36 AM |  Full story

October’s top students at Monticello Elementary School are: (l to r) Journey Baird, Crystal Alba, Carlyn Goodwine, Dylan Bird, Ivy Fellmeth, Tuff Adair. Top: Stettson Deeter, Drew Baird, Sydney Redd, Quincey Ryan, Roxana Cordova, Jared Crowley, and Ryan Bird. Missing: Garrett Henderson, Serra St. Clair. Courtesy photo

Nov 19 08 - 08:33 AM |  Full story

The newest business in San Juan County had a grand opening on November 14. Sandstone Tire, located at 145 East Center Street in Monticello, features a full range of tires, oil changes and wind shield services. The hard working crew at Sandstone Tire includes: (left to right) Danny Murdock, Jerry Murdock (of Window Welder of Four Corners), Mindy Saunders, Easton Saunders, Scott Saunders, Michael Workman and Brent Saunders. Staff photo

Nov 19 08 - 08:30 AM |  Full story

The missus and I were coming back from Cortez the other day where we had gotten into an argument and we hadn’t solved the problem by coming to the realization that I am an idiot and was wrong the entire time; which is how we usually solve our arguments.

Nov 19 08 - 08:28 AM |  Full story

Gary Torres photo...

Nov 12 08 - 07:59 AM |  Full story

Despite a lack of local races, a large number of San Juan County voters participated in the November 4 General Election that will send Democrat Barack Obama to the White House for the next four years.

Nov 12 08 - 07:57 AM |  Full story

One area’s problems sometimes create an opportunity somewhere else. The significantly decrease in demand for services in California’s central valley (caused by the housing crisis) will result in a dramatic increase in the quality of telecommunications service in southeast Utah after Frontier Communication recently announced a state-of-the-art 76 mile fiber-optic network in San Juan County.

Nov 12 08 - 07:55 AM |  Full story

What was I doing in 100 degree August heat wearing river sandals and walking the shores of Lake Powell through cockleburs, thistles, tumbleweed and tamarisk? Why, trolling for trash, of course!

Nov 12 08 - 07:52 AM |  Full story

How many masked facades do we play on each day of our lives? What is the real origin of anyone’s success and talent? What dirty secrets do we hold in our past that would taint our perfect images?

Nov 12 08 - 07:50 AM |  Full story

Suddenly, it’s time for basketball, wrestling, and hockey in San Juan County.

Nov 12 08 - 07:49 AM |  Full story

I just spent five minutes trying to vacuum up a piece of string off the floor. Immediately, I can hear my readers saying “Whoa CaveGuy. You vacuuming is as likely as a Democrat winning the popular vote in Utah.”

Nov 12 08 - 07:45 AM |  Full story

Captain Jack and a host of others were in fine form for Halloween at the Monticello Elementary School Halloween Carnival. Staff photo

Nov 05 08 - 09:14 AM |  Full story

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Nov 05 08 - 09:12 AM |  Full story

The San Juan School District is set to get $2.6 million over the next four years as a part of the recent federal government bailout of the financial services industry. However, a convoluted and complex funding formula means that financial benefit to the school district may come at a price to San Juan County.

Nov 05 08 - 09:11 AM |  Full story

At the November 3 meeting of the San Juan County Commission: Commissioner Bruce Adams was selected to represent the County at the annual membership meeting of the Utah County Insurance Pool. Cyndi Eldredge is an alternate.

Nov 05 08 - 09:10 AM |  Full story

While the focus of the “Giants” series has and will be to honor those great men and women who stood tall in San Juan’s history, it is also a goal to highlight true stories, events and influences which were an integral and important part of pioneer life.

Nov 05 08 - 09:08 AM |  Full story

We had been planning to move out of the rental for months before the fire, but when it happened, it both sped us up and slowed us down.

Nov 05 08 - 09:04 AM |  Full story

Everything’s coming up threes in the sports world of Monticello and Blanding this past week. The Monticello Lady Bucks finished in third place at the 1A state volleyball tournament, after losing to Panguitch in the semifinals in three games.

Nov 05 08 - 09:02 AM |  Full story

After Richfield defensive player, Levi Hobbs commented in the papers last week, “San Juan better watch out!” the San Juan Bronco football boys let the Wildcats do the watching as they made their 22nd straight quarterfinal game their tenth win of the season with a solid 33-0 victory Friday afternoon, earning a trip to the semifinals in Cedar City next Saturday.

Nov 05 08 - 09:00 AM |  Full story

Scarey ghouls and goblins carved in pumpkin are not afraid of anyone, except Peter, Peter. Staff photo

Oct 29 08 - 08:52 AM |  Full story

San Juan County residents are expected to turn out in record numbers on Tuesday, November 4 for the 2008 general election.

Oct 29 08 - 08:51 AM |  Full story

Local business owners in Monticello could see a change in their City licence fee based on a proposal being considered by the Monticello City Council.

Oct 29 08 - 08:48 AM |  Full story

Residents of the Riverview Trailer Court in Montezuma Creek came seeking help to relocate the remaining four trailers in the park. They reported that residents of the trailer park were taken to court by the new owner due to non-payment of rental fees. However the lawsuit was thrown out of court because the trailer park does not have a sanitation permit.

Oct 29 08 - 08:43 AM |  Full story

Sales taxes, business license fees, building permit fees, impact fees... Monticello residents may feel that you are being asked, at every turn, to pay an increasing share of the cost of running the city government.

Oct 29 08 - 08:41 AM |  Full story

Blue Mountain Entertainment and Blue Mountain Foods happily present those crazy and tuneful musicians, the Bar D Wranglers of Durango, CO, Monday, November 10 at 7 p.m. in the Monticello High School Auditorium.

Oct 29 08 - 08:38 AM |  Full story

Science and art are often treated as incongruent disciplines, yet at the 4th Annual Bluff Arts Festival, we will demonstrate the beauty, numbers and magic behind this year’s theme, “The Science of Art, the Art of Science”.

Oct 29 08 - 08:35 AM |  Full story