Life in San Juan

Monticello resident Natalie Randall was honored among the 30 Women to Watch in Utah. Randall serves as the Executive Director for the Utah Tourism Industry Association. courtesy photo

Monticello resident honored among 30 Women to Watch in Utah

Monticello resident Natalie Randall was honored by Utah Business as one of the 30 Women to Watch at a May 23 event. The award honors the exceptional women of Utah’s businesses and is in it’s 25th year. Utah Business says the recipients empower others and confidently lead their companies while...

Blanding artist Richard Russel has left his mark around the county and beyond. Janet Wilcox photo.

Artist paints everything from local landscapes to chicken illustrations!

by Janet Keeler Wilcox If you want to see Richard Russel’s masterpieces you don’t have to travel far: Monticello, Blanding and Monument Valley all have his paintings on display. There are six murals in the entryway of the Monticello Elementary School and two murals in the Monument Valley...

The latest issue of 101 Ways to Experience San Juan County is included in this newspaper. You can also pick it up at local businesses and visitor centers.

New visitors guide arrives

The San Juan Record is ecstatic for the release of the new 101 Ways to Experience San Juan County Visitors Guide. The packed 64-page magazine is included in this issue of the newspaper and is distributed throughout the area at visitor centers and businesses. A generous grant from San Juan County...

Scott and Irma Lee Hurst in 1991. The Hurst family built a tradition of excellence that carries on through the years. Courtesy photo

Craftmanship, Comradery and Consistency at Tri-Hurst

by Janet Keeler Wilcox Contributing writer (Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series celebrating the ongoing success of the Scott Hurst family businesses. Part One was published in the May 3 San Juan Record.) Tri-Hurst Construction has always been a family-oriented company. Many of...

Phil Hurst’s old army truck hauling logs from the west side of the Abajo Mountains in 1951. Photo from the San Juan County Historical Commission Leonard Hurst Collection.

Timber, tenacity and talent built Blanding: The Scott Hurst Legacy

by Janet Wilcox Contributing writer Interest in constructon and lumber runs deep in the Hurst families of Blanding. In the late 1930’s, Joe and Stan Hurst’s Grandfather Phil Hurst and their Uncle George Hurst purchased Dave Black’s Sawmill. They operated this mill on Johnson Creek for years then...

Members of a self-defense classs in Monument Valley pose with instructor Thomas Denny. Self defense classes are being offered during sexual assault awareness month and are sponsored by Utah Navajo Health System and the Gentle Ironhawk Shelter. Courtesy photo

Self Defense classes offered in San Juan County

by Jessica Holiday, Victim Services Program Manager, Utah Navajo Health System, Inc. Springtime in Monument Valley has finally emerged after a long winter. The sunlight is beaming and there are tourists and locals milling about the Monument Valley Welcome Center. People are basking in the sunny...

Toniee Lewis (Ysleta del Sur Pueblo-Tigua), Ute Mountain Councilman Selwyn Whiteskunk (Ute Mountain Ute) and Jr. Miss Southern Ute Princess Leandra Litz at the signing of the Sexual Assault Awareness proclamation on April 4. Courtesy photo

Ute Tribe marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month

On April 4, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of Towaoc CO, signed an Honorary Proclamation and Recognition of Native American Sexual Assault awareness month. This proclamation was brought to the Ute Mountain Ute Council by Toniee Lewis of the Hands Down, Standing Strong Advocacy Program based out of...

70th Anniversary for Delma & Joe Vancil

Joe Wesley and Delma Atkinson Vancil will celebrate their 70th Wedding Anniversary on April 8, 2023. Joe turned 95 on February 14 and Delma will be 89 on May 10. Joe and Delma were married on April 8, 1953. They are the parents of four children: JoeLynn (Kent) Dalton, Jerry (Sherry) Vancil, Cindy (...

A host of services and activities set for Easter

by Jill Pearson Staff writer Spring is packed with many opportunities to get together with neighbors and enjoy the festivities. First, the San Juan High School National Honor Society is doing an Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Centennial Park in Blanding for all children under...

Robert and Joan Hosler, with son Bret and grandson Kyle, delivering oranges at Christmas. Courtesy photo

The Thin Bear legacy of art and oranges

by Janet Keeler Wilcox Contributing writer Robert and Joan Hosler have a legacy of close friendships with Ute and Navajo artists throughout San Juan County. When the Hoslers moved to Blanding in 1966, Bob was initially hired by Bruce Shumway as a social worker. Shortly afterwards, he began to...