Life in San Juan

Retirement for UDOT employees who combined for over 90 years of work

Gary Black, Cletis Hatch, and Todd Randall were honored upon their retirement from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) at a luncheon held on December 17 at the Monticello UDOT Shed. Collectively, they dedicated decades of service to UDOT, with Cletis Hatch serving 34 years, Gary Black...

Members of the Keith and Deann Ivins family on the range. Courtesy photo

Ivins Cattle Ranch: Survival and success

by Janet Wilcox Contributing writer Livestock and ranching have been central to survival in San Juan County since long before 1880, when pioneers arrived through the Hole in the Rock. Keith and Deann Ivins descend from early pioneers in both Nevada and San Juan County. Deann’s ancestors include...

Local resident Mark Colgan, center, after a recent competition. Courtesy photo

Local earns national karate honors

Mark E. Colgan, Sensei, a resident of Monticello has come out of retirement and is making a run for the National Point Championship on the United States Karate Alliance (USKA) national circuit, earning top honors at multiple tournaments across the United States this year. Competing in traditional...

Christmas on the Farm

“Christmas on the Farm,” the second year of a family-fun event hosted by Farm Bureau and Lewis Farms, will run from 5 to 9 p.m. beginning Friday December 19, continuing on Saturday December 20, and finishing on Monday, December 22. “Christmas on the Farm” is an outdoor walking tour at Lewis Farms,...

Christmas sing-a-long

A Christmas sing-a-long is this Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Monticello The First Baptist Church of Monticello is excited to announce the fifth annual Christmas Sing-a-Long this Sunday, December 21. Everyone is invited to come join in celebration of our Savior’s birth as world-class...

Christmas is full of wonderful memories from the past and into the present. Courtesy photo

Christmas memories/ celebrations

by Janet Wilcox Contributing writer Families throughout the world have unique ways of celebrating Christmas. Because of its significance in our lives and the diversity of our traditions, Christmas memories are different for each family and person. Though the central focus is on Christ’s birth,...

Monticello Gingerbread House Winners

Seventeen businesses participated in the 2025 gingerbread tour including: Monticello Merc True Value, Monticello Library, Unique Creations, Elk Ridge Wellness Center, Blue Mountain Meats, Conoco/Subway, Blue Mountain Foods, Emery Telecom, Utah State University Monticello Campus, Overbite, Desert...

Dani Wilkins, owner, operator, and instructor of Chance to Dance Ballroom in Monticello. Courtesy photo

Chance to Dance Studio presents First Ballroom Show December 18

By Sally Jack Contributing Writer “You know what we’ve got in Monticello? We’ve got dance!” exclaims Dani Wilkins, owner, operator, and instructor of Chance to Dance Ballroom in Monticello. “We’re putting on our first show, and I want everyone to take the chance to come and enjoy the show!” “The...

Northern San Juan County gift guide

by Kara Laws Contriburting Writer Last week we talked about Christmas shopping ideas from the south end of San Juan County. This week, we are going to explore what the northern part of San Juan County has to offer. Shopping with local businesses changes lives and families so we are going to do our...

Messiah returns on December 14

A San Juan County Christmas tradition continues this weekend with the 45th annual local performance of Handel’s Messiah. The 2025 performance of Messiah will be presented on Sunday, December 14 at 7 p.m. in the Blanding Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 88 West 800...