Life in San Juan

Guiders for the San Juan ATV Safari are prepared to guide on over a dozen rides throughout San Juan. San Juan ATV Safari photo

Annual ATV Safari is this week in San Juan

ATV’s will be all over San Juan County this weekend as the annual San Juan ATV Safari is back. Rides throughout all of San Juan County will give visitors and locals alike an opportunity to enjoy great views in perfect weather. The 23rd annual safari starts on Wednesday September 17 concluding on...

Drag Main in Monticello

Car enthusiasts and reminiscing area residents will congregate in Monticello on the evening of Saturday, September 13 for an epic “Drag Main” Extravaganza! Look for lights, treats and more at the new headquarters of Westcott Motors on South Main. Cruise to the sounds of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s...

How to sell a business: 7 urgent steps you need to take right now

by Kara Laws Contributing writer All business owners should be creating a business they can sell later. This is especially true in our small towns where we see too many Main Street businesses closing up shop. One day you will want to retire. And you only have two options: 1) Close down and walk...

Dr. Kent Lyman to perform Sept. 19

Dr. Kent Lyman, concert pianist and Blanding native, will be Kigalia Fine Arts’ first performer of the 2025-2026 season on Friday, September 19 at 6 pm at the San Juan High Auditorium in Blanding. Kent Lyman is a Steinway Artist, and was inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame...

Augmented Reality Exhibit to revisit 1923 incarceration

Through the Silence: A pop-up augmented reality experience exploring the Aniknuche Incarceration of 1923 will bring local history and art to life in Blanding over Labor Day weekend, commemorating the Aniknuche Incarceration of 1923. The exhibit will explore hidden layers of Ute (Nuuchu) local...

The winning team of the All-Church Classic from Blanding set a record of just one defeat in 32 games for the year. Pictured: (top row, left to right) (Unknown), Kent Black, Connie Nielson, Calvin Butts, Kay Bradford, Coach LaRay Alexander. Bottom: Calvin Perkins, Richard Perkins, Glenn Rupp, Dudley Rowley, and Eugene Shumway. Deseret News photo

Sports and Spurs Part Two Richard Corry Perkins turned 97 on August 18

by Richard Lynn Perkins and Beverly Gayle Perkins Shumway Richard Perkins has a rich San Juan County heritage. His parents, Hyrum Corry Perkins and Mary Kisten Adams were both born and raised in Bluff, Utah. When they were 16 years old, they each finished an 8th grade education, which was the...

Kristin Black, San Juan County 4-H, and Craig Stanley, Clark’s Market manager. Courtesy photo

Bagging Support: Clark’s Market Gives Big to San Juan County 4-H

Utah State University Extension’s San Juan County 4-H program recently received a $8,996.16 donation from Clark’s Market, through the store’s Non-Profit Monday Program. The donation will directly support youth development programs in the county. The opportunity came about when a San Juan County...

Monticello area youth joined forces to raise more than $1,000 at a bake sale. The funds will go toward helping families and individuals who were impacted by the Deer Creek Fire in Old La Sal. Courtesy photo

Girls hold bake sale to raise money for fire victims

When the Deer Creek fire ignited in an inhabited area of Old La Sal on July 10, news spread quickly. By Saturday July 12, the fire had destroyed several homes, vacation cabins, camper trailers and other structures. By the time it came under containment the fire had destroyed 17,742 acres of forests...

Steps to protect small towns while welcoming growth

by Kara Laws Contributing writer San Juan County is made up entirely of small towns facing the question, How do we preserve our small towns while our communities grow? The topic came up in the Blanding Meet the Candidates meeting last week, some candidates seemed unsure on how to balance growth and...

Stained glass guru Mark Lyman. Courtesy photo.

Counselor, friend Mark Lyman is also Blanding’s Stained Glass Guru

by Janet Wilcox Contributing writer Most people think of Mark Lyman as a skilled counselor and wise friend, but he also has many creative talents. He majored in art at Brigham Young Universtity, graduating in 1967. This led him to a skill that few people are patient enough to learn: creating...