Life in San Juan

An oar-shaped digging stick, about 800 years old and probably made of oak. Photo courtesy Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum

Ancestral Farmer’s Digging Stick

The Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum’s “New to the Edge” exhibit features an Ancestral digging stick. The hardwood stick (which is about three feet in length) includes a blade, handle, and knob. They have all been polished through repeated handling and use. The shape of the blade and length of...

After extensive remodeling, the Blanding Motel became the Stone Lizard Lodge, continuing more than seven decades of lodging to visitors to Blanding from near and far. Courtesy photo

The Stone Lizard Flourishes with Simpson TLC

by Janet Wilcox The Craig and Kathy Simpson family bought the Blanding Motel from Gary and Sharon Guymon in September 2011 and embarked on a journey of creativity, problem solving and success. Their son Adam designed a metal Stone Lizard which became the motel’s namesake. He also made signs and...

San Juan County Fair is Country to the Core

by Bill Boyle Editor The San Juan County Fair is Country to the Core in 2024. The festivities started on July 27 and will run through Saturday, August 10, providing a host of fun opportunities at the county fairgrounds in Monticello. County fair events include rodeos, livestock auctions, games, and...

Anna Fredericks was the Grand Marshall of the 2024 Pioneer Day Parade. Anna is consistenly busy volunteering including taking photographs of high school events and doing behind the scense work for the Monticello wrestling program. Anna also has been the county fair director for many years. Pictured with her family from left to right: Zac, Elise, Tyler, Anna and Danny. Courtesy photo

Anna Fredericks is Pioneer Day Grand Marshal

by Sally Jack Contributing writer The City of Monticello selected Anna Fredericks to serve as the Grand Marshall in the 2024 Pioneer Day Parade, which was held on Saturday, July 20. City and county officials were pleased to honor Anna as Grand Marshall for her many years of excellent service as...

Before it was the Stone Lizard Lodge it was the Blanding Motel. Courtesy photo

Blanding Motel & Stone Lizard Lodge site turns 70 this year

Part I, The Blickenstaff Years Gene and Francell Blickenstaff made a significant impact on Blanding for dozens of years. They were the first to build a motel in town which consisted of seven cabins. Gene had just returned home from serving in the Army in Europe during World War II. He bought...

Monticello City ready for Pioneer Day Events

“Back to Our Roots” is the theme of the 2024 edition of the annual Monticello Pioneer Days celebration. The two-day celebration runs Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20. The weekend features a community-wide celebration, along with many reunions. A full schedule of events can be found on page B8 of...

Monticello Temple President and Matrons

Presidents and matrons of the Monticello Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints recently met for a photo. The temple was dedicated 25 years ago. See more photos at the San Juan Record websiate at sjrnews.com. Courtesy photo

San Juan Credit Union scholarship winners include: (top left) Jemma Robison, (top right) Ally Shumway, (bottom left) Synessa Atcitty, and (bottom right) Kaylee Warren. Courtesy photo

San Juan Credit Union awards scholarships

San Juan Credit Union recently held its 2024 scholarship contest. Each year graduating seniors from the five San Juan County high schools are invited to write an essay detailing what it means to live in San Juan County and how it has impacted their lives, in addition to academic and other...

Horizon Chapter One, the first of four feature-length old-fashioned Western movies to be shot in the area, was released last week to mixed reviews. Area residents should not miss seeing it on the big screen, says SJR Editor Bill Boyle. Courtesy photo

Don’t miss Horizon

by Bill Boyle San Juan Record Editor The first full-screen old-fashioned western movie in decades was released in recent days and the main star – in a movie full of stars – is the spectacular landscape of the Redrock Country. Simply put: residents of the area have got to see Horizon… and on the big...

At age 87 Bonnie Meyers is still going strong, quilting for her increasingly large family every day. Her craft has provided a beautiful and heartfelt legacy that will last many years into the future. Courtesy photo

Pick a little, stitch a little – 80 years of Bonnie Meyers’ quilting

by Janet Wilcox Contributing Writer Bonnie Guymon Meyers started sewing when she was in high school and she hasn’t stopped since. She, along with Evelyn Perkins and Joleen Holt, have been charter members of Grayson Country Quilters since 1995 when they and other quilters organized the Blanding club...