San Juan County

Haaland is first Native in presidential cabinet

New Mexico Congresswoman Deb Haaland was confirmed as the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior by the US Senate on March 15 by a vote of 51-40. Secretary Haaland, an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, will be the first Native American to serve in a cabinet-level position. Haaland...

Settlement revisited

San Juan County Commissioners met in a special meeting on March 11 to discuss one item of the resolution approving the lawsuit settlement agreement between the Navajo Nation and the county regarding voting rights. At the March 11 meeting, Commissioners Kenneth Maryboy and Willie Grayeyes voted to...

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland credit: US House of Representatives

Rep Deb Haaland Confirmed As Secretary of the Interior

State legislative session comes to a close

The Utah state legislative session came to a close on Friday, March 5, ending a 45-day session featuring a lot of work from area representatives and interest groups. San Juan County is represented in the State House of Representatives by Republican Phil Lyman of Blanding and in the State Senate by...

Commission approves letter to BLM

At their March 2 meeting, the San Juan County Commission approved a letter to the Bureau of Land Management asking them to reject oil and gas leases in the McCracken Mesa area. The letter was supported by a resolution from the Navajo Utah Commission, and supported in public comment by Red Mesa...

County Commission approves continuation of voting lawsuit settlement, discusses airstrip

Voting accessibility, benefits for victims of radiation, and a housing development surrounding a Spanish Valley airstrip were all topics of conversation at the February 16 meeting of the San Juan County Commission. The commission moved through the meeting in unison for most items. Commissioners...

Commission votes to deny permit for OHV rally

by David Boyle News Director The San Juan County Commission denied a request from Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) event organizers to lease land from the county in Spanish Valley but did encourage them to move the event into other parts of the county. The Rally on the Rocks is an annual guided ride event...

Three directors to leave county government

Directors of three departments in San Juan County have recently announced their departures. Public Health Director Kirk Benge, Economic Development and Tourism Director Natalie Randall, and Human Resources and Planning and Zoning Director Walter Bird have all accepted offers for positions...

Dry weather continues for yet another month

Another month of warm and dry weather in San Juan County, with drought conditions strengthening their grip on the area. In the Drought Monitor released on December 31, the entire county, except for a small sliver in the northwest corner of San Juan County, is listed in Exceptional Drought, the...

Phil Lyman receives Presidential Pardon

Blanding resident and Utah House of Representative member Phil Lyman received a Presidential Pardon Tuesday from President Donald Trump. In 2014 Lyman, who was serving as a San Juan County Commissioner at the time, led an ATV protest ride in Recapture Canyon, located just outside of Blanding....