San Juan County

San Juan County residents set a new record for voter turnout

A remarkable 87 percent of registered voters in San Juan County participated in the November 3 General Election. The 6,761 ballots that were cast represent a 1,215 vote (22 percent) increase over the 2016 General Election, which was a record number at the time. The results indicate that despite the...

Another dry month strengthens drought

With a sixth consecutive month of dryer-than-normal weather, San Juan County appears to be locked in a drought. The most recent US Drought Monitor, released on October 29, shows all of San Juan County in Extreme Drought, with the northern portion of the county classified as Exceptional Drought,...

Nearly half of local residents have already voted

San Juan County Clerk John David Nielson says that as of October 27, the county has 7,751 active registered voters for the 2020 general election. The record high number of active registered voters is a 9.75 percent increase since the last presidential election in 2016. So far, 3,754 ballots have...

County turns down request to vacate road

Roads from Spanish Valley to Dennehotso were discussed at the October 6 San Juan County Commission meeting. The commission started with discussion regarding a request to close a road inside Area BFE located in northern San Juan County. Area BFE is a 320-acre park with 15 trails for off-highway...

Energy Fuels says they are now debt free

The company that owns the White Mesa Uranium Mine in San Juan County announced they are now debt free. Energy Fuels made the announcement on October 6 that the company had retired its remaining debt, making it free of long- and short-term debt. President and CEO of Energy Fuels, Mark Chalmers says...

Firewood distributed to help Native families

The Warming Hogans program is now distributing free wood to elderly and Native people in need throughout San Juan County. The program, which is a part of Utah Navajo Health System (UNHS), had its first distribution day on October 6. Hundreds of Navajos from San Juan County gathered loads of...

2020 General Election candidate profiles

Voter list grows nearly 10 percent since 2016

San Juan County Clerk John David Nielson says that as of September 29, the county has 7,730 people registered to vote in the 2020 general election. This is already a record high, with more than a month to go before the election. This represents a nearly 10 percent increase in the number of...

San Juan County creates new Rural County Grant Program for local businesses to grow, expand

The San Juan County Economic Development and Visitor Services office has created a new grant program from the ground up. In January the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) realigned spending priorities following passage of a state senate bill in the most recent legislative session...

One COVID-19 Vaccine trial is including a few hundred members of the Navajo Nation in its final trial of the drug

COVID-19 vaccine trial to include hundreds of members of the Navajo Nation

The final phase of study for a coronavirus vaccine will include volunteers from the Navajo Nation. Since coronavirus first arrived in the United States in the late winter of 2020, a race among pharmaceutical companies to find a vaccine for the virus has been underway. Now three companies and their...