San Juan County

Map of the Velvet-Wood and Slick Rock projects. Image from Anfield Energy report

Velvet-Wood mine application approved

The Department of Interior has approved the reopening of a uranium mine in Lisbon Valley. On May 23 the Department of Interior (DOI) announced the approvals for Canadian based Anfield energy to operate the Velvet-Wood mines in Lisbon Valley. The approval came just 11 days after the department...

San Juan Commission gets fire and building reports

Members of the San Juan County Commission received reports on wildfire safety, building code and approved a grant for OHV trail maintenance at their latest meeting. Members of the San Juan County commission received a report from San Juan County Fire Warden Ryan McArthur presented on wildfire...

The newly named Mammoth Arch located in Beef Basin. Courtesy photo

Commission okays rock name, moves on fire change, hears from PAC

by David Boyle News Director Members of the San Juan County Commission moved forward on handing fire fighting equipment to the Navajo Nation, approved the name of rock formations in Beef Basin and heard a survey report from citizens about unincorporated San Juan County at their latest meeting....

Separate crashes on county roads claim lives of two travelers

by Bill Boyle San Juan Record Editor Separate crashes claimed two lives on San Juan County roads on May 8. Both single-car crashes resulted in the driver being thrown from the vehicle and dying at the scene of the crash. At around 2 p.m., 71-year-old Bruce Griffith of Copper Mountain, Colorado, was...

A bus was totally destroyed in a fire on May 9 on Highway 191 near La Sal Junction. No injuries were reported. Photo courtesy Monticello City Fire Department

Bus burns to ground on Highway 191 south of La Sal Junction

While none of the 36 people onboard a bus were injured, the bus was totally destroyed after a fire on Highway 191 south of La Sal Junction on May 9. A total of 36 people, mostly sixth grade students from the Denver area, were on a bus that started to experience mechanical difficulties while...

A pursuit along highway 191 on May 2 ended when a vehcile fleeing law enforcement crashed off the side of the road. Courtesy photo

Chase along 191 ends in crash and arrest

by David Boyle News Director Local law enforcement arrested a suspected drunk driver after a chase on 191 ended in a single-car collision on Friday May 2. San Juan County Sheriff’s office shared law enforcement officers located the driver of a red pickup truck after receiving reports of a possibly...

Local is new Ag deputy

Troy Forrest, a San Juan County native with more than 25 years of experience in the field, is a new Deputy Commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). UDAF Commissioner Kelly Pehrson appointed Forrest and Amber Brown to serve as Deputy Commissioners. Brown and Forrest were...

Thomas Chee, leader of the Westwater community, at the spring that provided the closest source of freshwater to Westwater for many years. New culinary water lines now bring fresh water into the 23 homes in Westwater. An emoptional Chee said, “For many years, we have been relying on this beautiful water right here. It sustains life.” Staff photo

Culinary water system extends to Westwater area west of Blanding

by Bill Boyle Editor Running water is now available in the Westwater community, immediately west of Blanding. A celebration on April 25 culminated a four-year project that has helped transformed the once isolated area on the west side of the canyon. Water and electricity is now available to the 23...

Business Basecamp Conference is April 28

By Sally Jack Staff Writer San Juan Economic Development announces the fourth annual San Juan County Business Basecamp Conference and Expo on Monday, April 28 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the USU Blanding Arts & Events Center. Tickets are $30 per person and provide access to the entire event,...

New Commissioner of Agriculture and Food

Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Kelly Pehrson as the new Commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), pending confirmation by the Utah State Senate. Pehrson’s appointment follows the retirement of former Commissioner Craig Buttars. Governor Cox had appointed Pehrson to...