GUNNISON—A wave of far-right political action committees (PACs) is seeking to shift the direction of education policy in Utah, but the groups aren’t open about what they’re doing, says Kim Pickett, member of the South Sanpete School Board, who recently ran for the Utah State Board of Education. “All these groups were very successful in…
INDIANOLA—Driving along U.S. 89 in the Indianola Valley, a visitor can enjoy views of meadows and mountains, and often get glimpses of foraging deer or soaring hawks overhead. But appearances are deceiving. The Indianola Valley, part of the unincorporated county, is home to almost 50 residential subdivisions, with a combined 2,300 lots that involve more…
RICHFIELD—Utah’s population is expected to grow by two-thirds and the number of households in Utah is expected to double to 2.2 million by 2060, the Six County Association of Governments announced at the Regional Growth Summit held in Richfield on May 10. The annual meeting discusses growth issues in Juab, Millard, Piute, Sevier, Wayne, as…
The Spanish Trails District of the Boy Scouts of America has appointed a new district chairman. Beaver County’s Von Christiansen has replaced Ken Carpenter of Iron County, who has accepted a new assignment as the chair of the Thunder Ridge Scout Camp near Parowan, Utah. The district includes Sanpete County as well as nine other…
FAIRVIEW—Recipients of the 2022 CentraCom college scholarships include two high school seniors from Sanpete County. Rachael Jones from North Sanpete High School was awarded a $750 scholarship, which she will take to Utah Valley University in the fall. Tayten Jax King of Gunnison Valley High School was awarded a $2,000 scholarship, $1,500…
MANTI—After evaluation by a mental health professional, James Koyle, the man who provoked a huge police response in Mt. Pleasant on March 31 after he threatened four law enforcement officers, was released from jail on Wednesday, April 27. A mental health counselor’s evaluation of Koyle determined that “he is safe enough to be released with…
WASHINGTON—A significant step forward in maintaining federal funding for the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area (MPNHA) and the other national heritage areas occurred last week. The amended version of a bill called the National Heritage Area Act advanced out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Tuesday, May 3,…
EPHRAIM—A slew of spray-painted graffiti is defacing rocks off the New Canyon Road in Ephraim Canyon this spring, says Kevin Christensen, director of economic development for Sanpete County. “There was always a small amount of graffiti in that area, but it has just exploded this spring,” said Christensen who believes it is being done by…
Sanpete County will receive payments of approximately $60,000 per year for 18 years from settlement of a suit against big drug companies related to the opioid crisis, according to Sanpete County Attorney Kevin Daniels. Johnson & Johnson and three of the largest prescription drug distributors, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson, accepted culpability last…
FAIRVIEW—The home at 15 E. Center Street was built by Albert Christensen in 1904. He owned a coal mine east of Fairview and installed a stove-pipe coal furnace in the home, which was a sign of wealth at the time. Christensen employed several artisans to add Victorian flourishes inside the home, such as…