MANTI — The Spirit of Freedom Pageant has been officially designated as an America 250 Utah Community Event. America 250 is the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Across the country, Americans are planning unique and inspiring ways to celebrate this semiquincentennial milestone….
FAIRVIEW—A plan to secure longterm funding for the Fairview Library won the clear backing of the city council at a meeting March 24, where members voted unanimously to move forward with a small, dedicated property tax. Councilman Michael McKay framed the choice in simple terms, saying the issue came down to “whether we have the…
EPHRAIM—More than 120 people gathered outside Ephraim City Hall on Saturday, March 28 for a No Kings event to protest the actions of the Trump administration. The protest took place on the sidewalk in front of city hall from 1-2 p.m., although some lingered longer into the mid-afternoon. One of those attendees was Becky Adams,…
SALT LAKE CITY—The No Kings rally at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City last Saturday attracted a mix of college-age young adults, parents with children, retired people and the elderly. At one point, rally organizers said the crowd numbered 20,000. But the Utah Highway Patrol estimated the crowd at 8,000, and the Salt Lake…
NEPHI—The R6 Regional Council has purchased 930 acres about 4 miles northwest of Nephi and is beginning to prepare a master plan for the long-anticipated Central Utah Agri-park. The goal of the project, says Shaun Kjar, the director, is to “help legacy agriculture,” or put more simply to “save the family farm.” An agri-park is an industrial park that specializes…
MANTI — Sanpete County commissioners on March 17 heard updates on a proposed regional mental health receiving center, approved a new fee arrangement for the Take-the-Oath Memorial Day rodeo event and discussed a push to recruit more senior-companion volunteers in the county. One of the most substantial discussions came from Central Utah Counseling Center (CUCC),…
FOUNTAIN GREEN—The Fountain Green Cemetery will receive a facelift this year with the demolition of an old cemetery bridge and construction of a new one. The cemetery was the main topic at the city council meeting on Thursday, March 19. Late last year, then-mayor Mark Coombs secured a $340,000 grant from the Utah Division of…
MORONI—The Moroni City Council has voted to contract with the North Valley Public Safety Department for police services and to discontinue its contract with the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office. Based on the demeanor of council members at a meeting Thursday, March 19, the change was a big decision, but in the end the vote was…
EPHRAIM — With Sanpete County preparing for another year in which it awards grants to businesses in the county, the Sanpete Opportunity Board used its latest meeting, held at the Ephraim City Hall, to reorganize its leadership, review the county’s small-business grant effort, and consider how economic development money could also support an industrial park…
MANTI — A woman accused of interfering with testimony during her son’s felony trial in Sanpete County now faces two second-degree felony counts of obstruction of justice, according to charging documents filed in 6th District Court. Court records identify the defendant as Junstina Faapouli, 49, of Colorado Springs. The charges stem from allegations tied to…
MT. PLEASANT—The Wellspring Christian Community will host a series of events in early April to mark the Easter season, offering opportunities for worship, reflection and community gathering centered on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The observance will begin Thursday, April 2, with a Passover Seder meal at 6 p.m. in the Upper Room…
EPHRAIM—The Ephraim City Council is considering requiring amenities, such as playgrounds, benches and firepits, in all new multifamily developments. The council reviewed a proposal for requiring such amenities at a meeting March 4. At the same meeting, the council considered concepts for a short-term rental ordinance governing units, such as AirBnBs, that are rented for…
MANTI — Local officials, business leaders and aviation supporters gathered Thursday evening at the Sanpete County Regional Airport for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the airport’s new name and broader role as a countywide transportation asset. The event, facilitated by the Sanpete County Chamber of Commerce, had commentary from Chamber President Faylyn Warnick, True North Flight…
FAIRVIEW — The Fairview City Planning Commission spent much of its March 3 meeting discussing whether city rules should be adjusted to allow smaller-lot housing. The meeting’s longest discussion centered on an affordable housing presentation from David Mast, who told the commission he wants to build modest starter homes in town where water and sewer…
MT. PLEASANT—Terrel Seely, who bought a tiny grocery store on Main Street in Mt. Pleasant in the early 1970s and expanded the business to six grocery stores from Payson to Fillmore, died Friday, March 13 at 81. Seely became known for operating higher quality stores than might be expected based on the sizes of the…