Showing posts with label San Juan REcord. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Juan REcord. Show all posts

Friday, March 27, 2020

Isolation Travels To San Juan, 3-27-2020

Spring in San Juan:  Sun, Snow, Rain, Wind, and Tourists!

News Affecting the West

~~ Broken Arm Slows Down Newsletter.
        On Feb. 18, while moving boxes, I missed the bottom step and fell, breaking my right arm, upper humerus.  A week ago I finally healed enough that I could use my keyboard again, but I'm not back to normal. Hence the lack of a Bear Essentials newsletter for over a month.  We are also in the process of selling our home, and moving to a smaller property, so things have been very hectic.  There are things still happening in the county.  Hope you are subscribing to the San Juan Record and staying informed.  Other state and national news outlets may not have the "full" story.  

~~ San Juan Record

~~Culture Displacement and Appropriation Impacts Bluff

~~ Catch up on the Canyon Zephyr 

-- Mellor Willie Co-founder of 7 Gen Leaders Political Pac







~~ Catch up on Bill Keshlear's MONUMENTAL DIVIDE

~~ Blanding Continues to Pull Together in Crisis

      Despite what outside sources may promote in the media, Blanding has for several years encouraged a cooperative approach to solving problems thanks to social media.  For example, a few weeks ago, our visiting son and family, lost a little lamb.  A Navajo worker on his way home happened to notice it, and seeing it had a collar, picked up the friendly little critter, and when he got home called the police.  
     About that same time our family noticed that Jacob was missing, and everyone joined in a search party to find the little lost lamb.  I posted the info on several Facebook sites, and within minutes a neighbor let us know that the police had it.  In less than an hour, the friendly wandering lamb was back home.  That's how networking happens in Blanding.  People keep track of their neighbors, and help out and even when you don't know them, you do the right thing.  That's what this young man did. 

Here is a list of local Facebook Groups which also help our community to function and help to unite all cultures, races, ages. Monticello has similar social media groups as well.  Many are open to the general public, others require a request to join. 

1.  Both Blanding Calendar  and Blanding Bulletin are set up to help notify citizens of events happening in the community.  

2.  Probably Blanding's 24/7 Yard Sale has united more people than any other site.   You'll find yourself buying and selling to folks you never knew before and new connections and friendships are initiated.  Just today (3/27/2020) this site sent out a notice that " Sara Lee and Packard Wholesale have donated about 700 loaves of bread, bagels and buns"  They were gone in 2 hrs...so it pays to pay attention.  

3. Good News Blanding has over 1000 members and is designed to promote those things of good report.  There's too much negativity in the world and in some people brains, so the site is designed to combat that.  Guidelines state: This Group is for sharing Good News happening in and around Blanding or accomplishments far and near of those with Blanding ties.

Post should be items that are timeless. Please DO NOT post items that should go on a calendar/ tryouts/ auditions/ADS, etc. It is not about memes, political views, or advertising, or debate and complaints.

This site is about being cheerleaders for good in the world and recognizing those events, people, and successes as we celebrate together.

4. One of the newest groups to emerge because of the Contra Virus impact, is Blanding Stone Soup.  Just started a few weeks ago, there are already over 400 people committed to helping their neighbors.  Started by a savvy social worker.  The premise of the group is this: 

"Stone soup is one of my favorite children's fables

It's about a village that was in the middle of a horrible famine. Everyone was hoarding and hiding the food that they had but it wasn't enough and they were all starving.

One day a man got a big pot and put it on a fire in the town square. He filled it with water and placed a stone from the river in it.

When he was asked what he was making he said stone soup and invited people to have some when it was ready.

One by one the villagers donated something they had hidden away that may make the soup even better. One had an onion, one a carrot, one a cabbage, one a piece of roast.... till the pot was completely full. They learned that by sharing what they had, they all had more and no one was hungry.

My sister had this great idea that got me thinking, none of us have everything but we all have something. Maybe you can babysit for someone who has to work, maybe you can pick up someone's groceries so an at risk person doesn't have to go in pubic or maybe you have extra goods that you aren't going to use or some knowledge that could help someone. This is the place to give as well as ask for help. This is a place for friends and neighbors to check in.

There are a few rules though:

No asking for money allowed. (as in "please pay my rent". Also this is not a selling group. You Can offer to pay for something that you are looking for and Trades are encouraged.)

No politics
No fighting
No judging
No spreading panic
No exceptions!

Jokes, songs, uplifting quotes or memes and all kinds of support and compassion are welcome and encouraged.
Please invite your local friends who should be here and who have the same spirit of community and pulling together.



5.  There are also lots of specialty groups and clubs in Blanding like the Blanding Book Group (which is self quarantined until further notice...however, a few have posted reviews of books on site. I'll focus on more of those next time.  
Both the Edge of the Cedars Museum, and the Wilcox family at 300 W. 100 S. have Free libraries where you can pick up books to read.  (There are also lots of books on our corner and other things that people have discarded, which are free for the taking. )

~~ Leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Encourages all to Fast this Sunday With Offerings to Bless Others Worldwide. 














~~ First Case of Covid- 19 in San Juan County confirmed 3/27/2020

~~ Corona Virus Cases on the Navajo Reservation


~~ Now is Not a Good Time For Tourists to Visit Bears Ears  

Ironic that Josh Ewing is the source of this article. 

~~Rural Areas Targets of Social distancing.  High Country News

~~Podmore has hard time finding balance and objectivity in covering news: 

~~ Dangers of Self Isolating on Public Lands

   

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Halloween 2019 Brings More Tricks, Fewer Treats Oct. 31, 2019



What's New In the West and San Juan County

~~ Concerns regarding Nov. 5 vote:  "Illegal electioneering is a class A misdemeanor and SJC election administrator should be scrupulously neutral."

Better get out and vote "Yes" before Nov. 5 
or you'll have yet another thing to complain about!

~~ Questions Arise Over Nov. Ballot Follow up by San Juan Record 10/28/19

~~ Solutions for Wild Mustangs? Japan and Mexico may Have the Answer  

~~ Utah Fire Fighters Head to California

~~ Nov. 5 Commission meeting Agenda

SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING - COMMISSION ROOM
AGENDA
November 5, 2019

  9:00 A.M. Work Meeting

1. USU Extension Update / Personnel - Paige Wray, USU Extension Agent/County Director
2. Halls Crossing - Cal Black Airport Capital Improvement Plan - Kirk Nielson, Javiation
3. Halls Crossing - Cal Black Airport Development  Opportunities Discussion - Natalie Randall, San Juan County Economic Development and Visitors Services Director
4. Briefing on Proposed Zoning Ordinances and the Spanish Valley Land Use Status - Walter Bird, San Juan County Planning and Zoning Director
5. Aging Contract - Tammy Gallegos, San Juan County Aging Director
6. County Health Insurance Renewal increase - John Fellmeth, San Juan County IT Director/Deputy Auditor
7. Y.E.S. for Dine Bikeyah Sponsorship for the Naatsisaan Ultra and Monument Valley Kids Marathon - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
8. Eastern Utah Television and Technology Association Board Member Assignment - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
9. South Eastern Utah Regional Transportation Plan Cooperative Agreement - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
10. Letter to Bureau of Land Management Concerning La Sal 2 Well APD - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
11. Spanish Valley Updates - Jerry McNeely, San Juan County Liaison
12. Public lands updates - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning

11:00 A.M. Commission Meeting

1. Approval of minutes - August 6, 2019
2. Citizens' comments to the commission* (Please complete the request form - available at the door)
3. Board of Equalization Adjustments - Greg Adams, San Juan County Assessor
4. Aging Contract for Approval - Tammy Gallegos, San Juan County Aging Director
5. New Hires - Walter Bird, San Juan County Human Resources Director
6. USU Dinosaur Museum Partnership Support Letter - Natalie Randall, San Juan County Economic Development and Visitor Services Director
7. Approve and Execute County Health Insurance Renewal Increase - John Fellmeth, San Juan County IT Director/Deputy Auditor
8. Letter to Bureau of Land Management Concerning La Sal 2 Well APD - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
9. Federal Partners Appreciation Letters - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
10. Ratify Purchase of John Deere Articulated Dump Truck - Randy Rarick, San Juan County Landfill Manager
11. Approve and Execute South Eastern Utah Regional Transportation Plan Cooperative Agreement - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
12. Y.E.S. for Dine Bikeyah Sponsorship of the Naatsisaan Ultra and Monument Valley Kids Marathon - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
13. A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONCERN AND OPPOSITION OF THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPROVE THE SPANISH VALLEY AGGREGATE AND HOT MIX ASPHALT PLANT WITHIN SAN JUAN COUNTY
14. A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND UPDATING THE REMAINING REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNTY MEETINGS AND MEETING LOCATIONS FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE PURSUANT TO SECTION 52-4-202 OF THE UTAH CODE

   “States like Utah have a proven track record of successful partnerships with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management,” Lee said. “These partnerships have resulted in the restoration of millions of acres of high priority watersheds, wildlife habitat and rangelands. We need to continue to expand and encourage these kinds of efforts to allow states to step up and lead.”
Curtis said there are a “disproportionate” amount of public lands in the Western states and that the dialogue in Washington, D.C. often excludes the downfalls, such as a lack of property tax generated by those lands (often the main source of revenue for local governments) and a limited ability for economic development to take place. He called the situation “divisive,” and said the federal government is failing to adequately fund management of those lands, citing “two BLM agents in San Juan County, managing that entire area” as an example of where federal management has fallen short."

    Comments Regarding this letter were most Uncivil, yet the  SL Tribune blinks an eye, despite their policy:  
"The Tribune moderates comments to ensure the conversation is respectful and on topic. We do not allow comments that include personal attacks, threats, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity (including expletives and letters followed by characters), commercial promotion, spam, fake profiles, multiple accounts, incoherence and shouting.

"In addition, a comment may be removed if it is deemed to be uncivil, inappropriate, racist, sexist, homophobic, bigoted, blatant “trolling” or is not related to the topic at hand. While moderation decisions are subjective, our moderators try to be as consistent as possible. Generally, we will not allow comments to become bogged down with discussions of our moderation policy and activity.

"We encourage opinions and criticisms of our work; however, those criticisms must relate to the articles in question. Personal attacks against Tribune staff will not be permitted.

"The Tribune does not edit comments but it may respond to comments that contain factual inaccuracies."

~~ Nat'l Park Maintenance Falls Far Behind Needs

~~ Latest from the Sierra Club 

~~ Goats in the LaSals Get Grand Canyon Trust's Goat



Wednesday, January 17, 2018

~~ Bear Essentials ~January 17, 2018 ~~

If NOT, then we need to speak up now.

v Email John Curtis  https://curtis.house.gov/contact/email
“This bill also has a mineral withdrawal for the original 1.35-million-acre designation under President Obama. This bill is about protecting areas, not opening mining, or oil and gas, development.”
n  BLM Requesting Input from SJC  San Juan Record
n  How to Refocus the Antiquities Act  Washington Examiner
n  Congress Criticizes BLM Actions: Bundy & Steinle Cases
On January 10, Rob Bishop and Bruce Westerman of the House Natural Resources Committee wrote a letter to the Acting Director of the Bureau of Land Management, Brian Steed, citing flagrant ethical and legal violations by agents involved in a number of high profile and deadly incidents.”


” The first paragraph of the bill, the first action, is to withdraw all of the original 1.35 million acres of land designated under the Obama Bears Monument from any future mineral extraction. This was done for one purpose and one purpose only, to appease the environmentalists.”

Drought Conditions in San Juan; please continue to pray for snow!
                   
           Other Articles/ Events of Local Interest
                                                                 ~~~~~~                                                                   
 http://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/          
                     Documenting Bears Ears “No Monument” efforts since July 2016