Life in the West Amid Covid and Controversy -- Oct. 5, 2020

News In The West

Fall on Blue Mountain:  Photo Courtesy Blanding City

~~November Election: Think Before You Vote  

by Janet Wilcox       

With just a few months until the elections, it behooves all of us to dig a little deeper for facts, as we determine for whom to vote in all levels of government. It’s a time to evaluate our core values, philosophies and freedoms, then then seek candidates we can trust to promote and protect those eternal truths. The future of the United States could turn sour for all if “extreme” socialists are elected who do not believe in these values.  Please research and query every candidate before you vote.  Rather than criticizing how candidates deliver their messages or believing other superficial data, we should evaluate their political philosophy and past actions.  

      Those who live in less populated states should be also be concerned about protecting the Electoral College which ensures that each state is equally represented in Congress; otherwise we are controlled by the East and West Coast extremes.  All of us should also vote for those who will curtail excess Federal spending, instead of looking at more ways to spiral the debt ever more into the abyss. (This includes not voting for those who support using our hard earned Social Security Insurance to pay for foolish whims.) The National debt is now over $26.7 TRILLION!  Consider who the foreign countries are who may bail the USA out of that fiscal quagmire!  Citizens who value peace, security, and individual rights must elect those who will support our military, law enforcement, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.  Don’t take your right to vote lightly; the future of all Americans depends on far-sighted and judicious voters.  

~~Stiles: Fast Forward to 2045 -- What Election 2020 Triggered

--From 2045…REMEMBERING THE 2020 ELECTION …by Jim Stiles • September 30, 2020 

“I am very cautious of people who are absolutely right, especially when they are vehemently so.”  –Michael Palin NOTE: This story is not intended to be prophecy, projection, or prediction; nor is it offered as a warning or a celebration of “things to come.” It’s merely idle speculation on my part, based on trends I see happening in America, for better or worse. And 34 days from now, give or take a month or two to count the mail in ballots, we’ll all know if at least part of this tall tale was accurate, or total bullfeathers. And now, on to the Future, as I look back at the distant past…J.Stiles

~~The Long Walk to Socialism: 

This video shares the unfiltered stories of the harsh struggles of the Navajo Nation. These raw experiences reveal the individuals, families, and communities torn thin by socialistic government programs and waste.

~~Indigenous People and Land Grant Universities.  High Country News Investigates

~~Governor Herbert:  An Anti -Masker at Heart?  

~~Excerpt from Billionaire Wilderness :  By Justin Farrell 

"Billionaire Wilderness offers an unprecedented look inside the world of the ultra-wealthy, focused on their increasingly significant relationship to the natural world. More specifically, it shows how the ultra-wealthy use nature to resolve key predicaments in their lives. Along the way, it reveals the surprising ways in which nature and wealth intersect in America, and the swelling impact of these relationships on the nation’s social and environmental landscapes."  Canyon Zephyr

~~The Slovenly Wilderness: The Least Consequential Election …by Stacy Young

"As regular readers of this column know, it is a deep and abiding frustration of mine that serious consideration of the material conditions of modern America is consistently avoided in favor of lazy identitarian demagoguery. This criticism applies not just to our political industry, but also to the news media, the arts, corporate marketing, and the way we “choose” to spend our own individual attention on social media, and it is an imbalance that not only distracts us from the root causes of things but divides us along relatively superficial categorical lines. . ."

~~Census Count Still Not Complete on the Navajo Reservation 

by Kate Groetzinger

~~ Phil Lyman, State Legislature, Call's Out Court Corruption   Recorded Interview

         (The Bad News is that this case has drug on forever!)

~~ Meet Supreme Court Nominee  Amy C. Barrett

~~ High Speed Internet Coming to San Juan County Reservation Schools  by Kate Groetzinger

~~ Western Senators Push Bill to Control Wild Fire Risk 

~~ Reflections of the past: Trials and Travails of Park Ranger John Wetherill at Navajo National Monument by Harvey Leake/ The Canyon Zephyr

~~ Operation Firewood Blesses Navajo Reservation

~~  Wildfires: Creating a Defensible Space Around Your Home

Utah has had a record 1,300+ wildfires this year, over 1,000 of which have been human-caused. When recreating outdoors this fall, pay attention to federal, state, and local guidelines and warnings, always completely put out your campfires, and leave our lands better than you found them. If you live close to at-risk landscapes, take a few minutes and learn what you can do to protect your home.

~~ Political Polarization Taking Over Lives  Pollution of our dysfunctional political dialogue

~~ BLM Director Nominee Under Attack by Green Machine

~~What Does Kamala Harris Stand For? And What Should We Fear?

~~ Chad Booth's County Seat Funding in Jeopardy  Zac Podmore article 

                             Sunset Over Bears Ears -- Photo by David Homedew

Celebrating Freedom in Rural Utah July 10, 2019

Epic Blanding 4th of July Celebration

Blanding Fireworks 2019  Some of the best in the West! 

Thanks Raini Chee

Short Version of Stan Bronson's Concert, July 4

Combat Veterans are Grand Marshals for 4th of July

>>News In the West <<

~~ 1984 Voting Boundary Decisions Compared to Gerrymandering of 2017

"in the November 1984 general election, voters approved the boundaries of the new voting districts. These voter-approved boundaries remained the same for nearly 30 years.

In the general election, 64 percent of voters approved the new voting districts, with 2,055 approving and 1,161 opposing.

~~July 2 Commission Meeting in Oljato

~~ Commissioner Maryboy Comments on July 2 Commission Meeting

~~ Moab Considers New Nightly Rental Policy

Opinions in Recent San Juan Record

~~ Government's $22 Trillion Debt, and Annual Gov. Shutdown, Makes Case for State Control of National Parks and Monuments

"The federal government, on the other hand, has no skin in the game when it comes to shutting down monuments and national parks thousands of miles from Capitol Hill. For the feds, it's all a political game in Washington, DC. What happens in the communities bordering federal lands — many of them rural — is but a mere afterthought to people like Nancy Pelosi. But at the local level, access to local tourist attractions could mean a restaurant's ability to pay its staff with income from tourists."

~~ Stop Relying on Tourism to Save Rural Communities

"No less than five new hotels are currently being built (in Moab). Tourists are pouring in like the end is near and Moab is the only safe place. The sewer system can barely keep up. And yet, Moab and the State of Utah continue to advertise the area throwing more than $2.3 million dollars into promoting the area each year.

Regardless of the fact that the land is suffering, that the roads cannot hold the amount of traffic, that the sewer system is being overwhelmed, growing tourism in Moab continues to be a top priority. In 2017 more than 46% of Moab’s job force labored in the tourism industry compared with the 11% of Utah’s total workforce."

~~ Administration Reining in EPA Union

~~ Families of Blanding Veterans Post Information on this Site

~~ America Has A Moral Obligation to Develop and Export Clean Nat'l Gas

~~ Utah's Cattle Herds are "Udderly" Astonishing: Cow Appreciation Day

~~Three Pillars of Good Navajo Communication

~~ Big Government is Not the Answer to Climate Change

~~ Does Supreme Court Decision Have Local Implications

"I recently reviewed the 1984 issues of the San Juan Record to better understand the issue. I walked away from the process with an increased appreciation for what happened in 1984. I also had a growing concern about what happened in San Juan County in 2017.

In 1984, the process to create the voting districts, at several key points along the way, was a public process. This is in marked contrast to the process to create the current voting districts." San Juan Record editor, Bill Boyle

~~ Roads in Ruin in Parts of Utah

"A transfer of ownership of some roads in San Juan County, Utah, from the county to the Navajo Nation has resulted in disappearing road signs, general confusion, and spreading potholes.

Around October 2018, Manuel Morgan, a former San Juan County commissioner, noticed that the county roads signs in his community between Ismay and Aneth were missing.

“One morning they were gone – everywhere,” he said. “No county road signs to help people find us. No one told us the county roads signs would be taken down.”  Four Corners Free Press

~~ Developers Redirect Water Resources Away From Agriculture in Colo.

~~Taxing Tourists is Popular, Taxing High Density Housing is Divisive

~~ Uranium Mining Ban and Russian Cash: Arizona Lawmakers at Odds

"trade tensions between the U.S. and a number of countries have heightened the need to assure adequate domestic supplies of minerals and metals.

Uranium, a crucial part of the nation’s energy supply as a fuel for power plants, is one of those minerals. Yet the country’s uranium production is near historic lows because of an international oversupply."

 Ten Years Since Infamous Blanding Raids of 2009  

~~ Emotions Run Hot After Artifact Raid in Blanding

~~ Federal Agents Bust Artifact Ring

~~ Artifact Raid Raises Questions Years Later

~~ BLM Used Excessive Force

~~ Artifact Sting in the Desert Goes Awry

~~ The Shameful, Archaeological Raids in the Four Corners

            (Be sure to read Jay Redd's Reply)

~~ Widow Sues Over Husband's Death

~~Artifacts, Suicides, and Struggle over Federal Lands

~~10th Circuit Court Clears Federal Agents In Doctor's Death 

________________

~~ Posted on Protect the Bears Ears:   

June 25 at 7:29 AM · 

I think you'll find this as upsetting.

So, I'm hiking through Wire Pass which is a beautiful slot canyon that leads to an opening that's so breathtaking and sacred. It's a huge natural amphitheater that the Native Americans held so sacred. It's a huge natural amphitheater that the Native Americans held so sacred. You can actually feel it. I just get to the amphitheater and sit for lunch and notice who's here, I see a nice couple with two dogs soaking in the beauty. Then, I see a woman and daughter (I'm only guessing mother and daughter). I see the daughter open the metal box which contains a brief history of this historic place how sacred it was to the Native Americans and about it being unlawful to deface this area. I then stopped paying attention but then something drew my eyes over to where the girl was. I look and think she's carving into the wall but I see her mother watching her so I think naw, but curiosity got to me so I took out my camera and zoomed in. I yelled 'hey' to her and she walked away. I told her mother about it, I said your daughter just destroyed Native American Sacred history. I said look, she never said a word to me and walked towards her daughter. I was thinking she was getting her to bring her over when they both took off! Then, I go back to where I was sitting and I see a man letting his kids use this sacred place as a jungle gym destroying artwork. If you look at the picture with the name she carved you'll see it's right in the middle of petroglyphs This was all within 15 minutes of being there. No stopping this. It's going to be all destroyed soon. If you want to see this, best do it soon. I'm happy I can share these wonders with those who can't get here.
Update, she was caught. Here is the link
https://www.facebook.com/120889757943366/posts/2519780228054295/?substory_index=0

Celebrate and Protect Freedom *****July 1, 2019

Happy 4th of July 2019

     Blanding's Schedule of July 4th Activities

                                    "Best Small Town Celebration in Utah"  Video

Life in the West

~~Climate Change Forecast For The Four Corners 

~~ Property Owners and Nightly Rentals Facing Scrutiny

~~ Opinion: Bluff City Should Rethink Objection to Solar Farm

~~ What's Best?  Ban Plastic Bags or Other Alternatives?

~~ Supreme Court Determines to Stay out of State Political Boundary Issues

~~Letting Fires Burn  VS.  Value of New Growth  Is it Really Worth it?

~~ Agenda for July 2, Commission Meeting--Note new location

SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGMONUMENT VALLEY WELCOME CENTER - MONUMENT VALLEY, UTAHAGENDAJuly 2, 2019

9:00 A.M. Work Meeting
1. San Juan County Marketing & Promotion Initiatives Briefing - Natalie Randall
2. Budget Briefing / 2019 Tax Rates Discussion - John David Nielson, John Fellmeth, David Everitt
3. Status of Maintenance for Roads on the Navajo Nation - Ben Musselman, David Everitt
4. County Administrator Appointment Process - David Everitt
5. Public Lands Issues Report - Nick Sandberg

10:00 A.M. Commission Meeting
1. Approval of Minutes - June 10 & 18, 2019
2. Citizens' comments* (Please complete the request form - available at the door)
3. Designate the County's representative at the upcoming NACo conference
4. Ratify BLM Letter confirming participation as a Consulting Party in the Canyon Rims TMA - Nick Sandberg
5. Authorize Chair to sign comment letter regarding the draft Colorado River Management Plan and the draft Green & Colorado Rivers Mineral Leasing Plan - Nick Sandberg
6. Authorize the Chair to sign a Cooperative Agreement with Utah State Division of Parks & Recreation to install vault toilets at Hook & Ladder Trailhead - Ben Musselman
7. Ratify 2019 property tax rates - John David Nielson
8. Approve new hires - Walter Bird
9. Mental Health Board Appointment 
10. Ratify approval of Reimbursement Agreement with SITLA for planning work in Spanish Valley - David Everitt
11. Commission Reports 

~~Uranium Mining in the Four Corners Could See a Revival this Year

~~ Video of June 18 Commission Meeting

~~ Rep. Bishop and Team Introduce RNR Bipartisan Act: Recreation Not Red Tape (RNR) Act

~~ Rural Communities Seek Help through Utah Coal Miners Strike Team

~~ Oregon Pipeline a Possible Boon to Utah's Nat'l Gas Industry

~~ Reintroduction of Wolves into Colorado has Negative Impact on Elk Herds

    ~~ Related video The Devastation to Other Wildlife

~~FEMA and the Dysfunction of Federal Bureaucracy 

"Another bureaucratic fiasco simply reinforces why the nine most terrifying words in the English language are still: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

The number of declared national emergencies—and how much we spend on them—is rising, yet one of the agencies tasked with handling national emergencies has been particularly opaque about its effectiveness."

~~ Recent Supreme Court Decision Looks at Gerrymandering

~~ Nat'l Parks and Monuments Crumbling After Years of Neglect

"Nearly $12 billion is needed to repair infrastructure, mostly crumbling roads, at 419 park units managed by the National Park Service (NPS). The maintenance backlog grew $313 million in 2018 alone, federal figures state."  So why would Dine Bikeyah want to resize Bears Ears back to original designation if the NPS can't even maintain what they already have?    Free Range Report

      "The maintenance backlog goes beyond just NPS-managed lands. In total, the Interior Department faces $18 billion in deferred maintenance when lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies are factored in."

    Editorial Comment:  "Back in 2016 and 2017 when were were actively fighting the 1.9 Obama Declared National Monument, this issue was one of the concerns we had, and it hasn't gotten any better.  In fact, it's gotten worse, because now our country has a 22 Trillion debt!  How can we suppose the Federal Gov. can take care of our Public lands, or Nat'l parks and Monuments when they are indebted to other countries?  Collateral for debt appears to be the confiscation of more public land.  Local and State control is in most cases better; they at least pay their bills."   Janet Wilcox

2019: A New Year of Hope in the West

In the News

~~ Commissioners Benally and Lyman Honored at Commission Meeting:  Job Well Done!

~~Seven Other Presidents Tougher on the Media than Trump

~~ John Marshall, Shaped Supreme Court Policies

~~ Phil Lyman Battles with State Tax Commission 

~~Tax Reform for Small Businesses

~~Winter Solstice Burn in Bluff  video

~~Snow Looks Good From the Monticello Side Too!

~~Colorado Native Likely Choice to Replace Zinke  

“He has more experience in that building working on these issues than any predecessor,” Jon Hrobsky, an attorney who worked with Bernhardt in President George W. Bush’s Interior Department, told the Washington Examiner. “The uniqueness of David for this job is there has never been anyone more qualified to do it.”

~~ Trump Takes Steps to Stop More Catastrophic Forest Fires

"Trump issued an executive order Friday to allow for active management of forest and rangelands, including thinning and removing debris from millions of acres of federal lands.

The order also calls on federal officials to streamline regulations and permitting processes to allow the harvest of at least 3.8 billion board feet from U.S. Forest Service lands and 600 million board feet from Bureau of Land Management lands."

~~ How Freelancing Can Help Save Rural Life
"Utah is taking advantage of a technological wave that connects skilled workers with work, and increasingly enables people to work from anywhere as freelancers, entrepreneurs, or employees.

~~ Utah in the Top Ten for Mining Industry

~~ Utah Rings in New Year With Toughest DUI Laws in the Country

~~ Winter Storms Build Utah's Snow Pack 

~~ The Left Looks at Zinke's Legacy

~~Wind Power Viability as Energy Source Decreasing 

~~ Only 1 Utah National Park to be Staffed as 2019 Begins

Socialists still haven't figured out a bankrupt country can't afford more National Parks and Monuments.

~~ARE RUSSIANS BACKING US ENVIROMENTAL GROUPS?

"An open records lawsuit filed against the State Department is attempting to uncover whether Russian entities attempted to financially support U.S. environmentalist causes.

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) — a free-market energy group based in Washington, D.C. — filed the lawsuit on Monday. IER has requested that the State Department hand over correspondence concerning hydraulic fracturing, environmental advocacy and Russia that was exchanged to and from high-ranking employees."

~~BEAR ESSENTIALS: July 20, 2018~~

~~~~~

v San Juan Record Live: Focus on Pioneer days This weekend

v Pioneer Day Events/ Schedule

v Southern County Gully Washer July 13

v Follow San Juan Weather Guy for More San Juan Weather Activity

v SJC Favorite Phil Lyman Runs for State House of Representatives

v Help Phil Fight the Big Environmental Donors Trying to Defeat Him

v Attention Ranchers with Grazing Allotments:

Ranchers who maintain grazing allotments in the footprint of the previous Bears Ears National Monument or the new monuments, need to know about Rangeland Strategies. As the BLM and USFS update their management plans for these areas, we believe our consultants can help make sure that the interests of those with grazing allotments are protected.  (Benjamin Burr)  More information

v How do you Regulate Respectful Recreation? Outside Magazine

             State Senator David Hinkins. a Great Defender of San Juan County

n  Mike Lee Supports Bill to Protect Rural Utah from Abuses of Antiquities Act

n  Judge Blocks Reopening of Election Lawsuit

n  More Cattle on Rangeland Helps Mitigate Wildfires

n  President Trump Grants Clemency to the Hammonds

n  Hammonds Unjustly Imprisoned as Terrorists

n  Putting The Supreme Court’s Role into Perspective

n  Firing a Bad Federal Employee May Get a Little Easier

n  Senator Mike Lee on Tariffs, Congressional Disfunction, and New Supreme Court Judge

n  Updates from Sutherland Institute

n  “The Sentence” Screens at Capitol; Sen. Lee Comments

n  Diamond Rio Coming to San Juan County

n  Diamond Rio will headline the San Juan County Fair with a performance on Thursday, August 9 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the San Juan County Fairgrounds.

Advance tickets are $18 and can be purchased at BCL Distributing in Blanding (1261 South Main) or the San Juan Record in Monticello (49 South Main).

n  Most Recent Plans for New Bluff Elementary School SJ Record

 n  Charges Against Chilcoat Dropped!  Collusion in AG’s office?

--Did the State AG’s Office side with the defendants?

--Why did the AG’s Office bring unfounded charges against the lead deputy in the Chilcoat case just prior to the preliminary hearing?

--Why is it that the AG’s Office refused to assist the San Juan County Prosecutor due to a “conflict of interest,” and then agree to participate in the appeals hearing where all charges are dropped against Chilcoat, who is the client of an AG’s Office employee?  --Monte Wells

n  Lightening Strike Threatens Homes in Bluff

n  Fire in North Cottonwood Also Caused by Lightening

n  Fracking Can Make You Fat!!

n  LA Times: Bears Ears Awaits Ruling

n  Woman Treed by Wolves; Rescue Delayed

~~~~~~~

n Read Past Editions of Bear Essentials at: http://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/

Documenting Bears Ears Controversy and Public Land Issues since July 2016