The
NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID LAS VEGAS, NEVADA PERMIT No. 3587
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Serving Wayne & Garfield Counties, Utah
Loa • Fremont • Lyman • Bicknell • Teasdale • Torrey • Grover • Fruita • Caineville • Hanksville Panguitch • Panguitch Lake • Hatch • Antimony • Bryce • Tropic • Henrieville • Cannonville • Escalante • Boulder
Corner Post Media, P.O. Box 105, Escalante, UT 84726
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Issue #1628
insiderutah.com
DOI Advances First Expedited Coal Lease Under 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Act
Wayne Utah State Legislature Approves $5M County for Panguitch Lake Dam Restoration Project, Commission Tentative Completion in 2026 by Kathryn Chamberlain
CARBON CO. - The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management and in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, has completed the environmental review for a major Utah coal project, marking the first expedited coal leasing action under the Trump Administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." The final environmental impact statement for the Skyline Mine project in central Utah analyzes the proposed Little Eccles lease by application and the Flat Canyon lease modification submitted by Canyon Fuel Company, LLC—operator of the Skyline Mine since 1981. The BLM will soon open a public comment period on the fair market value and maximum eco-
sible failure, which led to a swift emergency response from multiple agencies. Officials in Utah lowered
WAYNE CO. - The Wayne County Commission met for a brief session on Monday, August 4, 2025. After opening with a prayer—offered in gratitude for recent firefighting efforts on Monroe Mountain—and the Pledge of Allegiance, commissioners approved the minutes from the July 21 meeting. Sushiel Keswani, representing Color Country Animal Welfare (CCAW), requested permission to hold the group’s annual fundraiser on September 6 at the animal shelter. The event will feature a silent auction and is expected to raise several thousand dollars to support shelter operations. Keswani noted the shelter’s strong partnership with Best Friends Animal Society, which assists with adop-
Restoration Project
Wayne Commission
Cont'd on B4
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by Jaynie Connor
Jaynie Connor
The north side of the Panguitch Lake Dam. In April 2024, significant transverse cracking at the crest of the Panguitch Lake Dam was discovered, likely due to ice loading on the upstream side. This led to a swift emergency response from multiple agencies, and a comprehensive geotechnical and structural assessment was carried out. The Utah State Legislature awarded the Panguitch Lake Dam restoration project five million dollars, and work is tentatively scheduled to begin October 1st.
PANGUITCH - In April 2024, significant transverse cracking at the crest of the Panguitch Lake Dam was discovered, likely due to ice loading on the upstream side. The
Panguitch Lake Dam is owned and managed by the West Panguitch Irrigation Company, a local water utility that provides services to nearby ranchers, farmers, and residents
WCFD Offers Chipping Services to Homeowners with Goals of Reducing Fire Risk to Properties in WUI
Wahweap Main Launch Ramp Limited to Vessels 30 Feet or Smaller
Coal Lease Cont'd on B2
by Steve Lutz | Wayne County Fire District
Courtesy Steve Lutz
A crew chips branches and trees in Grover in 2024. Wayne County Fire District will once again be offering this service this year. Reservations are requested by Sept. 2. WAYNE CO. - The Wayne County Fire District will once again be offering a free branch and tree chipping program this September 8th -11th for property owners wishing to reduce their fire risk in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). A state forestry crew will be available to reduce property own-
Aug. 4, 2025
ers' hazard by making their WUI land more fire resilient. By removing branches lower than four to five feet and flammable brush that can allow fire to climb from the ground into the crowns of trees, you will be helping to prevent catastrophic Chipping Cont'd on B4
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST
GLEN CANYON Effective immediately, use of the Wahweap Main Launch Ramp is limited to the south (left) side, which is restricted to vessels thirty feet in length or smaller. The north (right) side of the ramp has been closed due to recent damage that has compromised the stability of the ramp surface. Visitors with vessels larger than thirty feet, including houseboats, are advised to use the Stateline Auxiliary Ramp, located less than two miles from Wahweap Main, for both Wahweap Ramp Cont'd on B4
of Panguitch City. The dam had been categorized as a high-hazard structure due to its age—the dam was originally constructed in 1872—and it exhibited indications of pos-
PES Reveals New Digital Marquee in Time for Start of 2025-26 School Year by Jaynie Connor
Jaynie Connor
Panguitch Elementary School (PES) revealed its brand new digital marquee sign on Monday, August 4, perfectly timed for the students' return to school. PANGUITCH - Panguitch Elementary School (PES) revealed its brand new digital marquee sign on Monday, August 4, perfectly timed for the students' return to school. The
'25 Wayne County Fair
August 11 - 16
THURS. AUGUST 14 - WED. AUGUST 20
**Weather is subject to Change
enhance communication with parents and the community, while also fostering school spirit. This idea New Marquee Cont'd on B3
UPCOMING EVENTS...
FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
30-40% chance of thunderstorms Thursday and Friday. Mostly sunny the rest of the week. Highs from the high 70s to high 80s; lows in the 40s.
new sign was a project put on and fundraised for by the Panguitch Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). They were motivated to seek a new marquee for the school to
If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done? —George Carlin
Moqui Motor Madness
August 16
Escalante City Park 9 AM - 2 PM INSIDER CONTENT DEADLINE ALL content for THE WAYNE & GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER MUST BE submitted by FRIDAY AT NOON to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper.