The
NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID LAS VEGAS, NEVADA PERMIT No. 3587
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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, December 11, 2025
Issue #1645
insiderutah.com
Wayne County Commission
Wayne County Interfaith Council Presents 'The Gift of the Magi,' Dec. 21 WAYNE CO. - The Wayne County Interfaith Council will present “The Gift of the Magi,” an Interfaith Christmas program. This year's program marks the twelfth year for this annual event, which will be held December 21, 2025, at the Torrey Ward building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A prelude, beginning at 5:30 p.m., will feature students from Sleeping Rainbow School of Music, directed by Lynsey Shelar. The story of “The Gift of the Magi” will be presented by various narrators and interwoven with Christmas songs performed by the Wayne County Community choir, Wayne High School Choir, Rough Around the Edges/Mooney Wash, Anna Syme’s children’s choir, female duet, male quartet, The Torrey Song Circle, and a violin/piano Interfaith Program Cont'd on B2
by Kathryn Chamberlain
Dec. 1, 2025
Torrey Cottonwoods
Wayne Commission
Amiee Maxwell
Torrey Prepares to Remove Aging Cottonwoods Mounting Safety Concerns Prompt Removal of Trees Along Main Street by Amiee Maxwell Stumps from trees removed in Torrey this past summer. Several aging and unstable trees in Torrey are scheduled for removal this winter, and town officials say this is necessary to protect residents, visitors, and structures along Main Street. Long-standing efforts to replant and preserve the treeline for future generations will also continue. TORREY - The cottonwood canopy that frames the entrance to Torrey has been a defining feature of the town for generations,
Join the 2025 Escalante/Boulder Christmas Bird Count, Dec. 17 & 18 Emily Leach
Red-naped sapsucker. The 2025 Boulder and Escalante Christmas Bird Counts will be taking place Dec. 17 and 18, respectively. ESCALANTE / BOULDER - The 126th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place from December 14 through January 5, and thousands of volunteers will be out counting and identifying all of the birds that they see within a predetermined route. This yearly event is the nation’s longest-running citizen science bird project. In our region, counts are conducted in Boulder, Escalante, Bryce Canyon and Kanab, with Boul-
the treeline for future generations will also continue.
WAYNE CO. - The Wayne County Commission gathered for its December 1 meeting on a quiet Monday morning, with Commissioner Blackburn absent while attending meetings in Salt Lake City. After a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, commissioners approved three sets of minutes: the November 17 regular meeting, the annual budget hearing for 2026, and the Truth-inTaxation hearing. Full details of both hearings with adopted rates are available on the state public notice website at Utah.gov for residents who want a deeper look at the county’s 2026 budget decisions. With no scheduled public appointments, the commission moved efficiently through routine business. The commission then designated County Clerk Felicia Snow as
der and Escalante’s 2025 counts taking place Dec.17 and 18, respectively. Last year in Escalante, 17 participants covered nearly 100 miles and tallied 5,663 birds, representing 74 species. Boulder had nine participants who found a total of fifty-two species. The 2025 Boulder CBC will begin at 8 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. on Dec. 17, and participants should meet at the Anasazi Christmas Bird Count Cont'd on B2
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
but this iconic and familiar view is about to change. Several aging and unstable trees are scheduled for removal this winter, and town
BLM Seeks Input for Mar. '26 Sale of Oil & Gas Leases in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY On Dec. 1, the Bureau of Land Management opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on plans to include 58 oil and gas parcels totaling 71,587 acres in Utah in a March 2026 sale. The comment period ends Jan. 2, 2026. The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in October 2025 and is now seeking public comment on the parcels, potential deferrals, and the related environmental analysis. The BLM will use input from the public to help complete its reOil and Gas Leases Cont'd on A3
officials say this is necessary to protect residents, visitors, and structures along Main Street. Long-standing efforts to replant and preserve
**Weather is subject to Change
Cont'd on B2
Panguitch City Firehouse Renamed in Honor of 2 Former City Fire Chiefs by Jaynie Connor
Jaynie Connor
On Tuesday, November 25th, the Panguitch City Council honored former Fire Chiefs Dave Dodds and Russell Bulkley by presenting them with a plaque. This plaque will be displayed at the Panguitch City Firehouse, which will be officially renamed as the Bulkley and Dodds Fire Station. PANGUITCH - On Tuesday, November 25th, the Panguitch City Council honored former Fire Chiefs Dave Dodds and Rus-
sell Bulkley by presenting them with a plaque in front of their families and the council. This plaque will be displayed at the
Panguitch City Firehouse, officially renaming it the Fire Chiefs Cont'd on B3
UPCOMING EVENTS... Boulder Holiday Market
December 13
Boulder Community Center 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
THURS. DEC. 11 - WED. DEC. 17
Partly cloudy and sunny, with higher daytime temps. Highs in the 50s; lows in the 20s. Little to no chance of precipitation. Winds from 5 to 10 mph.
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All the world's a stage, and most of us are desperately unrehearsed. —Seán O'Casey
Lex de Azevedo’s Christian Choir Presents ‘A Musical Christmas’
December 13
LDS Church House in Panguitch at 7 PM INSIDER CONTENT DEADLINE
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