The
NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID LAS VEGAS, NEVADA PERMIT No. 3587
Insider
*********ECRWSSEDDM****
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Love is in the Air!
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, January 22, 2026
Utah DOR Awards $735K to Expand Youth Outdoor Learning Across the State SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) has awarded $735,300 in grants to support 57 outdoor recreation education projects across the state, aiming to serve more than 21,500 youth and contribute to over $4.4 million in total project value. The awards come from the Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE) grant and the Outdoor Classroom grant. Both programs help remove barriers to outdoor access by supporting programs that connect Utah’s children to nature, foster lifelong stewardship and expand outdoor learning opportunities. “Through both our long-standing UCORE program and the new Grants Cont'd on B1
Garfield UDOT, Garfield Co. Eye Safety Improvements County at Highway 89 & 12 Intersection Commission by Jaynie Connor by Peg Smith
Jan. 12, 2026
funnels travel to popular locations, including Dixie National Forest, Red Canyon, and Bryce Canyon
GARFIELD CO. The business item on Garfield County Commission’s first meeting of the year on Jan. 12 was Gina Peterson’s longevity award honoring her twenty-five years of service to the county. In Commissioner Jerry Taylor’s board report, he said DWR intends to kill brown and tiger trout in Pine Creek/ Box Death Hollow and replace them with Colorado Cutthroat trout. The Commissioners promised to look into this following concerned calls from local fishers. Commissioner Leland Pollock updated the Commission on the proposed tour bus fee increases. He said assistance from Rep. Maloy's office resulted in reduction of the proposed fee
Safety Concerns
Garfield Commission
Jaynie Connor
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and Garfield County are raising concerns after twenty-six accidents were reported at the intersection of U.S. Highway 89 and Utah Scenic Byway 12 over the course of five years, prompting questions about driver safety and possible improvements.
GARFIELD CO. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and Garfield County are raising concerns after twenty-six accidents
CCAW Looks Ahead to a Community-Centered Future by Morgan Flynn, CCAW Shelter Director
Courtesy Color Country Animal Welfare
Located at 1200 West Highway 24 in Torrey, Color Country Animal Welfare’s facility serves not only as an animal shelter but as a community resource center. TORREY - As animal welfare organizations nationwide face increasing challenges, such as rising intake and limited resources, Color Country Animal Welfare (CCAW) is entering 2026 with a clear focus: increasing the lifesaving capacity of the animal shelter, while strengthening community-based programs that help pets stay in their homes whenever possible. CCAW is enhancing its shelter operations to
Issue #1651
insiderutah.com
improve both quality of life and outcomes for animals in its care. In 2026, the team will increase daily enrichment and behavior support to reduce stress, encourage healthy development, and improve adoptability. Growth of the foster program will allow more animals to thrive in home environments, while expanded volunteer recruitment will ensure animals receive CCAW Cont'd on B3
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST
were reported at the intersection of U.S. Highway 89 and Utah Scenic Byway 12 over the course of five years, prompting questions about driver safety and possible im-
provements. The junction of Highways 89 and 12 serves as a crucial connection between the national parks of southern Utah and its rural communities. The intersection
Cont'd on B3
Cont'd on A3
Three New Capitol Reef N.P. Celebrates the Beauty Productions of Volunteers Helping with Public Lands Approved for Film Incentives in Utah
UTAH / WAYNE CO. The Utah Film Commission announced the Utah Board of Tourism Development approval of three new productions for state film incentives, generating an estimated economic impact of $2.6 million and creating over 165 new jobs filming across the state in Juab, Kane, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, Washington, and Wayne counties. Local Director/Producer Gary Auerbach returns with a new Lifetime thriller, “Taken From Me,” approved for a Utah Community Film Incentive Film Incentives Cont'd on B2
Shauna Cotrell | National Park Service
A Capitol Reef National Park volunteer giving a geology talk to visitors. National parks are made better with the help and dedication of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at Capitol Reef or other public lands, you can visit volunteer.gov to look for events and longer-term opportunities. CAPITOL REEF N.P. - staff, interns, and volun- scenes and in the spotBefore most visitors drive teers have helped make light—maintaining public into a national park, step that experience possible. lands to keep them accesinto a historic orchard, or Every season from winter walk a well-maintained to summer, there are people Volunteering trail, the hard work of working hard—behind the Cont'd on B2
UPCOMING EVENTS... Panguitch Fishing Derby
February 7
*Event is weather and ice-condition dependent
Valentine's Day
February 14
FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
THURS. JAN. 22 - WED. JAN. 28
Mostly sunny and sunny, with cloudy days on Thursday and Friday. Highs in the 40s and 50s; lows in the teens and 20s. Little to no chance of precipitation. **Weather is subject to Change
Write what you know. That should leave you with a lot of free time. —Howard Nemerov
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.