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NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID LAS VEGAS, NEVADA PERMIT No. 3587
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Thursday, July 9, 2026
3 Out of 4 Federal Wildland Firefighters Consider Leaving as Workforce Crisis Deepens
U.S. - A new survey conducted by Friends of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters (GWF) in partnership with the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), shows that recent federal workforce reductions and organizational uncertainty compounded by persistent, decades-old workforce issues have left wildland firefighter units understaffed and demoralized heading into the 2026 summer fire season. The survey of active firefighting personnel across five federal agencies finds that 74% of the workforce have considered leaving the profession in the past twelve months due to unsustainable workloads, inadequate pay and benefits, and dwindling trust in agency leadership. This new data arrives as
Issue #1675
insiderutah.com
Old Bull Kitchen in Escalante Blends Southern Comfort Food and Japanese Flavors
Utah Office of Tourism Launches 4 Trip Giveaways as Part of America 250 Celebration
by Kathryn Chamberlain
burg, Florida, Skye Purcell returned to Escalante. "I
UTAH - In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Utah Office of Tourism is inviting travelers to experience the people, places and stories that make Utah unique through four trip giveaways highlighting distinct regions of the state. The giveaway features travel packages that each offer a unique way to discover the state, from exploring Native history and heritage in San Juan County to skiing The Greatest Snow on Earth® at Deer Valley Resort. Participants can enter by completing the email entry form before July 25, 2026 at VisitUtah.com. Official rules, eligibility requirements and additional contest details are also available on the website. The four prize travel packages available to win
Old Bull
Giveaways
Kathryn Chamberlain
(From left to right) Terry and Wendy Brennan, Skye Purcell, and Chelsea Fungaroli. Old Bull Kitchen, Escalante's newest restaurant, is now open inside what was once the Entrada Escalante Lodge lobby after a complete renovation transformed it into a full-service kitchen and dining room. ESCALANTE - The former lobby of Entrada Escalante Lodge has been transformed into Old Bull Kitchen, Escalante's new-
est restaurant. The renovated space opened about a month ago with a fullservice kitchen and dining room.
After nearly three years as general manager and sake sommelier at In Between Days, a Japanese restaurant in St. Peters-
DWR Habitat Council Allocates $3.4M from Hunting, Fishing License Sales to 2026 Habitat Restoration Projects
USU President Signs Hunger Initiative as Extension Launches Food Systems Alliance
Exploring the Torrey Solar System Trail: A Walk Through Space in Utah’s First Dark Sky Town
Survey Cont'd on A5
Courtesy Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
A little over $3.4 million was allocated to seventyone selected habitat restoration projects—several of which will benefit mule deer in Utah—at the recent annual Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Habitat Council funding meeting on April 29. SALT LAKE CITY A little over $3.4 million was allocated to seventyone selected habitat restoration projects—several of which will benefit mule deer in Utah —at the recent annual Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Habitat Council funding meeting on April 29. The DWR Habitat Council was created in 1995 by the Utah Legislature as a way to provide
funds for fish and wildlife conservation that are specifically used to: • Enhance fish and wildlife habitat • Preserve and protect habitat • Manage and acquire new habitat areas for fish and wildlife • Improve hunting and fishing access Restoration Projects Cont'd on A3
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
by Julene Reese | Lea Palmer | Utah State University Extension UTAH - As food insecurity continues to rise across Utah, Utah State University (USU) Extension’s Create Better Health Hub recently hosted leaders from across Utah’s agriculture, food manufacturing, government, higher education, and community sectors to launch the USU Extension Food Systems Alliance. The new collaboration brings stakeholders together to strengthen food systems, reduce waste, and increase community access to nutriHunger Initiative Cont'd on B2
**Weather is subject to Change
Cont'd on A2
Courtesy Torrey Dark Skies
The Torrey Solar System Trail, a half mile walking experience, begins on the southeast side of Torrey Town Park. TORREY - Nestled at the gateway to Capitol Reef National Park, the town of Torrey sits beneath some of the darkest, clearest skies in North America. Cottonwood lined streets, red rock horizons, and a quiet rural character define this small community on the Fremont River. Long known for its
night sky, Torrey became Utah’s first certified International Dark Sky Community—an achievement rooted in years of careful lighting practices, education, and community support. Today, Torrey’s commitment to science, learning, and the night sky is
visible in a new way: the Torrey Solar System Trail, a half mile walking experience that brings the scale of our solar system down to human size. A Trail That Begins in the Park and Travels Solar System Trail Cont'd on B3
UPCOMING EVENTS... Garfield County Fair and Junior Livestock Show
August 3 - 8
THURS. JULY 9 - WED. JULY 15
Mostly sunny and warm, with highs from the mid 80s to the low-t0-mid 90s; lows in the 50s. Winds variable from 9 to 13 mph. Low chances of rain into next week.
Cont'd on B3
Years of love have been forgot, in the hatred of a minute. —Edgar Allan Poe
Wayne County Fair
August 10 - 15
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.