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Thursday, June 11, 2026
BLM Issues Fire Restrictions for the West Desert
SALT LAKE CITY Due to rapidly increasing fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management has implemented fire restrictions beginning June 4 on all BLM-managed lands in the BLM West Desert District. Fire restrictions apply to Box Elder, Cache, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties in Utah. From June 4 until rescinded, the fire prevention order prohibits: • The use of any steel component ammunition of any caliber. • The use of any steel component target. • The use of any sky lanterns, Chinese lanterns, fire balloons, acetylene balloons, or similar device. • The use of any OffFire Restrictions Cont'd on B3
Chip Sealing on Hole-in-the-Rock Road Sparks Continued Debate Over Access, Tourism and Preservation by Kathryn Chamberlain
Courtesy Barb Walkush
Teasdale Park volunteers (from left to right) Finley Brinkerhoff, Kristina Brinkerhoff, Ella Brinkerhoff and Anders Brinkerhoff work on the playground. The Teasdale Town and Park Clean-Up Day was held on Saturday, May 16, 2026. ter, refreshing playground wood chips, relocating two frisbee golf cages, watering trees, and, under the guidance of Sandy Borthwick, removing invasive weeds. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the Teasdale Park looks beautiful. A community dumpster was once again provided for local clean-up efforts. Special thanks go to Clean-Up Day Cont'd on B2
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST
and surrounding communities over tourism, access and the future of the iconic backcountry route. For some residents, the project is a long-overdue
BLM Approves 15 kV Transmission Line for Goblin Valley State Park
PRICE - The Bureau of Land Management approved a 15 kilovolt distribution line to deliver reliable electrical service across nearly seventeen miles to Goblin Valley State Park. This will help meet growing electrical needs at the park, where increasing visitation and campground expansion have exceeded the capabilities of existing generator-based power. With this approval, the Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management may construct a series of wooden poles reaching about thirty feet above the ground and averaging three hundred feet between poles. The route Transmission Line Cont'd on B2
safety and infrastructure improvement along one of the monument’s busiest access routes. Others see it as the beginning of a gradual shift away from the rugged
by Kathryn Chamberlain
June 1, 2026
conditions that have long defined Hole-in-the-Rock Road and limited how Hole-in-the-Rock
Wayne Commission
Cont'd on B3
Cont'd on B2
Garfield County began chip sealing the first ten miles of Hole-in-the-Rock Road in May, reigniting longrunning debates in Escalante and surrounding communities over tourism, access and the future of the iconic backcountry route. GARFIELD CO. Garfield County began chip sealing the first ten miles of Hole-in-the-Rock Road in May, reigniting long-running debates in Escalante
Wayne County Commission
WAYNE CO. - In the June 1 Wayne County Commission meeting, Brock Jackson with R6 Regional Council provided an update on a nuclear energy education event planned for June 27 in Bicknell. The free community event is part of a statewide outreach effort by the Utah Office of Energy Development and will feature presentations on economic opportunities, small modular nuclear reactors, nuclear safety and issues related to downwinders and radioactive waste. Organizers also plan to offer food, games, door prizes and a fried mini donut truck to encourage participation. The event will be held in conjunction with Bicknell's Bowns Point community celebration, which includes an
Will Hanisko
Teasdale Park Committee Hosts Teasdale Town and Park Clean-Up Day
TEASDALE - The Teasdale Town and Park Clean-Up Day was held on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The Teasdale Park Committee extends sincere thanks to all the wonderful, dedicated, and enthusiastic volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules to participate. Volunteers of all ages worked hard throughout the morning by walking roads to collect trash, inspecting the park for lit-
Issue #1671
insiderutah.com
Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Festival Combines Food, Fun and History by Karen Munson | Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Festival
Courtesy Karen Munson
Native American rug and flag raising reenactment on Friday, May 29, during the 2026 Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Festival. ESCALANTE - Few events foster deep humility, local pride, appreciation for forefathers, and a commitment to building a strong future like a heritage festival. In the case of the Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato
Festival, it also offered great products, fun entertainment, delicious food, and inspiring presentations. Jerry and Sherree Roundy started Escalante’s Heritage Festival decades ago, but it waned after Jerry’s
death. Bruce Pavlik reignited interest in the ancient Anasazi potato through his and Lisbeth Louderback’s research at the U of U and Festival Cont'd on A5
UPCOMING EVENTS... Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally
June 26-28
'26 Torrey Apple Days
July 3 - 5
FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
THURS. JUNE 11 - WED. JUNE 17
Sunny, mostly sunny with highs in the midto-high 80s; lows in the 40s. Winds variable from 13 to 16 mph. Little to no chance of precipitation. **Weather is subject to Change
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber. —Winston S. Churchill
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.