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The
NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID LAS VEGAS, NEVADA PERMIT No. 3587
Insider
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, May 28, 2026
Issue #1669
insiderutah.com
Wayne County Commission
Garfield County Commission
by Kathryn Chamberlain
by Kathryn Chamberlain
May 18, 2026
May 11, 2026
WAYNE CO. - In the May 18 Wayne County Commission meeting, commissioners approved volunteers for the newly formed Wayne County Community Recreation Center board as efforts continue toward development of a possible future recreation and pool center in Wayne County. Maggie Ellett, Tammy Perkins, Julie Chappell, Breanne Hallows and county representative Jakelle Pace were approved to serve on the board. The meeting then turned to a countywide ban on burning after fire officials discussed increasingly dry conditions and several recent human-caused fires across Wayne County. Wayne County Fire Official Steve Lutz said local volunteers have struggled to keep up with recent fire
Wayne County with her two daughters six years ago before accepting the librar-
GARFIELD CO. The Garfield County Commission met May 11 and approved the agenda and April 27 meeting minutes before moving into board reports. Commissioner David Tebbs reported on recent UAC meetings in St. George and a trip to Maui for the Western Interstate Region conference. Tebbs said discussions focused on wildfire risk maps, insurance concerns in cabin areas like Panguitch Lake and Boulder Mountain, and Maui’s recovery after the Lahaina fire. He said it was interesting how Garfield County faces many of the same struggles around tourism growth, grazing, ranching, farming, and traditional water use. Tebbs also discussed
Amber Fullerton
Garfield Commission
Wayne Commission Cont'd on B2
Bicknell ‘Librarian Extraordinaire,’ Amber Fullerton, Honored with Utah Library Association’s Special Service Award by Kathryn Chamberlain
Bicknell librarian Amber Fullerton displays the Utah Library Association’s Special Service Award, recognizing her work serving rural communities through the Bicknell Library and Tri-County Bookmobile program. Fullerton received the award May 19 during the Utah Library Association Conference in Provo. BICKNELL - Since becoming librarian for the Bicknell Library in 2022, Amber Fullerton has helped turn it into a lively hub for creativity, education, and
Students at HES Receive 'Special DOLLivery' on Last Day of School by Wendy Potter | Hanksville Elementary School
Courtesy Wendy Potter
A "Special DOLLivery" was made to Hanksville Elementary on the last day of school, May 21. Every student received an American Girl/Boy doll and the pre-K students received Bitty Babies. HANKSVILLE - A "Special DOLLivery" was made to Hanksville Elementary (HES) on the last day of school, May 21. Every student received an American Girl/Boy doll and the pre-K students received Bitty Babies. Special DOLLivery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers American Girl dolls to children in vulnerable home environments. Partnering with Utah Foster Care, Title I schools, and community centers,
Courtesy Amanda Rock
we provide these dolls as emotional support and a comforting friend to children in need. Each doll kit is thoughtfully assembled with care. It includes an American Girl doll that is fully dressed in a special meeting outfit and shoes. The kit contains a variety of ten clothing outfits, doll pajamas, doll bedding, a chapter book, and a carrying bag. The HES students were thrilled with their end of year "Dollivery."
REGIONAL WEATHER FORECAST
community connection. Fullerton’s reputation for listening closely to community needs recently earned her the Utah Library Association’s Special Ser-
vice Award. “Amber Fullerton is a librarian extraordinaire,” wrote coworker Amy Banks in the nomination for the award. Fullerton moved to
Cont'd on B3
Cont'd on A2
BLM Issues Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Stage 1 Fire Festival Commemorates Escalante’s Restrictions 150th Anniversary by Karen Munson for So. Utah
SO. UTAH - Due to rapidly increasing fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management is implementing Stage 1 Fire Restrictions beginning May 22 at 12:01 a.m. on all BLMmanaged lands in southwest Utah. Fire restrictions apply to Washington, Iron, Kane, Garfield, and Beaver counties in Utah. From May 22 until rescinded, the fire prevention order prohibits: • Building or maintaining any open fire or campfires using solid fuels, or any ash-producing fuel. • Smoking, except within a vehicle or enclosed area. • Grinding, cutting, and welding of metal. Fire Restirctions Cont'd on B2
Courtesy Karen Munson
The Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Festival, to be held on May 29-30 in the city’s Heritage Park, will offer a wide range of activities to honor the city’s rich Native American, explorer, pioneer, and ranching heritage. ESCALANTE - The Escalante Heritage and Wild Potato Festival, to be held on May 29-30 in the city’s Heritage Park, will offer a wide range of activities to honor the city’s rich Native Ameri-
can, explorer, pioneer, and ranching heritage. Their influence continues to be felt in traditional celebrations and in the names of many local sites. The first holiday celebrated by settlers was the
4th of July in 1876. Lacking a proper American flag, they chose to raise a red, white, and grey Native American rug inHeritage Festival Cont'd on A2
UPCOMING EVENTS... Escalante Heritage & Wild Potato Festival
May 29 & 30
Panguitch Quilt Walk Festival
June 10 - 13
FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL REGIONS REPRESENTED IN OUR NEWSPAPER COVERAGE AREA
THURS. MAY 28 - WED. JUNE 3
Mostly sunny/partly cloudy, with highs from the mid 60s to the high 70s; lows in the 30s and low 40s. Windy days on Weds. and Thurs. with winds from 22 to 26 mph. **Weather is subject to Change
There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact. —Arthur Conan Doyle
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.