Blanding

Blanding City Council considers reopening the economy and improving intersection safety

In a meeting held April 14, the Blanding City Council discussed how community and city operations have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They recognize the hit small business owners are taking because there are no tourists coming through town. Current city operations affected include the...

County high school seniors positive despite loss of senior year finale

The hallways and classrooms are deserted. The gymnasiums and cafeterias are silent. The school buses are empty. For youngsters of the 1980s, it seems like the world of the movie “Red Dawn” has come true. It’s not true, of course, but for the first time in modern history, life at schools in San Juan...

Nineteen locals earn Sterling Scholar honors

Two students from San Juan County earned the title of Sterling Scholar and 17 more were named runners-up at the annual Southeast Utah Sterling Scholar competition. The initial competition, scheduled to take place on March 18, was delayed because of the new coronavirus pandemic. Judges and officials...

COVID-19 brings food bank crisis to county

There is a dire need for food assistance in San Juan County with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. The Blanding City Mobile Food Bank reports it had double the requests for food than it normally receives on the monthly delivery date on April 9. Cars were backed up past Yaks Cafe and many families...

San Juan County grocers navigate the minefield of COVID-19

“Make it stop!” That’s Craig Stanley’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus craziness, and you can hear virtually every voice in San Juan County echoing the sentiment. Stanley, manager of Clark’s Market in Blanding, says his team is working hard and is tired, but they are doing everything they can...

Several San Juan County students receive Career and Technical Education scholarships

Four high school seniors in the San Juan School District (SJSD) earned Career and Technical Education (CTE) scholarships, the Utah State Board of Education announced on March 19. Brittany Grover, Staten Perkins, and Kash Shumway of San Juan High School and Rianna Shumway of Monticello High School...

All-state basketball honors for San Juan High student athletes

San Juan County is well represented on All-state basketball teams for the 2019-20 season. The Deseret News released its annual list of the top Utah high school basketball players on March 25 and 26 based on coaches’ votes. Ten players were chosen from San Juan, Monument Valley, and Whitehorse high...

County restaurants coping with state restrictions in wake of COVID-19

San Juan County restaurant owners are scrambling to make ends meet after their services to customers were severely limited by an order designed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Local restaurants and bars have been heavily impacted by the order from Utah Gov. Gary Herbert that...

Threat of virus causes widespread disruption of life in San Juan

The threat of the COVID-19 virus has disrupted the lives of San Juan County residents. Schools have been closed, events have been canceled, and the health care systems are on high alert. Utah Governor Gary Herbert asked for the cancellation of any meetings or events involving groups larger than 100...

Food bank provides assistance to the area

Estimates are that nearly one in five San Juan County residents face hunger every day. One quarter of children may not know where their next meal is coming from. The number of San Juan County residents facing hunger is much higher than national and statewide averages, reports the Utah Food Bank....