Life in San Juan

Monticello area youth joined forces to raise more than $1,000 at a bake sale. The funds will go toward helping families and individuals who were impacted by the Deer Creek Fire in Old La Sal. Courtesy photo

Girls hold bake sale to raise money for fire victims

When the Deer Creek fire ignited in an inhabited area of Old La Sal on July 10, news spread quickly. By Saturday July 12, the fire had destroyed several homes, vacation cabins, camper trailers and other structures. By the time it came under containment the fire had destroyed 17,742 acres of forests...

Steps to protect small towns while welcoming growth

by Kara Laws Contributing writer San Juan County is made up entirely of small towns facing the question, How do we preserve our small towns while our communities grow? The topic came up in the Blanding Meet the Candidates meeting last week, some candidates seemed unsure on how to balance growth and...

Stained glass guru Mark Lyman. Courtesy photo.

Counselor, friend Mark Lyman is also Blanding’s Stained Glass Guru

by Janet Wilcox Contributing writer Most people think of Mark Lyman as a skilled counselor and wise friend, but he also has many creative talents. He majored in art at Brigham Young Universtity, graduating in 1967. This led him to a skill that few people are patient enough to learn: creating...

Colt Suttlemyer's Hot Wheel Quilt. Courtesy photo

Pioneer Day Quilt-N-Time Quiltshow

Quilt-N-Time Quilters thanks everyone for supporting the quiltshow at the Pioneer Day Celebration in Monticello on July 26. The Youth first place winner is Colt Suttlemyer for his Hot Wheel Quilt and Angela Crowley won first place for Missouri Star Quilt.

An antique Navajo rug is part of the art included in the decor of the Farmington, New Mexico Temple, which has a Native American southwest theme. The rug was originally slated for display at the Smithsonian, but the owners gifted it to the temple, where it serves as a reminder of the rich Native American heritage in the area. Courtesy photo

Public Invited to Tour the Farmington New Mexico Temple

A public open house for the Farmington New Mexico Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will run from July 17 to August 2 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, excluding Sundays. The Farmington New Mexico Temple is located at 4400 College Boulevard in Farmington. Elder Neil L Anderson...

Monticello Pioneer Day Celebration is July 25-6 with two days of fun

by David Boyle News Director “Pioneering the Future” is the theme of the 2025 Monticello Pioneer Days celebration. The two-day celebration runs Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26. The weekend features a community-wide celebration, along with a number of family and class reunions and other...

Grand marshals at the 2025 Pioneer Day Parade in Monticello are: (left to right) Robert Anderson, Daniel Anderson, Reed Anderson and Clark Anderson. Courtesy photo

Four Generations of the Anderson Family will be Grand Marshals of Pioneer Day Parade

By Sally Jack Contribting Writer Four generations – all in one family – will serve as Grand Marshals in the 2025 Pioneer Day Parade on Saturday, July 26. Robert, Daniel, Reed, and Clark Anderson are honored to be invited to lead the parade as Grand Marshals but reply, “We’re just ordinary people....

Richard and Evelynn Perkins. Courtesy photo

Sports and Spurs, the Legacy of Richard Perkins

By Janet Wilcox Contributing writer In the early days of Blanding and Monticello, residents created their own entertainment. This included ball games, dances and church socials. Gold and Green dances were an annual event and wedding receptions often included dances. Richard and EveLynn Perkins were...

Gordon Kelley addresses the crowd at the Free and Clean Recovery Day event at Veterans Memorial Park in Monticello on July 10. It was the second annual event to celebrate those on the path to recovery. Courtesy photo

Free and Clean Recovery Day in Monticello

By Sally Jack Contributing Writer The second annual Free and Clean Recovery Day took place at Veterans Memorial Park in Monticello on Thursday July 10. Recovery Day is a special time for individuals to celebrate their recovery from addiction. Family, friends, and allies of the recovery community...

James Carl Osborn 90th Birthday Celebration

Happy 90th birthday to James Carl Osborn. Carl has met his goal which he set with his doctors to reach his 90th birthday. He is now bargaining with them for an additional five years. In 1958, Carl moved to Blanding to begin his teaching career at Blanding Elementary School. He told Gerry they...