Monticello

Separate town hall meetings address simmering controversies in San Juan

Tension continues to rise over the political situation in San Juan County, and it spilled over at two town hall meetings in the past week. Separate and independent town hall meetings were held in Monticello and Mexican Water. Both meetings had a similar agenda: a discussion of issues of local...

Bucks outlast Raiders in SJC showdown

BIRD SCOOP The Monticello High School football team hit the road for the first time this season to take on the Whitehorse Raiders in Montezuma Creek on Friday, August 23. The Raiders gave the Buckaroos all they could handle in an exciting matchup between San Juan County rivals. Behind a stout...

The Monticello City Council approved designs for new signs that will be built at all three entrances to the city. The signs were designed by Impact Signs of Salt Lake City. rtesy photo

Monticello City Council considers new hire and economic development

The Monticello City Council discussed a need to hire a new recreation director at length during their meeting August 13 at the Hideout Community Center. Jeremy Avondet, who the city hired two years ago, is resigning from the position on September 13. Much of the conversation centered on simply...

Monticello junior Cedar English outruns a Monument Valley defender on the way to a 56-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter of the MHS/MVHS game August 16. Becky Bird photo

Buckaroo football kicks off 2019 with a home win against Monument Valley

THE BIRD SCOOP The Monticello football team kicked off their 2019 season on Friday, August 16. They hosted the Monument Valley Cougars in a non-region contest and came away with their first win of the season 41-6. The Bucks moved the ball well early, ripping off huge chunks of yards on carries...

Special Forces training center dedicated to memory of Aaron Butler

A massive new headquarters for Special Forces Operations at Camp Williams was dedicated on August 9 in the name of a local special forces soldier who was killed in Afghanistan. The SSG Aaron R. Butler Readiness Center is a 140,123 square foot facility that will house the 19th Special Forces Group...

Forest Service crews work to reopen roads affected by fires in the Dark Canyon Wilderness Area

U.S. Forest Service fire crews are working diligently to reopen roads and trails affected by three fires in the Dark Canyon Wilderness Area of the Manti-La Sal National Forest before the bow hunting season begins this Saturday, August 17. As some crews continued monitoring and mopping up the...

Monticello and Monument Valley meet in 2019 football season opener

It’s a San Juan County showdown Friday night when the Monument Valley Cougars visit the Monticello Buckaroos to open the 2019 football season for both teams. The Buckaroos are favored in the matchup that they have historically dominated. Since the teams first met in 1985, Monticello has never lost...

Biggest Abajo Enduro to date draws almost 50 riders to Monticello

Almost 50 riders hit the Abajo Mountains over the weekend for the sixth annual Abajo Enduro. For the second straight year, the grueling event consisted of two days and three stages of racing, and was the biggest event to date. ROAM Industry owner and race organizer Dustin Randall reported that out...

Two-car crash on Hwy 191 kills three

Three people were killed in a two-car crash on Highway 191 at approximately 4:15 p.m. on August 3. According to the Utah Highway Patrol, a Ford F-150 was traveling southbound at mile marker 93, 23 miles north of Monticello, when it veered into the northbound lane. It hit a Ford Expedition which was...

New Special Forces training facility will bear the name of Staff Sgt Aaron Butler

Nearly two years after Staff Sergeant Aaron Butler was killed while battling Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan, the Utah National Guard will dedicate a new training facility named in his honor on Friday, August 9. The new $37-million-dollar, 140,000-square- foot readiness facility is located at...