By Zak Podmore While he was growing up on the arid, remote Hopi Nation in northern Arizona, Marshall Masayesva never paddled a kayak or went backpacking. People who lived in his community spent a lot of time outdoors, but the term “recreation” was seldom uttered; Masayesva never thought of himself as an outdoors person. That … Continue reading Marshall Masayesva’s Mission to Create a Conservation Corps for Hopi Youth
Category: News
Could San Juan County Become San Juan Counties?
An amendment that's being called the "Phil Bill" seeks to make it easier for counties to split apart without majority approval Published: February 7, 2019 A proposed amendment to two dozen words in the Utah code that dictates how counties are formed could have profound consequences in San Juan County. Currently, residents in a Utah … Continue reading Could San Juan County Become San Juan Counties?
Commission Briefs (2/5/19): Road from Navajo Mountain to Oljato, CRAs, and a San Juan County Railroad?
Much of Tuesday's county commission meeting focused on resolutions related to Bears Ears National Monument, which the Canyon Echo covered at length, but there were also other topics of discussion. Natalie Randall, the county's Director of Economic Development and Tourism, presented information to the commissioners on Community Reinvestment Areas (CRAs), which the school district declined … Continue reading Commission Briefs (2/5/19): Road from Navajo Mountain to Oljato, CRAs, and a San Juan County Railroad?
Resolutions in support of Bears Ears National Monument discussed at San Juan County commission meeting
By Zak Podmore The first majority-Native American commission in San Juan County history is showing no aversion to controversial issues. At their second meeting since being seated last month, newly elected commissioners Kenneth Maryboy and Willie Grayeyes--along with incumbent Bruce Adams--held a well-attended work session in Monticello on Tuesday to discuss resolutions in support of … Continue reading Resolutions in support of Bears Ears National Monument discussed at San Juan County commission meeting
Bears Ears National Monument Likely Focus of Feb. 5 County Commission Meeting in Monticello
There's a packed agenda planned for the February 5 commission meeting in Monticello, which marks a dramatic shift in priorities for the newly seated commissioners compared to their predecessors. The agenda lists five resolutions to be discussed during the work meeting that begins at 9 a.m. at the Hideout. 1) A resolution that research be … Continue reading Bears Ears National Monument Likely Focus of Feb. 5 County Commission Meeting in Monticello
7th District Judge Rules Commissioner Willie Grayeyes Is Utah Resident
Grayeyes will retain his post on the San Juan County commission Seventh District Judge Don Torgerson ruled Tuesday evening that Commissioner Willie Grayeyes is a resident of Utah. The challenge to Grayeyes' candidacy was brought by Kelly Laws, Grayeyes' Republican opponent in the November election, on December 28, 2018. In a nine-page order, Torgerson said … Continue reading 7th District Judge Rules Commissioner Willie Grayeyes Is Utah Resident
In first action as state legislator, Rep. Phil Lyman introduces bill to criminalize road closures
Former San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman was sworn into his new position in the Utah House of Representatives Monday, and his first action as a legislator was to introduce a bill that would criminalize road closures in Utah. Lyman's bill, HB179, would make it a class C misdemeanor to block access to existing roads … Continue reading In first action as state legislator, Rep. Phil Lyman introduces bill to criminalize road closures
SITLA cancels oil and gas lease sale within original boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument
On Friday, the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) held an online oil and gas lease sale, which included twelve parcels in San Juan County that overlapped with the boundaries of the original Bears Ears National Monument. The parcels, which total 5,700 acres, are located in Lockhart Basin near Canyonlands National Park and … Continue reading SITLA cancels oil and gas lease sale within original boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument
San Juan School Board Votes Down CRA Proposals in Bluff and Blanding
On Tuesday, the San Juan School District board met in Montezuma Creek and once again discussed two Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) proposals. Board member Steven Black presented an eight-page position paper that argued the school district would not benefit from either CRA proposal, both of which are meant to incentive hotel developments in the county. … Continue reading San Juan School Board Votes Down CRA Proposals in Bluff and Blanding
Editorial: Commissioner Willie Grayeyes’ Residency Claim Rests on Far More than Cultural Beliefs
To understand why San Juan County Commissioner Willie Grayeyes’ Utah residency is in dispute, it helps to understand Piute Mesa, a remote strip of redrock that contains roughly 20 modular homes and traditional hogans, many of which lack running water and electricity. Driving from the mesa to the hamlet of Navajo Mountain, Utah, requires crossing … Continue reading Editorial: Commissioner Willie Grayeyes’ Residency Claim Rests on Far More than Cultural Beliefs
Canyon Echo 