The Wayne & Garfield County Insider

01/09/2026

For decades, children in Garfield County have been learning a sport unique to the area, karate, once a week under the guidance of Alberto Vasquez.

He began this journey in 2005, shortly after relocating to Panguitch for a role as the hospital administrator at Garfield Memorial Hospital.

Retired from the hospital since 2022, Vasquez has now also decided to retire from teaching karate in 2025, and held the final belt test for his students at the Bryce Canyon City Wellness Center on December 19th.

For his students, he has a final message: “I want them to know that they are amazing individuals; that they have great potential. The circumstances of how a person starts out in life doesn’t matter. What does [matter] is that they keep pushing forward. I want them to be patient in their progress. Sometimes we quit an activity because we haven’t mastered it in a month. I wish that is how life was, but, unfortunately, it isn’t. It takes time and dedication to master life. Just keep on the path and keep looking forward. Forgive yourself of your mistakes and look at them as opportunities to learn and to grow.”

To read more, follow the link below to our website:

GARFIELD CO. - For decades, children in Garfield County have been learning a sport unique to the area, karate, once a week under the guidance of Alberto Vasquez. He began this journey in 2005, shortly after relocating to Panguitch for a role as the hospital administrator at Garfield Memorial Hospita...

01/08/2026

The January 8, 2026, issue of The Insider is now available online.

https://www.insiderutah.com/articles/january-8-2026/

01/07/2026

With the arrival of the new year, the 2026-2027 Tuacahn Broadway season is on the horizon, as well.

“We are planning for an absolutely spectacular season,” Scott Anderson, producing artistic director for Tuacahn, said of the season that features Les Misérables, Grease, Disney & Pixar’s Finding Nemo: a 70-minute Family Musical, Holiday Inn and The Play That Goes Wrong. “We’ve already had such positive feedback from patrons with everyone clamoring to get their season packages, so they don’t miss a single show.”

For more information about the 2026-2027 Tuacahn Broadway season, follow the link below to our website:

IVINS - With the arrival of the new year, the 2026-2027 Tuacahn Broadway season is on the horizon as well—with a lineup of a shows that has everyone counting down until there’s just “One Day More” before music like “Summer Lovin’” “Just Keep Swimming,” and more fill the Outdoor Amp...

01/07/2026

This week, The Insider received obituaries for Eve Marsh and James Lee Taylor.

https://www.insiderutah.com/category/obituaries/

01/07/2026

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Utah residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are no longer able to use those funds to buy soft drinks in Utah.

This change is due to a new state law (H.B. 403), which was passed by the Utah State Legislature in 2025.

The bill defines a soft drink as a flavored drink that has carbonated water and is sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners. The rule does not include milk or drinks made with milk, drinks made with milk substitutes (like soy or rice) and drinks that are more than half real fruit or vegetable juice.

“This is not a change to the amount of SNAP benefits eligible individuals receive,” said Becky Wickstrom, Workforce Services public information officer. “It is a change to what the benefits can purchase.”

To learn more, follow the link below to our website:

SALT LAKE CITY - Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Utah residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are no longer able to use those funds to buy soft drinks in Utah. “The SNAP program helps those who are facing food insecurity and in need of nutrition,” said Rep. Kristen...

01/06/2026

The Utah Wildlife Board approved some updates for bison hunting and a few other rule changes during a public meeting held Thursday, Dec. 4.

For an overview of these changes, including a link to a recording of the Dec. 4 wildlife board meeting, follow the link below to our website:

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Wildlife Board approved some updates for bison hunting and a few other rule changes during a public meeting held Thursday, Dec. 4. Bison hunting changes The wildlife board approved adjustments to some of the existing bison hunts, as well as the creation of a new cow bison h...

01/06/2026

Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital celebrated Utah’s first baby of 2026 born at 12:09 a.m. on January 1st when Valley Zohner made her grand entrance into the world.

Her delighted parents, Kenedi and Zach, are thrilled to welcome their precious daughter to their family. Valley weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and measured 20.5 inches long.

Intermountain Health Cedar City Hospital was just on the heels as they welcomed their first baby at 7:02 a.m. on January 1st, as well.

Jordan and Reagan Woodward welcomed their new baby boy, Tommy. He was born at 6 pounds 5 ounces and is 19 inches long.

The new parents received a prize basket from Intermountain Health to celebrate the New Year’s birth, which included generous donations from Utah-based baby product vendors—Minky Couture, Loulou and Company, and Over the Moon.

To continue reading, follow the link below to our website;

ST. GEORGE / CEDAR CITY - The New Year began with joy and celebration in southern Utah. Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital celebrated Utah’s first baby of 2026 born at 12:09 a.m. on January 1st when Valley Zohner made her grand entrance into the world. Her delighted parents, Kenedi ...

01/03/2026

In an effort to enhance fishing in Utah and boost native fish populations, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources stocks a variety of fish species throughout Utah every year. In 2025, over eleven million fish were stocked into waterbodies across the state.

A whopping 11,660,600 fish—totaling a combined 1.1 million pounds—were stocked into 655 Utah waterbodies this year.

“We are continually evaluating the processes of growing and stocking fish and continue to make proactive changes to address drought impacts, increasing water demand and to also meet the demands of a growing population in Utah,” DWR Fish Culture Coordinator Richard Hepworth said.

To learn more, follow the link below to our website:

SALT LAKE CITY - In an effort to enhance fishing in Utah and boost native fish populations, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources stocks a variety of fish species throughout Utah every year. In 2025, over eleven million fish were stocked into waterbodies across the state. A whopping 11,660,600 fis...

01/02/2026

The Dixie National Forest experienced a wildfire started by a lightning strike in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness area just above the Forsyth trail in the Pine Valley Ranger District on June 19.

Extreme fire weather, including high winds and dry conditions, drove the fire to expand across approximately 15,600 acres of private property and Forest Service lands. Since then, the area has experienced some storms, with flooding and debris flows that have caused damage to the Pine Valley Recreation Area.

The Pine Valley Recreation Area and campground will be closed at least through the 2026 season for public safety and rehabilitation work.

To learn more, follow the link below to our website:

DIXIE N.F. - The Dixie National Forest experienced a wildfire started by a lightning strike in the Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness area just above the Forsyth trail in the Pine Valley Ranger District June 19. Extreme fire weather, including high winds and dry conditions, drove the fire to expand acr...

01/02/2026

Deliberation and approval of Ordinance 2025-4 and the need for Bryce Canyon City to have their own full-time law enforcement officer discussed at the Dec. 22 Garfield County Commission meeting.

https://www.insiderutah.com/articles/garfield-county-commission-dec-22-2025/

Want to stay informed of local issues but aren't able to attend governmental meetings?

Visit the "Local Government" section on The Insider website to see the most recent town and county meeting notes.

https://www.insiderutah.com/category/local-government/

GARFIELD CO. - Garfield County Commissioners met in special session December 22 to approve the wildland-urban interface ordinance and approve sheriff’s business requiring the budget to be opened for adjustment. The Insider had incorrectly reported in its December 25 issue that the Commission had b...

01/02/2026

Under an agreement, often referred to as the “Napkin Agreement,” dating back to 1961 between the Tropic & East Fork Irrigation Company (TEFIC) and the Otter Creek Reservoir Company (OCRC), Otter Creek has stored up to 3,000 acre-feet of water in Tropic Reservoir during the winter months.

However, the legal right to store this water, technically, expired after the required “proof of use” was never submitted. State engineers have since ruled that only approximately 540 acre-feet can be legally stored, triggering mandatory releases that have left the reservoir at unexpectedly low levels.

Garfield County Commissioner Leland Po***ck warned that the stakes are high. “Some of those farms in Tropic Valley will go bankrupt over time,” he said, noting that last year’s crops already suffered. He also expressed concern for recreation and fisheries, saying the reservoir may not be able to hold enough water to sustain its high-altitude trout population.

With the Napkin Agreement no longer in effect, the consequences could be severe. David Dodds, Garfield County Public Works Director, warned that continued drought could result in Tropic irrigators losing 50 to 70 percent of their crops. The reservoir’s legal storage limit of 540 acre-feet represents only about 30 percent of its total capacity, and even that level may be difficult to reach under current water rights.

"A successful resolution for Garfield County would be for Tropic Reservoir to have enough water to meet the needs of the farmers in the Tropic area and for Tropic Reservoir to remain a popular recreation destination," said Dodds.

To continue reading, follow the link below to our website:

TROPIC/BRYCE VALLEY - Tropic Reservoir, located in Garfield County just west of Bryce Canyon National Park, may be small, but it plays a crucial role in the region’s agricultural and recreational landscape. Situated on the East Fork of the Sevier River, the reservoir was originally established to ...

01/01/2026

The January 1, 2026, issue of The Insider is now available online.

https://www.insiderutah.com/articles/january-1-2026/