Moab Sun News

07/14/2025

UPDATE - 15:59 - The area has been deemed safe and the evacuation order has been lifted.

15:47 - The gas line has been shut off. Evacuation orders are still in place at this time until the area is deemed safe.

15:12 - Fire crews are in the area of Uranium Avenue due to a gas line break. City Market and the surrounding area has been evacuated. Please stay clear until further notice.n ns b

07/14/2025

As of Monday morning, July 14, the Deer Creek Fire has grown to 10,058 acres – more than doubling from weekend estimates. We've collected the most recent updates, videos, links and emergency guidance for locals and evacuees. If you have questions, put them in the comments and we'll get them answered.

The Deer Creek Fire started on July 10 about 18 miles south of Moab and near the community of La Sal. The fire is moving northeast toward the Colorado border, not directly toward Moab, though residents should stay alert for changing conditions during this active wildfire emergency.

07/14/2025

A celebration of life for Dane Brewer will be held on Tuesday, July 29 at the Hoo Doo Hilton Curio Hotel (111 N 100 W, Moab).

Dane was amazing. His life was adventuresome and interesting. He could retell stories in great detail (sometimes, too much detail). Dane Brewer made friends everywhere he went. He left us too soon, but he left an ineffable mark.

07/14/2025

Sadly, our beloved Debra Kay (Purcell) Perkins passed away peacefully in her home from complications of diabetes on the evening of July 9, 2025. She was 67.

https://buff.ly/jlbeHV4

Debra was an artist at heart and found beauty in everyday moments of life. Her deep love for animals and her gentle, creative spirit touched everyone who knew her.

07/14/2025

A giant Elon Musk head made an appearance at Arches National Park on July 12, complete with 'Make America Wait Again' messaging about DOGE cuts causing longer park lines.

Photos by Nancy Charmichael.

A giant Elon Musk head made an appearance at Arches National Park on July 12, complete with 'Make America Wait Again' messaging about DOGE cuts causing longer

07/12/2025

Send your picture and caption to [email protected] between now and August 10, and watch as the photo display across from the library’s front desk fills with the books and destinations you help me explore.

07/12/2025

Volunteer training begins this week, and a public awareness event at Swanny Park is planned for July 19 with free popsicles and projects. The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon, then 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. — avoiding the hot midday sun, of course. https://buff.ly/cY3zHkk

07/11/2025

Starting July 19, Moab City will harness that lived experience to gather street-level temperature data that will guide future shade structures, tree plantings and other cooling strategies. Volunteers are needed — email [email protected]. Volunteer training is set for July 15, so don't delay!

Moab heat can be extreme - that's why a new citizen science project is collecting data to learn where and how streets can be cooled down.

07/10/2025

The Wildcat Loadout Facility, which had been shelved since 2023, got the go-ahead via the Trump Administration's “emergency” process that condenses review timelines from months or years into just two weeks. But environmental advocates say this fast‑tracking amounts to little more than a “rubberstamp,” sacrificing safety and oversight.

Since the early 2000s, the Uinta Basin oil boom has relied on hubs like the one in Helper to connect wells with rail networks. The Helper site will help speed Uinta Basin crude onto trains bound for Gulf Coast refineries.

07/10/2025

After retiring, Paul found joy in driving a school bus for the Grand County School District—a job he cherished deeply. A man of deep faith, Paul was a devoted Christian and a member of the Community Church in Moab, where he served as song leader and held various leadership roles.

Paul Drake—beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend—passed away peacefully on July 3, 2025, in Moab, Utah. He was 85 years old.

07/09/2025

FULL VIDEO & TRANSCRIPT: The July 8 Moab City Council meeting began with public comments expressing concerns about excessive OHV noise, followed by updates on recent flood prevention efforts and a police department report. The council also received a comprehensive water infrastructure presentation, which concluded that current water supply and infrastructure are adequate...for now. Additional business included approving a new Planning Commission member and endorsing a letter of support for a medical cannabis pharmacy in the city.

The July 8 Moab City Council meeting began with public comments expressing concerns about excessive OHV noise, followed by updates on recent flood prevention efforts and a police department report. The council also received a comprehensive water infrastructure presentation, which concluded that curr...

07/09/2025

November 11, 1939 – July 3, 2025

Paul Drake—beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend—passed away peacefully on July 3, 2025, in Moab, Utah. He was 85 years old.

Paul was born on November 11, 1939, in Yuma, Colorado, the only son of George and Esther Drake. He grew up surrounded by six sisters in a home rooted in faith—his father was a Nazarene minister, and that spiritual foundation shaped Paul’s life from an early age. His family later moved to Rifle, Colorado, where Paul attended school and graduated from Rifle High School. He went on to study at Mesa College in Grand Junction.

While living in Grand Junction, Paul met Elizabeth Dowell at a Nazarene church. They got married on July 10, 1959, beginning a journey of love and partnership that would last 66 years.

Paul began his career at Clymer’s Dairy in Rifle, Colorado, where his daughter Rebecca was born. The family later welcomed their daughter Lorrie. In 1963, the family moved to Moab where Paul began working for Holsum Bakery. It was there that their son, Christopher, was born. Paul became known throughout the community as a dedicated “bread man,” a role he held for 40 years. After retiring, he found joy in driving a school bus for the Grand County School District—a job he cherished deeply.

A man of deep faith, Paul was a devoted Christian and a member of the Community Church in Moab, where he served as song leader and held various leadership roles. His love of music was evident in his perfect pitch and the many weddings, funerals, and community events where he shared his voice.

Paul had a passion for woodworking, took great pride in his flower garden and yard, and was a voracious reader with a special interest in Colorado history. His love of travel took him across the United States and to places as far as the Holy Land and Hawaii.

He is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth Drake; daughters Rebecca (Rick) Carrigan and Lorrie (Kerry) Lange; son Christopher (Claudia) Drake; and grandchildren Melissa (Joshwa) Kuretich, Brianna (Matthew) Walcott, Kelby (NaShay) Lange, Amanda Carrigan (Randy George), Caitlin (Christian) Faulkner, Rhiannon (Kidus) Drake-Legesse, Jessica (Kyle) Marshall, and Lauren (John) Van Dalen. He also leaves behind eight great-grandchildren and two sisters, Patricia Eirish and Marlene Dere.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, George and Esther Drake, and sisters Margaret Ellis, Mary Logan, Martha Glazier, and Esther Lucas.

Paul’s family would like to thank Dr. Jonas Munger and Community Nursing Services and Hospice, especially Jeanette Badger for all of their compassionate care.

Paul Drake will be remembered for his unwavering faith, his love of music and history, his kind heart, and his deep devotion to his family and community. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the memories he leaves behind.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m. at the
Community Church of Moab.

Family and friends are invited to share tributes online at buff.ly/85HWwBc

Paul Drake—beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend—passed away peacefully on July 3, 2025, in Moab, Utah. He was 85 years old.