The Colorado Plateau has a long history of uranium mining, particularly within the Navajo Nation. Hundreds of abandoned uranium mines still contaminate water sources and ecologies within the Nation, creating dangerous levels of exposure within tribal communities. Science Moab spoke with Dr. …
Congrats to seventh-grader Holden Moore and eighth-grader Jace Reidhead, the Grand County Middle School students of the month.
Mama Margarine arrived at Underdog Rescue just before Christmas along with her five puppies. Her family had been unable to get Margarine fixed, as there are only two veterinarians in the Navajo Nation and many find the elective surgery unaffordable and inaccessible. In 2021, Underdog is plan…
A federal judge has denied a request for an injunction on drilling for helium near Labyrinth Canyon, just west of Bowknot Bend in Emery County.
Again, the Moab Community came through for our schools, supporting the Books for Tots program run by Back of Beyond Books. The Grand County Middle School library was surprised by a donation of over 30 beautiful new books along with a gift card of $400 to help with further book purchases. GCM…
George Symeon “The Greek” Simons, 80, passed away on Dec. 31, 2020, at his home in Moab. George was born to Symeon and Artemesia Simons on May 5, 1940, in Price, Utah.
Jack Shelby Turpin passed away on Jan. 6, 2021, after a battle with small cell lung cancer. He was able to pass away just as he wanted: at his home in La Sal, surrounded by his family and friends.
Gloria Martin, 69, died on Jan. 6, 2021, from complications of COVID-19.
Lorraine Grundvig, 91, passed away on Jan. 8, 2021, at her home in Murray, Utah. A graveside service will be held on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Moab at 2 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.spanishvalleymortuary.com.
Happy Meow Years! This is Cosmo, the Library Cat. Recently, I was talking with Ms. Mary, the Grand County Public Library children’s library assistant, about our favorite books. She showed me some picture books written and illustrated by Jan Brett. Ms. Mary loves Jan Brett’s books because of …
Responding to a national wave of demonstrations for racial justice and police reform this summer that included a local rally of Moab citizens, the City of Moab issued a proclamation on June 4, 2020, recognizing the need for reform in law enforcement nationwide and mourning the death of Georg…
A luxury train company is planning a route that will bring travelers from Denver to Moab. The company will create a new stop closer to Moab's downtown. Currently, the closest passenger train station is an Amtrak stop in Green River, a 50 minute drive from central Moab.
COVID-19 vaccine distribution continues in Grand County, with officials from the Southeast Utah Health Department working to vaccinate first responders, hospital staff, school staff and those over 70 years old first.
The Moab City Council met for their regular meeting on Jan. 12, where they agreed to pursue a temporary land use ordinance restricting off-road vehicle services. The council also approved letters urging President-elect Joe Biden to restore Bears Ears National Monument and thanking San Juan C…
Trinidad Elizabeth Olmedo was born on Jan. 6, 2021, at 8:39 a.m. to Aja Lyman and Diego Arreola-Olmedo, weighing 6 lbs 11 oz. Trinidad is the first Grand County baby born at Moab Regional Hospital in 2021!
After a year defined by the coronavirus pandemic and social unrest, one marginalized community in Utah is close to receiving critical help from the federal government.
Cedar Oldham picks plants to set in soil as part of BEACON Afterschool’s Journey of the Jedi club. Club leader Christopher Cleveland said that in the club students learn the skills needed of “a true Jedi Knight” including interpersonal and diplomacy skills, meditation practices, and the Jedi…
Ice and snow continue to cause incidents for the Grand County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team. On Dec. 28, three Jeepers from California became lost when snow covered the trail markers on the Fins and Things trail. When the group decided the snow and ice was too dangerous to proceed, they c…
Donald Scott Cockayne, 69, of Moab, Utah, passed away on Dec. 31, 2020 after a battle with long-term illnesses.
Moab Solutions announced that the local nonprofit raised a total of $22,022 to support its mission and respond to calls for assistance from local individuals in need of immediate help. Despite having to limit its holiday fundraising efforts, Moab Solutions raised $7,955 in donations from the…
Underdog Animal Rescue and Rehab’s Mutts of the Week are our KZMU litter. We affectionately named this litter after Lil Okra, Silver Lizard, Uncle Meat and Honeywine: some of the incredible DJs from our favorite local radio station, KZMU Radio (90.1 and 106.7 FM)!
As 2021 begins amid a still-raging pandemic and record unemployment, both business owners and government officials expressed cautious optimism for the coming year.
The Moab Valley Multicultural Center sent a hearty holiday thanks to the Moab Golf Course, who held a gift drive before Christmas. The drive provided gifts for at least 30 kids, as well as gift cards for local families in need. Pictured are MVMC staff Bradia Holmes and Zoe Huston. [Photo: Mo…
Brrrrrrr! It’s cold out there, t(w)eens!! Are you looking for something warm to do inside? I’ve been watching the teen librarian put together some awesome Take & Make bags full of free swag that can be picked up curbside at the Grand County Public Library. Each bag has everything you nee…
When it comes to arid climates, junipers are some of the toughest trees around. The past two years, however, have seen the death of huge swathes of junipers in southeastern Utah. In this interview, Steven Kannenberg, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah, explains why so many j…
The Grand County Commission held their first regular meeting of 2021 on Jan. 5, working through a dense agenda that included the appointment of a new commissioner to replace Jaylyn Hawks, a discussion of Grand County’s membership in the Utah Association of Counties and votes on several amend…
On Jan. 6, Utah lawmakers condemned the violence which halted a joint session of Congress as lawmakers were beginning to count electoral votes certifying the election of President Joe Biden.
“Years of drought and famine come and years of flood and famine come, and the climate is not changed with dance, libation, or prayer.”
Grand County joined 28 other Utah counties in celebrating Utah's 125th anniversary of statehood on Jan. 4. [Murice D. Miller / Moab Sun News]
Public comment lasted over an hour at the San Juan County Commission’s regular meeting on Jan. 5, as citizens from Grand and San Juan counties shared their arguments for and against allowing Rally on the Rocks, the popular UTV event, to take place on a piece of county property in Spanish Val…
Grand County Commission Chair Mary McGann recognized outgoing commissioners at the Dec. 15 meeting, offering personalized praise as well as commemorative plaques.
Grand County Commissioner Curtis Wells is ending his term this winter, having chosen not to seek reelection this fall. However, his farewell to the county commission is not a goodbye to public service. Wells was selected to serve on Governor-elect Spencer Cox’s Rural Policy Subcommittee, cra…
Utah hospitals and frontline workers are receiving COVID-19 vaccines in southeastern Utah, after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration granted emergency authorizations to Pfizer and Moderna for vaccines to fight the coronavirus.
Beginning this week, each household in Grand County will receive a postcard with $45 worth of coupons that can be spent like cash at local businesses.
On Dec. 22, the Trump Administration announced it would pardon Utah State Rep. Phil Lyman, who was convicted of federal charges for leading a 2014 procession of UTV riders through a San Juan County canyon closed to motorized use.
UPDATE: Today, a judge issued a temporary restraining order to stop the project until at least Jan. 6. This story will be updated as information becomes available.
Plans for a paved highway through the Book Cliffs, long opposed by Grand County residents and public officials, have been suspended yet again.
Water can be a formidable force in the desert. From carving canyons to cutting arroyos, water has formed and continues to mold the landscapes around us. Science Moab spoke with Dr. Taylor Joyal, a fluvial-geo-morphologist at the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona Universi…
A fresh coat of snow sparkled under a sunny blue sky at the Dec. 13 celebration of the new Arroyo Crossing workforce housing development, established and managed by the Moab Area Community Land Trust.
Mark Stephen Marksberry, 63, passed away on Dec. 14, 2020, at his home in Moab. Cremation will take place with a private family service. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.spanishvalleymortuary.com.
Marilyn Tibbetts, 82, passed away on Dec. 16, 2020, at her home in La Sal, Utah. Funeral details are pending at this time. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.spanishvalleymortuary.com.
Weldon Leon Mayberry passed peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 12, 2020, at the age of 84.
Underdog Animal Rescue and Rehab’s Mutt of the Week is Mama Squeak, who came from a family that had over 25 dogs. Even though they loved their dogs, they couldn’t afford them so Mama Squeak and her 3 babies, along with several other dogs, were relinquished to us. Squeak and her pups had mang…
Festive lights brighten evenings at Swanny City Park.
Hi, this is Cosmo, the Library Cat. This week, I learned that the Grand County Public Library has an entire graphic novel collection in our children's room. Put some on hold today for reading over winter break! Here are a couple of my favorites: The “Owly” graphic novel series by Andy Runton…
On Dec. 1, the San Juan County Commission passed a resolution requesting that President-Elect Joe Biden restore Bears Ears National Monument to its original bounds when he takes office.
As the Moab Museum reopens with a new vision, the faces behind the scenes are changing as well.
The Grand County Commission held a long meeting on Dec. 15 which included the approval of a budget for 2021 and the denial of a 2021 permit for the Rally on the Rocks UTV event.
The seventh-grade student of the month is Kaylee Lindenstein. Kaylee exemplifies the qualities we look for in a student. She is interested in art, writing, reading, math, and science. She seems to always have a book ready and writes very engaging and interesting stories. In math, Kaylee coll…
Grand County Middle School seventh-grader is lost in another world as part of VR Thursdays at the school. With permission from parents, students from the seventh-grade English class get to experience new virtual reality technology. Last year, a Library Services & Technology grant allowed…
Passed from generation to generation, traditional ecological knowledge refers to awareness cultivated by Indigenous peoples, relying on observation and information accumulated through time, similar to Western science. Science Moab spoke with scholar and activist Dr. Daisy Purdy about traditi…
