Home Care In Blanding, UT

The 500 members of the Navajo Mountain Chapter of the Navajo Nation live 45 miles southwest of Blanding, Utah – a town where they can access things like medical care, grocery stores or laundromats.

But there’s no direct road to get there.

Instead, residents living in Navajo Mountain drive three hours out of their way into Arizona and then back into Utah to get to Blanding. First responders have to take the same route in an emergency.

For the last 15 years, the Navajo Nation has advocated for the construction of a road that would shorten the trip to Blanding to just 30 minutes. Funding for the early stages of the project has made it into the state budget for the last three years, only to be removed at the last minute. This year was no exception.

Crystalyne Curley, the speaker of the Navajo Nation, said on the second to last day of the legislative session the Executive Appropriations Committee said that “we cannot find any money. We looked underneath every cushion, underneath every couch, and we can't find $2 million.”

As this year’s legislative session ended, lawmakers said the state’s wallet was tapped out.

The money was initially set aside toward the $4 million needed for an environmental impact study. The Navajo Nation agreed to pay the remaining $2 million themselves.

The study would be a crucial first step for the project. It would also indicate enough support from the state to qualify for federal funding later on. The project is estimated to cost $140 million.

Shaandiin Parrish, chair of the budget and finance committee for the Navajo Nation Council, grew up in Kayenta. Her grandparents, however, live in Navajo Mountain without running water or electricity.

“In order for me to haul wood for my grandparents it takes about two hours for me to go from Kayenta to Navajo Mountain. If this road is built, it would only be a 30-minute commute for me to go to my grandparents' house.”

But Parrish said the road’s impact would extend far beyond her grandparent’s community.

“I really believe that building this road will attract tourism to southern Utah. Right in that area, there's the world famous Monument Valley. That's a huge gem of the state of Utah. And also Glen Canyon is just right around the corner in the Navajo Mountain area. So I don't see why the state of Utah wouldn't benefit from this.”

Both Parrish and Curley expressed frustration in a news conference at the state capitol after the funding had been pulled, again.

“Even though it was on the priority list for the governor, the state Legislature still chose to pull it from the priorities,” Curley said.

Sen. Nate Blouin supports the project.

“It's $2 million of a $28 billion budget. It's a fraction of a percent. To shove it off as a low-budget year, especially when this has been brought forward for a number of years, is, I think, a bit disingenuous.”

But the Navajo delegates — who traveled more than eight hours from Window Rock, Arizona to advocate for Navajo infrastructure — remain persistent and optimistic.

“Our nation's leadership has always been prioritizing infrastructure,” Parrish said. “And even if it has to take another year, which next session will be 16 years of trying to push for this EIS funding, that won't stop us.”

BLANDING, Utah — Gustavo Ovando-Montejo, assistant professor in the Environment and Society Department at Utah State University, has been named as the 2024 Quinney College of Natural Resources Teacher of the Year. Ovando-Montejo, who teaches environmental studies and geography courses at USU Blanding, will be the college’s nominee for the 2024 Eldon J. Gardner Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in March.

“Since joining USU Blanding, professor Ovando-Montejo has made an immediate and profound impact,” said Kristian Olsen, senior associate vice president for USU Blanding & Moab. “His unwavering passion, dedication, and enthusiasm for fostering student success exemplify the qualities of an outstanding educator. Professor Ovando-Montejo's presence on campus has enriched both the academic environment and the broader community. His commitment to excellence in teaching and mentorship is truly commendable.”

Born in the ancient city of Tenochtitlan, now known as Mexico City, Ovando-Montejo was raised in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. At age 18, he moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University. While studying at BYU, he developed an appreciation for maps and the map-making process, leading him to major in geography. This passion led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in geographic information systems from BYU and a master’s and a doctorate in geography from Oklahoma State University.

“I am incredibly honored and grateful to have been selected for this award,” Ovando-Montejo said. “It is humbling to be recognized among the many exceptional teachers at our institution.”

Ovando-Montejo joined the USU faculty in 2019, first as a post-doctoral fellow and then as an assistant professor in 2020. His teaching and research interests deal in general with human-environmental systems and natural resource management including the integration of GIS and remote sensing techniques for application on these areas.

Offering residential campus housing and dining, Utah State University Blanding gives students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university, all while providing award-winning education. With degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, plus technical education offerings in Business, Technical Trades and Health Professions, USU Blanding offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at blanding.usu.edu.

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Marcus Jensen News Coordinator University Marketing and Communications [email protected]

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Kristian Olsen Senior Associate Vice President Utah State University Blanding & Moab 435-678-8184 [email protected]

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BLANDING, Utah (KUTV) — The roommate of two missing men in Southern Utah has been arrested in a case which officials are now investigating as a homicide.

Deputies with the San Juan County Sheriffs Office arrested 35-year-old Charles Yoo and charged him with a second-degree felony of obstruction of justice.

William Bull, 29, and Christopher Owens, 28, were last heard from on Feb. 26 in the Blanding area.

A search warrant was served on their residence on Friday, where officials said all three men lived. Yoo, who is the owner of the home, was reportedly arrested afterward.

"A mutual friend of both Bull and Owens had reported to law enforcement officials some concerning interactions he had had with Yoo during the days immediately after the two men had stopped using social media and cell phones to make contact with friends and family," a press release stated.

RELATED: Search continues in Southern Utah for two men last heard from in February

Deputies said the case has become a homicide investigation due to evidence collected at the residence, interviews with Yoo, and "lack of proof of life" from Bull and Owens.

They reported that Bull and Owens had been driving back from Moab on Feb. 25, and surveillance footage from a gas station in Blanding confirmed their safe return from the trip.

According to arresting documents, Yoo claimed he last saw Bull and Owens on the morning of Feb. 26.

He told law enforcement that the two men left in a black Dodge, but did not provide any other details "that would have been apparent to someone with basic knowledge of a vehicle." Officials added that Yoo's main occupation is a vehicle mechanic.

They reviewed video from nearby security cameras but were unable to confirm any black Dodge coming or going from the area.

After conducting an emergency cell phone ping, detectives did not find any location data for Owens but said Bull's phone location showed it was somewhere approximately 700 yards from their residence. Upon checking the area, however, no phone was found.

Yoo had traveled on March 1, but turned off his shared data location while he was away. Detectives were able to figure out where Yoo had gone while he was away, however, when they interviewed him, they said Yoo did not provide correct information.

Court documents stated that Yoo is a former military veteran with a large gun collection. In February, he allegedly claimed that one of his guns had gone missing but he did not report it to law enforcement. It was not specified whether this gun had been recovered.

"It's breaking my heart man," said Jeff LeBlanc, a good friend of Owens. "I'm doing everything I can to hold it together and try to be here for my family and be strong for them."

LeBlanc grew up with both missing men, and said Owens moved to Utah just a couple of months ago to hang with Bull, and prep off-roading excursions in the southeastern part of the state.

"Chris is the one who gives you the last cigarette out of his pack," LeBlanc said. "He'll give you the shirt off his back, the last bite of his food, just to make sure you're taken care of, to make sure you're okay, just a kind, loving soul."

Anyone with information or who has seen anything suspicious that could be related to this investigation was asked to call the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office at (435) 587-2237.

BLANDING, Utah — Utah State University Blanding is pleased to announce the continued collaboration of the campus with USU Associate Professor of History Danielle Ross, who came to the campus in the fall 2023 semester to help teach history courses, along with other general education courses.

During the semester, administrators saw impressive results in the pass rates of students who were taught by Ross. The campus will now see Ross extend her stay at the campus for a second academic year.

During several previous semesters, USU administrators saw the troubling trend that many students were having difficulty in their history courses. Ross, who had previously presented at a conference on how to teach Native American students, heard about this trend and volunteered to transfer her office to USU Blanding, making the strategic decision to spend the 2023-24 academic year teaching in Blanding.

“When I look back at my own undergraduate years, so much of my success was made possible through mentorship relationships with professors and advisers,” Ross said. “It's these kinds of relationships that not only helped me succeed in the classroom but made me aware of other opportunities — internships, scholarships and grants, fieldwork opportunities. Getting to have opportunities like these leads to students establish further relationships and gain more experiences that will set them on the path to a career after they graduate.”

The move was driven by Ross’ dedication to working with rural and Indigenous students, demonstrating a commitment to fostering educational opportunities in diverse communities. Throughout her brief tenure at USU Blanding, Ross has worked to incorporate pedagogy and techniques that better resonate with Native American students.

The campus has seen a spike in passing grades in the classes that Ross is teaching. Ravi Gupta, head of the USU Department of History, expressed his admiration for Ross’s decision to help the students at USU Blanding.

“Dr. Ross is an outstanding faculty member,” Gupta said. “When she approached me about spending a year in Blanding to help USU Blanding students learn history, I was not surprised in the least. This is the kind of person she is — someone who cares passionately about students. We are very proud of the work she is doing.”

Ross has a profound love and is a global expert in tribal relations. With this expertise, Ross has brought vital insights to the challenges faced by tribal communities. Her commitment to inclusivity and understanding has made her an invaluable addition to the USU Blanding campus.

Students at USU Blanding have embraced Ross’s teaching style and have voiced appreciation for the support she provides for their academic growth and success. Her approach to teaching has resonated with students, leading to increased enrollment in history classes and improved academic performance.

“I am extremely grateful for Professor Ross,” said Kristian Olsen, senior associate vice president for USU Blanding. “Her impact on our students has been significant. Many of our students either didn't take a history class or struggled with the material. The students see her dedication and the excellence she brings to the classroom, which has resulted in far more students taking history and doing very well in her class.”

Due to the overwhelming success of the collaboration, Ross and USU Blanding have mutually agreed to extend her stay for a second academic year. Campus and university leaders, including Olsen and Gupta, are actively exploring opportunities to maintain Ross’s presence in Blanding on a long-term basis.

The ongoing collaboration between the main campus and Blanding exemplifies USU’s commitment to finding innovative ways to impact and provide high-quality academic opportunities for students all across the state of Utah.

Offering residential campus housing and dining, Utah State University Blanding gives students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university, all while providing award-winning education. With degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, plus technical education offerings in Business, Technical Trades and Health Professions, USU Blanding offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at blanding.usu.edu.

Statewide Campuses 338 Student Success 297 Diversity & Inclusion 251 Teaching 151 History 138 Humanities 117

BLANDING, Utah (ABC4) — San Juan County officials are looking for two men who went missing on Feb. 26 while heading to an unknown job location.

San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Marcia Shumway confirmed an open investigation this morning, March 1.

Christopher “Topher” Owens, 28, and William “Drew” Bull, 29, were last seen in a black 1997 Dodge Ram in late morning or early afternoon on Monday in Blanding, according to Owens’ brother Jeff LeBlanc.

LeBlanc told ABC4.com that Owens and Bull do mechanical work and often perform recovery jobs for vehicles that get stranded or stuck on rural trails. While family members knew the two were headed to a job, they did not know the details or location. The duo have been known to ride trails between Blanding and Moab somewhat regularly.

LeBlanc said Owens was new to Utah, only having moved here roughly a month before his disappearance, and may not be familiar with the area. Owens and Bull have been friends for over a decade, said LeBlanc.

LeBlanc described Owens as standing around 5’6″ tall with a “skater haircut.” He is heavily tattooed, including a rose tattooed on one pinky and a pink and white flower tattooed between his thumb and index finger. He wears ear gauges and has several facial piercings. He is believed to have last been seen wearing a white T-shirt and black/metallic gray pants and sandals. He may also have been wearing a beanie or fitted cap.

Bull is around 6’4″ tall and weighs around 280 pounds, according to his wife Isabelle Hatfield. Hatfield told ABC4.com that Bull was likely wearing black Dickies work pants, DC skate shoes, a backwards fitted cap that is either maroon or black and a dark-colored shirt.

Bull and Hatfield have three children together — a three-year-old son, two-year-old daughter and a 4-week-old infant. Hatfield said her three-year-old son said Bull and Owens were working on a truck.

Hatfield said Bull has blue gauge earrings, a rose tattoo on his left hand and a tattoo of a Jeep grill with mountains on his left forearm. On his right forearm, Hatfield said Bull has several tattoos, including a car on his right forearm and a Chrysler diamond on his elbow.

Hatfield said she was told the car that Bull and Owens were last seen in was a customer’s car.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these two individuals is asked to contact the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office at (435) 587-2237.