By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Memorial weekend in Juab County was busy, as usual, but
there were no fatalities in any of the recreation areas of
the county.
Juab County Sheriff David Carter said the three-day
holiday had brought 55,000 recreationists to the county to
celebrate the weekend. Of course, that number did not
include those who traveled to the county for the more
traditional decoration of graves but only those who camped
in one of the recreation sites in the county.
"In spite of the large number of recreationists," said
Carter, "we had a pretty mild weekend."
There were 18,000 recreationists at the Little Sahara
Sand Dunes, said Carter.
He sad there were 100 arrests made which were mostly for
open container or youth alcohol violations. There were nine
DUI arrests.
"We had no assaults and no fatalities, although there
were a lot of people treated at the contact station at the
Little Sahara," said Carter. "Juab County West Ambulance
Association made seven runs to the hospital."
"A special thanks should go to the Will Fullmer and Ken
and Sheryl Poulsen who work year round to provide medical
help at the contact station at the Bureau of Land
Management's Little Sahara Sand Dunes Recreation site," said
Carter.
He said the three were so often overlooked when they did
so much to help. Whenever the county conducts a search and
rescue operation on the sand the BLM Dune Buggy is always
brought to the scene to help.
"The Dune Buggy and gurney which are especially equipped
for sand rescue," said Carter.
Neil Scornsby, a BLM ranger, was also on hand to help
with law enforcement at the Dunes.
Carter said all of the deputies from the Sheriff's
Office, Juab County Search and Rescue deputies, seven
members of the special UHP DUI squad and area UHP troopers
were all called on to help make certain that the visitors
could enjoy a family-oriented holiday in Juab County.
There were campers throughout Juab County's West
Desert.
"Several campers, who have visited the area in year's
past, reported to me that they had never seen so many people
camped in the West Desert during the Memorial holiday," said
Carter.
Yuba Lake, which was once the nightmare of officers on
duty during the Memorial weekend, was full but was not the
site of the altercations which once occurred there.
"We had trouble with a couple of camps, but nothing like
what we used to have," he said. "Since Yuba was shut-down
for a couple of years, we have not had the problem there we
had prior to that."
Now the BLM and Utah State Parks officials combine
efforts to assure that the site would not be overrun with a
rowdy bunch of parting thrill seekers.
He said the combined efforts of the two agencies resulted
in not allowing the site to become overrun with people and
Yuba had become what law enforcement had hoped it
would&emdash;a family recreation site.
"So though Yuba was packed to capacity, it was mostly
with a family oriented group of people who wanted a fun-time
for the whole family," said Carter.
Salt Creek Canyon, Levan Canyon and the East Bench were
all filled with campers, said Carter. In addition, Burraston
Ponds was filled with recreationists.
"There were a few complaints about ATV use at that site,
but nothing happened that we were not able to take care of,"
said Carter.
Over Easter weekend, said Carter, the efforts of the UHP,
state Liquor Law and Department of Motor Vehicles officers
working with his office had really paid off. In fact, the
combined efforts of the agencies had worked so well that the
carry-over effect had helped with the most recent influx of
visitors.
"Those who come to Juab County know we are serious about
making sure the holidays are safe for families and that we
will do what needs to be done to keep law-breakers from
ruining the holiday for families," he said.
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