Masks will remain a classroom requirement for Grand County’s students and teachers through the end of the school year. Earlier this month, Utah Governor Spencer Cox surprised local school districts when he gave them the option to remove mask mandates during the last week of school. That left local school board members and administrators weighing public comment from teachers, parents, and community members. Ultimately, the board’s ‘masks on’ decision came down to the transmission rates in Grand County and the hundreds of still-unvaccinated students. Plus, we check in with Moab Chamber of Commerce Director Laici Shumway about workforce shortages, and a series of ongoing conversations attempting to brainstorm solutions.

Plus, our Weekly News Reel where we hear from local reporters and editors about their latest stories. Times-Independent editor Doug McMurdo talks ‘part two’ of their continued series on Moab’s housing and job crises, live music returning to Moab, and the accomplishments of a star high school track athlete. Moab Sun News publisher/editor Maggie McGuire discusses a transportation conversation getting overshadowed yet again by the bypass, and young Indigenous runners bringing healing from Bears Ears to Warm Springs.

Show Notes:

Grand County School District Announcement: Board of Education takes action on mask mandate

https://3.files.edl.io/7ff3/21/05/27/160717-21d667bd-82b2-42b1-9f75-2da4c294d74c.jpg

Schedule a local COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment

https://www.seuhealth.com

or

https://www.kroger.com/health/pharmacy/sweepstakes

Moab Area Chamber of Commerce

https://moabchamber.com

Community Action Chamber Chats – Join the discussion or suggest topics by emailing:

executive director Laici Shumway: [email protected]

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Roughly half of Moab’s 2017 housing plan is incomplete

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/roughly-half-of-moabs-2017-housing-plan-is-incomplete/

The Times-Independent: What more can be done for housing?

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/what-more-can-be-done-for-housing/

The Times-Independent: Moab approves 2050 transportation plan

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-approves-2050-transportation-plan/

The Times-Independent: Live music returns to Moab

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/live-music-returns-to-moab/

The Times-Independent: Ricks wins two state track titles

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/ricks-wins-two-state-track-titles/

Moab Sun News: Transportation plans proceed, though Moab City Councilmember Guzman-Newton dismayed by lack of Highway 191 bypass discussion

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_b5f2f886-bef9-11eb-aa69-b7e4296a5116.html

Moab Sun News: ‘Get out and run, go greet the sun’

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_70459990-beec-11eb-89c5-1f1e6dab1de1.html