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Show Hatch Boasts Town Of 'Big, Happy Family' Hatch located 25 miles southwest of Bryce Canyon on highway 89, is just like one big happy family. The citizens are friendly and truly care for each other's welfare. One example of this closeness is the community effort in raising their assessed amount for the new Panguitch Stake Center. A group of women were talking, one said, "Wait till you see what I have to sell at the next ward dinner, I have some new things, thatyou have never seen before!" When the women were reminded that their ward was the only ward in Panguitch Stake that had paid all of their assessed amount, the look on their faces showed disappointment. Disappointment because they had actually enjoyed working, planning and getting together once a month to hold ward dinners and auctions. Disappointed because they enjoyed working together to come up with new ideas on how to earn the money needed. Bishop Merwin Barnhurst said, they wouldn't stop now but they would continue to hold the gatherings and continue to earn money to be added to the fund. Hatch has three motels, two restaurants, two drive-ins, two trailer parks, fire service stations, two grocery stores, a DUP museum, an LDS chapel and social hall, and several gift shops, one carrying a large number of items. There is also a lapidarist business opened during the summer months. Besides socializing once a month at a ward dinner and auction, the community also holds rummage sales to earn money for the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum which is located in the old school building. Under the direction of Effel Riggs, bicentennial chairman for Hatch, a community park was organized last year with trees, baseball diamond, skating pond and a new standard size tennis court. The community worked together to complete the park. Karl Lowder, is town president with Mervin Barnhurst, Lynn Evans, Bill Duckett, and Harry York members of the town board and Estella Riggs, is town clerk. Leland Riggs is president of the water company whose water system is one of two systems in the State of Utah with pure water. Orlin Frehner, Nile Sawyer.JJill Duckett and Mervin Barnhurst are on the board. They have three wells in Hatch that are almost paid for. The community fixed their cemetery last year by planting grass, putting up a chain link fence and putting in a well and pump house. Three members of the Mormon Batallion are buried in the Hatch cemetery. Hatch is the center of many good fishing, hunting and scenic areas. Their biggest community event for the year is the 24th of July Homecoming event They have a town barbeque dinner. Effel Riggs, at the present time Is in the process of writing the history of Hatch, Hillsdale and Asay. Anyone with histories related to the history and activities of these communities and the lives of the citizens of these areas could contact Mrs. Riggs, she would certainly appreciate the effort. |