Regional artists, authors and musicians made contributions to Page culture. Parks and Recreation added new trails, new playground equipment and a fitness park. Area residents had a frequent and wide variety of events to add color to their lives. Lake Powell water levels rose, easing some of the fears of 2022. All in all, as Frank Sinatra crooned, “It was a very good year.”

It was also a busy year. Here are a few highlights covered by Lake Powell Chronicle in 2023.

January

Bureau of Reclamation crews complete a new water intake connection at Glen Canyon Dam. The lowered intake will supply water to Page and LeChee when Lake Powell water levels drop below 3,370 feet, known as to “deadpool.” At 3,370 feet, no excess water can pass through the dam. When levels drop below 3,490 feet, power generation stops. As of Dec. 26, 2023, Lake Powell water levels were 3,569 feet, a gain of over 40 feet in one year.

Navajo Nation lifts COVID-19 mask mandate Jan. 20, 2023. The mask requirement for schools, health care facilities and nursing homes remained in effect.

February

The Regional Trails Alliance begins collecting GIS data on local hiking and cycling trails to support planning, funding, building, marketing and maintaining regional trails maps. The objective is to entice tourists or visitors to stay longer and explore northern Arizona landscapes. The net result is better visitor experiences and improved local economies.

Glen Canyon Outdoor Academy (GCOA) moves into its permanent, Newburn Road campus in Page and begins accepting pre-enrollment applications for the 2023-2024 school year. GCOA is a free public charter school with an outdoor-focused curriculum.

March

Multiple hiking groups are rescued after a March 13 flash flood took them by surprise at Buckskin Gulch. Two hikers lost their lives. Buckskin Gulch is the longest slot canyon in North America. Kane County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team was assisted by Bureau of Land Management rangers and Utah Department of Safety helicopters.

The Arizona Senate passes the Page $42 million water infrastructure bill on March 16. Although the bill passed both houses, paperwork wasn’t submitted in time for inclusion in the state’s 2024 budget.

April

Three Page High school students win awards in a culinary arts competition. Winners at the Family Career and Community Leaders of America are Miriam Lassen, Ethan Myers and Aaron Haynie. Miriam Lassen, a sophomore at Page High at the time took first place. Lassen is currently vice chair on the City of Page Student Advisory Commission.

Catholic Charites Community Services announce the construction of homes for the homeless. They purchased Antelope Canyon Inn and will convert the hotel into apartments. The new name for the building is Pinion Pointe Apartments. At the time, it was expected to open early 2024.

On April 15, 43-year-old Joelle McQuay, a retired police officer, bodybuilder, bikini competitor and record-setting bench press champion is trapped in the cliffs along Lake Powell. McQuay and her protection K9 are rescued by National Park Service rangers later the same day. They found her hanging on a cliff. 

May

Page High School celebrates 155 new graduates, 94% of enrolled seniors. In total, the new graduates received almost $4 million in scholarships.

Page Public Library begins its Page Pandemic Stories project. They will record the experiences and reflections of area residents. A statement from the library said the audio recordings “will document the experiences of people from all walks of life, in their own words.”

June

The City of Page approves a nearly $65 million preliminary budget for fiscal year 2023-2024. 

On June 2, a major fire at Wahweap Marina destroys multiple houseboats. Local worker in the vicinity, including Jesse Moore, Robert Wilkes and Nate Tate, move boats to safety, saving them from catastrophe.

On June 2, Page Justice of the Peace Maia Rodriguez takes the oath of office at Page Justice Court.

Page sees the first increase in electric rates since 2011. Page City Council approved the increase at a lower rate than recommended by consultants K. R. Saline & Associates to keep Page Utility Enterprises solvent. It raised commercial rates by 40% and residential rates by 20%. Vice Mayor John Kocjan successfully leads the charge to reduce the residential increase from 40% to 20%.

Water returns to Lone Rock after water levels increase in Lake Powell. 

On June 7, two feral horses, a mare and her foal, are rescued by Glen Canyon Recreation Area staff. The horses were stranded on a beach in Navajo Canyon.

July

Page Fire Department’s 20-year-old Engine No. 10 is replaced by a new Engine No. 10. The City of Page began saving money to buy the nearly $1 million truck three years earlier with a Capital Improvement Plan. The city is now saving for a platform truck to better handle multiple story hotel fires. 

Grand Circle Arts Alliance opens a new art gallery at 71 7th Avenue in Page. The nonprofit group holds a well-attended grand opening party July 8. 

The City of Page holds a grand opening ceremony for its new Red Mesa Rim Trail July 22. The 11-mile trail is designed for hikers and mountain bikers.

August

The Powell Museum and Archives holds a ribbon cutting ceremony Aug. 25 ahead of their Sept. 2 reopening. Water damage from a June 2019 plumbing problem had forced the museum to close. The museum added new exhibits, including dinosaur fossils and casts never displayed to the public.

The annual 4-H Coconino County Shoot is held in Page for the first time. The Page Sportsman Shooting Range on Border Street attracted 56 young competitors for the two-day event.

Glen Canyon Outdoor Academy’s enrolment increases to 162 students, 72 more than the previous year.

September

The City of Page adds Code Red alert system to its list of public services. Residents can receive emergency notices, alerts and reminders for city meetings and events.

The second annual Grand Circle Storytelling Festival returns to Page Sept. 15. Speaking guests include Diné poet Jesse Maloney, author Steven Law and headliner, author Kim Weitkamp. Tito Hoover acts as Master of Ceremonies.

Page Public Library wins 2023 Best Small Library in America Award. The Library Journal’s announcement of the award cited the library’s work as a lifeline for City of Page, serving their region in “creative and critical ways.”

The City of Page is awarded Best 2023 Cybersecurity Score. The Arizona Municipal Risk Retention Pool puts city computer networks to the test by attacking their networks. They couldn’t get by Page Information Technology Director Kane Scott’s security measures. Page’s security received the highest score, better than 90% of government agencies in Arizona.

October

Page City Council asks city staff to prepare a new ordinance to regulate short-term rentals. The state partially restored powers, allowing cities to require permits and charge annual fees to operate short-term rental properties. Cities can also levy fines or revoke permits for noise violations, property maintenance or troublesome guests. Cities can charge up to $250 to cover permit expenses such as administration, inspections and enforcement.

Kids Need to Read donates 1003 new books to Page Public Library. Book publishers and a generous donation from Libraries Ltd, an organization founded by Arizona’s former First Lady Judy Goddard, made the donation possible.

The City of Page says a new splash pad is possible by next summer. Page City Council approved $850,000 for the project. Plans aren’t completed yet, but the proposed location is at Page Sports Complex. Council authorized paying $101,382 to J2 Engineering for design and engineering. J2 will work with city staff and a citizen committee to decide features and theme preferences. 

November 

The Page Balloon Regatta and Street Fair is a huge success. There were 66 balloons participating in all plus 21 in the Lake Powell Boulevard Balloon Glow. Page Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judy Franz estimates around 16,000 people were at the annual Street Fair. A record 93 vendors brought their booths to Elm Street for the event.

Students from Page High School and Page Middle School treated area theater fans to a performance of “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” The colorful adventure story is the eighth musical directed by Lynda Nolan, who also teaches middle school and high school choir for the school district. Nolan also choreographed the production.

Page Public Library partners with Steven Law and his production company, House of 7 Questions, to bring professional authors and poets to Page to read their works. The first in the Poets and Authors Reading series featured Phoenix poets Austin Davis and Shawnte Orion.

Michael Collins, a kayak guide for Lake Powell Adventure Company, rescues a stranded coyote in Antelope Canyon. Collin’s believes the coyote fell from a cliff into the water and swam until it found a rock shelf to get out of the water. 

Lake Powell Parade of Lights returns after over a decade of absence thanks to Kelly and Trent Sutherland. “It used to be a really big event, pre-9/11,” said Kelly. “It used to be so much fun going to the docks, watching people decorating their boats, then going to the Canyon King to see Santa Claus. For anyone who grew up here, the Parade of Lights is one of their key memories.”

December 

Nathanial Tate becomes the first to graduate Page’s new Drug Court program. The program is a forward looking alternative to jail time, prioritizing treatment over punishment.

Page Unified School District announces their move to a four-day school week beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.

The Page Youth Advisory Commission holds its first meeting Dec. 15. Page City Council appointed the seven members after reviewing their applications in November. The pioneering members of the City of Page Youth Advisory Commission are Chair Trystan Conley (home school), Vice Chair Miriam Lassen (Page High School), Emma Mallavia (Page High School), Dominic Martinez (Page High School), Dante Thompson (Manson Mesa High School), Emily Hawker (Page High School) and Michaela Long (Manson Mesa High School).