Utah’s Sagebrush Rebellion capital mellows as animal-lovers and enviros move in

Kanab's softer side shows through at the entrance to town.

Ray Wells and Bryce Nuckols ride in Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

At the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, near Kanab, Utah, Keeley Floyd with Giah and Nikon.

Parrot Garden vet-tech Wendy Hatchel holds Zoey, a 10-week-old green-winged macaw.

Cyrus Mejia, one of the founders of Best Friends, with Roxy, a rescued Doberman.

Donna Arellano feeds horses.

Four-wheeling at a wilderness study area near the Rimrocks on Brigham Bench in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Utah State Rep. Mike Noel stands near a fresh Kane County road marker on Skutumpah Road -- Kane County's first RS 2477 victory -- on the western edge of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Sky Chaney, president of the Taxpayers Association of Kane County, shows a letter from Kane County Attorney Jim Scarth in which Scarth estimated it would cost $27,000 and take "a few years" to collect requested records.

Bryce Nuckols, left, and Ray Wells ride the Nephi Pasture Road in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where more than 550 miles of trails are designated for ATVs