HUNTINGTON — Local officials have started to discuss a multi-community memorial celebration and a historical marker as hope begins to fade for six miners 20 days after they were trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine.

"We have talked about something called a 'celebration of life,"' Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon said. "We've started getting things organized, but nothing is set."

No decisions have been made on a permanent memorial like the tall black granite marker at the base of the road to the Wilberg Mine 20 minutes from Huntington. A mine fire killed 27 at Wilberg in 1984.

The names of the miners are engraved in the tall stone, which sits atop a small rise with four concrete benches surrounded by majestic Utah plateaus and rock formations.

The marker carries two messages: "In memory of our fellow brothers and sister and co-workers who lost their lives in the Wilberg coal mine disaster Dec. 19, 1984" and "Worst coal mine fire disaster in Utah history."

Three miners died Aug. 16 at Crandall Canyon as they tried to rescued their six trapped comrades. Six others were injured.

Gordon has decided to wait to consider a marker until mine operators decide what they are going to do.

"I've heard people mention some kind of mine memorial, but that hasn't been decided yet," she said. "I think it's best to let mine management do the things they think best first."

Mine owner Bob Murray has sent mixed messages about closing the mine. Even if it is closed permanently, the impact on the local economy should be minor, Gordon said. Operations at Crandall Canyon began to slow a couple of years ago.

"There used to be 200 to 300 jobs in that mine, but it had been reduced to about 70," she said. "Now that it's closed, they are transferring to the other mines in the area that have been absorbing those other men. They'll still be bringing their paychecks home to Huntington."

Residents of the five cities and towns whose sons are trapped in the mine — Huntington, Cleveland, Price, Helper and Orangeville — had been inundated by national media, to the point that stores posted signs asking reporters not to talk to their customers. Now they can't help but notice the lack of television cameras and reporters.

It's a difficult sign, because it means time is running out for their miners.

"We knew that it was winding down when all the media left," said Jed Jensen, supervisor of elementary schools in the Emery County School District. "That's started to happen the last two days or so. It's winding down."