THE ZEPHYRSEPTEMBER 1990 radio envisioning moab public by Diane Fouts You've seen the notices for Moab Public Radio meetings and donation jars at local businesses. Maybe you've even been to a fund-raisievent for MPR. But do you have a clear picture of what Moab Public Radio will be? Moab Public Radios station will be located south of town on Highway 191. From 100-wthere, Its signal at 89.7 FM will be heard In both Moab and Spanish Valley. As MPR grows It plans to expand Its broadcast area to Include Castle Valley and most of Grand County. Public affairs programming will play a large part In MPR's dally schedule. A community billboard will broadcast daily notices of Important local meetings, hearings, and events even club meetings and entertainment Panel discussions and call-i- n programs on Important local Issues will allow all viewpoints to be aired. Agendas of city and county commission meetings will be aired to Inform Interested citizens so they can attend and be heard. Agencies such as Social Services, Aging, Public Health and County Extension will have regular shows to get Important Information on their programs to the public. Air time will be available for other local Interest groups for example, the Archeology Society or Dan O'Laurie Museum to present Informational programs on a regular basis. MPR would also like to feature programs by Native American and Hispanic members of the community. Education Is an Important aspect of Moab Public Radio's stated purpose. MPR to work with Grand County High School to Initiate a high school radio program to plans reflect the Interests and Issues of this Important segment of Moabs population. Students will gain both behind the scenes and on-a- lr experience In broadcasting. A childrens toward Is directed the 4 to 94 age group. Another reading storytime program also planned, program will air selections from classic and contemporary Action and poetry. In addition, MPR will be the local Emergency Broadcast System station. On the ng att Recycling and the League of Women Voters by Lisa Wolfson Many people have approached members of the League of Women Voters asking when recycling will come to Grand County. The answer to that question depends upon you, the Countys concerned citizens. The League took the first step by researching our current waste management system, compiling Information on successful recycling programs In other areas, making recommendations for Incorporating recycling Into Grand County's waste management plana for the future. (The resulting study, entitled "Recycling and Its Feasibility for Grand County, Is still available for a $1.00 donation.) The study found that successful recycling programs In other communities usually have a large degree of community Involvement In both planning and Implementing the program. For this reason League members have agreed that the next step, which Involves working out the details and actually starting recycling In our County, must be taken by such a citizens' group. Our neighbors In Grand Junction and Mesa County, have recently formed a citizen's task force on recycling. The sixty member group Is broken Into approximately thirteen committees to work on all aspects of their recycling program. They have already applied for a $150,000.00 state grant, and are working on forming a regional coalition In order to bring neighboring communities together. Goals will be market development, sharing of Ideas, and eventually developing a system of picking up recyclables In all the small communities In the region on the way to end markets. Despite our location across state lines, the Grand Junction group Is very Interested In our participation In regional recycling activities, and can probably also be of some help In our local efforts. We are now forming our own citizens' task force on recycling In Grand County. It Is Important that this group reflect our community's widespread Interest In recycling. We need people from every civic and religious organization, small and large businesses, the PAGE 29 ed whine. But one hand, this means youll hear those annoying tests with their will on the other hand, now there be a way for Moab to get Important emergency Information with a And radio station, theres a way for other Immediately Important Immediately. storm warnings, travel conditions or local births and as flash flood and such Information, without deaths to be reported delay. MPR Is think Dont going to be all talk. A substantial portion of the broadcast day will be music programming with a difference. No endless replay of Top 40 pop or country-weste- rn charts from a satellite service featuring electronically enhanced automaton DJs. MPRs volunteer DJs will be people you know, whose voices you recognize, playing the music you and they like bluegrass, country, rock, Jazz, classical, ethnic. This vision of Moab Public Radio as a community resource Is a pretty .tall order. The key word here Is community. Because tills Is a community station, the community Is where MPR comes for support Moab Public Radio needs all the help It can get not only flnanclal (though plenty of money Is required), but volunteers to help with every aspect of building, staffing and operating a radio station. MPR needs volunteer skilled labor, such as carpenters and electricians, to help construct the station building. Installing the radio and studio equipment will require more volunteers. And of course, volunteer DJs and other personnel, both on-a- lr and behind the scenes help will be an on going need. Moab Public Radio Is listener-support- ed radio. The main sources of MPR's operating budget will be pledges from local listeners and underwriting from local fit businesses. Moab Public Radio has both state and federal approval as a all means which that flnanclal and many donations are corporation, It's a big project requiring lots of community help energy, commitment, and yes, even money, but the returns are also great Moab can have a local radio station that reflects Its unique personality and address Its Important local Issues. Radio silence can no longer be maintained. high-pitch- non-pro- In-kl- ble. National Park service and the BLM, City and County government representatives, local businesses which currently take certain recyclables, those Involved In waste management and other Interested citizens. There will be various levels of participation possible. Those who have the time and energy can be actively Involved In research and decision making. Others will be needed to educate and bring support from their organizations or businesses. Participants will be able to choose which areas they wish to work on, from funding to education to working out the details of various aspects of the Initial program. Both the City Council and the County Commissioners have expressed Interest In recycling. The County Commissioners unanimously endorsed the Leagues formation of the recycling task force at their August 13 meeting. Merv Lawton, who was also Involved In the League's study on recycling, has agreed to represent the Commission on the task force. Representatives from the League will meet with the City Council and the Mayor, asking for similar endorsement and representation, at their August 21 meeting. It Is likely that new federal and state regulations may force us to close our current landfill within 18 months (80 of the dumps In Utah will not meet the new regulations). There will undoubtedly be much higher costs both for dumping and for compacting and transporting waste to the new landfill. When the current landfill Is dosed, we will likely be forced to change our waste management practices to Indude recydlng In order to save money on waste disposal costs. Even If the new Federal regulations don't force us to establish a new landfill yet, all communities In Utah may soon be required by state law to start recycling programs In the near future. In addition, It Is estimated that at the current rate of dumping, our landfill will reach capacity In eleven or fewer years. This rate can be slowed considerably by diverting up to 50 of the waste through recycling, thus postponing closure and new landfill costs. It seems clear that, In any case. It Is Important to start our recycling program In Grand County as soon as we can. Ideally, the task forces efforts will result In an operative drop-o- ff center by January 1991. The first meeting of the citizens task force will be held In the first week of September. If you are Interested, please contact Usa Wolfson, League of Women Voters Action Director, as soon as possble at 259-7680. THE ROSE TREE INN THAT TIME OF YEAR IS COMING, Is Located Quietly Just Off Main Street nL; for information concerning ANY U.S.U. service or program . So-o-- , .! SjjT fAf- The Inn is within walking distance of: Main shopping area, Community Center, Tennis Courts, Library, Museum, Liquor Store, Post Office, Hollywood Stuntmens Hall of Fame, and Moabs New Pool. nd X--1.. o, academics advisement lit ft ll u kSw- - housing financial aid testing work-stud- y '.M- - scholarships campus employment cultural events S, call ROSE TREE INN 481 Rose Tree Lane (70 South 48 1 East) Moab, Utah 84532 Reservations: 259-601- 5 The Utah State University Center in Moab 259-743- 2 There are sure to be questions you can ask which we can't answer but we know who can.