Brent Fox 1377 E 3900 So Salt Lake City, UT 84124 GUNNISON VALLEY azette Copy Price • 50 cents Thursday, October 13, 2005 Volume 1 • Number 28 A time of harvest By CHRISTI GARFF For families on the farm autumn is more than shorter cooler days, or' beautiful leaves of red and golden yellow. Fall is the culmination of a season of hard work. It's a time for the entire family to pull together to finalize the incredible mountain of chores that must be done before the bitter winds of winter begin to blow. It is a time for picking and bailing for canning and storing the fruits of those labors. One such family is the Mardell and Elva Jensen family of Centerfield, Utah. For Mardell and Elva farming is a way of life. Mardell was born and raised on the farm. The Jensen farm is a Century farm meaning Deere tractor. that their farm has been in the Jensen family for more son for the farmer. These than 100 years. Elva was workers and their families born and raised on a farm become an extension of the in Centerfield as well, al- farm family, sharing in the though her family home is hard work, the hopes and now gone, Elva remembers the joys. These two famithe days when more than lies unite together as they 35 families farmed in this attend weddings, birthdays beautiful valley. Now there __ and many other special are just a very few families events. These workers and left. their families are an essenFarming requires a tial part of the farm and its deep love of the land and success. sacrifice. Farm families sacThis year has been a rifice their time, energy and very difficult year for farmability to keep their land ers. With plenty of snow producing. There is no va- last winter and a cool moist cation time; the work is sun spring hopes for a wonderup to sun down, with many ful harvest abounded. Then sleepless nights. It is fright- just as the crops were about ening to know that a new to be harvested, Mother Natractor will cost the farmer ture threw the farmers a more than $100,000.00 and curve. Alfalfa was cut and a simple repair on an exist- waiting in the fields to be ing tractor can run into the bailed when the rains came. hundreds or thousands of This rain made it impossible dollars. Many seasons find to bail the alfalfa until it had that the expense of equip- a chance to dry. Tall beautiment and repairs amounts ful stalks of silage corn were to more than that's season's waiting for just a little frost total income. There is no to ready them for harvest, weekly or monthly pay- when temperatures suddencheck, no sick leave, and ly dipped into the low 20's. no guarantees; only a deep Silage corn requires a little abiding faith that the small frost to help it dry. Silage kernel of corn, or the tiny corn must be dry so that it alfalfa seed once planted can be stored in pits for latin the cool spring soil will er use. A hard freeze means sprout. For the farmer and that time is of the essence, his family there is a deep ail of the corn now must be sense of satisfaction as they harvested quickly, before watch their newly planted it dries too much and can't crops begin to grow. be used at all. Mardell and Farm families truly Elva are hoping for more appreciate the hard work warm sunny days this fall, of their Mexican laborers. to help them accomplish These 'men are willing to the massive task ahead of work long difficult days to them. help insure a successful seaWork isn't only in the Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 11 Gunnison, UT River Walk talk reworked to accommodate this expense. Council Member Nay Approximately 35 resi- reported that the Fit Kids dents attended the pub- program at the elementary lic hearing concerning the school under the direction city securing a 0% interest, of teacher Kirk James, will $200,000 Joan to finish the use the walkway on a daily Sanpitch River Walkway. basis. This group and the Both concerns and support civic walkway committee were given about the proj- have committed to keep the ect. Council Member Lori walkway free of garbage. Nay presented the overall She estimates annual mainview of the project. The 1.25 tenance costs at $500. mile asphalted walkway When Council Member will begin at 200 East and Nay was asked about ligo west under the bridge on ability for accidents there, Highway 89 and continue she replied that it is the to 200 West. A pedestrian same as any city property. crossing will be located at Signs will be posted stat200 West to cross the river. ing that use is at your own At 200 East a vehicle cross- risk. Concerns about chiling will be constructed to dren's safety while walking cross the river. A $432,000 on it such as assaults, drug UDOT Enhancement grant and alcohol users, etc. were will cover the cost of con- aired. She indicated those structing under the High- problems will be addressed way 89 bridge. as needed. Support for the project A resolution to approve included comments regard- the. issuance and sale of ing increased physical ac- sales tax revenue bonds for tivity, a place for families $200,000 which will secure to walk and bike together, repayment of the CIB loan beautifying the area, cre- was approved unanimously ating a safe crossing on with Council Member Rod Highway 89 and a vehicle Taylor abstaining as he is a crossing for 200 East. Con- property owner in the walkcerns were aired about way path. maintenance costs, loan The council also aprepayment, safety using proved a resolution to issue the walkway, and possible and sell new water revenue Courtesy Photo flooding issues. The flooding bonds totaling $1.2 million Left to right is daughter Marcia, son Keith, daughter LaRee and concerns include the walk- and refund a current bond Mardell. way being destroyed, the of $477,000. This loan is at banks holding up as well as \CM interest with a 30 year fields in the fall. Home members when Keith was the vehicle crossing staying repayment plan. The funds gardens must be picked small, he would put on his in place. Tom Christensen, will be used to replace the and prepared. Farm kitch- father's boots and peddle an engineer with Jones & existing culinary water line ens are full of canning jars his little toy tractor with all DeMille Engineering, and supplying the cityfromPeaready to be filled with, his might through the fields Council Member Nay as- cock Springs. This line is old peaches, pears, tomatoes, around their home. To this sured the group that these and leaking. beans, beets and all of the day not much has changed, things have been considered The council considered wonderful produce grown in Keith Jensen can still be and included in the design. Gunnison Valley Hospital's the family garden. Although found on his larger toy tracWhen asked if a tax. in- request for a zone change it is hard, time consum- tor somewhere in the fields crease would be needed for for property located from ing work, the bounties of around the Jensen farm. the loan repayment, Coun- 51 to 81 East 100 North. this work will help sustain Mardell and Elva are cil Member Nay replied no. It is currently zoned R2the family throughout the getting a little older now, but She stated that the sales tax 10,000 and their request is winter. Farm families take the farm is still a way of life. money is already included for R&C-l. The council also pride in the fact that they Mardell still fills his days in in the budget. The budget considered a zone change on are self-sufficient. Many of the fields with Keith. He is would need to be allocated so Main Street. The proposal us could learn from their ex- still in the shop repairing there are funds to make the is for Center Street to 200 ample. the equipment and laboring loan repayment. This does South to remain CC-1, comAlthough the future of with the workers well into mean that other depart- mercial, and the remainder most family farms is look- the evening. Elva is still in ments will be cut to create of Main Street, both north ing bleak these days, with the home canning, sewing, the funds to make the year- and south, to be R&C-l. many family farms disap- cooking and caring for her ly payment of $10,000 for 20 Both requests will go to the pearing all together. The family. With Mardcll and years. The first payment will planning and zoning comfuture of the Jensen fam- Elva's love of family, dedica- be due in January of 2007. mission for consideration at ily farm looks bright, Keith tion to the land, and trust in Approximately, $20,000 has a public hearing. Most likeJensen, Mardell and Elva's God the Jensen family farm already been spent toward ly the public hearing will son, has loved farming since will continue for at least an- the project and the current be Wednesday, October 26, year's budget will need to be 2005 at 7 p.m. he was a little boy. Elva re- other century. By MARILYN STEWART National School Lunch Week, Red Ribbon Week and More! By KAYLA BARTHOLOMEW and STELLA HILL Have you ever thought about how music and food go together? Students at GVMS will find out this week at lunch as they celebrate National School Lunch Week. Each day of the week will have a theme. Monday: Singing Sensations: Watch Phantom of the Opera. Tuesday: Jukebox Hero: Play musical chairs, Wednesday: I'm with the band: The band will play during lunch. Thursday: All that Jazz: Play Name that Tune. Friday: Music Medley; Rockin' Riddles Game. Sounds like lunch will be exciting as well as delicious. Next week is Red Ribbon Week for Gunnison Middle School. The theme is "To Smart to Start." There are many activities scheduled for each day. The Middle School would like to thank our PTO officers and parents for all of their time and efforts. They are Kim Caldwell, Kim Jensen and Ann Sorensen. Red Ribbon Week is October 17, 18 and 19. The theme is 'Too SmA+rt to Start" Monday: Red ribbons and candy Smarties will be handed out. Tuesday: Speakers will talk about prevention. Wednesday: "Plant the Promise" Each student at the GVMS will get to plant a tulip or daffodil at the school as a pledge to stay drug free. The daffodils have been donated by GIC, Rasmussen's Ace Hardware and Wai Mart. There will be a writing contest for all students and prizes will be awarded. Papers are due on Monday, October 17. Mark Henhne/Gimnison Valley Gazette Jose Chavez, Wyatt Outven, Jared McAfee and Tyler Blackburn eat lunch at the middle school. In October, we picked our first Students of the Month. They are Katie Montague and Jacob Johnson. They were picked by the faculty and the student officers of the school. Next week we will feature them with pictures and an article. I The student council will also be busy planning Halloween activities. Students will be dressing up on Monday, October 31st. Plans are underway for other spooky happenings. 7 a.m. and a school full of students? That is cor- rect. Play practice is in full swing. We have over 100 students singing and dancing, preparing for our production of Aladdin. The musical will run November 3, 4 and 5. Get ready to spend an Arabian night at the middle school.