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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Wednesday, February 13, 2008 Sanpete County NEWS•BRIEFS Countywide Interest Ag conference scheduled By John Hales LOGAN—Farmers looking to find new ways to make a profit might be able to pick up ideas at the fifth annual Diversified Agriculture Conference Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 20-22 at Utah State University. The conference “is designed to benefit agriculture producers who are interested in more than just traditional agriculture,” states the conference website. The conference will offer lecture sessions and hands-on workshops on topics such as raising livestock, alpacas or bees; horticulture; agribusiness financing; how to start an agribusiness (planning and zoning, licensing, and so on); demonstrations of innovative equipment and technology; and other topics in the production, marketing and management of agriculture-based businesses. The registration fee is $60 per individual or $55 per individual when two or more people from the same organization register. For another $10, individuals can attend a pre-conference session on business plans on Wednesday. For more information, log onto www. diverseag.org. Gunnison Scouting district executive named GUNNISON—A new scouting professional has been named to serve Sanpete and Millard counties. Ronald M. Bacher, formerly of Brigham City, became district executive for the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts on Jan. 16. He has relocated to Gunnison. Bacher, who is retired from the military, said he has been involved in scouting all of his life. Last summer, he worked as a rifle instructor at Thunder Ridge Camp, a Boy Scout camp near Parowan. “It was a wonderful experience,” he said. Apparently camp supervisors were as im- Ronald M. Bacher pressed with Bacher as he was with the scouting program, and one of them suggested he apply for a district position. That led to his assignment in Central Utah. Bacher said he feels lucky to be in a place like Sanpete County where there is such an outpouring of volunteer support for scouting. Bacher replaces Terry Richardson of Manti, former senior district executive, who was promoted to field director several months ago. Richardson oversees seven district executives between Provo and Fillmore. In his new position, Richardson has greater responsibilities for fundraising and for coordinating large scouting events. A3 Sanpete Messenger-Gunnison Valley Edition Gas leak (Continued from A1) In just slightly less than three weeks after that, however, another 1,500 gallons were removed. In addition, Barrus said, Wasatch Environmental had hauled away 25,000 tons of contaminated dirt, but didn’t know how much fuel was contained therein. “In that dirt was who knows how much fuel. It’s hard to say how much,” he said. Barrus was also unable to offer any kind of timetable for the cleanup, when asked how much of the approximately 20,000-gallon leak he ex pected to be able to extract. “I think it’s a little early to be able to say ‘this is how much we’re going to get out, Restitution (Continued from A1) to sell. The home is in the area of the gas-leak plume, about 100 South and 100 West, but was not mentioned earlier in the meeting as a home that cleanup workers were particularly concerned about. Pike had asked Coldwell Banker to list the house. “I got a piece of paper from their lawyer saying, ‘We will not be involved. No broker will lend money on that home,’” Pike said. Pike said he then went to a finance company to see if he could at least refinance the house. Again the answer was no. “If I can’t sell my home, if I can’t even refinance [my] home …” he broke off in emotion before continuing. “After all the and this is how long it’s going to take,’” he said. In other developments not discussed at the meeting, Lance Hess sent a letter to the city that gave evidence that the leaking tank may have had not one hole but two, lending credence to the idea that the tank had been leaking prior to July. Hess arrived at his conclusion after examining statistical inventory reports (SIRs) from the leaking tank. With the SIR method, a stick measurement is taken at the beginning of each day. The number of gallons is determined by where on the stick the fuel level reaches. At the end of the day, another stick measurement is taken, and that level is compared to where it ought to be as derived from the number of gallons dispensed from the tank. The method does allow a certain margin of inaccuracy, meaning that a difference between the measured amount and the derived amount does not necessarily indicate a leak. However, Hess said, he found instances of “statistically significant” fuel loss at levels below where the hole is supposed to have been. It had been maintained that the hole in the tank was located about three feet up from the bottom along a welded seam. However, in the early days of the leak, depending on who one talked to, there was also mention of a hole at the bottom of the tank. Hess said this “second hole theory” could account for those divergent accounts, as well as for the inventory discrepancies. Hess said, however, that even if the theory turns out to be true, that does not mean t h a t To p S t o p n e c e s s a r i l y knew about it, because of the inadequacy of the SIR method. However, Hess did note that Top Stop continued to sell gas and fill the leaking tank even after significant losses were indicated in July. Inventory reports bear that out. Daily fuel losses exceeding 1,000 gallons were recorded three different times in the first eight days o f J u l y, y e t To p S t o p d i d not stop its sales, empty the tank or report a suspected leak until Aug. 9. things you’re doing, my house is still considered contaminated. What are you going to do for us? What are you going to do for me? We have homes that you would not live in.” Applause from the crowd showed that Pike had boldly expressed concerns that were in the minds of many residents. One such resident is Hal Pickett, who owns two rental homes west of the Casino Star Theatre, one of the buildings that felt the greatest impact of the gas leak. “What would it take to get a letter from someone saying that whoever moves into my rental homes will be safe?” Pickett asked. “I want some kind of guarantee that if someone gets hurt I won’t be held responsible; it’ll go to whoever caused the problem,” he said. Larson found himself having to back up something he had said earlier in the meeting. “If the money is spent from the insurance fund, we’ll see it through. We’re not going anywhere. We’re good citizens and we’ll see it gets cleaned up,” he had said, referring to the state’s fund that contributes $1 million toward cleanup costs of individual incidents. According to Gunnison City Council member Lori Nay, that fund is only about $60,000 away from being exhausted, so Larson’s promise was significant. But those funds are generally only for remediation efforts, not for damage claims. For those, Larson said, people would have to go through him or Top Stop’s attorney. “Would you write a letter and explain that to me,” Larson said after hearing Pike’s plight. Pike, however, said he had already done so. “I was one of the few that said, ‘Buy my property from me and I’ll just go away,’ and you refused. You’re lawyer said, ‘We’re not settling any claims.’” Larson said, “We’re not against settling claims. We’re not walking away from claims. But we’re not here to discuss legal issues. I’m not arguing that you have a complaint. But we need to run it through the right channels.” FARM & INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AUCTION Saturday, Feb. 23 - 9 a.m. Mason Machinery Auction 2008 Manti (Hwy 89, Aurora) Pageant vocalist sought Sale held Rain or Shine! MANTI—The search is on for people with vocal talent to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” as part of this year’s Mormon Miracle Pageant. Each applicant must obtain an orchestra version of the national anthem from one of the committee members and then submit a recording of himself or herself singing with the orchestra. Applicants must also submit an autobiography and contract information. Entries are due April 1. For information, contact Barbara Barton, 835-2021; Gay Bastian, 528-3543; or Courtney Syme, 462-3041. INVENTORY HIGHLIGHTS! TRACTORS ‘06 Case-IH DX25E Yard Tractor (under 30 hours) John Deere 2940 85 hp, ‘81 John Deere 4040 90 hp Allis Chalmers 65 108 hp, Allis Chalmers 185 75 hp WINDROWS ‘04 Case-IH XDX1701, ‘02 Hesston 8450, Hesston 8200 New Holland 499 & 1170 Hydra-swings Mt. Pleasant BALERS Hesston 4900 big galer w/accumulator trailer New Holland Round Balers, ‘01 658 and 849 Valentine’s dance planned By Kirsten Reimschiissel MT. PLEASANT—Looking for a place to take your sweetheart this Valentine’s weekend? The Illusion Academy, 180 N. State St., Mt. Pleasant, has invited adult couples for a night of music, dancing and food on Friday, Feb. 15 from 8-11 p.m. The dance will feature music from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s along with visual effects and snacks. For information, call Cindy Glad at 462-4545 or 469-1474. TILLAGE EQUIPMENT John Deere 960 12 ft. Field Cultivator Allis-Chalmers 3-bottom 2-way Rollover plow Hutchmaster RPS20 14 ft. Offset Disc Miskin Single Beam 18 ft. Land Level CHOPPERS New Holland 900 Forage Harvester w/3-row corn head John Deere 3970 Forage Harvester w/2-row corn head FORAGE WAGONS UFT 2201 Hydraulic Sidedump Richardton 1200 Hydraulic Sidedump TRUCKS Tell a friend! ‘00 Toyota Tundra (immaculate condition) ‘96 Ford F350 Powerstroke 4x4 Flatbed Chevrolet C-50 s/a Dump Truck, V-Gas The Sanpete Messenger ATVs Sanpete’s voice since 1893! ‘06 Kawasaki 650 4x4, ‘06 Kawasaki 360 4x4 Yamaha 325 Trail Boss YZ 450 Dirt Bike TRAILERS ‘07 C&W T/A Flatbed w/beavertail ramps King 36’ Belly Dump Aggregate trailer PLUS IRRIGATION, INDUSTRIAL, AND MISC. EQUIPMENT For Information Call: Size(O.D) 1-1/16” 1-5/8” 1-7/8” 2-7/8” Length 21’ 24’ 24’ R/L Price/Ft. .36¢ .51¢ .74¢ .82¢ Cell Phone: 435-201-1705 C.R. Wood, Auctioneer P.O. Box 328 • Elsinore, Utah 84724 • (435) 527-3808 • www.auctionsbydiamondw.com 85 South 1350 East • Lehi, UT |