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Show r- " - PAGE 3 THE ZEFHYRJULY 1993 v What could they do with all that money if Arches could spend it as it pleases? For starters, they could give their seasonal staff permanent status. Very few people realize that seasonal employees have no rights or benefits whatsoever. They aren't even assured of their own Jobs the next year, even if their job performance is good. They receive no health benefits, no retirement benefits... they actually have to pay for their own training. Yet it is the seasonal staff, five rangers and Interpreters in the field, five seasonal maintenance crew that keeps five parks so dean, that allows this NPS to maintain its generally positive image with the general public The way season als are treated, therefore, is outrageous. Recently, die Office of Personnel Management ruled that seasonals an be converted to permanent status. But park managers worry that such an upgrade could cost the Arches budget alone, more than $50,0001 a house. Get real! Hey! You just spent $83,000 to re-bui- ld It is absolutely true that this program came out of Washington and that local NPS managers had nothing to do with die decision. As both Darcey and Poe have aid, had they refused the funds, the money would have been spent elsewhere, on the same kind of project. But how long will visitors to the parks accept increased fees and reduced services, while a big chunk of NPS revenues go to projects like this? And how long will dedicated seasonal park employees permit themselves to be treated like second class citizens? Until park managers in the field unite with a single voice and demand that these funds be used properly and wisely, the waste will continue. For 11 years as a ranger, I could never understand how this kind of irresponsible use of tax dollars could be tolerated. And I was told over and over and over again...Tt's not right, but that's the way it is. It was the Park Service Mantra. t now. It was a copout then, and it's a Yeah...that's great, I sighed. Later, however, I began to fed better about file whole affair. I realized that Ihivall' s heart was somewhere else and there was nothing I could do about iL You sen, Robert Rivall b a dancing fool and has spent most of his free time trying to teach die entire town of Moab the Argentine Tanga The man has Happy Feet Previously, I'd considered changing my tactics. Maybe we could even do another movie; I thought, like To Kill a Mockingbird. As Boo Radley, Duvall had no lines, and 1 could have played that ldd (Jem?). Since in the only scene they had together, Jem was unconscious, it would have been a piece of cake...with me lying there, out add, and Duvall petting me on the head. In any event I'm glad I didn't hire an agent MM for ha assistance with translations an the cover. Aba; Many thanks to Bernice at this month's new flag on page one was done by subscriba Dan O'Conna. He sent me last year's as well and I mant to thank him at the time. Anyway...thanks Dan; it looks great Tag-a-Lo- ng tt t Subscribe to file cop-ou- know many of you have been on pins and needles, waiting to hear about the outcome of to Robert DuvalL I had been rehearsing my lines, checking my wardrobe, and "Invitation my the other "players;" while waiting for the call 1 knew that Groene would have with conferring no problem playing Blue Duck, but I wasn't sure Mayor Stocks would be up to playing a man who wears a chamber pot cm his head, even if it was true that a lot of people would like to put A couple of days after the June a chamber pot on his head. issue hit the stands, 1 got word that Duvall had seen the ad; in fact, he was showing it to a few friends on the set. And his associate, Keith Allison, indicated that he planned to fax the Invite to Hollywood for what was described as an "appropriate creative response. I wasn't sure what that meant. For all I knew, a creative response might be a all from Duvall's attorney, telling me to stop harassing his client. But I was, st hart, still hopeful I hunkered down by the phono, waiting for file sound of Augustus McCrae's voice, but finally gave up when, after three days, the only all I got was from my dear mother. But then one night, I stopped by Fat City for a Slick Burger and a few kind words, and found myself right across the aisle from Duvall himself. His buddy Keith had just left the table few the rest roan and the Great Actor looked a little uncomfortable. He reminded me of someone who really didn't want to be approached by his adoring public. He looked like a guy who just wanted to his mal in pace. Before I opened my mouth, I already felt ashamed. "Mr. Duvall" I said. Duvall continued to look straight ahead WelL.what else could I do? This could be my one and only chance. Besides, earlier in the day I'd received a phone all from John Hollenhorst at KSL TV in Salt Lake. He had seen the Invite in the Zephyr and wanted to cover the event if it ever came off. I now had an obligation, not just to Zephyr readers, but to Robert Duvall Gus McCrae fans throughout the Intermountain Wat. I at This newspaper has been described in various ways. It was once called the "best local newspaper in America" by a reporter in Wyoming, and it was once described in one word, "shit," by a member of the Grand County Roads Board. We think you should be the judge. You will probably discover that both answers are correct Write to: The Zephyr P.O. Box 327 Moab, UT 84532 One year (11 issues)...$15 Two years (22 issues)...$28 Three years (33 issues)...$40 Name Address Renewal "MR. DUVALL" He turned ever so reluctantly, warily, in my direction. He had almost finished his meal. He was so close to making a dan esape. If Allison hadn't gone to the john, he would have already been out the door. But Duvall has, during the short time he's been here, earned a reputation fa being gracious, charming and kind to even his most idiotic fans. Whidi is a good thing, because I felt like a grinning moron as I introduced myself and explained that I was respoisible fa the Invite. Duvall chuckled and replied that he had indeed seen the Dear Gus proposal. "The problem is," he explained, "I don't remember my lines. I doubt if I remember any of them." "Oh don't worry about that," I aid. "I know your lines too... I know all the lines." I could tell that this disturbed him sane. Perhaps if he'd known me better, he would have taken me aside and aid, "You know Stiles, about you memorizing the entire script of lonesome Dove, all I can ay is, you really need to get a life. You Know? I man don't you have anything better to do with your time?" , But he didn't uy that. He just laughed again and kept looking ova his shoulder for Allison to return. We chatted for awhile about the movie, about my Kentucky origins, and about his love of the South, especially Texas! Finally, Keith did return and the two prepared to lave. But first they stopped by my table. I told them about the all from KSL which seemed to pique their curiosity a little. "Now what exactly do you want to dor asked Duvall. "Just stop by and do some lines," I explained. "But not the whole thing," aid Allison. "Oh nothing like that," I aid. "Fa instance, we could pretend we were on horses, and I'm playing Call, and I'd uy, 'That was a dang stupid filing to do, bringin' that old sign along... You'll have us the laughin' stock of this whole country with that We Don't Rent Pigs part'" "And what would I say?" Duvall asked warily. "OK...You'd uy, 'Well we don't rent pigs, and I figure it's better to uy it right up front beause a man who does like to rent pigs is...He's hard to stop.'" "You really do know all the lines, don't you?" aid Duvall. It was obvious to me by now that they both thought I could use sane lithium and a little electric shock therapy. Maybe they feared I was one of those Hollywood stalkers. Maybe they thought I'd snuk up on him one night, and knock him silly with a branding iron, providing only a terse, "I hate rude behavior in a man.I won't tolerate it," as an explanation. In any case, they aid they'd think it ova, but I had a feeling the moment had come and gone. Still I waited. Nothing. Nothing at all Finally, I bumped into Allison one day at Baudan's. I told him I was running out of time for the next issue. He was sympathetic but aid that Duvall just didn't How often would he get to do sequels. This was no sequel I explain ecL.this was a do lines with Moab's very own mayor? "You wouldn't believe how many people talk to Duvall about Lonesome Dove," aid Keith, seen his other mo via. .As trying to change the subject. "He's beginning to wonder if anybody has him to the otha a ame when day and aid, 'I love the a matter of fact he was delighted up guy smell erf napalm in the morning.'" semi-belov- ed New Subscription EDWARD ABBEY: A Voice in the Wilderness Edward Abbey may be gone, but his ability to inspire outrage, laughter and passion in the defense of wilderness remain. Now, the author's life and words are captured in an emotion-packe- d minute fifty-si- x documentary. Monkey Wrench Gang is remem- bered by his closest family and friends. Rare film clips, interviews and readings by Abbey, plus over one hundred twenty largely unpublished photographs offer EDWARD ABBEY an insightful look EDWARD ABBEY: A Voice in the into the life and philosophy of Wilderness is part biography, this figure... a writer in the mold of Twain and part tribute. 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