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Show 6 - DELICATE TIMES - FEBRUARY 15, 1996 LETTERS TO THE TIMES DEAR CASTLE VALLEY NEIG H 80 RS, As spring approaches and the days grow warmer and longer and once again people spend more and more time outside and begin to leave their windows and doors open, there is something all Castle Valley residents need to remember. Although it is true that we are a very diverse kind of community, we are still, I believe, predominantly nature-loving people who enjoy a certain amount of peace and quiet in order to fully appreciate the beautiful place we inhabit. There are many of us who are artists, writers and meditators who are very sensitive to noise. understand, but the excessive noise I operating motorcycles and ATV's. 2) havejust described, makes writing Sound really travels in this country. People standing outside talking in a virtually impossible. Not only does it interrupt my train of thought, but now I also find I cannot help but wonder as I try and get some writing done if at any second the noise may start and disrupt me. So now it even affects me when they aren't running the ATV. simply because of the way they have run it. What to do? Well, a while back I seriously considered selling my house, which I myself have built from scratch, and leaving this place I dearly love. But then it came to me. I am not the one creating this problem, they are. I have lived here for 10 years now, they only 3 or 4. So, I have talked to the parents Granted, everyone makes some noise ocwsionally. Farm animals make noise. Children play. Dogs bark. That's all about as natural as a sunset. However, you can overdo just about anything, and excessive noise can really ruin someone's life if we aren't careful and considerate of others. I personally have been dealing with a situation in which a close neighbor's children are frequently nmning a loud All Terain Vehicle, or ATV, on and around their property. And as luck would have it. these same people also have four large dogs which bark louldly and almost constantly while the ATV is running, which adds up to an incredible amount of noise. Now, for better or for worse, I happen to be one of those sensitive, artistic, nature lovers I mentioned. Although I am gone most of the summer to my fire lookout job in Colorado, I spend the rest of the year here in Castle Valley hiking around and working on becoming a creative writer. And it may be hard for someone who is not engaged in the creative process to A IM twice about the situation, and I probably will have to again soon. Because although the parents seemed very understanding and polite and willing to cooperate-after both times I talked to them it was much quieter for a while--now things are once again back to the same old pattern. The ATV is started up, the four dogs start barking, and it can go on like that for a couple of hours. All I can say is something similar to what I said when the helicopters were flying so frequently over the valley a while ago, which was: "If I wanted to hear that kind of noise, I'd have built a house next to an airport." In this situation, I'd say: "If I wanted to hear that kind of noise, I'd have built a place next to a race track." People living in Castle Valley really need to be aware of a few things: 1) Castle Valley is not at all like Spanish Valley where people have bright outside lights, there is no 5—acre minimum and there are lots of people TO TA K normal voice two lots away, sound like they're almost standing right next to you. 3) The State of Utah has many specific rules governing ATV use: a) All persons under 18 years of age must wear helmets at all times. even on your own property. b) All users must have either a State drivers license or if you are 8-16 years of age you must have a State ATV certificate. c) ATV's are not allowed on any public roads, which include all Castle Valley River Ranchos roads. And d) All ATV's must be registered. These arejust a few of the rules for ATV use in Utah. Hopefully, a complete list will be printed in this issue or the next one. I would conclude by urging anyone with a similar problem to talk to their neighbors in an open» and friendly manner. I have talked, however, to a couple of other nearby landowners who admitted the same ATV bothers them also, but they said they did not want to "get involved." But I do intend to stay involved and keep the lines of communication open, as I would much rather settle this between us rather than having to bring it up before the Castle Valley Town Council and the FDA, let alone going through the Sheriff or even lawyers, although I am prepared to use any means necessary to insure my right and everyone's right in Castle Valley to live here while enjoying a reasonable amount of peace and quiet. Thank you for your consideration and cooperation. Sincerely, Phillip Schultz Castle Valley by Robert Frost ‘ Inn en afriend calls to me from the road And slows his horse to a meaning walk, don't stand still and look arormd n all the hills I haven't hoed, d shout from where I am, "What is it?" 0, not as there is a time to talk. thrust my hoe in the mellow ground, lade-end up and five feet tall, d plod; I go up to the stone wall or a friendly visit. submitted by Rebecca Martin For the best rest out west. A Bed and Breakfast Robert Ryan and Hertha Wakefield 801 -259-601 2 CVSR Box 2602, Utah 84532 |