OCR Text |
Show TheEmeryCountyReview.com Santa Sightings Santa had a busy week in Emery and Carbon counties B1 REVIEW Emery County The Volume 2, Issue 50. Local News, Local Voice, Locally Owned ‘Lost in Joe’s Valley’ Traveler gives her account of harrowing experience stuck in the mountains and of her eventual rescue Editor’s Note: The following is a first-person account of Joslyn (Josie) Jellison of Hamilton, Mont., who found herself lost in Upper Joe’s Valley while trying to navigate over the mountain after making a wrong turn. Unfamiliar with the local area, the words are her own as she relates her experience and eventual rescue. When Jellison was finally able to reach contact help with her cell phone, it was Devin Seely, a dispatcher for the Emery County Sheriff’s Office that she spoke with. Seely said Hal Johnson, who lives in the Reeder Subdivision, was listening to the sheriff’s radio channel and with Julian Bowman on board, the two volunteered to head up the White Dugway to find the lost traveler. They were the closest to her. Seely said that it took a couple of hours for the two men to free her truck and get her back on her way. Upper Joe’s Valley can prove a treacherous place for those unfamiliar with the mountain, and travelers from outside the area often underestimate the terrain until it is too late. Jellison’s story is printed at right. My name is Joslyn (Josie) Jellison, and I am so glad to be alive and home in Hamilton, Mont. I spent last Saturday night, Nov. 30, and Sunday morning, Dec. 1, lost and stranded high up on the mountain to the west of “Joe’s Valley.” I missed the turnoff for highways 28/89 at Salina and took the road out of Orangeville that looked on the map like it would get me back on track. It hooked up to Ephraim in Continued on Page A4. It’s Raining Pumpkins! Photos by C. Josie Luke A trebuchet team puts their machine together. Tumbling Down And the Walls Came CEU engineering students take part in annual ‘pumpkin chuckin’ contest C. Josie Luke I t rained pumpkins at the College of Eastern Utah’s Durrant Field on Dec. 5 as nine teams competed in the college’s third annual trebuchet contest, And the Walls Came Tumbling Down. Known by many as the pumpkin chuckin’ contest, the event featured six teams made up of students from CEU’s engineering department and three high school teams from San Juan, Grand and Carbon high schools. The teams spent hours planning, designing and building the contraptions, which were used to try to knock down the top three layers of concrete brick walls. Dr. Dave Kardelis commented that the competition featured a wide variety of designs, from the simple to the complex, with one, designed by Chris Bernard from Emery County, taking over 100 hours to complete. In the previous two years the goal was to see who could throw a pumpkin the farthest, but organizers added the additional wrinkle, wanting to test the teams’ ability to construct a trebuchet that could be adjusted for accuracy. But although many of the teams were able to do so, resulting in pumpkin pieces strewn all over the field, only one managed to bring down part of their wall. Team six from CEU won the contest by virtue of being the only team to knock down some of the blocks, although Continued on Page A3. Trevor Rowley prepares to launch his machine for the final time. 75 Cents Tuesday, December 9, 2008 Commission approves re-zoning of land around industrial park C. Josie Luke Sections of property surrounding the new Green River Industrial Park and the park itself were rezoned for industrial use during the Emery County Comission Meeting held Dec. 2. A public hearing was also held during the commission meeting to discuss the change. During that hearing, Mike McCandless, the Emery County Economic Development Director, discussed the process involved and the reasons behind proposing the zoning change from Mining, Grazing and Recreation (MG&R-1) to Industrial (I-1). He explained that the State Institutional Trust Lands Administration had initiated the process of the zoning change in order to keep with their plans to ensure that the area was only available for industrial, not commercial use. They considered this essential in order to encourage renewed business in Green River itself. He added that after the request was made, the Emery County Planning and Zoning Committee had reviewed and considered it for some time before finally recommending to the commission that the change be made. The county planning and zoning committee discussed the change during their October meeting held in Green River, receiving support from members of the Green River City Council. They then scheduled the public hearing for the December commission meeting. McCandless also stated that he had discussed the rezoning with, he believed, all of the property owners, receiving support for the change. He revealed one property owner had expressed concern that the change could increase property taxes on the area, but he explained he had assured the owner that tax value is affected by use, not by zoning. Green River Recorder Conae Black encouraged the Commission to adopt the change, revealing that without the rezoning, the city would not provide water to the area, because they believe it is so important that the commercial businesses in the city benefit from the increased revenue that may be produced. After the public hearing was closed, the Commission voted unanimously to approve rezoning the area. Football team appeals to school board to let coach keep coaching C. Josie Luke Like a scene out of a classic high school sports film, a group of football players from Emery High School strode into the school board meeting on Dec. 3 in support of their coach. The players attended the meeting with Assistant Coach Kevin Diaz, who appealed to the board to allow Head Coach Jimmy Jones to remain in the position next year. Diaz expressed, “We really feel this team needs Coach Jones. Jimmy is a players’ coach and these kids love him. It just wouldn’t be right without Jimmy.” He explained that the team “has a chance to be really good next year,” and he felt it would be unfortunate for the team to have to learn a new offense. Superintendent Kirk Sitterud responded to Diaz’ appeal stating, “There’s no one up here who doesn’t believe Jimmy is a great coach,” but explained that when Jones was interviewed for the principal’s position he now holds at Canyon View Junior High, they had discussed the importance of a principal focusing on academics. “This discussion was held early on,” he said. Sitterud stressed that the final decision had not been made, saying, “I’m not saying it won’t happen.” He suggested that the board might consider some sort of a transition, but maintained that “the goal is for our principals to focus on academics.” As the meeting began, Commissioner Drew Sitterud and Mayor Neal Peacock expressed gratitude to the School Board for their support through the development and construction of the new aquatics Center. “Thank you,” said Commissioner Sitterud. “This project would have never happened without this Board.” The School District donated the land for the center plus approximately $90,000 for the parking lot. In turn, students at the district’s schools will have access to the center for activities, and the proposed high school swim team will also be able to use the facility. Superintendent Sitterud discussed a number of revisions and several changes to district policy. The changes included rules governing the use of electronic communication devices, like cell phones, in Continued on Page A3. |