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Show Page Four - The Eureka Reporter - September 2. 1994 and Mrs. Anna Franks was the and Phil and Clara Laird (from California). guest of honor at a family In addition, held Sunday at Tintrcka other family get-togeth- er Park. The occasion was "Grandma Annie's" 91st birthday! Included in the afternoon's activities were a barbecue, games for the kids, time, much and visiting, just good old "famifun". ly Family members in attendance were: Ieona Franks; Barrv and gift-openi- members, unable to attend, extended happy birthday wishes, via telephone or cards. Altogether it was a lovely day for "Annie". ng Maiy Franks and daughters. Kristin and Erica; Ray and Eileen Schow and daughter, Traci; Dick and Donna Laird; Lana Rac Laird, Cody Laird and Doug Jones; Kent and Debra Bigler and three boys. Adam, Jacob and Spencer; Terr and Jenny Laird and children, Chelsea and Colton; A group of friends enjoyed a patio party on Saturday evening at the home of Tarsula Lucas. Those attending were Edna Jasper, Martin and Margaret Fennell, Alliene Farrcn, Joe and Grace Bernini, Raymond and Dora Hansen, and former resident and houseguest at Tarsula's, Iona (Lit) Grccnhalgh of Bull- head City. Arizona. The group had a gay old time.. singing, dancing, and enjoying a potluck dinner. Brady; got lost within the campground. children. Heather chiland Diane Schow and A birthday celebration for (However, they took consolation Jay MarBonnie Laird was held August in the fact that they were, not the dren, Cory and Slianna; 29th at the Laird home. (Bonnie only ones that couldn't find the cella Chambers: Terry and did't say WHICH birthday!) reserved campground)! Stacey Roberts and family. Ashley and Haley; and Anita Attending were Ed and Peg Snell and sons, Brandon and Roberts, visiting from Oregon. Welcome visitors at the home Other grandchildren in attendance Jeremy; Randy and Kathy Sparrow and family; Brian and of Mrs. Allicnc Farrcn recently were: Tyson and Ioni Fields and Sonja Laird and family; Lynn were her son, John and Michelle Casey and Shane Anderson. and Pat Wilde, all of Eureka; Farrcn and family, Lisa and Larry and Debbie Sparrow and Glen, of Reno, Nevada. During Robert and Shcrlin Grill and stay, they also girls from Riverton. Bonnie also their week-lon- g received "Happy Birthday" phone visited with Johns sisters, Mary son, Stcrlin; daughter, Jane calls from brother, Vance and Ivou Gourlcy and Linda Hope, Dean and her son, Tyrcll, drove Frances Wilde, of Nevada; and a and their families, as well as with to Lehmans Caves on Friday, sister, Sandy (Wilde) Fralix, his Aunt Frances Ewell. Need- where they were joined by Mark less to say, Alliene was sorry Dean, who came from Tonapah. from Nashville, Tenn. when their visit came to an end During their four-da- y camping and they had to return to their trip, they took the tour of the home in Reno. caves; visited the old mining town of Occola; toured the area Joe and Grace Bernini travdrive vehicles; with their eled to Maple Grove CampMark wildlife. the observed and Mrs. Maxine Schow was ground, located midway between honored on her birthday at a told of seeing a mountain lion Scipio and Salina, on Thursday held in Grantsville at the chasing a deer fawn, and the evening, for a South Central Utah party Private Industry Council meeting home of Fred and Lila Rob- mother of the fawn trying to head and picnic held for PIC board erts.. on Saturday. Attending the off the lion. (He thought the doc members and their partners. The party, which included a barbecue was successful in saving her Berninis could not believe that and. of course, gifts, were: Ray fawn). They returned to their and Eileen Schow; Mary Schow; homes in Tonapah and Eureka on they had just returned home from Kevin and Traci Schow and Monday. a 6000 mile trip across the country; and were never lost; but they bib 7- - Y. s j si U S WEST ETHICAL IN REGULATORY DEALINGS 1 Lately, you may have heard or seen reports regarding recent Utah Supreme Court rulings that affect U S WEST Communica-tions (USWC). Some arc inteipreting the rulings to mean that USWC has been over earning. Furthermore, you may have heard that we coerced the Public Service Commission (PSC) into setting I S mf a higher authorized rate of return in exchange for upgrading rniAnl Steve Linton switching centers in the state. In essence, some are saying that the Community Affairs Manager PSC was derelict in its regulation of USWC and allowed the U S WEST Communications company to make "unreasonable and unjustified profits" at the in Provo public's expense. Ethics: We absolutely disagree with any assertion that we have been anything but forthright and ethical in our dealings with regulators. To adhere to the highest ethical standards of business conduct is a basic principle of our company and one by which every U S WEST employee must abide. Actual investment record: The fact is that USWC has invested more than $1.1 billion in Utah in the past 10 years. Last year alone we invested $160 million and expect to invest a record S 1 80 million during 1 994. This commitment to investment, I might add, has continued during multiple rate decreases and rates of return that are among the lowest in the nation. In 1990, a portion of our incentive regulation proposal was to make discretionary investments above and beyond what was obligated or economically justified in Utah to accelerate upgrades of the telephone system. As a result, we requested a higher return to justify to our shareholders the investment of discretionary capital. Modernization in compliance with PSC order: In 1991, the PSC ordered its own incentive regulation plan including modernization of rural switching centers. According to state statute, we exercised our option to refuse the PSC's plan and chose to remain under traditional rate of return regulation. The PSC didn't rescind the modernization portion. Although wc appealed the order to the Utah Supreme Court based on principle, we arc 1995 deadline. complying with it. In fact, we will finish well before the PSC consistent in its performance: In our opinion, the Commission certainly isn't derelict in its regulation of USWC. Since 1987, it has ordered $95 million in rate reductions. Utah's residential rates arc among the lowest in the nation, as is our authorized rate of return. Historical earnings below authorized levels: Regulators use authorized rale of return on equity (ROE) figures to determine rates. Since it's not an exact science, wc rarely earn exactly at the authorized level. For example, we earned above our ROE in the late 1980's after having under earned during the early and mid eighties. In fact, from 1982 to 1991 wc earned a net $22 million below our authorized levels. To summarize: While differences in opinion and interpretation may come and go, wc have and will deal in an ethical manner. As for Utah investment and earnings, we will allow the records to speak for themselves. Lastly, wc believe the PSC's decision record strongly demonstrates its commitment to balance the needs of a regulated utility with the best interests of the public. (Advertisement paid for by U S WEST Shareholders) ; V- J ;vi 374-444- 3 - end-of-yc- Elderly and disabled eligible for free flu shots Elderly or disabled people who rely on Medicare as their primary form of medical coverage, arc now eligible to receive a free Hu shot starting September 1, 1994. Medicare will pay for the shot anywhere it is given: doctors office, health department, clinic or hospital. Influenza is a major, potentially with disease serious lung infrequent and volvement. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, fever, chills, weakness, loss of appetite, coughing, and body aches and pain. People 65 years old and older arc at high risk for complications when they contract influenza. On the average, 30 million people in the United States will contact influenza, and 10,000 to 40,000 will die as a result of its complications. People who have severe egg allergies or acute illnesses should not be given the influenza vaccine without first consulting their doctor. The best time to ng receive the shot is in the fall. Under new guidelines by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, beneficiaries who are inoculated do not have to pay the usual coinsurance or deductible amounts. Medicares decision to cover flu shots was demonstrabased on a four-yetion that began in October of 1988. The evaluation showed that when free vaccinations were offered to the elderly, more sought immunization and fewer were hospitalized for pneumonia. The Medicare health insuarancc program provides comprehensive acute-car- e coverage for more than 35 million people age 65 and older. The program also serves about four million disabled people and nearly 200,000 people with chronic kidney disease who need dialysis or kidney transar flu-relat- ed plants. For more information, contact the Utah Division of Aging and 0 Adult Services at (801) or 538-391- ar Most major waters statewide become dormant. But there are will be stocked heavily before the still good opportunities on rivers Labor Day Holiday. This is the and streams, and late August is a last major stock of catchable trout great time to fish the Alpine lakes for 1994. Routine stocking of of the Uinta and Boulder Mouncatchablcs is usually scheduled tains. Look for fishing to really every other week through the summer on heavily fished waters, including local canyons along Wasatch Front. These arc the dog days of summer, when reservoir trout fishing slows down and fish pick up around Labor Day and through September as temperatures cool and trout become more active again, culminating in virtual feeding frenzies in late September and October before the snow flics. |