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Show Panguitch • Panguitch Lake • Hatch • Bryce • Tropic • Antimony • Henrieville • Cannonville • Escalante • Boulder • Duck Creek Thursday, October 22, 2009 • Issue # 239 Bryce Canyon National Park Career Day Bryce Canyon National Park and Bryce Canyon Natural History Association hosted a “Career Day” for all the high school seniors in Garfield County. The event was held on October 14th for Panguitch High School and 15th for Bryce Valley and Escalante High Schools. Over 60 students attended this event, which gave them hands on experience with Careers that are available through the National Parks. The students were able to choose the job that they were most interested in pursuing and were able to “job shadow” that job for a morning. Eight job sites were available; Interpretation; Dan Ng, Law Enforcement; Dave Fox, Visitor Use Assistant; Ron Warner, Resource Management; Laura Schrage, Roads and Trails, Buildings and Utilities; Dan Cloud, Administration; Kathleen Gonder and Fire Protection, Andrew Hostad. The students were welcomed and introduced to the Park by Superintendent Eddie Lopez who has been employed by the National Parks for over 32 years. Superintendent Lopez stated: “Working for the National Parks is a great experience for those who like to see a lot of the United States.” The new documentary film by Ken Burns (which was aired on PBS) “The National Parks, America’s Best Idea” was shown to the students in the Visitor Center to end the day. This program was developed by Marilyn Bulkley, Education Outreach Specialist for the Natural History Association, in hopes of helping the upcoming graduates look for job opportunities closer to home. SR143 DESIGNATED AS A Scenic Byway Officials from the Federal Highways Administration in Washington, D.C. announced Friday, October 16, 2009 that Utah’s Patchwork Parkway – Utah State Route (SR) 143, the road that runs from Parowan through Brian Head to Panguitch, is now designated as a National Scenic Byway. Also known as America’s Byways, the program only accepts nominations every three years. “The title of National Scenic Byway is very difficult to attain”, according to Nancy Dalton, Byway 143 Coordinator, “We were one of 63 applicants, and the only Utah Byway designated to receive National Scenic Byway status. The designation recognized the historical intrinsic value of Utah Scenic Byway 143. An annual quilt walk in Panquitch, UT commemorates a slice of history where pioneer travelers laid quilts over the snow to protect their limbs from the bitter cold. Though the route offers historical significance, it holds equally notable diversity of scenery, color and never ending vistas. Dalton, Byway 143 Coordinator adds, “There are several overlooks and pullouts where one can view Cedar Breaks National Monument, Brian Head Peak, Markagunt Plateau, Vermillion Castle, Panguitch Lake, lava fields, historic sites, meadows of summer wild flowers, and during autumn aspen groves of brilliant fall colors. A series of trails, side roads, historic and petroglyph sites are ideal for picnics, casual walks, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and camping”. Leigh von der Esch, Utah Office of Tourism Director: “We are thrilled to add this new scenic byway designation to our state! This prestigious designation recognizes the uniqueness and beauty that can be found along Highway 143 for the traveler. This is the culmination of the efforts of so many in Southern Utah. Job well done!” While touring southwestern Utah, Monday, October 19th at 2:30 PM, Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell will locally announce the National Scenic Byway designation of Utah SR 143 at a special media and community event held at Heritage Park in Parowan. (89 West Hwy 91). The program will feature several guest speakers, dancers from the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, dignitaries, quilts, and displays. The Byway 143 committee members will be in attendance to answer questions about National Scenic Byway 143 and its designation. In case of bad weather, the program will be held in the Iron County Fairgrounds building located at 80 South 600 East. GET YOUR BENEFIT VERIFICATION BEFORE THE CHILL SETS IN By Mickie Douglas Social Security Public Affairs Specialist “It was a fun two days and I hope the students were able to see what is available in their “backyard” for summer and future employment.” Bryce Canyon National Park and Bryce Canyon Natural History Association was pleased to sponsor this program and will continue to do so in the future. weather thursday Sunny high: 69 low: 37 friday Sunny high: 72 low: 37 saturday Sunny high: 73 low: 42 sunday Sunny high: 71 low: 38 monday Sunny high: 66 low: 33 tuesday showers Sunny high: 61 low: 31 wednesday PARTLy CLOUDY high: 61 low: 34 It’s that time of year again – when people in many parts of the country feel a new chill in the air each morning, and put an extra quilt or blanket on the bed. It’s also the time of year when many states offer energy assistance to people who have low income and resources. Under the energy assistance program, your state may help with the cost of heating your home during the winter. But to get it, in most cases, you’ll need to provide proof of your income. If you get Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you can get proof of the amount of your benefit quickly and easily by going online. Just visit www.socialsecurity.gov. There are a number of reasons you may need written verification of your benefit amount, besides energy assistance programs. Perhaps you’re ready to make a major purchase and you’re trying to get a loan from a bank or financial institution. Or maybe you’re applying for state benefits or moving into a new apartment or home. Whatever your reason, Social Security makes it easy for you to get the written verification you need at www.socialsecurity.gov. Just look in the left column under “What you can do online,” expand the “If you get benefits” section, and select the “Request a Proof of Income letter” link. The letter can be used for any reason that someone requires proof of your income. In addition to offering proof of your income, the letter is an official document that verifies your Medicare coverage, retirement or disability status, and age. The letter does not include your Social Security number. From the time that you complete the online request, it will take about 10 days for you to receive the proof of income letter in the mail. If you need one sooner, you’ll want to call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office. But for most people, simply requesting the proof of income online is the most convenient way to get what you need. Get your benefit verification by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov. Wildlife officers at checkpoints across Utah Don’t be surprised if wildlife officers stop your vehicle at an administrative checkpoint this fall. Division of Wildlife Resources officers conduct these checkpoints, formerly called roadblocks, throughout the year. But the number of checkpoints increases when the hunting seasons start in the fall. Scott Dalebout, a lieutenant with the DWR, says the checkpoints allow the DWR to help Utah’s fish and wildlife several ways. “Monitoring public compliance with wildlife laws is one of the major reasons we conduct the checkpoints,” Dalebout says. “We can contact a lot of people in a short period of time.” But catching those who violate wildlife laws isn’t the only reason the DWR conducts checkpoints. “Our biologists use these checkpoints to gather biological data about Utah’s fish and wildlife,” Dalebout says. “They examine the fish and wildlife that anglers and hunters have taken. They also visit with the anglers and hunters to learn more about the number and type of game they saw and the fish they hooked. “We’ve been entrusted as the guardians of Utah’s wildlife,” Dalebout says. “That means a lot to us. Checkpoints are one of the most important tools we have to help us fulfill that role.” TIME FOR ONE MORE TRIP TO LAKE POWELL? Striper boils have been replaced by beach parties in the southern lake. This morning we saw much surface action but it was five stripers chasing shad right on to the beach or into the last tree in shallow water. Stripers are unmistakable in shallow water. They churn the whole cove and throw water two feet in the air. A striper splash can be seen at great distance and each large splash is worth investigating. Feeding fish are fearless and can be hooked. Getting them to the boat is challenging as these 24-inch fish are much stronger than they have been in other years. Shad schools are still hanging out in brushy shallows hoping to avoid both bass and stripers. Shad schools are smaller than last week, probably resulting from numerous attacks that fragment schools into smaller groups. Periodically each group is visited by a wandering striper school that rush in, feed quickly and then back off to deep water. This is repeated often during the first two hours of daylight. Fishing strategy is easy: see the splash near shore, get in range and toss a surface lure. When the commotion dies along the beach, back off to the first drop-off and jig spoons at 30 to 50 feet. Timing is important. Many more stripers can be caught from first light to 8 a.m. than during the rest of the morning. Fish early for best results, then repeat the striper search in the evening. Most of the daylight hours are better spent fishing for bass. Recent reports indicate more boils in the mid and northern lake. Still I suspect that near shore boils are much more common than open water surface action. Coves and canyons where boils have been reported recently are still producing stripers early and late with bass fishing being good all day long. Bass are taken on the standard senkos, plastic grub and tubes fished on jig heads or dropshot rigs. Surface lures work best in twilight but “(zara) Spooks and (zoom) Flukes” work most of the day around brush where shad schools are holding. Fishing success is actually less in numbers than normally seen this time of year, particularly for striped bass. However the quality of fish caught is so good that satisfaction levels are very high. Crappie and bluegill fishing is beginning to get very good. Crappie fishing will improve as water temperature drops. Look for the best crappie fishing of the year during the next four weeks. They will be deep in the trees but can be caught on small grubs and jigs fished straight down into the thickest cover of the largest submerged tamarisk thickets. Phone: 435-676-2621 Fax 435-836-2700 PO BOX 472, Loa, Utah 84747 snapshot@scinternet.net Money doesn’t always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars. Hobart Brown THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia and is distributed weekly to all of Garfield County. Its purpose is to inform residents about local issues and events. Articles submitted from independent writers are not necessarily the opinion of Snapshot Multimedia. We sincerely hope you enjoy the paper and encourage input on ideas and/or suggestions for the paper. Thank you for your support. ALL content for THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER must be submitted on FRIDAY before 5:00 pm to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper. BOXHOLDER PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID LOA, UTAH PERMIT No. 5 |