Show Gumnsoni V&llley Vol 82 Number 04 Gunnison Utah 84634 January 22 2003 75 cents Sunday Morning Blaze Participating in David L Mower the Sanpete Drug Court graduation and Kristine Frischknecht were Nathan Strait Rick Howe Ron Ivory Judge Sanpete Drug Court has first graduate vate However Ivory wanted the public to know that this program works The drug court team was formed in 2001 consisting of 11 people to help develop and formulate the policies and proce-ures for the court Unhke other areas Sanpete's Drug Court is essentially volunteer funded Frischknecht estimated that volunteer time added up to just over $13500 per client She said that incarceration of the e person would have been $77000 80000 estimated volunteer not to Very little time is paid for by county and state departments The individuals who were part of the original team are Judge David L Mower Judge Kristine Jvory The court works to keep the Frischknecht Drug Court Cooidentities of the participants pri rdinator Ross C Blackham by Jim Olsen "J want to go Brian Jensen sorts through a pile of rubble inside G1C (formerly Rosenynall's) Garage A fire broke out in the coal room area early Sunday morning January 19 2003 Damage was contained to the back room area where the coal furnase ws and a section of the shop Electricity was restored Sunday The Gunnison Valley Fire Department responded to the fire Damage estimates have yet to be ascertained public and tell everyone that this program works and that I am very grateful for this outstanding program" Ron Jvory told a small group of well wishers who witnessed the first Drug Court graduation ceremony Sixth District Judge David congratulated Ivory for his work and signed court documents that essentially took two pending cases out of his file le also received a night for two at a local hotelspa and dinner "This program gives a person a chance to break out of the cycle of do something bad get caught go to jail get out do something bad get caught go to jail" said Manti Utah Area Gets New Weather Warning System Residents of Sanpete and in Utah can now stay on top of severe weather activ ity with a direct link to forecasters via NOAA Weather Radio Known as "The Voice of the National Weather Service" NOAA Weather Radio is a live source of weather forecasts and warnings broadcast directly from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service NWS) offices The new transmitter was installed on Barton Peak and is now broadcasting information from the Salt Lake City NWS Weather Forecast Office NOAA is part of the Department of Commerce According to Meteorologist-iCharge Larry Dunn "This is a great success story for the community Through the US Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service grant program Sanpete County was able to pur- chase and donate this transmit Sevier Counties ter to the National Weather Service We are very excited about what this means to the community and are extremely grateful to Sanpete County and USD A" The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City approached the Sanpete County Sheriff's Office about the grant for a NOAA Weather Radio transmitter warning system Deputy Kevin I lolman director erf emergency for Sanpete management County said "I could see the value in having a reliable source of weather data that was tailored to our area The need for weather data for the early warning system agriculture operations and emergency planning and responses in the county were all considered when deciding to apply for the USDA Grant" Having the endorsement of the county commissioners Deputy Holman wrote the grant The USDA approved the grant in July 2002 Doug Barton of KMTJ Radio and the county played an important role in pro- weather statements and warnviding the matching funds that ings straight from the forecaster were required to the public saving five to ten "Barton will supply tire back- minutes or more" Residents in Sanpete and up power for the radio in tire event of a power outage Sev ier Counties can tune in to Sanpete County and Mr Barton 162425 MI fz for the broadcasts erf w ill share the cost power for The NOAA Weather Radio netthe transmitter for the next 15 work has more than 750 stations years Power expenditures will covering all 50 states adjacent be approximately $35000 each coastal waters Puerto Rico the per year The addition of the U S Virgin Islands and US- Paweather radio on Barton Peak cific Territories will be an effecth e tool for those Weather radios come in many who choose to take ad vantage of sizes with a variety erf functions this resource" said Deputy and costs Holman Some receivers automatically Accorging to Dunn "This exsound an alarm and turn thempansion significantly increases selves on jf a severe weather our ability to reach the people warning is broadcast and can be living in this county and those programmed to warn for Others who travel here to enjoy weather and civil emergencies in recreational opportunities with only your county vital weather warnings When Most NOAA Weather Radio you don't have a radio or TV receivers are either turned on having a portables or AC powered NOAA W'eather Radio with an desktop models with battery alarm helps you protect your backup Some scanners HAM family yourself and your prop- radios CB radios short wave erty It allows us to send receivers and AMFM radios can purchased at many elecstores NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories The National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in tire world helping to protect Jives and property and enbe tronics hance the national economy For about more information NOAA's National W'eather Service please see hi lp wwwjiws jioaa gov For more information about the programs and services available at the NWS Forecast Office in Salt lake City please see http: wwwwrh noaa govSaltlake NOAA is dedicated to enhanc- ing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weatlver and events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources Paul Attorney County Frischknecht Pubic Defender Claude Pickett County Sheriff Rick J lowe and Brian Whipple Welby Scott Nathan Strait from Central Utah Mental lealth and Wendell Thayne from Adult Probation and Parole and Jvo Peterson a Justice Court Judge The Drug Court clients are screened and deemed eligible by the Sanpete County Attorney sometimes through a recommendation from the Public Defender or someone on live team They also have a screening with the Mental Health Once admitted to the Drug Court they meet with Rick Howe and Kristine Frischknecht Case ManagersTrackers to go over all the policies and find out what is required of them Drug Court is held every two weeks when Judge Mower is Jvere for regular law and Motion Jt is held at 9:00 a m The clients however are to be here promptly at 8:00 a m to be drug tested Then a core team of Judge Mower Ross Rick Kris and Welby Scott and Nathan Strait Mental I tealth Counselors meet from 8:30 a m to 9 a m to discuss and make recommendations to the Judge regarding tlve clients based on the past two weeks random drug testing counseling session attendance and NA and AA meetings fees paid other requirements etc Sanctions or rewards follow as you wiJJ see jn court "Our mission for the Drug Court is to prov ide an opportunity for a stable and prod ucti ve adlife to willing dicted offenders through cd accountand counseling ability" said Frischknecht The clients move through pliases in the program and are usually in the program for approx one to one and one ha If years Dxai businesses have been generous in contributing to d rug court incentives County Officials Oppose Across the Board Cuts in Grazing County Commissioners from Juab Millard Piute Sevier and Wayne counties in central Utah are troubled over Forest Service plans to reduce by fifty percent next years livestock grazing on forested rangelands In Nephi during the December meeting of the General Board of the Six County Association of Governments (SCAOG) Commissioner Glenn Okerlund Wayne County warned other commissioners and mayors of the proposed cut lie explained that F orest Service managers have been telling ranchers to expect twenty-fiv- e percent reduction in livestock numbers allowed on range allotments and that livestock (cattle and sheep) will not be allowed on the forest until July J which is thirty days later than most permits currently allow Drought conditions has con- studies conducted by Utah State University Extension utilizing range science research show that with nominal moisture during the spring months vegetation will rebound and provide sufficiently for current grazing numbers Commissioner LaVar Cox Millard County and Chair of the SCAOG feels a decision now to cut grazing and time on the forest ranges is premature In expressing the unanimous voice of his peers Commissioner Cox stated "It will ibe necessary to make some stocking adjustments if the drought persists these decisions However should be made later in the year and closer to turnout One size does not fit all and suggesting that a blanket reduction to treat all allotments in the same manner would be wrong " Cox also worries that the drought may be vinced some Forest Service managers that forage plants grazed used as a reason to permanently this past year will need extra rest reduce livestock grazing and less intense grazing to re- "We've already lost a lot erf grazstore plant vigor However ing aum's that have not been gi ven back" Commissioner Cox explained Other issues include the overall concern for animal health According to Dean I lan sen past president of the Utah Wool Growers Association and past mayor of Fountain Green Jus lambs' growth will be stunted if he is prevented from grazing his sheep on the forest in June When asked about the proposed cuts Hansen stated "We may need to make some adjustments but not a blanket cut that isn't based on an allotment by allotment analysis We've got to get along but we don't have to roll over and play dead either As for tune reductions one day in four in June is worth three September" Hansen added Both local officials and Forest managers know that livestock grazing is critical to the Central and Southern Utah economies They further (understand that grazing cuts and associated income reductions could be disastrous to some ranchers who are struggling financially Much of the financial hard ships placed on ranchers has resulted from low market prices and the fact that many mother cows and ewes have already been sold in forced sales due to last years drought Wayne County Commissioners anticipate a loss of $1 5 million To livestock prod ucers and the forfeiture of $28 million from lost indirect sales to the county economy if proposed occur Gordon Fillett Loa owner of fillett Oil Company w as ready to begin construction on a four bay addition to his service station turning his existing bays into a com eruence store until he learned about the proposed grazing cuts T was going to spend 51250'JU on live T' e got to wait addition-noand see what the Forest Serv ice does to the Cowmen" said LUett "We used to depend on ranchers and loggers to keep us in business during the winters Now the Rigging is gone and if the ranchers lose fifty percent or more of their grazing we will be out of business" he added Ranchers from fifteen southern Utah counties rely cm public lands to summer their However commissioners from the Uintah Basin to the Arizona border are nervous that red uctiuns m ight be made without consideration for forage ariabjJiiy between allotments and that reductions become might permanent Dale Flanigan ranger on the Fish Ixi he National f orest believes "Individual allotments w'lJJ be ev aluated on certain criteria for determining how tie diiutments will be managed d urrng t) e 2'1U3 grazing season" To formally express their position and deter premature decisions to cut grazing the CAOG's Executive Board took action in tleur regular Board meeting held on January 8 Jn a unanimous decision commissioners and mayors representing the Central Utah region oted to oppose any grazing cuts or reel uction in time until sound data showing moisture accumulation and vegetation health is den ed " at or near the date of and which unq uestionabJy warrants such action They further oppose any "across the board" directives and support only allotment by allotment analysis to determine recommended reductions that any cuts in grazing nun 'a or red uction in time is a 'one time' cut and not construed as permanent Though differing opinions about the need for graing actions exist among Forest Managers and lxal offx'ialsone tiling is clear A lieavy snow pack would certainly bring both parties to a more comfortable In the bargaining position mean time information meetare being organized ings throughout tlve "Sou liver n Utah area |