OCR Text |
Show Some like it - - BY BRUCE " I r " r r r . , - " , ,' - .v - ,. w - V - - KV. a J -- '. J -- . V - , --Mt - J '' . .-- , -- . 'fc , - Tt ' t . - ' C '. i . , - 4 ' l . 14 J - 7rr--- - ;. ;r - : I- ' ' , ' ' - ?. - pt -K v VI ; " J ' ' ;- - Typical scan . ' ' , v- - .'.t-V..?f,.Vv;- V. r7; '- . t; , , -. . , County. Cattl graxa In ', -- r :ViJ ' in Sanpat . v . .v tu f. ' t t ,,. . ... A ' -- ... - fC i '- - .. - 4 x' . Vs 1.4 si ; Although the Sanpete County economy continues depressed, there are several bright rays of hope on the horizon. One of those bright rays is the announcement that the Utah Department of Transportation expects to build a new Interstate 15 interchange east of Nephi soon. The Interchange will be built at the junction of MS and Utah 132 about a mile east of Nephi, according to DOT officials. Utah 132 connects US 89, at the Pigeon Hollow Junction, with Nephi and Delta. Its route east of Nephi to the junction is along Salt Creek Canyon. The interchange will provide better access to MS and should result in has title to the land that will be occupied by the interchange. The Nephi Interchange was originally included in the MS plans but was later dropped on the gounds He said that at a meeting in Panguitch last fall, DOT officials had indicated the likely approval of the Nephi Interchange and its probable inclusion in the 1987 Federal Highway program. Sanpete County has been working toward getting the interchange constructed for several years, Dr. McGarry said. We have not only had the support of other counties along the Highway 89 but also of our state and federal legislators. Its inclusion in the list of Utah Federal Highway projects approved for 1987 construction is good news for Sanpete County. DOT has completed the engineering studies for the interchange and The strangest December, some old timers say, in memory for its hae and its sunshine, its minor temperature variations, between daytime and night; its brown fields and bare that the amount of traffic on Utah 132 out of Sanpete County and points south to and from MS did not justify the expense. However, several recent factors helped to change that decision. One was the slide in Spanish Fork Canyon that closed down Highway 89 into Sanpete County for a time and diverted traffic to Utah 132. And another factor was the closure of the Marysvale Branch of the Denver & Rio Grande, which increased traffic, particularly truck usage, up Utah 132. Congress adjourned without ap- proving Highway funding for 1987. However, that approval is expected , dont remember another early in 1987. UDOT officials think that about $60 million will be available next year. That is much less than the $150 million that was originally expected. It means that UDOT has had to cut dow n its spending plans for 1987 and defer some several major freeway construction projects. Seven projects had originally been in the works, but the major one will now be a stretch of from Green River eastward to Floy. A further delay in Congressional approval of the 1987 funds could, of course, mean that some projects that require several months to completion may have to wait. Sanpete County officials are hoping that this doesn't happen to the Nephi Interchange. They'd like to sec a heavier flow of traffic along Utah 132 and Highway US 89 soon the sooner the better. BY Utah legislature appropriates $1.3 million for rail line purchase of PAT MELLOR It was a busy year for county and local government agencies in Sanpete County during 1986 as local elections filled posts and resources were marshalled to deal with decreasing budget funds and an economic downturn. On a basis, the following events found their way into the headlines in The Mantl Messenger and The Ephraim Enterprise: month-by-mont- h January 1986 Mayor Bob Wamick takes office in Ephraim; Mantis First Woman Mayor, May Peterson, takes office in Manti. Governor Norm Bangerter holds public meeting in Ephraim to discuss the challenge increased school enrollment presents to education funding in Utah. Elder Paul H. Dunn presides at LDS Stake Conference in Manti. Space shuttle tragedy Sanpete residents. shocks February 1986 Feasibility study launched for n resort proposed above Fairview. Four-Seaso- South Sanpete School District sells of $500,000 general obligation bonds approved by voters in 1977 for building program. Elder Hugh Pinnock presides at Ephraim LDS Stake Conference. the last A Reagan Administration proposal to sell Federal hydro dams to private enterprises meets stiff opposition from rural areas of Utah. Utah Senate considers a bill to tax d hydro projects. Marysvale Branch. Ephraim Youth Council members sworn in. Snow College names "Joseph W. Crane Manti City creates special improvement districts. 74 students graduate from MHS: 60 from LDS Seminary. Fire strikes Manti's lower hydro plant. Juel Rasmusson, Manti, named Scandinavian Jubilee held Primary election results include Buchanan vs. Bailey for sheriff; Donaldson vs. Bessey for2-yr- . county commission post; Christenson vs. Hal Jensen for commissioner. Ephraim. Theater. New City Building dedicated Manti. Diaper manufacturer, stove builders will move to Ephraim. Ephraim Enterprise wins General Excellence award in State newspaper competition. March 1986 in New Manti medical clinic seen as probability. New trash rack, divider completed to lessen flash flood damage at mouth of Manti Canyon. Manti Templars win first place in region, second at state basketball finals. King Cowboy. Flash flood destroys Manti's new debris catcher. Manti joins coalition of cities to study natural gas franchise offers. September 1986 Snow College graduates 322. Bids on railroad being evaluated by committee. of Sanpete's dairy farmers offer to sell off their herds under new government incentive program. Ephraim Senior Citizens facility dedicated. One-fift- h June 1986 Railroad sale fizzles: no qualified purchaser found. Jackie Davis named Miss Manti. Palisade Pals Day Camp held at Palisade Lake, this year expands for more handicapped kids. April 1986 Manti will benefit from its share of Bonanza Power. Regina Hermansen, Branton Campbell and Jacquelyn Davis named Central Utah Sterling 4 July 1986 Ephraim and Manti hold gala July celebrations. Runners carry Special Olympics Scholars. torch through Sanpete. Massive mudslide in Ephraim Canyon curtails power, wreaks "economic havoc" on community. annual Pageant opens. 20th County facility. Mass Meetings held as prelude to election year activities: state, county delegates chosen. Mormon Miracle begins push for prison Renovation Tabernacle. May 1986 Five candidates file for Sanpete Co. Sheriff post. Mountain Fuel Supply in begins on Manti August 1986 Sanpete Co. Fair features 9 days of activities. seeks Marysvale Branch comes to end of line no buyer takes extension of time to buy. natural gas franchise from County preparatory to PSC hearings. Aimee Eberhard named Miss Ephraim. last-minut- e School opens August 25. 41 Marysvale Line RR sold for scrap. New Shop N Save grocery store planned for Ephraim. S. Sanpete school enrollment is down. Progress made to restore Ephraim (Continued on Page 2) Stakes plan for New Years Eve party The Ephraim and Manti Stakes are each making plans to "ring in the new year "with dances to be held Dec. 3 1 . Manti's celebration will be held at the National Guard Armory and will begin at 9 p.m. Light snacks and refreshments will be served during the evening. A floor show will be presented at 10:30 p.m. The Ephraim Stake dance will begin at 9 p.m. in the Snow College Old Gm, and will continue until 12.30 a m. Games, noisemakers, food and a floor show at 10:30 will highlight the evening. Both stakes request that attendance be limited to those 14 and over. several sites. At Seeley Creek, which feeds into both Emery and Sanpete counties, the water content of the snow pack is only 34 percent of average. At east of Mammoth-Cottonwoo- Fairview, it's 27 percent of average. At the Beaver Dams in Twelve Mile Canyon it's 16 percent. And at the Gooseberry Ranger Station in Sahna Canyon, its 34 percent. Some other livestock people like it. too. "Our sheep are doing well on the That means the storm clouds will have to do some catching up in the next few months if 1987 is to be even a normal water year. desert," Gary Madsen says, "the feed is good. Theres enough the the isnt But other sheepmen dont consider themselves so fortunate. Theyd like some snow not much, but some because they're having to haul water in tanker trucks to their herds. And the haul, from wells miles away, can be expensive. And farmers are beginning to wonder, too. An open w intercan have its advantages but where is next summers water coming from, they ask. The data isn't all in on precipitation and the first three months of the water year, Octvbcr, November and December dont make a water year. February, March and April are the critical months. yet "But the prospects aren't good. The precipitation data, inadequate though it is, is already raising questions: Is the wet cycle that began in 1980 and continued through 1985 ending? Are we heading into another dry cycle? Is a drouth coming? Weather men are forecasting average precipitation for January and February. "Because of all the wet years before this one, the groundwater is in good shape and the reservoirs are in good shape," says William Alder, meteorologist in charge at the Salt Lake International Airport. "I wouldn't cal! it a drought, but a dryer pattern," he adds; "we're in much better shape to handle it with minimal problems." But, he continues, if the dry trend continues through 1987, the summer of 1988 could be a parched one. below State changes concept of satellite prisons BY PAT MELLOR The State of Utah has abandoned its original idea of establishing small satellite" prison facilities in four or communities throughout the state of Utah, Rep. Ray Nielsen said Monday, and now corrections officials and Governor Norman Bangerter favor the concept of constructing one larger subsidiary prison. Governor Bangerter has advised that he will seek funding for the preliminary phase of site selection, etc. for a prison facility with a minimum capacity of 500 inmates "somewhere off the Wasatch Front", according to Chris Mitchell, Division of Corrections staff membercurrently working on the legislative proposal. Ms. Mitchell said the state had abandoned the original "satellite" concept because of the great amount of opposition the project received from residents of the communities the state considered as possible sites about three years ago. One such "satellite" facility was proposed for Ephraim but plans for the facility were abandoned when local opposition proved strong and vocal. five 1986 in retrospect, a headline review The helicopters will be flying next week to gather the precipitation data for several Sanpete Valley watersheds. But some data has already come in by Snotel from by radio December like this," Ben Kjar says. And he likes it the herd out in the field instead of at the feed lot, no lugging of bales, no purchases of hay to tide the animals over. morning moisture to make Russian thistles, the grass, sagebrush palatable. And he having to haul water. bar field ai foothills in background are devoid of snow. increased tourist and other traffic through Sanpete County, said Dr. Wendell H. McGarry, County Commission chairman. At midnight tonight December 1986 becomes the December that was. I Interchange at Nephi approved BY BRUCE JENNINGS Larry Young, who heads up the Manti Soil Conservation office, says. JENNINGS foothills. S - i dont Unusually dry December, moisture below average if'. - f. some The facilities proposed as satellites to the original prison facility in the plan advocated three years ago were to house 50 medium security inmates and were to be operated in conjunction with county jails. Ms. Mitchell said. Only one such prison facility was ever constructed, in Cedar City. The Cedar City facility is expected to open sometime within the next year to house inmates. Several counties are desirous of locating the prison's proposed facility within their 500-inma- borders. Corrections officials say they have been made aware of Sanpetes relative lack of opposition to the facility, but say they remain cautiously optimistic about that situation. One of the conditions upon which obtaining the prison facility is predicated is that the host county and the nearest community must both indicate their acceptance of the prison facility even before the site selection is finalized. I Generally, county governments favor the proposed facility, Ms. Mitchell said. "But once a site is selected, it's another story. Every- body wants the facility for the jobs it will produce, but nobody wants it near them. Whcn you start talking e about programs, people start to get nervous. And no matter how you look at it. this facility will have to be near a community, not only from the standpoint of work-releas- providing opportunities, but also from the standpoint of getting utilities and transportation into the area. work-releas- A e facility. Ms. Mitchell estimated, could employ as many as 200 persons directly, depending on developments in detention care, which change frequently. If the prison were to have industries. Ms. Mitchell added, even more people would probably have to be hired. e Rep Ray Nielsen said Gary DcLand, executive director of the Corrections Dept., advised him last week that Governor Bangerter intends to ask the legislature for $8 to $12 million for the first phase of the prison's development, when the legislature convenes January 12. Nielsen appeared confident that funding would be provided by the legislature to a sufficient extent. Ms. Mitchell, too, appeared optimistic that the legislature would endorse Governor Bangerters proposal. "Utah has had one of the largest prison population growth rates in the nation during the past two years, Ms. Mitchell pointed out. "There is pressure (on prison capacities) everywhere in the nation. Our own inmate population rose 20 percent in the past year." Nor did Ms. Mitchell feel that construction of additional prison space would deplete a source of revenue for several counties: housing state prisoners on a temporary basis in county jails. At present, according to Ms. Mitchell, the state has between 100 and 150 inmates housed in county jails, "and 1 dont see that situation changing over the (Continued on Page 2) y |