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Show i i SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS - Thursday, 4 June 16, 1988 - Page Two LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Trust of Law Can't Officials Do Their Jobs? Diminsihed - Dear Editor, In December of 1974, as a new immigrant to the USA, and married for just one month, I was ready to start a family, which to me was the family dog, being brought up with animals and taught how to care for them. That was when Othelia came into my life. She was six months old and I was 20. She was a beautiful Norwegian Elk Hound, with kind eyes and a tender heart. I can honestly say she was a little like human, kind, thoughtful, trusting, compassionate and extremely loyal. As our three children were born, she accepted them as her own and became their guardian angel. When they were toddlers, if they went near the road or the ditch she would bark and tell me they needed help. She would keep strangers away, but she never harmed anybody. Seasons passed and years flew by. My children are now 9, 10 and 12 years old. They have had their faithful old friend waiting for them every morning of their whole lives. She is now crippled and a shadow of her former self. But every morning and every time we would come home she would be laying in the shade waiting, wagging her tail and her eyes smiling. I really do not think she realized she was so old and crippled. She still had a zest for life. She trusted and loved us. The Humane Society told us to tie her up one night. As two police cars and a dog catchers truck pulled in our drive, she barked at them. This was the first time she had been tied, other than a few hunting trips and to teach her not to chase our cows. She was humbled, sad and lonely. The next morning we untied her so she could find the shade, and know we were not the ones punishing her. As soon as we had gone to work, the dog catchers and police coaxed her from the shade in our yard and locked her in the pound. She was mortified. She had never been in prison in her life. I buried that faithful old lady one hour after I got her home that afternoon. The Humane Society had taken her pride and her love of life. As a family we had been planning her passing. Talking of her memories and hoping one day to find her asleep forever in her favorite place. The authorities took that from her and my family. It will take a lot of patient explaining to help my children trust and respect the law again. She was too fine and proud of a dog to go this way. A friend forever in loving memories. Othelia, born June 1974, died June 8, 1988. s Alecia Mackelprang Fredonia Give Help With Foreign Languages Dear Editor: Gordon L. Crabtree, Director of Finance for the state of Utah, has recently sent a letter to newspapers in the state criticizing me for not identifying where cuts should be made if the tax initiatives are passed in the November election. Mr. Crabtree shares with Governor Bangerter a strange view of how government is supposed to work. They seem to think that when ever taxes are to be raised, they know just how to do it and the people dont need to be consulted. But when taxes are to be cut, the people have a responsibility to tell them where the cuts are to be made. Dear Editor, We at Kane County Hospital are currently in the process of updating our list of local citizens who speak a foreign language, andor know sign language for the deaf, who would be willing to volunteer their services when necessary to act as inter- The fact of the matter is the voters of the state elect officials to run the government. We pay them what some would consider to be outrageous salaries and we expect them to do their jobs. If the tax initiatives pass and 6 percent needs to be cut from state and local revenues, we expect our high-paiofficials to do the job. If they can't-- as apparently Mr. Crabtree can't then we need to elect and appoint some who can. Mr. Crabtree is dead certain about how much will be cut from tax revenues if the initiatives pass. Of course, he uses figures compiled by those who calculated the 1987 tax increase at $157 million dollars. That same tax increase is now approaching $310 million dollars. possible. The volunteer may have to come to the hospital on very short notice, any time of the day or night, but their time and effort would be very worthwhile. Anyone who would be willing to share time and knowledge of a foreign language to aid a sick or injured patient should contact the hospital and let us know your name, phone number, the language you speak, and when you would be available. Again your efforts would be very valuable to the doctor and nurses trying to evaluate the situation possibly even life saving. Mr. Crabtree, Director of Finance, also quotes other figures designed, no doubt, to add authority to his argument. He states the combined budgets of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Community Development total $54 million. The 1987-8Appropriations Report from the Office of - the Legislative Fiscal Analyst says the combined budgets are $176.7 million. Crabtree says the Public Education budget is $692 million, the report says $1 billion. He says High Education is $260 million, the report says $337 million. He says Social Services is $101 million, the report says $268 million. I am sure that Mr. Crabtree is a dedicated public servant, but as Director of Finance, his use of figures gives new meaning to the old saying, Close enough for government work." 8 Over one hundred thousand Utahns have signed petitions to put the initiatives on the ballot. This may not seem to Mr. Crabtree like much of a demand for lower taxes when he considers the calls from the special interests for higher taxes, but it seems like a lot to me. s Greg Beesley, Chairman Tax Limitation Coalition of Utah preters. With the summer tourist season in full swing again, we see many more people that speak little or no English, and in an emergency situation, what English they do know miy be forgotten. It is critical to the care and well being of the patients Sincerely, s Sari Swapp Kane County Hospital Special Thanks Dear Editor, To all our friends in Kanab, we want you to know how much you mean to us. All the cards, letters and telephone calls lifted our spirits. For all the prayers offered in all Faiths we thank you. My surgery was successful and my recovery will be slow but is progressing. Last but not least, a very special thank you to our friends across the fence" and her helpers for such an emotional homecoming. Tim and I love you all. Sincerely, Tours, a new business in Kanab is promoting Kanabs magnificent backyard. According to Don Rife, owner, Zion Outback Country Hiking Tours conducts area visitors on y hikes through Buckskin Gulch and Perrenweap Canyon. all-da- destroy many homes. . . . Protect Your Children that we be able to obtain an interpreter for them as soon as For little children everywhere, and particularly for the five boys he sexually abused and murdered, Gary Arthur Bishop was executed last week at the Utah State Prison. The usual debate on capital punishment accompanied Bishops execution, as well as hour-lon- g news reports of interviews with Bishop, his mother and his victims parents. For Bishop, the lethal injection which stilled his heart, stilled his earthly traumas. For his victims families, perhaps they too can bury their sorrow with their sons murderer. However, for parents of children in Kanab, Fredonia and outlying areas. Bishop should not be forgotten. If anything, he should be rememg bered for the sake of the safety and of our towns children. Millions of travel through Kanab each tourist season to visit our national parks and recreation areas. Thousands more travel through this area regularly to and from destinations such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Phoenix. Kanab City Police Officer Doug Crosby said there is no way to estimate the amount of nonlocal traffic that goes through Kanab daily. He said it is a police officers major concern. Crosby is not worried about increased traffic accidents, but rather, how many Gary Bishops may pass through our towns. And, which Gary Bishop will stop long enough to steal the life of well-bein- one of our childrea disappeared Although a child has never from Kanab, Crosby said city police are still aware of how vulnerable they are and regularly police school yards. Parents must realize that although Kanab, Fredonia and the Valley are sleepy lithe towns, they are vulnerable to bi g city tragedies like child molestings and killings. To prevent heartbreaking tragedies like Bishops victims families suffered, parents must be aware of the dangers that face their children and leam how to protect them without instilling big city paranoia. Crosby recommends that children never walk alone. They should always walk in groups or in pairs. Even Bishop admitted that it is much more difficult to pick up two children Sian one. Moreover, one of the children is bound to slip away and call for help. The Kane County Sheriffs Office is also trying to protect our children from strangers. A program titled Say No! is in its second year. Sheriffs deputies travel to county elementaries teaching children to scream no if approached by a stranger, run away and call an adult for help." All children, even teenagers (who sometimes think they know everything, and because of that are particularly susceptible) should learn those four basic rules. Betty M. Pardee Fire Season KANAB The fire season has begun, and will last until the end of October. According to a Kane County Sheriffs office press release, anyone wishing to burn outside of area town limits must first obtain a bum permit from the fire warden, Kingsley Nelson, in Glendale, or at the Sheriff s office in Kanab. There is no charge for the burn permits. Zion Country Hiking Tours KANAB Although the Grand as is Zion is remarkable, Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Parks, scenic beauty enthusiasts dont have to travel that far from Kanab to scenery. experience breath-takin- g Zion Outback Country Hiking In Our Opinion He said the 10 to 12 hour guided hikes cost $75 per day and includes transportation to and from the trail head, water, a day pack and lunch. Its not just a baloney sandwich and doughnut, either," Rife said. He described them as excellent" As to the hikes, Theyre through beautiful country," Rite said. Perrenweap follows the east fork of the Virgin River and Rife described it as spectacular and as much, if not more, fun than hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park. He also said that Buckskin Gulch is the deepest and longest lot canyon in the world although it isnt mentioned anywhere in the Guiness Book of World Records. Geno Rife, with Ramsay and Scott Crofts, have rolled the idea of operating a hiking guide service for many years but it never seemed like the right time. Using the hiking operations out of Sedona, Ariz., as their pattern, the three entrepreneurs felt that Kanab was sorely lacking in anything of that type. Since the closest guided walking hiking tour operations is out of Moab, Utah, Rife said he and his partners felt that southern Utah finally needed this new business. So, over a little more than two months ago. Rife, Ramsay and Crofts opened their business in the Rainbow Plaza off 100 East Street in Kanab, behind Paula's Golddust co-own- Renaurant. He added that Zion Outback Hiking Tours hopes to benefit the people of Kanab by encouraging tourists to spend one more night. McKay Campaigns in Kanab KANAB First district congressional candidate Gunn McKay (D) visited Kanab on Friday, June 10, on his second campaign swing to southern Utah in a week. During McKay's visit he spoke with local officials and Kanab voters over breakfast at Parry Lodge. McKay stressed the importance of developing new jobs and industries in southern Utah during his in record numbers to lese conventions. Theyre talking bout the lack of good jobs and uality businesses in this area. We irning out :i": tM :.5 VELCOME remarks. The congressional candidate also reiterated his call for leadership in Washington, D.C. on the issues that are facing the voters in Kanab. Without a representative who is aggressive and well known in congress," McKay said, "Utahns will never get the representation they deserve. As a congressman I was well known and well liked; and believe me those are important characteristics when it comes to fighting for Utah. need to have a congressman in Washington who has a proven record on bringing in industry and providing leadership. 5; ' - v. SUIIH MCKAY 5 FOUR WHIPS. -- ,U. Following the breakfast, McKay toured Gift City, the Wonderstone shop. McKay finished up the day with a lunch and mine tour provided by Energy Fuels Nuclear Corpora- tion, a Fredonia, Ariz., uranium mining company. McKays visit to Kanab comes just six days after he attended five Democratic county conventions in southern Utah. The candidate also stopped in on the commencement and dedication events at Southern Utah State College. At the well attended conventions in weekend last Washington, Garfield, Kane, Iron, and Beaver counties, McKay responded to numerous questions about jobs, the economy, and what our representative in Washington has been doing for southern Utah. McKay commented on the conventions, saying The voters at the grassroots level are telling me they want more leadership on the issues that are facing the workers and families here in Utah. Democrats and disgruntled Republicans are Congressional hopeful Gunn McKay is pictured here with his Kane County representative, Dorothy Ripper. fAcKay was In Kanab last Friday to tour local businesses and shake hands with constituents as part of his grass roots campaign. |