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Show NMMN Tuesday sgaKt 1 iflwr.mihfc-rwrrfr- 11 1th Year March 19v 2002 -- Price, Utah No. 23 500 ' Cetetyatfng St. Patrick's Day, 10B ' County clerk explains redistricting of voting precincts much of the area in eastern and southeastern Utah in his district's boundaries, including all of Carbon County. However, Dmitrich lost some areas in southwestern Utah. On the other hand, Brad Kings Utah House of Representatives area has been split, with everything west of the Price city limits going to district 67. Some school board boundaries also changed based on the 2000 population counts. In addition, counties are required to change voting precincts' when one local district approaches 1,000 people. The requirement also means, that when the number of citizens in a precinct drops too low, the district may well be combined with another area to make it a more optimal size. Some of the things recently happened in Carbon County, when the clerks office had to set up new precincts by Jan. 30 to meet the deadline set tty the Utah Legislature. We have gone from 19 to 23 precincts, pointed Robert Peru. We had out Carbon Clerk-Audit20 precincts and had to eliminate one and add four more. With the approach of the June primaries and the November general election, the changes will affect voters throughout the county. First of all we eliminated Kenilworth as a precinct, explained Pero during an interview with the Sun Advocate. It has been combined with Spring By RICHARD SHAW Staff reporter The United States Census results compiled nearly two years ago are coming to roost in Carbon County and some residents are not happy with the situation. The census process was, as usual, controversial. When the first count was taken in the late 18th century, some census takers were lynched or shot for prying into Americans lives. People felt it was an intrusion into their privacy. In the type of society that existed then, the gun was often the law. The complaints lodged by U.S. citizens today is no different Matty 2000 census takers had the door of homes slammed in their feces by people not wanting to give out information. Other census workers found that citizens gave out some information easily, while other questions were met with resistance, particularly inquiries on the long form. The census was originally organized by the U.S. Congress to determine how many people lived in arty certain area so voting districts could be set up according to population. States with more people would get more seats in the U.S. House of Representative, lb provide balance, every state got two senators no matter how large populations were. The original intent of the census has been changed to include more questions about how many people live in a household, income information and demographic data. The answers often affect everything frofn how much federal money a state may get for road construction to special programs for school kids. The basis for the census is still the voting districts and that is what probably affected Carbon i L T X' l ; it T1- - K ,, r: . I, . or if Glen." The county clerk's office split some districts where the populations were rising to above accept- also who represents them in the state side of government On the national scene, Jim Matheson currently represents Carbon County in the U.S. Congress. That is because the Utah Legislature Has flip flopped the areas that he and Chris Cannon represent in order to adjust the voter numbers within the districts. At the state level, Sen. Mike Dmitrich has kept County more than anything in the last go around in 2000. Due to the changes in population based on census figures, the Utah Legislature had to make changes in representatives seats, both at the national and the state levels. The changes Utah lawmakers approved may not only impact who represents Carbon County residents at the national level in the U.S. House, but Residents debate proposal to combine CHS J , able levels. East Carbon City, for instance, has been split into two separate precincts. The dividing point is the wash that runs through town, putting part of East Carbon Gty with Columbia. (Continued on page 10A) ll.U.HWill r .;" Dino, junior high sports programs By KAREN BASSO Staff reporter The Carbop County Board of Education met March 13 before a crowd of residents who attended to respond to the idea of combining ninth grade sports programs with high school teams. After addressing several district concerns, the board allowed all people in attendance to voice opinions about the proposal. - Opening the discussion, Barry Deeter, a Helper resident opposed to the idea of combinfreshmen and senior high ' ing teams, addressed the board. He offered information regarding die community disagreement with the pjan. Deeter explained the contents of a petition he and wife Linda circulated. The peti-- lion stated that all whosigned the document disagreed with man-- ; dating the ninth grade merger. After circulating 25 copies for two weeks, Deeter obtained 774 signatures. The tally indicates that many residents are satisfied with the current sporting system in the district Deeter pointed out that many people he talked to feel comfort coach would allow the individual to oversee all the teams in the district in respective sports. The coach would be able to be more involved starting at the junior high level not just at the senior high level. We need more cooperation from everyone involved. I would like to be part of the process of hiring junior high coaches. By having a head coach oversee afl activities in the area, we would able with the current system that allows ninth grade participation at the high school level to occur on a voluntary basis. But about 10-- 1 opposed the proposal to combine the teams. Deeter felt that creating the petition increased community awareness of the situation. The overall concern involves doing what is best ior everyone involved. According to the survey, the community feds that the proposal does not fit the goal I am not against Gubon High sports. I am however, pro Carbon School District sports. Dont sacrifice one schools sporting program for another. I understand that the district strives for success. I fed that the district can achieve greatness with the way that the system is set up now, explained Deeter. On the other side of the spectrum, Carbon girls basketball and volleyball coach Bruce the idea of merging the ninth grade teams with the high ' school He also feels that the proBean-support- : ? ,s: V- ' achieve better communication between coaches, which is drastically needed in the district," punted out Bean. I also hope that, by combining the junior high teams with the high school I would get more players involved. The way the current set up is, the ninth graders are missing a lot of games because of the late start that the jun-ihighs have in their sports. This would give ninth graders more experience which is valuable in sports, contended Bean. Other people in attendance at the school board meeting disagreed. According to residents who support the idea of combining the programs, the merger will ' (Continued on page SA) h or Junior high students complete DARE education program . s posal to hire a head coach for each spoil would be beneficial to the district The proposal to hire a head PricePolic Officer Richard Boyden provides support for the students involved in Hie DARE program at Mont Hannon Junior High. The DARE program is a course teaching students the importance of resisting drugs, alcohol and and promoting char violence, while boosting two-we- ek self-wor- th . acter as wen as citizenship in participants. Boyden has taught DAIS courses to students at the junior high for the past several weeks. On March 15, 130 students from Mont Hannon successfully finished the course and were awarded certificates of completion as part of the graduation ceremonies - 'c. " J .. , 1 Despite the bleak revenue .uj; situ- Utahns were ation, spared a tax increase by the recently concluded legislative sesnon-smoki- ng ' sion. Legislators focused on spend- . ing cuts and dipping into the rainy day fund, points out the Utah Ihroayers Association. . lb balance the $256 million budget deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30, legislators reduced previously approved general and uniform sdiool fund expenditures in all major categories, Despite reductions in the 2002 budget, total appropriations . ; .V V . I Former Sun Advocate publisher gamers highest UPA honor Former 5bnAAoc and EmetyCburKy gnsss Ksher Kevin Ashby accepts the Utah Prss Associations W? a 1 L 1 jj. I nignes noMouai award irom roenMu nSBpsf puDusrer Mark FueHenbach. pointed out Fuellenbach. Recipients are selected by peers ResentBd at UPk'swmtBr convention, the award recognizes Ashby for outstandng contributions to the Utah news-pap- er wortod hard, lived honorabty, Itioueht soundly, Mtuenced unsejfisHy and is entitled to the highest honor in his profes-su- n. community during The piapre reads: Master Editor Publisher Award of the Utah foss Association, presented to Kevin Dl Ashby: He has a career spanning more than 35 The award was created to recognize a man or woman whose career matches the words enpaved on the plague, i and rnetyCburtyftqpESS Ashty left the SbnAtoc Iasi year n accept position wiui homt newspapers hi Preston, Ida. were approximately 7 percent higher than expenditures. In addition, Utah lawmakers uproved the states budget for fiscal year 2003, which begins f Wl i . include: payers association. I In recent years, the state has used general fond revenues to pay Jutyl. . weighted pupil unit from $2,116 to $2,132 A 1.5 percent decrease for the minimum school program Hiking state fees by $8.7 million. A 20 percent increase for economic development and human resources from all sources. A 7 percent increase for health from all sources. A. 9.4 percent increase for capital facilities. Lawmakers debated at length about how much bonding would be appropriate, indicated the tax- .is"--1'- : V; gued that the state should opt for borrowing, especially while est rates aret historic lows, as a means to stimulate the economy and prop up the ailing local construction industry. Eventually, state legislators approved a $348 million bond. A small increase in the explained the association. The Utah Legislature also utilized $45 million from the rainy day fund, leaving abalance of $75 f $50 million more than 2001s allocation. Highlights of the 2003 bud- -. get include: An 18 cent tobacco tax increase. The tax generates $13.8 million, $6.7 million of which will be used for general purposes. The Legislature appropriated $3.72 billion from the uniform school and general funds for the for a luge share of construction projects. The approach was prudent 2003 budget Appropriations from all sources totaled $7.6 billion. The 2003 public education appropriation is approximately $30 million less than 2002, but still registers at approximately during tne 1990s, when the economy was growing and the government was flush with revenues, added the association. However, since the revenue situation for 2002 and 2003 is not favorable, several legislators ar- . V i !. V The bond revenue allocations $25.9 million for renovation of the Utah Capitol. $1 13.5 million for buildings at state universities and colleges. $209 million for road construction. Even with the $348 million, Utah remains below the state's constitutional and statutory bonding limits, pointed out the association. The states credit rating, cur- rently the highest available, will not be adversely impacted by tire ' bond. The Utah Legislature ad- dressed a public education financial crisis by passing SJR6. The bill directs the review commission to investigate the taxation of government enterprises competing against the private rector. Government operated enter- prises like municipal electric utilities, public golf courses and recreation centers are not subject to being assessed the same taxes (Continued on page 2A) |