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Show nn npn rr 4 4fcSMgpa I $ Page A2 tThf (TimfS-nbrpfnhn- Thursday, March 28, 2002 tt Safari: Get them there and get them back Land swap from Continued from Page Hi ui k lb (1 in ((JIS tof.ihlf, wb-- n if i - 1 lv tii. th it Irn-t- i In pSif tri tlif final (lava of 'Ha Jairt htretifiof ttii,f( tr tiif Sal II I Flats Kixrv for il sin ho k lit alum io,i I'litranee lumtli is a favor lit ia il v e nl hu-ia- -t for four if -- s w Ins drive I during the annual Fogg lodges his Blazer Allen i in a tree as part of his marketing scheme for Jeep Satan Photo by Franklin Seal . . r land During past Jeep Safaris, the short full on the north I mnk of Mill -- , has attraited even larger Crts-- r throngs than tlie Dump Bump tins year tlie BIM uffilmlisl Mill Kar-lie- Sunrise service scheduled for Easter Miinsteiinl nitiim will hold an hiiiiuhI Faster Hun-riginning .it 5 45 a m on Faster Sunday, March 31 The si i ii i will he held in An lies National Park at the La Sal Mountain (hi I look 1 he serv ii e will mi lode group parln ipatinn singing, readings noil a -- ermnii All offer mg is leu ived for the continued relief work of tin The program will last approximately 30 minutes Admission to An lies Park is free lor those attending the service if the I In Mmili m In v pill - Kited la foie 0 a ill k Dordaller also said Ken Bunge, a Red Roik trail guide from (irand Junction, Colo , had two rollovers Sunday cm a trip he led up Golden Spike. School board maintenance and operations. County-le- ' acri-ik-nt- s il il ip hn ak is'i festival 'though org init - -- tress it is is it mrt of if a offs il lit i Safari "G to I 'tin ioiiiilett Hmni ly tiitii)) git shut dow n hv tlt' t lid of tin- - wet k," -- .lid The I Nv )iuiii Hu i n j is on Ian. I It ivw I to n piivalt indiv tdiial I 'oh i to Salad Hill on the other In added It hand will -- till In is on land administered h tlie B1..M and nivessed aiTussiimiil v and stale m iv d land swap committee has its w ay, the Right Hand Canyon Rim near the Kayenta Heights subdivision is unlikely to appear in any such advertisements, at least in the near future. The committee, formed last year in the wake of recent Trust Lands Administration development proposals, has been working to come up with a list of land parcels in the area that the Bureau of Land Management and Trust Lands could trade with each other Both agencies stand to improve the hands that history has dealt them BLM could gain control over critical sections of trust land stranded within larger blocks of back country BLM land; Trust Lands could acquire parcels with obvious development potential. The committee includes representatives from BLM, Trust Lands, Grand County, City of Moab, Grand Canyon Trust and Utah Open Lands. The acreage overlooking the South Fork of Mill Creek Canyon (aka Right Hand Canyon) immediately southeast of the Power Dam area was mentioned during the committees last meeting in January Ric McBrier, assistant - l DunipHuniplMkalltt-NkulI- n tin In Page Al estate brochure? Well, if a Grand to add crowd control fencing and to close tfiree adjacent routes while keeping tlie main route open. Miiah Mavor Dave Saknson Urnnked tite volunteers fur putting togetlier an event Moab loves and told tliem to, "Have fun, be careful safe But despite tlie safety and tips, tlie annual crush of off road mat tunes brings with it a few most of tiiem without wnous (Oiirdi fiortirig lit- bai mi nil nl-kcountry Thf (oorilin it - would allow the pilot to Iih olt the Mfiie of the m i iiient he hHid nion t NM.uitl also inaifinntil hi Continued discussed closing ( reek Fartner-hi- p Potato Salad f fill hut opted instead to pruv nic tiloh.il in Iosi l ionium Sv'ti n. ill - AI injury Red Hik k 4 Wheeler trail guide Jim lkinhdler stud he led a group on Sunday up ITitcU'tt Canyon, one of tlie must difficult routes in the event ( )ne Mtrticijant rolled attempting Yellow Hill, la- - said, another rolled while trying to climb The Rock IMe" which neitlier Ikirdaller nor uny other particiant was able to negotiate, Dordalleradded. As with many of tlie most difficult spots on canyon country jeep trails, tlie more four w his k rs that try to climb The Rm k Bile," Llie tru kier it gets spinning tires smooth previously rough surfaces and dig holes below steep kviges director for real estate development for School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), had told the group that the parcel would have obvious value to SITLA if the BLM, w hich administers it, wanted to trade it But he also acknowledged it would be a lightning rod for local opposition. When McBrier raised the issue again during the committee s meeting Friday morning at the Grand County Courthouse, committee members responded that homeowners adjacent to the parcel wouldnt stand for it They'll fight it tooth and nail," said Mary Von Koch, BLM realty specialist "Theyd go bananas added Craig Bigler, representing the Grand Canyon Trust. Im not sure theres even a starting point for discussion," said County Council Member Kim Schappert Judy Carmichael, Grand County Planning Commission chairperson, concluded that It could sabotage the entire process." Apparently the committee was convincing At the end of the March 22 meeting, McBrier told the group that SITLA would drop the idea of pursuing a swap for the Right Hand Rim property Discussing a long list of other "swappable" target properties around Grand County (including several in the northern part of San Juan County) the committee moved a few steps closer to a viable working list. Topping the properties the BLM is interested in acquinng are lands immediately east of Johnsons Up On Tbp Mesa related to SITLAs Cloudrock development proposal. Parcels near the top of SITLAs wish list include a swath of land west of Highway 191 below Moab Rim, a parcel west of Kens Lake, lands west and south of Canyonlands Field Airport, and two areas along the 60-ac- lTtahColorado border: 8,700 acres in the Bitter Creek area and Dolores Point, south of northwest of Gateway, Colo. McBrier also told the group about a proposal being developed by SITLA to trade off lands in the San Rafael Swell. The idea would be to exchange them for lands with long term potential mineral value, most of them in the Uintah Basin. But one Grand County parcel, near The Knoll on Big Flat north of Dead Horse Point State Park, had been included in the list of properties SITLA would seek to trade fur their San Rafael Swell parcels. If SITLA acquired The Knoll, McBrier said, it would only be interested in certain mineral rights and would entertain selling surface development rights to a land conservation organization to keep it from being developed. I More funding for Dtsher drainage project Mooli ( it v ( ooin il lias approval additional exienditures totaling $22,100 for tin insht r Sim in Dram Projisl That projict ran into trouble eat tier tin- - moiilli niter construction crews uncovered ancient Aim in an Indian ail it h ts at the site near Millcnik Drive and Sand Flats Hoad An an hueolog n al i rew sSiit tlimexcavating the site, ulti-m- , ill lv disi over mg a mimlier of annniit pit dwellings Hnd storage facilities A human skull and rib Imnes were also uneoveri'd during archaeo-lopiiiiKiavation Thai wm k cost the city almost $27, 000. The additional will covi r (osts incurred by the construction contractor nditores expi fm down lime of rental eipiipnient and lost employee hours I In- - wi-et- s li A Look Back in Time Historic pictures ol Moab and Grand County Have a picture you would like to share? Submit it to The Times-lndepende- nt & W IMA n x I A jm vQ CD b(3 brief look at the llte of William Granstaff Coincident with a recent push by Grand County citizens to change the name of Negro Bill Canyon, The came across this undated school photo of William Granstaft (far right, third row back) taken in Glewood Springs. The school was located at 1 1 and Blake Avenue, according to the Gienwood Spnngs which published the photo last month. In an accomarticle, by Willa Soncarty of the Frontier Historical Museum panying in Gienwood Springs, Granstaffs body was discovered In August, 1901 in a mining cabin on his Red Mountain claims. William Grandstaft (sic) had not been seen in Gienwood Springs during the n summer months of 1901 she wrote. "A miner of descent, Granstaff had purchased provisions that June and had set off to prospect his Red Mountain claims. His disappearance began to worry his friends. Young George Kinney was sent to Granstaff s Red Mountain cabin on an August afternoon. Kinney found the old miner upon his bed In the cabin Granstaff had been dead for several weeks Word traveled quickly at George Kinney reported the news to the community of Gienwood Spnngs A committee was dispatched to the cabm where the coroner completed his examination. The official cause of death was starvation. A grave was dug near the cabin and a service was held . To this day William Granstaff rests peacefully on Red Mountain To see a larger version of this photo, visit www moabtimes com. Times-lndepende- Afncan-Amenca- Afncan-Amenca- n During an interview on Thursday, Board Member David Olsen acknowledged that hiring the coach at the higher pay scale was out of the ordinary but that Continued from Page A 1 stage) is that it would act as a checklist of sorts for school administrators as they handle student discipline incidents It would also ensure consistent record-keepinand reporting back to the the board felt the candidates qualifications merited the rate. All 1 know is the protocol is to bring them in at step six even though they have many years of experience, I believe its up to the boards discretion to make exceptions to it, he said, adding that he saw the move as a step toward improving the educational level in the district. g district school office It's given us a very consistent process," Ferguson said. Several community members gave suggestions for improving the form, including creating an instruction sheet to accompany it and to guide the administrator in handling the incident. Ferguson said the suggestions would be mentioned at a meeting of the lo- -' cal Safe Schools Coalition on April 9 during which he said the draff protocol might lie improved. The coalition, formed two years ago following the school shooting in Littleton, Colo , includes leaders from all agencies in the community that might lie involved in handling an emergency at one of Grand Countys schools. Coach hiring is questioned Also during the delegations section of Wednesdays meeting, the leader of a new parent group questioned the board regarding the hiring of a new high school football coach. Lisa Sweeten, president of the Moab Chapter of Parents for Public Schools, asked the board if it was true that they had hired Dennis WellB at a pay level. She also inquired at which steps the board previously had hired new teachers and what was the difference between the levels. higher-than-averag- e Board President Bruce Louthan acknowledged that the board had hired Wells at a higher level He explained that the coach had 12 years of experience and that the board had taken that into consideration in granting the higher pay rate. High School Ifrincipal Jim Stotks said the difference between the steps the new coach would be receiving was about $5,500 per year. Sweeten then told the board that the parents group was concerned about the budget crunch. Wheres the money going to come from she asked Ferguson answered that it would come from In Wednesdays meeting, Sweeten also presented the board with the Parents for Public Schools mission statement and said the group was ready to submit their chapter application to the national organization. The board appointed member Kaaron Jorgen to represent the district in the local chapter. Board deniea bishop has undue influence Parent Kathy Cooney then stood to address the board regarding Middle School Principal Byron Christensen. Prefacing her remarks by citing an example from her own Catholic upbringing about how much influence religious leaders can have over members of their congregations, she said, I have concerns about the lack of leadership and poor judgment exercised by the middle school principal. Does his position in the church influence the board and superintendent in evaluating hia actions?" Christensen ts a bishop in a local LDS ward, most of the members of the school board and the district's top administrators are LDS. Last month, several parents leveled sharp criticism at Christensen for hia role in handling the BB gun incident Louthan replied that the board evaluates district personnel based on performance. But Cooney wasnt satisfied. She cited examples of what she considered Christensens poor leadership during his tenure as principal at Red Rock Elementary, then asked, 1 would like each of you to answer from your gut, how do you feel about that?" Ferguson said his church affiliation had nothing to do with what goes on in his job. Youre asking a really hard question," replied board member Bryon Walston. To me, I dont think Im biased." Jorgen said the issue did not apply to her aa she was Episcopalian. Board member David Olsen simply answered no, while member Rick York said, It's not an issue for me." Board asked to reconsider sabbatical denial Another contentious issue raised during the meeting involved the board's decision last fall to deny a sabbatical request for high school teacher Troy Peterson. He has been accepted into the Leadership Prepa- ration Program at Brigham Young University. According to school officials, the agreement would have given Peterson halfpropay during the gram and a guaranteed teaching position in the district upon completion. In return, Peterson would have promised to work for the district for at least two years. Some school administrators have been granted similar sabbaticals in the past, according to school officials. High school teacher Sue Anderson wrote the board a letter imploring them to reconsider their previous decision. I feel the denial of hia sabbatical is a glaring lack of vision on the part of our school district," she wrote. "(Petersons) contributions to the school district may have gone unnoticed by the committee, but not his fellow colleagues." Peterson is a gifted teacher and has organized the student government at the high school, she continued; as head track coach, he runs a disciplined yet fun program and organizes the annual Moab Invitational track tournament attended by 25 schools. "Ive heard, We cant afford it. We cant afford not to grant this sabbatical, she added. Citing statistics that predict a large percentage of current teachers will reach retirement age in the next seven years, she wrote, Our school district is go- - ing to need leadership and vision Troy Petereon can provide," Addressing the board at the meeting, Anderson added that she had learned that none of the tear hers on the sabbatical committee that denied Petersons request worked at the high school and knew the value of his work there. She said no one from the high school was asked to give input. And, as to budget constraints, she pointed to the hiring of the football coach as proof that it was possible to find the that money. Ferguson explained that a sabbatical review committee had recommended against Petersons request and the board had con- curred. Louthan said he had talked to Peterson and believed that it was likely that after fin- ishing the program, Peterson would be able to get any number of much higher paying jobs elsewhere and that he might not return to Grand County. Other teachers, citizens and school board members countered that view. One said Louthan and Ferguson talked to Peterson only after hed learned his request had been denied, which may have caused him some ambivalence about his future in the Grand County system. Later in the meeting the board voted to reconsider Petersons sabbatical, should he make the request again, and to ensure that some of the teachers union members on the review committee came from the high school. In other business, the board voted in favor of the general principle of granting permission to the Youth Garden Project (YGP) to construct restrooms separate from the Shafer House building, which is undergoing restoration. Under a previous agreement, the YGP will occupy the district-owne- d building. 3-- 2 Other requests getting a unanimous green light included Friends of Education status for Moab Taiko Dan (which, among other privileges, grants them rentals on school buildings such as the high school auditorium) and a revegetation project on school district property half-rat- e along Mill Creek. t . A ACCtHl- - Moab Area Partnership for Seniors hi: I d Please Fill Out Return to Robert Hugie (address listed on & back) Attend Public Meeting April 3, 2002 8 p.m. at the Senior Center 6-- Ms jW, POOR ( |