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Show Deadlines: FRIDAY, September 7, 1984 News: Thursday 10:00 A.M. Vernal, Utah 84078 Advertising: Thursday 2:00 P.M. 92st Year No. 72 Phone 789-351 1 Vernal fuA)fsn 12 Pages 25 Single ropy flrilbuflce ft Whofl e Deir Coir CHARLES HENDERSON, left, presents plaque to White River Shale Oil Corp. President Robert School mill levy lowered to comply with sfcrte imposed 106 ceili The Uintah School Board cracked open their budget Thursday and knocked .44 mill off the original tax level to adhere to a state requirement of a 106 percent ceiling revenue generated by taxing entities. The shortfall in the school district's budget stems from projections earlier in the year based on $40 million in new property at the Deseret Bonanza Power Plant which would not come under the 106 percent limit. However, only $5 million has been assessed as real property with the equipment being be-ing assessed as private property, which comes under the 106 percent limitation. Taking the brunt of the mill decrease is the Capitol Outlay Fund, which was lowered from 6.22 mills to 5.92 mills. However, the board increased increas-ed the Debt Service Fund from 6.1 mills to 6.81 mills. Also, the state imposed im-posed a 1.19 mill increase in the Maintenance and Operation Fund to place the district on track with the minimum school fund. The mill levy decrease in the Capitol Outlay Budget will cause a $300,000 to $500,000 deficit in that fund; however, "the board has not awarded some of the programs in that fund which will make up some of the difference," said Richard Tolley, school district clerk. The budget will also be reopened at a later date to cut other programs, if Naples town meeting debates Sept. election Over 50 Naples residents discussed the pros and cons of remaining incorporated incor-porated with a panel consisting of the Naples Mayor, Lawrence Kay, and three of the city's five council members during a town meeting Thursday, Sept. 6. Residents attending the meeting were requested to submit their questions ques-tions regarding the city in writing. In order to allow residents to ask questions ques-tions of a controversial nature freely, the questions were not signed. Inside Pratt in appreciation for the company's support of the area.' necessary, to balance the budget. The total mill levy, 33.88, which is subject to the State Tax Commission's approval, is higher than last year's 31.49 mill levy; however, it is lower than the project levy of 34.32 mills. A mill represents a dollar property tax on each $1,000 of assessed valuation. "Anything that decreases taxes, I would support," said Blayne Morrill as he approved the revisions of the budget. In other agenda items about 15 people peo-ple from the Painted Hills Subdivision requested that school bus service to their subdivision be continued as last year. There are six junior high and middle school students who are affected af-fected by the curtailment of the bus service in the area. Transportation Supervisor Ted Taylor told the board that he needed the board's approval to extend the route because the state will not reimburse reim-burse busing if there is not more than ten students on the extention of the bus route. If the area was part of a loop, the state would accept the extension, but where the bus goes in, turns around and has to go back out, they will not award reimbursements, Taylor said. The group, represented by spokesperson Debbie Cook, cited Most of the questions asked by residents centered around property taxes, the U.S. Highway 40 project and the financial status of the city and debts residents could be responsible for if the city disincorporates. Panel members explained to the audience au-dience that the property tax is comparatively com-paratively low in Naples City. This year the estimated mill levy is .06. In the coming year the city plans to Continued on page 2 Ford Bros. Circus Second largest tent circus make big impression in Vernal. See page 9. reports from the Uintah County Sheriff's Office that the area is potentially poten-tially prone to accidents and abductions abduc-tions because of no sidewalk and narrow nar-row streets. After hearing the group's request, the board authorized Taylor to study the situation, and 18 other similar situations, and come with a recommendation recom-mendation in two weeks. During the two weeks bus service to Painted Hills will resume. Other busing problems dominated the early portion of Thursday's school board meeting as Jensen residents requested re-quested that a second bus serve their 4z 1 "' - , . - ' -r-- J- 1 ! pT e' ; t , ; " ' - , I1 ; , . Vi ; ! ' 1 ' " ? ' ' ; ? ? ' - T X , r v-f-- MAYOR LAWRENCE KAY swears in the newest city council member Barbara Wilkerson. Mrs. 1 V: t r,i nr. Project put on Amid prophetic statements of the revitalization of the project in the near future, the Vernal Chamber of Commerce Com-merce and local entities paid tribute to the White River Oil Shale project at a Tuesday luncheon. White River is developing a 16,500 barrel per day oil shale project about 40 miles southeast of Vernal. However, because of technology problems the project is cooling off. Last July White River Shale Corp. announced a reduction in its workforce by two-thirds in what Robert Pratt, company president, called an "intermediate "in-termediate delay." "In July of 1984 the project was on schedule and below budget," Pratt said. However, in July the project was to proceed with a detailed engineering of the retort facilities, a $200 million chore. The project was put on hold because the technology which White River plans to use to squeeze oil from the shale has not been proved over an extended ex-tended period. White River has purchased an interest in-terest in the Union retort now being tested near Parachute, Colo. The retort has been plagued with problems. "Union will operate," Pratt said. "I guarantee it, and it will possibly be by the first of next year." Because of this lag in technology, by December White River will complete area so that high school students do not arrive at school 45 minutes before it starts. They travel with students attending atten-ding double sessions at Vernal Junior High, which starts 40 to 45 minutes before the high school. Because of the hardships of the double dou-ble sessions, the school board approved approv-ed a second later bus for high school students. In extreme cases parents are transporting students 70 miles a day in seven trips to bus stops in the Jensen area. The problems are not unique to the Jensen as most outlying areas are experiencing the same dilemma. no Wilkerson replaces Larris Hunting. Runners compete in Marathon Vernal runners finish 2nd and 4th in Payson, Utah. See Page 12. bock burner the mine construction operation and the workforce will trickle to six employees who will be located at the site. "We will be back," Pratt said. "You will see oil produced at the White Kiver project, and it would be that which is seeping through the walls. "But for now the project will be put on the back burner," he said. Pratt urged the area to get behind oil shale projects in the area and the key to their development is a healthy Synthetic Fuels Corporation. Geokinetics has been a leader in oil shale development, he said. A small "mom and pop" operation, it has proven pro-ven its technology, they have the financial finan-cial backing, now they are waiting on the SFC. "They can go forward, and you should be there to help," he said. Cottonwood Wash has reapplied for support from the SFC and Paraho is down but not out, he said in assessment assess-ment of the other oil shale projects proposed for Utah. In assessing the contribution of White River, Bob Nicholson, city and county planner, said that in 1974 White River's owner companies of Phillips, Sun, and Sohio paid the federal government $72 million to lease Tracts Ua and Ub in southeastern Uintah County. Because of legal question regarding title to the land, the $72 million was deposited in an escrow account. The Two men arrested on sexual assault charge Two area men have been arrested ar-rested by the Uintah County Sheriff's Office and charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated ag-gravated sexual assault in connection connec-tion with an incident that occurred last week. In the early morning hours Friday, Fri-day, Aug. 31, a resident from the Gusher area contacted the Uintah County Sheriff's Office and informed in-formed them that a 32 year old woman at his residence claimed to have been raped by two unknown males. After a five-day investigation by Deputy Carlos Reed and Det. Sgt. Manuel Cantu, Uintah County Sheriff's Department, two the money was released in 1981, the $72 million plus interest has grown to $124 million of which Utah received $49 million the balance going to the federal government. The Utah Legislature allocated $35 million to the State Community Impact Im-pact Board to allocate on a low interest loan basis. The other $14 million was retained by the state for a nest egg. The the last three years, entities within Uintah County have received approximately $23.4 million from the State Community Impact Board of which $1.8 million has been in the form of grants and the remaining $21.5 million in low interest loans. "Not all of the money received by Uintah County came from the bonus money," Nicholson said, "as the state impact board also received money from oil royalties of which Uintah County has historically been the largest provider. "Nevertheless, Uintah County benefited substantially from the bonus money paid by White River's owner companies." In the past three years, White River has made cash donations totaling approximately ap-proximately $19,000 to various groups and causes in the Vernal area, and approximately ap-proximately $10,000 in the Salt Lake City area. Charles Henderson presented to members of the White River staff plaques pla-ques carved in wqod, a momento of "thanks" for their contributions to the area. After accepting his plaque, Pratt Continued on page 2 suspects were arrested Tuesday, Sept. 4. Arrested and charged in the incident are William Riley Murray, 25, of the Roosevelt area and Keith Bussell, 22, of Gusher. Both have been charged with aggravated ag-gravated sexual assault and aggravated ag-gravated kidnapping. The charges are first degree felonies. The pair are currently incarcerated in the Uintah county Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail each. Murray and Bussell were arraigned ar-raigned in 7th Circuit Court before Judge Whitney D. Hamond, Wednesday morning Sept. 5. A preliminary hearing has not been set. Naples adds new member to council Barbara Wilkerson has been sworn in as the most recent member of the Naples City Council. She replaces Larris Lar-ris Hunting who resigned from tne position in July. Hunting vacated the council seat to accept a position with Utah Job Service Ser-vice in Price, Utah. He was formerly the manager of Job Service in Vernal. Mrs. Wilkerson was sworn in as a council member during their regular meeting Wednesday, Sept. 5. She currently cur-rently lives in High Country Estates and is active in several projects in the community. She is a Caldwell, Idaho native and has lived in the Vernal area for three years. Mrs. Wilkerson attended Boise State college where she studied engineering. In addition to teaching Sunday School at the First Baptist Church in Vernal, Mrs. Wilkerson is also treasurer of the Ladies Petroleum Club, a member of the Chamber of Commerce transportation committee and is a block captain for a Neighborhood Watch Program in High countrv Estates. Continued on page 2 RBBHHHnni High School rodeo Basin rodeo contestants finish in ground style. See page 4. L U JL Jl. u J J. -i .J. - ( t - ; J |