OCR Text |
Show B6 Vernal Express Wednesday, February 26, 2003 5)(D)E1 Utte Utes try out for fey compare soccer the Utes. Last year, we were only the Jake McKeachnie works on ball handling skills at soccer practice. second Uintah team ever to reach the quarter finals in state play, senMcKeachnie said. With our iors coming back this year, were shooting for either first or second place in Region 10. Unfortunately lor Uintah soccer fans, the Utes 1 Uintah Commission County approved a conditional permit for Basin Uintah Motorsports Association to build a motocross track in the Honda Hills. Mike Slaugh. the president of Basin Uintah Motorsports Association (UBMA), a organization to promote amateur motorsports in the Basin, presented a plan for a motocross track to be built in the Honda Hills to Planning non-prof- and Zoning Wednesday night. Dusty Morris and Jerry Morris have offered to buy about 30 acres of land in the Honda Hills to donate for the UBMA track, if the County Commission will approve the plans. The plan had to meet w ith Planning and Zoning standards as well as standards required by the Health Department. Slaugh presented a plan that met with all requirements. UBMA will supply bottled water to meet the water services requirement and portable toilet facilities to meet the restroom requirement. Food services will be provided b outside contractors who will have to provide their own facilities such as a trailer. has volunteered to supply trash cans and dumpsters to be placed strategically around the track to control waste. Slaugh said as there is little fire danger when dealing with motorcycles, there will only be fire extinguishers in the pits and at the starting line. Security will be provided by volunteer Uintah County Sheriff deputies, many of whom are members of UBMA. Sheriff Rick Hawkins gave his approval for the officers to volunteer. Slaugh said. Because the track will be a non permanent facility. UBMA will have to apply for a mass gathering permit 30 day s pnor to any race. The plan for the track provides for ambulance required designated parking, fencing around the track to keep spectators off the track and required exits. The plan does not provide for bleachers, as UBMA plans to use the natural terrain for off-dut- y now. If the facility becomes permanent. Slaugh said UBMA would borrow bleachers from Western Park for races, returning them when the race weekend is over. Gold Cross has volunteered to provide ambulance services during races, free of charge. UBMA has also applied for SI million liability insurance and SI 0.000 fire insurance Perry through Insurance. The plan also includes separate parking for spectators and competitors, There would be no lighting at I, 1 the track, so the track could only be used until dusk. A major concern for citizens who live in the area around the Honda Hills dont play many home games in the the ice preseason period. Following breaker tournament in Moab, the Utes will be at 4A Payson on March 11, then in Pleasant Grove on March 19. Uintah will finally host their first home game on March 21 against Union. Coach McKeachnie said they are hoping their new soccer field will have strong enough sod to open the season on. It is located just west of the Uintah baseball field and north of the football stadium. tack pDaim approved Mottociross By Mandi Oaks Express Writer . orctflcoirs Safouirdlay Athletes interested in trying out for a position on the Uintah High School soccer team completed a week of conditioning last week and began showing their skills to the coaching staff this week. Jared Coach According to McKeachnie, 43 athletes will be competing for approximately 30 positions. We've got II seniors coming back from last year. Coach McKeachnie said So from that were looking strong. aspect, Many of them have been playing together since their Utile League days." Alter the coaches make their selections this week, the Utes will prepare for an early season tournament in Moab, scheduled for March 7 and 8. Uintah will play North Sanpete on Friday then take on Moab on Saturday. When asked to assess Region 10 this year, strength McKeachnie said he expected Judge Memorial to be a factor but didn't want to look past Wasatch. It's interesting. Wasatch went all the way to the finals last year before to Ogden." losing McKeachnie said. They lost 13 seniors from that team but they have been so strong in football and basketball this year it will be hatd to (ell what to expect. lie doesn't know if the same kids who accomplished the football and basketball feats will be involved in the Wasp soccer proHither Coach way, gram. McKeachnie is optimistic about tack aircdl dust control. For now, has offered use of their water is truck, as the track will be a temporary facility for the time being. The track would be periodically wetted down to maintain dust control. If the track becomes permanent, said a sprinkling system Slaugh would be installed. Dusty Morris, one of the men who will purchase the land for the track, said UBMA's intent in building the track is to create control and a more livable situation for everybody." One resident who has lived near the Honda Hills for years agreed with Morris and said he and his wife already deal with the dust and noise from current use of the Honda Hills and hope the track will improve the existing problems. Motocross and supercross are now the second fastest growing motorsports and spectator sports out there, Slaugh said. UBMA plans to use the growing popularity of the sports to Vernal's advantage. Slaugh said once the track is built, UBMA plans to hold one local race per month. Utah Sportsmen Eventually, Riders Association (USRA) races will be held at the track. UBMA would be lucky to get one USRA date in 2004. However, once those races start taking place in Vernal, Slaugh said they will attract many people to Vernal and benefit the economy. As motocross is a family sport, Slaugh estimated that every rider would bring two people with him and each individual would spend around $133 per weekend. The hope is that once people visit Vernal for the races, they Mil find other things of interest in the area and come back again. Around 1300 racers competed in the last race held at the St. George track and about 800 competitors raced in the last race in Delta. The Vernal track would most likely attract high numbers of racers as well, due to the location. Slaugh said several Colorado motorsports organizations have shown interest in a Vernal track, as well as the large organization in Rock Springs, Wyo. There have also been several motorcycle shops out of Salt Lake City that have expressed interest in a track in Vernal. i r Morris and Slaugh were both quick to clear up any concern about the types of people the races would attract. Slaugh assured the concerned citizens that the riders who travel to races are very serious about racing and would treat the track and surrounding area with respect. Amateur motocross is a family oriented sport, Slaugh added. Ninety percent of the racers you see w ill be father and son. Absolutely no alcohol would be allowed at the track, and the deputies who volunteer for security will be there to help enforce that rule. Slaugh mentioned the racers have always been great in Delta , H i Ck JQfA v:? f'i) go iSSnz j Basketball Academic selected All-State- rs half-time- at the state s bas- ketball tournament Feb. 21, Carly Gillman and Dustin Bunderson were presented w nh Academic honors. The top 10 academic athletes in both boys and girls divisions were All-Sta- te honored. Dustin is the son of Kent and Nan Bunderson. and cames a 4 0 GPA. Dustin plans to attend 400-met- er 400-met- Public can support wildlife The impact of hunters and fishermen in the United States has created what are arguably the best wildlife management and conservation programs in the world. Fees that these outdoor-oriente- d people have paid to pursue their interests and the public political support that they have generated formed the historic basis for virtually all North American wildlife management. They continue to provide the major support for wildlife conservation. Others who do not hunt or fish can also help support wildlife management through a Nongame Tax Checkoff. On line 23c of the 2003 Utah State Income Tax form, Utahns can write in a dollar amount they would like to provide to the Utah Nongame Wildlife Fund. The fund is used to help animals, birds and fish that are not generally pursued by hunters and anglers. In 2002, donations totaled $48,344. Most went to help native fish, amphibians, reptiles and mollusks. Species that benefited included Columbia spotted frog, least chub, boreal toad, roundtail chub, bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker, pond snail, Utah milksnake and Utah mountain kingsnake. According to Matthew Andersen, the nongame tax checkoff money given in 2002 provided his personnel with funding they needed to write proposals and grants that allowed the Division to obtain additional state and federal funds. Andersen is the native aquatic species coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). The tax checkoff funds are sources that grow additional conservation program funds,Andcrsen said. In other words, each dollar supplied by the Nongame Wildlife Fund program produces many more dollars by allowing us to solicit funds from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other state and federal agencies. The efforts allow' Andersen and his staff to conduct conservation activities for native species. Though not as visible as field work or other conservation activities, securing these funds is critical for the field work and other activities conducted by the native aquatic species program. Without the additional funds the nongame checkoff funds provide, many of these activities couldnt be funded and conducted, Andersen added. Lady Utes hit the diamond Carly Gillman and Dustin Bunderson Dunng See Track on page B2 Uintah The High School track and field team has competed in indoor events two already and are preparing for the Western Indoor States this Invitational Saturday. The event will be held at the Olympic Oval in Kearns and will feature schools from 1A through 5A. Javelin and discus competition will not be included. Weve got some good prospects this year, said Coach Shane Lance. He said that the indoor season is not really an easy time to get a good feeling for how team members or other schools will perform throughout the season. The indoor season is pretty tough, Dustin White makes an approach to the Lance said. pole vaulting pit. Everyone is out of said that Skyler Massey has already shape and working hard to produce cleared 12 feet in a practice session. but it is also a good warm up the state qualifying height is Since period for the outdoor season com1 1 feet 9 inches, Massey is expecting up." ed to be a favorite this year. He has Among the athletes that Lance also been invited to compete in has been keeping an eye on are runAustralia this summer. Matt ners John Shakespeare, Following the tournament this Hunting and Adam Hunting. the Utes will spend their weekend, In each of the earlier indoor time getting ready for their first meets, they have all produced peroutdoor meet. They will compete at sonal best times. Shakespeare comWasatch on March 19. Lance said petes in the mile event. Matt he doesn't know what to expect Hunting has done well in the from the Wasps since they have a while his brother Adam, a new coaching staff. However, he is sophomore, has drawn attention in enthusiastic about Uintahs potenthe sprint and tial in Region 10 this year. run. We only lost 2 seniors from "Judge Memorial and Park City last years team and have had lot of are always tough," Lance said. new people also come out, Lance But I think we have a good said. chance in both the boys and girls In the pole vault event, Lance teams to beat both schools. either Brigham Young University or Utah State University prior to going on an LDS mission. Carly is the daughter of Lyle and Lori Gillman and also caries a 4.0 GPA. She plans on attending USU and majoring in recreation. Both of these scholar athletes received Academic honors in Cross Country as well All-Sta- This week, tryouts opened for the Lady Ute softball team. Coach Tony Coward said 30 girls attended to compete for 20 available positions. Among the 30 athletes are 6 seniors from last years team. So far. Coach Cloward likes what he is seeing. I really think we have to be die front runners in our region this year, Coward said. We were the youngest team in the region last year and so many of the other schools graduated a lot of seniors. Among those who lost several players were Union, Judge and Park City. Coward said that Judge lost their pitching ace while the Lady Utes will still have their strength in Jolay Guffey. He said that Wasatch had a young team last season and he expects them to be stiffer competition this year. Coaching with Cloward are Ron Guffey. Nancy Birchell, John Michele Mansfield and Tabbv, Cody Calder. Mansfield and Calder will be volunteering their time. Mansfield will assist in coaching running while Calder w ill help keep stats for the team. Guffey will return from last season as assistant head coach and will also help coach pitchers and catchers while Birchell also returns to coach infielding and cover trainer duties. Coward is excited about his new partner John Tabby. John used to coach at Union but will be with us this year, Coward said. Tabby will look after hitting instruction. Among the seniors who are attending the tryouts are a pitching and catching duo that Coward is looking forward to watching. He credited catcher Kara Warby as a great offensive threat Coach Coward rates Jolay Guffey as one of the best pitchers in 3 A league play if not the best He said that Bear River and Grantsville each have strong pitching talent as well, but he has faith that Guffey will surface on top. Coward wont have long to wait after selecting his team this week. The Lady Utes will play nine games over the first two weeks of play. They will first play on March 11 in Roosevelt against North Sanpete. Varsity play will begin at 4.30 p.m. while junior varsity will begin at 3 p.m. On Thursday, March II, the Lady Utes play in Cedar City for a quick stop on their way to the ice breaker tournament in St. George. After playing Canyon View in Cedar City, Uintah will play five games in the SL George touma-menWhen they return, they will travel to Emery for a game the following Tuesday, then finally host 4A Hillcrest in Vernal on March 22. L POOR |