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Show aw m A2 Opinion and Commentary Wednesday, March 12, 2003 PUBLIC FORUM Homesick LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What is your opinion? The Express welcomes ters from its readers concerning any subject pertinent to the Uintah Basin. There are no restrictions as to contents, if not libelous or vindictive and of reasonable length (two typewritten double spaced pages). Letters must be submitted exclusively to the Express and bear the writers full name, signa ture, phone number and address. Letters for the sole purpose of expressing thanks to individuals or groups will not be printed in the forum. Letters may at or through be mailed, faxed at editor vernal com. The name or names of those submitting letters must appear on all published letters. All letters are subject to condensation. Letters express the opinion of the writer and are not necessarily the opinion of the Express Editor. let- 789-869- by Jody 0 School choice Dear Editor, Uintah School District is giving parents, grandparents and concerned citizens the opportunity to revisit the idea of neighborhood schools. This will take place in the Vernal Middle School auditorium on March 20 at 7 p.m. The Uintah District PTA would like to remind the public to come express your opinion. Please don't let the decisions of pus schrxrl boards decide what you choose to do now. Those boards did what they felt was lest, but we need to give this board an idea of what the citienry feels is best. What a waste it will be if only a few people show up to express their concerns. BARBARA IIA.Si.EM District PTA President Dear Editor, Bev Evans continues again this year to do gun owners the greatest injustice. While her legislation, SB25I is well intentioned, it has language that is so vague that courts could use it in the future to shut down hunting and recreational shooting activities over large areas of the slate. This bill deals with shooting in the direction of buildings and vehicles from any distance in a manner that threatens the safety or property of others. Such ai tivities are alieady illegal. Existing laws are carefully worded to prevent prosecutorial abuse, SB 251 is not! Last year, gun owners would have been better off if I vans had stayed at home. This year looks to be no better. We need to be more aware of what our legislators are doing to us. We need to look for a replacement lor Evans in the next election. She just doesnt seem to realie what she is doing. Or does she? I IK LATHAM Vernal Airport Dear Editor, pilot and FBO (frixed ffty'Bcrator) at the airam concerned about thj-tu- re of our airport. port, Ihere are two public meetings rofinput on the subject. One on Thursday, March 20, in Naples and one in Vernal on Friday March 21. It is important for interested people to be present at one of these meetings, or to write letters expressing their opinion since this will affect all taxpayers in the city and county. It has been stated that the present runways are not long enough to serve about 1500 aircraft per year that use this airport. That is over three per day. This seem to be a gross exaggeration, since presently this airport serves the need of 97 percent of all aircraft that land here with the present runways. There certainly arent three per day that have a problem with it. Maybe three per month would be more accurate, and those have Itecn able to adjust their fuel load or time of departure to avoid a problem. It has also been stated that an airport on Sunshine Bench or McCoy Rat would have less problems with fog or cross wind. When the fog is in, my experience is that only the highest part of Asphalt Ridge is high enough to be above the fog, and then, not all the time. Sunshine Bench won't accommodate a i ross winds runway for the strong west winds we get. Now let's look at the financial side. We have an air-H-rt that handles 97 percent of the aircraft that want to come here. We have a cross wind runway for the lighter planes to use when the wind get up to 30 knots or higher (and it docs). We have an airline terminal. Why build a new one? Runways and mads for a new airport would cost millions. How much is going to have to be paid for by you, the local taxpayer? D'tes the city or county have the extra money to spend on something it doesnt need? In conclusion, we have one of the best and most convenient airports in the State of Utah, why dont we keep it, improve it, and use those millions for something we really need. Or better still, let the taxpayers keep some of it. What do you think? DON OWEN n 1 Vernal L. Boren) Itll be six years gone by when I pull into that dirt road driveway to stay. And perhaps Ill come home a little more cultured, a little less naive and toting a bachelors degree. But they still play country music back here, and I still say, yall and "oh my heck. And I still remember how to ride a horse a little better than I can walk on my own two feet. days in Kuwait, waiting My husband works back him to on a divided country up a little, to take a stand and make a decision. And though I am not alone (1 still have that twin brother of mine to kick around) I am a little lonely and that gets me thinking of home, the only place Ive ever belonged. If youve never left our little comer of the world and state, get away for a minute or year or two to see what the world is all about. You may not like it, but youll appreciate our little seven (maybe eight now?) traffic Rodeo, the smell of lights, the Dinosaur Round-U- p fresh-cu- t k and our hay, newspaper with its know. stories of people you actually The Navy was good to me. It was an experience I hold dear to my heart. The people I have known- - the ones at sea, the ones who perished in the Pentagon, and the ones who followed my lead' and stepped back into civilian shoes- - are friends you cant find anywhere else. Ill never let them go and well be connected in a way you cant put into words for the rest of our lives. A year and half from now, I'll drive across the states one last time to make a home and life in a town that doesnt forget who you are and where youve come from. Ill raise my kids on the farm that I grew up on, where they can learn to drive my dad's beat up truck through the pastures, where they can bail hay at midnight, fish on Sundays, and take a day off from school for the deer hunt. Ill tell them stories of of my Navy days, of their dad fighting a war in the Middle East, and of the city slickers Ive met along the way. We may be a sheltered community. We may wear our hats with our tuxes and our boots may be more comfortable than our Nikes. But we know the meaning of all we need an honest days work, the power of God do is look out our back window at the mountains cutting across the horizon, and we know nothing of being superficial or hypocritical. More importantly, now folk know how to back our men days, we small-tow- n and women in uniform making the ultimate sacrifice for our country and what it stands for. I dont suppose you see too many protesters strutting up and down Main Street. 1 dont suppose you ever will. If you ever find yourself in Virginia within the next couple years, remember yoy havq a nejghhijir hijre. The,,) city will never hold or change me. I'll, always bft a red-',- , headed country bumpkin from Vernal, and you can knock on my door anytime. , Gas prices Shock at the gas pump continues as prices continue to raise throughout the country and in the Uintah Basin. Utah was among 17 states to reach record high prices over the last 30 days. The average price for regular, unleaded gasoline in Utah increased 13 cents in the last month to $1.69 per gallon. This is a 56 cent increase from last year. Vernal average gas price is $1.70 per ! gallon. . . The nationwide average price of slf-serv-e regular increase from last month gasoline is $1.70, a nine-ceincreaise from last year. This price is just and a 1 .6 cents shy of matching the highest price ever recorded by AAA. The record high was $1,718 per gallon reached May 15, 2001. AAA has monitored gasoline nt 52-ce- nt prices since mid-197- 4. The concern about a possible war with Iraq, high crude oil prices (about $37 per barrel), the resulting low inventories and the recent cold weather in the East are all causes for the high gasoline prices, said Rolyane Fairclough, AAA Utah spokeswoman. (ISSN Steven R. Walti !..... Virginia Harrington R. Patrick Bostick f. Richard Harrington Tom Leverton Tern Black Tasha J Robinson . .. '..... Editor end Publisher Feature Writer i .Public Notice Advertising ....Advertising Circulation ft Classified Ad Advertwng and Layout FAX Phone editor O vernal oom Website www vernal com DEADLINES News Display Advertising Classified Advertising Pubtic Notices Monday 12 noon ....... Monday Provos average price of gasoline increased nine cents to $1.68 per gallon. All the other cities surveyed have double digit increases. Ogdens average price increased 15 cents over the past month to $1 .68. Moab, Salt Lake city and the Vernal motorist all experienced increases. Moab motorists now pay $1.77 per gallon Salt Lake e is Citys average price for regular, unleaded, $1.65. Vernals average price is $1.70.. St. George motorists experiences the largest average price increase, 17 cents and now pay $1.70 per gallon. 16-ce- nt Published every Wednesday for $24 per year In shopping are and $36 per year out o( (hopping area within ttate and $39 per year out of date within USA by the Vernal Express Publishing Company, 54 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal. Utah 64078. Periodicals postaga paid at Vernal, Utah 84078 POSTMASTER Send address change to VERNAL EXPRESS, PO. Box 1000, Vernal Utah 84078 S Monday 5 Monday 3 p.m. pm. pm. ' $ IT'S SAIMT PATRICK'S DAY. AT SCHOOL ii . af a self-serv- The surrounding states have also experienced doubledigit increases for the price of regular, unleaded, self- -' serve gasoline this past month, Nevadas motorist now pays $1.97 per gallon, a 21 cent increase. Idahos average price jumped 16 cents to $1.74. Montanas price increased 18 center to $1.73. Wyomings price increased 15 center to $1.67. Arizonas motorists experienced a 32 cent increase to $1.83. The high price of crude and the start of the conversion from winter grade fuels to the more expensive summer blends makes it difficult to see any price relief ahead at the gas pumps, said Rairclough. 4 7 Virus... Continued from page AI M , .u 7 'I: '. Q: Can I get infected with West Nile virus by caring for an infected horse? A: West Nile virus is transmitted by infectious mosquitoes. There is n no documented evidence of n transor mission of West Nile virus. Normal veterinary infection control precautions should be followed when caring for a horse suspected to have this or any viral infection. Can a horse infected with Q: West Nile virus infect horses in neighboring stalls? A: No. There is nq doqpQierQd,, evidence that West Nile virus Is transmitted between iprses. However, horses with suspected West Nile virus should be isolated from mosquito bites, if at all possible. Infected people and horses are dead end hosts (the infection ends person-to-perso- animal-to-perso- My horse is vaccinated eastern against equine encephalitis (EEE), west equine encephalitis (WEE), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE). Will these vaccines protect my horse against West Nile virus infection? A: No. EEE, WEE, and VEE belong to another family of viruses for which there is no Q: The prices in the Utah cities surveyed by AAA have 0892-109- !. ifi there). conuttoriue to cMmfo all increased over the past month. Express 4 oncc-a-wee- Gun legislation As L Hadden (a.k.a. Jody WHERE DO YOl0 THINK YOU'RE &OING- - WITH THAT.' cross-protectio- n. Can I vaccinate my horse against West Nile virus infection? A: Fort Dodge laboratories have produced a vaccine intended to aid in the prevention of the disease in horses. This vaccine is restricted to use by veterinarians in those states where use of the product have been approved by the state's regulatory authorities. Utah and Colorado are approved states and the vaccine can be obtained from your local veterinarian. Q: What other precautions can be taken to protect animals from this virus? A: Minimize your animals' exposure to mosquitoes, where possible. Q: Does the virus affect dogs and cats? A: It is unlikely that dogs or cats will show signs of clinical illness, although any mammal or bird could potentially be exposed to the virus through mosquito bites. A survey of blood samples from dogs and cats in the New York City epidemic area showed a low infection rate. Q: Can an infected hone be treated for West Nile virus? A: For diagnosis and treatment in horses, contact your local veterinarian. To have more of your questions about West Nile Virus answered, as well as . questions concerning Equine Infectious Enemia and required Coggins tests, come to the Western Park on Tuesday, March 18 at 7 pm. Meet with local veterinarians, Dr. Doug Murphy, Dr. John Mathis, Dr. Shelia Beckstcad and Uintah County Mosquito Abatement director, Dr. Romney. Q: wv Jt, ; V ,,y . Correctly identify the location of this grist those who know their community well. mill burr to Do you know be listed among your community? Citizens who know their commuare: Elaine Hall, Jesse Anderson, Dennis Vincent, Maijean Murray, Mary Snow, Annave Swett, Griffin Chure, Karen Gross, Jeff Thompson, Ruby Anderson, Candy Kris Holmes, Jeremy Smith, Marlene Louise Gerber, Holfeltz, Martin, Terrie White, Wendy Gamboa, Jack Niemand, Ty Chew, Mathew Wilkins, Shawn Wilkins, Maribeth Reynolds, Alyx Lawson, Janessa Timothy, Lory Edrington, Jean Holfeltz, Bill Hall, Kevin nity Kuhr, 11a Peterson, Alice Lemons and John Eskelson. These individuals all correctly identified the picture of the dinosaur in front of the Dinosaur Quarry Gift Shop in last weeks edition. If you can correctly identify the location of this week's photo of a grist mill burr, call the Vernal 1 Express at by 5 p.m. on 17 to be included Monday, March in the list of residents who know their community well. 789-351- Deserado Mine honored For safety Miners at the Deserado Mine near Rangely, have won two key awards . from the Colorado Mining Association and the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology. The safety award was given for working 359,696 manhours with only one lost time accident and improved safety performance for a one year period ending July 31, 2002. This citation also recognizes the mines overall improving safety record since 1997. Accepting the award was Deserado Mine Safety Director, Greg Mele. ' The Deserado Mine was also recognized for outstanding efforts in reclaiming land disturbed by preexisting mining operations. The area is adjacent to a stream and focused on reestablishment of the approximate original canyon contours. Topsoii was imported to the site and several reseeding operations completed to ensure for a successful revegetation of the area impacted. Environmental Engineer, Scott Wanstedt, accepted the award for the mine. Mine Manager, Alan Hillard observed, Mine safety continues as a key priority, but were also doing our best to be good stewards of our environment. These awards recognize the excellent efforts by our miners who not only work hard, but with a sense of responsibily. The Deserado Mine is operated by Blue Mountain Energy, a wholly-owne- d subsidiary of Deseret Power based in South Jordan. Coal produced at Deserado fuels the Bonanza Power Plant near Vernal. Deseret Power is a major supplier of electricity serving over 42,000 customers in Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona. Deseret also provides significant power to the Utah Municipal Power Agency and several Utah municipal power companies. Deseret was established in 1978 by six rural electric associations including Moon Lake based in Roosevelt Electric, POOR |