Show Ten rea top stories in ia 73 The top 10 io news Dews stories having the greatest impact and creating the most interest in iD the Vernal area during 1973 have been beeD chosen choseD and summarized by the Vernal Express staff as follows FOUR KILLED SEVEN INJURED IN BUS CRASH ON SLICK HIGHWAY A Uintah School District suburban bus filled filled with students att attending the New Life Training Center in iD Vernal VerDa 1 collided headon with a flat bed truck The Te Th accident Dt occurred oc d March Maich 12 about 9 am a.m. during a brief but heavy snowstorm The woman driving and aDd three students were killed in instantly by the crushing ng impact 13 miles west of ol here on Highway U. U S S. S 40 Fatally injured inured at the scene were Maggie N Blackwater 48 Randlett driver of the bus i Stacy Hamilton 6 8 daughter of Mr and Mrs Floyd Hamilton Roosevelt Newman Ty Ridle Ridley 7 son and Mrs Elliott Ridle Ridley Whiterocks and Alvin Alyin Lynn LYM is 15 grandson of or Minnie Ft Duchesne Seven other students were inured injured three critically ASHLEY CREEK DAMAGES CANAL SYSTEM The entire water system of ol Ashley Valley was threatened early JuDe June 2 2 when Ashley Creek just above the diversion of the Highline and aDd Ashley Upper canals decided to change its course course and form a anew anew anew new ch channel Mel to the west Major damages were suffered suffered suffered suf suf- suf- suf by the Ashley Upper Canal which will take an aD estimated to to repair reported Dave river commissioner on OD Ashley Creek The Highline Canal suffered minor damages Vernal City's inch 16 water line was uncovered uncovered uncovered un un- un- un covered for over 60 feet and was dangerously threatened and will have to be supported and aDd covered back Damage t to the county road was excessive washing out two complete cuts through the road and another section washing out nearly half the road for several hundred feet 1972 BUILDING PERMITS NEARLY HIT HITIS IS 15 5 MILLION An all time time record of ol nearly 5 15 million dollars in building permits was issued in Vernal City and aDd Uintah County during 1972 reported Lewis Abegglen building and zoning director for Vernal City and Uintah County The final report for 1972 showed a total of or building permits issued for estimated cost of construction SHELL OIL SEES CLIMAX TO DUCHESNE OIL BOOM This year will wID climax Shell Oil Company's oil drilling activities in iD Altamont Duchesne Altamont-Duchesne- Duchesne- Duchesne Roosevelt area area with a 4 million dollar payroll stated Thomas F F. F Hart g general Deral manager Rocky Mountain Division of Shell Oil Company In 1970 Shell had people Inthe Inthe in inthe the area with a payroll of around a million dollars Today that has increased to persons with a payroll of 14 million stated Mr Hart After tl this s year the activity will decline rapidly to where it will level off by 1976 1970 to around to p Shell Oil personnel with a a 2 million payroll for at t least the next 20 20 years STAUFFER TO INCREASE PHOSPHATE PRODUCTION Before an impressive gathering of ol alli allied business officials officials' and aDd local community leaders and aDd guests February 13 at the Lamplighter Inn H H. H 0 O. O Thomas senior sel or vice president of the Stauffer Chemical Company in iD the west made the announcement of a a major expansion of the company's phosphate rock mil mining Dg operation near Vernal The expansion will wID mean meant about 40 percent more production out of or the vast phosphate deposits at the Vernal VerDa 1 plant stated Mr Thomas bomas The time has finally come ome to get together in iD the area and expand the operation The future of Vernal looks good stated Mr Thomas UINTAH UTES TAKE SIXTH STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP February 24 the Uintah High School wrestling team acquired top position at the state tournament finals for the sixth consecutive year Wrestling has become a traditional greatness with the Utes The large number of local fans and the determined spirit of the team members has been the obvious factor in the long winning streak of the Uintah wrestlers Three first place championships three t third ird and aDd andone andone one ne fourth were taken by the Ute wrestlers of the 11 U who entered the state tournament COUNTY VALUATION JUTS HITS RECORD ill 41 MILLION Uintah County's 1973 assessed valuation jumped 6 e million without receiving additional assets in fact state assessed Continued on Page 5 Ten top storks stories Continued from Page i 1 properties were down 18 15 million due mainly to decreasing oil activity In the southern part of the county according to official tax evaluation figures compiled complied by Uintah County Assessor Don M M. Walker and the state property tax commission The inflated Increase of ol the county's valuation this' this year is due to the state reappraisal program which has Increased the assessed value of the county property to near the 20 percent figure Some property reportedly I has been increased as much as percent in the new reappraisal ASHTON'S SHOPPING MALL PLANS DOWNTOWN STORES Plans were revealed October October Oct ober 4 for a million dollar shopping mall complex connecting to the present Ashton Brothers Stewart and Ralph Ashton stated that the Ashton Shopping Mall would occupy nearly two two- thirds of 01 a city block bordering on Vernal Avenue and First South Streets running through to the back of the present Main Street store FEDERAL OIL SHALE LANDS APPROVED FOR LEASING Approval of ol the prototype oil shale lea leasing program on federal lands in Utah Colorado and ana Wyoming November 28 by the Interior Department was accepted with open arms by Utah's congressional representatives The announcement of tol th the lease sale which will lead to this country's first commercial commercial- scale oil production from shale was made by Interior Interi Secretary Rogers C. C B Marton A k A- prop proposed sed prototype oil shale leasing program in Utah Colorado and Wyom Wyoming would create creat new hew jobs Job and million annually in tax revenues but could result in insignificant insignificant j significant environmental consequences noted Senator Frank E E. E Moss Senator Bennett said construction of the Utah plant plant- which will take three years could begin as early as 1977 The plant is expected to be producing barrels t of I oil nl per day by 1980 through the u use of or underground r nd mining m alet ir u 1 OIL iL SHALE PROGRESSO PROGRESS O OUTLINED OUTLINED FOR SENATOR AR An n overflow crowd filled the Uintah County building courtroom September 24 to listen to t various experts discuss s the problems associated with th the production of oil oll from oil oil oU shale at the request of Senator Frank E. E Moss Mass who conducted t the i IA day seminar Senator Moss is a representative of ol the Senate Commerce's Committee Committe t to the Sen Senate te Joint Committee ori on Fu Fuels Ja and Energy Senator Moss Mosi stated th that t the present energy crisis makes kes it necessary to develop all of ol our olD potential energy resources to become sufficient self i Homey cha chairman of rl the Ute Tribe Business CoI Committee told of the Ute Tribes Tribe viewpoint ol of oil shale leasing on reservation lands landsi He stated they had bad water rights res reserved for lor future developments and felt f lt the environment e controls must be strictly loll followed The U Ute e Tribe ai ii is interested in oil shale leasing i but I has not taken any steps toward oil dl shale lan land leasing g. g |