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Show Letters to the editor High gas prices Editor: I would like to know why gasoline prices in Cedar City and surrounding areas have not declined to current national levels. News broadcasts for months have . indicated that a present oil glut exists in the United States of America, (certainly (cer-tainly Utah falls within the United States boundaries). Prices of below $1 a gallon have been reported in many parts of the country. Just the other day . I filled my truck up at a self-service station in Cedar City I paid $1.30 a gallon for 25 gallons of gas which came to $32.50, and no extra service was ' included. If the price was down as mentioned, $7.50 would be saved on 25 ) gallons of gas. This is a considerable savings, especially for those that are traveling on vacation or transporting goods and services from points both near and far from Cedar City. While at this same ' station, I was confronted by two Phoenix, Ariz., residents who we're transporting . their livestock in a rather large truck with trailers attached, with well bred horses aboard. (They also wore hats like the ones we wear around here.) They became rather beligerent upon the discovery that I was a local resident, who was dressed similarity. They asked me "what in hell's name is wrong with you Mormons, we paid 98 cents a gallon for gas in Phoenix, and you can bet we'll not stop for gas or anything else in Cedar City, again. We'll haul our gas with us if we have to! I only hope that those who reside in the Cedar City Chamber of Commerce can read and ponder this situation. Cedar City has for a long time depended upon business from those who travel the 1-15 Interstate which links us to the real worlds. Why can't we reduce gas prices to reflect the real world prices, and encourage the tourists, travelers and local residents as well. Does price fixing exist in Cedar City? If so, who benefits and who suffers? Name withheld upon request Support thanked A special thanks for the excellent turn out at Thursday's city counci1 meeting; a cold snowy night and ' .s room was packed. Especially appreciated ap-preciated were the expressions of growing support and encouragement to continue working toward municipal power in Cedar City. A word to my accusors howling unreliable figures. I stand behind my figures as explained and printed in this, and the March 24 Iron County Record. I dare not present any figures not coming from UP&L or bearing the stamp of reputable engineering. The body of sure knowledge about UP&L's operation in Cedar City and southern Utah is growing. Other information, in-formation, engineers must estimate and derive from a calculated model. We now know that you pay Utah Power & Light an average of $448,242 per month in Cedar City. That's $5,378,900 per year you pay. To many this was the most important economic development news coming from the council meeting. This money would be coming to Cedar City and you, and not going to UP&L, if Cedar owned its own municipal electric system. There are only four expenses your municipal electric system would take from this $5,378,900 per year. (1) Wholesale power costs which the The Iron County Record if published every Thursday by HnnMeld Publisher!, Inc., 59 Norht 100 West (P.O. Box 568), Cedar City, Utah. Second-clasa postage paid at Mar City, Utah, 84720, under postal permit USPS 269-HO. 269-HO. SUBSCRIPTION RATES In edvance: $10.00 per year, Hah residents; $12.00 per year out-of-state residents. DEADLINES: Display advertising-Monday, S p.m.; ilassllied advertising-Tuesday, noon; news material, uesday 10 a.m. For all news and advertising, call 586-202. 586-202. 59 North 100 West P.O. Box 1568 Cedar City, Utah 84720 engineers have given us. (2) Operation, maintenance and equipment costs we can know from other communities similar to Cedar City with their own municipal electric systems. (3) Substations Sub-stations and severence costs have come from calculated estimates of preliminary engineering studies. (4) And a final negotiated distribution system value (cost of lines within the city limits). With respect to (3) and (4), final engineering studies and negotiations are being prepared. From the foregoing information it appears that a Cedar City Power Department could return as much as $500,000 per year to Cedar's general fund, or back to you the customers in the form of lower electric rates. The whole crux is simply do you prefer high priced help to serve you power, or do we have the vision, wisdom, and courage to do it ourselves? Carl L. Palmer Science Fair Editor: : : I recently had the privilege of attending at-tending the Southern Utah Regional Science Fair. I was very excited by the many varied exhibits these talented youth produced. Most refreshing to me was the enthusiasm that these people showed in a purely academic adventure. ad-venture. There were at the fair some 244 exhibitors representing schools from all over south and central Utah and parts of Arizona, Richfield, Monticello, San Juan, South Sevier, Carbon, Hurricane, Delta, Monument Valley, Enterprise, Tuba City, Freedonia and, of course, Dixie (who won the Sweepstakes Award in both the Junior and Senior Divisions). As a life-long resident of Cedar City and with children soon to enter the Cedar Middle School, I was very concerned con-cerned to not find one single exhibit from either the Cedar Middle School or the high school, or for the matter from Iron County. I recognize that the primary motive for the science fair must come from the students and their families, but I would hope that the educational system would inform, encourage and support this type, of activity (as indicated by the number of faculty that accompanied their students from Dixie). I wish to extend my offer of help toward this program and would be very interested in better understanding our schools' position on this matter. E. Richard Cox Free enterprise? Editor: Free enterprise and myself as owner of Cedar Mobile Catering, were dealt unfairly by an uninformed City Council who should have delayed any action until the matter was thoroughly investigated, in-vestigated, as the City Council was preoccupied with an ongoing power issue. Cedar Mobile Catering was originally licensed five years ago as a regular business by Cedar City Corp., as is standard procedure throughout the State of Utah. CMC or any similar business is not and should never be classified as a "peddler," and the City Council should rescind all actions and reference thereof and restore CMC's license to it's original status or regular business, and that no new ordinances be devised to restrict CMC or similar businesses. We do not critize the City Council as its actions were a direct result of pressures from two sources We offer the following truthful explanation: 1. Lack of time due to an important power issue on the agenda. 2. Pressure from an uninformed PTA organization who acted impulsively from semi-information and false information in-formation supplied by Dee El Stapley, who disregarded the cooperative effort made by Mr. and Mrs. Laurito (owners of CMC). This effort was made when Mr. Stapley assumed his new position at the Middle School prior to any complaints about CMC business activities ac-tivities before and after school sessions.. The Lauritos met with Mr. Stapley and expressed their willingness to cooperate with any problem concerning their business activities at the Middle School. They also offered their help in money raising activities. The Laurito's likewise met with Dr. Matheson, principal of the High School and made known their cooperative attitude. Dr. Matheson was a real gentleman and has proven that he was sincere. However, within a few days of the "Stapley meeting," without warning I was summoned to Juvenile Court with a charge by Mr. Stapley, quote, "Contributing "Con-tributing to the delinquincy of minors by parking your truck in such a fashion that it enticed school children to buy from you and therefore caused four children to be tardy." The Judge commented that it was the first time he had been confronted with such a complaint, and suggested that CMC and Mr. Stapley endeavor to settle this matter out in court. Stapley persisted, and CMC had to engage an attorney, at an expense of $135 only to have Stapley withdraw the charges the evening before the trial. Stapley salaried by tax dollars, also uses the tax free service of the County attorney and had no losses. To this date we have had no problems with Cedar High School. I am cooperative and will sit down and discuss this matter with responsible authorities. CMC has suffered financial losses and has gone to considerable expenses to defend himself and feels that the PTA and Mr. Stapley should cooperate and reimburse CMC, as it should have been a City Council responsibility. We hope the City Council will retract and eliminate their responsibility. Fred J. Laurito Cedar Mobile Catering Catering support Editor: For the past year I have watched and listened rather passively to a feud that has gained momentum as it was fueled and fanned until now it appears to be blazing out of control. I wondered what was so fearful about a small catering truck and a new couple (perhaps that is a clue) to our area. How were they an "attractive nuisance" to our children and what is so menacing about them? As my curiosity was piqued, I started to investigate. I took a tour of their home and kitchen. Both were immaculate. im-maculate. The food they prepare is fresh and of best quality. Along with so-called so-called junk foods they, had ample supplies of sandwiches, fruit juices, hot chocolate, etc. I was told they created a hazard at the school. Sudden stops, double parking, and general thoughtlessness and carelessness by parents seemed much more hazardous. I noticed many students coming in late, long after the catering truck had left. If parents are so worried about their children eating junk foods and getting too much sugar, why is there no concern con-cern for the two pop machines already installed for the students to use. Why is the next plan (as soon as the catering truck is out of the way) to install vending machines? What about the 7-11 or the College Store? . As a mother who is concerned with the health and well-being of her children, I could not find anything menacing about the catering truck nor was it so attractive to be considered an attractive nuisance. My one son just left the middle school and one will enter this next year. I did not find that I had anything to fear from the catering truck. The thing that I was most concerned about was the drug problem which many parents have told me does not exist there. I would much rather have my children requent a catering truck operated by honest clean people rather than to get involved with the drug pushers in and around the school. It is our responsibility as parents to train, teach, guide and control our children Not someone else's business particularly if it is an honest business. Even new-comers to the area should be constitutional rights. Let's encourage self-sufficient and responsible people and businesses not drive them out. Connie Downward |