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Show Utah Press Association 467 &tt 300 South Silt Lake City, Utah 84111 Whltfe River wofl hd rows horn SFC, Sohio bocks off Two blows were dealt to the future involvement of the U.S. Synthetic Fuels-Corporation (SFC) in the development of two local oil shale projects, pro-jects, Friday. In Washington, D.C., today the sponsors spon-sors of White River Shale Project, Phillips Petroleum Company, Sohio Sale Oil Company and Sun Shale Oil Company notified the U.S. SFC of their intentions to withdraw their pending request for financial assistance under the Third Solicitation. The sponsors have concluded that further consideration considera-tion and discussion of the request for assistance are not warranted. The sponsors are now evaluating the overall White River Shale Project plans to determine if changes are warranted war-ranted to enhance long term commercial commer-cial viability as well as review the current cur-rent project schedule. While no final decisions have been, made on modification to the project or its overall schedule, the present review of those matters makes it inappropriate to continue further negotiations with the SFC regarding the White River Shale Project. .The sponsors announced that the withdrawal of the White River Shale Project application from the SFC will not interfer with the project's plan to continue with mine access construction construc-tion at its Utah site, 50 miles southeast of Vernal. White River Shale Project will continue with full activities as planned for 1984 and will concurrently concurrent-ly review how best to proceed. Sohio Shale Oil Company also notified the SFC that it has withdrawn from the Paraho-Ute Oil Shale project just north of the White River project. Sohio hopes that its withdrawal from the Paraho-Ute Project does not prejudice pre-judice that project or its application before the SFC. Sohio will continue to make available to the project for a reasonable time and on a royalty-. royalty-. bearing basis those oil share properties proper-ties and water resources which it has currently committed to the project. . Congressman Howard Nielson said Friday's announcement is a big blow to Utah oil shale. "I am very disappointed," he said about the withdrawal of the White River Project. "White River represents the best equity and is already along in developing its site." Representative Nielson said that White River indicated that they had decided to develop oil shale without the SFC which could be possible with a change in the world market. Specifically an increase in the price of oil or another shortage. Paraho has demonstrated the strongest individual leadership in developing oil shale and has a different technology which, is looked upon favorably by the SFC. If one of the other sponsors of the project would assume Sohio's 10 percent interest in the project, Paraho will have a good chance of getting SFC backing in April. Both projects requested SFC price and loan guarantees. The SFC promised the two projects last December, that if funds were available in April, one of the projects could receive SFC endorsement. Now it looks like the SFC funds will be available in April. If not, the projects can resubmit under the fourth solicitation. Nielson said there are two bills in Congress that could alter the future of the SFC. One will eliminate it totally and the other will change its purpose. Rep. Nielson said he didn't feel either of the bills would get past Congress Con-gress and that the SFC would probably be allowed to allocate its $16 billion and then gradually phase out. Deadlines: FRIDAY, ' , , February 24, 1984 News: Thursday 10:00 A.M. Vernal, Utah 84078 Advertising: Thursday 2:00 P.M. 92st Year No. 16 Phone 789-351 1 12 Pages Single copy 25c f w X t I" J' 'Look at the positive aspects of career ladders,' Superintendent Superinten-dent Phil Ellis tells teachers. ' 'It's a golden opportunity,' says Dr. Daryl McCarty. A sure way to start a fight is to throw $15 million into a room of people and ask them to distribute the money based bas-ed on the quality of each individual. This might have been the fate of teachers in the Uintah School District had many of them not bridled their skepticism and bewilderment of implementing im-plementing a career ladder and plunged plung-ed forward. Teachers and professional employees of the Uintah School District met Thursday evening in a Mid-Winter Conference to give their input on how to form district career ladder, as recommended by the state. In the 1984 Budget Session of the Utah Legislature, $15 million was allocated to compensate quality teachers by implementation of career ladders. House Bill 110 does not require re-quire school districts to form a career ladder, but if a district chooses not to, their share of the $15 million will go to - other districts. that do. In the case of -the Uintah Sphool District, that would be over $270,000 or about $900 per teacher. In his opening remarks to teachers at the conference, Superintendent Phil Ellis, Uintah School District, said that the end product of career ladders is positive. "We need to build upon the positive," he stressed. "Some things will creep in that cause concern.. .but a career ladder gives the opportunity to become full-time professional teachers, so you can be fully compensated compen-sated for the work you do." Dr. Daryl McCarty, who has closely close-ly followed the Utah Legislature as a former member of the executive office of the Utah Education Association and now a staff member of the State School Board, said that to understand SB-110 it is necessary to understand it's origin. Dr. McCarty was the guest speaker at the conference. ' When the Nation at Risk study was released, the public got the impression that schools nationally were failing miserably. Since other facts come to light, major ma-jor forces behind the Nation at Risk study have changed their view point, he said. When the Legislature was in session, the public concern for education had already peaked, and "everyone thought they were experts on what needed to be done," Dr. McCarty said. A fragmented Legislature proposed everything from- a straight merit system to ignoring the problem, he , said. SB-110 does not mandate a career ladder, but it does "encourage and authorize" school districts to do so. Distribution of the $15 million will be based on membership, and school districts have to indicate by March 15 whether they will implement a career ladder or not. If a district decides not to, their funds are reallocated to other . districts. . "You would be very foolish not to get into it," Dr. McCarty said. As the bill is written, the funds for a career ladder cannot be implemented im-plemented in the current lock step salary schedule. "What the Legislature wanted was reform, and everyone was getting their licks in," Dr. McCarty said. Dr. McCarty told teachers that they are on the threshold of two great improvements im-provements in education: the oppor tunity to become involved on a grass roots level and the funneling of more funds to education. "You have an opportunity to make a success or failure," he said. "If you turn back, you will get only 2 to 4 percent per-cent weighted pupil until increases." "It is a golden opportunity," he said. The language of the SB-110 states that a career ladder may include: extended ex-tended contract year for teachers, a continued on page 2 r ; j " - Fx 1 In :Sx'f J! iVjTM 1 Ik 'I ff i i lii if 1 . Im Jk : ' i It l mr i n mm ' m mi UINTAH SCHOOL DISTRICT teachers and professionals meet in small groups to develop recommendations for implementing a career ladder. Group leader Beth Gale takes input from group members and directs discussion of the recommendations. Mixed reactions given to mobile home zone proposal To regulate or not to regulate single-wide single-wide mobile homes in Ashley Valley seems to be one of the more controversial controver-sial issues facing area residents. Last week the Uintah County planning plan-ning commission submitted a proposal to county commissioners asking for an ordinance that would restrict single-wide single-wide trailers in Ashley Valley to mobile home parks or mobile home subdivisions. An alternative to the proposal pro-posal would restrict mobile homes in all areas of the valley except for the Davis area. An informal survey conducted by the Vernal Express on Thursday indicated in-dicated that residents have Varying opinions on whether single-wide trailers should be regulated. Kerry Jewkes of Vernal City said he would be in favor of an ordinance regulating single-wide trailers. He said that many of them look fine and are in good shape, but there are also quite a few that aren't. Jenifer Decker of Vernal City said she is unsure whether an ordinance is necessary. "I don't like to tell people where they have to live," she said, but at the same time there needs to be zoning zon-ing laws. Mardean Lane was also unsure whether an ordinance should be adopted. "In some ways it seems like an ordinance would take away people's peo-ple's freedom of choice," she said. Mary Hatch of Maeser said a zoning ordinance was the stupidest thing she had heard of. The choice of what to live in should be up to the individual. "A trailer is all some people can afford." Mrs. Hatch said that she would not object ob-ject to neighbors placing a single-wide on a lot next to her home. Joe Hobbs of Maeser said he feels that zoning is necessary in any corn-Continued corn-Continued on page 2 a Men vm -1 r- 'I favor an ordinance-Kerry ordinance-Kerry Jewkes. says Zoning is necessary, says Joe Hobbs. 'A trailer is all some people can afford,' says Mary Hatch.. '...It would take away freedom of choice,' says Mardean Lane. INSIDE First time ever Bonanza Gilsonite Plant goes one year without time loss accident. See Page 2 " i Shop teacher pi, excels in " 'AJ A creativity Ladies Basketball Uintah Girls Basketball lose after good fight. See page 8 |