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Show 2 Vernal Expre Wednesday, August 8, 1990 ByJockWallis JXTv ' Why a Postal Rate Increase? The proposed U.S. Postal Service rate increase of an average of 19 percent will have an impact on almost every business, small and large. While many small businesses are having a struggle to stay in business is seems unfair for a governmental monopoly to increase the burden of doing business. The track record of the USPS rate increases on first class postage has gone from six cents 19 years ago to the proposed 30 cents next year, a total increase of 400 percent The Postal Service ended fiscal 1989 with a surplus of $61 million, and its first quarter of the present year with a surplus of $404 million, according to its own report. But, according to Postal Service projections it expects ex-pects to produce an operating deficit between $1.4 and $1.6 billion for the present fiscal year. Why the sudden change from a surplus to a huge deficit? , According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce postal costs are centered around labor, which represents 83 percent of the postal budget. The average total compensation, base salary plus benefits, for bargaining employees is $37,048, according accord-ing to the USPS. This does not include overtime and premium pay, which bring to total compensation to nearly $40,000 a year. In contrast, total compensation for employees in the service section averages $21,782, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce's 1988 Survey of Current Business. For all workers in the private sector, total compensation is $25,223. A recent U.S. Department of Labor study found that the Postal Service pays its mailhandlers nearly twice as much as mailhandlers would earn in private industry. indus-try. A comparison of postal worker compensation to similar private sector compensation shows substantial differences. The average base salary for a postal clerk is $28,629, with benefits $36,239. Mail clerks in the private sector, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, earn $16,826. Postal Service building services workers earn $27,029, or $33,204 with benefits. Private sector building services workers earn $15,121. Postal Service special delivery messengers earn $28,249, or $33,076 with benefits. Private delivery service messengers earn $18,221. Postal Service vehicle vehi-cle drivers earn $29,220, or $37,941 with benefits. Private sector light truck drivers earn $20,066. Postal Service's productivity for the past two years has been negative. The 19 percent proposed postal increase will exceed the projected 13 percent rate of inflation in the general economy for the period the current rates will have been in effect What would happen to the economy if small businesses busi-nesses predicted a deficit in future business and raised rates to cover the anticipated loss? There is no pressure for the Postal Service to operate efficiently if it can always cover its losses in efficiency efficien-cy and productivity with a rate increase. Postal rate increases places an unfair burden on other oth-er businesses who must absorb the added cost of doing do-ing business It's time the Postal Service revised its labor force and brought wages into line with the private sector. Also, the workforce number should be reduced. Automation should drastically reduce the number of workers needed to handle the mail. Consolidation of administration centers, management manage-ment and craft positions should be foremost considerations consider-ations before a rate increase proposal. The current rate proposal will cost every household in the U.S. about $88 a year. The cost eventually filters fil-ters back to the consumer and this means the nearly $8 billion in postage increases will be be paid by the person at the end of the money tunnel. IS ttfleirs to.be relocated! to Green Kiver below da : The Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) officials have announced an-nounced plans to live-trap up to 15 river otters in northeastern Nevada and release them into the Green River below Flaming Gorge Reservoir, in a continuing"effort to reestablish the species there. The trap-and-relcase project will begin in early August and continue for several weeks. Otters will be transported and released re-leased as soon as possible after capture cap-ture to minimize stress associated with handling and captivity. Jim Bates, a veteran trapper hired by the DWR for the project, says it should be possible to catch family groups (mother and young). There's a good chance that adult females will be pregnant," Bales said. The captured otters will be transported trans-ported to Vernal where they will be anesthetized, vaccinated and examined exam-ined by a veterinarian. They will only on-ly be released into the wild if they're healthy. Some otters will be Surgically implanted with radio transmitters so DWR biologists can track their movements. "Implantable transmitters arc necessary nec-essary because of the otters' torpc-do-itupoi bodies," says DWR Nongamc Chief Randy RadanL "Thar neck is wider than their body, so a collar would fall ofr. Wc can't use a backpack harness be-cair be-cair the straps might pet caupht on underwater inagi and drown the otter," ot-ter," he Mid. Nine enters were released in the Vernal Express cN4 Ihf W'! k 'S pot Tw w J i " j to. foi cut of :"g - rata -4 tt p yv ef is U It tm Vo"-a( ( Vmmd 40 -J Ml'.TMA-.Tin (Mm f,Ky. to VI r?M I uriiliS, TO Hot i(yj, V.j!, Green River last fall, five from Nevada and four from Alaska. Three of the nine carry radio transmitters trans-mitters and are monitored periodically periodi-cally within the vicinity of the release re-lease sites. There have been recent reports of female otters with one or two young near the release site. Funding for the otter reintroduc-tion reintroduc-tion program is being provided in part by the DWR "Adopt-An-Ottcr" program. Radant says many individuals individ-uals and organizations have made generous contributions to the project. PUBLIC FORUM Letters to the Editor What is your opinion? The Express welcomes letters from its readers concerning any subject pertinent to the Uintah Basin. There are no restrictions as to contents, it not libelous or vindictive. Letters will not be accepted over two (2) typed written double spaced pages. Letters must be submitted exclusively to the Express and bear the writer's full name, signature, phone number and address. The name or names of those submitting letters must appear on all published letters. All letters are subject to condensation. Utters to the Editor express the opinion of the writer and are not necessarily the opinion of the Vernal Express or Its staff. j v i .... fM ... ...... . I- 5 a" W -or IbAtv t l.s r-M -vif r ..... ...... -i .. (V'- M T t I i .. wvU(j,ri ;i r ?-' n-, ? ;.; 7'? kWt M- rv f a) I lf LA- t M - Center supporter Dear Editor. I'm writing this letter as a concerned con-cerned individual and supporter of Rossa Simmons and the Uintah Care Center. I have seen first hand, how Mrs. Simmons and her staff have taken care of our elderly pioneers pio-neers of the Uintah Basin. These special people, work hard 24 hours a day365 days a year to make sure the residents needs arc Liken care of, along with a great deal of love and lender loving care. God knows, their not in this lypc of work for the money! It Likes very unique people to continually con-tinually provide a little Sunshine and l.iuptitcr in these elderly people's nursing home lives, and Mrs. Simmons and her comjvtcnt staff certainty fit that bill in my book! Mrs. Simmons has always given over and aNnc the call of duty 100 to the Uintah Care Center, residents, families and staff. Al limes, her own family's needs came second. She is a very competent, kind, Caring woman who has always Liken her jb to heart! Iter dm has b!'3)S been open lo anyone win) needed 10 la!k 10 her. or jut lo stay t feel the news aruite on her a few weeks H was very unfair and un j-.i'. regarding hrf "pmate life" wh.v.rvef was diHir.'ed in t'at meeting regarding her reprimand by the county, should hasc mnainrj jiwt Usat--tonnJeni;al. Ye. thrrt is a vrtu.nis j'ri'Mcm rt'"'t Pow loncernirg ihr Can? Crr-tcf, ti t what we r,.ivc lo . V at I rep in nind h i! at. ' t 1 Ouatity Cac Ihmc rc'd.-r.ts h rt4 Urn 8fTetfd--tf-ai.ks lo fir-f-a and Ut Maff. It's ihcir rfuat Cft rf taring that r-vakes l'i'.!'i t rt f "'. r "a fvunc saj- ( ' ! hs." Li (Ik rly. r'-n'l p'V" i-i ) If Mil. fr; (!,Cll,rg 8i lh? M ( Tfll . fit M UUUf. tl Proud of Community Dear Editor, Recently when I attended the Dinosaur Rodeo, and in the course of events, my good friend (of many years) Jack Stagg was honored by being the Grand Marshall, it made me very proud and happy because iherc probably is not a man more deserving of the honor than Jaek. He has always been a good hardworking hard-working community servant, and has served long and hard on many projects with very little or no fanfare, fan-fare, Another reason for this letter being be-ing written is in response lo an article arti-cle in the Express atxim two to three weeks ngo w lien it ran an article arti-cle on the work being done at the Hall Taik, ami show-cd a picture tr Jody Murray on the end of a rake doing what had to be done. I viewed this which considerable pride, and il brought to mind if this pictuic had Ken Likrrt 25 to 30 years ago the guy in the pktuto would very likely have been Jsxly's lad. M, and lud u ken taken 25 to 30 years befmc Ui.it, the guy doing the wy;k and giving of his re'uues would very pnwiMy lave been Ceut Murray, Jody's gran, Ltd. Comniijniiy venue has alwajs been a ii,i.!iiim wii'i hw f.viidy. N'. tJ-.n m,i o rv.e st p to rca':c tH.it this n ra:!-f a Iu!.:umi wuh v.M-.ir y(-j!c. giving rf thnr time and fewnsrtes Wi i!ie knt f; vl hc tn;r,tn!;ru:y in wl.nh t'-ey lit. Wh-n smc grnnatson jir-t seems t fo!!"- a'ihrf in ikrg n-?r.tntir.i!y tctv it rs. i i r i i 1 i , r, I ii. ; ,i'v" i i, a f p.v i s. . . I . - ' t ... . It t I ' r n (' T . - . I I .. t' r' r " C .1! f i t i i r ii r v I I' ' i r -t rf im;l v in i c ( LOOKS LIKE ) A &AS SKIP) tlillliimniiiii Green streak heads to Gorge-Us Getaway By Steven Wollis Expran Ntwi Editor This week there is a streak of green going up to Flaming Gorge as over 5,000 Boy Scouts and their leaders prepare for the Gorge-Us Getaway Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Plans for the event began many months ago, as Scout leaders began making arrangements for the encampment. en-campment. "Ever wonder how much trash 5,000 Scouts and leaders will create in three days?" said Bob Oswald, Uintah District Scout director. The encampment will not just be three days of floau'ng the river, entertainment, en-tertainment, and fun. Built into each of the 500 Scout units' agenda are six hours of service projects. The Scouts will make it possible to the U.S. Forest Service to keep both loops in the Antelope Flats Campground open. The Scouts plan to donate 15,000 hours of service. Such volunteer efforts will make a trip to the campground more enjoyable enjoy-able to alt tourists including the recreational vehicle community. The July 1990 "RV News" stated that community leaders in Vernal arc "ready lo roll out the red carpet S laugh, Masscy, Walker and many others. These above I mention because be-cause I have worked with several of them on various projects, and I know what I'm Hiking about because be-cause as the saying goes': "I have been there." I guess what this all boils down to is: Many of the good things in our community arc here because of the generosity and willingness of the people who live here, ilic only ones 1 am not totally proud of is those few who sit back and complain while all the rest arc out here doing what needs to be done, and in many cases at great personal sacrifice of iheir time and resources. I myself, am proud of my community commu-nity and my people. lorin'ti i)(;r."Mr.KKij;Y OUR TOWN forRVer's." 'The area is bulging with those attractions at-tractions that the RV crowd long to see: gorgeous natural wonders, world-class, river and lake fishing, archeological sites unmatched on earth and a warm friendly community commu-nity that recognizes the economic impact that RV tourism can contribute con-tribute to local business," states "RV News" writer Don Magary. Magary's comments .about the Vernal area arc derived from his visit vis-it to the area on the coattails of David Humphreys, president of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. Magary contends that the attractions attrac-tions "in this corner of Utah are some of the nation's best kept secrets. se-crets. But that is about to change." A tribute to the area, is the hospitality hospi-tality shown during family reunion of about 25 people who made the route from Dinosaur Museum to Dinosaur Monument to Flaming Gorge: "Weren't they nice at the grocery store. They put dry ice in our grocery gro-cery sacks to keep our ice cream bar frozen," a visitor from Boise, Idaho. The clerks in a giftshop near the monument were helpful in finding a t-shirt in the right size. A mixup on the rafts to float down the Green River was quickly resolved re-solved by the rental business near Earning Gorge Lodge. All in all it was a grcat thrce days in Dinosaurland, even for the locals who have been to the museum, monument and Flaming Gorge over 1,000 times. ) .'.'' ,j r.- , v v i c UTAH NATIONAL Park Council truck unloads supplies (or tho staft of tho Gorgo-Ua Getaway at tha parking lot o( tho Am etopa Flats Campground. ar Naples tax THE VOICE OF BUSINESS ATXQKTJXASlJLjm; US Ch-fitvf rj Ctfn: t Continued Irom page 1 revenues but, he said, "there is only so inik h you tan cut," Judd said he, ns well as other countil memtrs, are he-.itant to rar-e pnpcriy Lues Ivfure Im-king pi every pov.iMc- uv liiiion to Naples City'i funding pr! -terns. The property Lis fate lo be lon-.i.j-rrrd is .0)1519 p-nml rf tje satire of l!iC pn paly. "The pn-priiy us wiMil.l leave m ly-.ity iu tj; J(. i-n's s'lvc of the las hit e an too trrnrd bftair-e re-; !rnt.s wim!J at-ji b.ivc io p.iy vrnie of that. he mM, I ! I ibat the .way it ! is ti, '"it's a rtit'-f of c!invinai;rg suvmf SmiifS cr 3 tai vvrvr- hrfc." A pi'Hlt b'-sring jl.ifijt.tirj ,!,; t..vt; Kit fa hr 11 A v: 1 5 i R p n C3 UT U imm ( tins WASHINGTON Afwrf dreary )cut of poverty, vuilemc ni (Jr; i.r, tfvc (fte ot Ccnul Afrvotji it Utt have fri5ii hrie ihf if Uvcs may e-t N-iir, The fiC ptf.KVnlj c f CU Pc J, I J Sl iii.Gua:rrr.'.4. M'i !ui j? jd.J Nu aa hv-C arrcj ui buiU a (nrrj' moil maiVft t".rd l.1 CmuaJ Amai. tan t VimitfTut Commiitiitjr vjt-m f.'imi djljno c4 ftr ma'lf( prirni; if . Sit le hr ;u;e f . f.rn ((jr-.g tninirif rr If-. h pfT -Ur.it r r, ir nrif.il i.tf!jr (Vfrnr,) fn-is gn.J fj.f Of lHm tO pfe jn.;m:!fia4 n.J t u'nl fnt.nti'-!. 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