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Show 8 Vernal Express Wednesday, October 30, 1996 1pm Changes made on proposed Flaming Gorge user fees A series of public meetings in southwest Wyoming and northeast Utah produced a high volume of public comment on the recent Forest Service proposal to implement imple-ment user fees at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. According to District Ranger Dave Bull, "Based on what we heard at the first round of public meetings, we're changing the fee program quite a bit. The first major change is that there will be no special spe-cial discount for Daggett County residents nor residents of any other county. That was a mistake on our part and we'd like to put it to rest and move on with the program. "Other suggested changes to the program include the Annual Pass. Right now we're proposing decreasing decreas-ing the Annual pass to $20 per year (originally proposed at $50) and the pass would be transferable. In oth er words a family could take the pass out of one vehicle and put it in a second vehicle. A 16-day pass would cost $5 and a 1-day pass would be $2. "In addition there would be a 4-hour 4-hour fee exemption at places of business around the Gorge. For example, ex-ample, people would not be charged just to stop in to buy something to drink, have lunch, etc." Bull continued, "Despite what folks may hear around the community, commu-nity, our. minds are not made up now. The proposal is changing daily based on public input as we struggle with tough questions. We heard the public loud and clear. We know this has been emotional and frustrating to folks in Wyoming and Utah. Developing a program like this is tough. No one wants new fees. It's kind of a chicken and egg proposal in terms of which comes first - a program proposal or public input. It's hard getting public input if folks don't know what they're commenting comment-ing on and the flip side of the coin is people see a draft proposal and think the federal government is trying try-ing to ram it down their throats. We want the situation to be win-win instead in-stead of lose-lose. "We want to emphasize that people peo-ple can write us or call us at any time to tell us what they think about the fee program - they don't have to wait for a public meeting. We're developing de-veloping a list of projects around the Gorge of facilities that need to be fixed or enhanced and we welcome wel-come suggestions of what people would like to see accomplished with the fee money," said Bull. For more information, contact District Ranger Dave Bull in Manila at 801-784-3445. Sex offender chooses prison Three weeks ago Judge A. Lynn Payne, 8th District Court, gave a Vernal man the choice of prison or one year in the Uintah County Jail for unlawful sexual intercourse. This week Clayton Todd Sides chose prison. Judge Payne noted that he would probably serve less time due to prison overcrowding. Also. Judge John Anderson, 8th District Court, sentenced Sides to 1 to 15 years at the state prison. The Uintah County Attorney's Office requested Judge Anderson to impose im-pose the sentence consecutive to Judge Payne's sentenced. Judge Anderson refused. Sides was convicted con-victed of one count of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of rape of a child. "The net effect of the failing to impose consecutive sentences is that Sides virtually escapes accountability ac-countability for the 3rd degree felony sex offense," said Chief Deputy Attorney Kenneth Wallentine. Naples City anticipates road project Naples City officials hope they can convince the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to remedy reme-dy unsafe conditions near mile marker 150 on Highway 40 - before 2006. In a letter to be sent soon to UDOT, City Manager Craig Blunt notes that at the turn in the road near Hwy. 40 and 1500 E. (the Bonanza Road), the seven lane roadway is quickly funneled down to two lanes while an increase in speed is allowed. With the backing of Mayor John Mathis and city councilors, Blunt is asking UDOT to either widen the two lanes or correct the hazardous turn, and to delay the speed increase in-crease until travelers are farther east. Blunt says UDOT has the proposed pro-posed project on a funding list, but, using the current schedule, it won't be started for 10 years - not until 2006. "We'd like to speed up that process," pro-cess," said Blunt. Before sending the letter to UDOT, Blunt said he may ask city residents to sign a petition urging quicker state action. In order to reach as many citizens as possible, petitions may be available at the city offices on Election Day, Nov. 5. If undertaken, the petition effort will be kept completely separate from official balloting. "If we can't get the road widened right now, at least UDOT could install in-stall a blinking light cautioning drivers that the road narrows," he said. Blunt says that at least nine accidents acci-dents have occurred in the area since last year. Previous to that, one accident left an individual paralyzed, para-lyzed, another resulted in a death. Electric plastic pumpkins have all the appearance of the real thing without the hazard of an open flame. lm lruU OOO OOP ooooooooooooooooo m Inbn "4 - rv i yjf r 0 4 o I 0 Vi Olene Walker Lt. Governor toil T: 5 ' ' f ' , I : v. r j A i q ' 11 Edward Alter Treasurer lfc ionium iariwifil'ira-Miilfc 1 1 LJM J o Michael O. Leavitt Governor Scott Burns Attorney General Chris Cannon 3rd Congressional District 1 . 1 1 W I .1 11 i 1 Pi Auston Johnson State Auditor Jack Seitz State Representative District 55 f " m i H. Glen McKco County Commissioner 4 b uU Think Republican i Be Republican VOT E REPUB LI CAM L "C 1 ik -4W 4V 4V 4. 4V J iiV 4V 4 V., 4V 4 -K0' I VOTE NOV. 5 |