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Show PUBLIC FORUM LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What is your opinion? The Express welcomes letters let-ters from its readers concerning any subject pertinent perti-nent to the Uintah Basin. There are no restrictions as to contents, if not libelous or vindictive and of reasonable length (two typewritten double spaced pages). Letters must be submitted exclusively to the Express and bear the writer's full name, signature, sig-nature, phone number and address. Letters for the sole purpose of expressing thanks to individuals or groups will not be printed in the forum. Letters may be mailed, faxed at 789-8690 or through e-mail at editorvernal.com. The name or names of those submitting letters must appear on all published letters. let-ters. All letters are subject to condensation. Letters express the opinion of the writer and are not necessarily neces-sarily the opinion of the Express Editor. opinion Missing emblem Dear Editor, Imagine my Sunday surprise when my son informed me that my Cadillac emblem was missing from its grill. He is such a joker that I had to see for myself to believe it. After all, why, and how much fun could it be to pry it off? My husband had been warned that they were an item that thieves love to take. Whoever took it - Get a Life! Parents, if your kids come home with a Cadillac emblem, please ask where it came from. I am sure they didn't purchase it from a Cadillac dealer (they cost over $50.00). PAULETTE GOODWIN Distinguished alumna Dear Editor, I was delighted to read that Doris Karren Burton was just named UHS 2004 Distinguished Alumna. In may work, and private interests, having recently retired as the director of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and as an active researcher for over 45 years, I have visited libraries and historical archives across the United States, as well as in many other countries. In my opinion, The Western Regional Center in the Uintah County Public Library is as fine a research facility facil-ity as any comparable size institution I have visited anywhere. In fact, it is better than many larger, better finances facilities. Doris has vigorously built the collection collec-tion over many years. She aggressively went after funds to develop newspaper and other indexes ad photo collections, col-lections, just to mention a few of her accomplishments. She has not lagged one bit with taking advantage of electronic media to promote her passion history of the Vernal area. The center's web site is phenomenal. Vernal area residents, mainly because of Doris, have access to one of the finest research facilities of its kind in the world. Far too few Vernal residents know of the center's wonderful resource? or its unbelievable value. It is truly a priceless treasure. 1 last visited it just a few weeks ago, and look forward to coming back. GLADE I. NELSON Kaysville, Utah Gin's Gems Small town newspapers create cohesion By Virginia Harrington Express Writer Ben Franklin said: "If you would not be forgotten, so soon as you are rotten, write something worth the reading, read-ing, or do something worth the writing." He meant what he said and proved it by publishing a newspaper. He wrote many things worth reading and he found many deeds by other people worth the writing. What is worth the writing in a newspaper depends heavily on the intended audience and the mission of the publication. Writers for the Washington Post or the New York Times look for stories of national or international interna-tional importance. The Wall Street Journal concentrates on financial news. What if you write for the Vernal Express? What is worth the writing in the small communities where this publication is distributed? The answer lies in the mission mis-sion and function of this, or any other, small town newspaper. After three years of writing for the Vernal Express and listening to comments from its readers about the stories in it, I have formed an opinion on the subject. Small town newspapers create community cohesion. They keep us informed about our neighbors and friends. They tell us what's happening in local politics. They let us know what events are coming up and help us plan our daily schedules. They tell us about volunteer activities activi-ties and help us keep up with local church and business news. They even let us know who won a recent spelling bee and who became an Eagle Scout. They also tell us when tragedy strikes someone in the community. Most of the time, the stories in a small town newspaper news-paper don't matter to anyone outside of the area. They aren't likely to win a national award or affect international interna-tional politics. But they do matter to the people of the small town. The little girl who wins the spelling bee or the teen who earns his Eagle will never forget being in the spotlight in the hometown newspaper. The purpose of being social glue, of creating community commu-nity cohesion, is fulfilled every time someone opens the pages of a small town newspaper. That's true whether the reader agrees with what's written or not. The information infor-mation is passed on, scrapbooks are filled and volunteers volun-teers show up when needed. There probably isn't a Pulitzer waiting for a Vernal Express writer in the near future. However, our own Expressions writer recently participated in a state wide competition for small town newspapers. Maureen Spencer won first place in the state for full length feature fea-ture articles. Congratulations,. Maureen. . You found something worth the writing and you made it worth the reading. You made the Vernal Express a little better. You made that social glue a little stronger. The newly elected Vernal Ladies of Elks officers are Carol Webster, Liz Harrison, Lois Hall, Marie Voyles, Virginia Clayton, Peggy Burris and Lisa Jackson. Vernal Ladies of Elks name new leadership Charitable donations and a new roster of leadership kept the Vernal Ladies of Elks busy at their recent meeting. The task of deciding where the Ladies of Elks monies mon-ies should be distributed is the sign of a successful year, according to Ladies of Elks spokesperson Marty Kay. Named as recipients of the local group's donations were Elks Girl Scout Troop 65 1 , Utah Benevolent Elks Trust, Girls State, Meals on Wheels and the Utah LOE major project Camp Wapiti. Camp Wapiti is a camp DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD irm Vernal Express (ISSN 0892-1091) Published every Wednesday for $24 per year in the shopping shop-ping area and $36 per year out of the shopping area within the state and $39 per year out of state within the USA by the Vernal Express Publishing Company, 54 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, Utah 84078. Periodicals postage paid at Vernal, Utah 84078. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VERNAL EXPRESS, P.O. Box 1000, Vernal Utah 84078. Steven R. Wallis Editor and Publisher Virginia Harrington Guest Writer Maureen Spenceer Feature Writer Mandi Oaks Feature Writer Courtney Millecam Public Notice Jacque Hobbs Advertising Terri Black Circulation & Classified Ads Phone 435-789-351 1 FAX: 435-789-8690 Website: www.vernal.com e-mail: editorvemal.com NEW DEADLINES News Monday 12 noon Display Advertising Monday 2 p.m. Classified Advertising Monday 2 p.m. facility for medically challenged youth. Outgoing President Peggy Burris conducted the election elec-tion of new officers for the 2004-05 term w ith Elizabeth Harrison being named president; Carol Webster, vice president; Virginia Clayton, treasurer; Marie Voyles, secretary; Lois Hall, chaplain; Peggy Burris, historian reporter; and Lisa Jackson, project chairwoman. Elks President Jay Kerlin was presented a quilt in appreciation for his support. Comments requested on gas line The Vernal Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced the Gasco Energy's Antelope Knolls 8-Inch Diameter Natural Gas Pipeline and Compressor Station Project Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for public pub-lic and agency review and comment. Copies of the environmental assessment (EA No.UT-080-2004-206) may be obtained at the BLM Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, or the document may be viewed at the Vernal Field Office's website: hup: www.blm.govutahvernal. The public review period ends on May 2 1 . The EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and provides an assessment of the possible impacts associated with Gasco Energy's proposal to install 10.5 miles of surface, 8-inch diameter, diam-eter, steel natural gas pipeline and a 1 ,000 horsepower horsepow-er compressor in the Antelope Knolls area of Uintah County, Utah. The majority of the proposed pipeline right-of-way would be installed adjacent to existing surface pipelines and the compressor would be constructed con-structed on a 300-foot by 300-foot (2.06 acre) pad that would be installed on state land. If you have questions or comments on the Gasco Energy's EA, please contact the Bureau of Land Miagement at (435) 781-4400 or visit the website at: JV u ers ma come your ""v. r v a ! -now 7 l V ' J IPairkSimg) seem as essential to dowmrtowmi develop men An essential element to the economic eco-nomic development in downtown Vernal, according to a group of businessmen, is parking. Concerned about the loss of parking park-ing space on the block southeast of Main and Vernal Ave. the group, now calling themselves the "Left Wing Downtown Parking Alliance" took their concerns to the Vernal City Council last week. "March 19 at about 8 p.m. a call came to me from the manager of Higgins Body- Shop.aid Gary Showalter, "Vernal - businessman. "He needs help removing a truck belonging to an oil company in Colorado whose repair was done." The cause of the problem were cars blocking the overhead door entrance next to the body shop by people who were attending the "Passion of the Christ" playing at Vernal Theatre. Showalter said he was also called by a women whose vehicle was stuck in the alley behind Buds. The woman had high centered on a bump near the parking area. "There just isn't enough parking spaces, and alley ways are not maintained main-tained as parking areas," Showalter said. The parking problem has escalated escalat-ed with the addition of the Cobble Rock Restaurant and the loss of parking because of the construction ofthe Cobble Rock Park. "Removing the park would solve-, the problem," Showalter said. Councilwoman JoAnn Cowan request that the group meet and bring some recommendation to the council other than tearing down the park. At the meeting of the alliance, Bud Hacking, said Vernal City should not be required to provide parking spaces for a private business. busi-ness. Those at the meeting said that before a business can be allowed n open, it must have ample parkin; for both customers and employees. Vernal City currently has a park ing ordinance which requires busi nesses to provide parking. The cit j also has a parking fund it has usei in the past to build parking lots ir downtown Vernal. "It is not our motivation to spread hate and content, Showalter saidl "I regret not bringing this probl lem to the City Council three year agovTjeFose the coiuslruction of th Cobble Rock Park.'": t ,-. Hacking said the recommendatio; ot the group to the city council is til require business to strictly adhere tj the parking ordinance which is cur rently on the books. They also d is cussed the elimination of a buildiml which was damaged in a fire on iIk- diock. ine space couiu oe used 10: additional parking. J,..1 i j I ; j : J: tk'f-Vr'fcl - '!' I 1 Vi fc fife. Some of the school district employees recognized for over 20 years of service are, bad row, Gail Moore, Kevin Dixon, Dan Olsen, Louise Murch, Robert Hunting, David Johrl and Pat Burdick. Front row Kathy Reynolds, Jacky Gray, Lyle Gillman, Cheryl Gram mar, Karel Dickson, Anna LeFevre and Lila Redding. Last Chance CDeaimiuip... r :..ni a 4 Continued from A1 to dispose of, contact either Jerry or Heather at and they will try to assist you. Batteries, vehicle oil, household and yard waste may be brought into the landfill during cleanup week. Refrigerator may be brought to the landfill, but there is an additional charge for extracting any refrigerant. Questions about the Landfill can be directed to 789-6018. 789-6018. Those with old vehicle to be removed should contact a salvage company. Currently there is an additional service being offered to te public. pub-lic. Utah Power is offering a recy- its residential customers within Utah. If you have a refrigerator that you'd like to get rid of, Utah Power will pickup the refrigerator and you'll receive $40 compensation. compensa-tion. Refrigerator requirement are: at least 10 cubic feet in size, built prior to 1990 and still running and plugged in. For additional details on this program pro-gram contact Utah Power at 1-866-899-5539 or go to the website at The life-sized dinosaur mode! in the Dinosaur Gardens at the olJ Utah Field House of Natural Histor state Park will be at their presei: location to be visited and phott graphed until April 30, when prepa rations will be made for their Mai 5 Dinosaur Parade to the new Field House on 500 East. The Gardens will be closed durini the moving preparations. Those wishing to visit the Garden! in the final days in its old locatiol may do so free of charge during norl mal Field House hours. PraiSe-.-Continued from A1 return home to their communitie they will be recognized as 'ue war I m 11 n mi 1 1 111 l II tl N |