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Show A10 Vernal Express Wednesday. October 6, 2004 Opinion! 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 wrrterB full name, signature, signa-ture, 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 edHorvernal.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 nec-essarily the opinion of the Express Editor. Appreciate input To The Editor: I want to take this opportunity to thanks the dozens of Uintah Basin and Sweetwater County resident who responded to us with their concerns about our Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Study. We heard from a wide range of people with an equally diverse range of opinions about Wild and Scenic River designation. I appreciate appreci-ate everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to attend the open houses and public meetings and to write letters. I especially appreciate appre-ciate the very thoughtful and specific comments many of you sent that can directly affect the process we're in right now that of determining determin-ing the eligibility of the rivers we inventoried for their potential inclusion into the national system of Wild and Scenic Rivers. We're busy reading your comments and reviewing changes we may need to make to our initial proposal. It's our goal to have a final report listing eligible rivers completed com-pleted by the first of the year. We'll be sure to keep you updated as we move through that process. pro-cess. I'm humbled by the passion so many of us share for these remarkable Uinta mountain rivers. riv-ers. Healthy watersheds, riparian areas, and free-flowing free-flowing rivers are the most important resources on the Ashley National Forest. I hope that you'll continue to stay involved in the Wild and Scenic River process and the many other land management manage-ment decisions we'll be making as we update our Forest Plan. George Weldon Forest Supervisor i More Grass Dear Editor, I recently had occasion to visit my doctor at the new Basin Medical Clinic. As I was getting ready to leave, I was asked to sign a form if I approved of their landscaping efforts. When I asked what brought that about, I was told that the city did not approve because they, the clinic, needed more grass in their landscape. In my opinion, the amount of grass in evidence evi-dence looked to be adequate, and besides, folks, we live in a semi-desert environment and we are still experiencing a continuing drought. More grass, more water and I might add, treated water, is wasted. The city should be encouraging less water use, not more. Jake Moss Vernal Connections... Continued from A1 has found additional funding for a similar program. pro-gram. When funding ran out earlier this year, Roosevelt Jr. High and Duchesne found funds to keep part of a similar program going. "One of our main objectives is to help kids be successful in "day school," says Caldwell. "Connections gives opportunities to teach and reinforce what has been taught in school classes in a smaller, more relaxed, hands-on setting." District-wide, Connections offers about 50 part-time part-time jobs in addition to community specialists. Approximately 430 children participate in the program which serves 650 older youth, adults and families in evening programs and activities. When the Myton site re-opens it will serve an additional 80-90 students and approximately 200 more older youth, adults and families. Candidates... Continues from A1 will be hard-hitting and factual. "Even though I will sound tough on television, I am still a nice guy," he said. Last week, Congressman Jim Matheson's state director, Mike Reberg, spoke to the Chamber members. He said Matheson would have been to the meeting personally, but Congress is still in session. He said that Matheson is fighting against the testing of nuclear weapons in Nevada and he is opposed to gay marriages. He noted that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently recognized the Congressman as a friend to business. Going To Toujn Check List,.,, ( GOT OUR. SEAT BELTS FASTENED-. .? C CHECKQ ISAPETY INSPECTION! OK...?) (CHECK) (CAR LICENSED...?) CcheckT) (KIP in CHILD restraint chaip..-? C CHECK !JJ0 OPEN CONTAINERS jNCAR ?) CHECK ' ) ( Doivco i ircrtcc ni CHECK 'J I NO FAULT INSURANCE PAID UP..? CHECK) (WELL LETS 00 GET SOME GROCERIES CW'S No MONEY CHECK Gin's Gems Camouflage works By Virginia Harrington Express Writer Ouray... Continued from A1 Ouray was originally buried in a traditional "crevice" location. Later, the body was taken to the present Ouray Memorial Cemetery for interment. The cemetery carries the name of the Chief. At the Sept. 29 meeting of the Southern Ute Council, others expressed opinions that since the remains had been moved once, that they should not be moved again; that removal of Ouray was unnecessary when "in spirit, Chipeta and Ouray are already together... with the Creator"; and that possible negative spiritual results of tampering with the current grave location could occur. According to history and tradition, Chief Ouray had only one known child, a son named Cotoan, through his first wife. As a small child, Cotoan was stolen during a raid by another tribe. The child was raised as an Arapahoe Indian. Chief Ouray married Chipeta after Cotoan's mother died, but their union remained childless. Cotoan was identified later and approached by Chief Ouray to determine his son's wishes about returning to the Ute tribe. Cotoan, who became known as Ute Hanna, opted to remain Arapahoe. According to some of Ute Hanna's posterity, the Smith family from the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, he lived to an old age. A historical event occurred during the Sept. 29 meeting of the Southern Ute Council, when Harold Smith of the Wind River Agency, a great-great- grandson of Ute Hanna, was recognized by the Council and presents given to him from the tribe. He was welcomed by the Southern Utes. Through a letter, Claudia J. Vigil Muniz spoke to the Council stating that by tradition Chief Ouray is part Jicarrilla Apache. Through her letter she stated that Jicarrilla tradition would require the remains to be left in place. Jonas Grant, Sr., approached the Southern Ute Tribal Council, identifying his family's direct lineage to Susan, full sister to Chief Ouray, and his only full-blooded sibling to become a parent. par-ent. Susan married Canella Johnson of the White River Band and the Johnsons had five children. The Grant lineage is based much upon oral tradition, the repetitive passing on of important information through stories and songs, enabling each new generation to have a full understanding understand-ing of family names, relationships and important events. Through time, written documentation also joined the Grant family archives. In addressing his feelings Monday about the proposed removal of Chief Ouray from tribal lands, Jonas Grant pointed out, "It is sad when our traditional beliefs are not honored by the children of these great people. It is really wrong. I have learned my descendancy from our family fam-ily tradition. We have learned that we are blood descendants." He added that it is a "cherished" tradition in his family. "It's the belief of the different tribes not to move a grave," says Grant. He believes that Chief Ouray's last wishes were to be buried among the people. The Grant family also feels that neither they nor other surviving family members had received proper public notification of the proposal to relocate relo-cate Ouray's remains. Grant says he wishes to have other family members be aware of the relo- t cation request and make known their opinions to the Southern Ute Tribal Council in Ignacio. Following Chief Ouray's death, Chipeta was known to have adopted several individuals. She also remarried Com-mo-go-weh and moved to the Uintah Basin with her new husband. She died in Bitter Creek and was moved to Montrose for burial. This union also remained childless. The McCook claim to lineage is through one of Chipeta's adoptions. As a vice-chairman of the Smithsonian Institution NAGPRA Review Committee that oversees repatriation activities nationally, McCook says emphatically that the issue is a "family" affair. McCook's says his documentation of lineage is based upon "probate files in his possession verifying lineage relationship to Chipeta and Ouray." According to Grant, the Ute Tribe Business Committee passed a resolution July 27, 2004, stating that Roland McCook was the sole descendant descen-dant and cited the NAGPRA laws. Abusers... Continued from A1 women. Unfortunately, another potential reaction is additional, and more severe, abuse of the children chil-dren as the immature parent blames the children for his or her situation. The reaction that is must unusual, but that is also the most productive, is for the abusive parent par-ent to seek help. It may be unusual because the parents don't know where to turn for help without with-out getting themselves into legal trouble. It is also very likely that they are too ashamed to ask for help. Whatever the reason, it is the children who continue to pay the highest price. Where should an abusive parent turn for help? There are several options in the Uintah Basin, with the Family Support Center as one of the main centers of support for parents. The Family Support Center of the Uintah Basin serves Duchesne, Daggett and Uintah Counties as well as the Ute Tribe Reservation. It is located at 259 N. 700 E. in Roosevelt. The phone number is 435-722-2401 and the fax number is 435-722-8679. The e-mail address is fscubtanet.com. The center offers parenting classes at no charge. In Vernal, classes will be held at the Department of Workforce Services, 1050 Market Drive, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 2, 4, 9, 16, 18, and 23. In Roosevelt, the classes will be held at the center itself from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 16 and 23. In Duchesne, classes will be held in the Head Start building located at the fairgrounds from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 2. They will also be offered in Duchesne in 2005 on Jan. 4, 1 1 , and 25 plus Feb. 1 , again from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Head Start building. The Family Support Center also offers respite care for a few hours at a time to give parents some relief from the heavy responsibility of child rearing. Emergency respite care can be obtained for longer periods if necessary. Help for the abusive parent can also be obtained through the Northeastern Counseling Center, with payments set according to financial need. These centers are located at 1 140 W. 500 S. in Vernal and at 285 W. 800 S. in Roosevelt. Their phone numbers are 789-6300 and 725-6300. 725-6300. After hours emergency numbers are 828- Many species have survived extinction because the camouflage provided them by nature has protected pro-tected them from predators. People have imitated nature for many years by adapting their clothing cloth-ing to blend in with the environment when hunting, hunt-ing, fighting wars, or doing many other types of activities that require stealth. These are both good examples that camouflage works. It works so well, in fact, that I nearly killed myself and several other people because of it. I was driving to Vernal from the Wasatch Front amid the beauty of the fall colors along the way. A very slow driver was ahead of me and I waited wait-ed patiently for a sufficiently long passing zone to go around him. I really hate passing on a two lane highwayyandwill go many miles before feeling feel-ing confident that there is enough space to pass safely. ' Finally, I could see far enough ahead to pass. There wasn't a vehicle in sight on the long, straight stretch of road. I pulled out and instantly had that horrible heart in the throat sensation that comes with a shot of adrenaline. There was an old pickup just a few feet ahead coming straight at me. Why didn't I see the truck? Because it was a mixture of yellow, orange and brown paint with several spots of rust thrown in the mix of colors. It blended perfectly with the fall colors of the trees and brush along the highway. Obviously, I managed to get back into my own lane because I am here to write this column. The save was by mere inches. If the head-on collision had happened, it would have been my fault. I was in the lane that legally belonged to the truck at that moment. But dead is dead, no matter who is at fault. One simple mechanism could have avoided this near accident completely, and I suspect it could have avoided many accidents, injuries and deaths that have occurred and others that will occur. That simple mechanism is headlights that come on automatically when the vehicle's engine is started and extinguish automatically when the engine is turned off. The technology for this exists. It is a requirement require-ment for all vehicles in several European nations. It is required in this nation on motorcycles. It must certainly be more simple than the technology technol-ogy involved in newer cars that sense when darkness dark-ness is approaching and turn the lights on without input from the driver. Minnesota requires all drivers to turn their headlights head-lights on whenever they turn on their windshield wipers. This is at least a step in the right direction but it doesn't go far enough. Fall colors are not the only camouflage that work to blend vehicles into the background. Silver and gray colored vehicles sometimes dissolve into the gray of the pavement. White and ivory colors can look like a bright spot of sunshine reflecting off the road. Blue can fade into the sky or into a water background. Black disappears under many conditions. Color isn't the only problem that can be solved by headlights. Many cars look the same coming and going from a distance. Headlights turned on would leave absolutely no question as to whether that car half a mile ahead is coming toward you or if it is passing another vehicle going in your direction. direc-tion. The poorer the vision of the driver, the more likely these camouflage problems will occur during dur-ing a driving event. The more limited the experience experi-ence of the driver, the more likely confusion will result as the driver tries to figure out what is being seen. The solution is so simple. Turn your headlights on whenever you start your engine. Most cars will now beep to remind you if you forget to turn them off. If yours isn't equipped with that mechanism, then attach a clothespin to your car keys every time you turn on your headlights. When you pull the key out of the ignition, the clothespin will remind you. (I learned that trick after causing several sev-eral dead batteries.) In the meantime, let's tell automobile manufac-. turers that we demand the same safety precautions in our vehicles as people have in Norway, Sweden and other European countries. We want the technology tech-nology applied to motorcycles applied to our cars and trucks. We don't want camouflage on our streets, roads and highways. V . . V 1 r ... - Matthew Clark, Troop 262 of Vernal, pauses at Roberts Pass for a moment to hold up a mountain moun-tain side during a trek to Kings Peak this summer. 8241 in Uintah and Daggett Counties, 823-6823 (DCFS) is another potential source of help. The in Roosevelt and 822- 6823 throughout the rest of phone numbers for DCFS are 78 1 -4250 in Vernal, Duchesne County. 722-6550 in Roosevelt and 722-4558 for 24 hour. The Division of Child and Family Services emergency service. i |