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Show .Vernal Express, (6; AARP seeks victim advocate r ( i Kyle Bailey, a member of the Moab city council, meets his state representative, represen-tative, John Mathis, for the first time during a meeting of AARP Utah at : the state capitol. . AARP Utah held a meeting of Jits area coordinators Feb. 4 in 'the state capitol building. One of the topics discussed was a campaign to solicit true experiences experi-ences within the state concerning concern-ing inability to obtain needed medicines, indebtedness due to exorbitant interest rates and identity theft. AARP Utah believes policy makers need to be convinced that real people are affected by 'these issues and that legislative solutions are needed to help 'make people's lives better. Although facts and figures may prove that millions of people peo-ple cannot afford prescription drugs, the problem becomes much more real by hearing the story of a person whose spouse or child died because they xould not get the treatment they : to in.:, V" : : - SUM, Forest Seraee The Federal grazing fee for Western public lands managed man-aged by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service fee will be $1.79 per animal unit month (AUM) in 2005. This is an increase from $1.43 in 2004. The newly adjusted adjust-ed fee takes effect March 1 and applies to more than 18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by the BLM and more than 8,000 permits administered admin-istered by the Forest Service. The formula used for calculating cal-culating the grazing fee, established by Congress in the 1978 Public Rangelands Improvement Act, has continued con-tinued under a presidential Executive Order issued in 1986. Under that order, the grazing graz-ing fee cannot fall below $1.35 per AUM and any increase or decrease cannot exceed 25 percent of the previous year's level. Without the 25 percent T?m VERNAL Express (ISSN 0892-1091) Published every Wednesday for $24 per year in the shopping 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 Carissa Magee Feature Writer Virginia Harrington Feature Writer Patty John Proofreader Kitta Dory Ad Layout Rock Ad Layout Jacque Hobbs Advertising Lynne Murray ..Advertising Terri Black Circulation & Classified Ads Jody Hadden Obituaries & Legals Phone 435-789-3511 FAX: 435-789-8690 Website: www.vernal.com e-mail: editorvernal.com DEADLINES News Monday 12 noon Display Advertising Friday 5 p.m. ClassifiedAdvertising Monday 12 noon Public Notices Monday 12 noon experiences needed to survive. The same is true for all issues before the legislature: anecdotal evidence can carry more weight to demonstrate dem-onstrate a need for action. AARP Utah is attempting to create a file of victims who can serve as advocates to prevent others from being injured. In order to accomplish this task, AARP Utah needs permission of the person who has been victimized; vic-timized; testimony concerning the victimization; contact information infor-mation such as name, phone number, address and e-mail address. AARP's policy is that any information supplied will never be used beyond its original purpose. pur-pose. The first experience sought is that of unaffordable prescription prescrip-tion drugs. This would involve cap, the 2005 fee would have risen to $1.99 per AUM. An AUM is the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and her calf, one horse or five sheep or goats for a month. The annually adjusted grazing graz-ing fee is computed by using a 1966 base value of $1.23 per AUM for livestock grazing on public lands in Western states. The figure is then adjusted according to three factors: current cur-rent private grazing land lease rates, beef cattle prices and the cost of livestock production. Based on the formula, the 2005 fee rose primarily because of an increase in beef cattle prices in 2004, which reflects the fact that beef cattle ranchers are getting a higher price for their products in the market. The $1.79 per AUM grazing fee applies to 16 Western states on public lands administered by the BLM and the Forest Service. The states are Arizona, and people who cannot afford the drugs they need or who have extremely high drug costs and must trade off necessities to get proper medication. It also involves those who are concerned con-cerned about making ends meet because of their drug costs or those who are concerned about losing insurance coverage for their medications. The second experience sought is that of exorbitant interest rates that trap people in indebtedness. This would involve people who have felt the need to take out "payday loans" and then cannot pay them back. Payday loans are very high-cost, high-cost, short-term loans that only require proof of an open checking check-ing account and a pay stub for a quick loan. The interest rate charged is often 800 percent or higher. These loans are unaffordable unafford-able and the outlets are often located in low-income neighborhoods. neigh-borhoods. Because they are usually due two weeks after the loan is established, consumers need to pay off the interest plus repeated rollover costs because they cannot afford to pay off the principal. Finally, the last experience sought concerns identity theft. This involves people who have had their identity stolen by someone opening a credit card or checking account under the victim's name. Sometimes loans are obtained by using the victim's credit report. The identity thief will default on the loan or run up credit and never pay it back, forcing negative nega-tive input on the victim's credit report. Anyone who has a true story to tell concerning one of these issues is asked to contact AARP Utah at 1-801-567-2643 and ask forLaura.";j California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The Forest Service applies different grazing fees to national nation-al grasslands and to lands under its management in the Eastern and Midwestern states and parts of Texas. The national nation-al grassland fee will be $1.90 per AUM, up from $1.52 in 2004 and will also take effect March 1. The fee for the Eastern and Midwestern states and parts of Texas will be out later this month. The BLM manages 261 million mil-lion surface acres and the Forest Service manages 191 million acres. Retirement If passed, House Bill (HB) 44 would reduce the inequality in retirement benefits received by teachers who retired prior to 1975. The bill has passed out of committee and has been approved on two readings in the Utah House of Representatives. If it passes the third reading, probably sometime this week, it will be sent to the Utah Senate. The bill is sponsored by Rep. LaWanna Lou Shurtliff and is backed by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) as well as by the Utah Education Association. Teachers who retired prior to 1975 currently receive only 1.25 percent of their accumu- lated salaries in retirement LAST WEEK'S WEATHER Date High Low Precipitation ' Temperature Temperature Tuesday, February 1 42 24 0 Wednesday, February 2 40 23 T Thursday, February 3 40 22 0 Friday, February 4 40 24 0 Saturday, February 5 44 23" 0 Sunday, February 6 42 23 0 Monday, February 7 39 24 0.02 Heber Valley Railroad offers adventure and mystery The Heber Valley Railroad has a busy schedule of scenic beauty, winter adventure and comic mystery for those who board the train. Tube 'n Train snowtubing is offered Feb. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26. It will be offered again March 4, 5, 11, 12 18, 19, 25 and 26. Departure from the depot in Heber is at 11 a.m. each day and return is at 2 p.m. The depot is located at 450 S. 600 W. Shuttle service is available to and from Park City for this adventure train. The train stops at a 1,000 foot groomed tubing hill with a tow lift at Soldier Hollow, one of the venues for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Lunch can be ordered in advance when reservations reser-vations are made. The Provo Canyon Limited is a scenic excursion offered on the same day and time schedule sched-ule as the snowtubing adventure. adven-ture. Riders enjoy the beauty and serenity of the winter scenery and an opportunity to see nature up close. This is a three hour round trip that captures views of majestic Mt. Timpanogos. The Comedy Murder Mystery trip is an all time favorite of many train passengers. passen-gers. Only three dates remain for this year's schedule. These are Feb. 18, March 4 and March 18. A humorous performance is presented by the Chameleons Whodunit Company and prizes are awarded to three winners who guess the villain. The trip includes a pizza dinner with accessories. Departure time is 6:30 p.m. and return time is 8:45 p.m. The trains include open air Closures in Provo Canyon Provo Canyon construc tion work will require nighttime night-time canyon closures through the duration , of the project to ensure public safety. Beginning Monday, Feb. 14, Provo Canyon will be closed Monday through Friday nights from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. while construction con-struction crews excavate the rock face just east of the Deer Creek Dam. To avoid these restrictions, motorists may need to adjust their schedules, using 1-80 to and from 1-15 as an alternate route. As this work progresses, nighttime closures may take CWD found in The Blue Sky Elk Ranch in the Little Beaver area of Colorado has been forced to quit raising elk for at least the next five years due to one case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The diseased elk was a six-year-old cow who died of the disease. Once CWD was diagnosed, diag-nosed, the entire herd of 40 remaining elk was transported to Colorado State University and placed in quarantine. The Motherwell Ranch, bill gets nod benefits. Teachers who retired after 1975 but whose service period includes years prior to 1975 receive two percent for service after that year but only 1.25 percent for service prior to 1975. HB 44 asks for an increase to 1.5 percent for all years of service prior to 1975. The bill was met with enthusiasm enthu-siasm while in committee and was unanimously passed to the House, with the suggestion that the increase be changed from 1.5 percent to two percent. This would affect approximately 5,100 retired teachers. A similar bill passed both houses last year but failed to be funded. The affected teachers are o r 4sLfc, x- ' 7 C J fhe Heber Valley Railroad chugs through winter beauty in Provo Canyon. A variety of recreational packages railroad. observation cars, dining and restrooms. Accommodations can be made for persons with disabilities by calling ahead to make appropriate arrangements. arrange-ments. Reservations are suggested sug-gested for most trips. Phone numbers are 1-800-888-TIXX or 435-654-5601. Reservations and tickets are also available at www.hebervalleyrr.org. Charters are available for place less frequently. There are several points of contact for updated information. Dial 511 for Real-Time-Information, but note that some phones may need 1-866-511-UTAH to reach this source. The project hotline hot-line provides toll free calls at 1-888-517-8401, Electronic signs will provide information along Highway 40 and 1-15. Comments, questions or concerns should be sent by e-mail to the project team at provocanyonhwlochner.com. The Provo Canyon Project Web site is www.udot.utah.gov provo-canyon.com. Colorado elk located near Craig, also experienced experi-enced a case of CWD in a bull elk approximately one year ago. The ranch has been quarantined quar-antined since the case was diagnosed. diag-nosed. The Dept. of Agriculture will make a decision concerning concern-ing the fate of the remaining 200 elk on the ranch. There are 97 licensed elk ranches in Colorado. Testing for CWD has been required for all domestic elk deaths on these ranches since 1994. from House receive such a limited retirement retire-ment benefit. Many of these teachers are now in their 80s or 90s and are trying to survive sur-vive on $300 to $400 per month. By comparison, retired firefighters fire-fighters receive three percent and retired judges receive the highest percentage of any state employees. Transportation bill sent to Senate Senate Bill 25S01 was passed out of a Senate committee Feb. 4 and was sent to the Senate floor. A calendar date for its second reading has not yet been set. If passed, the bill will create cre-ate a Highway Jurisdictional Task Force. This task force will study the possibility of turning responsibility for state roads over to local government entities, including county and municipal governing bodies. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Carlene Walker of Cottonwood Heights. Walker has made changes to the bill in an attempt to decrease controversy surrounding sur-rounding the issue. The main purpose of the bill is to allow are available through the historic conferences, family reunions, company parties, tour groups, class reunions and wedding parties. A variety of food catering cater-ing and entertainment options can be selected. The Heber Valley Railroad has been making recreational runs out of Heber City since 1971. Oil and gas leases net $4.3 million The State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration held a competi tive sealed bid auction for oil. gas and mineral leases, Jan. 31. which netted $4,333,334.48. The largest bid was $534 per acre for a 640-acre lease in Sevier County. The aver age price per acre was $68.71 and 63,068 acres were leased. The lands leased were located primarily in Grand, Summit, Carbon, Utah, Emery, San Juan Juab, Sanpete, Millard and Sevier Counties. Of the 97 par eels offered, 83 were leased. The successful bidders are required to pay annual rentals to the trust to hold the proper ties and royalties on the sale of any minerals produced. Auctions for oil and gas and other mineral commodities are held quarterly in January, April, July and October. The next sale will be April 2005. Check the Trust Lands website for more information - www. trustlands.com. The money raised by these auctions goes to the permanent fund of Utah's public schools and to the ben eficiaries of the other trusts as provided by law. The School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration is an independent state agency which manages 3.4 million acres of Utah trust lands for the benefit of Utah's schools and other public institutions. studies to take place that would find a way to decrease costs to the state for the maintenance of state roads. Several suggestions are made within the bill in addition to passing the costs on to counties coun-ties and cities. One of these concerns con-cerns high occupancy vehicle lanes. These are lanes specified speci-fied for vehicles carrying more than one person through congested con-gested areas, thus encouraging car pools. Being less congested, congest-ed, these lanes allow for more rapid movement of traffic. The bill suggests placing a toll on these lanes. Another portion of the bill would turn new highways within with-in the state to tollways. 96 Am |