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Show Single Copy 50t Vernal, Utah 84078 114th Year No. 5 February 1,2006 r HAPPY FEET Bootmaker seeks cure for sore feet, See B1 : -SERVICE v-JSS&T M- II i .Sfefn v: 1 JT'll.v I,. ji .v.. ,- rat, m i WEATHER 1 4 r lonrncs to remote IHEWJTiY.IWC. SeeA12 v Wed Thu , ' 21 22 J WW 3824 3820 MixofsunaiTd RajnanjJsnow $A i -v life - " ' s M if ISl, v ' ' I f y , jiiii i tnlll,Uii I,,,, , Proposed operation of Flaming Gorge omfiy eases tod) FDatmiDoiKg rev By Steven R. Wallis Express Editor Uintah County Commissioners Commission-ers have requested a delay in the Bureau of Reclamation's decision to further increase spring releases from Flaming Gorge Dam during wet years. Uintah County Commissioners Commission-ers believe their concerns for the health and welfare of county coun-ty residents were not being given proper consideration in the Bureau of Reclamation's proposal to increase releases from Flaming Gorge Dam. The Bureau of Reclamation's proposal is concerning an environmental envi-ronmental assessment (EA) that allows additional releases of water from Flaming Gorge Dam during wet years. The additional releases during wet years would allow research that will evaluate razorback suckers, an endangered fish, larval drift and obstacles that prevent the larvae from reaching reach-ing suitable floodplain nursery habitats. Research opportunities have been unavailable the last few years due to drought conditions condi-tions and minimal flows in the rivers. This year's abundance abun-dance of water may make the research possible. The wet year releases will be in addition to the normal high Uintah County Republicans pay tribute to Lincoln at dinner Saturday's Lincoln Day Dinner was a night for Republicans to tout their accomplishments and to introduce intro-duce candidates who might be running against Congressman Jim Matheson in the 2nd Congressional District. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert said that when he ran with Gov. Jon Huntsman one of the promises was, "Let s grow the economy." "By growing the economy, the excess money can be used to X x fiSwuUiWWii iii mil rim i in-" Dam concerns county leaders because dioleinifps proposed releases from Flaming Gorge. Uintah County took a strong stance against the proposed increase in flows from Flaming Gorge because of concerns about noxious weeds, flood control and mosquitoes. Because commissioners commission-ers believe the Bureau of Reclamation is disregarding their concern in the environmental environ-mental assessment process, they have made appeals to the state of Utah for assistance. Commissioner Dave Haslem recently petitioned assistance from the Utah Constitutional Defense Council. "We believe that federal agencies listen to state agencies over county government," gov-ernment," Haslem said. The Constitutional Defense Council is composed of 11 members mem-bers and was set up in 1994 to provide funding to legally challenge unfunded federal mandates or any other issue. Commissioner Haslem sits on the council. Haslem said that the issue should have gone through Utah's Public Lands Council. "What we found after dealing with the federal government on the R.S. 2477 road issue, is that many times there are several sev-eral 'official positions' of the state," Haslem said. These positions are submitted submit-ted on federal issues independently indepen-dently developed by different pay the bills without increasing increas-ing taxes," Herbert said. Four specific areas where the present administration has focused are: Transportation. "This means from one end of the state to the other," Herbert said. Expand educational opportunities. oppor-tunities. Take stock that everything doesn't revolve around the Wasatch Front. Tax reform. is could affect the health and welfare of residents. state agencies. Haslem said such issues should be submitted to the Utah Public Lands Council to come up with the state's "official "offi-cial position." "I realize, the Public Land Council is just new, so this didn't happen," Haslem said. The only position from the state on the Bureau of Reclamation's proposal to increase flows was submitted submit-ted by the Division of Wildlife Resources which favored the plan. "The major concern to us is the spread of West Nile Virus," said Commissioner Mike McKee. Last year Uintah County had 12 human cases of West Nile Virus and one death. "The value of human life and sickness should be considered when talking about endangered endan-gered species," McKee said. Dr. Steven V. Romney, Uintah Mosquito Abatement District contends there is a direct relationship between flooding and mosquito production. produc-tion. "This far greater degree of flooding than would otherwise occur will activate thousands of additional acres of prime aquatic mosquito habitat," Romney stated in a letter to Senator Orin Hatch. "The enormous mosquito "There is no question that we have grown the economy and come election time we will probably take credit for it," he said. In a primarily Republican state, one Congressional seat that has eluded the GOP is the 2nd Congressional seat. Running for the seat are LaVar Christensen, a Utah representative rep-resentative and Joseph Tucker, a Salt Lake City businessman. "The Republican Party is . r- ' r n rt n Pnoto oy Steven R. nainsvernai Express ire populations which can be generated gen-erated throughout the river bottomlands pose a very real and documented threat to local public health, veterinary health, ranching and agriculture, agricul-ture, outdoor commerce, recreation recre-ation and tourism." "We have documented cases of West Nile virus in Uintah County and feel we need to do all we can to prevent it," said Joseph B. Shaffer, TriCounty Health director, in a statement state-ment about the EA. "There is no question that more water in the Green River bottomlands means more mosquitoes." McKee said the EA did not take into consideration the impact it would have on other protected species such as the sage grouse and bald eagles. Birds are common hosts for West Nile virus and often die from it. The EA does not take into consideration the impact on the economy in Daggett County, Haslem said. "We are asking the state of Utah and the Public Lands Board to take a second look at this issue before a Record of Decision is made," McKee said. Once a Record of Decision is issue, the county has no other option but to challenge the decision in court. not a party of weak knees," Christensen said. "I worry about values in an R-rated world. We need to presere that which we love and cherish. "The legacy of Ronald Reagan and the work he set out to do is not finished," he said. "There is still much to be done and each of us can make a positive difference differ-ence in the continuing upward climb of our great country." Joseph Tucker, a southern Democrat who switched parties par-ties because he couldn't reconcile recon-cile the Democratic platform with his peronsal beliefs, said if elected he would. Set judicial boundaries. Simplify the tax code. Solve the immigration problem. He challenged all candidates to a self-imposed spending limit of $40,000 for the convention and $80,000 for the primary. "We spend too much money on the convention and primary and get hurt in the election," he said. Local repository planned for 2009 By April Cqllett Express Writer The Utah Field House of Natural History Museum is going to be building a new repository on the empty lot located on the west side of the museum. This new repository will have storage for fossils and other artifacts, a paleontology laboratory and a library. The public will have a viewing area into the repository, where they can see the stored artifacts and also the work that is being done in the laboratory. Wayne Prokopetz of the National Park Services said that he is "looking forward to the repository being built ... we really need it." The National Park Service's budget plans to start building at the beginning of the 2009 fiscal year (October of 2008), but may instead start building in the springtime of 2009. Steve Sroka, the Field House Director, expressed that a major importance of this new repository reposi-tory is storage. All of the 408,000 items that are currently being stored at Dinosaur National Monument will be moved to the new repository. About 13,000 of the 408,000 items are dinosaur bones or paleontological and will be the main things showcased. show-cased. The rest of the 408,000 artifacts are anything from archaeological to biological which would be fossils of plants, insects, or many other items, said Ann Elder, the curator at Dinosaur National Monument. Sroka also commented Facilities board supports UBATC-USU building The Legislative Capital Facilities Board gave the Vernal UBATC-USU buildings its support after meeting with local representatives Monday. "Of all the facilities that need funding in the state, it is quite favorable to listed as number num-ber two," said Uintah County Commissioner Mike McKee. "We are exited with the prospects." pros-pects." The number one funding recommendation rec-ommendation from the board is a digital learning center at Utah Valley State College. Dr. Guy Denton, Utah State Univerity and Paul Hacking, Uintah Basin Applied Technology College president, presented the $14 million project proj-ect to the Capital Facilities Board. "Their reception was totally total-ly opposite from last year," Hacking said, remembering Tucker explained that this would be sufficient to "get the word out on who we are and what we stand for." "I've heard a lot of talk, from the candidates and others in the party, about the need to not spend so much money in convention and primary races beating each other up and helping help-ing Jim Matheson," he said. "Well, I want to know if they're serious or if they just think it's the right thing to say." KSL radio talk show host and possible 2nd District candidate, Doug Wright, was the keynote speaker at the dinner. Quoting President Lincoln from a book of poetry Wright said, "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield, battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, hearth-stone, all over this broad land, that "these collections are of National importance and they need a facility to be properly stored in." The current storage at Dinosaur National Monument works fine temporarily, but the artifacts need to be moved to a place with a better storage system sys-tem and newer technology for research. Currently, the National Park Services, as well as persons at the Field House are working to select the final design of the building. They have had many meetings to plan this new facility. facil-ity. They are also conducting environmental assessments for the social and economical impacts of the new building. In the completion of the repository, repos-itory, a large goal of Prokopetz' as well as Srokas' is not only to get all of the artifacts and archives in one place, but to also attract universities and other research organizations to come work and study at the new location. "I hope the laboratory labo-ratory will be available for university uni-versity research at times and I hope researchers can also work here," said Prokopetz. There will also be opportunities opportuni-ties for the community to volunteer vol-unteer and help in the repository. reposi-tory. In the future, there will be public meetings regarding the building of the repository. "I think this is a golden opportunity oppor-tunity for Vernal and all the agencies in this area," commented com-mented Prokopetz. The repository reposito-ry is hoped to be a positive addition addi-tion to the Field House and also a new attraction to bring people to Vernal. when the board scolded the presenters pre-senters for going over the allotted allot-ted time limit. "The negative feelings were gone and the project was spotlighted spot-lighted as something positive," Hacking said. "We are one step closer to being funded, but the ultimate decision is up to the Legislature." Several things are in favor of the project this year: a budget surplus, being included in the Governor's budget, and being mentioned in his State of the State address. "Recently I toured the oil fields located in Duchesne and Uintah counties," Gov. Jon Huntsman said. "Hundreds of new oil and gas wells dot the landscape. Representatives Gordon Snow and John Mathis told me that so many out-of-state workers See Building on A3 will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better bet-ter angels of our nature." "How can we love our country and not love our country men?" Wright asked. He said he was alarmed by people willing to forego their rights so that they will feel a little more secure. "Those who fought for those rights would roll over in their graves if they saw us forego our rights to be feel more secure. Many people said they support sup-port a search without a warrant war-rant if it will make the country more secure. "This is wrong," Wright said. Wright said that if the Republicans were going to win the 2nd Congressional seat, they are going to have to do things differently. "We beat ourselves up during dur-ing the convention and primary pri-mary and lay out everything for Matheson in the election," Wright said. Doug Wright LaVar Christensen Joseph C. 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