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Show Wednesda1 Septembei Single Copy 50t Vernal, Utah 84078 114th Year No. 36 UVtlfltUmmv Man deals with hardship. See A6 WEATHER BY Alumni Activites B1 ASPEN BROOK REALTY, INC. See CI J i A i ! JV I www uwnai om r-A b. r yi HOMECOMING 1 4 4 I 1'89 6139 Qr A few thunderstorms Morning showers. 1 possible. Highs in the tow 60s Over 50 Vernal residents brought their dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens to tomorrow in Roosevelt. Transportation still issue at By Janine Shannon Express Writer Several parents of Maeser Elementary students again addressed the Uintah School District school board last Tuesday, presenting reasons why something should be done to make transportation to and from school safer for their children. chil-dren. No sidewalks, an open canal, busy streets, few crosswalks, cross-walks, and not enough crossing guards within the 1.5 mile "parent "par-ent responsibility zone" were among these reasons. As a result of past state legislation leg-islation and the decision of the school district to return to neighborhood schools this year, students living within 1.5 miles from a school are no longer bussed. Since both parents par-ents work in many families, the change has posed problems in areas where parents do not feel comfortable allowing their children to walk, like the 1.5 mile radius around Maeser Elementary. As of now, parents have succeeded in at least getting get-ting kindergartners bussed one way; morning kindergartners are bussed home from school Brahes put on board appoiinitaesii's By Steven R. Wallis Express Editor Commissioners are backing away from appointments to Special Service District Board smade last week. "We are sure we did every correctly," said Deputy Uintah County Attorney Ed Peterson, "We want to make sure we do everything entirely correct." So the appointments will be on hold for at least 30 days until the county can advertise the openings on the four boards. The complaint about the appointments was brought to a head by county resident Sandy Hansen. "I believe the county commissioners com-missioners (and City councils of Ballard, Naples and Vernal) Three candidates race for Utah State Senate By Elizabeth Gqqde Express Writer Candidates on the ballot for the Nov. 7 election are moving into the final weeks of campaign activity. The Utah Senate seat for District 26 has thee contenders: Sonya Ray, Constitution Party; Roland Uresk, Democratic Party and Kevin Van Tassell, Republican Party. Summit, Wasatch, Duchesne, Uintah and Daggett counties are all a part of District 26. Early vote will start on Oct. 23 outside the Clerk-Auditor's Office in the State and County Building. Kevin Van Tassell Kevin Van Tassell is the Republican candidate for the Utah Senate. "I want to be the state senator for District 26 because I am concerned about Big and afternoon kindergartners are bussed to school. In some cases, exceptions have been made for all students. Those living less than 1.5 miles away from the school in the Maeser Meadows subdivision, for instance, are being bussed because the area between the school and the subdivision has been designated a danger zone. The district is reimbursed for transportation expenses inside the 1.5 mile radius only if the area has been deemed dangerous danger-ous by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). "I really think it's a money issue," said Marcie Young, parent par-ent of two Maeser Elementary students. She asked the council how much it would cost for a bus to stop and pick up the children chil-dren it normally passes. Michelle Johnson, also a parent, asked the council if students having to walk past the houses of four pedophiles makes the area unsafe. Other parents, not directly affected by the transportation issue, voiced their opinions. Deb Fisher of Deb's Day Care, located at 1571 North and 3500 West, said she attended the meeting to speak inadvertently failed to follow the procedure required by State law in appointing members to the administrative control board of the proposed Uintah Fire Suppression, Economic Development, Animal Control Shelter and (modified Health Special Service District and that those appointed are void," said Hansen. Utah Code requires that the appointing authority prepare a notice of vacancy, Hansen suggests. sug-gests. "Since these are new board there are no vacancies," Peterson said. "But to be safe we are going to wait on the appointments." The notice of vacancy must be posted in four public places within the special district at least one month before the deadline for accepting nomi needs for the entire district as well as here in the Uintah Basin. We have many growth impact issues to deal with. We must follow through on economic econom-ic diversity in addition to the oil and gas extraction. "It is important to develop representation in the Wasatch Front for defending our rural values and our family values." Van Tassell continued', "I know one of the big issues that we will be facing is water maintaining main-taining our water resources here in our district, as well as for the state of Utah. "Transportation is going to be a key issue for our continuing development and for our critical criti-cal needs right now." Van Tassell was born and raised in Tabiona on a family fam-ily farm, where he learned to be sensitive of water issues and their importance as they relate to the economics of the agricul Fix be spayed or neutered Tuesday. The The road next to Maeser Elementary, sidewalks for children who walk to and out for the safety of all children. chil-dren. The parents commended Principal Dennis Atkin for doing all he can for the safety of the students. Atkin rides his bike up and down the streets as children walk home. The board listened to comments, com-ments, and then board president presi-dent Tod Tesar suggested that parents talk with county commissioners com-missioners about improvements improve-ments such as sidewalks and road lines. This issue is on the docket for the county commissioner's commis-sioner's meeting on Monday at nees for appointment. They also must be published "in a local weekly newspaper circulated circu-lated within the special district in the week before the deadline dead-line for accepting nominees for appointment." "No notice of vacancies was posted or published, much less notice with the specific and detailed information required by State law," Hansen said in a letter to JoAnn Stringham, Uintah County attorney. "Instead, and by their own admission during the Sept. 11 meeting, the Commissioners relied on interested appointees to intuit from their knowledge that the Commissioners intended intend-ed to establish the districts." Appointed to the Health SSD Board were Mike McKee, Cal Dee Reynolds, Dennis Long, Tom Norstrum, Dr. Richard tural sections of Utah. He said, "Agriculture has been a large part of my life and understanding. understand-ing. For the past 25 years I've been involved with banking, dealing with business development, develop-ment, working through bust as well as boom cycles. I think that gives me a great insight into where we are economically in our senatorial district." Kevin and his wife, Janice, have raised five daughters, having been married 33 years. Their youngest child is a senior at Uintah High School, also attending Northwestern Colorado Community College in Rangely. "Eighteen grandchildren, grandchil-dren, who are our pride and joy, have come as blessings to our family." they said. Van Tassell said, "I attribute my desire to run with wanting to maintain and improve the life-styles of our families and our grandchildren - yours and 8s$zLi&& ..ivi event continues today in Vernal and Maeser 2500 West, is a busy road with no from school. Photo by Janine shannon 11 a.m. The public may attend. Tesar later said that the only way for students to be bussed within the 1.5 mile restriction would be for UDOT to designate desig-nate the area a danger zone. He said the board is not looking at pulling money from the general fund to pay for transportation because it would take money away from funding for textbooks, text-books, supplies, new teachers, etc. Young said she and other parents par-ents will keep at it until something some-thing happens. Jolley, Bill Rasmussen and Gary Showlter. The Health Board was expanded to provide pro-vide for representatives from Uintah County, Vernal City, Naples City, Ballard, the Health Department, Golden Age Center and the Uintah Care Center. Appointed to the Fire SSD were Mike McKee, JoAnn Cowan, Rob DeCol, Robert Abercombie and Delmer Lane. To the Economic Development SSD Board appointees were Mike McKee, Sonya Norton, Dennis Long, Tammy Meacham, and Duston Mortenson. Animal Control Board appointees were Dave Haslem, Dennis Glines, Dan Olsen, Emily Novenger, and Vern Combs. Replacing Ralph Brown on the Special Transportation Board is Commissioner Haslem. '? V, ' fc. u : r. Kevin Van Tassell mine - here in the state of Utah; I have their interests at heart as we move toward the future. "Locally, we face stiff challenges chal-lenges in providing the infrastructure infra-structure for the energy industry, indus-try, and for those employees Uresli charged with 2 misdeanors By Janine Shannon Express Writer Duchesne County Deputy Attorney At-torney Roland Uresk has been formally charged by the Utah Attorney General's Office with two misdemeanors for allegedly failing to report child abuse. Utah Law 62A-4a-403 states, "When any person has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to incest, molestation, molesta-tion, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect. ne-glect. . . he or she shall immediately imme-diately notify the nearest peace officer, law enforcement agency, or office of the division." Utah law also states in 62A-4a-411 that "any person, official, or institution institu-tion required to report a case of suspected child abuse, child sexual abuse, neglect. . . who willfully fails to do so is guilty of a class B misdemeanor." In response to an article presenting pre-senting Uresk's perspective in the paper two weeks ago, the Uintah County Child Abuse Task Force was concerned that the public might have developed devel-oped misconceptions about the law. The task force, consisting of law enforcement agencies, Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), county attorneys, attor-neys, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), meets once a month to review child abuse cases and discuss other issues. Jeannie Green, coordinator at the Children's Justice Center in Vernal, said she thought that as a result of the situation, people might be less likely to report child abuse. Greene emphasized that everyone ev-eryone is required by law to report re-port suspected child abuse. She added that the person reporting does not have to prove or even know for sure that the abuse is occurring because law enforcement enforce-ment and DCFS work together to investigate the validity of the report. "If there's nothing to find, Two more WNV cases Two more cases of West Nile Virus have been reported report-ed in Duchesne County "We have had two additional addition-al confirmed WNV cases in the TriCounty Health District for 2006," said Joseph Shaffer. "Two Duchesne County men, one age 18-39, as well as one age 45-64 have been confirmed as having West Nile Virus." Previously Shaffer reported a Uintah County man age 45-64 45-64 had been confirmed as having hav-ing West Nile Virus. "While most individuals do not have symptoms, about 20 percent of cases show flu-like symptoms: fever, nausea and ' Roland Uresk , needed to support the growth. We will be required to do everything we can to get the increased revenue back from the general fund to assist these impacted areas." Van Tassell related that ' sSffj iif v fit then they won't find anything," Greene said. "I would rather have somebody embarrassed than have a child being hurt and the situation ignored." The charges against Uresk are based on information he received re-ceived in two phone calls, one in September 2005 and the other in May 2006. Uresk directed the caller to contact DCFS on both occasions and did not report himself because he said the caller could not give him any specific information. "The law says any person," Greene said, referring to Utah Law 62A-4a-403, also known as the "mandatory reporting law." The are only a few very specific and limited exceptions to this law, like in the case of a clergyman clergy-man who hears the confession of a perpetrator or an attorney who represents a perpetrator in court. A booklet published by Prevent Child Abuse Utah more specifically defines "any" person, which includes "an attorney, at-torney, unless he or she has acquired the knowledge of the abuse or neglect from a client who is or may be accused of the abuse or neglect." Greene said she understands how difficult it is for people to report suspected abuse. Reporters Report-ers of child abuse may fear being be-ing wrong or getting sued for defamation. However, reporters can remain anonymous and are immune from civil vA criminal., liability because of the "good faith" provision in Utah Law 62A-4a-410, which protects reporters. re-porters. As a member of the child abuse task force, Uintah County Deputy Attorney Ed Peterson gives seminars to teachers, attorneys, at-torneys, and at hospitals regarding regard-ing child abuse law and the not only moral, but legal, responsibility responsi-bility to report. The task force hopes to schedule another seminar semi-nar soon. Uresk will appear in court on Friday at 11 a.m. even a rash are common." Less common are severe neurological symptoms such as this case which affect about one in every 150 people included," Shaffer said. Officials continue to stress the importance of personal protection. "Cover up with clothing in the evenings and wear insect repellent with DEET when you go out from dusk to down, Shaffer advises. "Mosquito proof your yard by getting rid of or treating standing water. Also place screens on doors and windows to keep mosquitoes mosqui-toes out of your homes." Sonya Ray "The legislative tour to the Uintah Basin stimulated great interest and a desire to assist us in our needs. There has been a task force, chaired by Gale McKeachnie, which has See Candidates on A5 A. |