OCR Text |
Show A2 Wednesday, November 8, 2006 Vernal Express Extra Christmas Unemployment tree permits continues downward? 1 v I" 0 I if Pesticide applicators can recertify at a workshop offered in Vernal next Tuesday. Pesticide recertification workshops next week Pesticide applicator training and recertification workshops will be offered throughout Utah in November and December by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) and Utah State University Extension. Workshops will be held in Roosevelt on Nov. 14 at the Uintah Basin Applied Technology conference room, and in Price on Nov. 15 at the Carbon County Fairgrounds. Those whose pesticide licenses licens-es expire in December of 2006 shqt jd plan to attend. Commercial, noncommercial,' noncommer-cial,' and pri vate applicators are required to recertify their Utah pesticide licenses every three years. Then are three recer Awards presented to Basin officers Uintah Basin Section of the Utah Highway Patrol held its annual awards banquet on Sept. 23. The Utah Highway Patrol consists of 11 troopers, two sergeants, one lieutenant and one secretary covering Uintah, Daggett and Duchesne counties. coun-ties. The Utah Highway Patrol also includes seven dispatchers, dispatch-ers, two dispatch supervisors, and one communication center manager. In 2005. the dispatch center cen-ter handled 120,688 calls for service and 10,573 emergency (911) calls. The 911 calls as of September 2006 already number num-ber 13,171. The Uintah Basin dispatch center handles calls from 40 different agencies. The award tor the Uintah Basin Communication Center Dispatcher of the Year went to Bruce Brown who was praised for his quality customer service and team work. Special rec Repp sex offender blames 8-year-old victim Stacy Bascom, 50, recently pled guilty to one count of sodomy sod-omy on a child, a first degree felony, as part of a plea agreement agree-ment that dismissed seven other counts. In court last month, Bascom blamed the incidents on the victim. "He blamed everything on my daughter," said the victim's mother. "She was only eight years old when it happened." Bascom was already serving a prison sentence of one to 15 years for child sex abuse, a second sec-ond degree felony, filed in 2004. He will now serve a prison term of ten years to life, concurrent with the previous case. "I'm happy about that," said the girl's mother, but added that she wished it had been at least 15 years. The eight counts of sodomy sod-omy on a child were filed in September following an interview inter-view with the woman's 11-vear-old daughter who talked tification options: complete and pass the general pesticide exam and at least one category exam, attend a recertification workshop and pass at least one category exam, or attend pesticide pes-ticide training programs recognized rec-ognized by UDAF and obtain credit for the required number of continuing education units (CEUs). The workshops begin at 9 a.m. Those recertifying are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes min-utes early to pay fees. License recertification is $20 per person, per-son, and commercial applicators applica-tors must pay an additional licensing fee of $15 for one year and $45 for three years. Checks are the preferred meth- ognition was given to Leasha Stewart when she was awarded the EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch) incident of the year award. The Highway Patrol Officers were presented the awards for Section 5 Outstanding Trooper and awards for Outstanding Trooper in District A (Vernal and Daggett areas) and District B (Roosevelt and Duchesne areas). Sgt. Boyd Gledhill presented pre-sented Trooper Craig Young with the Outstanding Trooper in District A. Trooper Seth Spencer was presented the Outstanding Trooper in District B. Lt. Jeff Chugg presented the Section 5 Lieutenants Award to Trooper Craig Young. Recognized for her many unrecognized contributions to the community and the Highway Patrol was Secretary Danette Horrocks. about incidents that occurred two years ago over a period of about six months. In 2004, the then 8-year-old and another girl were interviewed in an investigation inves-tigation that led to Bascom being charged with one count sodomy on a child, which was dropped, and one count child sex abuse. The now 11-year-old did not reveal at that time that she too had been abused. Two years later, she decided she was "ready to talk," according to court records. Bascom appeared in court on Oct. 25 for a preliminary hearing, hear-ing, which he waived. Bascom entered his plea and asked to be sentenced immediately. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge John Anderson also ordered Bascom to pay restitution restitu-tion for the victim's treatment. "It's important that the public pub-lic know what kind of person he is." the mother said of Bascom. V-V ' od of payment, but cash will be accepted. Credit cards will not be accepted. Attendance rolls will be passed around at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Participants must sign the roll both times to receive six hours of credit for a workshop. Participants need to bring a calculator and pencil. pen-cil. Test takers are encouraged to pick up instructional manuals manu-als and study the information prior to the training date. For more information, visit www.ag.utah.gov or contact UDAF in Salt Lake City at 801-538-7185 or UDAF Compliance Specialist Bob Puck at 725-0202. Prescription drug discount card offered in Daggett County Daggett County launched a discount card program to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The county is making free prescription pre-scription drug discount cards available under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) that offers an average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. The cards may be used by all county residents, regardless of age, income, or existing health coverage, and are accepted at the majority of the area's pharmacies. phar-macies. A national network of more than 57,000 participation participa-tion retail pharmacies will also honor that NACo prescription card. "Daggett County is proud to be one of the counties nationwide nation-wide participating with NACo," said Commissioner Reed. "The NACo prescription discount card offers significant savings for the uninsured and under-insured under-insured residents of our county, coun-ty, and even those fortunate to have prescription coverage can use the card to save money on drugs that are not covered by their health plan. Residents do not have to be Medicare beneficiaries ben-eficiaries to be eligible for this program. "Best of all, there is no cost to county taxpayers for NACo or Daggett County to make these money saving cards avail Prescribed burn planned for Bear Top Fire management officials at the Ashley National Forest have scheduled a prescribed burn during the week of Nov. 6, 2006. The burn will be at the Bear Top area, on the Flaming Gorge Ranger District and will be one day. If the burn is not completed during this week, it will be accomplished this winter. win-ter. The size of the burn area is estimated to be approximately 1100 acres. The purpose for the burn go on sale Christmas tree permits will go on sale for the Ashley National Forest starting Nov. 17. The cost of the permit is $10 and is non-refundable. Permits can be used for trees up to 15 feet tall. The trees are for personal per-sonal use only and may not be resold or exchanged. Trees can be taken on the Ashley National Forest only, and not on state, private, BLM, or other public lands. Maps are available along with the permit, which describe the areas where trees can be cut and the species that can be taken. Also included is information infor-mation regarding the regulations regula-tions and conditions for retrieving retriev-ing trees such as: No topping of trees, as it is illegal and unsightly; Leave only a six inch stump above the ground surface sur-face (not snow surface); No cutting cut-ting within 200 feet of riparian areas (streams, lakes, and wet meadows), roads, campgrounds, administrative sites, and summer sum-mer home areas or within designated desig-nated closed areas on the map. Travel maps are also available avail-able at the District Offices for additional travel opportunity information. Boat ramp under construction The boat ramp at Antelope Flat on the Flaming Gorge District is currently under construction con-struction for improvements. The work will continue as long as weather permits. The public may experience some delays when, accessing the boat ramp. Please be cautious when recreating recre-ating in this area. For more1 information, please contact the Ashley National Forest at 435-789-1181. able to residents." Cards are available at the Daggett County Courthouse, Manila Senior Citizen Center, Manila Town Office, Manila Post Office, Flaming Gorge Lodge, and Dutch John Post Office. County residents can call toll free 1-877-321-2652 or visit http;naco.advancerx. com for assistance with the program. pro-gram. According to NACo, using the prescription card is easy simply present the prescription prescrip-tion card at a participating pharmacy. There is no enrollment enroll-ment form, no membership fee and no restrictions or limits on frequency of use. Cardholders and their family members may use the card any time their prescriptions pre-scriptions are not covered by insurance. The discount card program is administered by Caremark Rx, Inc. The National Association of Counties (NACo) is a full-service organization that provides legislative, research, technical, and public affairs assistance to county governments. Created in 1935, NACo continues to ensure that the nation's 3,066 counties are heard and understood in the White House and Congress. For further information, Call the Daggett County Auditor Human Resource Office at 435-784-3210. is to improve resources and enhance wildlife habitat, by reducing hazardous fuels. Due to uncertain weather and fuel conditions, fire management man-agement officials cannot specify spec-ify an exact time for the burn. The burn area will be posted for safety. Please be cautious while recreating in this area. For further information, please contact the Flaming Gorge Ranger District at 435-781-5260. The Utah unemployment rate-the most heavily weighted component of the Zions Bank Small Business Index for Utah was estimated at 2.8 in the latest month, down from the prior month's 3.2 rate. The current 2.8 rate, one of ' the lowest rates ever recorded in the state and the lowest in the continental U.S., compares to a jobless rate of 4.3 during the same month one year ago. A lower Utah unemployment rate is a negative contributor to the Index as it implies decreased access to Utah labor. Utah's unemployment rate averaged 4.3 in 2005, 5.1 in 2004, 5.7 in 2003 and in 2002, and 4.4 in 2001. By comparison, compari-son, the 3.4 average during 2000 was one of the lowest annual annu-al rates since the early 1950s. These rates compare to an average aver-age Utah unemployment rate of 3.5 between 1995 and 1999. Total Utah employment rose by an estimated 58,300 jobs (up 5.0) over the past 12 months, one of the strongest annualized gains in more than 10 years, and the second strongest job growth rate in the nation. This Dinosaur National Monument announces winter hours Superintendent Mary Risser announced that Dinosaur National Monument's temporary tempo-rary visitor center near Jensen, is open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. through the winter, win-ter, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Although the visitor center cen-ter will be closed on those days, the rest of the monument will be open to the public. "Beginning Nov. 1, 2006, the Canyon Area Visitor Center in Dinosaur, Colo., will close until March 1, 2007," stated Risser. "Last year we had less than 100 people stop in the visitor center cen-ter during the winter months. Traditional off-season visitation has been centered on the fossil exhibits at the Quarry Visitor Center with visitation ranging from 400 per month in the dead of winter to 1,000 per month in the shoulder seasons. While we foresee visitation numbers dropping because of the closure of the primary fossil exhibit in the Quarry Visitor Center, keeping the temporary visitor center with some fossil exhibits and fossil replicas open would best serve the needs of most offseason off-season visitors. "If we move the ranger who currently staffs the Canyon (ISSN 0892-1091) Published every Wednesday for $26 per year in the shopping area and $42 per year out out of the shopping area within the state and $46 per year out of state within the USA by the Vernal Express Publishing Company, 54 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, Utah 84078. Periodical 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 Jen Petty Writer Janine Shannon Writer Elizabeth Goode Writer Sarah Forsgren . . Writer Gabrielle Jones Legals, Obit, Classifieds Patty John Proofreader Jennifer Downard AdsLayout Heaher Crosby AdsLayout Jacque Hobbs Advertising Eric Petty Advertising Harriet Harding Circulation & Billing Phone: 435-789-3511 FAX: 453-789-8690 Website: www.vernal.com email: editorvernal.com DEADLINES News Fnday 5p m. Display Advertising Friday 5 p.m. Classified Advertising Friday 12 Noon Public Notices Friday 12 Noon rise compares to a revised gain; of 55,100 jobs in the prior year over-year period. - Utah added 45,200 jobs iri 2005 and 30,200 jobs in 2004; These totals compare to gains averaging 38,000 new jobs annuf" ally during the 1994-2000 period and a net loss of 1,300 jobs in 2001 through 2003. Stronger job gains, leading to better income creation and stronger retail spending, have a posit tive impact upon "Utah's small businesses ... and therefore, the Index. The Zions Bank Small Business Index for Utah was 112.1 during October 2006, down from a revised 115.3 during September 2006. The Index measures mea-sures business conditions from the viewpoint of the Utah small business owner or manager. A lower Index number is associated with less favorable favor-able business "conditions" for Utah's small businesses. The Index uses 100.0 for calendar year 1997 as its base year. The Index includes revisions to various historical or forecast components as they become available. Area Visitor Center to the Temporary Visitor Center, we will be able to keep the Temporary Visitor Center open seven days a week," Risser continued. "The savings will provide an additional person during the summer when visitation visi-tation is the highest." Campers on the Utah side of the Monument should use the Split Mountain campground, which will remain open for the entire winter. Vault toilets will remain open at the Split Mountain campground for the winter, but no water is available. avail-able. No camping fees will be charged at the Split Mountain campground during the winter. The campgrounds at Rainbow Park, Deer Lodge (near Elk Springs, Colo.) and Echo Park remain open, but snowfall will prevent access to those campgrounds as the winter win-ter season progresses. Rainbow Park, Deer Lodge and Echo Park campgrounds have vault toilets but no running water. No fees are charged at these campgrounds during the winter win-ter season. The Harpers Corner Road is scheduled to remain open until the end of Decembers For more information, call (435) 781-7717. 1 |