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Show V A6 Wednesday, June 27, 2007 Vernal Express j nion pi f 1 it opini nN Easy Solutions for Problems? Leaders show poise in addressing area problems Express Writer Last week was a great week for solving or at least better understanding some issues that are demanding some attention in Uintah County. First of all, you can sleep easy, there should not be an energy bust for quite a number of years in the Uintah Basin. I heard a presentation by Haliburton officials discussing the future of the oil and gas market in the Uintah Basin. In their . words, they will be adding 30 percent to their work force in the next 12 to 18 months and see no slowdown in oil and gas well service companies for the next five years or longer. They talked about gas consumption trends in the United States, which will go from 22 trillion cubic feet per year now to more than 27 trillion cubic feet in the year 2020. They talked about working harder for the remaining gas reserves in the area, but higher prices companies can afford to continue drilling. And they did project higher prices. .: Currently gas production is localized for what is consumed in the U.S. and the Rocky Mountain's reserves are considered some of the best in the nation. With the construction of more and more pipelines, the gas drilled here will serve even more places in the United States - thus another reason for sustained growth and market share over the next few years. Not to mention that our gas is selling for considerable less than that produced along the gulf. Sustained growth and economic surpluses are also measured by how much a company is willing to spend on infrastructure. Haliburton is committing some $35 million in new facilities in the Naples Industrial Park over the next year or so and that comes with an expectation that mis economy will continue for quite sometime in the future. And other companies are also committing at the same levels as the new industrial park just East of Naples has sold out the first phase and is starting on the second. Exxon, as just one drilling entity serviced in our area, is projecting 4,400 wells in the next 10 years on property just over the border into Colorado. The wells will be an average aver-age depth of 1 0,000 feet and taking 30 days or more for drilling. That's a lot of drilling with a lot of needed service from most of the service companies that have located in the Vernal area. But this means we will see more of the same with the down side of growth. Try hiring hir-ing someone in any business on main street or in the oil field service sector. It is getting extremely difficult to find anyone who wants to work when we have about two percent unemployment in the area. And when you do find someone willing to move here, try to find housing - rentals or something to buy - and for a price that is acceptable. We have people moving in from some pretty big cities that are shell-shocked when they see prices of real estate and rental units. Companies are renting whole motels for employees, negatively impacting those people we have enticed to the area each year as tourists. Only this year, they are going to; find it very hard to find a room. ; " is there an easy solution? I don't think so, but I do applaud our government leaders in the county and cities in getting together to discuss these issues and talk about solutions. solu-tions. Officials from Haliburton said they were not in the trailer park making business, but still have to work out problems with trying to hire another 100 employees in the next year and make sure these people are able to move here once they commit. I can give you an easy solution for the problems plaguing the southern United States. First of all, don't worry about building fences along our border. I say dig a moat the length of the Mexican border. Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levies. lev-ies. Then put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border. Housing and growth problems in the Basin - let's hear some solutions from our readers. Civic leaders should seek divine assistance To pray or not to pray Br la Esaa Express Associate Editor When I attended my first Vernal city council meeting more than a month ago and a Naples city council meeting a week later, I was surprised to see city officials begin with not only the Pledge of Allegiance, but also a prayer. In my previous reporting assignments elsewhere in Utah, I covered several city councils, a county commission and a water improvement district, among others. Many started with a patriotic ; opening, generally the Pledge of Allegiance, before getting down to business. Those that didn't often didn't have a flag displayed in their council chambers or boardroom. Initially, prayers at civic meetings shocked me and I questioned whether they were a violation of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. But no one in the audience was forced into participating, just as they are not required to participate in the recitation of the Pledge. Our state legislators begin each session with a prayer - and have several more prayers through the legislative session. Likewise, the U.S. Congress has prayers as part of their proceedings and the presidential inauguration often includes a prayer. It's obvious that religious activities are part of our governmental activities and the Supreme Court has generally agreed. Granted, I was somewhat more shocked by a blessing on the food at a banquet sponsored by a high school club in May, but the place of prayers in schools is another debate for another time and place. I was pleasantly surprised when I covered the Relay for Life at Uintah High School a few weeks ago and the opening ceremonies included a prayer by an area pastor. I don't recall which denomination he represented, but I was impressed by the fact that organizers organiz-ers had selected someone who is not a member of the IDS church. At each of the city council meetings I attended, invocations were in the style and manner of the IDS church. And I assumed the reason for that was the council members who said the prayers were members of the IDS church. I had been concerned that other denominations had been left out and was happy to see another denomination represented at a community event And last week at a Vernal city council meeting, I realized that the prayers offered at city council meetings are far from an act of public piety. Ratiw, our civic leaders are humble enough to invoke the help of God in their decision-malang process. Thafs a good thing for each of us represented by these elected cjfficials.lt doesn't matter whether we are IDS. It doesn't matter whether we attend the Baptist, Catholic or any other Christian church. It doesn't even matter whether we are Buddhist Islamic, Jewish or Hindu. It really doesn't matter if we're atheist agnostic or simply don't have a religious preference. The fact that our elected officials are calling on a power higher than themselves before they sit down to set policies and pass laws shows they recognize they may err in their actions. By requesting divine assistance, they open the door for more dialog and input from whatever source. Our public officials should continue to invoke assistance from powers higher than themselves. And as they do so, we should hope they agree with the requests for assistance as-sistance in their official duties. Vouchers good for parents Dear editor, I could like to respond to Superintendent Nelson's letter of June 13, concerning school vouchers. We will all have the opportunity to vote on House Bill 148, "Parent Choice on Education Act." I would like to address some of the concerns Mr. Nelson seemed to have. He lists four points and asks us to consider them. First, there is the issue of the actual money to be spent. After an application is filed, reviewed and an amount is awarded to a student wishing to go to a private school, public schools will receive a compensation for that student leaving. This is a five-year compensation, which should give the public school system a big adjustment adjust-ment time. There is much said about overcrowded classrooms and overworked teachers. Here is an incentive to encourage parents who are willing to do something more for their child and alleviate some of that. I would think we would gladly support a bill that would financially help parents of private schooled Ijj children - who are also taxpayers tax-payers -and not feel a drastic, if any, financial drain on our present public school system. This seems like a. win-win situation to me. Second, he directs our attention to the topic of testing. Private schools are not bound to the regime of tests required by public schools. In my mind, that is a good thing. They do not have to teach "to the test." True education can thrive where learning is its own reward and not a test score. Home- and private-schooled students consistently score high on given academic tests. They repeatedly win national academic contests and do well in college. Mr. Nelson's concern that tests should be the same, to have that responsibility to see that their students are Public Forum - Letters to the Editor What is your opinion? The Vernal Express welcomes letters from its readers concerning any subject pertinent to the Uintah Basin. There are no restrictions on contents, if in good taste and not libelous libel-ous or vindictive. Letters may be edited for length. All letters must be submitted exclusively to the Vernal Express and bear the full name, signature, phone number and address of the writer or writers. Letters for the sole purpose of expressing thanks to individuals or groups will not be printed in this forum. Submissions Submis-sions may be mailed to 54 N. Vernal Ave., Vernal, UT 84078; faxed to 435-789-8690 or sent by e-mail to editorvernal.com The name or names of the persons submitting letters must appear on all published letters. Letters express the opinion of the writer or writers and are not necessarily the opinion of the Vernal Ver-nal Express. UT IK1MIPIPIEIMIEID) MRU OTByTGSCARECROW MS S s s "V A COUPLE SAW A BACK ROAD THAT APPEARED TO CROSS PRICAN LAKE AND DROVE INTO IT.TURNS OUT THE ROAD HADENT BEEN USED SINCE THE FIFTYS SO THE TRUCK AND CAMPER SANK. A FARMER WITH A BACKHOE HAD TO PULL THEM OUT.THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS THE COUPLES PRIDE. learning and progressing at an expected level, public or private school. Third, Mr. Nelson reminds us that federal law mandates public school teachers to have degrees and be accredited. accred-ited. That is the system they choose to belong to and we have many excellent teachers. teach-ers. But, graduating from college and having several degrees does not make someone some-one a good teacher. Often life experiences, personality, rapport with the student and desire to teach make an inspirational inspi-rational teacher. If a parent chooses to enroll their child in a private school, approves of the curriculum and feels the teacher is meeting the needs of their student, it is a wonderful, positive situation. Unfortunately, that is not always an option in a public school setting. Fourth, Mr. Nelson asks the question, "Would it be appropriate to hold private schools to the same standards as public schools if they receive tax dollars?" The answer, to me, is no. It is two different games with different differ-ent players, different rules and the educational "win" is different. But parents of children in both systems are taxpayers and should have the opportunity to choose the education they feel is best for their students. The state school board is very against school vouchers. They use their influence to advertise against the vouchers vouch-ers and they are "big business" busi-ness" in Utah. We will hear a lot of negative press about the school vouchers. Common sense tells me that if a parent is willing to step outside the box, assume responsibility for their child's learning, sacrifice and reach for a higher level with their child's education and is a taxpayer, tax-payer, why not let them have a helping hand? It will not take away from the needs of our children in public school and could actually be of benefit to all, as more students are financially able to enhance their education. There is no state tax increase. The money is budgeted bud-geted already. There will not be a "run" on public funds. Parents involved so much in their children's education are usually committed and willing will-ing to give much more than they take. Pam Clinch Vernal Clarks named Lapoint grand marshals Tiny and MaryLee Clark will serve as grand marshals July 3 and 4. The program and dance will begin at 7 p.m. July 3 at the pavilion at the Lapoint Park. Music will be provided by the Rumhouse Jazz Mafia Band. A flag raising ceremony will be at the pavilion at 9 a.m. July 4. The parade will begin at 10 am. A children's carnival will start at 11 a.m. Food, fun and games will run throughout the day. Lapoint resident Dorothy Luck said, "There are community-minded people who build up and those who tear down. Tiny Clark is one of the builders. An extremely versatile man, there are few things he can't do." Welding jobs, horse training, train-ing, leather work, including saddles, tack, belts, purses, and sprinkler system installations instal-lations are some of the skills that Clark possesses. When Clark was asked how many horses he has broke and trained, he replied with a grin, "Oh, four or five ... hundred." Many years ago, the Lapoint Development Club was organized. Among them were Lawrence Caldwell and "Dad" Norton. One of the club's projects was the setting of a flagpole on the brow of the Lapoint Hill. When the old flagpole fell down, Caldwell called on Tiny Clark for help. With Clark's help, a new metal pole was erected, complete com-plete with rope and pulley. A flag was donated by the American Legion, courtesy of Neal Deets. When the flagpole flag-pole was vandalized last year, Clark again volunteered to help repair the damage. Tiny and MaryLee were married April 21, 2006. They discovered it was more fun to take horse and mule rides , together than to ride alone. They have 21 grandchildren and one great-grandchild from previous marriages. Luck said, "The town of Lapoint wishes to honor them and to thank Tiny for his service through the years in keeping Old Glory afloat." P v Tiny and MaryLee Clark will serve as grand marshals of Lapoint's patriotic celebration July 3 and 4. Call 789-35 11 To Place an Classified Ad Today |