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Show V A6 Tuesday, July 11,2007 Vernal Express inion I Op o r I n i o N Common sense backs laws and rules Express Associate Editor I've never been one for blind obedience. I think people need to think about why laws, rules and regulations were created and not just follow them because someone said so. But I've only had a few rare occasions where I believed a law or policy was wrong. Even so I've generally followed them, mostly out of fear of the consequences. That's why I was surprised by a motorist I observed traveling U.S. Highway 40 last weekend. My wife and I had to go to the Wasatch Front on Saturday Satur-day and we were on our way back when another car passed us and several other cars on a blind curve and crossing a double-yellow line. The car must have been going at least 85 mph. At that point, we thought nothing of it. We launched into a conversation about how Utah drivers weren't really all that better or worse than other drivers. Just look at how many different states are on license plates in the basin. There are just as many bad Utah drivers as there are bad Colorado, Wyoming and Texas drivers. But just after passing Fruitland we saw the same driver. He had been stopped by a state trooper. It wouldn't surprise me if he got a ticket, but he may have gotten away with just a warning. We thought the driver might slow down and drive more carefully. We were wrong. Before we even reached Starvation Reservoir, here he came, at the same speed and just as reckless. We laughed it off again and wondered if we'd see him stopped on the side of the road again. We didn't. The driver of the car didn't understand why speeding and making bad passes are wrong. If he stopped driving that reckless out of fear of a ticket, it would be a start. But what would be better is for him to understand the reasons for those laws in the first place. In my mind it had to do with keeping yourself and other highway users safe. Some people just don't get that lesson. An it takes getting in a bad accident or having a near miss before they improve. We saw similar behavior among our neighbors last week as they set off fireworks. With a backdrop of a fire still burning and ash falling in our yards, many proceeded to have their own private fireworks shows. As I saw a few of my neighbors set off bottle rockets and other illegal fireworks, I wondered what it would take for them to change their minds. A wildfire literally in our backyards, a proclamation by the governor restricting open flames on public lands and repeated warnings from safety and law enforcement enforce-ment officials were not enough to change their minds. It would be nice to get through a July without having to wonder if that bottle rocket would end up starting a fire. And it would be nice to be able to drive down the highway with the expectation that other drivers would be considerate of other motorists' safety. We should all think more about why certain laws are enacted. We are likely going to realize that lawmakers usually have our best interests in mind. And even the laws that restrict us more than we like are generally there to protect others' rights and safety. Youth volunteers are tops! Express Publisher " We are now at the halfway point of summer activities that have begun since school ended arid will finish before school starts and there have been many. There are ballgames of every make and model. There are concerts and practicing of instruments. There are campouts and related camping activities. Hikes. ATV rides. Cookouts. Scouting activities that include knot tying, rope making, fence making, catapult making and operating plus a myriad of merit badge instruction. And these hold true for girl scouts and 4-H and hundreds of church activities from Bible study to the study of stars. You can see those who are involved in the big brother and sister programs. There are programs for the youth. There are programs for the seniors where they youth are involved. There are walks and runs that involve the youth. Then there's sports. Anything from swimming to dancing. Baseball to soccer to golf. In all of these opportunities, success only comes if there are adult volunteers who are willing to sacrifice their time and part of their lives for the good of our youth. These are adults who see the importance of raising a generation of youth where the youth can trust and emulate adults. These are adults that see the importance of youth having an adult friend and mentor all tied into one neat package. These are adults who see the need to set the stage for life altering conversations conversa-tions or in the least, conversations where the kid is made to feel important and adult or grownup. These conservations come as a way to compare what an adult has to say about a certain subject, versus what their peers are saying. And they are important. This is a chance for adults to show kids that winning is not everything in life. But rather, being honest and playing fair and working hard for the end result are. Adult volunteerism is a way of showing kids that if they want their world to be a great place to live, they, too, will be needed to serve as volunteers at some point in the future. So midway through the summer of activities, thanks goes to all you youth leaders. lead-ers. There is an old African proverb stating that it takes a villiage to raise a child. Well, as old as that saying is, it has never been more applicable than today. My heartfelt thanks goes to all the youth leaders and volunteers in our community. com-munity. Thank you for the countless hours you provide in helping me and others raise our kids whether it be with sports or music, reading or service, or just plain hard working experiences. It is your understanding of a well rounded life that becomes important to the youth you are in contact with. And with your efforts, there will be another generation of volunteers who are concerned about the progress of youth and how they can become good citizens of this great country. Thanks and keep the effort going. Immeasurable Courage IhftgglFgir Uintah Basin News Service Stephen Ridley. George Houston. Tracy Houston. These are names your children, their children, and their children's children should know. On June 29, these men made a decision to stand by their friend, Roger Rober-son Rober-son Sr., and help him fight to save his home from the Neola North Fire. The trio could have turned their back on the 75-year-old rancher at any time as fingers of swirling fire advanced on them. Without doubt, they had every reason to leave what would ultimately become the valley of the shadow of death on that day. George Houston was a retiree working his own ranch in Neola. He and his wife Margie raised four children, including Tracy, and were enjoying the gift of 19 grandchildren. Tracy Houston, whose only son Duane was with him that day, was raising six children with his wife JaLynn. In addition to his work for USDA Farm Service Agency for 18 years, he was active in his church, holding numerous callings working with the youth. Stephen Ridley - a Ute Tribe Fish and Wildlife officer - was also risking his future with his wife, Katherine, their children, and grandchildren. But instead of abandoning their neighbor in his hour of need, the three men stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a man of character, a man much like themselves. Some might view this kind of resolve as foolish, given the dire circumstances, but nobody could have predicted that the fire would strike with such speed and ferocity, leaving only Ridley behind. Certainly the Houstons would have chosen life over death. Their willingness, and Ridley's, to stay and help despite the danger belies the fact that they believed they would escape their situation. It also illustrates the immeasurable courage it must have taken to see the roaring flames nearby, feel the immense heat, and still stay the course they'd chosen: to help a friend. We believe Roger Roberson Jr. put it best at his father's memorial service Saturday: In the truest sense of the word Stephen Ridley and George and Tracy Houston were-men that day. Teach your children about them. Tabiona All Stars . take stand Dear editor, Five of the seven Tabiona All Stars declined to play in the All Star Tournamentwhen their coaches were stripped of their first place All Star positions. Allowme to explain whythis tragedy occurred. Altamont WBBA decided to vote All Star coaches after the season was bver. Now here is the outcome of this ridiculous voting propaganda. Head coach of the All Star Team is the assistant coach of the team with the worst record in the league. Then you get an assistant coach on the All Star team who didn't even coach little league baseball this year. Now to top it off, the head coach of the number one team becomes an assistant coach for the All Star team. I don't see the justice here. Is it because the head coach of the number one team is a woman? Is this a case of discrimination? Need we explain any further why five Tabiona All Stars refuse to play? The All Star team that was announced July 28 deserves to play in the All Star Tournament with the coaches who got them there. You can take away our All Star Tournament play but nobody can take away the fact our teamisnumberone. There is no Altamont All Star team and Altamont is hosting the All Star Tournament. Tanna Giles Coach Tabiona Rockies Vernal Waterslide Closure Dear Editor, We are sorry we had to close down the slide. A few complaining people caused Uintah County Health Department De-partment to shut down the slide several times which reduced the sales enough that the cost of electricity, gas, labor and other expenditures could not be met. The Health Department's closure signs caused a great deal of gossip and false speculation, specu-lation, which have also put a' burden on business. For your information, there was never a fungus, virus, bacteria or contamination con-tamination found. We tested the pools four times daily, and the health department checked often and we were never found to be unsafe. The whole area was cleaned after each session, which caused many complaints because people could not be inside the pool until the cleaning was done. The pool was mainly;y operated by youth that were given the opportunity to learn some very important life skills, but they were harassed by a few unkind people that were unwilling to allow youth to develop in what they thought was a safe community. They would have accepted a kind suggestion and worked hard to comply - they were doing it. We were closed down the last time for four days because be-cause wrappers were on the deck. The last complaint that helped my son and I decide not to fight closure anymore was the discovery of a child's rubber duck at the bottom of the large pool and a hair net that must have washed down the tube when the slide was turned on, neither of which were life threatening. It was hard making the decision to close because of youth that wanted summer jobs and worked very hard to please every request the Health Department placed upon them, only to be bit with another petty complaint. They learned government does not always help but often hinders. As one may expect, often youth do not respond to the destruction destruc-tion of self-esteem, especially when their personal lives are falling apart. I hope they can learn to forgive those that have harassed them. Also we When "Good 1 job" r7 r needs V tobe J sail J I i Saytton l, the Vernal ffc Express y Opinion f Page! ' SCHIP Funding Dear editor: The U.S. Senate has been debatingtheState Children's Health Insurance Program, which is up for renewal by theendofSeptember.SCHD? has provided a vital source of health care coverage to children whose parents work but cannot afford or are not offered health insurance. It has effectively reduced the number of children without health insurance by more than one third. This vote comes at a time when nine million children are uninsured - more than the total number of kids enrolled en-rolled in the first and second grades in U.S. public schools. Congress must adequately fund SCHIP to enroll more of America's and Utah's uninsured un-insured children and ensure no child loses coverage. Of the nine million uninsured children, six million are already eligible for SCHD? or Medicaid, but are not yet enrolled. In Utah, SCHD? covers more than 50,000 children, chil-dren, yet more than 90,000 remain uninsured. The American Academy of Pediatrics believes all children should have access to health care. Uninsured children are less likely to receive care for illnesses. Kids often end up in the emergency room or hospital due to delays in treatment. We need to help our children chil-dren get the best start in life. We call on Senators Bennett and Hatch to properly fund and renew SCHIP now. We urge Congress to protect and support the health and future of our children. Sincerely, Dr. Jeffrey C. Schmidt Sandy - . . are sorry that the youth that were dropped off by parent's on the weekend to swim until late will find other activities, not so wholesome, which could be life threatening. We are also sorry that the slide will not be open the rest of the summer for scheduled reunions, family birthday parties, church, school, and business parties. Our family was not even allowed to go in for our family reunion the evening of the Fourth, due to a water "rubber ducky," and a hair net. We were informed that if we did hold our party, we'd be fined. Thank you to all those that came regularly to swim and thanked us for a good time. Your hearts are in the right place, and we will miss you. It is people like you that make a peaceful community and help light up a person's soul on a dark day. Thanks! You are greatly appreciated. One person from the Health Department that gave an honest and kind evaluation evalu-ation just two weeks ago is appreciated for her truthful, helpful character. Thanks Dawn! It felt so good when you said everything looked great, and you couldn't find anything wrong. On her heels another put an unexpected, notice on the door during closed hours after a Vernal Ward had kindly helped us clean up after their Ward party the night before. A great lesson learned: in the unseen realms there is one that saw the sinking of a captain and his little crew and sent his servants with special skills and talents in time of need to keep the ship afloat. You know who you are. We cannot express enough how much we appreciate your kindness and unselfish service when the SOS signals were present. In many cases you were not one that others might expect to be a righteous servant, but you were and we will forever respect you for it. There is another than sent his destroyers to speed up the final deed. Likewise, they were not whom one might suppose, as they were in positions to serve or sit in pews with bright shiny faces with a forked tongue tucked in their cheek and delight in seeing another's pain and final breath. We hope you will be sensitive enough to recognize who is really in control of the stormy seas. He also knows you! If interested in seeing the complaints you may pay $10 to see them at the Uintah County Health Department. Be your own judge, as one noted: "Haveyou ever known a complainer to have integrity?'' integ-rity?'' Dale Ray VanLeuven Vernal Waterslide Management Man-agement Vernal Public Forum - Letters to the Editor What ts your opinion? The Vernal Express welcomes letters from its readers concerning any subject pertinent to the Uintah Basin. Them are no restrictions on contents, if in good taste and not sbekxis or vindictive. Letters may be edited tor length. Al letters must be submitted exclusively to the Vernal Express and bear the fuN name, signature, phone number and address of the writer or writers. Letters for the sole purpose of expressing thanks to individuals or groups wi not be printed in this forum. Submissions may be mailed to 54 N. remal Ave., Vernal, Iff 84078; faxed to 435-789-8690 w must appear on an published letters. Letters express the opinion of the writer or writers and are not necessarily the opinion of the Vernal Express. eyrCaftgf tms Off-wce. J :- .JfciV MtaVs? |