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Show Tuesday, July 25, 2007 Vernal Express Huron OPINION Economic growth has its woes BrLaBaga Ezprats Associate Editor A6 p Utah's unemployment rate keeps sinking. It's down to 2.6 percent as of the end of June across the state. In the Uintah Basin, we added more than 1,100 jobs from May to June, with nearly 700 new jobs from the month before. And I'm no expert economist, but my wallet tells me this is great news for workers. I moved to Vernal because of a job and when my wife started looking for work, we both ended up commuting to our new jobs even before we could close on our house. Our employers said they couldn't get us working too soon. The need for workers has been great for us financially. The cost of living difference dif-ference when we moved added somewhat to our incomes, but the job market has accounted for much larger increases. And as I've talked to other people in the community, employees say the same thing. Of course along with the higher cost of wages comes higher costs for goods and services. Business owners are often forced to pass wage increases along to customers, so all too often few extra buck on our paychecks are nothing more than cost of living increases. But talk to any business owner and you hear the real trouble isn't offering a competitive wage. It's keeping employees at all. Because the job market is so fluid, lower paying employers have a difficult time keeping employees. For the first time in my life I've been forced to see things from a management standpoint and I wonder how other businesses in this area are coping with the job market. Newspapers are profitable businesses - just look at the stock figures for any of the publicly traded news agencies as they often turn profits well above 20 percent - but newspaper reporters have among the lowest starting salaries. The national average for an entry-level newspaper reporter with a college degree is less than $25,000. Specifically in the Uintah Basin, but across the state as a whole, newspaper managers just can't offer that kind of wage. When I started writing for a newspaper, I was working in one of the more economically depressed areas of the state and still working on a college degree, but I was making more than the national average. I'm sure the same holds true for other industries. Even the oil and gas companies com-panies with their high salaries can't keep employees long enough. As we look at the economic boom in rural Utah, I hope our business and economic eco-nomic leaders are farsighted enough to plan for ways to make this growth turn into a longterm benefit for the community. I keep hearing stories of longtime Uintah Basin residents about the boom-bust cycle. It's refreshing to hear the dialog about how to prepare for the next bust. But all too often, I hear people say there won't be a bust.' I fear those individuals are like ostriches in the sand. There will always be a bust out there. It may happen next year, and it might not happen for 20 years. In the meantime, consumers, business leaders and government officials should look for ways to make the current economic situation turn into longterm benefits for our community and individually. VERNAL WEATHER Funds available for humanities programs The Utah Humanities Council is currently cur-rently accepting grant proposals in the competitive grant ($5,000 maximum) category from non-profit organizations and groups to support future public humanities hu-manities projects. Draft applications are required and are due Aug. 1 for projects beginning after Nov. 1. After receiving staff comments, final applications are due Sept. 1. Grant guidelines and forms are available avail-able online at www.utahhumanities.org or by calling 801-359-9670. According to Cynthia Buckingham, executive director for UHC, "UHC grants are intended to foster connections connec-tions among cultural organizations, community groups, and humanities scholars. Grant projects promote public pub-lic appreciation and understanding of human traditions, values, and issues through informed public discussion.'' Projects must involve one or more of the humanities disciplines, such as 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 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 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 Express. We will go on )he rpM,s ' ji i m 8-2007 j Dear Editor, I was impressed by our local fire departments who waged war against a brutal fire in Farm Creek. My house was spared by the grace of God and the careful watch these brave men and women gave to saving as many struc-tur.es.as' struc-tur.es.as' possible. against a !.t:;ffs ?..t -il- "lit wom-i 1." America the beautiful raging enemy of flame and wind. The toll was enormous with the loss of three lives but their spirits will remain in the alfalfa fields as they continue to grow and bloom to enrich the lives of others. We will go on, we must. We will be better, we can. Keri Mills Farm Creek Sharon and Lynn Robb hold the sign that Lynn's brother made them to commemorate the loss of their home in the Neola North Fire. Sharon and Lynn Robb family offers thanks Dear Editor, Lynn and I would like to thank the community as a whole for all the kindness they have shown us in the past few weeks. Special thanks to our families, the Robb brothers and sister, Russell sisters and extended family members for their love, comfort, hugs and tears. Special thanks to Tooter Markey for bringing us his beautiful camper to live in during our rebuilding process. The list goes on and on of people to thank: Alan Haslem, Kim Harding, Moon Lake Electric, the LDS Church, the Catholic Church, Harvest Fellowship Church, UBTA-UBET, and countless volunteers who helped in clean up and support. A big thanks to all the people who worked so hard in the yard sale; Mark and Marilyn Larsen especially. It was a huge success. Thanks to all the businesses busi-nesses for their generous donations: Stewarts, Davis Jubilee, Maverik, EUies EZ Stop, Western Petroleum, Wal-Mart, JB's, Duchesne County School District, Birchell Drilling and Benson Swain Electric. The outpouring of food, clothing, donations and love has been unbelievable. There are just no words that can express our appreciation appre-ciation and gratitude. Thank you so much. Sharon and Lynn Robb Neola Dear editor, In 1893, Kathryn' Lee Bates wrote the poem that became the lyrics for the song "America The Beautiful." Standing at the summit of Pike's Peak, Bates was inspired in-spired by the spacious skies, amber fields, and purple mountains of Colorado. But her tribute to America embraced more than just its natural beauty. With words like pilgrim, patriot and heroes, he-roes, Bates' poem portrays an America whose greatest beauty abides in the spirit of its citizens. It is a beauty that radiates from the character char-acter ofthe American people, people who love their country and value hard work and individual initiative, people who consider the family the bedrock of society, people who honor God and acknowledge acknowl-edge Him as the source of America's goodness. For many generations these values and traditions have been the essence of America's greatness. It's been more than 100 years since "America The Beautiful" Beauti-ful" was first published. Would its author still write those words today? It is no secret that America today is a troubled nation. Negative reports fill the airwaves. Americans are suf-feringa suf-feringa crises of confidence in their government. In fact, according ac-cording to three major polls, the current Congress has only 16 percent approval rating rat-ing of the American people. Our Constitution is the answer to good government. We need to get back to the principles embodied in our Constitution. Ezra Taft Benson Ben-son at a BYU devotional on Sept. 16, 1986 said, "I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. But it will not be saved in Washington. It will be saved by thecitizensof this nation who love and cherish cher-ish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened men and women who will subscribe to and abide by the principles ofthe Constitution. I testify that the God of Heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government and He has sent other choice spirits -evenyou who hear my words this day - to preserve it." Let Freedom Ring, Sonya Ray Vernal Houston family thanks Basin history, literature, languages and linguistics, lin-guistics, philosophy and ethics, cultural anthropology, archeology, comparative religion, jurisprudence, folklore, and history and criticism of the arts. For a complete list, visit UHC's website. Organizations interested in a UHC grant need not have formal non-profit status. Brandon Johnson, UHC program officer said, "Grants may be requested to support lectures, conferences and symposia, panel discussions and discussion discus-sion groups." He clarified, "UHC grants also support production or distribution distribu-tion of films, videotapes, audiotapes, exhibits, and publications, if a strong live public programming component is present. Programs should be free and open to the public." UHC will provide examples of previously approved projects proj-ects if an applicant is unsure of what might qualify. Dear Editor, There are no words to describe how grateful and appreciative ap-preciative we feel as a family to live in an area where there has been such an outpouring of love and support with the loss of our loved ones. There have been so many acts of kindness and generosity that it would be impossible to name them all. How can you explain a community that instinctively knows the needs of a family that has been affected by such a tragedy? The past month has given evidence of how strongly we care for one another. The work with our hay, the food brought in, the money, the many firefighters and law enforcement, enforce-ment, and the many other acts of compassion are so appreciated. Our recurring thought is that our ancestors would be very proud to see their traditions of working together to strengthen and build this area and each other continue. Please know that a large part of our strength to carry on comes from each and every one of you. Thank you, The families of George and Tracy Houston I Got A Beef? Tell it to mVfnui J bw. Write a letter to the Editor! |