OCR Text |
Show CHANGING WITH THE LEAVES As migratory birds leave the Basin, wintering birds become prominent B8 LITTLE LEAGUE SUPER BOWL Vikings lead the way in Uintah County Recreation football i' N 1019 wis Weather by 5VM Hajtoafl lama at Ma. 3M1 Afc ASPEN BROOK REALTY, INC. See B7 114th Year No. 42 Vernal, Utah 84078 50 CENTS www.vernal.com Wednesday Octets 17, 2007 i j c. c L4.J . s Preparedness expo focuses on public awareness By Mmy Bbwaib Express Writer "Educate yourself on emergency emer-gency preparedness, then your family and then, take this knowledge knowl-edge to your place of business," saidMisty Bruns, liaison planner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security. Brans stood with her daughter, daugh-ter, Dakota, in front of a booth from the UDPS on public awareness aware-ness of emergency preparedness. Saturday, Oct. 13 saw the area's first ever emergency preparedness prepared-ness exposition at Western Park in Vernal. It was hosted by a variety vari-ety of Uintah County emergency responders, health care providers, provid-ers, communications agencies and special seryices districts. Bruns explains planning for an emergency is not just for individuals, but also extends to businesses and communities. "We recommend preparedness prepared-ness for all kinds of disasters, planning cannot begin too early," she said. "And don't forget to include your distant relatives. When disaster strikes at home, your loved ones out-of-town will want to know how to get in touch with you." For businesses, Bruns recommends rec-ommends that the workplace should, "One, set a plan for employers to be able to contact employees in an emergency. Two, establish a policy that allows sick employees to stay home. And three, sets up ways for workers to work from home or in the office with reduce hOTifS oTbtfaines to limit exposure in an outbreak of illness." Her words are echoed by Mechelle Miller, Uintah County Emergency Management, who said, "Planning and practice emergency response is a family affair with community engagement." engage-ment." Sounds crazy, but a community com-munity plans for disasters. "Know the disaster plans for your children's schools and your family's workplaces. Make them part of your plans," the UCEM director said. "Families need to designate a place where they can meet, in case they are separated when disaster strikes." The UCEM handouts reads, LEAVES FALL ONCE AND THEN AGAIN Brook and Nikkelle Sullivan, of Maeser, raked all the leaves into into the pile and start throwing the leaves into the air. Fall time - Exit Realty Professionals 1285 West Hwy 40 Vernal, Utah 84078 (435) 789-EXIT (3948) "Utah faces real potential dangers dan-gers from earthquakes, severe weather, floods, terrorism, wildfires wild-fires and hazardous materials spills. Our ability to respond to a disaster is measured by our readiness." More information can be found at the Utah Homeland Security Web site at http:www. homelandsecurity.utah.gov, or by contacting Uintah County Emergency Management at 152 E. 100 N., Vernal or by calling 781-5466. Intermsofemergencymedical readiness, Si Hutt, director of the Ashley Regional Medical Center, said, "In case of an emergency, call 911 or come directly to the emergency room at Ashley Regional Medical Center. There are 39 beds at the ARMC, but the hospital can expand to include the hallways, if needed." If more beds are needed, ARMC belongs to a chain of 50 other hospitals through the Utah Hospital Association, As-sociation, which can handle the overflow. If a person cannot get to the hospital in an emergency but needs immediate medical attention atten-tion Shannon Jackson, of Gold Cross Ambulance, was at the EXPO to explain the process. Prepare yourself and prepare your family. Preparing young children can be a challenge. Teaching them to respond in an emergency is part of the your overall preparedness. "Parents should teach their children how to call 911 and ask for aamatance," said Jackson, ' explaining you cannot begin too early. "Tell them that it is only in case of an emergency." He said guiding children in what to do in an emergency may minimize the panic. "Teach them ' to respect the emergency workers and vehicles. They can help." Anyone still confused about what to include in emergency planning should contact Tri-County Tri-County Health emergency planners plan-ners Sharon Weyland and Becky Hackford at 866-275-0246 or online at http:www.tricounty-health.com. http:www.tricounty-health.com. "We have a thorough list with recommendations for everyone," SEE PREPARDNESS on A2 4 kwbfvitrHnri hem with Mtw stdN) iww windows, newer ocpcV wood flooring, biths, Rvino, room md fifthly room with nice wood stove BcMftiful yvd with fufl outo sprinkler system, redwood deck overlooUnj i miHion doNy view! Gis 1WitiCa new shingles and dMc xarttidwiri9. Cal Warn at CtM Your Hometown Newspaper sfS? it iff. -i-wr-'d,'.? !- J i i LAULU FAMILY GETS Roma Laulu and Peyton Cook say their parents go nuts over decorations add to holiday flavor at their home located at 2452 Have You Heard What's Plenty of plans, taking 'wait and Uintah Basin News Service The Uintah High School wrestling coach isn't too happy with Bill Johnson, lead economic analyst for the Uintah Impact Mitigation Special Service District. Dis-trict. The county is exploding with new people, new jobs, and new businesses. Right now that means that wrestlers coming to Vernal from throughout Utah for an upcoming tournament are out of luck when it comes to finding a hotel room in the area. Johnson knows the ribbing he gets every now and then is all in good humor. He also knows what developers and an assortment of ;.-wh,.- a big, beautiful pile and then could what a feeling! f-.m H 6 ftto 12 allthtlrfwhistls. bedroom. Kb M lata. bMutU 4aad o Udm Hi bui i homa hm Mig nom ani loft an wdh gm tog. Nr ntmaomd xtiM ar, Iwd ov gariQf), riot ywd ntti fprinktar Byttorn and waur Mi. Iwi tot nir in M Krffi of pniOMly wMi room lor animalt MHJJON . OOUAR VIEW OH MdKk and orkarJIo Kin 1229,0001 INTO YARD DECORATIONS Coming? businesses considering locating in the fast-growing area have in mind when it comes to their "long-range vision" for Vernal. "I do know that hotels are a real hot thing in this town," Johnson said of the list of commercial com-mercial ventures planned for downtown as well as outlying areas. At least three new hotels could be going up soon, based on developers' plans, said Johnson; That's a good thing in a town where the motel and hotel occupancy occu-pancy rates range from 90 to 100 percent and it isn't uncommon to pay upwards of $150 a night for a room, even after tourist season ends. not resist the temptation to dive a Sefcr 4 CO outdoor holiday decorating, but they still enjoy it and love how the North 1 600 West. I but companies see' approach Just as Johnson is aware of ' what developers are looking toward immediately, as well as several years down the road, he also knows how the rumors get started when it comes to talk of which businesses are coming to Vernal. Staples and Lowe's are obviously ob-viously not figments of the imagination and Aaron's Rents, a nationwide furniture rental center, cen-ter, is building east of the Glines LDS Stake Center. It 's a fact that plans have been revealed for a large commercial development on North Vernal Avenue that would be similar to Salt Lake City's "Gateway," with plenty of space for retail stores. But there is no truth - at least STATE MAY RETURN Duchesne, audited by By toff Lm Uintah Basin News Service Officials with the Utah Department De-partment of Corrections spent two days last week inspecting the Duchesne and Uintah county jails. The inspections are part of a statewide audit of the 21 county jails that contract with the DOC to house more than 1,500 convicted felons. The audit was launched after two convicted murderers exploited security and staffing shortfalls at the Daggett County Jail on Sept. 23 and escaped. t Danny Martin Gallegos, 49, and Juan Carlos Diaz-Arevalo, 27, spent six days on the run before being caught in Rock Springs after a shootout with police. Investigators believe the pair planned their escape "possibly "pos-sibly for weeks" before scaling a barbed-wire fence while the jail was staffed by one officer and a civilian employee. Duchesne County Jail com SeMttM brick tri-kvdwMhwjojderi BbithookkHdMWltfctfc tlwovglSoM the bonw Nte woqo' doin mi triw ttiighwrt- tu hoot antril nk, iriw)dti system md torse oversted forife with dtflMt doors Tnii ISonM woi tost lono m tWafiy 10 firHrt If4 not yet - to the list of rumoi ' restaurants and major department depart-ment stores that are passed .around as "coming to Vernal." It 's a list that many may be familiar famil-iar with: Chili's, Applebee's, Red Lobster, Old Navy, and Kohl's, to name a few. "Target is coming, that's another an-other one," said Johnson, "then it goes, 'there is no room for a Target in Vernal so now it is going to Roosevelt.' It depends on who is starting the rumors and it's whatever (store or restaurant) they want." Johnson will tell you those businesses could be here some day, but not anytime soon. He attributes the rumors to the fact SEE NEW BUSINESS on A2 INMATES TO DAGGETT Uintah jails Corrections mander Lt. Keith Hansen said a three-man inspection team spent six hours examining every aspect of his facility's operations on Wednesday. Hansen said the auditors looked at not only the physical security of the jail but staffing levels, policies and procedures, programs available for inmates, and the screening of individuals who provide that programming. i "We're in A-l shape. They like our jail," Hansen said. "We do have things that could be up? graded, but I'm confident we're a secure facility." The Duchesne County Jail has had a state inmate escape from its facility in recent years) In July 2004, Eric Hauber took advantage of a double power failure at the jail that crippled surveillance cameras and walked out of the facility after his shift in the kitchen. The 32-year-old - serving time for aggravated bank robbery, rob-bery, forcible sexual abuse, and SEE JAIL AUDITS on A2 O'Omm locivtioOk omiIiWJ tVrOjVy cppct o) ott(W(Ht vritfi iLMtd OWlf fOOO. Tte niiiKmiriiMMnww. V |