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Show Vernal Express Wednesday, December 12, 2007 A3 Prosperity of the Country, Do you realize our country is in bettor bet-tor condition financially today than any place m the United States' And do you know wo tan keep )t in Ihia condition condi-tion if c very-body will lend a helping hand? It becomes tho 'duty of tvery citizen who Interested in the upbuild of Umtah County to encourage hi3 neighbor to patronize homo hiatitutions, thus keeping what money wo hive m circulation Your home institutions 100 years ago this week... ' V ' ' 7 ? I b- S ! By: Kristw Baldwin Express Writer This article first appeared in the Vernal Express pn Dec. 13, 1907. It was submitted to the paper pa-per by a local furniture company; encouraging the community to "keep what money we have in circulation" by using local businesses busi-nesses and the Bank of Vernal. By the 1880s a place was needed for area residents to manage their money. On Sept. 24, 1886 a man from Salt Lake City was sent for to assist the people of the Vernal area in handling han-dling their money through the Ashley Co-operative Mercantile Institution that was established in 1881. By 1903 the co-op could not handle the volume of money being deposited. This led to the establishment of the Bank of Vernal. The first customers of the bank were homesteaders, sheepmen, sheep-men, and cowboys who had gold and silver coins to trade in. A bulletproof screen was installed to surround the steel-lined steel-lined counter and the walk-in vault. This screen remains today to-day in the building on 18 West Main. In 1909, the decision was made to establish the Uintah State Bank in response to some community members' dissatisfaction dissatis-faction in the Bank of Vernal. The Uintah State Bank formally opened for business on Aug. 10, 1910. The two banks were naturally very competitive and even placed letters in the paper reporting the foreclosures of the other bank. In the 1980s, during the "boom" years, several other banks opened in the area but all closed by 1995 except the two original banks: Bank of Vernal which is now Zions Bank on 3 West Main and Uintah State Bank which is now Wells Fargo Bank on 3 East Main. They came. They saw. Santa conquered. It was the annual Vernal Elks Christmas party for the children and their families from Prime Time 4 Kids and its satellite Little Blossom in Ft. Duchesne (birth to 3 years in age), Central cove Preschools, and Ashley Valley Head Start (both are 3 to 5 years in age). Some 1 50 children got to individually visit and share wishes with Santa and received a candy cane and either a car or a truck or a stuffed animal. While some were afraid or shy, all were delighted after receiving their gifts said Cliff Harrison, chairman of the event. A hot dog, potato chip, and punch dinner was served to the crowd of over 250 people. Enjoying a visit with Santa is Talia Murray and her mother USPS: Mail early, use new services 'Tis the holiday mailing season sea-son and U.S. Post Offices in Utah are prepared for the avalanche of cards and packages. But postal officials are encouraging encour-aging customers to mail early and conveniently using www. usps.com, free package pickup and automated postal centers. "We know time is scarce during dur-ing the holidays, so we're working work-ing hard to make our products and services convenient for our customers," said Salt Lake District Dis-trict Manager Ken McArthur. . Virtually all of the services found at a post office are available avail-able from the comfort of home at usps.com and nearly a million people a day go to the award-winning website to find ZIP Codes, buy stamps, mail packages and more. Two of the more popular features on the ' Web site are Click-N-Ship and Free Package Pickup, where customers can print mailing labels with postage post-age for Priority Mail, Express Mail, and international packages using their debit or credit card. Customers can then request a free pickup of those packages by their letter carrier the next day. Also, Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes take the "weight" out of mailing. Customers can ship anything any-thing that fits into the boxes, up to 70 pounds, to any destination in the U.S., includingmilitary ad-dresses, ad-dresses, for just $8.95. The boxes are free and are available at post offices; online at usps.comship-pingsupplies usps.comship-pingsupplies or by telephone at (800) 527-1950. Boxes ordered online or over the phone are shipped at no charge. There are also automated postal centers located in the lobbies of 29 Utah Post Offices, . makingbuying stamps and mail ing holiday packages convenient. The self-serve kiosks are easy to use, and accept credit and debit cards. Don't have access to the Internet? Inter-net? Customers can buy stamps by phone at (800) 782-6724, or by mail - ask a clerk or letter carrier for a form. And postal officials want to remind the public that rural carriers are "Post Offices on Wheels" who can provide virtually all of the services of a post office. International mail deadlines for the holidays are Dec. 4 for Priority Mail going to Africa and Central and South America, and Dec. 11 for all other countries. Using Global Express Guaranteed Guaran-teed Service1; international mail can be sent as late as Dec. 19. Within the U.S., customers are encouraged to use Priority Mail through Dec. 20, and Express Mai through Deo, ,22. 4r,wcoiofioor) NEW ZEALAND MUD SNAILS FOUND Biologists looking for ways to treat fish The Loa State Fish Hatchery is under temporary quarantine, the state Division of Wildlife Resources Re-sources announced last week. The DWR placed the hatchery under quarantine after biologists biolo-gists discovered snails in some of the hatchery's raceways. Raceways are areas where fish are raised after they're hatched from eggs. After examining the snails closely, DWR biologists have confirmed that the snails are New Zealand mud snails. Now they're reviewing options on how to best deal with this aquatic nuisance species in the hatchery. The Loa hatchery is about 40 miles southeast of Richfield. Most of the trout the hatchery raises are placed in waters in southern Utah. "We're not sure how New Zealand mud snails got into the hatchery," said Walt Donaldson, Aquatic Section chief for the DWR. "We won't increase trout numbers at the hatchery until we can ensure that the water coming into the hatchery is free Buhler recommended interim higher ed boss SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Former Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Dave Buhler is being recommended by the chairman of the State Board of Regents to be the interim commissioner for the Utah System of Higher Education. Jed Pitcher recommended Buhler last Tuesday. Buhler has been the system's associate commissioner com-missioner for public affairs since 2000 and a member of Salt Lake City council. He lost his bid to become Salt Lake City's mayor to Ralph Becker. The board is expected to approve ap-prove Buhler 's appointment Dec. 14. Buhler will replace Richard Kendcll, who retires on Jan. 1. The regents continue to search for Kendell's replacement. of snails." Donaldson said the DWR is not planning on killing the trout that are already in the hatchery. hatch-ery. "We're hopeful we can find a way to treat the fish," he said. "If we can successfully treat the fish, we can place them in waters for anglers to catch this spring." Donaldson said several treatment treat-ment methods are available. "Fish pathologists at our Fisheries Experiment Station in Logan are evaluating those options now," he said. New Zealand mud snails are just one of several aquatic nuisance nui-sance species (ANS) that have made their way into Utah. The snails found in Utah are female and reproduce asexually. Because they're asexual, only one snail is required to establish a new colony and can reproduce hundreds of young per year. They're very effective at colonizing coloniz-ing new waters. "ANS are nasty plants and animals," said Donaldson. "In other states, -they've already ruined fishing and affected boating boat-ing and recreational activities in waters they've infested." But there's good news: there are several things that can be done to avoid bringing ANS into Utah from outside the state, and to avoid transporting them from one body of water in Utah to another. Disinfecting waders and other fishing gear-before you step into a different body of water - is one of the best things anglers can do. Also, if fishing on a river or stream, anglers should disinfect their waders and gear before moving to a different stretch of the same river to fish. To learn more about ANS - including tips on how to avoid spreading them - visit wildlife. utah.govhabitatans on the Web. Specific information about New Zealand mud snails is available at wildlife.utah.govhabitatans nzm.php. HOT OFF THE PRESS!!! The Latest Outlaw Trail Journal AVAILABLE NOVtfm Uintah County Library Regional History Center L . ,1 Winter 2007 Outlnw Trail Journal The lutoHl iKNue of Ihc Outlaw Trail Journal, featuring the curly history of Juilhreakii in Uinlah County, a revinit to John T. Pope an an early sheriff, and more, Read of early neltlera, Indian Ixgcndu and of true went gutty women of thii area. Available now for holiday gift living, fit k your copy up at the I'intah County Library Regional History Center. fJO) FOOTWEAR Saturday, December 22nd 10:00 AM -1:00 PM 0) YM The Uintah County is proposing to increase its property tax revenue. If the proposed budget is approved, this would be an increase of 30.32 above the Uintah County property tax budgeted revenue for the prior year. The Uintah County tax on a $170,000.00 residence would increase from $230.20 to $279.57, which is $49.37 per year. The Uintah County tax on a $ 170,000.00 business busi-ness would increase from $ 418.54 to $ 508.30 which is $ 89.76 per year. All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing on the tax increase. DateTime: December 17, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. Location: Uintah County Commission Chambers 147 East Main, Vernal UT To obtain more information regarding the tax increase, citizens may contact Uintah County at 435-781-5380. |