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Show Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Vernal Express 'RADIATION VACATION VAN' A TOP PRIORITY Free ride for cancer patients closer to becoming a reality Li B4 By Lezue E. Whiting Uintah Basin News Service Plans to provide transportation transporta-tion for Uintah Basin residents who travel to Salt Lake City for daily radiation treatments made tremendous strides last week. So much so that Jeri Merkley, director of the project dubbed the "Radiation Vacation Van," said they are taking names of those interested in the offer so the free service can begin right away. According to Merkley close to $60,000 has been raised for the transportation service that will provide round-trips on weekdays week-days to the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Primary Children's Regional Medical Center. Stops will be made in Vernal, Roosevelt and Duchesne to pick up passengers. pas-sengers. Merkley attended a pep assembly as-sembly Friday at Uintah High School to thank the students who helped raise money for the project. Members of the schools boys and girls basketball teams sponsored a "Hoops for Hope" fundraiser, taking pledges from friends and family for each basket scored during the season and at state play. All proceeds will go to the Radiation Vacation Van. "I had tears in my eyes at the pep rally thinking, 'This is a beautiful world and we live in a beautiful community, ' "Merkley said. Jeri and her husband Glade were both diagnosed with cancer within days of each other in 2007. They went through numerous surgeries at the same time and nearly lost their lives when they were in an accident while driving driv-ing from their home in Vernal to Salt Lake City for radiation treatments. The Merkleys are now in remission, but their bout with the disease and the challenges it presented opened their eyes and Kings Peak Credit Union Annual Meeting AMIK ."At ' UNION 57 i strain N T A H B A 5 'ill 111! 1 1 ! hearts. The couple said they came to an awareness of the struggles that face cancer patients in need of a ride to Salt Lake for daily radiation ra-diation treatments that typically last for almost two months. "It's such a blessing to just have that worry (transportation) taken off their minds, what with everything else t hey are trying to fight for," said Jeri Merkley. The Merkleys pledged tc do what they could to provide transportation for those who need help getting to their radiation radia-tion treatments at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Primary Children's. When they began spreading the word about their "Radiation "Radia-tion Vacation Van" project, Jeri Merkley said Vernal radio station KXRQ and Subway also offered their help. They teamed up last week to sponsor an on-air auction to raise money for the project. "I can't believe how everybody has taken my hand and is leading me through this - everybody has a story about cancer," she said. "If we all work together it's amazing what it can accomplish. The radio station said they literally had people coming in off the street to donate." Fundraisers have raised nearly $60,000 so far. It's estimated esti-mated that about $150,000 will be needed to operate during the first year. Part of that money could go to hire a professional grant writer. The Uintah High basketball players are still collectingpledges and donations but so far they have raised nearly $10,000. Last week an anonymous donor contributed $20,000 and the Merkleys donated $20,000. The radio auction, which included a basketball signed by the Utah Jazz, signed Jazz posters, post-ers, box tickets to a Jazz game, a week at a condo in Park City, and a "two-ball event" is expected to bring in close to $9,000, said KXRQ music director Brandon i KINGS PEAK CREDIT North 100 East 83-7 Roosevelt, Utah 84066 (435) 722-3795 Summer Semester FallSpring Semester o WE. '-tt H M i H 'A I J Johnson. "The Basin has deep pockets and big hearts is what we like to say. We just really want to thank the whole community for getting on board, " Johnson said. "The basketball teams at Uintah High really did it, it is great that so many teenagers have gotten involved and stepped up." The project's finances will be overseen by the TriCounty Health Department to ensure their security. TriCounty Health Director Joseph Shaffer is working work-ing with Jeri Merkley and her committee to help maintain the project's viability far into the future. "TriCounty Health has made this one of our top three priorities for this year," Shaffer said. "We want this to go on forever." If You Need A Ride: Who: Anyone who is, or who will be, undergoing radiation treatments at HuntsmanCancerlnstitute or Primary Children's Regional Medical Center What: Round-trip transportation to daily appointments available free of charge Where: Catch your ride in Vernal, Roosevelt or Duchesne. t What do I do?: Get your name on the list by calling TriCounty Health at 789-5475, or toll-free at 800-612-7096, ask for Natalie The Board of Directors of Kings Peak Credit Union has set Wednesday February 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm as the time of the annual meeting. The meeting will be held at the UBTAUBET basement floor Conference Room located on the East side of the office complex. The Board invites all members to come and participate in the annual meeting and election of 2 board membership positions. Come out and meet the Staff: Paul Nielson is the new President and Manager, Toni Hicken is the Loan Officer, Jamie Brown is the Collections Officer, and our new Member Services Representative is Leah Richards. Prizes will be given out and refreshments served. !tah State University intah Basin Scholarship Deadlines Apply Nov! 1 f. , V 'It ! ' r7 11 79 9 d ihP Mm Mm V.' k a UINTAH HIGH MATH CLUB TAKES AMC On Tuesday, Feb. 12, 31 members of the Uintah High School Math Club participated in the American Math Contest by taking a 25 problem, multiple choice test. Students has 75 minutes to complete the test. Students received six points for every right answer, 1.5 points for every answer left blank and zero points for every wrong answer . Any student who scores 100 points or above or in the top 5 percent is invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, a 15-question, three-hour three-hour mathematics test. These tests are the basis for building the USA Mathematic Olympic team. BOOTH SPACE AVAILABLE AT EXPO Conference will provide advice to businesswomen By Lezlee E. Whiting Uintah Basin News Service Women are taking advantage of the booming economy in the Uintah Basin and goinginto business busi-ness for themselves more than ever before. The need to serve the 200-plus women who are operating their own enterprises - from downtown shops to direct sales and home parties - is the impetus behind an upcoming conference sponsored by the Duchesne County Area Chamber of Commerce. "This is a group we feel has never been reached out to and never really been targeted for assistance," said Irene Hansen, executive director for the chamber. cham-ber. "Our research shows that women are bringing in quite a bit of money. These ladies definitely defi-nitely are contributing to their household income." The chamber's first annual Women in Business Conference will be held at the Crossroads Center in Roosevelt on March 19 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. The afternoon includes seminars semi-nars on: effective management, business licensing and financial aspects of business management. The conference will be keynoted by best-selling author Dian Headline: By Kristin Baldwin Express Writer The Vernal Mill and Light Company was organized in 1907 to prepare for the installation of electricity throughout Vernal city. The tabernacle was the first building wired for electricity but there was no electricity available avail-able when it was completed and dedicated. In January 1908, the Vernal March 1st April 1st 9 9 Q Mm m m ?.;!.':,r. ; . 1 Thomas, who wrote "Roughing It Easy." Thomas will share advice on how to promote your business without spending a dime. That evening there will be an executive reception and networking network-ing expo from 6-8:30 p.m. "We are finding women in positions of management and ownership in almost every industry from real estate to construction to oil field, to the downtown shops," Hansen said. "We thought it was time to reach out to those individuals to offer not only a conference to where they had a chance to learn but to the executive session and the evening expo." The chamber is opening the evening portion of the conference confer-ence to women to promote their businesses. There is space for 30 booths at the nighttime expo and available space is going fast, said Hansen. Those interested must register by March 1. "We have already had . several registrations," Hansen said. "That really tells us we are on to something here." Vendors will not be charged for booth space, however, each vendor who participates must donate merchandise or a service with a value of at least $25 to be given away that night as a door prize. Vernal 100 Mill and Light Company installed in-stalled the first electric lights. These lights consisted of a naked bulb suspended from the ceiling. Most of the downtown businesses and some of the local homes were wired for electricity. On Feb. 17, 1908 the electric current was turned on but only Coltharp store lit up. Electricians continued stringing wires and within several weeks the remaining remain-ing businesses and homes were connected. Some of the area residents believed electricity to be unnecessary unnec-essary due to the expense. This announcement addressed that idea by stating, "When they all realize what a convenience this electricity is they will wish they T mm Eiecfrlc Lights Burned In Vernal Last Alonday Night lor FJr3t TJmc. But for n break in the ditch at tho power plant tho Vernal Milling and Light company would have begun to grind wheat at tho mill last Monday and electric lights would have been burning in a number o atorca and residences, resi-dences, A force of men has been at work all week repairing the damage and yesterday afternoon tho news came over tho phona tliat it vaa finished and everything m now In rcadmcea to atart tho big motor in tho basement of the null which whirla tho numbarJesa pieces First electric light.pdf - This announcement was published in the Vernal Express on Feb. 21,1 908. The conference also offers another an-other big draw, said Hansen. "We always like to have a cherry on the icing and this year we will be giving away three laptops because we want to assist these ladies." There is a charge of $ 10 to attend the conference. Scholarships are available for anyone who may have difficulty paying, said Hansen. To find out more or to register for a booth call the Duchesne County Area Chamber at 722-4598. 722-4598. How To Sign Up: Who: Women in business What: Register for free booth space to promote your business, call the Duchesne County Area Chamber at 722-4598 ' Where: Crossroads Center in Roosevelt, 50 E. 200 S. When: Wednesday, March 19, . Evening reception and expo 6-8:30 6-8:30 p.m. years ago had had it in this valley years and years ago." The introductory price of electricity was $1 per month for three lights, $1.50 per month for five lights, and $2 per month for 10 lights. In comparison, the introductory price of electricity in Leadville, Colo., was $1.50 for the first light and $1 for each additional ad-ditional light. Within the year a meter system was installed and the price of electricity in Vernal was 7 cents per kilowatt-hour. In 2006, the Edison Electric Institute estimated the average residential rate for electricity to be 10.08 cents per kilowatt-hour. The state of Utah was estimated to be less than 8 cents per kilowatt-hour. TURNED M |