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Show Obituaries Margaret Gardner Margaret (Margie) Ann Gardner, Gard-ner, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend passed away peacefully Saturday, March 29, 2008. Margie was born Nov. 19, Child poverty rates on the rise in Utah SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The poverty rate among children in Utah's largest city grew from 19 percent in 1999 to 28.4 percent in 2006, according to new data from the U.S. Census bureau. The statewide poverty rate for Utah children rose slightly in those years, growing from 10.1 percent to 11.9 percent. Other cities, including Ogden and Provo, saw larger increases than the state rate, but the survey's margin of error for places other than Salt Lake City makes the significance unclear. But in Salt Lake City, increases in-creases in poor children qualifying qualify-ing for discounted lunch and the demand for low-income family housing and affordable preschool indicates that families are struggling. strug-gling. Advocates says no single reason explains why poverty . is increasing among Salt Lake City children. But data experts and those who work with struggling strug-gling families say the increasing number of immigrants plays a significant role. Minorities made up 6 1 percent ; of Salt Lake County's population i growth from 2000 to 2006. i Not all are immigrants, and ' not all are poor. But those new-: new-: comers did include a significant number of immigrants, said Pam ! Perlich, senior research econo-; econo-; mist at the University of Utah. Increasingly, parents want ;to take advantage of the Salt Lake Community Action Program Pro-gram Head Start, which offers DWS releases February economic, wage report Utah's nonfarm wage and salaried job growth for February is estimated at 2.3 percent, which sontinues a the recent downward trend in employment growth, according to the monthly report from the Utah Department of Workforce Services. State economists have revised January's employment growth down to 2.6 percent from 2.8 percent. Approximately 28,100 new jobs have been created in the Utah economy over the past ear, raising total wage and salary sal-ary employment in Utah to 1.2 million. This increase translates to around 2,300 new jobs created monthly over the past year. Utah's other primary indicator indica-tor of current labor market conditions, con-ditions, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, measured 3 percent in February. Approximately Approxi-mately 41,000 Utahns are considered con-sidered unemployed this month, the DWS report said, compared against 32,700 last February. ; January's unemployment rate, unavailable last month , but forecasted to be 3.3 percent, actually came in at 3 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped by one-tenth this month to 4.8 ; percent, but again, the Bureau iof Labor Statistics called the i decline a reduction in labor force ' participation, not job gains. "It's time to recognize that '. Utah's construction industry is ,3heddingjobs," said DWS chief Economist Mark Knold. "That means that not only have jobs been lost, but the job-loss trend ! will continue. The economic factors fac-tors that would halt or reverse jthis downward trend are not 'imminent." Knold said it is "interesting" to see the speed with which the construction industry went from "boom to lethargy." "Nonresidential construction : activity is still doing very well, :but is not enough to absorb land stem the job losses on the i residential side, where new :home construction permitting ;has recently fallen by as much ias 70 percent," he said. "With 1933 in Clearwater, Florida to Delmar and Virginia Ritter. She was married to Ted Gardner Aug. 29, 1953. Together they raised four children. Margie worked as a School CcDk for Ashley Elementary-better Elementary-better known as the Pittsburg Steeler Lady. She loved her job and enjoyed interacting with the kids daily. Margie loved spending her summers on the mountain sitting by the campfire visiting with family and friends. We will miss her loving arms, twinkling eyes and laughter. Margie was loved and will be missed by many. She is survived by husband, Ted Gardner; sons, Mike (Kay-lene) (Kay-lene) Gardner; Wade (Lori) Gardner; daughter Kim (Randy) Reynolds; 11 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by father, Delmar Ritter; motherr Virginia Thomas Ritter; and daughter, Laurie Oyarzabal. Funeral Services will be Wednesday, April 2 at 11 a.m. at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary. Interment will be in the Dry Fork Cemetery under the direction of Blackburn Vernal Mortuary. education to area 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. Free for low-income parents, it can take years to get in. Though city numbers are not available, the waiting list in Salt Lake and Tooele counties soared from 74 in 2001-2002 to 522 in 2007-2008. Part of the jump has to do with improved tracking, but a larger share has to do with the economy. "The service industry positions posi-tions usually pay minimum wage and have hours that do not coincide with raising a healthy family," said Nicole Droitsch, a Head Start community com-munity partnerships manager. "Parents are desperate to get their children in a quality education edu-cation program." At the Salt Lake City Housing Hous-ing Authority, the number of families waiting for affordable housing grew by almost 2,000 in the last two years, going from 5,426 at the end of 2005 to 7,295 in 2007. Whatever the cause, child poverty has consequences, said Karen Crompton, executive execu-tive director of Voices for Utah Children, a child advocacy organization. "One of the things people need to recognize is that poverty is probably the most significant predictor for negative outcomes for kids," said Crompton, referring to teen pregnancy, incarceration and education. "So we pay a huge price for not addressing longer-term solutions," she said. limited new home building, that not only removes, the impetus behind Utah's three-year construction con-struction boom, but also removes a lot of workers from the mix." On a positive note, Knold said Utah's demographics support the need for more houses. But the national mortgage situation has the lending markets going back to old lending standards of income verification, a down payment, and higher rates. "The problem is Utah's houses are priced at the recent-but-just-abandoned criterion that ignored the old standards, with the result that the new criterion had thrown excess money at a limited product - housing," Knold said. "Utah's housing prices - in relation to Utah incomes and current mortgage mort-gage standards - cannot remain this high." Utah's housing prices will have to fall enough to combine with lending rates to once again equate affordability, Knold said, before the state will start to again see homes built in mass. "In the interim, construction will now be . a drag upon the economy," he said. Since February 2007, the U.S. economy has added 810,000 new jobs, a growth rate of 0.6 percent. The approximately 28,100 new jobs in Utah represent about 3.5 percent of all the new jobs added in the United States over the past year, this from a state that comprises less than 1 percent of all United States jobs. 'h i $i WsUil ...are worth the time in the.., 54 North Vernal Avenue Vernal, Utah -435-789-3511 www.vemal.com Vernal SPECIAL DISTRICTS crutinizin monies By Mary Bernard Express Writer Rep. Gordon Snow of Roosevelt, Roos-evelt, gave his farewell legislative report to the Uintah County commissioners and the public on Monday, March 24. Snowisnotbe seeking re-election and spoke of the contrast between the state's revenue deficit and the Basin's profitable economy. "You know our strong economy econo-my here in the Basin is different from that of the nation and the state," he said. "Unlike our economic eco-nomic boom, the state's economy is beginningto slowdown. In fact, over $300 million have been cut in projected state revenues for the year." Lower than anticipated revenue rev-enue estimates have forced lawmakers law-makers to make some difficult funding decisions in the just-completed just-completed 2008 Utah legislative session. Senate budget chairman, Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, oversaw the re-allocation of funds for education educa-tion in light of the revenue shortfall. short-fall. Hillyard told the Deseret Morning News in an article dated Smoking in vehicles with young kids to remain legal SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Smoking in a car when a child is present will continue to be legal in Utah. A House panel killed SB14 last Monday, 5-4. The bill would have made smoking in a car with a child 5 or younger a secondary second-ary offense punishable by a $45 fine. . X? 0 ' ..,w, Verhrl U HI M Pi I 1 (zrx7- it ;ln i M1t ir shy ?t:HVl' LG ScoopTI $yn99 -re after $50 mail-in rebate with 2-yr. service agreement. Chat-style text messaging IM preloaded Camera with video Bluetooth Available in citrus orange, slate gray and turquoise blue. LG AX275 FREE Camera Phone after $40 mail-in rebate with 2-yr. service agreement. - Available in hot pink and silver. 5 my circle numbers 1 Alltel Retail Stores 'Utah ' . :" '' : , Cedar City ' 603 S Main St. (435) 865-0101 Pries ' . . '" '-. , 1 1 Zb 6. Hwy. 5S J (35) B37 4140 Richfield ' ' H50N Main St. 1 143!) 806 9400 Roosevelt J!K N. 2uaE435 772 0035 St George 348 NiiluH 1 14351 652-3840 Vernal "r i. ' 'HOW Mam 1 1435 783-4444 . For Business & Government Accounts call 1 federal. Jtnte & local lexm apply In addrlion. 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"An audit was requested legislatively leg-islatively of our mineral lease funds," said Snow, who sits on the House Revenue and taxation taxa-tion Committee. "Not just the Basin's allotment, but across the state. Basically, they want to see the whole picture as to what is received and how it is used." State auditors will be looking look-ing to the Basin's mineral lease allocation. Particularly, those mineral lease monies received by the special districts. As a professional profes-sional accountant, Snow said he welcomes the audit. "However, there is a risk in re-evaluation," re-evaluation," he noted. "We may not want to shine a bright light on the number of dollars that are coming into the Basin. We run the risk of re-allocation of the mineral lease distributions." Opponents say they're concerned con-cerned about the health of children, but feel the bill goes too far by infringing on property rights. The sponsor, Sen. Scott McCoy, Mc-Coy, a Democrat from Salt Lake City, says he'll try again next year. Wow! Let me tell you, it is worth shopping in the pages of the... 54-North-VernalAvenue- Vernal, Utah 435-789-3511 www.vernal.com Ml kVj il h (CiLliifin ITlf if i! li ,i kj j frv ii " " i O ' ,y 2 t 3 .1 , I 5 .Y Al "O ' V V. ' si" """ ' - C X. L-.--.- n n i L 1 Klmi'i " iii - J Wltnr f inmy circle Ofimy c'rc'e w numbers m w numbers Washington 520 W. telegraph St. (4351 627-9053 Shop at a participating retailer Equipment & promotional otters at these locations may vary. Arizona Colorado City CMC ticctronics 1 19281 875 2200 Utah ' ' Blanding Connected Technologies 1 14351 078 3B00 Castle Dale Wilcox Wireless 1 1435) 381 -2895 Delta KM.J Wireless 1 14.151 1104-3410 . ' ; Lakephrl (ias 1 14351 8b4 2525 - 8C6 - WLS BIZZ or visit alltelbusiness.com ft Wednesday, era! Under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, federal lease holders make payments for the development develop-ment of coal, oil, gas and other hydrocarbons on federal lands. In Utah, the energy industry pays royalties to the federal government govern-ment which is then redistributed, in part, to the counties directly affected af-fected by resources extraction. Until recently, the federal government appropriated 50 percent of the revenues for the U.S. Treasury Department. The other half was sent back to the affected states like Utah. This year, an additional 2 percent was retained by the Treasury for administrative needs and other projects. In 2008 Utah will receive more than $130 million in mineral min-eral lease revenues. According to Utah's office of the legislative fiscal analyst these funds are distributed to the permanent impact board (33 percent), to the Utah Department of Transportation Transpor-tation (40 percent), and smaller allocations (2 to 5 percent) to the board of education, the Utah Geological Survey and other special districts. The special districts provide pro-vide public services that were traditionally provided by governmental entities. There are six special services 'big p Poll: Utahns love Huntsman SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A new poll shows Gov. Jon Huntsman Hunts-man Jr. shouldn't worry about packing his bags after the November No-vember election. More than eight of every 10 registered voters strongly or somewhat approve of . how Huntsman is doing his job. The Republican is seeking a second term this year. Thirteen percent said they somewhat or strongly disapprove disap-prove and 3 percent said they didn't know, according to a poll by Dan Jones & Associates for the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV The polling firm interviewed 601 people betweenMarch 17-20. The survey has an error margin ol 4 percentage" pblnfs" While Utahnslove their governor, gover-nor, the affection isn't the same Tor their lawmakers. Forty-four percent said they'd ICQ rirv ! 1 ;U i 8 iO ' " TIO'1-' C- fff1 15 f3" (" " t - ai' U Ua L:-. FREE UTStarcom UM150 after $100 mail-in rebate with 2-yr. service agreement. Access the Internet on the go at DSL speeds Ephraim Irian Wirelessl 1435) 283 5010 Kanab Sound Itaiwii (4351 644-5908 Moab ' Rovr.es Electronics 1 14351 759 6030 Mount Pleasant CeimaCom 1 14.151 462-1111 Nephi ' Titan Wireless 1 14351 673 0274 !' Richfield flailioShaik 1 14351 896 67113 Roosevelt WimliiViii Wireless 1 14351 11 (flit!) 0 lull minute increments with a minimum chniga or one oiuioie UNI. npptuin aia coonioi'isoiy siowbi man as grmgiaiihy. atniontiheiir coiutituuis distance Imm titwai nr amouol ot liallic. on svstnm Ailititional activation lea A possible IMeetly termination lea apptioaper Ime Siuvuem acrmibnglnthe laims A service maiks referenced ate Ihe names, liado nanins, Kailemaiks A logun ol limit lespm.tive nwoeis A5 lease April 2, 2008 icture districts in Uintah County and all totaled they are projected to receive $27 million in mineral lease funding in 2008. Estimated revenues to the districts include mineral lease payments of $16 million to transportation, $5.3 million to recreation, $2.8 million to impact mitigation, $1.5 million fire suppression, $1 million to healthcare, and $581,000 to animal control. "This isn't a witch hunt," advised ad-vised Snow as there has been no allegation of impropriety among the districts. "Rather, there is an interest in the significant number of dollars coming into the Basin." These dollars have drawn the attention of legislators from elsewhere in the state. At this time, auditors have made an appointment ap-pointment to initiate their work this spring. At best, an audit could find little problems before they become be-come bigs ones. At worse, the audit could bring about a reduction reduc-tion in mineral lease funds and the potential dissolution of the districts. Reduction in funding could impose truth in taxation procedures proce-dures to increase property tax revenues in order to sustain special districts' operations. rather have a new senator ir their district; 42 percent hac the same opinion about theii House member. All 75 House seats and If of Utah's 29 Senate seats an up for election this year. Sen Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan could be in trouble. The Jones firm found 53 per cent of people in his district saic someone else definitely shoulc . get the job. Buttars offended manj people in February when ht described a bill as a "black, uglj baby." He apologized and appeared ap-peared at ablack church seeking forgiveness. Only 23 percent said Vu probably or definitely shoulc be re-elected:That paTt of tht Jones survey involved 208 Wedf , Jordan residents and had ar "error margin of 7 percentage points. come and get your love Illtel wireless shopalltel.com 1-800-alltel-1 St. George AnihtMvmotiriM (4351 63 6799 Hllillevard llnnie himtshinqs 1 14 151 906 31110 llish flays otS III 1 14351 61 78111 Sound Cellular (4351 67H Ml llw Cell I'lmiicUuy 4.151 647100 Vernal (:,iriUreeWiieli";s!(rl1581 0600 t,iiWirilos'.4,l5) H'lWWI Systems Comm (4.161 IH'j 694 WAL'MART Proud Sponsor of". rtjOriUHnnf 1 (nfnfn.iinn t ' o |