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Show A6 Wednesday, December 24, 2008 Vernal Express' 000010001 1 Vernal express o r i n-o-n- MERRY CHRISTMAS By Kevm Asm iw s ? ;, V" Express Publisher Christmas is here, whether you are ready or not. Looking past the store sales and the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, area churches had wonderful won-derful programs that depicted the birth of the Christ child through song and discourse. And for me, the season is officially underway once I get out to start my Christmas caroling. To me nothing says Merry Christmas better than through song. There are some favorite Christmas movies, both traditional as well as new. Only good can come from retelling the story about Scrooge and how kind acts can help people like Tiny Tim. And every year, Christmas is not complete without a couple viewings of "Miracle on 34th Street." Both the new and old versions remind us not to just identify with the figure of Santa Claus, but to become involved in a way of life that searches out what we can do to create a smile instead of a tear in the lives of others. The Christmas season and all it stands for still works. Down deep, even in a year when the recession word is quoted daily, people are still feeling the need to give. Maybe this year it will be more giving of time and talents and small gifts, but people are out giving just the same. And more smiles are seen. We live in a world where being tolerant of others should be our way of life. There is a lot of word bashing that goes on as we keep hold of founding-father traditions and still figure out a way to keep church and state separate. The Christmas season gives all of us an opportunity to practice what we preach. Whether you are Christian or agnostic, or even believe in Santa Claus, the tradition of Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the center of their belief, and blessing the lives of those around them in the process, is a good practice. If people become happier through a day of giving...if they become more involved with the people around them during this season.. .if they become more aware of the problems of others and help out in some small way, then it is a season worth embracing without the need to embrace the faith. And I would hope that Christians would then be tolerant of others during their seasons or days of celebration that bless the lives of others. With that in mind, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May your family fam-ily traditions be strengthened this year. May you not be so busy that you rush through the season without taking the time to make yourself better by thinking think-ing and doing something for someone else. DEAR EDITOR By Patrick Timothy Muiijkihi " U,.iia.i..t,;i1 Express Editor When we receive letters - either praising and damning - here at the Vernal Express, we know we're doing our job as a community newspaper. Your letters let us know you are reading the paper. They also help us determine what types of news stories strike a chord. A few months ago we received a rash of letters m response to our selection of political cartoons. Our extensive and ongoing coverage of the Nov. 21 accident that claimed the life of Claye Robb has also struck a chord in the community. . It's our policy, and the policy of our parent company, Brehm Communica-" Communica-" tions, Inc., to printall letters maiJed or e-mailed to us. " - " As newspaper people we are firm believers in our, and in your, First Amendment Amend-ment rights: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." And while we have virtually no restrictions on content, we do not condone letters that are libelous or vindictive. Determining what is libelous or vindic- tive is our call, and it's a gray area, one that is getting grayer with the advent of online postings. It's a matter of routine now for readers to comment - usually without any restrictions - on articles, letters, even other's comments. The latter has become be-come a Juggernaut, with "commentators" vying to outdo the previous posting. To complicate matters, many online postings allow - even encourage - anonymity. ano-nymity. Some believe the exchange of information is best facilitated anonymously; anony-mously; others view the practice as a cop out. Our own Web site, Vernal.com, allows our online audience to comment anonymously. Anonymity ends and accountability begins, however, with your letters submitted for publication in the Vernal Express. These must bear the author's full name, signature, phone number and address. We also call to verify this information is correct. We look forward to hearing from you. Send your letters to: Editor Vernal Express 60 E. 100 N. Vernal, UT 84078 or e-mail us at: editorvernal.com TT7" ' 1 ! 1 . .1 I v WE&CTOLIY TRYTOMtET ML TUE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS PIKED ON US THISTOOFtEM ..CAN YOU BUM HIM (OR THINKING WE'RE NUTS? t'0$ Web opinion poll Each week the Vernal Express offers an online poll to its readers. To participate in the poll, visit www.vernal.com and click on the opinion link. Polls are not scientific and represent the opinions of voluntary Internet users. New polls are posted weekly and printed results represent voting as of Tuesday morning. If you have an idea for an opinion poll, e-mail it to editorvernal.com. Results for this week Is speeding a problem on Uintah Basin roads? a) Yes. (81) b) No. (19) Question for next week What sanctions should the Vernal City Council impose on stores caught selling liquor to minors? a) mandatory employee training b) impose a one time fine c) ban alcohol sales for one week d) ban alcohol sales permanently 03 PN 81, 7 BERTHA BUTTERBEAN I remember Christmas Dana Colovich Guest Writer Well here we are at Christmas Eve, 2008; and to borrow bor-row from Dickens, the Christmas Christ-mas Present is kind of a shambles. Some good ideas are still just ideas, and I wish I had a maid and Martha Stewart's staff in my employ. Yeah, I know, if I were as smart as Martha Stewart, I would have my own staff. But I don't, and there is way too much Christmas to go around. Actually I could be content just to remember Christ-mases Christ-mases Past when my family fam-ily wasn't all grown up, and there were small children in my home to make a Christmas Christ-mas for. After all, it's the children who are mostly nice and the grown-ups who are naughty, but you can't threaten big people usingthe Santa-won't-come routine. In the Christmas Christ-mas Past, Santa was not only a good motivational tool, but he was a good scapegoat, as well. There was always someone some-one to blame when Christmas was less than perfect. Well, we had a few of those, but there was still plenty of goodwill to make everyone merry. Kids are pretty forgiving for-giving that way. Some years though, I was ready to shoot Santa myself. His choice of toys was what I had to quarrel with. Maybe since he didn't have to live with his toys for the rest of the year he was a little short-sighted, but his selection selec-tion was incredibly awful sometimes. I don't think he ever left anything that didn't require batteries, make a lot of noise, or fit the neighbors better than us. He has left trucks so big you had to park them in the garage, and cars so small that they got lost under the bath mat. He has brought guns that mimicked submachine and never ran out of ammunition. ammu-nition. He has left building sets with more parts than my Ford, and all of them just that necessary. He has dropped off games with instructions in French, sweatshirts that would fit himself and no one else, and bicycles that take eight hours to put together. Of course there comes a time when each kid gets older and you realize its time for either the kid or yourselves to grow up and take responsibility responsi-bility for Santa and his ideas. And just once in a while, when youhe got it right, you might even like to take little of the credit for yourself. My grand-nephew's parents par-ents thought it was time to sit him down and explain to him that Santa might be a bit of a stretch for even a 10-year-old's imagination. So the other day they tried to let Santa out of the closet without too much trauma. When they told him who really re-ally leaves the presents, the kid was unconvinced. He said, "I don't believe that, because there is no way that you guys could afford what Santa brought me last year." So hold off on the expensive expen-sive presents until you can get credit for them. Let Santa bring the games with French instructions. But let you be the one who gives love and laughter laugh-ter cookies made while little helpers stand on chairs, forays to find the perfect tree, which will soon have its symmetry destroyed with overloaded bottom branches, the Christmas story read from St. Luke in children's halting voices, "Jingle Bells" sung off-key all the way to Grandma's house. Christmas is about the toddler standing in front of the lighted tree murmuring "Christmas, Christmas." It began with a Child who was born in a stable. May it live on for children everywhere. And may our celebrations reflect the wonder of it all. 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 grammar and style, length and content. 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 60 E. 100 N., 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. No way Long was Sundance Dear Editor, 1 was amused and a bit angry when I rfeadyour article about Willianj ; Henry Long being the long lost Sundance Kid (Sundance buried in Duchesne?, Uintah Basin Standard, Dec. 16.) I am not sure why anyone cares. I wonder if those intent on "proving" this are more interested in making money or finding the truth. I am the grandchild of Bill Long's daughter, Vinda Long Merkley. I moved into my grandmother's home when I was 2 years old and was raised by her. She never once told me he was the supposed famous outlaw. She never said a word that makes me believe that he was either. . I am abit angry that people seem intent on stealing or reinventing my family history his-tory for their own reasons. When this topic came up a few years ago, I contacted a professional genealogist who searched census, church, obituary and other public records. As we evaluated the official records there seemed to be some big holes in any claim that attempts to make my great-grandfather out to be The Sundance Kid. Let me assure you, I never heard anyone call greatgrandfather great-grandfather "Uncle Billy." I am mystified what the great interest is. Maybe when spring comes, people will go back to looking for the Lost Rhoades Mine and leave my family history alone. Marianne Merkley Defa Hanna USPS asks customers to help cut injuries to its employees Each year an average of 60 Utah letter carriers are injured from slipping on snow and ice while delivering their mail routes. With snowstorms on the horizon, the U.S. Postal Service Ser-vice is asking customers to help keep letter carriers safe by shoveling a path to their mailbox as soon as possible after it snows. "We want our carriers to return home to their families healthy each night," said USPS Salt Lake District Manager Ken McArthur. "Keepinga path clear to your mailbox will go a long way toward keeping our letter carriers safe and ensuring mail delivery each day." Utah letter carriers, who each make an average of more than 600 deliveries daily, will continue to do their best to deliver the mail, accord ing to McArthur. But when mailboxes and approaches to mailboxes are buried in snow and ice, it can make it difficult for letter carriers to make deliveries safely. . - Unsafe conditions, such as unshoveled snowicy sidewalks, or large amounts of snow blocking mailboxes can delay or even prevent mail delivery. Postal customers who receive door mail delivery should ensure their sidewalks, side-walks, steps, and access ways are kept safely clear of snow and ice. Customers receiving street-side mailbox or centralized cen-tralized cluster neighborhood mailbox delivery should also pay special attention to having hav-ing a safe and clear pathway to their mailbox. If access is not safe, mailboxes mail-boxes are blocked, or streets are impassable, letter carriers carri-ers must consider safety and accessibility first. They are instructed to refrain from delivering to locations they deem too hazardous. . , "We greatly appreciate the support of our customers in this endeavor," McArthur said. "Your letter carrier will thank you." Oil and Gas Lease Sale - Bridge to Energy Independence Our nation's economy and energy security are inextricably inextrica-bly linked. . The Bureau of Land Management Man-agement plays a key role in advancing our energy and economic security by providing provid-ing access to energy sources such as oil, gas and renewable energy. While we envision a future of energy independence indepen-dence sustained by alternative alterna-tive and renewable sources of energy, we also know that oil and natural gas are the essential bridge to that future energy independence. It is important then that those who have a stake in the management of our public lands -and that means every American citizen - understand under-stand how the BLM carries out its responsibilities, under the law, to manage the energy resources on public lands. One aspect of BLM's current cur-rent oil and gas program, the December 2008 lease sale, deserves particular attention at this time, because facts of the lease sale have been mis-characterized mis-characterized in the public forum, sowing confusion and misunderstanding. It should be understood, first and foremost, that there can be no leasing- by law - in areas protected as Wilderness or Wilderness Study Areas. Second, BLM conducts quarterly lease sales based on the law of the land - specifically spe-cifically the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Rigorous environmental reviews re-views of proposed parcels lead to public reviews, where the . public has the opportunity w lopK ai tne lease oij lennffij and 'present objections 10 ' ' specific parcels for specific reasons. This is a standard process BLM Utah conducts four times each year. Granting a lease does not convey an unlimited right to explore or develop oil or gas resources. Leases are stipulated stipu-lated with terms designed to minimize the impacts of development. Standard lease terms require that the lessee minimize adverse impacts to the land, air, water, cultural, cul-tural, biological and visual values. Additional lease terms are applied according to site-specific site-specific needs.- After a lease is issued the BLM works closely with the operator to modify the siting and design of facilities, influence the rate of development and timing of activities, and require other mitigation to minimize impacts. It is important to remember, too, thatleasingis a temporary use of the land, and developers are required to reclaim sites. And let's not forget what energy industry jobs mean to local economies. Many Utah communities depend on energy development, develop-ment, the jobs and infrastructure infrastruc-ture they bring. Thus far, Utah is fortunate that it has not been hit as dramatically as the rest of the country with job losses. That is due, in large measure, to energy jobs in the state, which have outpaced US job growth by more than 30 percent. Oil and gas exploration is costly and highly speculative. Only about six percent of the leases are drilled, and about four percent of leases are productive. If a lease is explored ex-plored and preliminary data indicates fluid development is probable, BLM then prepares the appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document typically typi-cally an Environmental Impact Statement or an Environmental En-vironmental Assessment to analyze and disclose environmental environ-mental impacts. The NEPA process ensures continuing importunities for. public in- vplvement in managing your public lands. Little attention has been paid to the fact that this lease sale offers parcels for development of geothermal energy- a renewable energy resource - yet even these are protested. And renewable resources are bearing the brunt of economic downturn and falling gas prices. Our collective memory as a nation is short. We forget how hard it was to pay $4 a gallon for gas this summer, when we're paying less than half that price this winter. That being said, it is important that we are deliberate in our ability to maintain existing energy resources until we can fully transition transi-tion to renewable energy resources. Being dependent upon foreign sources of energy has always been risky. In the geopolitical geo-political world of today, our dependence on others leaves us frighteningly vulnerable. Common sense dictates that we have a strategy to lessen our dependence on foreign sources of energy, a strategy that gives us confidence about a future era of energy independence that is sustained by renewable renew-able and alternative sources of energy produced here in the United States. In the meantime, that strategy must bridge the gap, by promoting responsible development de-velopment of the substantial reserves of oil and natural gasresources found here at home. For more information regarding oil and gas development develop-ment on BLM-administered land in Utah please visit: http:www.blm.govutsten infomoreMythvs Reality December2008Quarterly OilandGasLease.html Selma Sierra BLM Utah State Director w4 .... y On-paper or On-line. YOUR OPINION COUNTS! Submit your letters to the editor at Vernal Express 60 East 100 North Vernal, Utah 84078 Or online at: yernal.am |