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Show Also in this section: oca Obituaries B2 Opinions B4 Sports B7-B- S Contracts presented to commissioners By JOSEPHINE ZIMMERMAN Herald Staff Writer Utah County Substance Abuse Director Bruce Burdick presented nie recommended contracts for drug and alcohol treatment and prevention to Utah County Commissioners Monday, but commissioners heard strong criticism from the drug counselor at Payson High School. Counselor Kim Groscost said Commissioner Gary Herbert had met with Payson school officials, the Chamber of Commerce, chief of police, PTA officers and others who expressed dissatisfaction with the contract process. "We have been in school two months and still have no money to conduct drug, alcohol and tobacco programs at the school. What is the problem?" she asked. Burdick said the money would be available as soon as the contracts are signed. Commissioners are expected to approve the contracts and authorize the chairman to sign them on Wednesday. Groscost said the schools need a counselor who can meet the students at the school, and can relate to Jhe them. j'You probably don't want to hear about Roger Coplen, but I'm going to talk about him. He has conducted an absolutely phenomenal program at the school." ; "Do you know how hard it is to get kids to come to a counseling program like this? Do you know how hard it is to get a drug and alcohol program going where the kids will come in voluntarily?" She said, "I am in a district where we have severe problems in this area. Kids are being expelled from school for drug, alcohol and tobacco use. Our rules ar more severe than the law." She said Coplen is able to relate to the kids and meet them on their level. He is also the drug counselor at the prison, and arranged to take students to the prison to talk to inmates. "They talked about it all day after they returned," she said. "We don't have enough good things we can say about Roger Coplen." Coplen has charged that he was eliminated from the bidding process for funds administered by the county's Substance Abuse Department. "Nobody is saying Roger didn't do these things," county Commissioner Malcolm Beck said. Groscost said drugs and alcohol are recognized by the U.S. Depart ment of Education as the No. 1 problem facing our schools. She said a program is needed in the schools, not miles away at Wasatch Mental Health in Provo, where an inpatient program is conducted. She objected to having Wasatch Mental' Health get the contract for funds formerly received by Coplen. "We have not been able to get one student who went through Parkview (a program operated by Timpanogos Mental Health, now called Wasatch Mental Health) integrated back into the mainstream of school successfully," she claimed. Beck warned that she was making serious charges that she had better be able to back up, to which she repeated her claim. Don Muller, director of Wasatch Mental Health, said Wasatch does not have an inpatient program. It has a residential program that can handle up to 10 youths. Groscost said the "people on the front lines" had been given no input into the contract process. "We don't feel we have been getting a voice in this program. Nobody asked us about it," she said. "Why don't you talk to the people in the schools?" Herbert asked Muller how quickly he could get a counselor down to Payson. "As soon as the contracts are signed, we will have a half-tim- e counselor in each school district," Muller said. Commissioner Sid Sandberg said he understood that there was tension at the moment, and he asked that everyone be responsive to the concerns. "I feel that the approach recommended here (by Burdick) is the best way to go. It will give us some guidance and answers when we go through the next cycle of funding. This is an appropriate forum, but it is not the only forum, "he said. He said these contracts pay for services and the county has many able and capable providers. "I think they will serve the best interests of the citizens of Utah County." Herbert said the bottom line is what can be done to help the young people. that we will make sure the contracts are grant"We pledge to you ed in a more timely manner next time. It shouldn't be two months into the school year," he said. County expected to vote for approval By JOSEPHINE ZIMMERMAN Herald Staff Writer Utah County commissioners are expected to vote Wednesday to approve nine contracts for drug and alcohol prevention and treatment. Bruce Burdick, director of the Utah County Substance Abuse Department, presented the contracts as follows: PREVENTION 1. Wasatch Mental Health, $181,-00This proposal will continue 2 with the alcohol and drug program in the schools. This is a program in conjunction with the Substance Abuse Board and the Board of Education. Also, Wasatch will do community-wid- e prevention services, such as helping with Red Ribbon Week, Governor's Youth Council and an A to Z Fair. They will also facilitate the teen aicohol school which works with teens referred form Juvenile Court. 2. UCCCODAR (The Gathering Place), $106,163. They will be doing "Drug Free Years" which is a prevention program for parents. Also, a sixth- - and seventh-grad- e - 0. K-1- state-mandat- program entitled prevention T.E.A.N.S. (Teaching Early Adolescents New .Skills) to supplement the existing 2 program. 3. The Cottage Program Interna K-1- tional, $48,111. This proposal will target and help to prevent stance abuse among high-ris- groups, religious organizations, PTA and the private sector. It teaches that the use of alcohol and drugs is wrong and harmful. 4. Valley Youth Treatment Program, $16,000. This program will provide centering on the "triangle of addiction" and other specific and methodologies. This education will result in human service agency personnel being able to provide psychological and social support. TREATMENT PROGRAMS: 1. Aspen Institute women's treatment services, $17,280. 2. Utah Alcoholism Foundation IV drug users, women's treatment and social detox, $240,894. 3. The Gathering Place women's treatment service, IV drug users and general population, $272,-02- 0 (including $15,000 from the countv). 4. Wasatch Mental Health full continuum of youth services, $309,-40- - 5. 5. tions State of Utah, Youth Correcyouth social detox, $120,-70- 4. Officials investigating Sunday fatal accident By KEN RAND Herald Correspondent The Utah Highway DELTA Patrol is investigating a fatal one vehicle rollover that happened on Interstate 15 Sunday. Paul Troy Baker, 16, of Fillmore, died in the accident that also injured Allan Stephenson, 15, of Fillmore, a passenger in the vehicle. UHP investigating officer Dean Shields, said Baker was apparently dead at the scene. Stephenson was treated at Fillmore Community Medical Center, before he was to IDS Hospital in Salt Lake Citv with trauma and lacera - Tuesday? 1990 16, B Neighbors helping neighbors: 4 j , ' ? p fk tr && . l, kii ,4iriv --a- m V - Herald PhotoAndrew Holloway mentally handicapped people have fun at a birthday party for one of them, provided by "Recreation for All Handicapped," a United Way agency. Some Program provides necessary recreation By CHRISTI C. EVANS Herald Staff Writer The mentally handicapped cannot fully assimilate into the work force and society unless they are also provided with recreational opportunities with their peers. From this idea grew Recreation for All Handicapped, also known as RAH, a United Way agency in Provo. In addition to other services, RAH allows the handicapped to participate in parties, bowling, dancing and even dates. "RAH is about allowing people to become their best self possible," said RAH Director Kathy Edwards. "They will be the best they can be if given the chance." Activities are scheduled nearly every night of the month for the approximately 700 RAH participants. Those attending are actually "taught" how to interact socially. "You don't think of being taught to play or recreate with another person," Edwards said. "These guys need to be taught. . . . We're talking about a half of a person or a whole person." In the mid 1960s, before education for the mentally handicapped was required in the public schools, parents in Utah County decided they wanted a placr for their children. The materials and land for RAH's current location at 815 N. 800 W. were donated and the building constructed. The public schools eventually provided teachers in the building and it also became the county's first sheltered workshop for the mentally disabled. However, as their children grew older, parents began wondering what they would do as adults for recreation. RAH was then created and now receives 70 percent of its funding from United Way of Utah County. United Way provides vans for transporting RAH clients to different activities. A small fee is charged for activities so clients will expect to need to pay when going bowling, to the movies, or other places on their own. On Fridays, couples sign up three at a time and are taken on chaperoned "dates" and taught proper date etiquette while participating in date activities such as dinner and a movie. In addition to traditional "recreation," RAH participants can also attend classes on practical skills such as cooking, riding the bus, grooming, and money management. "The term 'recreation' has a broad meaning and scope for us," Edwards said. Two reading classes are taught each week as well as self esteem courses. Clients with jobs in the regular work force can experience negative treatment from their dipping them into depression. All classes work toward getting the client enough to hold down a job, live in an apartment and take care of themselves personally and financially. nt "In my mind, there's nothing our clients cannot do if trained and treated well," Edwards said. RAH also provides several long distance trips for participants each year to places such as Disneyland, Nashville and Hawaii. "We take groups of handicapped adults places they'd never in their lives get to go," she said. "Neighbors helping neighbors" is a feature appearing on the local pages of The Daily Herald every other Tuesday. It highlights local agencies that receive funding through United Way donations. subk youth. The program networks with local alcohol and drug abuse providers ami other community resources, including schools, civic procedures Oct. tions to the head. He was reported in critical condition when transported to LDS Hospital. Shields said the accident occured Sunday, Oct 14, at about 4:35 p.m. Baker was driving southbound on the south side of Scipio summit, in the outside lane when he apparently lost control of the 1987 Dodge Ram 50 pickup truck and slid off the right side of the road. The vehicle slid, rolled about 4'-- times, and ejected both ocupants. Neither were wearing seatbclts. Shields said the cause of the accident is still under investigation. Residents air thoughts about proposed lifts By SONNI SCHWINN Herald Correspondent MIDWAY More citizens protested than supported Brighton Ski Resort's proposal to build two expert ski lifts in Snake Creek Canyon, west of Midway, during a public hearing in the Midway Town Hall. The Wasatch County Commission sponsored the hearing last week at the request of protesters who felt they were not being given an opportunity to express their opposition to the proposal. About 150 people attended. Most of those who spoke against expanding the resort into the coun- ty said they didn't want their peaceful lifestyle traded for the sake of business, nor the pristine mountains scarred with ski lifts and runs. They pointed out that the area is zoned to protect the watershed and objected that the resort would destroy water quality. They said the additional county services and improvements that would be required, if the resort is approved, would result in higher taxes. Those who supported the proposal said the expansion would economically benefit the county by bringing in recreation dollars, enhancing recreational businesses and creating jobs. They supported carefully planned and controlled growth, but would not want the proposal approved if the environmental study indicates the resort could threaten the environment, particularly water, or supports other allegations by those who spoke against it. Before the hearing was opened for public comment, Dennis Ear-har- t, representing Bear West, which is doing the environmental impact study, outlined Brighton's plan for expansion on both sides of the mountain. He said the proposal includes a total expansion of 994 acres, 866 of which are private. The remaining land belongs to the Forest Service. About 2.6 acre-feper year of culinary water would be required for a new ridge top restaurant and the Snake Creek base facilities. et Price up, adoptions down By JOSEPHINE ZIMMERMAN Herald Staff Writer When the price of adopting cats from the Utah County Animal Shelter went up a year ago, the number of adoptions dropped, Sheriff David Bateman told the county commission Monday. Setting the adoption rate at per adult cat, plus shots, and $10 for kittens dropped the $20 adoptions by 75 peFcen', he said. Bateman asked the commission to adjust the rates to $10 per adult cat and $5 per kitten. "Over the last three or four months, the adoption rate has declined 75 percent. With lower fees, people may be more willing to adopt the animals and save us having to euthanize them," he said. He emphasized that the "altitude chamber" can no longer be used in euthanizing animals, because of complaints by the Humane Society and other organizations. It is now necessary to dispose of the animals by giving them injections, which is more he said. personnel-intensivHe said the number of adoptions had dropped from 37 in August, 1985, and 27 in July, 1985 to 1! m August of 1990 and only two in July, 1990. e, Brighton would like a water supply to make snow on about 20 acres in Snake Creek, but Earhart said it wouldn't be absolutely necessary. The total number of skiers at one time on both sides of the mountain would increase from the existing 2,820 to a total 5,768 if the entire expansion is approved. An estimated 620 skiers are expected at Snake Creek once the expansion is completed. George Hansen, Midway, summarized most of the objections that were expressed. He said the unpolluted, untreated spring water the city of Midway enjoys would be jeopardized by the expansion into Snake Creek "just for the sake of recreational development." He said the plan doesn't ade quately address the problems of sewage disposal. He was also worried about the visibility and appearance of the resort and the services that will be required. He said the sound of cannons breaking up avalanches at Brighton already can be heard in Midway. He reported the Forest Service in 1985 approved an increase to 4,200 sliers at one time with no expansion in the resort's boundary, and said that decision should stand. Ted Prichard, vice president of the Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce, recognized the seriousness of the water problems and said he hoped they could be worked out. But he said he didn't think the development would have the severe effect people were afraid of. combustion research could help steel industry BYU By The Associated Press Geneva Steel and other fossil-fue- l burning industries may benefit from combustion research at Brigham Young University. Scientists at the Advance Combustion Engineering Research Center are investigating the combustion process of such fuels as coal, shale-oi- l, sands. natural gas and tar And researchers have developed a mathmatical model of how polluting nitrogen oxides form and are controlled in the coal combustion process, said L. Douglas Smoot, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology and center director. That model now is being used by Kobe Steel Co., a Japanese corpo- ration that designs boilers and burners to control emissions of the toxic gas. "One area that we mav be able to help Geneva is in being able to make direct use of coal in the g process rather than coke," Smoot said. Kobe is using the center's mathematical model to design a direct coal injection system for use in a blast furnace, he said. steel-makin- The center is in its fifth year of operation and cooperates with the University of Utah, which also con- ducts combustion research. The BYU center is funded from the National Science Foundation and contributions from 25 industrial organizations, including Geneva in neighboring Orem. The NSF, which first funded the center in 1986, gave the school more than $2 million this summer. Smoot said BYU's center is probably the largest combustion-relate- d academic research program in the world. |