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Show Weather June 20 June 21 June 22 June 23 June 24 June 25 June 26 Volume 85 Number 26 90 94 96 98 100 101 100 49 52 54 55 60 63 54 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 " Serving Moab and Grand County Since 1896' Thursday, June 28, 1979 Moab, Grand County, Utah 84532 Major fire ravaged Cisco Bidders show interest in Mill Creek Project . . . Several buildings in Cisco were destroyed in a spec- tacuiar fire last Friday, June 22. The fire was reported to the Grand County Sheriffs office at 6:21 p.m. Tankers from the Grand Valley Fire Dept., the BLM and State Forest Service were dispatched to the scene, Grand County Deputy Sheriff Lynn Izatt reported General contractors are showing' a great deal of interest in bidding on the Mill Creek Dam and Reservoir, David Bretzke, director of the Grand County Water Conservancy District, stated Tuesof day. Already a number contractors from all over Utah have picked up copies of the contract, and others are asking about it, he said. that the old motel, store, two houses and the gas station were destroyed in the blaze. He added that firefighters were aided by a D-- 8 Caterpillar tractor Construction Co. No provided by Morrison-Knudso- n cause for the blaze has been determined. Travel Council member shuffle brings criticism from S.E. Utah had a combined 48 years of service on the agency responsible for policy making for Utahs tourist promotion agency. Named to take their places on the Council are Keith Gamer, Salt Lake City; Paula Bell, Roosevelt; and Jim Carrico, Kanab. All three are Republicans, which gives that body a 5 to 2 edge over Democrats on the Travel Council. Dixie Barker, Moab, secretary of the Utah Association of Travel Regions, stated Tuesday that the new shuffle leaves the d SmmmSmmSSSmmmmSmmSmmmmmmm Southeastern comer of Utah without representation on the Travel Council. She stated that she and other officers of the association "had met with Gov. Matheson in earlier Tuesday, but that he was Fourth of July fireworks will standing firm on the new members. be shot off from the dump hill this They must be confirmed, however, year at dark on the nations birth- by the Utah State Senate, and that day. body will meet this Friday in a Jim Gardner, chairing the special session to act on these and project for the Chamber of Com- other appointments made by merce, will be assisted by memb Matheson since the March adjournere of the fire department in ment of the Legislature. In a statement presented to the managing the show. Funding for the event came Governor Tuesday, the Travel about equally from Moab City, Region association stated: The Grand County and the Chamber of suggested appointments, if conCommerce. firmed by the Senate, will leave Judicial District Seven and its Failure' of Gov. Scott M. three Matheson to veteran members of the Utah Travel Council last week prompted a resolution by that Council at its meeting in Monticello late last week, and brought sharp criticism from officers of the Utah Association of Travel Regions. KenSowards, Vernal; Jim Black, Monticello; and Bob Temple, Salt Lake City were the Travel Council members not They tourist-oriente- Fourth of July fireworks display promised Moab population of nearly 90,000 without any representation on the board, while Judicial District Six, with half that population would have two board members. The imbalance and inequity is obvious. Additionally, the appointments would weight the board with five Republican members and only two Democrats, an imbalance which seems not only to violate statute... which allows no more than four members from the same political party, but would give the majority party in the Legislature an even stronger hand in the affairs of the states second largest industry tourism. The Association of Travel Regions is of course dismayed at the loss of 28 years of leadership by Board Chairman Ken Sowards, Vernal; 12 years by Board member Jim Black, Monticello; and 8 years Bob by Board Temple, Salt Lake City. We are even more concerned, however with the loss of valuable expertise and knowledge those board members have amassed during their terms on the board, especially now as Utahs travel industry grapples with the effects of the energy crisis. If the Utah Travel Council is to maintain a position of leadership for the. travel industry it is incumbent on the Governors Office to insure that this board is a strong, viable and knowledgeable group of proven leaders and a group that equally represents all portions of the state and all political parties, the letter concluded. In its meeting in Monticello last week, the Travel Council passed a resolution calling for appointment to the Travel Council of a member each of Utahs judicial districts. Three of the members voting on the resolution were the three who had learned only the previous evening that they would not be reappointed, Mrs. Barker said. The board suggests that an imbalance (on the Travel Council) may create schisms within this travel industry which would impede its essential continuthe resolution ing development, seven-memb- Bids on the project will be opened in Moab on July 12, and it is hoped that work on the major project can be started by the end of the month. This Thursday and Friday, officials of the District are going to be taking interested bidders on a tour of the project. And last Sunday potential water users, including officials of Moab City; Moab Irrigation Company and individual property owners in the Spanish Valley vicinity toured the project and looked over plans. The project will involve the dam construction of an earth-fi- ll multi-million-doll- ar er Vice-chairm- an 91 work in parks . Figures released by the National Park Service office in Moab this week indicate that a total of 91 persons are presently employed in area national parks and monu- ments. At the Moab headquarters and maintenance offices there are 28 permanent and six seasonal employees. At the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, there are six permanent and three seasonal employees. Six permanent and four seasonal employees are currently stationed in the Needles district, southwest of Moab. Three permanent and three seasonal employees are stationed in the Maze district. This summer, Arches National Park has seven permanent and 14 seasonal employees, stationed at the Visitor Center and the Devils Garden Campground. At Natural Bridges National Monument, five permanent and four seasonal workers are employed. At the Park Service office in Monticello, one permanent and one seasonal worker are employed. Of the 91 workers currently employed by the Park Service, 56 are permanent and 35 seasonal. nearly a mile long in Spanish Valley; blanketing of a reservoir with clay; construction of a diversion dam in Mill Creek and of a water line construction distribution system in Spanish Valley to get project water to points of use. A subsequent contract to be advertised seperately will call for completion of the Sheley Tunnel to bring water from Mill Creek Canyon into Spanish Valley. 100-ac- re .... Utah Gas Hearing. District Chairman K.E. McDoug-al- d stated that maps of the project are available for water users to review in the District Office in Grand Plaza. He urged persons interested in the water distribution system to review the plans to see if the project water lines will best serve the needs of property owners and water users in Spanish Valley. Their comments will be appreciate ed, he said . . A public hearing for both a rate increase and decrease requested Gas Service has been set for Monday, July 2, in Moab at Star Utah by Hall beginning at 10 a.m. As a matter of procedure, the requests must be made separately, as they do not result from the same circumstances. The increase is not offset by the decrease, and overall prices would go up, if the Public Service Commission approves both requests. The utility is asking for a decrease to offset a $76,568 credit balance in its gas balancing account. The increase is being asked to offset increased costs in gas purchased from intrastate suppliers and Northwest Pipeline Corp. The additional cost of gas was computed by the company at $150,945. for administrator. . . Looking Administrator. for a new is Moab The City is adCity City looking in interested from serving in the persons vertising for applications on experience, to will from which $18,000 depending $15,000 pay post, etc. which is available at City Hall, details the Ordinance No. duties and responsibilities of the City Administrator. Applications will be received until July 15, when the City Council intends to review them and make a selection. 8, Mosquito The Grand spray... County mosquito abatement program will continue on as the second aerial spray will be done. The areas 2, Monday, July sprayed will be the same as the first spraying. Spray will be applied from Main Street west, the egg ranch area, the sloughs and Lions Park, in addition to Pack and Mill Creeks. A spokesman for the county stated that the fogger is still being repaired, but will be used as soon as it is ready. The aerial spraying will be done in the morning, using Baytex-4- . . . . Moab will be hosting the annual Pony League Baseball TourThe tourney is for boys ages 13 and 14. It is exnament on July will 225 be traveling to Moab for the event. boys pected about Richeson stated that volunteers will be needed to Glen Organizer for and food league participants. He commented that housing provide other towns that have hosted the league have provided housing for Moab boys and local residents now have the opportunity to return the Housing needed 24-2- 7. favor. Some of the boys will be arriving the night of July 23 and will stay through the night of the 27th. Richeson added that volunteers should contact him as soon as possible and advise how many boys they can house. He can be contacted at 293 Opal in Moab, phone The organization of housing may be taken over by a local sorority as a community service project. In the meantime, Richeson asks that volunteers contact him. 259-773- states in part. Gov. Matheson has, since taking office 2 Vi years ago, made it a practice to not reappoint persons to state boards and commissions who have already served two terms. He has made exceptions to that rule, however. Mrs. Barker stated that she had been in contact with State Sen. Omar B. Bunnell who represents this comer of Utah, who stated that the Senate would undoubtedly aire the Travel Council controversy this Friday. He did not indicate, however, what might happen at that time. Republicans dominate the State Senate, and most of the deliberating over appointments will be done in Republican caucus. Sen. Bunnell is a Democrat. , Human fly . . . An Arches National Park ranger demonstrates the use of Jumar ascenders to scale a sandstone wall during an exhibition of rescue techniques last Sunday. The ascenders slide easily up a fixed rope, but clamp tightly when weight is applied. Loops of rope run from the ascenders to the climbers feet, providing a firm foothold as he proceeds up the rope. See Bill Davia feature, Page Bl. M A TELEVISION: Computerized Specially for Moab Area Pape BS A B6 A tour of the upcoming Mill Creek Water Project was Wiseman, Moab Venice Irrigation Co. held Sunday by groups involved. Here K. E. Me- - Denney and Margie Shafer andrepresentatives District Conservancy Dougald, chairman of the Grand County Water Con- - director, Dave Bretzke. Bid opening on the y District (second from left) points out project million-dolla- r project will be July 12 in Moab. highlights to (left to right) City Councilman Jim multi-servanc- |