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Show SERVING MOAB AND Moab, Grand County, Utah 84532 SOUTHEASTERN UTAH SINCE 1896 Thursday, March 6, 1980 Volume 86 Number 10 to votes transfer hospital County management to a private operator In a meeting Monday, Mar. 3, the Grand County Commission voted to turn over management of Allen Memorial Hospital and the Ambulance Association to Advanced Health Systems, Inc. of Irvine, Calif. The move followed a recommendation by the Hospital Board and review by County Attorney William Benge of the contract between the county and the company. An outline of the new management program and interviews with Advanced Health officials will be included in the next issue of The The proposed Colorado Scenicway along Highway 128 also came under discussion at the meeting. Marilyn Cooper, spokesman for the Times-Independen- t. Contaminated fuel . . . Contaminated fuel has been identified as the cause of the forced landing of a Trans Western Airlines Piper Chieftain shortly after takeoff from Canyonlands Field Friday, Feb. 29 at 12:18 p.m. Dick Blondefield, Chief of the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Democratic Grand County in Salt Lake City told The Office Wednesday afterWomen, said that several area noon fuel contaminated the caused with the engines." He residents have voiced concern over problems the proposed designation, said the fuel is being analyzed to determine type and level of conquestioning whether use of land taminants. The fuel was sold by Horizon Aviation in Grand Junction along the river corridor will be and was part of a load of about 20,000 gallons which came out of the restricted. Texaco Refinery in Denver. Blondefield emphasized that this doesnt Utah Department of Transpor- mean the fuel was contaminated when it came out of the but tation Commissioner Sam Taylor could have been at some other point. A total of 44 aircraft refinery, were fueled stated that the designation will not from this load, and Horizon Aviation has responsibility for notifying be made unless there is support of the other fuel. of None this of the four passengers aboard recipients the project by county residents. He the Trans Western were plan seriously injured. The plane traveled 963 said concerns had been raised over on feet the before ground hitting a ditch. Story inside. a BLM preliminary plan which would set up three zones; the road corridor, the river corridor and land visible from the road. He said that this zoning may prove unacceptable, as certain land uses Times-Independe- ' might be prohibited. Taylor commented that the VSfcenicway designation would enable the UDOT to proceed with improvements to 128 without going through the standard highway improvement process, which could take several years. He added y t.it Back in the early 1930s, pioneer Moab engineer Horace Sheley began this tunnel to connect Mill Creek Canyon to Moab and Spanish Valleys. A lack of funds shut the project down a third of the way through, but what was left of Horaces tunnel was used by contractors for the Grand County Water Conservancy District who are finishing the project at the current time. Waters from Mill Creek should begin flowing through the tunnel by late summer. (More artwork, Page Cl). Water Project e aimed at solving problems for Moab Valley culinary purposes, but for recreational diversions as well. Without sufficient water as development in this valley, life im-. we know it would be nearly possible. For years, Moab has depended on groundwater taken from wells located near the golf course and old dty park for culinary needs while land-owne- flash-floodin- rs dollars worth of damage. Over the years, numerous studies have focused on the dwindling water supply in this vicinity. In more recent studies, such as the Bureau of Reclamations study in 1969, and the Division of Water Resources joint study with the Corps of Engineers in 1970, either the proposed project was unaccep-abl- e or the price was too high. Most of these proposals called for erecting a dam on Mill Creek, but environmental considerations made these ideas unpopular, on Page Cl) r k KViln 00,000 grant Mar-Marc- long-rang- irrigation water has been diverted from the main course of Mill Creek as it flows through Moab Valley. Along with this, private have been drilling wells of their own which has placed increased stress on the aquifer. This has alarmed local officials due to the possible contamination of the aquifer by septic tanks and other pollutants. g Problems such as of Pack and Mill creeks have been apparent since this area was first settled by pioneers and have caused hundreds of thousands of The Moab City Council, in a the organization of a NeighWatch program would be meeting Tuesday, March 4, borhood authorized $100 a month pay held Wednesday. Representatives raises for Treasurer Barbara of local civic organizations were McLeod and Police Chief Mel invited to participate. A public two officials are meeting on the program will be that improvements would include Dalton. As the were not included held at a later date. Mayor Harold they slight widening of the roadway, in- appointed, granted to city Jacobs emphasized that public stallation of guardrails and the in the raise recently Council. support will be necessary if the employees by the possible use of small reflectors announced that a program is to succeed. Dalton Chief along the center line. (Cont. on Page C2) preliminary meeting concerning . Tfent1j?0frema.r-t? t e r 111 a e or ancos road across for mations north of Dewey Bridge a direct connection with the west J The Cisco interchange on s3 received , . . . also is investigating department A grant of $300,000 was received by Executive Director of Spanish the possibility of installing large Onion and i Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District Dave Bretzke on culverts at Professor 2. The grant was issued by the State of Utah Community ImCreeks in Professor Valley. He ad- - I ded that state engineers feel that pact Board and money will be used for construction of a culinary water the Dewey Bridge is deteriorating system in Spanish Valley. I Water will be piped from the George White well and storage tank rapidly and needs to be replaced. ! The load limit on the bridge was being constructed by the Grand County Water Conservancy District. Bretzke stated that these funds have been waiting for approval by reduced last year from five to 2Vt the Utah State Health Dept, for the past year and represent a portion tons. of the amount that will be needed to complete the project. A $250,000, Taylor suggested that the State 18 year, interest free loan has been approved but is waiting final t and Recreation Division of Parks . clearance. facilities manage any camping In conjunciton with this, the District has submitted an application,constructed as part of the Scenic- I to Farmers Home Loan for $422,000 on a 5 percent, 30 year loan. Bretway. He added that the UDOT will not push for the designation unless I zke stated that this loan is anticipated to be approved soon. Bretzke went on to say that the District will have to raise another Grand County residents agree. He contribution which will be derived from plant in- said that the total cost of the im- I $97,000 from fees vestment (connection fees). He said that this project should be provements would be about $3.5 I within the next thirty days. to bid to million. ready go imneed for the He emphasized I provements to the highway, stating that, according to a The Utah Energy Office has been awarded a $460,000 contract by report, the river road I the of Department of Energy to examine the possibility of constructing a has the highest fatality rate any nuclear power complex near Green River. The contract is now state. in large the highway ( being studied by the state attorney generals office. The study is designed to determine the viability of the concept of I locating several nuclear plants together in a huge power project. The study will be performed without committing the state to development 0. Multi-stag- e By Peter Dustrud No question about it, Moab needs water. Soon, when the Mill Creek Water Development Project is completed, not only will there be ample water for irrigation and City hikes more salaries, hears report on crime reduction effort in Moab ac-(Co- h V in-kin- d recen-ly-releas- of such a facility. James Byrne, deputy director of the Energy Office, said that . study will assess environmental and impacts of will be Two in included development. possible designs proposed the first would be a 12,500 megawatt plant, while (study: would be a 2,500 megawatt facility. socio-econom- 10-uni- t, ic the the the the two-uni- t, Volleyball tourney . . . Competition in the annual Canyonlands Volleyball Tournament wil get under way this Saturday, March 8, at 8 a.m. The tournament wa originally scheduled for both Friday and Saturday, but organizers J decided this week to run all games on one day. The tournament will feature teams from Utah and Colorado. Games be in the Middle and High School gyms from 8 a.m. to ll (will Theplayed competition will include both mens and coed divisions. Four will be in progress simultaneously throughout the day. Ad (games to all games is free. I The following weekend, March the womens tournament wi J be held, including competition in A, B and C divisions. More than 5 I teams are expected to play in the two tournaments. Volunteer line to serve as wishing judges and scorers are asked to call the Cham I' ber of Commerce at J 14-1- 5, 259-753- Braegger, foreman for Neeley Construction discusses workplans with resident engineer Brad Price. I I |