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Show " l f I ! V, SERVING MOAB AND Moab, Grand County, Utah 84532 SOUTHEASTERN UTAH SINCE 1896 t Volume 86 r Thursday, December 25, 1980 Number 52 Water Dist. approves budget, lake filling set to start in February, officials say Members of the Grand County Water Conservancy Board and Special Service Board met at 7 a.m. Monday, and following a budget hearing review of a proposed operating budget for the coming year, approved that budget with only two changes. The total planned expenditures for the coming year amount to $1,127,394. The largest portion of that expenditure will pay the final costs for completing the Mill Creek items. The first was a figure of $3,000 to be used in an attempt to g reinstate a program in Grand County, and represents only half the required amount. Last week Grand County Commissioners cut a $6,000 cloud seeding item from the County budget with the idea that Grand County would drop cloud-seedin- the program at least for the present. The Water District Board felt, however, that during the first year of filling the Mill Creek Reservoir, all efforts possible were Dam Project, which is rapidly needed to get a maximum nearing completion. snowpack on the LaSal Mountains. Added to the budget were two The $3,000 figure will be used as a Calling Castle Valley . Unemployment climbs, but under state level . . Continental Telephone gave a Christmas present to the residents of Castle Valley last Friday, Dec. 19, with the initiation of a new phone system. Each of the 50 new customers received a welcoming call from St. Nick. Grand may be escaping some effects of recession Grand County appears to be escaping some of the effects of the current recession, according to a list of economic indicators released this week by the Utah Department of Employment Security. During the second quarter of 1980, tourist room sales in Grand County jumped a whopping 110.5 percent over the second quarter of 1979; from $548,400 to $1,154,300. Gross taxable sales during the second quarter increased 30 per- cent; from $17,832,100 to one-ye- from Overall, building construction in Grand County decreased 34.2 In the Southeastern District, percent; from $3,059,900 to gross taxable sales increased 12.3 $2,014,100. percent during the second quarter During the four quarters, which of 1980, compared to second ended June 30, 1980, gross taxable 1979. this When was quarter gain in sales Grand County rose 20.2 adjusted to account for the effects of inflation (as measured by the percent over the 1979 fiscal year; national consumer price index) the from $59,360,600 to $71,363,500. result was a 2.1 percent loss. Gross sales in Moab City climbed However, the adjusted figures for 10.8 percent; from $44,415,100 to Grand County showed a gain of $49,222,000. In the remainder of the county, an increase of 48.1 15.6 percent. percent was recorded; $14,945,400 to $22,141,400. $23,189,100. Production of crude oil and natural gas in Grand County was also up sharply. From January through June of this year 62,500 barrels of oil were produced in the county, up 60.7 percent from 38,900 barrels during the same time period in 1979. Natural gas production climbed 88.6 percent; from 2,367.5 billion cubic feet to 4,465.1 billion cubic feet from January through June. One. positive indicator was recorded by the building industry, which has been heaviliy impacted by the recession. Under residential improvements (additions, alterations and repairs) from January through September of this year, the total rose 77.6 percent; from $206,200 to $366,000. The largest decrease, 78.1 percent, was recorded in new construction, which dropped from $804,500 to $176,400. New residential construction was also down, from $1,791,500 to $1,290,300; a drop of 28 percent. improvements deNon-resident- creased 29.6 percent; from $257,700 to $181,400. The number of new dwelling units constructed from January through September of this year dropped 25 percent from the same time period last year; from 44 to 33. Nodine to replace Day as BLM Dist. Manager Gene Nodine of Battle Mountain, Nevada has been selected as the new district manager for the bureau of Land Managements Moab District. According to Gary Wicks, BLM Utah state director, Nodine will assume his new duties January 26, replacing Gene Day who is transferring to the New Mexico BLM State office as chief of the project management staff. Nodine will move to Moab from Battle Mountain where he has been the BLM district manager since 1972. He started his federal career with the BLM at Dillon, Montana, as a range conservationist and then to Winnemucca, Nevada, working in the range improvement program. In 1966, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, as a range staff specialist. His next assignment was to Burns, Oregon, as chief of the division of resources in 1968. The native of Sinia, South Dakota, served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1954. He was graduated from Utah State University in 1961. His wife Helen, was born in Fillmore, Utah. They have two daughters, Rosemarie - 20, Julie 19 (both are attending Utah State University), and a son, Robert, who is a sophmore in high school. Nodine has been very active in -- community affairs: serving as president of the Lander County Parks and Recreation Association, elected member of the Lander County Hospital Board, of the Battle Mountain School Booster Club and is a member of the Lions Club. The family enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and camping and sports events. vice-preside- nt ment and the building industry in Utah is still pessimistic, the summary said. Construction jobs are estimated to average 32,700 in 1981, a 1.9 percent increase over program will and Mining employment is forecast to feature dancers are Season tickets are $25 for families, $12.50 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens and students, and $5 for children under 12. Season tickets are available at the High Desert Gift Shop and Spencers Printing. Times-Independeri- t, OPEN AND CLOSED Grand County offices will be closed both Thursday and Friday this week in observance of Christmas. City offices will be closed on Christmas, but open for business on Friday. per- increase 11.1 percent in 1981. The under 12 and senior citizens. Season tickets will also be sold at the door for the remaining five Art Guild programs. i interest rates persist. Forecasters believe that if interest rates remain in the 16 to 20 percent range, new construction and retail trade activities will be hampered. Mining jobs increased 1.7 welcome to attend. Tickets, available at the door, will cost $3 for adults and $1.50 for children Castle Valley customer, Edythe Miller, proves where she lives by electing to receive her telephone call from Santa outside, with Castle Rock in the background. Calls to the valley are relayed by microwave from Moab to Porcupine Rim to the valley floor. ted. Because of these conditions, the summary stated, economic activity in the next several months in Utah will probably be characterized by stagnation, as the Federal Reserve attempts to control the money supply; and inflation and high The Moab Art Guild and the Fallen Arches squaredance club will sponsor a show featuring The Wasatch Rascals on Friday, Jan. 9 at Southeast Elementary School, beginning at 7:30 p.m. spectators A in labor market and economic conditions. Other indicators, including increasing interest rates and the high inflation rate suggest that actual improvement in the labor market and recovery from the recession have been interrup- cent in 1980, compared to 1979. traditional square, circle and line dances, waltzes and polkas. Both I want ... ar Wasatch Rascals coming to town The Yes, Santa, According to figures recently released by the Utah Department of Employment Security, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Grand County jumped from 4.9 percent in November of 1979 to 6.2 last month. period, the During that number of workers in the civilian labor force increased 2.5 percent; from 3,530 to 3,620. The number of wage and salary jobs rose only one percent; from 3,090 to 3,120. The highest unemployment rate in the state last month, 9.5 percent, was recorded in Sanpete County. During the year from November, 1979 to November, 1980, average unemployment in the state rose from 4.4 percent to 5.5 percent, reaching a peak of 5.7 percent in September of this year. The civilian labor force increased 2.5 percent; from 615,400 to 631,000. During the same time period, the number of nonagricultral jobs dropped from 560,300 to 468,600. A department summary concluded that declining unemployment and steady job growth rates in the state appear to reflect improvement outlook for construction employ- 1980. It is expected that the trade industry should recover from a slow year in 1980. Growth will probably be below average, but experts expect a net increase in jobs in Choruses presented holiday program The combined secondary school choruses and Sounds Grand, under the direction of Bill Blue, presented a public concert of holiday music the evening of Monday, Dec. 22. A number of solos were featured, and Mr. Blue surprised his students by calling for renditions of several numbers which were not on the printed program. 1981. The trade employment increase is estimated at 2.2 percent next year. A slight increase in the growth rate is also expected in the manufacturing industry. It is forecast that employment in this industry will average 3.1 percent higher than in 1980. Jobs in real estate are expected to grow very little next year, due to high interest rates. Total employment in Utah during 1981 should be approximately 2.8 percent higher than this year. In the state as a whole, total is projected to unemployment 5.8 percent; more than of a percent higher than the 5.2 percent recorded in 1980. However, the 5.8 percent unemployment rate in Utah for 1981 should still be 1.5 to 2.0 percentage average one-ha- lf points lower than the national unemployment rate. base for attempts to gain additional support from local groups and agencies so that the program can continue. The second addition to the budget was a $6,000 figure which will be used to compensate Moab Irrigation Company for water diverted through the Sheley Tunnel from Mill Creek. Under a agreement, the Water District two-year-o- ld agreed to pay the Irrigation Company $2 per acre foot for water diverted through the tunnel. In turn, the Irrigation Company agreed to pay the District $2 per acre foot for any well water pumped into the irrigation system in Moab Valley from wells owned by the District. The $9,000 total addition was reduced from the capital expenditure budget for the coming year, to make the total budget the same as was outlined in a news story last week. The District Board learned that Neeley Construction and the L.A. Young Construction were moving rapidly toward finishing the dam and the reservoir blanket at present. Young Construction was brought in to help finish the project when the initial contractor went over the contract time and winter began to approach. It is now aniticiated that short of an extremely severe next few weeks of weather, the total project can be completed in January, and that storage of water can begin during the early part of February. Only two residents appeared at the budget hearing, and they had questions concerning the purchasing of culinary water from the Spanish Valley Water and Sewer District. Defensive driving course offered ... As part of a cooperative effort of the Moab Police Department, the Grand County Sheriffs office and the Utah Highway Patrol, a defensive driving course will be offered, beginning Saturday, Jan. 10. Highway Patrol Sgt. John Meacham stated that the class will be taught only if enough local citizens express interest. Persons interested in taking the course should contact the Police Department or the Highway Patrol, the Sheriffs office at at their address and telephone should name, give Applicants number. Details on the time and place of the class will be announced later. 259-811- 259-533- 1, 259-544- 1. S. U.CC.E. Classes . . . During winter quarter, which begins next month, the Southeastern Utah Center for Continuing Education of Utah State University will offer several classes open to high school seniors in the Moab area. Seniors registering for USU winter quarter classes should first check with their principal, then complete registration at the Moab SUCCE office. The Grand County School District will pay registration fees for those seniors approved to take college classes. The deadline for winter quarter registration is Wednesday, Jan. 7. Classes offered during the quarter will include Basic Computer Programming, Basic PaintingPainting Studio, Ceramaics, Basic Watercolor, Biology and the Citizen, Human Physiology, Evolution, Business Communication, Plane Surveying, Great Books and Ideas, Persuasive Writing and Guidance of Children. Other classes are Physical Geology, Earth History, Karate, Oxyacetylene Welding, Elementary French (first quarter), Elemen' tary Spanish (first quarter), Basic Mathematics, Plane Trigonometry, Calculus I, Energy, American National Government and Politics, The Presidency, and Abnormal Psychology. for the Eighties ... Agenda The for the Commission is Agenda Eighties delivering their final reports and summary to all County Clerk offices and all libraries throughout the State, the week of Dec. 22, 1980. (Including University, College, and Technical College libraries.) The public is welcome to review these reports and summaries at the above mentioned places. The reports are available at the reference desks only and summaries may be checked out on a basis. Also, Public Hearings will be held throughout the State simultaniously in every county on the night of Jan. 7, 1981, from 7:00 p.m., for the purpose of discussing the material contained in the Agenda for the Eighties reports. The public is welcom. Moabs meeting will be held at Star Hall. 24-ho- p.m.-10:0- 0 Early publication . . . This issue of The includes greetings from many local merchants and has been published a day early, for Times-Independe- delivery before the Christmas Day holiday. Next week the newspaper will also be printed on Tuesday and will include the annual year-enroundup of local happenings. The deadline for both news and advertising will also be pushed back to Monday at 5 p.m., and contributors are urged to take note. d |