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Show A2The Times-Independen- Thursday, Jan. 2, 1986 t, J2te:u:iuct&ef, Many Trails. by Adrien Taylor By Sam Taylor with the program during the month of January, culminating with a public town meeting the last week in The sound of Air Life helicopter rotor blades descending slowly into Moab Valley early in the morning of New Years day was a comforting sound. Despite the tragic accident in Monument Valley Christmas eve, which took the life of pilot Mike Meyers and seriously injured two flight nurses, as well as destroying one of the two Air Life helicopters, valued at $1 million including medical equipment, the service will continue, providing valuable air shuttle service for emergency medical patients in rural Utah and Colorado communities. St. Marys Hospital authorities have stated that there will be no disruption of service, and the early Jan. 1 arrival in Moab for the transfer of a critical expectant mother, was proof of that pledge. Air Life, begun five years ago, has been a tremendous service and an asset to all communities within a 250-miradius of Grand Junctions St. Marys one of the most modern hospitals in the west. It was started during the height of activity surrounding oil shale development in area which was the two-stale te pretty much in Grand Junction. Other contributors to the program were firms involved heavily at that time in the uranium industry. Unfortunately, that kind of support is no longer available. Western Colorado has suffered just as greatly from the near demise of the oil shale industry, as our other communities have suffered in the sharp decline in employment in the uranium industry. The commitment of St. Marys to continue the service is welcome news. It should be supported by everyone, including local government in the wide area covered by the service. And if it becomes necessary for communities to pitch in with financial support, that support should be forthcoming. headquartered draft Economic Revitalization Plan for Moab and Grand County, and beginning this week of publication of the entire report in serial 2, form,; came at the time that Mr. Bigler was informed that his pro-graffia Ead been killed Ey the federal congressional budget cutters, and he would be without funding support within thirty days. Fortunately for the community, the economist has pledged to stay The January, where residents of the community will be asked to attend, comment, and make suggestions regarding the plan. It appears also, that the community will have to decide at that time whether or not local support should be made available to continue Mr. Biglers work here during the next few months. And maybe thats not so bad. Communities, in general, have lost an awful lot of that used to be a hallmark of rural Utah. There have been so many federal and state grants available the past few years that we have almost forgotten that we have the ability to do many things for ourselves, and thats too bad. When 1 first started in business in Moab, the community had just experienced a 600 percent population growth increase in three years. Schools were in double sessions and were still inadequate; water and sewer systems were in need of expansion and local government services were virtually Within a short time, however, new schools were built. New water and sewer systems were constructed. Modern law enforcement, fire protection and sanitation services were added all done with local initiative. And when that was finished, local initiative went a step further and constructed sidewalks, curbs, gutters and paved streets in much of the community that needed those improvements. There simply werent any grants from the big guys then to do the job, so we went ahead and did it ourselves. It took bond issues on top of bond issues, and considerable sacrifice on the part of local taxpayers. Times werent all that good, either. After the boom days of the early 50s, Moab was even described in one national publication as a But the virtual ghost town. ghosts left were busy ones, and they saw to their own needs. I dont mean to infer that everyone agreed with the progressive atmosphere that prevailed. There around were plenty of those but .then, optimism won the fight. Maybe well have to develop once again that old spirit of Maybe well learn that there are a lot of things we can do on our own initiative. non-existe- sjt The announcement last week of the completion of the Craig Bigler nay-sayer- s! -- with-raioiva- nd; Times-Independe- nt (USPS 6309-2000- ) Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at Moab, Utah under the Act of March 3, 1897. Second Class Postage Paid at Moab, Utah 84532. Official City and County Newspaper. Published Each Thursday at 35 East Center Street, Moab, Grand County, Utah 84532 POSTMASTER: Send Change of Address to: The Times-Independen- t, P. O. Box 129, Moab, Utah 84532 Debra Gwinn Dorothy Anderson Ron Drake Randy Andrus One of the things I most enjoy doing during the holiday season each year is putting together our annual New Years Baby Contest. This is something I do during the week between Christmas and New Years Day . . .usually. This year in studying the calendar I realized that the New Years Baby page had to be a part of the Christmas issue, published December 24, since the New Years issue would not come out until January 2. All this was to get around the problem oi having both holidays fall on our usually publishing day: Wednesday. One can hardly announce a contest being held after a winner may have already been declared, I reasoned. This made sense. So I called all the various businesses involved, most of whom have participated for many years now, and apologized for the contest having to be a part of the Christmas issue. It didnt seem to bother anyone but me! I am a creature of habit. The New Years Baby contest, by my way of thinking and experience, should be announced the week following Christmas. Such is the way with creatures of habit. I have noted that our local merchants seem to like this contest, as they do tend to keep participating year to year. I have also noted, through the reading of other weekly newspapers in Utah and also the Salt Lake Tribune, that Grand Countys New Years baby generally gets more loot than any other around the state. New Years baby honors are probably all the more special in that the winning baby didnt have anything to do with entering the contest Circulation Manager Production Foreman. Sales Pressman Read All About your hometown in the The Times-Independe- nt Monticello. Eric Haskins was bora at 2:21 a.m. at Allen Memorial Hospital to Sharon and Bill Haskins, weighing in at 7 lb. 15 oz. I am sure we join with residents of all local communities in extending congratulations to the Haskins family, despite the technicality which prevented Eric from being the contest winner. We are, however, pleased to learn from the nursing staff at Allen Memorial Hospital that there are other mothers currently due, who reside in Grand County, and we will most likely have an official contest winner before next weeks issue. This is a consolation, particularly in view of the fact that we have waited, literally, weeks for the arrival of the New Year's baby in some years past. And, as a consolation to the Haskins, we are sending along a couple of little gifts from The Times, along with the aforementioned community congratulations. aft This is ALMOST a complete change of subject. But I had a laugh New Years morning. I have six roosters who are isolated in the little coop from the hens. These roosters are on death row, as it were. I also have one little hen who Helping your child succeed by Betty Condie President, Utah Education Association Parents can help with qrinliwn a school i- - t Firsts, though, understand the schools discipline code. Most districts have a written policy on discipline. It outlines unacceptable behavior and establishes penalties. Ask your child, or the school, for a copy. Read it, and let your child know youre reading it! You gain the respect of your child and the school staff when you take an interest in the rules of behavior. Stress the importance of an orderly school environment. The first fundamental of good is setting standards. discipline Dont assume children know what you expect. Tell them. Then apply those standards, consistently concern for the child q The behavior may be unacceptable, but the child is still a worthwhile, loved human being. Make sure you say that. Painful as it may be for both children and parents, teenagers must accept the consequences of their behavior. They must take self-estee- Assistant to the Publishers and, generally, the parents didnt make prior plans for entering either. Over the years, as one or another awkward situation has arison, we have developed certain rules for the New Years Baby contest. One of them is that the parents must be residents of Grand County. For this reason, the first baby bom in Grand County this New Years Day was ruled ineligible to win, because his parents live in Teacher to Parent showing Samuel J. and Adrien F. Taylor Publishers and Editors . . . responsibility for their own actions. When children have problems, it is tempting to rescue them. But teenagers are becoming adults; they must learn firsthand that were all accountable for our actions. It is also tempting to blame ourselves. Parents often ask, A Where did we go wrong? healthier question is, How can we help our child to go right? Children must sense that their parents respect them. Even when you know your children are wrong, you must listen to them. Sharing feelings and reasons is essential to their wellbeing as well as to our understanding. If you stop listening, theyll stop talking. Recognize the impact of peer pressure. To many teenagers, their friends views are more important than their parents views. Dont downgrade those friends or relinquish your role and become one of the gang. Children need responsible adults with high standards who care about their welfare. SMOKE SIGNALS Only $12.50 in Area and $18 out of Area Fire Departmen t for 52 news filled issues once a week local news TV guide special features lots of advertising Subscribe Now! Mail to: The Times-Independe- HI P.O. Box 129 Moab, UT 84532 Name Address. Phone enclose $12.50 or $18 for one year cash L or $24 and $35 for two years check J Dear Editor, The letter by David Gahr in last weeks edition blaming the environmentalists for the wood smoke in the Moab Valley is pure word pollution, an irritant to the senses, and the kind of rhetoric designed to faction-aliz- e the community even further. The problem of temperature inversions on certain winter days holding the wood smoke near the valley floor is as old as the town of Moab, surely predating the environmentalists. Perhaps his anger over his wifes health problems causes him to lash out at any available target. I would remind him however, that his complaints over dirty air and his call for governmental controls make him sound very like the environhe ,so meddlers mentalist despises. As for a solution to the smoke problem, how about the town buying space in this paper to publish weekly and without comment pictures of the smokiest chimneys with repeated instructions on how to prevent it. Bob Dudek Dear Adrien, I most certainly agree wth you and pressman Ron Drake that in the past week the days were all mixed up. For me it all started when I took my news items in on Friday instead of Monday as I usually do, so naturally the next day seemed like Tuesday instead of Saturday and I wondered how come General Hospital wasnt TV until I realized it was on- - Saturday. Then on Christmas Day which was Wednesday, I kept thinking all day that it was Sunday until evening when I turned on the TV and Dynasty was on-- I thought how come-an- d then again, this is WedChristmas Day. To top it and nesday all off, Dee Tranter wasnt giving the local news so the days all seemed like it was either Saturday or Sunday. Its good I had the TV and TV guide to set me straight. But I guess we werent the only ones who were confused. One of my friends I met at the post office was telling me she went to visit at the local hospital and said, Lets see, comes and goes from the big coop as she pleases. Talk about climbing the walls, this is what she does. On impulse, I let the roosters out , Sip scratch, not realizing that this hen also out. The roosters noticed. . Sas ran as fast as she could for the gate of the big coop, and I let her in. I bet she stays in for the day. At any rate, Ive passed my calendar on the refrigerator, for quick reference, and I hope we all get back to normal once the holidays are over. I wish you and yours and all our readers a very healthy, happy, and prosperous Nfew Year. As we say in Spanish, Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo! Rosalie Robertson To the Editor: The new Utah auto license plates have been out long enough now that a popularity poll might be appropriate. My vote is nay. When I first saw them on the road, I tried to see what state they were, but had to back off just short of a rear-en-d collision. Seemed like the first letter might be an S but without enough more letters to be a state starting with South. An abbreviation for Saskatchewan, perhaps? Ski and a No, a skinny-lettere- d dim red Utah. But, look closely! There is a message at the bottom. I thought it was a car dealers ad. Anyway, those frames the dealers hand out will cover the Greatest Snow.. message, and most of the too. When I visit Ski Utah, another state, I would like people to know that Im from Utah-with- out rear-endime! Ber Knight Taxes .. . (Cont. from Page A-l- ) tual values placed on property and the rate paid for taxes. Confusing These values at first will seem strange to you and will seem high and will be confusing to you, but remember the bottom line taxes will not be higher, unless the tax rate goes up, and you vill know before you get your final tax notice if your taxes are going up or not, Mrs. Stocks said. Mrs. Stocks said the new system is extremely difficult to explain over the phone, and urged taxpayers who have .questions about the new system to visit her office in the Grand County Courthouse, so that she might be able to clear up any misunderstandings. Economic Revitalization . . . A Report to the Community (Cont. from Page ) In it we read, The success of the A-l- Plans. States economic development program is subject to regional, national, and international, economic conditions. Imagine what this means the success of our program is subject to. The Governors policy paper also states that National economic growth has slowed in recent years and the demand for many of Utahs natural resources has tapered off. In his presentation, Mr. Adams emphasized that the national economy has made the transition from heavy industry and mining to services and information. Our economy can only follow. Instead of beating our community head against the wall trying to revive the good old days, we must find ways to make the best of what we have, and how that fits into the national situation. And no other town on the Colorado Plateau has more potential to provide the things, in terms of the services and information, that tourists,-retireesand outdoor recreationists want to buy. The uranium boom is gone. It wont return, but mining employment will gradually pick up as more need for uranium gradually unfolds, and as the dollar loses value so we can compete against imports. But it will not be enough to revitalize the whole economy of Grand County. During the same time a small amount of light industrial development including food processing is possible. But, because every town in the whole country is after pieces of what is a very small pie, we will get our share only after we have made our community irresistable to investors and decision makers. In the meantime, this report lays a course that can get us back on our feet. If we work hard enough we can bring about enough growth to fill the empty houses and create jobs for our children. But many of us may have to change our vision of what our community is and is to become. Our vision must turn to the future and what it holds for a community like ours. You will also note that this report does not have an ending. It just stops. Thats because the next chapter is not yet written. Chapter II will .be written only when the community vision outlined in Chapter I is reviewed by the whole community, and is revised and accepted by the whole community. Chapter II will lay out the goals, objectives, policies and procedures for making the communitys vision for the future come true. Along with the County Commission, and the Mayors and City Councils of Moab and Castle Valley, I sincerely hope all of you will study this report carefully and thoughtfully. It is important to the future of us all. We will hold a town meeting near the end of January to discuss this report and to plan for Chapter II. We want everyone to have a chance to participate. In fact everyone can participate. Chapter II will be your produce if you are willing to join the effort to create goals, objectives, and policies for each of the kinds of development you want to happen. At the January town meeting we will devise a way to participate for everyone who wants to be sure that his or her voice is heard. In the meantime, please follow that urge to talk to me about it. Call me through the Central Services Bureau at (Continued Next Week) All clothing can burn and some clothing burns more easily than others. The Moab Fire Dept, recommends that if your clothing catches fire, STOP, DROP and ROLL to put out the flames. Dont run or keep standing. Running will only fan the flames and make them higher. Standing up straight will make the fire burn faster. STOP and DROP down to the floor or ground. ROLL or rock back and forth to smother the flames. Smothering the fire cuts off its supply of oxygen, so it cannot burn. If possible, roll or rock in a rug, blanket or coat to smother the fire faster. When the fire is out, cool the burn with water and call the fire department or rescue squad. Do not remove the burned clothing if it is stuck to the skin. Keep the victim quiet and warm until help arrives. The fatal mistake people make in a clothing fire is to panic and run. Seconds count. The smothering action must be automatic. A trained, immediate response of STOP, DROP and ROLL is extremely important. The running response occurs in all age groups, but it is prevalent in younger children. Scared children run to find parents or mistakenly think that only water can put out a fire and they run to find it Everyone, especially children, must be taught to STOP, DROP and ROLL. Parents and teachers should encourage children to practice by making a weekly game of it. Make sure that they understand when and where to use this technique, Most clothing fires are careless x accidents and can be prevented. Follow these simple rules: Use caution when using or working with any heat sources or flames. Keep children away from heat sources such as candles, stoves, cigarettes, outdoor grills, matches, portable heaters, etc. Do not wear loose fitting clothing while cooking or near heat sources. Purchase flame retardant clothing for children (available in sizes to 6X). 259-781- r 1 was it Tuesday or Wednesday,' Im all mixed up. Still another friend This is down at the church said, Friday, isnt it? I tell you this is the week that was. , From the Moab in your mail Our readers write . . . 4. |