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Show "iMyUri A2-T- Thursday, Feb. 4. 1993 nt, Times-lndepende- he Opinions from our readers: Community Comments By Sam Taylor As Section for Grand County's new governing council draws near. I'm really developing some excitement over what the future holds in store for those of us who really care. I can't remember an election when so many qualified, dedicated candidates have so eloquently described why they would like to be a part of the new "experiment in The platform statements, beginning on PageC-- 1 of this issue are just an example of how the fourteen aspirants have taken their r, messages to the voters the past month. They have gone used a variety of advertising media and in forums participated where they responded to a whole spectrum of questions about how they feel about Grand County's operation. We commend the "C Section" to our residents as required reading before they go to the polls next Tuesday. From this viewpoint, the best hopes of proponents of a change in government have been achieved. The candidates represent a wide variety of experience and background. The varied demographics of this growing Utah county are well represented on the ballot. Most of all, though, it appears to me that we have fourteen people willing to take whatever time is necessary to be of real service to their community. I don't think any one of them is e looking for a job. That's what it's all about. Public Service. We look forward to the coming administration (which has its work cut out). door-to-doo- full-tim- -s- Jt The question of "communications" was a constant factor in this year' s County Council races. People generally feel they have been left out of the governance equation, and they don't like it. How do communicate? They first of all, listen. They visit with their neighbors, and districting should make this a little easier. They listen to people interested enough to attend hearings and meetings. They seek advice. They utilize the very best minds they can find on advisory panels. And they make sure that decision-makin- g is done out in the open for all to see. One idea presented left me a little cold. A county periodical "newsletter" was suggested. That is one thing we don't need. It smacks of what is nastiest about state and federal government: the growing use of slick public relations to make a point. We don't need a hired staffer, or even a specific Council person assigned to be a "public relations" spokesman. We should be smarter than to want to be spoon-fe- d whatever the elected body wants us to ingest. County (and City) activities are not any big secret. They are well covered by a variety of media people, including who objectively and in representatives of The detail "tell it like it happened." The activities of local governing bodies are fully reported in the news media, and the tab for that coverage is paid by the private sector, including advertising (which is also news). We pay for representatives to cover those meetings for us, and our advertisers and subscribers in turn pay us to provide that coverage. For heaven's sake, let's don't let Grand County get any further into the public relations business than it already has gotten. People who wart to know what's going on in local government need only to read, listen and watch, to find out what's happening here. We don't need to spend taxpayer dollars for a g of . . relations .). with public pap (rhymes office-holde- rs Times-lndepende- nt spoon-feedin- The Times-lndepende- (UPS nt 6309-200- 0) 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-lndepende- (801) 259-752- P.O. Box 129, Moab, Utah 84532 1 5 or FAX (801) 259-774- Samuel J. and Adrien F. Taylor Publishers and Editors Circulation Backshop ' Utah Press Association your hometown in The $16.50 Green River, Grand & San Juan $24 per year outside area $5 discount for persons 62 and older upon request for 52 news filled issues once a week local news TV guide special features lots of advertising S uiiscrike N.q w 'Mail to: The Times-lndepende- nt, P.O. pox 129, Moab, UT 84532 Phone ypcash I I I Jerry Walker WALU Dear Sam, Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors has disparagingly metamorphosed into a tragedy of errors for the guileless citizenry of Grand County, all largely due to the past dictatorship of the county commission. Fortuitously, by long overdue attriless vention, we are left with-thomous yet still potent remaining body of infamous county servants. Or more precisely, the one remaining acrobat in the people's office. Even the most stalwart among us would no doubt balk at the idea of spending an additional one million one hundred sixty two thousand dollars for the improvement of schools in our community. Yet that is the amount we spent on the esoteric equestrian center, but then there was no citizen vote on this pet project of the commission.. .and albatross that has and no doubt will continue to operate in the road, costing the tax payers of our small community e Dear Editor: I am amazed and profoundly grateful that in this age of "grab-it-a- ll a group of and local residents decided to exploit the massive influx of travellers to Moab for the benefit of the community rather than for themselves. I have passed by The Silver Sage Inn many 1 . enclose $1 6.50 or $24 for one year or $32 and $47 for two years check 259-549- 8. failed to detect the comedy. Eric Bjomstad Moab Name Address as we see them. been curtailed by the resulting quagmire. Should not the private company (Columbia Gas) who has rendered the road impassable be responsible for its repair, or is it by some arcane stretch of logic the responsibility of the tax payers of Grand County? In addition. State Highway 313, 191 and Interstate 70 to Grand Junction are being perniciously affected. It is only a matter of time before the gargantuan cost of these repairs are mirrored in the pocket books of us all. The tragedy is obvious, I have Times-lndepende- nt in your mail herded. If any of you have any doubts, please feel free to call we would be glad to discuss the issues ties continue. Most recent is Mr. Torres' request to road superintendent Dave Warner to upgrade the dirt road to the area of Dead Mans Point on the Island in the Sky. Mr. Warner stated recently on channel 6 news that the project could cost (tax payers) up to one hundred thousand dollars. It seems this none-mil- e stretch to the Columbia Gas oil well has been so badly tom up by their heavy double tanker trucks that their travel has Read All About gr continued exploration would be beneficial. Since the master plan was not a familiar item with all the candidates, some commented and all agreed it should be reviewed and brought up to date with input from as many as possible. After this election is concluded, WALU does not know how actively the candidates will support those positions, we hope that you, the voter will get to know your candidates and their positions on the items that are important to you. We feel that everyone should be a voter, a good voter, vote for the candidate that shares your views on the things that are important to you. Please dont vote for any surprises. We think all of the candidates have a desire to do a good job, but WALU thinks we should be governed not new government is sworn in February 22. We ought all to hold our breath, for the audacious atroci- Member of I ing items, some candidates were adamant about property rights while others were more interested about how zoning and property rights integrate into the community. The question of government by boards did not bring the diversity of answers we thought it would, but it did bring out the fact that all the candidates seemed as one in their opinion that all appointed boards are subordinate and receive their direction from the elected government The question of exploration of gas and oil, all were in agreement that many thousands of dollars per year. Fortunately there is only one regularly scheduled meeting before the old dinosaur is put to rest and the Assistant to Publishers Sales, Production Cindy Wnters Ron Drake Dorothy Anderson Paul Barks Editor, The WALU monthly meeting was held Jan. 26, we were pleased to have the candidates for the Grand County Council as guests. We has the opportunity to meet the candidates and have them answer some of the questions concerning us. The first question, property rights, and zoning brought a lot of interest- j J times since its construction not knowing its the history or purpose and, while I thought it was probably inexpensive lodging, I have always beer. ii. r ;:nd neat it appeared. Now, knowing its 4 purpose, if ever I find it necessary to stay in Moab, The Silver Sage Inn will be my first choice for lodging. I applaud the effort of those who conceived of and implemented such an innovative use of tourist dollars. If, in the future, Moabs Planning Commission decides to implement architectural guidelines I would hope they would also leave an opening for development such as The Silver Sage Inn. It seems that the developers of that motel have the interest of the needy and the businesses at heart. The rest of us can learn a very important lesson in giving and caring from those who dreamed of helping and found a way to do so. Sincerely, Susan Taylor Monticello, Utah Sam, Id like to thank WALU for bringing forward questions to the candidates that personally affect me and my family. Job opportunities, higher wages, less government and progressive development are of utmost concern to me as a taxpaying citizen who is trying desperately to find a secure and profitable way of living in Moab. Thanks to WALU I may now make a better informed choice for the candidates that are willing to help me do just that. Sincerely, Susann Hill ' Dear Editors and Folks in Moab, Last Saturday night we had the incredible pleasure of seeing Moab Community Theaters play "Noises Off." We cant remember when weve had such an entertaining evening -congratulations to the cast and crew for an outstanding production! Those of you who haven't seen the play yet have another chance this weekend. If you're not afraid to break your funny bone, go see it! Bravo, MCT! Beth, Phil and Laura Gail Roy Dear Sam, Grand County Special Services Road District 1 has now gone from pursuing building the Book Cliffs highway to seeking a The for their preferred route, to Jimmie Walker and according GeneNodine. This- does not makesense to me for two good reasons, which I will outline here. Hopefully, the Road Board and various candidates for Grand County Council can address these points. The two reasons the Book Cliffs y doesn't make highway y sense to me are: (1) the does not seem to be in the right place to provide access to "Grand County's mineral bank in the Book Cliffs; and (2) severe geophysical y problems exist on the preferred route which appear to make putting a paved highway on that right-of-wa- y . right-of-wa- right-of-wa- right-of-wa- right-of-wa-y a maintenance night- mare. Several Council candidates have repeated the Road Board's claim that the Book Cliffs highway is an investment towards facilitating future extraction of petroleum - from oil (continued on Page A3) , have your children, and in good time if everything proceeds on a normal course (whatever that is), they give you grandchildren. Tom and Kris have brought four lovely grandchildren to play in our yard. Now Sena and Ron have shared their firstborn child with us, Cross Hospital last birthday and all. The picture was taken at Holy his own birthday Thursday by proud Papa Ron, who was celebrating had. he ever best the with what he terms birthday present at 12:46 p.m. on Jan. 28, bom was Flanders Nelsina Taylor 1993. Someone quipped that Sena Taylor had terrorized Moab and the Park City all these years, and now Taylor Nelsina was going to walk in her mother's footsteps. I don't think "terrorized is quite the of Peanuts with Lucy right adjective for a girl we used to compare renown on occasion. But the names are right. who we all Our Sena was named after a name was her showed thought was named Sena. Some research later have there the years Nelsina, but that she was called Sena. Over come to be several other Senas scattered around the country, one in Arizona, one in Connecticut, one in Moab (Sena Nissen), and it is a good name . . . which bears repeating. And Grandma, there with the baby? I'm called Nana by the young ones; and both Sam and I got to hold this infant before her mother did, which is going some in anybody's book. I'm going up to Park City to play grandmother again for a few days, and maybe we'll have this little one down for her first look at Moab over the Easter cousins and a big bunch of those holiday, along with her Knowles grandchildren. great-grandmoth- egg-hunti- aft Jean Roberts, who is as dose to anyone I can think of to Grand Dame of the Moab Stage, dropped a note recently to say that the current production of Noises Off marks the 20th anniversary for Moab Community Theatre. In her inimical style, she said, "I don't even know if the Moab TJieatre realizes it or not (they may not) (I was the one who usually knew those things.) But their upcoming show "Noises Off" .will be thvr show to mark their 20th anniversary. That's quite an to be going strong for 20 years, ard accomplishment for any theatre self sufficient at that! I'm so proud of them!!" And we all should be. We've had such a strong theater group for so many years, we tend to take the local talent for granted. here But it shouldn't be so. Most towns our size simply don't have people around who are interested enough, or trained enough, or willing enough, or enthusiastic enough, or whatever it takes to keep a group going. We're lucky we do. I don't have a full list of productions undertaken through the at years hand, but it doesn't matter. I plan to pick Jean's brain for a little feature story here in the near future. Some people may recall Jean had a stroke, and her recovery has been termed something of a miracle. She has been, and continues to be active in the theater community in Salt Lake City. She concludes: "Believe it or not Adrien, all brain cells did not die from the recent stroke. And I'm quite fond of the ones that are left." So, we'll be talking. For those who haven't been out yet, the production continues this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. See details elsewhere this issue, and several prior issues. And congratulations. Looking Backward Through the Files of The Times-lndepende- nt Part of Our Colorful Past 10 Years Ago Merv Lawton, president of Rio Algom told Moab Rotarians this week that the Corp., current price for uranium was $20.25 per pound, and he was mildly optimistic that the price would increase. Moabites were given a boost during the long days of winter by Grand Heritage Days celebration activities, focusing on the community's rich history. Exxon Oil Co. was given the by the U. S. Forest Service to begin work aimed at drilling a deep oil test in Gold Basin in the La Sal Mountains. Work would involve considerable improvement activity on the road to Geyser Pass. go-ahe- ad 20 Years Ago Work at the Rio Algom Corp. uranium mill south of Moab was humming. The mill was processing over 600 tons of ore a day well over the 500-to- n design limit, officials said. 40 Years Ago The selective service board notified two Grand County men that they had to report for induction into the armed forces. In the wildest basketball game ever held in Moab, the Red Devils downed the North Emery Rangers by a score of 36 to 35. . 60 Years Ago The State Road Commission was to open bids on Feb. 10 for a paved road between Hoy and Thompson in Grand County. This was the last unpaved link on U. S. 50 between Denver and Salt Lake City. Nearly $1000 was distributed to needy Grand County families this week by the Grand County Emergency Relief Committee. To ascertain public opinion for or against the eighteenth amendment to the U. S. Constitution, a mass meeting of Moab citizens was called to discuss prohibition. Heavy snow had closed Arches National Park to travel during January, but NPS officials announced this week that they had the roads open for visitor use. MoabGrand Junction area were petitioning state road Officials of an Denver firm, told County Commissioners they were considering the Cisco area for a sodium silicate plant. They discussed gaining title to acreage there held by Grand County, which was obtained through tax sales. . animals which were plaguing the livestock ' un-nam- ed . 80 Years Ago A large delegation from the commissions of both states for funds to survey for a highway between the Utah State Line and Colton' in Colorado. Legislators more than doubled the amount of money counties could raise through property taxes for the payment of bounties on predatory industry. POOR ; , lyn Wi-- ; |