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Show pt pjirjiritiirmi'inji st xTjr'pT ijnJ JT t v, gKplpniiririr - tr ir- - ',11" liw T m' . W I11'1 Thursday, November 3, 1994 Volume 101 First Western, Zions Bank are merging An agreement between First Western Bancorporation and Salt Lake Citys Zions Bancorporation was signed on Oct. 31. It calls the the exchange of the two organizations common shares and will permit Zions Bank to acquire First Western Bancorporation, which holds the major share of First Western National Bank. Involved in the merger will be all three branches of First Western including the main office in Moab, and branch banks in Monticello and Blanding. - Harris H. Simmons, president and chief executive officer of Zions Bancorporation, and I. D. Skip Nightingale, chairman and president of First Western Bancorpation, indicated Tuesday that the agreement is subject to the receipt of federal regulatory approvals. Under the agreement, First Western National Bank will be merged with Zions First National Bank, and First Western Nationals three branches will operate as branches of Zions First National Bank. Trees at the courthouse . . . The first of the new landscaping at the Grand County Courthouse went into the ground Monday as Moab City crews planted four trees from Stevens Tree Farm in Castle Valley. Above, Tom Partridge, from Moab City crews, guides a large Scotch Pine towards its prepared home, while Dave Olsen looks on. The four trees included two large Austrian Pines, the same as the existing trees on the grounds, plus the Scotch Pine and one Colorado Blue Spruce. The large trees, about 20 feet tall, were $150 each, and the spruces (several of which went into other locations) ranged from $60 to $80, all excellent prices for trees of this size. Dave Olsen, planner for Moab City, said the city is currently involved in several tree plantings. The cross-traipark at First East and Second South, has been planted with a number of trees. Olsen said there will be lOCf deciduous trees coming New 8 and 18, including 24 destined for the courthouse grounds, 23 for Red Rock Elementary and many for the various city parks. The courthouse trees are part of a $3,000 grant from SBA. Olsen said the State of Utah Riverway Enhancement and State of Utah Trails programs are also sources of trees, many free and some matched with other grants. While for the courthouse planning landscaping is not complete, those wishing to make contributions may do so to: Grand County Courthouse Landscape Fund (Account 23857023) at First Western National Bank, or contact Earl Sires or County Councilman Ken Ballantyne, or Adrien Taylor at The ls A Non-Motoriz- ed Times-Independe- nt. Polls open next Tuesday after spirited campaign After a month of spirited campaigning, Grand County voters will join other Utahns next Tuesday in the General Election. Locally, voters will take part in U. S. Senatorial and House of Representative races; will cast ballots for State Representative in the district which includes Grand, San Juan and a part of Emery Counties; will elect three members of the Grand County Council, and will decide between candidates for Grand County Attorney. Most other officeholders in Grand County are unopballot. posed on the In the race for U. S. Senate, veteran Republican incumbent Orrin Hatch is seeking a fourth term. He is opposed by Salt Lake attorney, and former Utah Democratic Chairman Pat Shea in that race. Two-terDemocrat Congressman Bill Orton is being challenged by Emery non-partis- an m County Commissioner Dixie Thompson, a Republican. Both Congressional races have involved spjrited debates and a great deal of The Legislative race in District 71, finds Moab Democratic chal- lenger Phyllis Frankel Young taking on incumbent Keele Johnson of Blanding. Johnson was appointed two years ago to his first term in the Legislature after the winner in that race resigned prior to the legislative session to accept an appointment as district judge. All Grand County voters will cast ballots in the race for one County Council seat. Incumbent Moab businessman John Hartley is being challenged by Ray Pene, also a local businessman and former Moab City administrator. In Grand County District 3, voters are going to have to write in the name of their favorite candidate. at-lar- Incumbent Paul Menard, who is currently serving as council chairman, but shortly after filed for deadline the filing passed, he withdrew his name from the ballot. Four District 3 residents have signed up with County Clerk Fran Townsend as write-i- n candidates. They are Tran County to vote soon on rezone issue for trash transfer site byKenDavey The Grand County Council announced at its meeting Monday evening that it, will vote in two weeks on a request from Bob Hawks to rezone about six acres along Kane Creek Road from agricultural to industrial to allow him to construct a refuse transfer station. Hawks owns and operates Bobs Sanitation, the company that holds the contract for garbage pickup within the City of Moab. Hawks also collects trash from residences throughout Spanish Valley. A transfer station is a location where garbage trucks can drop their loads into larger trucks, which would then move the refuse to a more distant landfill. At this time the Special Service Solid Waste Management District is reporting that they have been told by the State of Utah that the current landfill along Sand Flats Road will not be permitted beyond October 1995. This means the county must have in place another disposal plan by then. (Cont. on Page Fran Townsend, Sheriff Jim Nyland, Recorder Merlene Mosher, Cleric Assessor Dorothy Gough, Treasurer Grace Eastin and Surveyor Tim Keogh are all unopposed. Voters get to say yes or no, for retention of two members of the judiciary. Supreme Court Justice Christine M. Durham and Grand County Justice Judge Paul C. Cox, must face votes on whether or not they should be retained in office. In the face for Grand County School Board, two incumbents, resident Cynthia Smith and Carrie Bailey, are unopposed. However, in District 5, incumbent Brace Louthan is being opposed by Rod Petty. Four other issues appear on the ballot. The first three, explained in a voter information booklet, would amend the constitution of the State of Utah. The fourth issue, Initiative A, would impose term limitations in Utah and require run-oelections in cases where winners in the General Election did not win a majority of votes. Polls open next Tuesday at 7 a.m., and will remain open until 8 p.m. A list of polling places is pubA faclished this week on Page B-simile ballot, showing positions of candidates and voting machine punch numbers, is published on Page B-Most all of the candidates facing the voters next Tuesday, have subff 3. 2. mitted final platform statements, which are included in this weeks on Pages B-l Times-Independe- A-3- ) ed and B-- 2. tion. On Tuesday, Mr. Nightingale told The We have appreciated the support from all of the many people and customers over the past twenty-fiv- e years who have contributed to the success of the loTimes-Independe- cal bank in the communities of Moab, Monticello, and Blanding. We have seen the economy ebb and flow over those years in those communities. This agreement will provide new products and new services for our customers as well as provide strong capital for the growth which the area is experiencing. Mr. Gary Jacobson, who is presently the Executive Vice President of First Western, will continue to manage the facilities for Zions Bancorporation, Nightingale said. He gave a special thanks to the di ing made it so successful. First Western, which for several years running has been listed as one of the most profitable and well managed small banks in the nation, was originally started by a group of Moab area investors headed by millionaire ura-niu- m William McCormick. When Mr. Nightingale purchased majority interest in the institution two decades ago, it had assets of less than $3 million. Despite the grim early years of the 1980s, the local bank, under Nightingales direction, was able to increase its assets to near $40 million. Zions Bancorporation is a bank holding company with assets of approximately $5.2 billion operating 115 banking offices in Utah, Arizona and Nevada. Its subsidiaries include Zions First National full-servi- Bank, National Bank of Arizona, Nevada State Bank, Zions Mortgage Credit Zions Company, Corporation, Zions Life Insurance Company, Zions Insurance Agency and Zions Data Service Company. The companys common shares are traded under the er NASDAQ symbol ZION. Mr. Nightingale said that in considering the sale of the local banking institution to a regional megabank, he and his family felt it was important that the merger be made with a company based in Utah. Zions is one of the oldest financial institutions in the State of Utah. affordable housing group A county-wid- e Affordable Housing Working Group (AHWG) is now being organized by Moab City staff. or Starley. partner with local residents, businesses and civic leaders in building the great communities served by First Western National Bank, he said. Simmons continued, We pledge to work hard to maintain the feel and attitude of a local community bank while at the same time making available the resources of a strong regional banking organization. We plan to continue to utilize First Westerns people in the management of this part of our organiza- rectors, officers and employees of First Western National Bank for hav- Moab City is organizing The Group will develop and implement an affordable housing program that focuses on the housing needs of Grand County's service-sectpopulation. Arnold, Bart Leavitt, Tom Stengel and Vickie Stroud. In District 1, Dale Mosher and Will Petty are seeking to replace incumbent Charlie Peterson, who declined to run again for the post he has held for two years. The only other contested county race is that for County Attorney. Incumbent Bill Benge, who has long served in that post, is being challenged by Moab attorney Sandra recently-distribut- Mr. Nightingale said, We believe this combination will significantly increase our ability to serve the needs of the communities we serve in Grand and SanJuan Counties by providing additional capital, products and services. We will be able to consider requests for larger loans than we have been able to accommodate in the past, and our ability to provide real estate financing will be greatly expanded. Mr. Simmons expressed his enthusiasm fra- - Zions Banks entry into southeastern Utah. This picturesque region of our state has a most promising future. We are looking forward to becoming an important "The housing needs of the Countys service-secto- r population are just as diverse as the population itself," said City Manager Donna Metzler. "We need to make Grand County a place where those who work here can also afford to live ticipate. af"Implementing a County-wid- e fordable housing programs a large undertaking, but with the resources available within the community, and with some successful examples around the state, the task is very able," said Robert do- Katzenson, Moab's City Planner. In addition to those groups and individuals who have already been invited to participate in the group, Moab City is now soliciting interest form other organizations and individuals who may have something to offer the group. "We're looking for action-orientindividuals with expertise-- or just interest-in making affordable housing a reality in Grand County," said Katzenson. Individuals or organizations who would like to participate in the Affordable Housing Working Group should contact Donna Metzler or 1 . Robert Katzenson at ed 259-512- here. Moab City's General Plan, updated in 1992, calls for a variety of housing types that meet community needs. The plan recommends creating incentives for developers to provide much needed housing for area employees. The Affordable Housing Working Group's initial efforts will focus on developing incentives and other legislation that will increase privately-develope- d affordable hosing stock throughout the County. "The City will probably not get in the business of actually developing housing," stated Ms. Metzler. "Working with private developers is more manageable than allocating public funds and tie to housing conPublic-privat- e struction. housing partnerships can also be very she added. The City has invited representatives from the County, State and Federal agencies. Grand County School District, the Housing Authority, the real estate industry, financial institutions, and other large employers in the community to participate in the housing group. Representatives from other communities who have had experience with successful affordable housing projects have also been asked to par- - WEATHER The resounding afternoon echoes of hammers and saws on the south side of Moab on Jefferson Street, are that of the College of Eastern y house in Moab. Utah's students who are constructing a for the first wall in interior Exterior and framing story are now checks comer the Dalton and Darrell squaring plumbing so completed. that John Meadows and John Elliot can complete nailing the comers. See feature Story, Page l. (Photos by Lorraine Guild, Director, two-stor- C-- CEU-Moa- n "nmt |