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Show ojtnijriimi4i Page f - A2 ie Appearance is important Dear Sam, . . of pubSecretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitts lic lands in Utah, if allowed to continue following the filing of a lawsuit by the State of Utah and Association of Counties Monday, will obviously result in adding considerably more land to the wilderness docket in Southern Utah. The unilateral action by the secretary is not unlike the political decision of President Bill Clinton last month when he declared 1.7 million acres of Kane and Garfield Counties a national monument, to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management really a strange mix. Now comes to light, plans of the National Park Service to drastically increase the amount of acreage in Canyonlands National Park. Although those plans have been whispered about for a couple of years, they are only coming to light now with a statement from Superintendent Walt Dabney to Salt Lake City newspeople that he fears the Clinton move on the Kaiparowits, might make it more difficult to enlarge Canyonlands. What is needed now, he said, is a cooling off period while the dust settles. Im not sure this dust will settle any time soon, but I dont will make it any more difficult to make believe a and lock-osentiment Canyonlands bigger. When the lock-uin be hits the powers that Washington its almost contagious. If were not careful, we'll find ourselves in the position of needing a Golden Passport to travel between Moab and Monticello. Canyonlands was the only national park in Utah created process that included thouthrough a deliberative, sands of hours of patient debate about what should or should not be included. There was a lot of give and take in the process, but it worked, even though it entailed a lot of public involvement. Later, after the park was initially created by Congress in 1964, boundaries were pushed out a little further to include some additional features thought worthy of protection. To vastly increase the size of the park again now, particularly in light of the National Park Services inability to staff even those areas it currently controls, doesnt make much sense to me. Providing protection" to land that isnt a whole lot different today than it was a hundred years ago, simply be declaring it parkland and putting up a locked gate, may satisfy park purists and envirocrats, but it sure puts a damper on anything else that might take place on that land, from gathering firewood to hunting rabbits. If plans are truly in the works to enlarge Canyonlands National Park, let s talk about them in the public forum. Weve seen in land withdrawals the past enough of political few months. Maybe, in an attempt to control the federal land planners, some drastic action might be considered by Congress. It could take the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management away from the Department of Interior and give them to the U. S. Postal Service. It might not stop continued land withdrawals, but it would sure slow them down. m ut p people-involve- sjt Environmental leaders are now saying that the lawsuit filed this week by the State of Utah, Utah Trust Lands Administration and Utah Association of Counties to block Sec. Babbitt's public land is a frivolous" lawsuit. Maybe theyre right. Those groups have proved themselves to be experts on frivolous lawsuits over the years. They should know one when they see one. tmes-(3lnbpett&- ent (UPS) 6309-200Entered 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 changes of address to: The t, P.O. Box 129, Moab, UT 84532 or FAX Member NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATIC Samuel J. and Adrien F. Taylor Publishers and Editors Production Manager Sales, Production Contributing News Writer Janice Hubbard Contributing News Writer Circulation Manager, l Maps Tom Taylor Paul Barks, Jed Taylor, Steve Cooper Backshop Dorothy Anderson Ron Drake Ken Davey T-- The Times-lndepende- nt $18.00 Green River, Grand & San Juan $26 per year outside area $3 discount for persons 62 and older upon request r,Mail to: The issues news-fille- d Subscribe Now! 1 P.O. Box 129, Moab UT 84532 Times-lndepende- Name M if i 7 Address. Wild enclose $18.00 or $26 Letter to the Editor: SUWA supports the Bureau of Land Managements proposed withdrawal for a Wild & Scenic Corridor in Westwater Canyon. The proposal is the right move by BLMs Grand Resource Area in Moab. It provides interim protection for Westwaters remote, awesome canyon spectacle, and is an important first step to more permanent, formal protective measures in the future such as Wild & Scenic River and Wilderness designations by Congress. The proposed withdrawal accomplishes some important goals: The withdrawal will be for a long enough time period, fifty years, so that a withdrawal lapse is less likely to occur' again. In the early 1980s, local BLM management mistakenly allowed a similar five year withdrawal to expire. During the brief expiration, mining claims were established along the Colorado River in Westwater Canyon, precisely the type of activity the withdrawal is aimed at prohibiting. The proposed withdrawal provides interim protection while Congress takes its time to act on Wild & Scenic River designation for Utah. Not surprisingly, and in line with their past environmental voting record, Utahs politicians have not supported formal Wild & Scenic legislation in look- ing in this window. At least that s how it struck me. I was told by a visitor that he was told in Price not to go to Moab in the winter because the town was all boarded up when that person had driven through a little earlier. Excuse me, fellow merchants, but some of us are here, day in and day out, trying to earn a living and make a favorable impression for our little town. I for one think you owe this place more than something ugly to look at all winter while you wait for the big bucks to return in the spring. How hard can it be to leave a nice window and a small closed for the season sign? Please rethink your plan for this year. With all due respect, Sherry Arehart for one year .J . . . Congress. Because a decision regarding the Utah Wilderness issue may be decided before the Wild & Scenic question, this with- drawal will provide Westwater some protection in the meantime. SUWA also supports this proposed withdrawal because it is more inclusive than previous withdrawals in that it extends the Wild & Scenic boundary to the canyon rims, more fully protecting the visual corridor as seen from the Colorado River. Past withdrawals have specified only 14 mile of protection from riverbanks on either side. The very nature of Westwater Canyon as a remote, quiet destination for boaters is to get away from ac- tivities like mining that are readily viewed most everywhere else, whether youre in Salt Lake City, Moab or western Colorado. Lastly, BLMs proposed Wild & Scenic Corridor for Westwater Canyon is the right move both environmentally and economically. Close to 10,000 boaters a year float the canyon. It is our belief they will continue to bring their recreation dollars to Moab and Grand Junction to see the splendor of this pristine place. They may chose otherwise if a huge mining operation is allowed in the heart of the canyon, a very real danger if the withdrawal is not approved. Sincerely, Dave Pacheco, SUWA Favor partisan politics Dear Adrien, I read your article concerning your support for politics and I was overwhelmed with an emotional emptiness by its conclusion. I am grateful to have this opportunity provided by our right of the Freedom of the Press to describe these feelings, through this platform. So here it goes! Concerning the issue of clout upstate, I think we have more clout if our citizenry has had a chance to meet with a local candidate and organize their views and concerns through the political process. This is called grass roots, and we dont want to lose any of them! After all isnt that sense of community a part of living in a small town? I hear that those folks up state that we seem to want have clout with, have their share of problems concerning the effects of large population growth. This has resulted in a growing problem of a loss of the grass roots non-partis- approach within their commu- nity. The growth of gangs, and crime is a result of a lack of neighborhood contact, and now theyre struggling to get it back. Meeting with our county govern- neighborhoods. Yes, Ill admit, as you stated, the process of stopping and thinking about the political per- or $35 and $51 for two years Check dont want you local yocals and Scenic Westwater Canyon ment officials allows greater community input concerning our Phone. Cash in ny . . . seen it in the 40 years weve been here. It seems the seasonal retailers had no concern for this place when theyre gone. No care for the appearance of Moab and what the rest of the community was trying to do. They slapped ugly paper over their windows, with an unseen sign saying stay out We d slight-of-han- d for 52 Perhaps this is not an issue the letters to the editor column, but if you think it o.k. it will reach all involved and maybe improve our city over the winter. Its that time of the year again and I think someone should say something now. Local merchants work hard to be the best we can be, and not just through the tourist season. Local owners stay open year around, through the holidays and the long dry winter for local customers. After the tourists are gone we continue to buy new inventory, decorate our stores, offer deals, and give super service. Its not easy, but its the goal to hang on and build better local support and thus build better stores to shop in. Events are planned, and we try to think of fun things to do to highlight and enhance the holidays as a community. Volunteers put in lots of time to make this a better town, a lot of effort goes in to making Moab a good place to live and work and grow up in. Last year Moabs Main St. was truly the ugliest Ive ever for by Sam Taylor '5 w Letters to the editors . . . ' i dust-stor- igi Thursday, October 17, 1996 tEunie-nhepenhe- Community Comments . , i ini tif suasion of a candidate takes time, but its time well spent. Its a definite answer to those bum- - ing questions of, Now whos that running? What do they stand for? As for the question of political platforms not being important? Some of my fondest political memories are of platforms and the ideas my neighbors and I expressed through this process. Yes! This process can be polarizing!! but the exciting part is to survive this chilling experience with another political partner and admit you cant agree on some of the issues, but still respect each others views. I find phoning my local representative (providing I remember who they are) is a less than rewarding experience. Those answering machines have a polarizing effect on me! The political process can be rewarding. It provides a historical setting for the community. The new people in the community can learn about the accomplishments, and the failures of the past, by meeting and listening to the stories told by the Old Timers (as quickly as things change around here it doesnt take long to become one). This is why I choose to live in a small town. Each person has that chance to donate a small bit of time to make a difference. I hope the Moab community votes for a return to partisan politics. Thanks for the opportunity to review this issue, Marsha Marshall The last few years I have become Involved In public education, through the Moab Higher Education Advisory Committee, the College of Eastern Utah San Juan Center Advisory CommitI tee, and the CEU Board of Trustees. Through this activity have met a number of other people laboring in the same vinyard with different strains of grapes. We have come together with three a direct impropositions on the November 5 ballot which have Utah. in pact on education The propositions are numbers 4, 5 and 6, which, grouped together, represent a broad coalition of support, including public education groups such as the State Board of Education, the Utah Education Assn, and the PTA. to GuarProposition 4 is the Resolution on State Authority would If this permit antee the Debt of School Districts. pass, the State of Utah to guarantee the bonds of every school district. By having the state guarantee their bonds, school districts could save millions of dollars in reduced interest payments and bond insurance costs. We need to look for any savings possible whereby education rather districts can put their money into hands-osituation. than interest payments. This is a Proposition 5 is the Resolution on Donations to the State School Fund. If passed, it would allow donations to be made to the permanent State School Fund, a fund that was developed at statehood to collect revenue for the education of the children of Utah. These donations would become part of the funds principal, generating more interest income. This could then be used to support the public elementary and secondary schools. Another situation in my book. Proposition 6 is the "Resolution Amending the Revenue and Taxation Article and Education Article for the Support of Public Education and Higher Education Systems. The proposition clarifies the constitutional definitions of the public education and tax revenues higher education systems, and specifies that income will allow flexibility in This greater for both systems. can be used n And a third needs. educational for states the budgeting for students of all ages. which Particularly at issues in this election is $38 million to funds tax from income 1996 was allocated by the legislature until be cannot Proposition This spent education. money higher 6 is approved. This may be a somewhat forced situation from the in different ways legislature, as the money could be to provide flexsense makes if Prop. 6 doesnt pass. But it good of line. This the down all package changes to our states ibility constitution is designed to do that. I will vote for them and urge others to do so also n win-wi- n win-wi- n win-wi- aft rather naturally to some material leads of This trend thought Lou Alcorn. Its all educateacher Moab from music in brought tion, after all! Lou has been involved with the strings program, and continues with expanded programs in Grand and San Juan, both through public schools and through private lessons. Music is really alive and well in this corner of the state, crowed Lou. And she is right. Even in the larger school districts, few offer the quality of music education available currently in this area. This situation has evolved through dedicated efforts of many teachers in both school districts, the emphasis provided by school administrators, the support of communities and families (patrons, as they call them in the school world), and the maturing Moab Music Festival. As such programs grow, needs arise. Currently there will be a need this school year for about $3,000 cash for various things supplemental money for lessons, instrument repair, music acquisition, etc. The Grand Education Foundation will act as repository and handle these donations. In addition, Lou states without a doubt and I agree, that there are a number of stringed instruments around in closets and attics that might be loaned or donated to the strings program. There is a particular need for violins. But let Lou know if you have or know of any instrument you think could find a use here. Her number is Shell answer questions about the money needs, or the instrument needs, or anything else you want to know about the music program. aft More news will be forthcoming soon about a Messiah concert here in December. You singers out there, stay tuned. 259-434- 7. aft Thanks to Marcia Marshall for her views on partisan politics, in the letters to the editors. I dont agree, but then didnt expect to. It brings to mind, though, the number of times her mother, Helen Madsen, and I went to the schools in years past talking about the parties and their roles and differences. Guess they dont do that anymore. Whos in control? . . . Dear Editor, What with crime out of control, immigration out of control teenage pregnancy out of control, and the endangered species act out of control, it seems as though the people in Washington, could spend their time doing something better than locking up our land in wilderness, which already has all has all the control and regulations needed. that are Wilderness discriminates against the young, the old and the handicapped. No one can live long enough to really see all the wilderness we already have. At this rate we know who will be the endangered species. L.J. Rostad Kayenta Hts. sewer impact on taxes . . . Dear Adrien and Sam: When one reads The Times Independent of Moab, one can take into account the progress of the community or view the evident lack of it with complete awe. In this case we must refer to picking taxpayers pockets from compounding of budgets the past few years. The planning, if there be any, continues to demonstrate that Grand Coanty is developing and creating problems that many developed communities have been trying to rectify for many years. Foremost is a longterm axiom that prevents unlike zoning across the street or road from one another that ranks paramount where any zoning f k A. ... -- -1 protection is of importance. Main traveled streets and roads are in total decadence from tourism and lack of maintenance, with little thought given to planning for those that must be considered for future principle arteries of travel. Sewage is a catas- trophe and herein is what this article of death and taxes is all about "sewage and its stinking debacle. Kayenta Heights, serving as a prime example, was established, and covenants recorded, in 1960. The development consists of 38 building sites of two and acres, and 21 building sites of five acres, comprised of numerous sloping grades, one-ha- lf Continued on page A3 |