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Show r I, v I j . priliigr,ipiywpipwippnpwyiy were expelled from area high schools or dropped out to avoid such consequences now have another chance to prove themselves thanks to a $200,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Education. The grant, awarded to South- west Board of Cooperative Services, will fund an innovative program designed to bring academic absentees from Re-- Dolores and Mancos School Districts and the Towoac community, back into the class room. The expelled student program will begin at Southwest Open High in January, and will target students grades 9 through 12 who are at risk of never going back to class because they either cannot assimilate into traditional classroom settings or have scheduling problems due to work, family or cultural responsibilities. Montezuma Valley Journal Valley 1, Paramedics crash , Thursday, .January 1, nt, 0-8-1 Area Wide Fern Wilkerson finds a home at GCHS Week in Review New school has Students get second chance... Montezuma Students who ' I TV News items from area newspapers . . . I p ff iprigmi tCimcB-nfrepenhe- j I fyiryi iqppaqppiipt on run ... after some coaxing, Wilkerson the job. She said it has been different than her previous experiences; she loves everything new principal took by Emily Bullock With the addition of a new high school in Moab, it seemed only fitting be hired to go along with it. Fern Wilkerson willingly filled the position, telling the community that there is a lot of color and life in Moab. I love everything about the school and the town, she said. After completing her education, Wilkerson went immediately to work as an educational instructor. She has worked as a e teacher, a principal, a e teacher, and a Title One teacher (Title One is a program that helps about the school and the town of Moab. The students are always willing to learn, and I admire that, Wilkerson said This school has a wonderful atmosphere. Everyone is very friendly and supportive within the Moab community, and that has helped me adapt easily to my new environment. There is a lot of color and life in Moab and there is always something to do. The most memorable experience she has had since joining the Grand County High School staff was a river rafting trip, Wilkerson said. The entire teaching staff went on a white wa- first-grad- sixth-grad- Salt Lake County paramedics who crashed their truck Magna into a light pole on Magna's Main Street were on a life threatening emergency run at the time of the accident, and they knew it. Kevin Allred and Dan DeVoogd first received an emergency call that a man in West Valley City had suffered a seizure and was having difficulty breathing. Seconds later the call was made that the man was in a full cardiac arrest. He died a short time later. The crash occurred when the paramedics attempted to pass a vehicle while traveling eastbound on 2700 South. Another vehicle emerged in front of them, forcing them to make a turn onto Main Street. In an attempt to avoid hitting a third vehicle, the paramedics hit a light pole, slightly injur-- j ing both occupants. The paramedics were traveling well within the allowable speed 43 miles per hour a preliminary investigation showed. Magna Times Probation officer roles expand ... students that have math andor reading lems). She has prob- been an elemen- tary supervisor and a Head Start aid. As a princi- pal, Wilkerson worked in several schools around the Price, Utah area, where she has practiced most of her The 7th District Juvenile Courts probation departCarbon ment has expanded its focus and the officers will assume more active, visible roles in the Carbon-Emercommunity. The reorganiza- edu- cation career. Petersen ter adventure the during summer and 'This school has a wonderful atmosphere . had a blast. I had never done anything like that before, she said. It Everyone is very friendly and supportive within the was an interesting way to get to know the staff. Moab community, and that has helped me Grand County High has been everything Fern adapt... ' School y Durr ant ElemeWilkerson ntary in Sunny Wilkerson Side and Castle it thought would be and Heights Elementary are some of the schools that then some. The school recently Wilkerson has added to her rereceived a Centennial School sume. grant from the State of Utah and I came to Moab looking for the money is being put toward a change, she confessed during many worthwhile projects that a recent interview. She decided Wilkerson is overseeing. to move to Moab when the superWhen asked what she intendent position opened up. thought could be done to improve the school, Wilkerson simply However, Grand County High School need of in a was Office December Assessors to the a badly said, There is always room for brings Emery County close for 1997, and to summarize the year, the office saw an increase principal and the school board improvement. She is encouragoffered her the job. in sales activity of both vacant land and residences. The prices paid ing more student involvement in She refused at first; Ive for all types of property were on the increase in 1997. The sales price activities and politics. She has never been involved with high also suggested the use of a court on an average home in the county increased between 12 and 15 perhalf-acrschool conceded. But she to lots from of vacant went lot for an before, a cent; system to take care of disciplin- average $8,000 $12,000.. In addition, new home construction jumped from less than 20 new homes in 1996 to more than 70 in 1997. The appraisers for the Assessors Office saw an increase of building permits for additions and garages, etc. through the county. The Bureau of Land ManageMuch is at stake here and we Emery County Progress ment (BLM) Monticello Field truly need the publics participa... Office last week released a draft tion in the development of the management plan for the Comb plan. The result of this effort, American Fork The whole state of Utah was invited to atWash The based more on an ecosystem apWatershed. is plan tend a farewell send-of- f to The Pride of the Sesquicentennial, othto develop an intewill include the manageproach. designed erwise known as the American Fork High School marching band, as to ment of all affected resources or management grated process it embarks for the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Caliuses in the Comb Wash Waterprotect significant resources (arfornia. The band held an inspirational finale to its activities and prepashed. chaeology, soil, vegetation, scenrations for the trip on Dec. 27. Final counts were still coming in at The public is encouraged to ery, wildlife habitat) from continpress time, but the group raised its goal of approximately $50,000 to y ued degradation while allowing review the plan during the finance the trip. livestock grazing, woodland harpublic comment period which Citizen will end Feb. 20. Input received vest, and a variety ofrecreational TV... uses to continue to occur. The from the public will be used in the preparation of a Record of Vernal The preferred way to improve television reception to plan and accompanying environDecision for the Environmental assessment mental the analyze the Uintah Basin is to pipe the channels to the area over fiber optics. e Asof management actions Assessment. The impacts During a meeting of county commissioners, television experts and comof sessment available in on is its Forest acres BLM, 185,000 the public on Dec. 17, it was agreed that fiber optics is the preferred Service, and State lands in the plete form, or as an Executive way to improve the signal. Uintah and Duchesne County CommisComb Wash watershed of San Summary, by visiting the sioners called the meeting after receiving requests for improvement Monticello Field Office or writing Juan County. from county residents. Much of the problem with television recepRO. Box 7, Monticello, Utah to Wash Comb a is special tion currently offered by the county system is the poor quality of the 84535. and an It is also available at the that place integrated plan original signal. Television manager Joe Le Beau said the present sysall uses is essential, addresses Public Libraries in Moab, tem receives only bend over signals, or those that bend over the BLM or Blanding, Utah; Field Monticello Monticello, explains Wasatch Mountains. Two channels, KUED and KULC, come to the libraries in Durango and Walter. Office Kent public Manager Tabby repeater site over microwave. The fiber could be into Vernal with the completion of the new Uintah Basin Electric Telecommunications Inc. building in Vernal. The signals could be sent to the county repeaters via microwave after being downloaded from fiber. Currently Uintah County spends about $61,000 a year and Duchesne County spends $56,000 a year on maintaining television reception. Those at Courtesy of the Dan O'Laurie Museum the meeting agreed to meet again in March and have cost figures for putting the stations on fiber and microwave. Vernal Express tion comes in response to mounting arguments for improved effectiveness statewide, according to chief probation officer Melanie Hight. The expanded programs primary objectives center around maintaining regular contact with juvenile probationers schools, teachers, homes and parents or guardians. Instilling accountability in young criminal offenders, empowering the youths parents and assisting families in becoming outside the system constitute the main goals, probation departments Hight said. She noted that the state has invested a tremendous amount of money to help the efficiency of the agency, putting the program under a microscope. Sun Advocate self-sufficie-nt Property values skyrocket in 1997 ... e ary problems so that students feel they are being treated fairly. The system would involve a judge (probably one of the staff members), a jury made up of high school students, and a trial. This would give the student a chance to plead hisher case and the jury would decide the proper consequences. The attitude of the students at G.C.H.S. is superior to most that Wilkerson has worked with, she said. She believes that every student knows and wants to do the right thing, and the majority follow their instincts. Everyone seems to want to be here, Wilkerson said. The kids all have a love of knowledge. She is currently looking into programs for students who are not college bound. There is a lot the school could offer to those who do not have the desire to pursue their formal education, she stated, intending to add classes that would prepare them for life rather than college. Wilkerson has noticed some distinct similarities between Moab and Price. The people of both communities care a lot about their children and reach out to them every chance they get. The towns are both mining communities, so the economies are basically the same, although Moab is rapidly changing into a tourism-baseindustry. The differences between the towns are few: Moab is smaller than Price and the people are healthier and more energetic, according to Wilkerson. Wilkerson said she couldnt have chosen a better place to come. Even though high school administration wasnt what she came here for, Wilkerson said she happy with the way it has all worked out. The Grand County High School experience isnt what she expected it to be; Wilkerson loves G.C.H.S. and all the students that walk through the doors every morning. d BLM releases Comb Wash management plan its the School band going to Rose Parade 60-da- Counties look to fiber for better 127-pag- A look back in time attempts are foiled ... Escapee's A Montezuma inmates Detention atCenter Cortez County for far. him home to Christmas James didnt get go very tempt Bartletts attempted escape from the jail Christmas night was quickly foiled by deputies who apprehended him before he could leave the building. The escape attempt was discovered after a routine head count revealed that a prisoner was missing from his cell. A subsequent lock down and sweep of the building found Bartlett, 21, of Salt Lake City, inside the municipal court lunch room. He was taken back into custody without incident at about 8:50 p.m. According to a report, Bartlett escaped from his cell by pushing out a drywall ceiling panel with his back while standing on his bunk. He then climbed into the attic, crawled around in the dark for 30 or 45 minutes, kicked out a large light fixture above the lunch room and lowered himself down into the waiting handcuffs of jail deputies. Cortez Sentinel CNN highlights Bart the bear... He is being praised as being the best bear in Heber Valley Kodiak bear and Heber the acting business. Bart, a Valleys most famous resident, was the center of attention on Cable ld News Networks IMPACT aired on Dec. 21. The Wasatch Wave 1 'm fry if ir 4- , v , 4 Traveling moonshine . . . This unidentified (for obvious reasons) Grand County resident defends his occupation as he makes his rounds in this photo taken in 1920. The many springs and hidden canyons of the Moab area made the art of illegal moonshine a relatively easy proposition. This still on wheels" was particularly fast on the getaway. (Moab Museum photo from the Howard Balsley collection) 1 Cortez, Colorado; and on Internet at www.blm.govutah monticello. Comments can be to klwalterXut.blm.gov, or sent to the above address. The 185,000 acre Comb Wash Watershed located in San Juan County is an area of regional significance because of the archaeological sites, wildlife habitat, scenery, recreational opportunities, and extensive risouth-centr- al parian vegetation contained boundaries. In recent within and controversy conflicts years, have developed over how this area should be used and protected. The development of the Comb Wash Plan is the first phase in ecosystem management planning for the Grand Gulch Plateau. Later, a similar management plan, or plans, will be prepared for the remainder ofthe Plateau. Heart attack claims Moab resident Kenneth Williams Longtime Moab resident, Kenneth D. Williams died Dec. 27, 1997 in Grand Junction, Colo., following a heart attack. He was 76. Ken was bom Oct. 15, 1921 in Castleton, a son of Frank D. and Mada Fem Larsen Williams. He had eleven brothers and sisters and was raised and educated in the Moab area. In 1941 he married LaVon J. Johnson. They made their home in Moab and raised five children here. Ken served in the U. S. Army during World War II. After returning home after the war, he and his family moved to Idaho for a short time where he worked for Simplot. They then returned to Moab where Ken went to work for Uranium Reduction Company. He later worked for Rio Algom Corp. until his retirement. Ken was a rockhound and enjoyed combing the area for rocks that he would take home to cut and polish and create jewelry. He enjoyed working in his flower gardens and watching the sunset with his wife at their mountain cabin. Ken is survived by his wife of 56 years, LaVon, his daughter KennaLee (Larry) Weitzel of Grand Junction, Colo., a daughter, Colleen Neely, also of Grand Junction, a daughter Tesa Wold of Longmont, Colo., a son Don Williams of Pueblo, Colo., a son Brent (Justine) of Moab; nine grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother Bruce Williams of Salt Lake city, a brother Glen Williams, living in California, a sister Dorothy Tracus of Holbrook, Ariz., and a sister Bernice Bowman of Moab. He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers and sisters and one grandson. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 30 at the LDS First Ward Chapel in Moab. Arrangements were under the direction of Larry and Susan Turpen of Spanish Valley Mortuary. |