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Show tEfre A Page ffltmeg-nhepettfa- nt Thursday, April 9, 1998 Community Comments by Sam Taylor If a tree fell in the middle of the forest, and no one was around to hear it, would it make any noise? If a southern Utah rock climber fell and was injured in the red rock canyons that stretch for miles, and no one was around who cared, would there be any help offered? Im not sure of the answers to those questions any more than am to the question of how much weight five tons of canaries in the back of a truck would put on the wheels if half of them were flying. Thursday evening last week was a long, if increasingly routine night for members of the Grand County Search and Rescue team. We followed the saga on the scanner we keep tuned up at home. About 5:30 p.m., as we were preparing to go out to dinner with a special son for a private birthday celebration, we heard the dispatcher call out Search and Rescue. A woman climber had fallen some twenty feet to a ledge in the vicinity of Gemini Bridges,. She was injured and in need of help. Within minutes, units of the Moab squad were on their way, along always-read- y with a backcountry ambulance thats beginning to show a lot of miles on the odometer. We heard team members talking back and forth as they proceeded to the scene, with the voices of Corky Brewer and Frank Mendonca taking charge as they so often do. Part of the team went to the top of Gemini Bridges near Arths Pasture, another part went up Bull Canyon to the bottom of the arch. We left for what turned out to be an excellent dinner at the Sunset Grill with son Jed. After returning home well after 9 p.m., the crews were still inching toward the injured climber. Just after 1 0 p.m., as was watching Channel 5 news, heard word over the scanner that the climber had been brought down from the ledge where she had been with a couple of companions, and was ready for helicopter airlift to Moab. Knowing that would be a little reluctant to fly a chopper into those deep canyons after dark, and knowing that in airline miles, Gemini Bridges isnt really that far from Moab, went out in the back yard. Soon heard the familiar sound of chopper blades, and then saw the lights of the rescue aircraft approaching Moab valley and Allen Memorial Hospital from a safe altitude. Minutes later, the pilot I I I I I I radioed the dispatcher that he had completed his mission and was on his way. Im sure that by the time rescue team members and the chopper crew arrived home, it was well past the time I went to bed. Just another days work for Grand County Search and Rescue? Its getting to be that way. I constantly marvel at the dedication and professionalism exhibited by members of that team, who get very little compensation for their efforts, except for a little reimbursement for fuel used in their personal vehicles. When visitors venture out into the unforgiving canyons in any direction from Moab, I doubt that many of them be they climbers, bikers, or hikers even give a thought to what might happen if they found themselves in need of rescue. Fortunately for them, that rescue service is alive and well in Grand County, even though it must be stretched thin this time of year. sjt I I I ar I I I I Trails Many Adrien F. j by Taylor Easter Weekend and the Jeep Safari are the traditional, if not actual, start of the visitor season in the Moab area. It all began many years ago with the idea that the day before Easter would be a glorious day for an organized jaunt into the countryside, style, and just one trail. Quickly, the trails multiplied, and many of us thought wed hit zenith when there were many trails to choose among, and Saturday morning downtown was a beehive of organized activity, as lined up on designated corners, and the various trails were started on their way, one by one. But, as the guy probably said, we aint seen nothing yet! Hats off to the Red Rock Four Wheelers! The annual safari activities now extend well over a weeks time, and draw the most visitors we have here at any one time all year. Its a big job, and its well done, thanks to the many volunteers from the organization. The Safari couldnt happen without the cooperation of the land managers, so hats off to them. And hats off to all the merchants and service providers, who are there to make the visits to Moab and the Canyonlands area as enjoyable as possible . . . and to the residents of Moab, most of whom put on a happy face through it all. Some stay home to either avoid the crowds or do their part in diminishing the congestion. Others are right there in the thick of it, guiding, going along, sometimes gawking, supporting this community every way they know how to. Last, a hearty welcome to our visitors. You come back faithfully, year after year, rain or shine (and weve had plenty of both, including snow, sleet and hail). Be assured that if you didn't happen to bring along the right threads for the weather, you will find a good stock of both warm and cool weather attire in Moabs many shops, and lots of people to hand out smiles and advice, along with the merchandise. aft For our clan, we will do our usual hinterlands Easter Egg hunt with the Knowles clan again. We constitute a very large hunting party anymore, what with all the grandchildren and various friends who always get invited along. This years destination remains unclear to me. We have had to change spots from time to time, as the visitors have discovered our happy hunting grounds. Where we end up is not the point. The fellowship and hard-boile- d eggs are the important parts. As to the fellowship, some of the children in this group only see one another once or twice a year, so theres a lot of growing to compare. And every year there are the new hunters (of all ages), to be kept segregated to themselves until the hiders have done their work. In the end, it's peeling the eggs, cracked ones then salt according to first, and sprinkling pepper Grandpa Don. This, along with small toys, things edible and otherwise in plastic eggs, and the usual displastic egg covery of one or more very halves which were not found the previous year. Its a lot of fun, and we look forward to it, and wish the same to everybody here in this corner of Gods country this Easter season. The Hon. Robert F. Bennett U.S. Senator Dirksen Bldg., Suite Washington, D.C. 20510 B-4- 0 2 Fax, or 4225 Federal Office Bldg. 125 S. State, SLC UT 84138 Fax, 202-224-67- h d When you need to Contact your elected officials The Hon. Orrin Hatch U.S. Senator 135 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 Fax, or 8402 Federal Office Bldg. 125 South State, SLC UT 84138 Fax, 1; 202-225-58- 801-524-43- Statewide Perspective was both puzzled and flattered by one Letter to the Editor submitted this week. My puzzlement was the reference to my use of the word suck in an editorial comment. Having never watched Beavis and Butthead, I was not able to make the connection. do, however, rememberthe revered Ross Perot referring to a sucking sound coming from Mexico if Congress ever had the audacity to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement. That must have been where picked up the negative connotation that led to the use of the word suck. That aside, was flattered to have been called a conscience of the people, and stable pillar of our community. That has never been a primary aim in my career, taking a backseat to attempting to stay positive and not let myself be guided by anger and negativism that steers so much of the writing I see about this part of the world I'll try to watch my words in the future. It reminds me of the early days of my publishing career. Having stint in the military overjust returned from a two-yebarracks-dwelling a as where served seas, sergeant with a lot of other dogface Gls, I had to learn how to talk all over again when returned home before was allowed out in mixed company. That probably wouldnt have happened had been an officer and gentleman during my service years. I 801-524-57- 3; The Hon. James Hansen U.S. House of Representatives 2466 Rayburn H.O.B. Washington, D.C. 20515 3; Fax, 202-225-58- The Hon. Chris Cannon U.S. House of Representatives 118 Cannon House Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20515 or 51 S. University No. 317 Provo, UT 84601 by Robert Warnick How Much is Too Much? Each year the economic development people in the state take great pride in telling us that some of Utahs counties are once again among the counties in the country. The 1998 legislature appropriated an additional five million dollars earmarked to stimulate economic development. The Olympics are justified by the Governor and SLOC based on economic value to the state. Government officials cite the primary reason for is to handle reconstruction of the rapid population growth. Mayor Corradinis arguments in defense of center on economic and population light-rafastest-gr- owing fast-tracki- il growth. These facts and the growth Utah is experiencing present an interesting dichotomy. While economic growth keeps unemployment down and will theoretically increase wages and keep a handle on taxes, population growth presents horrendous infrastructure and social problems. Its time for our elected officials to take another look at the growth at all costs philosophy. A reduction in government expenditures and tax breaks designed to stimulate growth would allow the state to settle into a more normal growth pattern. Government planning officials will then have time to do some cooperative planning in anticipa tion of population growth. Its impossible to do that planning if government economic development officials continue to pour money and tax breaks into stimulating more rapid growth. A recent survey indicated that the number of people who would oppose Utah pursuing the Olym-- . pics, if they had it to do over again, has increased. Seventy-on- e percent said that schools should not be closed for the Olympics and sixty percent said the state liquor laws should either be left alone or made more restrictive for the Olympics. These trends, along with public sentiment about what reconstruction has done to Salt Lake County, suggest that government officials at all levels should reevaluate priorities relating to their economic development philosophy. Some of us who made the choice many years ago to five in Utah liked it better when roads werent so crowded, crime wasnt increasing exponentially, and subdivisions werent occupying all the open space. Those of you living in rural Utah may wonder why you should be concerned. The tax dollars spent and tax breaks given are dollars out of your pock-etYou help pay the five million dollars going to economic development this year. If you believe that unbridled economic growth is good, youre not benefiting proportionately because the bulk of the growth is on the Wasatch Front. If you believe its time to slow down, your tax dollars are being misspent. I believe, tpiajority of Utahns now fall in the latter category. s. High Country News Writers on the Range Las Vegas is no model for workers of the new west by Jon Christensen Las Vegas the city local wags once called Lost is now being touted as the working stiffs Wages ticket to the American dream. In March, AFL-CIPresident John Sweeney AFL-CIthe committee to the executive brought and fucity. President Bill Clinton, ture presidential candidate A1 Gore, and his rival-to-bO O Vice-preside- nt e, Congressman Richard Gephardt, joined the union honchos in praising the gambling Mecca as the hottest union city in America and a good example for the rest of the country. Why all the attention? Union membership in n Las Vegas has soared as a result of a casino-hotdollar boom in mega-resocomplexes and vigorous union organizing over the last decade. The number of hotel rooms has increased from 61.000 to 105,000, with another 20,000 now under construction. There are 110,000 union members in indusLas Vegas, concentrated in the casino-hotand trades. construction try Membership in the citys largest union, the Culinary Union, which represents hotel and casino workers, has grown from 16,000 to 40,000 in the last decade. In Las Vegas, 48 percent of the hotel workers belong to a union, compared with 16 percent nationwide, and 25 percent of the entire local workforce is under a union contract, compared to 14 percent nationwide. This is good news for many workers. A waitress in a unionized casino can earn $8 an hour, about 20 percent more on average than in a nonunion casino, and enough, if her husband also has a good job, to buy a house and send her kids to college. But should workers in other towns heavily dependent on tourism and recreation industry jobs get their hopes up that the Las Vegas model will sweep the country? In most cases, no. For Las Vegas is an anomaly. The citys incredible growth, rich union heritage and densely packed workforce have attracted an organizing effort rarely seen in modem American labor history. The AFL-CInow has a $6 million campaign, e employing 135 organizers in Las Vegas. Using a tactic called salting, union organizers get n companies and try to sign up a jobs at majority of workers in secret. The organizers then try to force employers to recognize the union without an election, which would be subject to lengthy appeals before the National Labor Relations Board. In the last 18 months, they have signed up about 9.000 new union members. multi-billio- -- rt el el O full-tim- non-unio- There are good reasons for the massive effort. The unions are desperate to make in the service sector as it eclipses their traditional industrial strongholds. And what better place to start than Las Vegas, which has been a union town for decades, and which has a burgeoning workforce. But unions wont find such fertile conditions elsewhere in the Wests service economy. Casinos are the factories of the service economy. Both workers and corporate capital are highly concentrated in the mega resorts that crowd the Las Vegas Strip. In April, up to 100,000 workers are expected to apply for 8,500 jobs at the citys newest and most expensive casino, the $1.6 billion Bellagio, which will open in October. Many of those will be union jobs because Mirage Resorts, which has contracts with the union at other casinos, has agreed not to oppose organizing at the Bellagio. But most service industry jobs are not like factory jobs, and most service industry companies are not like giant casinos. They are smaller and employ fewer people in more widely dispersed locations. Unions may be able to use the Las Vegas model to organize other casinos, hospitals, big hotels and perhaps even sortie of the major ski resorts in the West. But for now, ski resorts like and Park City, once home to strong mining unions, remain poignant examples of the decline of unions, and there is little chance of a resurrection. This is not to belittle the achievements of unions in Las Vegas, and especially the Culinary Union, which recently won a strike at the Frontier Hotel, and Casino. These achievements deserve recognition. Unfortunately, they do not offer a very useful model for the rest of the West. It would be great if all the waitresses, bus boys, camaids and lift operators in all the small-tow- n fes, hotels and ski areas in the West earned enough to afford homes for their families and college tuition for their kids. But working stiffs will gain more from a generally improving economy and local economic diversification, which cause labor shortages and drive up wages, than they will from trying to follow Las Vegas. far-flun- g Tel-luri- de hard-fough- t, six-ye- ar Jon Christensen writes about business, work and the environment in the West from his home in Carson City, Nevada. He is a contributor to Writers on the Range," a service oHigh Country News, based in Paonia, Colorado. . ' |