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Show Page A7 tEfre ffitmgg-nbgpert&e- Thursday, October 29, 1998 nt Thanks for support in decision to resign state post Letters to the Editors Getting ready for Y2K Dear Sam and Adrien, As one of the growing handful of Moab citizens who are concentrating time and energy on learning about the consequences of the Y2K (year 2000) computer bug, I am coming up with more questions than answers. Information on this is spotty and difficult to find for people busy with making a living. It is rarely mentioned in the national news programs or publications. Our tendency is to stick our heads in the sand and say they will certainly fix this. However, it is a known fact that the Y2K bug cant be fixed in time to have nothing go wrong and will cause problems on a global and local level. The questions now become: How bad will they be? How long will they last? This is where I would like to suggest The can step in and take action. Grand County needs to become informed, on the widespread level that a newspaper can accomplish, about the Y2K bug and what problems it poses to our community and our world. The T-- using its investigative sources and resources, can begin by raising community awareness that this is a problem, since many people here do not know about it or remain unconvinced of its seriousness. The newspaper can then go on to help Grand County residents make informed decisions on how to prepare for the short- - and long-terconsequences. Short-terproblems to get ready for are things like power outages that could last for days, weeks or even months, water shortages, food shortages, fuel shortages, medical supply shortages, etc. Longer-terconsequences involve problems caused by the possible global recession and its effects on our tourism based economy. Although I believe this is a problem that we cannot look to the government to solve, an informed constituency can use the democratic process to convince our elected officials of the importance of preparedness on a community, state and national level. An informed public can put pressure on the companies that run the infrastructure, such as Utah Power, to disclose their readiness and their alternate plans for providing their service on and after January 1, 2000. I believe that Grand County is in a position to deal with the short-terproblems relatively comfortably, but only if we have all made preparations ahead of time. If half of us are ready, that leaves half of us out in the cold, and that can present a pretty scary scenario. However, it is impossible to get ready if we dont know what for. I look to The to be proactive, treat this situation as the current event it truly is, and work with the community to devise a readiness plan that will work. A weekly column of researched information would be very helpful. It could also provide a forum for discussions through letters to the edicommunity-wid- e tor and your own very respected opinions. Thank you for your timely consideration of this matter. m I, Sincerely, Sharon Hogan Moab m Preparing a check-lis- t for Y2K Dear Sam and Adrien, I read in The last week that the city is considering purchasing a generator for back up power in the event that the year 2000 starts off with a fizzle instead of a bang. I think this is a good idea. One of my favorite mail order companies specializing in manual homesteading equipment is swamped with orders due to the coming Y2K. Predicting an avalanche of personal savings withdrawals, every developed nation in the world is printing money 24 hours a day. Some k breakdown government officials speculate a of all utility and communication systems. Everything is connected through the domino effect. When the electricity goes down so does just about everything else. This pattern is speculated to continue on and off for 2 to 6 months with symptomatic relapses that could prevail 18 to 36 months. Remember that the event of Y2K is a worldwide phenomenon. Every computer system in every nation on the planet will be affected. As of this moment not a single banking institution or utility company in the world is Y2K compliant. Some of us may foresee chaotic bedlam breaking loose, particularly in our major cities where the National Guard is forming strategies of how to keep the peace. But here in Moab, isolated by natural geographic wonders and blessed' with a' diverse population of old school know-hooutdoor enthusiasts hnd a strong sense of community, we may be headed for some exciting discoveries beyond business as usual. All we know is that we really dont know how we are going to be affected. Scenarios vary according to the unpredictable nature of human beings. How we respond to our circumstances will dictate whether we create chaos or cooperation. What I know about human nature is what I know about myself. When I pack for a y Grand Canyon river trip, I prepare for a good time yet rig to flip. I know there will be big rapids ahead. At times the journey is intensely beautiful and heart poundingly scary. But what makes the trip truly a worthwhile experience is the camaraderie that unites a group of individuals into a family. We look out for each other. We share our excitement, fears and jubilation as we discover new capabilities within ourselves we never knew we had. Like a river trip, Y2K proposes to challenge our sensibilities and jar our familiar habits into purposeful action. What Im getting at is this: prior preparation prevents piss poor performance. At any time we are only three meals away from a revolution. Providing enough food on hand to feed everyone ensures a degree of security for the community as a whole. I would like to see our food bank encourage the donation of these food items: Hmes-Independe- two-wee- 24-da- Whole grains in sacks of brown rice, berries, whole rye, oats and corn. The key word here is whole grain. Refined grain such as white rice and white flour has had 90 of its nutritional value removed. Unlike flour, whole-wheberries will keep 2 years and all whole grains can be sown if need be. Beans. sacks of pinto, Anasazi, black, red, soy, mung beans, lentils, and dried peas all contribute good sources of protein, carbohydrates and vitamins. Oils. Unrefined monounsaturated oils such as olive, sesame, oleic sunflower, oleic rapeseed (canola) and oleic safflower are very stable oils. Most other oils are prone to rancidity. Salt. Preferably unrefined REAL SALT or sea salt that still contains a source of trace minerals. Miscellaneous. Powdered milk products for making yogurt and cheeses. Dried fruits and vegetables will keep longer than canned goods and take less volume for storage. Seeds such as alfalfa, radish, buckwheat, sunflower and clover for sprouts provide fresh greens. Honey clarified butter sealed keeps forever. So does in jars. Garden seeds. Non hybrid types. Lots of them, by the pound. Enough for a big community garden. Planting this spring of 99 will provide crops for winter Y2K. Root crops can be stored in the garden pro- -' tected by straw bales. The city would be wise to set aside funds for food and seed bank storage. We are all responsible for making a smooth transition into uncertain territory. After making provisions for food and water, alternative-heating sources will be next to consider. The year 2000 begins in the dead of winter. A simple make shift attached passive solar greenhouse made from straw bales and plastic sheeting is a cheap way to help keep a trailer warm. Propane, kerosene and wood stoves can provide supplemental heat. Insulate old homes like crazy and incorporate passive solar design into new construction. We have the know-hoto build structures that are almost entirely and cost effective with many local natural materials. Who knows? Y2K may be just the catalyst to encourage us to redesign our civilization to become resource efficient while remaining in harmony with nature. No other species on earth has to work all the time to make money to be able to live. Yet we consider ourselves the most intelligent species on Earth. Perhaps we too can learn to provide all of our needs with a lot fewer bills to pay and a lot more time to play. Kaki Hunter whole-whe- at un-salt- one-tim- from permits to operate hazardous waste facilities. Storing the Atlas tailings at Klondike Landfill, if it ever happened, would not mean Klondike Landfill would automatically be able to open its doors as a hazardous waste landfill facility. radioCitizens shouldnt panic about the active waste at Atlas. They should get informed. And all our local media should help get that information out. Most of us would like to know what are the actual threats from that tailings pile to man, beast, and the rest of the natural environment? We wonder exactly how much worse are the tailings than the dirt in our yard, or in the hills behind Moab? Is it because its sitting by the river that we should be so concerned about it? If Grand County can get financial help from the state and the federal government, where are some good, safe places to move it? Could Klondike Landfill be one of those places? Exactly how dangerous to our health would it be to move the pile? And if it can be moved safely, how could the citizens of this area hope to profit if it were moved to Klondike Landfill? If we ever get to the point of considering, not if, but where to move the Atlas tailings, both myself and everyone involved here at the Solid Waste District will see that the whole issue will be right out there where the public can ask questions, and have those questions anbefore anything is done and before any deciswered sions are made. Is that fair? I sincerely hope so. low-lev- el Yours, Jane S. Jones, District Manager Solid Waste District low-lev- Letters to the editor policy four-count- ... welcomes opinions from its readers concerning any subject pertinent to Southeastern Utah. Letters should be to the point and must include the writers name, address and telephone number. Letters may not be used to replace advertisements, or to list and thank sponsors or participants to a particular event. Letters to the editor will be not be accepted from any candidate who has filed for political office or from anyone writing in support of a filed candidate. Anything unsigned, of a libelous nature, or containing defamatory statements will not be considered for publication. All letters must be typed or legibly written, and be 800 words or less. Letters are subject to editing. Mail to Letter to the Editor, RO. Box 129, Moab, Utah, 84532. Deadline is Monday, 5 p.m. Letters may also be sent via to moabtimeslasal.net Persons writing letter may do so no more frequently than once every four weeks. The COPY 40J0(L0II on my behalf. career with the State of Utah in March 1984. 1 felt very fortunate to, first of all, have a job back in my hometown where I was born and raised, and secondly to utilize my education and experience in the management of natural resources. My interest and concerns about natural resources in this area, very much continues today. My family and I are planning to remain and make our home in Moab as I pursue other interests and opportunities. Thanks once again to all those people who have stood by me and encouraged me during these recent, trying times. I began my (almost) Sincerely, Stan Baker Sell old middle school, county doesnt need Dear Editor, Regarding the Oct. 22 article about the old Middle School building. It appears to me that once again the taxpayers of Grand County have been given the shaft. When the bond to build a new school was being pushed, the old Middle School building was unfit for human habitation. Now it is still in pretty good shape. Now it could be used for the New Beginnings Child Care Center cr To house a higher education center. The voters were told it would cost $6 million to renovate the old building. Now although other cost estimates as low as $1.5 million have come from reputable architects, money-suck- er no one knows where the $6 million figure came from. The voters were told the old building would be sold and the money would be used to reduce the bond debt. Now even if it sold for full market value, it wouldnt reduce the debt by even seven percent. Seven- - percent of $12 million might not be much to Mr. Olsen, but to me it is a considerable amount. Does Grand County need another giant money- - sucking machine like the Equestrian Center? I say no. Sell . . . the building! Frank Thurston Moab Who pays the big bucks to Grand Canyon Trust? Dear Editor: Where does Grand Canyon Trust get its money (millions) from? I am a member of the Moab Lions Club and I know that our members work their butts off just to raise 1 or 2 thousand dollars to pay for needy peoples eye glasses here in Moab. Grand Canyon Trust says the Atlas tailings pile is responsible for polluting water down river in California, Arizona, etc. What proof do they have to say this? Has the river water been tested every so many miles all the way down? I think theyll find or already know that most of the pollution is from other sources! Namely farming where huge amounts of insecticides and fertilizer are being leached into the river from the fields and no doubt also from the many natural sources. Calling Moab tailings a destroyer of endangered fish is nonsense. Anyone who watches PBS or Discovery on TV has been told for years the reasons are the dams across the Colorado River. The river water is now too cold and too clear for these fish to survive. Why has the blame now been shifted to the Atlas tailings pile by the Grand Canyon Trust? Are some people using the Atlas tailings pile as a scapegoat or smoke screen to divert attention from themselves and the larger problems? The multibillion dollar chemical & hydropower companies are probably delighted with all the attention and B. S. about the Atlas tailings pile polluting the river. Again, I wonder who is funding the Grand Canyon Trust vs. NRC and Atlas proposed lawsuit. How can the Grand County Council throw in their hats with the Grand Canyon Trust? Do any of them know anything about the Grand Canyon Trust? .As for our County Council member suggesting the county should move the tailings pile themselves, I think the other council member should direct his bozo comment in another direction, rather than towards the NRC or Atlas (as they have spent their lifetimes learning their professions, and at least know what they are talking about). Sam, not to leave you out, if you cannot comprehend billions of dollars how can you comprehend ppbs (parts per billion) of anything leaking from the tailings pile into the Colorado river? Once again who pays the big bucks for the Grand Canyon Trust to spend. I would love to know. Yours truly, Dot Pattison A true Moabite for over 24 years who actually lives in Moab (not Castle Valley). Another successful Fire Prevention Week Dear Sam, Franks energy and willingness to dive right in to preventing tragedy is remarkable for a Nearly half of Moab Fire Departments members participated in this years activities and I heartily thank them all. They are: Ernie Lisonbee, August Brooks, Daryl Rowe, Brian Axtell, Travis Robertson, Mark Ward, Frank Lopez, Pat McGann, Ray Tolley, Terry McGann, Kendall Swenson, Bob Tolley, Don ODonnal, Bill Zanotti, Joe Walker, Charlie Harrison, John Flahie, Curt Stoughton. These volunteer firefighters gave their time and talents above and beyond that which they already spend in service to their community. I commend them for it and I am extremely proud of them. The people of Moab should be too. Thanks also to the local news media, public schools, City Market, Zions Bank, Southeastern Utah District Health Department, and the Utah State Fire Marshals Office for your support and kindness. Corky Brewer Chief ment. The Moab Fire Department has had another ful Fire Prevention Week. olds through 3rd graders were educated this year in a variety of programs ranging from school assemblies to visits to Fire Station 1 to touring the Life Safety House and visiting with YoYo, Auggie Doggie, Sparky, and Patches. I want to thank a number of people for helping make our programs some of the best in the business. First, I want to make special mention of some key players: Ernie Lisonbee appeared around town as YoYo the clown. Ernie developed the clowning concept for fire prevention in Moab and has been teaching kids here for an incredible twelve years. This year he was nominated for a national award for his work by his peers. Ernie has taught the fine art of clowning to another firefighter, August Auggie Doggie Brooks, who has worked with him for eight years and is a major influence in our programs. This year saw many fresh additions to our programs, not the least of which was Grand County High School senior Frank Lopez who is a trainee with Moab Fire Depart Castle Valley Comments by Ron Drake The Castle Valley extended community is invited to the Castle Valley Property Owners Association-sponsore- d barbecue and pot luck this Saturday, Oct. 31. The location will be at the home of Jack Powers who volunteered his place during the associations general annual meeting two weeks ago after Ann LaMunyon suggested some of our POA funds be used for a community barbecue. The board of directors liked the idea and appointed her to spearhead the event. Jack lives on the northeast end of Buchanan Lane. Volleyball and other games will be available to play, or those not so ambitious can visit with friends or get acquainted with their valley neighbors. The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. The pit barbecued meat, beverage and table service will be furnished by the POA and the desserts, salads, bread, beans etc. will be potluck items. In case of bad weather, the feast will be moved to the Castle Valley LDS Church. An excellent array of candidates vying for various positions in county government and school board met at the Castle Valley LDS Church last Wednesday, Oct. 21 to state their qualifications and opinions. Those who attended included Bill Schultz who is trying to unseat Bill Benge for county attorney, Carey. Dabnejl and Obid Hamblin, squaring off for a position on the Grand County School Board and Susanne Mayberry, Jim Lewis and Kathryn Jackson looking to fill the position on the Grand County Council. Schultz stated that he did all of the criminal prosecution as deputy county attorney under Elaine Mathews and maintained a good relationship with law enforcement officials. He said he has the same values as the Castle Valley residents and thinks he can do a better job at county attorney. Dabney explained that she got involved in education through her childrens enrollment in local schools and has volunteered for many school activities. She served on the committee to build the new high school and remodel the middle school, was on the travel council board and currently belongs to the PTA. She believes early intervention is the key to the drug problem, is concerned with the drop- - out rate and cares about students getting a good education. at-lar- 1 L the Department of Natural Resources Moab Clarifying Solid Waste District and Atlas tailings issue Dear Sam Someone asked me yesterday if the Solid Waste District was already hauling the Atlas tailings out to Klondike Landfill. Thats when I knew some clarification was needed! By the way, the answer is, of course, a resounding, No! And any chance of that happening appears very remote at this time. It looks like the pile will be capped in place. A strong effort by the City and County is now underway, to find out exactly what contamination is occurring from the tailings, before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission washes their hands of the whole thing by having the pile rocked over. For me, the question about the tailings already going to Klondike was pretty unbelievable, because I know, from experience here on the job, the long drawn out and costly procedure required to make even the smallest change in a landfill. Nowadays, I dont think theres anything going on in the State ofUtah that is more closely scrutinized than a landfill. Any substantive change goes through an extensive permitting process, with engineering, and public hearings, and impact studies. Comments come also from federal and state agencies who must sign off on these kinds of projects. Public hearings have to be held where concerns are addressed and comments documented. Only then can the state consider approving a project. It is my understanding that, if and when those taile arings might be moved, it would be a special, rangement, to a specific site, just to handle that specific waste and no others. According to state law, permits isradioactive wastes are different sued to store Dear Sam: I would like to publicly, through this letter, thank all the many people who have helped and supported me through my recent decision to resign my duties as Southeastern Area Manager with the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. My resignation became effective on Oct. 1, 1998. Many of your readers were aware of my situation but are unaware of the final outcome through my resignation. The incredible amount of support that I received from this community and all of the y area has been a very uplifting experience for my family and me, and something that will never be forgotten. Over 30 letters of support were submitted to the Director of r ffiiurtunri ir Hamblin has spent 40 years in the community, 36 of those years as a teacher with the Grand County School District. After some urging to join the race for the school board, he realized he has experience that would be of help to the board. He believes in keeping up with technology in this day and age but also thinks teaching the basics are important. He wants to create a good classroom climate for children, stating that it is important that children feel safe in classrooms and help protect them from ridicule and other annoyances. He wants to get the teacher salaries up to state or area standards. Hamblin and Dabney are running for the school board seat that serves Castle Valley, Spanish Valley, Elgin and Thompson Springs. In the county council race, Jim Lewis is the incumbent. He was selected by the council to fill the unexpired term of Ray Pene who left the area. He knows he can do a very good job on the council and can be a voice of compromise. He promises to look at issues from all aspects. Hes made a lot of contacts while on the council on the state and national level and has a good relationship with the county staff. He is running as a write-i- n candidate. Another write-i- n candidate is Kathryn Jackson who felt it is time to get involved, realizing that government doesnt run without us. Also she wants to be a role model for the young women of the county. She is running for a different point of view on the council, having been told by council members that the value of property owner rights are not valid. We have an opportunity to help drive our county and protect our views. She is concerned about increased traffic on Hwy. 128 and asks how do you value safety and health. She wants to protect rural family life, ethics and views. Thats why Im running, she said. The only candidate to appear on the ballot for the Grand County Council at large position is Susanne-MayberryShe worked for the State of Utah and offers experience and also has contacts in state government. ' She was chosen outstanding employee for this part of Utah and understands how state and county government works. She said the county has a consensus about the Atlas tailings which is a number one priority with her, . but is more concerned with endangered people, not fish. inter-mounta- in . 1 |