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Show Page A6 tmes-(3ln&cpmli- Thursday, December 3, 1998 ent Community Comments Community Calendar by Sam Taylor You can tell when a new legislative session is Utahs tax watchdog organization, the approaching. Utah Taxpayers Association, has come out with its shopping list for legislators to consider come January. As usual, most proposals have to do with Utahs personal property tax, and also as usual, I tend to agree with some and have grave reservations about The deferred property taxes during the remainder of our lifetimes could amount to a bunch of money. If the ultimate property tax is to be paid by heirs after our unfortunate passing, it might be a whole lot easier just to give the property title to the county. Deferred property tax might sound good, but it would make it almost impossible for counties, school districts, special taxing districts, and many cities (not Moab City, which has no property tax), to budget operations based on a known revenue source. If the aim of the deferred property tax proposal is to destroy the property tax as a source of local government income, the UTA should just say so. Ive long thought that personal property tax was one of the most hurtful and unfair taxes on the books. Maybe we should look at other ways to finance government. But we should be honest enough about it to simply abolish it through the front door not from the back alley, as the UTAs proposal would. Fortunately, a constitutional amendment, which would be required for deferring property tax payments, would have to be approved by a vote of both houses of the legislature, and then approved by the electorate at a general election. Thats not an easy task, even for popular proposals. others. Three major items are listed in this years instruction to legislators. The first calls for a permanent public vote requirement for all property tax increases in the future. As things now stand, taxing districts, under Utahs Truth in Taxation law are required to give bold public notice and hold public hearings before raising taxes. The requirement for a public election would make a little tougher to raise property tax levies. Thats fine, guess. It doesnt, however, limit the other end of the property tax equation. This year, for example, personal property taxes on our own business property increased over 50. And that didnt happen because the tax levy was increased. It happened because the valuation of our property was increased by I two-thir- action of the County Assessors office. A vote on property tax increases wouldnt change that at all. The second UTA proposal calls for strengthening the Truth in Taxation law. Im all for that one. When the Truth in Taxation law passed in 1986, it provided for a lot of safeguards for individual property taxpayers. Since that time, however, critics of the law, local taxing entities unhappy with the public notice and hearing requirements, have been successful in chipping away the protections T ruth in Taxation once provided. That erosion should be stopped, not encouraged, by legislators. The Associations third proposal, though, really scares me. It would amend Utahs constitution to provide a taxpayer option for deferring the payment of property tax until properties are sold. The Taxpayers Association believes that all taxpayers, regardless of income, should have the option to defer their property taxes until the time that their property changes ownership. Im afraid that if passed, this measure would totally destroy the personal property tax as a vehicle for financing local government, and would ultimately place local counties in the real estate business in a big way. I dont particularly like paying property taxes in November, and it would be nice to defer that practice until our property is sold. The thing is, we dont intend to sell our personal property any time soon. sjt You can also tell when the media experiences a short news week. My pioneer editor father, who operated in this tiny town in its early years, used to hope' for some big happening, even disaster, as he apk proached his publishing deadline with noth1. on to put ing Page This, thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday, is truly a short news week. f, One real though, came in the metro press. Whenever news is short, a whole lot of tired old theories begin making an appearance. This week, the old argument over the origin of Upheaval Dome, surfaced again. This time, geologists at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, are claiming that Upheaval Dome was salt really created by a pinched off dome. That shoots holes into a newer theory that has gained credence the past few years that the big crater in Canyonlands was caused by an ancient meteor. Too bad, all you overworked staffers at Canyonlands headquarters. Youre going to have to the interpretive material on Upheaval Dome one more time. Soon, the interpretive signs at Upheavals viewpoints will obscure the view. mid-wee- tip-of- sub-surfa- Thursday, December 3 Canyon Country Wildflowers, free lecture by Damian Fagan, 7 p.m., MIC. Thrilling Thursdays, Arts & crafts for kids, $5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., MARC. Christmas Tree LightingCaroling, join with the Valley Voices, 5:30 p.m., MIC. Stained Glass: Beginning & Intermediate , or Advanced Studio (1st of 5 classes) $60 for course, $30 if you bring your own glass, 9 p.m., MARC. Swing Class , (3rd of 4), $32 for course, $11 per class, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., MARC. Friday, December 4 DUP annual bake sale & bazaar. 12 noon. First Friday Art Walk, stroll between seven art gallery receptions, 6 - 9 p.m.. Business District. Shop till you drop and help Moab Youth, 16 area merchants give a portion of all sales today to help area youth. Saturday, December 5 Winter Sun 10 K Run, 10 a.m., Moab Golf Course to the High School. Foreign Films: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg & My In Life Pink, part of Canyonlands Film Society's Monthly Film Series, $5, 7 p.m.. Star Hall (see ad in this issue). Christmas Craft Fair, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., free admission, entertainment, hot food, Santa Photos 5 3 for info. p.m., call Robyn at Electric Light Christmas Parade, 5:30 p.m.. Main Street. Saturday Story Hour, 10-1- 1 a.m. (1-- 6 yrs.) and 11 a.m.-noo- n (7 years). Library. Paper Mache Workshop, $10 adults, $5 kids ages 4 p.m., MARC. Monday, December 7 Silk Scarf Painting Holiday Workshop, Ages 16, $25, 6 - 9 p.m., MARC. Tuesday, December 8 Moab Mosquito Abatement District, Public Hearing 6:30 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.. Old County Shop. Car Dixon, speaker at Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, noon, Smitty's Golden Steak. Terrific Tuesdays, arts and crafts for kids ages 7 -12, $5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., MARC. Ukranian Egg Christmas Ornaments - Holiday Workshop, 16, $20, 9 p.m., MARC. 6-- 259-452- 5. 2-- 259-889- 5, -- 6-- Fiber Night, knitting, crocheters, spinners, quilters etc. $3, 7 - 9 p.m., MARC. Wednesday, December 9 Tin Ornaments - Holiday Workshop, Ages $15, 7 - 9 p.m., MARC. Thursday, December 10 Thrilling Thursdays, Arts & crafts for kids, $5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., MARC. 7, Many Trails by Adrien F. Taylor is picking up The annual holiday to and time take a its breath and strive speed, deep to find joy, peace and fulfillment in the face of scheduling conflicts, stress and lack of shopping time. merry-go-roun- by 5:30 to see d it all. another new opportunity for gathering toas gether a community will take place at The Christmas Box House on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. A ceremony of remembrance of the children who have died will take place around the angel, with refreshments And It's one day at a time! And what great days they promise to be. This Thursday's tree lighting ceremony is one of my favorite events of the year. There is the crowd, including lots of children, parents and grandparents. And we Valley Voices are just tickled pink in our Santa hats and red scarves to be leading the car- Take a look at the Community Calendar for other activities taking place in the community. We try to keep the calendar up to date, and apologize for any errors or omissions that may creep in. In fact, we discovered two or three just trying to get it all together this week. Some us have to rush off afterwards, however, Messiah rehearsal. No time to dilly dally. The DUP ladies are having their annual bake sale and bazaar starting at noon on Friday at DUP hall. They always have great stuff. r Saturday's winter sun run will be a great will for those who run. continue to just walk, and know walkers are welcome on the course, but the Christmas Craft fair also beckons at 10 a. m. that of for aft been missing three staff members this c around here. week, so its been more than Our daughter and associate editor Sena has been We have in Florida. News writer Carrie visiting her Mossien, back to work after having a baby this summer, took off for California to show the baby off to her family there; and our recent ad sales lady Michelle Hulse has moved. Everybody has been pitching in trying to catch all the loose ends which have been flying with up around. Sam and I, with Zanes expert help, put lights up on the house, and that certainly helps to augment the holiday spirit. Maybe we can even find some time this weekend to decorate the office, although the events listed above, plus the annual Christmas Tree hunt will leave little extra of that precious commodity. invigo-rato- I morning. Great booths, a variety of entertainment, and photos with Santa Claus will be the order of the day at the MARC. And for anyone who isnt aware of the classes going on there, take a look at the Community Calendar on the other side of this page. electric light Christmas Saturday nights event. Warms sox, hats and Parade is a gloves will be the order of the evening. Be downtown holiday-oriente- d first-ev- 'CEtme0(3lrt&pcnfrmt (UPS) Entered as Second class Matter at the Post Office at Moab, Utah under the Second class postage paid at Moab, Utah 84532. 6309-200- Act of March 3, 1897. Official City and County Newspaper. Published each Thursday at: 35 East Center Street, Moab, Grand County, Utah 84532 address: moabtimeslasal.net P.O. Postmaster: Send changes of address to: The Times-lndepende- Memb'erUyvjeP FAX Box 129, Moab, UT 84532 435-259-77- NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION and UTAH Sena T. Flanders Franklin Seal Tom Taylor. Carrie Mossien Dorothy Anderson V n PRESS ASSOCIATION Samuel J. and Adrien F. Taylor Editors and Publishers Zane Taylor. Associate Editor News Writer Circulation Mgr., T-- l Maps Contributing Writer Mail room Supervisor Ron Drake 7-- 5-- 6-- 7-- Tuesday, December 15 Tie-dTissue Paper - Holiday Workshop, Ages 7 9:30 $10, p.m., MARC. Terrific Tuesdays, arts and crafts for kids ages 7 12, $5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., MARC. TBA, speaker at Chamber of Commerce Lun- cheon, noon, Smitty's Golden Steak. Wednesday, December 16 Natural Wreaths - Holiday Workshop, Ages $25, 9 p.m., MARC. Thursday, December 17 1 Moab Community Theater presents The Nyte Players in Winter Shorts, through Sat., Dec. 19, 8 p.m., $5, Star Hall. Thrilling Thursdays, Arts & crafts for kids, $5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., MARC. Swing Class , (final), $32 for course, $11 per class, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., MARC. Paper Mache Angels - Holiday Workshop, Ages $15, 9 p.m., MARC. Friday, December 18 Childrens Dance Recital and Reception, Kids Dance presents "The Little Pine" story told through song and dance. Free, 8 p.m., MARC. Saturday, December 19 Saturday Story Hour, 10-1- 1 a.m. (1-- 6 yrs.) and 11 a.m.-noo- n (7 years). Library. Mosaic Making - Holiday Workshop, ages $10 adults, $5 kids, 4 p.m., MARC. t r Thursday, December 24 - Christmas Eve 5, -- 9, 6-- Kelly Ericson, Jed Taylor. Production Manager Steve Cooper Backshop Contributing Writer Green River Correspondent Castle Valley columnist Ken Davey Betty Bailey. h J 11 ' 1 : ' 11 ) 7-- 5, 1-- The encourages readers to use this column to announce upcoming events and newsworthy items of interest which are open to the community. The deadline is Thursday, 5 p.m. , a week before publication. Mail notices to 35 E. Center St., Moab, 84532, them to MoabTimesLasal.net, drop them by The To schedule major office, or call events the Moab call Chamber Area special of Commerce Times-lndepende- nt Times-lndepende- nt 259-752- at 5. 259-781- 4. The West still needs the Cowboy Code i " 9, 6-- Writers on the Range by Penelope Reedy ; Fly-by-- High Country News In the moonlight he could see Harleys body hanging from the fence, where they had tangled it upright between strands of barbed wire. Harleys brown skin had gone as pale as the cloudy sandstone in the moonlight, apd Tayo could see blood shining on his thighs and his fingertips. from Ceremony by Leslie Silko LARAMIE, WYOMING - Matthew Shepard, 21, died Oct. 12 in a Fort Collins, Colo., intensive care unit. He was kidnapped from a bar in Laramie, Wyo., by two young men and their two young female companions. Accounts say the men tied Shepard to a fence, beat him with a gun and left him to die in the cold, western landscape. His offense was being what he naturally was: an open homosexual. In an Associated Press story, Alicia Alexander, 20, a sophomore at the University of Wyoming said she believed Shepard was beaten because this is a cowboy place. No doubt the plains of Wyoming are cowboy country, but somehow the image of four young people beating a defenseless young man and hanging him on a fence so he resembled a "scarecrow, (said the horrified bicyclists who found him) doesnt measure up to the vision of the gallant gentlemen on horseback. There were scarecrows on that scene in Laramie all right. Four of them: Russell Henderson, 21, Aaron McKinney, 22, Chastity Pasley, 20, and Kristin Price, 18. Heartless young men and women, their head pieces filled with straw. The cowboy of my imagination resonates more with the portrait painted by the late Gene Autry, who years ago penned something called the The Cowboy Code. A cowboy never takes unfair advantage, even of enemies. A cowboy never betrays a trust. A cowboy always tells the truth. A cowboy is kind of small children, old folks, and animals. A cowboy is free from racial and religious prejudice. A cowboy is helpful, and when anyone is in trouble, he lends a hand. A cowboy is a good worker. A cowboy is clean about his person, in thought, word and deed. A cowboy respects womanhood, his parents and the laws of this country. ' Hand-carve- usual-hecti- I or 9, 259-781- 4. to follow. oling. '(Ehc Swing Class , (3rd of 4), $32 for course, $11 per class, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., MARC. Handmade Gift Boxes, Bags & Cards - Holiday $10, 9 p.m., MARC. Workshop, Ages 11 December Friday, Silent Auction for Christmas Trees, fundraiser for Allen Memorial Hospital. Trees at local businesses, winners announced at 5:30 p.m., AMH cafeteria. Holiday Swing Dance Party, swing class students free, all others $5, 8 p.m., MARC. Saturday, December 12 African Dance Class, $20 for weekend, $12.50 for single class, 10 a.m. - noon, MARC. Santa's House Photo Session, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., MARC, Hayride with caroling, on Main Street, 7 p.m., ending at the Messiah. Saturday Story Hour, 10-1- 1 a.m. (1-- 6 yrs.) and 11 a.m.-noo- n (7 years). Library. Handels Messiah, presented by community singers and orchestra from Grand & San Juan Counties, Free, 7 p.m., GCHS Auditorium, Moab. Sunday, December 13 African Dance Class, $20 for weekend, $12.50 for single class, 3 p.m., MARC. Handels Messiah, presented by community singers and orchestra from Grand & San Juan Counties, Free, 7 p.m., San Juan Stake Center, Blanding. Monday, December 14 Block Prints, - Holiday Workshop, d 9 ages 12, $15, p.m., MARC. Hand-Kn- it Gifts - Holiday Workshop, Ages 10, $10, 9 p.m., MARC. A cowboy is a patriot. I live among cowboys, and I want to be proud of that heritage. I want to believe the foundation of the highly touted American way lies in accepting diversity. I want to believe America is the safe haven they told me it was in elementary school, where the pursuit of happiness exists for everyone, regardless of race, economic status or sexual orientation. But my experience has taught me differently. Beneath Americas noble ideals has always lurked a dark side, where fear and hatred have been allowed to breed unchecked. Fear, fanned by ignorance, breeds there unchecked and bubbles up and seeps into even our most honored institutions, in plain sight of our children. I imagine the young people who beat Shepard believed they had community support for their actions. And why shouldnt they ? Fundamentalist church leaders and right-win- g politicians consistently condemn gay people and their quest for equal rights. They may even believe all they have to say is, He came on to me, and a homophobic western jury will let them walk. And sadly, they may be right. As a court reporter for two newspapers, Ive watched western juries acquit child molesters and stalkers after hearing blatantly obvious evidence of guilt. And then there are the right-win- g religious arguments blasting homosexuality as evil and unnatural. I cant buy it. If a gay man occurs in nature, even if only once, then he is a natural piece of human diversity, Gods creation. To deny him his brand of sexuality, would be like outlawing my femininity. History is on my side here: There is no century or people who have not had gay men and women living among them, including Native American tribes with their Berdache tradition men who feel a natural inclination to live as women. The death of Matthew Shepard is a sharp reminder that the American West is a place of moral contradictions. Freedom and bondage, tolerance and bigotry, lie fitfully together in its mountains and valleys. Matthew Shepard died not because Laramie, Wyo., is a cowboy place, but because too many people dont know what it means to be a true cowboy. Penelope Ready is a contributor to Writers on the Range, a service of High Country News, based in Paonia, Colorado. She is a reporter for the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello, Idaho. v |