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Show Page A7 l(!Itmgg-(31ttftgPgrtft- Thursday, December 16, 1999 gnt Make comments before rezone is granted Letters to the Editors Dear Neighbors, Were writing to inform all the neighbors on Jefferson Street and Boulder Avenue and the surrounding areas that this week is the last week to sub- Suggesting a parade every month Attn: Letters to the Editor, I love a parade! My compliments to the Chamber of Commerce and the Moab community for the excellent Parade of Lights. Of the many colorful and zany entries, I was most entertained by the last one; the Police escorting a herd of 18 wheelers through town at mit letters or comment to the County Council regarding the Mays rezoning and subdivision request. one mile an hour. I suggest we let the spirit of the season live on by conducting this activity on an hourly bases throughout the year. Sincerely, John Cowan Moab CFI to make donation to CJC, cancels annual dinner Dear editors, The staff and students of Canyonlands Field Institute would like to thank the Grand County Council for their recent approval of $5,000 in funding for next year to help underwrite the earth science Field Camp for Grand County Middle School 8th graders. Students learn basic geology, outdoor safety and how to care for the public and private lands of our region. Id like to take this opportunity to thank our community at large for support of CFIs outdoor education programs this past year and to let folks k know we will not be doing our annual holiday dinner this month. During this time, several of us are attending science teacher conferences to recruit schools for next year. In lieu of the party, we will make a modest contribution to the Childrens Justice Center in Moab. We extend holiday wishes and thanks, to our business, agency and family supporters and parpot-luc- ticipants. Sincerely, Karla VanderZanden Director, CFI This subdivision plan is of great importance to us because of the additional flooding problems it would create in our neighborhood and also the unacceptable amount of crowding and traffic problems it will create. The plan suggests taking out part of the natural drainage and their idea is to route water down the new streets, hopefully flowing into the existing street side drainage system on Boulder of which there is no system. It also proposes to route subdivision run-of- f into the old irrigation ditch running parallel to Jefferson Street. The engineer admitted they would need special permission to do this, so we wonder how Mr. Holyoak and the other people receiving that irrigation water would like having it contaminated with gas, oil and other residues that could make their animals sick and possibly harm their crops. The developer admitted that no improvements would be made to the one-lan- almost-forgotte- The bridge was given to Grand County in 1989 and it became a part of the Kokopelli TVail, but it was just being left to deteriorate. In 1997 Earl Sires, the county administrator, applied for a $25,000 grant from Utah Parks and Recreation for repairs. When he moved away from Moab the Grand County Historical Preservation Committee took over the job of raising the matching funds. With the generous donation from the Proudfoot Ranch they were well on their way The money started as a trickle and then developed into a good stream. This outpouring of money proved the love people have for the bridge and their desire to see it preserved. They not only raised the $25,000 matching funds but are well on the way to have enough funds to match another grant that has been applied for and granted. In the spring the superstructure will have small additional work done on it and it will be painted. The towers are going to be painted also. The commissions concern is, at the completion of the restoration we will have spent over $100,000 and there is no agency in the County Government for maintenance. After spending this money are we going to let it fall into disrepair again? Why not make it into a county park? That will not cost much. The BLM has expressed willingness to donate the land and there is a beautiful old cottonwood tree for shade. It will need tables, some fire pits and some toilets and the county will have a park of which it can be' proud. If you like this idea contact your county council members and let them know. Or call me at Dale Irish Moab I think that options A and B are ridiculous. On developing a project of this magnitude we should be thinking at least 50 years is needed, and now is the time. ahead. Yes, a Costs and availability of the land wont get any better. How many homes would have to be condemned to build Seventh West Street? I believe all that land east of the Wetlands should be reserved for future city development, not a major roadway. Using Kane Creek Boulevard would only partially and temporarily solve the problem, as development of this city will continue south of the city limits and it would create the same problem that now exists down town. Option C," using Kane Creek Boulevard would create the same problems as outlined above. Option D would solve the problem. Either reconnect with Highway 191 near the recently closed truck stop or near the San Juan county line. Now, the four-lan- e highway to Crescent Junction: Im sure that a few of you still remember the effort that I put in a few years ago attempting to encourage an interstate highway diagonally from y to The Deep The Pacific Northwest, to Interstate similar 70, connecting the South, by-pa- ss south-easterl- Vijali Hamilton of Castle Valley invites the community to usher in the new millennium with 72 hours of prayer and meditation on her property. The ceremony will begin at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 29 and continue non-sto- p until 1 p.m., Jan. 1. Her property is located on the rim side of Miller Lane, all the way to the end on the left side of the road. Red ties will lead to a cave where the observance will be held. She advises bringing a flashlight and dressing warmly. The rites will end with a pot luck lunch at the home of Chris Coffey on the rim side of Holyoak Lane. Everyone is welcome to come and offer their own program, prayers or songs from their own background or religious preference, and to choose the hours they want to be there. Vijali can be to schedule reached at a time to participate, or people can just drop by anytime to observe 259-274- 4 , COPY She invites everyone to come and bring friends and especially to enter the new millennium with a consensus of California. Rudy Higgens had worked on that same thought, five or ten years before I did. Interstate already exists from Portland, Ore. through Ogden and connnects with in will future that area. In the be extended to Spanish Fork, Price, Green River, through Moab, on to Dove Creek, Colo., Cortez, at Bernalillo N.M., Farmington, N.M., cross of the Sandia north Mountains, and connect stay about 35 miles east of Albuquerque, with N.M. I just cant see why federal Highway 191 needs to be four lanes from mile 151 on Highway 191 to Crescent Junction. If Highway 191 were rerouted at mile 151 by turning about 50 degrees to the left in about seven miles at it would connect with the mile 173 exit on reducing the mileage from Moab to Green River and all points west by about six miles. It would pull more than 50 percent of the and reduce the need for the truck traffic off of extra traffic lanes from Crescent Junction to mile 151 on Highway 191. Transfer those costs to the new routing of Highway 191. There are lots of good peace. Longtime resident Lucile Stevens suffered a stroke at her home last Wednesday evening, Dec. 8. She was transported to Allen Memorial Hospital by Grand County ambulance. Thursday afternoon Lucile was transferred to the University of Utah Medical Center where she remains today. Her husband, Leo, and their sons and daughters are at her side constantly. Because of the early stage of the affliction, her condition is questionable. A feature on KSL television news Monday night focused on Castle Valley and Castle Rock and the rich heritage of western movies in years past. It pointed out that nobody lived here when many pedaling periodical news and views bicycle-relate- d nt 1-- 1-- 0, road-buildin- g materials at both ends of this proposed short cut as well as some in the middle. I remarked once before in a letter to the editor that the only thing that will stop rapid growth of Moab is either an atomic bomb or an eight-plu- s earthquake. Jim Hurst Moab Great teamwork! Thanks to everyone and Merry Christmas to All! Sincerely, Bill and Judy Redding Lake Forest, Illinois Responsibility needed Dear Editor, There is a need here for classification in response to the Dec. 9 Police Blotter. It was not a group of radical women as it appeared. It was serious women for radical changes. The change is: instead of the Devil having our kids, we the parents are choosing to go to the ultimate source of protection and help. This is not an issue that can be taken lightly. Our kids are going to Hell in a hand basket. Where are the examples, the integrity and the accountability of those in authority? Be it a parent or a city official, someone has to take responsibility for our young people. The only way to do that is a whole lot more prayer and less mockery. Sincerely, Sandi Roedel Moab If you build it...The plan seems like a cyclists dream. With just one new road, we would remove through traffic from Main Street. With gone from the scene, downtown would be left to small, unassuming vehicles like tour vans full of Euros and turbo-diesHumvees. Main Street traffic could be pared to two lames, with space left over for real bike lanes and diagonal parking. Better yet, the entire street could be closed to cars, leaving us with a trendy little zone where we could sip el cappuccino in style. That would be great, if our ultimate goal is to sacrifice large portions of Moabs quiet community so that we could make downtown feel a little more like Aspen. Otherwise, forget the proposed highway bypass. The reason were looking at this problem once more is anticipated traffic growth as a result of the 191 expansion. Highway 191 needs to be enlarged because people are dying in record numbers on the road. The death toll and subsequent expansion arent because the road is windy, or bumpy, or even very crowded theyre because so many people drive as though their Darwinian roots skip the noble primates and head straight for the hyenas. Most people would rather eat a bug than get slowed to 55 mph behind someone who didn't have the foresight to upgrade to the optional 0 engine. Rather than try to change some of this behavior with traffic tickets or rubber bullets or whatever is in vogue with cops lately, UDOT is going to give the hyenas some room to run. Thats going to make 191 look like a more attractive route for through drivers, including big rigs. V-1- So now Moab wants to play amoeba and split up to accommodate the load. Only this wont be a division. On clean, amoeba-lik- e the one hand youll have a clean, revitalized downtown, where few ni iru people live. On the other hand youll have its evil twin, a highspeed pit stop, right where many people live. But it's just one road, off to the side ofthe valley. Out of sight out of mind, you may be thinking. The trouble is, the folks driving that road will miss much of what Moab has to offer, like Wendys, Taco Bell and Arbys. So well have to duplicate those services on the other side of town, because we dont want to deny people the right to enjoy our scenic landscape through the windshield while slobbering Horsey Sauce down their shirts. Those through drivers are also going to need gas, and some of them are going to need to sleep, and still others will really want to buy a without takto trouble find downtown. the ing If you think our local leaders will prevent this cancerous commercial sprawl. Id like to buy you a bag of chips and a Coke up near the Slickrock Trail this spring. Of course, this will proride local jobs. And to get to these dead-en- d careers, people will drive across town, creating more traffic through downtown and a number of quiet neighborhoods. As for Main Street, a zone with desiglow-wag- e, pedes-trianbicyc- le nated parking areas seems unlikely, given that this whole plan is based on the mindset that we should accommodate traffic instead of limiting it. More likely, downtown merchants will clamor for diagonal parking on Main so they can pack in more shopper vehicles per block downtown. The solution is simple: do not add roads. Keep Moab as a giant in Highway 191. Make it as inconvenient as possible for people to use this small desert byway as a major shipping route. As for downtown, discourage other drivers. Eliminate parking on Main Street, except for limspeed-bum- p ited handicapped access, and make real bike lanes. Give visitors parking and en off-Mai- n the John Ford films were made and the 1973 Chevy Impala commercial was filmed on top of Castle of and support. By Ron Georg Praise for medical care in Moab itless. Of particular appreciation we would like to compliment the staff at Allen Memorial Hospital and the folks at Walker Drug. Because of a cardiovascular problem, I am required to have weekly blood tests in order to facilitate possible medication changes. To no surprise, the reception at the hospital was friendly and courteous. Paper work was handled efficiently and quickly and without delay the testing procedure completed. Within a period of less than two hours from entering the hospital, results were received in Chicago (faxed directly to my cardiologist by AMH), medications changed and a new prescription order phoned to Walker Drug. Although not in stock, the relatively new drug was ordered and the store called advising us that it would be ready for pick-u- p the next day. William Osusky Moab Two On Wheels A of 259-944- 8. northeast heavily populated areas to southern Dear Editor, My wife and I have recently returned to Illinois after spending a delightful ten days with our daughter in Castle Valley and Moab. Our admiration for the people in southeastern Utah is lim- Sincerely. Katherine McGill by Ron Drake Thoughts on truck traffic in Moab Dear Editor, Regarding the front page article in last weeks paper, concerning truck traffic through town and the four-lan- e highway to Crescent Junction: Ill start with the truck problem, and the options 10-ac- re Castle Vat t ry Comments Why preserve the Dewey Bridge? Dear Editor, In working to restore the Dewey Bridge, I have been asked a number of times why should the Dewey Bridge be preserved. That is a hard question to answer, but I would like to refer to its history. When the bridge was first built there were a lot of dreams attached to it. Dewey, Little Castle Valley and Richardson were farming communities along the river and their freight came from Cisco to Dewey put on rafts and rafted down to Richardson then put on wag-- , ons and delivered. Farm products were shipped back the same route to Cisco. Later Sam King built a toll road up the river and a ferry at Dewey. The ferry was dangerous and several times it was washed away. In fall of 1915 construction was started e on a bridge. This was finished in the spring of 1916. Sometimes dreams are not realized and soon all the farming towns, as well as the mining communities that had sprung up in the La Sal Mountains faded. Moab residents went to Thompson over the bridge at Moab avoiding the difficult trip up the river. So the dream of Dewey Bridge being a main thoroughfare faded too. Only a few ranchers and an occasional traveler used the bridge n and it became an bridge. As you can see, Dewey Bridge played no important part in history. The suspension bridge construction is unique and tourists have mentioned it was the jewel of their trip up highway 128. But it is evident that the Dewey Bridge is a bridge of lost dreams but it h&s found a place in many local and visitor hearts. So my answer to the question is that the bridge should be restored because of its unique construction and also because it is loved by many who have fond memories of traveling across it. ditch to handle all the extra water, so its doubtful the ditch would control the increased and faster water flow rushing down into it. We think the existing flooding problems in our neighborhood need fixing before further development takes place, especially a development that will attempt to just route the water off their property onto everyone elses property. We strongly feel that this small parcel with major spring and cliff-sid-e drainage running through the middle of it would be more safely developed using the existing zoning of one house per acre. The possibility of 19 duplexes, or overnight RV accommodations or other detrimental uses makes us urge everyone who will be affected by this plan to make their comments known! We feel that the council is concerned about this development and is receptive to the concerns of the neighbors. In other words, this isnt a done deal and your input should make a difference! Rock. Now days, when films like Vertical Limits" apply for two months of helicopter work around Castle Rock, rt is just too much for most residents to stand. They had to settle for a one week limit permit from the BLM There are still openings for the workplace first aid and CPR classes that will be held Wednesday. Dec. 29 at the LDS Church. Two classes will be given that day with the first at 9 a.m. for ten people and from 6 to 9 .m. for six people. The classes will include first aid, adult, child and infant CPR and certification on the automatic electric defibrillator. Call the instructor, Tim Angus, at to secure a spot to learn an important skill. 259-938- 7 courage them to walk. Half the problem downtown is people doing laps around various blocks as they wait for a parking spot, which will minimize their exposure to the outdoors. Not only would this create a friendlier, more social downtown, it would encourage the growth of business by getting more people walking east and west. And you can bet theyll do that if for no other reason than just to get away from all those semis. off-Ma- in What, no Hells Angels? last weeks Letters to the Editor read, Where were the bikers Saturday, in reference to the Electric Light Parade. Well, there was one. He was A headline in on a Harley Sportster, decked out with Christmas lights and. ..oh, you mean cyclists. Now I get it. Actually, it was just the headline that was politically incorrect. The letter-write- r used more ap- propriate terminology in wondering why no business or organization associate with bicycling participated in the parade. All of the local bike shops and outfitters are involved in the community. From quiet charitable donations, to BMX races, to big, blowout parties, the bike shops and outfitters are not only generous, they help shape the character of this town. So I agree, it would have been nice to see a display. It would also have been nice to see all ofthe river companies, coffee shops and bars. We also have more hotels, fast food restaurants and gas stations than I saw represented. Besides, there were a few of us out there. In the grand tradition of kids with streamers crashing parades. Bruce McCabe showed his anarchist side by poaching the parade on his big, red, well-lbicycle. He was a big hit, and a few others tagged along, although our small strings oflights were lost in the glare of McCabes wattage. Hopefully next year we can muster a little more initiative and rally the Critical Mass tribe to join the parade. Getting a permit might be a little too organized for the average cyclist we like to keep things simple but that never stopped all those kids with streamers. it |