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Show (The Page A7 (Ttmcs-31nhcpnthc- May 22, 2003 nt Castle Valley Comments Letters to the Editor doesn't call for breaking restrictions USA-AL- L Letter to the Editor: I trust the people of Moab are familiar with Dan Kent enough to recognize his trademark exaggeration and know not to take him too seriously. I've come to recognize his brand of hyperbole and know that the proverbial grain of salt is usually needed. Because of that, we usually dont respond to Dannys letters. But a statement he made in his Opinion on published by the Moab a 2003 8, May requires response. Danny suggested the group I work for, the Utah Shared Times-Indepcnde- is urging our memAccess Alliance ) bers to violate BLM restrictions. Please know does not, under any circumthat USA-ALstance, urge anyone to violate restrictions, even those made illegally or improperly. would never Danny knows that USA-ALdo such a thing. His statements were made to disparage and denigrate those who choose or are required to use vehicles for access and recreation. Danny knows the BLM will update their management plan and I guess he thinks it advances his cause to begin the process by publicly attacking other stakeholders. Allow me to seize the opportunity to set the record straight. has challenged numerous land management decisions made by the BLM throughout Utah, including some made by the Moab BLM. That lawsuit challenged BLMs use of Emergency Orders to bypass public involvement and lawful procedure. BLM has already reversed several unlawful actions as a result of the lawsuit. One particular action Moab BLM took is typical of those we challenged in other parts of the state. Using the increase in the popularity of OI1V and other recreational use as a pretext, BLM limited all dispersed camping along (USA-ALL- L L USA-AL- L 1960s. For those newcomers that have never heard of Rays fancy restaurant, here are a few facts. The entrance was off main street through a kind of alley. This alley lead to a large parking area under a bunch of trees. Near the rear of the building, there was a very nondescript red door. There were no signs, no advertisements. Nothing but this red door near the back side of the building. It was, in a way, a bit spooky. Upon entering, you found your self in a combination kitchen, work room, court room????. I will explain the court room later. There was a large refrigerator where Ray kept the food supplies. More importantly, regular customers could keep their own personal bottle of booze in this refrigerator. One had to be sure their name was on the bottle; however no one ever seemed to notice if a touch of their hooch was missing occasionally. It was all based on the honor system. After passing through this kitchen combination, one could enter a small room which was more like a small hallway. The wall decorations were very European, Riviera and Italiano posters etc. As I recall there were about 4 or 5 wooden tables with w'ooden chairs. There was no menu. Ray served one specialty; a thick (2 12 to 3 inches or so) steak cooked to the customers desires and a leafy salad with his . . . Hwy. 313 to five developed campgrounds. Now, were not saying that the increase in camping wasnt a problem Our point is that if the BLM would have involved the public, as they are legally required to, they might have found widespread support for many of the existing campsites they closed. They probably would have received some very good suggestions on ways they could mitigate the problems associated with camping (human waste and firewood cutting) as well We also think that a public planning process would have demonstrated the overwhelming popularity of dispersed camping and the utter folly of not planning for it. When the BLM developed the camping plan for the Colorado River, many campers simply moved to Behind the Rocks and Hwy. 313. Where do you suppose they have moved to today? Danny tries to make it out like opposes all restrictions. Not true. But we do oppose landscape level restrictions imposed via Emergency Orders. Danny made big hay about our challenge of BLM's move from open to limited travel rules. He can try to make that case but it wont stick. USA-ALwants manThat means trail maps, agement. marking, user USA-AL- involvement (adopt-a-tra- il about $125 in it. A month earlier on a previous visit to Moab agreements) and enforcement. All of which, despite the Emergency Orders, we still do dont have. OHV management is just one of the issues well be dealing writh when the BLM starts their planning process. We will all have to make compromises and no user group will get exactly w'hat they want. Its too bad that Danny chose to begin the process with such a hateful letter Sincerely, -- Brian Hawthorne Payson, Utah . . . own house dressing Period. No bread. Ray would get grumpy if you ask him for bread. Eating there was sometimes most interesting. One night Rosa Lee and I and some friends were there eating. A highway patrolman brought in a scoundrel for some quick Moab justice. You see, Ray was also a justice of the peace. Ray called me over; said he needed a witness. I stood by while the cop proceeded to read the guy some kind of legal gobbledy-gook- . The trial started in quick order and justice was meted out in even quicker order. Out the door went the cop and the offender to where I have no idea. I went back to my table to finish my steak. Another time I stood by, at Rays request, and witnessed a wedding for two very inebriated lovers. I scratched my name on the wedding documents in such a manner so they would never recognize who witnessed such a matchup. On several occasions, John Duke Wayne would show up during his movie making tours to Moab. Ray Scovils was one of Dukes favorite eating places. Dukes presence would fill the small dining room of Rays. It was not unusual for him to come over and sit down at other customers tables, including Rosa Lees and my table, give a toothy grin, and ask in that famous twangy, drawl. Howre you folks doin tonight. Oh, yes I remember Ray Scovils Red Door restaurant. It was all part of the history that made up Moab. -- Harvey . . . found a check book of a local at one of the rest stops. I turned it into the bank because the balance register was religously used. I assumed that this person would need this information. So with a little effort we found the bank and returned it to the night deposit box. While, I do believe in Karma, I think that there are angels out there. Angels that are people like you and me that do not take what is not theirs and return lost items to the rightful owners. It could have been a local or a tourist. One thing is for sure, it shows what kind of people live in Moab and what kind of people visit Moab. Thank you to this angel who returned my money clip and money. It may have not been much, but the effort meant so much more. -- Kenyon Salo Breckenridge, Colo. I If you want to point a finger, get your facts straight Letter to the Editor: If you want to point facts straight!! First of all your finger get your how dare you blame one group, just because a couple dont follow the rules doesnt mean all are the same. We have contributed more to these trails than you will ever! And to blame Jeep Safari or what is happening on the rim trail as part of the problem? These are part of the solution! With these we have organization, education and consolidation just to name a few! And to try and blame the county, or the sheriff department you must be clueless!! These people work hard to keep things in as much working order as possible with what they have to work is protecting our with. Excusssse me! trails open for RESPON rights to keep our Mr. Kent, how dare you!! USA-AL- L Coonts Eckert, Colo. Thanks to the angel who turned in my money clip Letter to the Editor: This past weekend we spent another wonderful time BASE Jumping from your beautiful cliffs. We visit Moab several times a year to pursue this activity On Saturday I was getting ready for a jump in the McDonalds parking lot and I must have dropped my money clip with over $100 in cash. Later, that day in the search for it I realized that it was gone. I could only think that someone was now spending my money at a local shop. My wife pushed for me to call the police station during the next few days. I said no many times as I just could not believe that someone would turn in the money. On the last day I called the Moab police and to my surprise they had something that matched my description: one engraved money clip with L L Reminiscing about the Red Door restaurant Hi Sam, Your last picture of main street showing the old post office and a mention of Ray Scovils Red Door Restaurant sure brought back some fond memories of our days in Moab in the early by Ron Drake . . . SIBLE MULTIPLE USE! They havent sent anyone out to destroy any thing! As far as dumping, vandalizing, tearing out and burning trees, vehicle crushed and signs, these are all criminal acts and should be dealt with accordingly! As far as White Wash or 10 Mile being ruined, I have grown up here and granted at first things were out of hand but we have turned that around and are in many great coalitions around town with motorcycles, bicycles, jeepers, horse back riders and yes HIKERS! And some pretty amazing things have turned around. So before you start flapping your gums look around to what IS being done! Let me tell you a little story, about 4 weeks ago I went on a very enjoyable ride with my -- trees-plants-anima- ls Mike Allred from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality, presented his preliminary findings for the Castle Valley watershed at the May meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission He has been focusing on the Castle Creek watershed because Castle Creek is the only perennial stream that flows to the Colorado River, according to Planning and Zoning Commission Chairperson Catherine Howells. As a tributary of the Colorado River, Castle Creek is monitored for its beneficial uses as part of the Clean Water Act. She said his study concludes that the Class Use (protected for agricultural uses including irrigation of crops and stock watering) exceeds the current standard of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). The desired goal for the TMDL is to meet state water quality standards for the designated beneficial uses of Castle Creek. The TDS measurement of Castle Creek at the confluence of the C olorado River was 1800mgl. The state standard for Class 4 use is 1200mgl for agriculture and stock watering He recommends that a standard of 1800mgl for TDS at the lower part of Castle Creek be adopted because the source if impairment originates primarily from seepage from the Paradox formation, a naturally occurring geologic formation that borders the Castle Creek Watershed At the end of his presentation, Jack Campbell asked Mike about the Miners Basin part of the watershed Mike said he had not studied it, but was w illing to investigate. Thursday morning in the pouring ram, Catherine took Mike and Candace Cady, also of I)EQ, up to the turn off to Miners Basin where they tromped around in the rain. Mike will continue to study this part of the aquifer Mike also asked for volunteers to form a Castle Valley watershed task force. Catherine, Bruce Keeler, Richard Schwartz and Jack Campbell all volunteered and anyone else interested should contact Catherine at 4 site-specif- to go work, I kicked a bunch of their butts, he It said. was quite an ex pe r i once for the two and we all lived u b &&&& V )V rf V'fe S- -i v through it, it was p r e 1 1 y cool, liked it," 1 D a v e o n - c eluded Ther w e e r o strong, gusting winds during the storm last Sunday that did some damage around till1 valley A large branch twisted off one of nn Cottonwood trees during one particular gust and sent it crashing to the ground There was no damage but it m eded tn be cut up to move' it aw ay Just down the alle howewer, a whole, Cottonwood blown was oxer during the large storm creating a lot of work to remove it for Damn Dalton on Chamisa Lane The tree was about three feet m diameter and 60 or 70 (eet tall. It damaged .in outbuilding and some fencing but on the positive side provided several cords of firewood for next winter 259-190- Two Castle Valley Volunteer firemen, Dave Vaughn and Ron Mengel returned late last Friday evening from a week of intense training with the LTtah Wildfire Academy. It was the first such training using live fire at the remote training area near Dugway, Utah The first three days involved classroom training where they studied such topics as fire behavior, safety and equipment followed by training in the field to work with the equipment and maps on the fourth day. On the fifth day a fire was started and the crew dry mopped, wet mopped and backfired all w ith a helicopter overhead dumping water and swirling smoke around them There were 600 students enrolled with about 80 people in their class and Dave and Ron were the two oldest people among the wide variety enrolled there. Dave said some of them called him Grandpa but when it came time to family and friends to some of the areas in question. We were getting ready for the ride on private land and right there next to us was a group of very environmental HIKERS They gave us the looks and we putted around in respect and just went about our way We crossed through the BLM gate, ON THE TRAIL, and I turned around to see those very same people not only hop the fence but spread out through the desert with out a care for what PLANT, SOIL, or ANIMAL HOME, they walked on. And yes some of them were from Moab, yes I recognized you and you know who you are! So dont single out any group buddy! We went out despite the fury that was in my gut and came across some things on our trail that were messed with and you know' what we did we WORKED ON THE TRAIL! Its an amazing concept and if everyone would do their part the idiots wouldn't ruin it for everyone! You know another thing, I was here and my family long before you even read about us in your magazine sitting in your office feeling youre not doing anything with yourself and decided to move here and make a difference and we were doing just fine without you, with our motorcycles, bicycles, jeeps, horses, and our BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS! My word to all of these different groups is to stand now and be heard because people like this are here and if you stay silent you will lose your rights altogether and only see the beautiful sites on the Discover Channel or in old magazines! PRAISE THE SMELL OF ENGINES AND THE SOUND OF A FOUR STROKE WIDE OPEN!! Because this is what I love and how dare you think you have the right to take that away from me!!! We are surrounded by parks, wilderness study areas and just plain closed land; the area in question is open and if we can take care of it as users we can keep it forever beautiful!!!!! So, Mr.Kent, take off your cape and become part of a realistic solution not the fanatical nl cn nuf tVroro x?Vr oro pvfnmno J users get up off your duff and speak up or we will lose it to people who dont want to share the wonderful back yard we have here! We must work together; we give, you give!!!!! TYTfthlpml 1 Tn AAV VAAWAV, VAA W Sincerely, -- Jason Parriott Read It, Hear It, Fear It, Cause were not going anywhere!!! Fear fanatics, not the reasonable! From left, Garrett Gordon, Avery Taylor and Ivy Hazelet, members of Baker's Dozen and participants in last year's Summer Strings, shown in concert Monday, May 19 at the Moab Information Center. Photo by Adrien Taylor Sign up now for Summer Strings Summer Strings at I1MK is about to start its sixth season Its fun and its free! Classes will run form June 17 until July 10 Tuesdays through Thursdays. This is for elementary and middle school students, both beginning and continuing Lou alcorn has some instruments in various sizes available for use this summer. before the end Please call her at of school, if possible, to enroll Then she will schedule carefully to avoid conflict, hopefully, with other summer activities. 259-434- 7 Letters to the editor policy The Times-lndepende- nt does not necessari- ly endorse the opinions published in letters to the editor and guest editorials. The T--l welcomes opinions from its readers concerning any subject pertinent to Southeastern Utah. Letters should be to the point and must in- clude 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 400 words or less. Letters are subject to editing. Mail to Letter to the Editor, P.O. Box 1 29, Moab, Utah, 84532. Deadline is Monday, 5 p.m. Letters may also be sent via to The editormoabtimes.com. may not accept letters from persons who write more frequently than once every four weeks. Changes to letters to the editor after submission will be accepted only in the most extreme circumstances. Times-lndepende- |