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Show rAC: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 (Ehc Page A7 The year 2003 in review Continued from page 6 ately so the contractor wouldn't sue us, and also so we could meet the funding deadline. The project was initially delayed because the bids were higher than we could afford, and we had to do some reconsideration, but doing it like we charge for Blue Sky power will be reduced to $1.95 per hour block Mav tt 1 Fifth West to remain closed a while more . . . According to Brent Will- are has saved the city iams, Public Works Director for the City of Moab, 5th West will remain closed for another three to four weeks until $60,000." Input sought on nity School a Commu- . A delegation from the Utah State Board of Education Law and Policy Committee will meet at Grand County-HigSchool, 608 S. 400 East. Moab, Utah, on May 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m. to obtain flood mitigation project there is completed. The project, w Inch was started about three weeks ago, includes installation of a large culvert that will help control . hundred-yea- r flooding, as well as a pedestrian bridge that will increase safety for walkers. In addition, the size of the floodplain area in that region will be decreased, resulting in some area homeowners no longer having to carry expensive and mandatory flood insurance. We wanted to do this project in the winter w hen it wouldn't be such an inconvenience," said Williams, but we were under time constraints in order to receive the funding, so we had no choice but to do it now. But the contractor wasn't supposed to begin excavation he was only when he did supposed to initially remove public opinion on the proposed Moab Community School charter school. The delegation will hear presentations from both the Moab Community School and the Grand County School District before hearing from community members interested in addressing the issue. Community members will be limited to three minutes each and the meeting is scheduled to end at 8.30 p.m. The Moab Community School has applied to the Utah State Board of Education for a charter to operate a kindergarten to sixth grade school in Moab, expending over two years to a kindergarten to eighth grade school. Initially the school would take in between 140 to 161 students expanding to up to 207 over so we had to the asphalt have some of the project backfilled for Easter week. But we then had to continue immedi- - two years. ill of MS Mav 8 Moab Citizens Alliance (it ing county & 'ewiiott o s P A L A Moab-base- su- . . . citizens d group, Moab Citizens Alliance, is suing Grand County and the County Council, alleging the council acted illegally last year when it approved the annexation of property owned by the School and Institutional Trust N Wish you a Merry Christinas Administration Lands (SITLA) into the Spanish Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District boundary. The annexation allowed the Spanish Valley Improvement District to provide water and sewer services for the proposed Cloudrock Lodge and the Johnson's Up On Top condominium and housing development on SITLA-owne- and a Happy New Year! d A Holiday Wish. property leased to Moab Mesa Land Company. SITLA sought the annexation after the Grand County Planning and Zoning Commission stipulated that the developers of the Johnson's Up On Top resort must apply for annexation into the Improvement District in order to acquire water and sewer service for the development. The development agreement approved by the county council also allows Moab Mesa to develop a private culinary water and sanitary sewer system should the annexation be denied. People speak out on charter school issue . . . Approximately 250 people filled the Grand County High School auditorium last Friday night to share and listen to opinions on both sides of the charter school issue. We felt that it was important for us to come here so that you could speak directly to us, said meeting moderator Dave Moss of Sandy, a member of the state school board. Moss said that the state board has received a huge respons" of on both sides of the issue. At stake is the proposed Moab Community School, which hopes to begin operation in August. Moss said that the state board would use the comments made during the meeting to help it make its fi- lambs from this flock at Cunnmgton Farms in Spanish Valley go to weavers of the Navajo Nation and to other breeders. Navajo-Churr- The wild and wooly West Taking a drive out Spanish alle road doesn't seem that ar out in the country anymore but there is a part of the old west s heritage that can be seen today Robin Groffs buffalo graze m their roadside pasture and a hit further along one might see a large group of sheep Sheep are everywhere, you might say, but these are not ordinal sheep. These are 'liurro sheep originally introduced to this country by the Spaniards around 1530. The flock is owned, bred and raised on Cunnington Farms by Merv Lawton and his partner Sam. Merv was born m South Africa and found his wav to Moab in the 1970's when he was employed as the manager of the Rio Algom Lisbon mine where many Moab men worked. In later years both he and Sam served as county commissioners and on economic development committees where they saw the need for economic development projects, especially ones that would benefit the Navajo reservation. They were looking for a way to add value to skills the Navajo already had and since Sam is an accomplished spinner and weaver this brought weaving to mind. They bought their first four sheep in 1992 from Ann Miller, who was a local midwife at the time. This flock has now grown to over 100 animals. These animals are actually certified as enI Na-vajo- -( nal decision regarding the MCS application on June 13. Also attending were fellow state school board member Dixie Allen, assistant state superintendent Ray Timothy, and Patricia Bradley, state charter school specialist. At the meeting, each side was about given 15 minutes to present its case. Then, during the remaining 90 minutes of the meeting, audience members took turns two-ho- speaking (with a three-minut- e time limit) either for or against the proposed charter school. Mav 15 Film Society will change its format . . . After extensive deliberation, the Canyonlands Film Society has decided not to produce the annual Film Festival this year, opting instead to produce two new events: a Classic Scries in July and an Independent Film Series in Navajo-Churr- JanuaryFebruary 2004. This was not an easy decision, but after review of the past eight years of festivals, the board reached the conclusion that the local community would be better served, and Society re- EARTH mi money, to produce a festival and in every home. Seekhaven Family Resource Center Were here to help 259-222- 9 Continued on page && 3 rv' ing industry he was once a of. part It has taken many years of trial and error to put into place the system that is now working well for all involved. In the early years the sheep would just be given to a weaver but these gifts would often be killed if the weaver had no grazing permit and could not feed and care for them. Now many of the sheep are given to Navajos with grazing permits who can raise them for themselves and others. Others are donated to organizations such as Dine be Iina, (sheep is life") a group of women weavers who with the help of a $300,000 grant are working to bring traditional weaving back. Sometimes just the wool is given to a talented weaver who cannot keep a sheep. Most weavers are women, often the more traditional women w ho find it difficult to interest their more modern daughters in the old ways. For traditional women weaving is shown, not taught to their children. For todays youth, weaving is being shown" in some schools by skilled elders and combined with lessons in techniques such as computer generating patterns and in marketing skills to help point out the value of the finished product. Traders will pay more for Churro rugs and everyone involved in any aspect of the raising of the sheep and the weaving can benefit economically. Any increase in income is welcome to the residents of the Navajo Nation. occasionally diversified more bv the addition of new rams from flocks rescued from other owners no longer able to keep their Churros. Mervs South African heritage contributes to his belief that agriculture is a way to replenish the earth from the damage of the min- - that continues to suffer from sparse attendance. This does not reflect on the interest of the local community in independent film, but rather on the structure of the festival itself a dense concentration Sponsored by Grand County Domestic Violence Coalition o dangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conser- ancy, which means there is a less than adequate number to insure breeding diversity. Breeding and genetics on the farm are carefully tracked and sources better directed, toward these new events. One factor was the elaborate expense, both in time, labor and n mi o Many tribes have turned to gam- bling casinos to successfully increase their wealth but the Navajo's have not. Possibly this is partly due to the ancient cultural myth of the Great Gambler w hose appearance led the tribe members to wager and lose all they possessed Powerful magic had to be done to rid the tribe of this spirit and casinos might lead to its return. Merv's bonds with the people and organizations on the reservation led him and Sam to ask who might need help in other ways This desire to help has turned to action with the cooperation of Wabi thrift Sabi, Moab's store. During the sorting of donations, volunteers and non-prof- it employees set aside items such as warm clothing, toys and kitchen utensils to be taken to the reservation. When Merv and Sam are ready to donate sheep and w ool for the weavers they stop at Wabi Sabi and load up the remaining space in the truck and horse trailer with these selected goods and deliver them to their contacts at the reservation thrift store, chapter houses, schools or any gathering place willing to distribute them. At least 20 tons of goods have boon delivered to date. Merv and Sam consider their involvement with the sheep, wool and Navajo weaving and culture to be their lifes work. They have done much to restore the place of Churros and weaving as a valuable part of the Navajo culture and economy. We have so much to be thankful for this holiday season... Most importantly, we're thankful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Moab. ''' s.'' V asotireetin BEST WJSJfES Are XSow Jn Order 0CCR Wisllhq you A dllLAM of A SEASON ANd A IRuly MAqiCAl ... MERRY CHRISTMAS ytAR. 'fJtani TfiANks, fRinsds! D o rU n ro uaiuaia LlIUc i iivrvo, caav 'Touse' c5o- njauis - If home is where the heart is, we know that ours resides with all the kind folk whove made us feel so welcome here. '"DA vi & Staff and we wish you all a joyous and prosperous new year! Mayor Dave Thanks, everyone! Council Members Rob Sweeten , Gregg Stucki, eff Davis, Kirsten Peterson, from Chris, Kim. Jerry, Russell, Andy, Scott, Justin and Trace Kyle Bailey, the neiv guy - Keith B reiver and City Staff a ( |