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Show tUfre Page A7 SIimeg-(3lttbgpgttb- Thursday, August 26, 2004 gt ( Letters from the People JLr Silliness of accusation embarrassing . . . To the Editor, I read the article in last week's Times about the humorous antics of A1 McLeod and the Grand County Council concerning the supposed soft core pom at the Sorrel River Ranch. The silliness of this accusation is... embar- rassing, to say the least. The fact that it made headlines is even more ridiculous. A public apology to Robbie Levin and the Sorrel River Ranch from A1 McLeod and the county council for making publicly false, slanderous, and malicious statements is in order here. If this is the direction our local government is going to be taking, A1 McLeod and the county their work cut out for them. Because ifhes going to go after a first class council have family resort like the Sorrel River Ranch, then the National Park Service must be next, because Playboy shoots in the National Parks on occasion. Personal vendettas have no place in government, Al, stick to the job of representing the best interests of all the people of Grand County. And for crying out load, take your foot out of your mouth... -- Mark Esposito Moab If we don't learn from history we are doomed to repeat it . . . Dear Editor, It is with great dismay that I read the article concerning soft pom issues in last weeks edition. It amazes me what passes for news in todays society and how far the media will go to get the spectacular story, regardless of the truth or impact. Now lets take a look at the report from the council meeting. In my fifty years on this planet it never ceases to amaze me how completely out of touch public figures can be with their constituents and the greater good of the community. I have watched time and again, a small minded, bigoted public figure absolutely bury themselves because of their own hidden agendas. It has been my experience that those who shine the light on others do so to remove the spotlight from themselves. Public figures who make statements on the public record need to be held accountable and responsible for their inaccurate and untrue statements. Specifically, statements and actions that attack a constituent or business, such as those Mr. McLeod and Ms. Langianese made in the council meeting, need to be retracted and the council persons reprimanded for their inaccurate and malicious portrayal of Sorrel River Ranch Resort. Citizens of Moab and Grand County, dont let those you have entrusted with the future of your community short change you for their own personal agendas. Remember record burning because of the evils of Rock and Roll? Dont let a group of small minded, ill informed zealots lead you and your community to destruction for their own gain or worse yet for no gain. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Ben Parry General Manager SORREL RIVER RANCH American Southwest Ranch Resort the Editor, In the Aug. 17th County Council meeting, Al McLeod and Joette Langainese alleged that To Sorrel River Ranch is a sexually oriented business. In 2003 HBOCinemax aired a maturerated series, Hotel Erotica, which was filmed here at the ranch. As explained in last weeks Times, the series relates the sexual exploits of a Utah resort hotel owner, employees and guests. Although surely unintentional, the phraseology of this quotation insinuates some parallel between the fictional Hotel Erotica and y the reality of the ranch. In the age of reality television, I would like to clarify that Hotel Erotica is purely fiction. The story was conceived and written independently of SRR. Sorrel was in no way involved in the project apart from providing lodging. Yes, we rented day-to-da- rooms. McLeod and Langaineses proposition that SRR be rezoned as a sexually oriented business so that its disqualified from a private club liquor license because Utah law prohibits nudity, lewd behavior and all types of sexual acts in private clubs is utterly absurd. In making allegations, McLeod and Langainese misled the public by failing to define sexually oriented (sexually explicit) business. According to Utah State Code, a sexually explicit business is one in which any nude or partially denuded individual. . . whether an employee or independent & Spa Moab Sorrel River Ranch merely rented rooms .. . contractor performs any service: on the premises; 30 days a year; for: salary, fee, commission, hire, or profit. At no time, past or present, have SRR employees or contractors performed any such service. Never has nudity, lewdness, or sexual exploit been proposed or considered in relation to the club or the resort. The recklessly unfounded remarks made by this uninformed duo are personally offensive and morally appalling. You have insulted my integrity, but in doing so youve altogether destroyed yours. Why we do tolerate elected officials that make uneducated accusations and voice speculative opinions at public forums? On what basis are you, Al & Joette, classifying SRR as a sexually explicit business? As members of the County Council, it is your job to be informed when making decisions and it is crucial that you do your homework before publicly defaming a business or individual. Whether compelled by malice, ignorance, or other motives, you have intentionally caused harm with your unsubstantiated and viciously inaccurate statements. Your unconscionable actions suggest a moral turpitude and an absence of ethics that makes me question if you are fit to fulfill your role as elected public officers. Sara Snider Asst. Manager Sorrel River Ranch the Editor: I have been following the letters about the proposed medians on two blocks of Main Street. As usual, both sides have some pretty good arguments for their positions. I thought Sarah Fields recent letter brought up an important point, which was reaffirmed for me as I walked down Main Street early this morning (Sunday). Although there was no traffic to speak of, a Moab City police officer found it necessary to use the middle lane to pass a truck and a car that couldnt seem to get over fast enough for him to get by as he rushed to respond to a call. While the medians jn 4th East and West 2nd South are attractive and dont make things too unhandy for folks using those routes, I think putting them on Main Street is a very unwise idea. Unless and until we get a truck bypass, it seems much smarter to keep Main Street as by Superintendent OPENING OF SCHOOL Another school year is upon us. Im not sure how it happened so fast. It seems that we had just gotten the students out of school and June was gone. I have no idea what happened to July. And now, by the time this will appear in the Times, students and their teachers will have been in their classrooms for three days. Despite the warp-spee- d summer, a lot has happened in regards to the Grand School District, including the usual summer projects on school facilities. This years projects included a new roof on the middle school, carpet replacement in a number of areas, a restroom for the Student Services building, a new portable classroom to house ALS (Alternate Language Services) and Speech Pathology at Red Rock Elementary, and the replacement of old ramps at Red Rock Elementary and Helen M. Knight Intermediate. There were a number of smaller projects like the refinishing of gym floors at HMK, GCHS and GCMS, and the ever present painting somewhere in the school district. Its important to attend to these physical things. Roofs that are not repaired or replaced in a timely manner deteriorate quickly and become costly to replace. Paint peels and wood dries and rots in our intense Moab sun. Even concrete walkways break up, sink, or rise when a roots grows under them. There is never time to rest on our accomplishments, because something else is already beginning to demand our attention. Attention is needed in all areas for other reasons, also. An attractive, clean and comfortable teaching environment helps to create a good learning environment. Well groomed grounds and well kept buildings make a statement about those who work and attend classes within their walls. The attention we give our facilities, such as the replacement of bad concrete or faulty ramps, is also for the safety of our students, staff and patrons who come to those places. Coinciding with the physical improvements being made, our Technology Staff (including Cyber Corp students) were busy stringing cable, fixing servers, installing software programs and setting up new computers in order to provide the services that our students and staff have come to expect, and that in this day and time, are absolutely necessary to do business and meet the requirements of the State Board of Educations instructional and reporting requirements. V uncluttered as possible. The only other alternative would be to eliminate Main Street parking and, in addition to the fact that there are no available locations for an city parking lot, I dont think the downtown businessmen would appreciate eliminating the street parking. I also think eliminating it would make downtown less appealing. Theoretically, medians are recommended as traffic calmers. I think we will find that the accidents which are likely to occur will tend to slow down traffic at least temporarily, but I am not sure we are willing to pay that price. I, for one, certainly hope our city council members realize that it is asking for trouble to put medians on Main Street at this time. off-Ma-in Respectfully, Karla Hancock (Former Mayor) Moab . . . reasons to stifle business. Robbie and Hope have created a four diamond resort in our community, the level of which has never been seen before in Grand County. They have accomplished this through hard work and the desire to see that the citizens of Grand County have a facility ofwhich they can be proud. Sorrel River Ranch has put Moab on the map with the discriminating traveler and the publicity they have received has a huge positive impact on tourism in our community. I would hope the citizens of Grand County can go beyond the innuendoes and mean spirited attacks on Robbie and Hope and instead see what they have created at the ranch and the many benefits to our community. I urge the County Council to do the right thing and reverse its decision on granting Robbie a liquor license. Sincerely, Tom Shellenberger Moab I Ferguson - 2004-0- 5 Meanwhile, in smother part of the district, transportation needs were being addressed as buses were tuned, cleaned, and repaired, and staff members were busy updating their driving and emergency aid skills through intenall of this done to assure that sive training the transportation of GCSD students is handled in an efficient, timely and safe manner. Others were busy, too. The school districts maintenance team and building custodians had a busy summer attending to requests by staff for everything from the repair of sprinkling systems to the building of shelving, along with a host of other projects that may or may not have been planned, but needed to be done. g of schools for the upThe yearly coming years start, along with the continual care of all the school grounds, never lets up! While all of this attention was being given to the repair, installation or replacement of things, quite a number of our teaching staff involved themselves in training to help hone their skills for the classroom. Building administrators also received training in supervisory approaches designed to help them assist staff to become more aware of how they teach and what adjustments might be incorporated into their lessons to become even more proficient. Add to this the increased time requirements for kindergarten students to a full day, requiring the creation of two additional kindergarten positions at Red Rock Elementary along with the accompanying need for a change in everyones mindset about kindergarten education, and one can begin to sense some of the near frenzied energy that has been generated by Grand County School staff this summer. Again, all of this training and preparation is there to help our staff members offer even more efficient and effective educational learning opportunities for our students. As I have had the chance to go around to each school and visit with teachers and other staff, there is this sense of determination to be ready to meet and get down to the business of education on the part of all staff members. Every teacher Ive met is excited to meet his or her new class. Its exciting to see the concern that all our staff. . .bus drivers, custodians, paraprofessionals, cooks, secretaries, etc. . .shows for those they serve. Our students are in good hands. There is this anticipation in the air that this is going to be another great year for students and staff in the Grand County School District. deep-cleanin- J Facts about the Moab Music Festival . . . Letter, The 12th Annual Moab Music Festival will start Labor Day weekend and once again many of us in Moab will enjoy the unusual variety of musical styles that the festival offers- - but as a board member, I am concerned that some people misunderstand important facts about our festival. Did you know that the festival is a nonprofit organization that every year barely covers its costs? There is a misconception that the Moab Music Festival makes a lot of money. It that ticket sales cover less of the cost of the festival? We than have always tried to keep tickets affordable and therefore have to rely on donations to pay the bills. Did you know that each year, world-clas- s musicians from the Moab Music Festival go to the schools and present classroom programs and assemblies for the benefit of all of the students? The Moab Music Festival does not receive any compensation from the schools or the one-quart- Sorrel River Ranch has put Moab on the map Dear Editor: I have known Robbie and Hope Levin for 12 years, ever since they moved to Moab. Robbie and Hope are both upstanding members of our community and in my dealings with them I have found them to be honest, hardworking and honorable. My family and I have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and numerous wonderful dinners at Sorrel River Ranch. Never have we seen even a hint of any impropriety at the ranch. The filming that took place at the ranch was conducted in private and was never exploited within the community in any way. It saddens me to see that some of the county officials that we elected, use their office to further their personal vendettas against their constituents and continue their attacks on the ranch. Our elected officials should be encouraging and promoting business in Grand County instead of continually coming up with allegations and ( 'N Grand County School District Ron D. does not. Did you know Medians would be asking for trouble . . . To : er students for these programs. Did you know that the festival has brought a professional musician to live in Moab as an Artist in Residence. This musician (Christopher Layer this year and Eric Thomas the past two years) provides group and individual music instruction at minimal or no cost to the participants, but paid for by the Moab Music Festival. who can, please support the festival by purchasing tickets to the concerts and special events and making donations. To those with less change in their pockets, stop by the Music Festival office at McStiff s Plaza and volunteer your time. By volunteering, you can receive free admission to most of the concerts With the wide array of programming, theres something for everyone to enjoy this year. Please dont take the Moab Music Festival for granted and DO come out to support the festival and enjoy the concerts. Susan Fralick To those Moab Allegations smack of McCarthyism Dear Editor, What a shock it was to see the article that the letter of consent for a liquor license was denied to Sorrel River Ranch for their future night club. Al McLeod and Joette Langianese insinuating that this four diamond destination resort is a sexual oriented business is slanderous, absurd, hurtful and just plain wrong. Not to mention how inappropriate for publicly elected officials to make such dangerous and ridiculous claims. Are you trying to mislead the public? I feel threatened by those insinuations because I also own a lodging establishment. If I . .. apply for a liquor license will you accuse me of having a sexually oriented business because people actually have sex in my rooms????? and they may even film it and release it think about it. This smacks of McCarthyism. How very sad Al and Joette. I cant imagine how our tax dollars will pay for the legal ramifications you have brought upon us. This is truly a vicious act on your part. Both of you should be recalled. Pay attention voters these two elected officials will cost us lots more in taxes with this kind of behavior. Hertha Wakefield Castle Valley Zone change not needed to accomplished goal Letter, This letter is in response to the recent article about the zone change request of a property located on 200 N. owned by the Eckerts. My father, grandmother, and I reside almost directly across from the property in question. As long time residents of this quiet residential neighborhood we feel that it is not only unneccesary but would set a potentially harmful precedent were the zone change to pass. From what I gathered from the article it would not be necessary for a zone change to take place, but only for a conditional use approval by the city council for the Eckerts to go ahead with their desire to rent rooms on .. . nightly and weekly basis. We feel that for the Eckerts to have conditional use of their property for rentals would be an acceptable compromise as the property is near Main Street and a hotel. However, we feel that a zone change could set a harmful precedent that could possibly lead to the demise of one of Moabs oldest historical residential streets. This is a risk we feel is unacceptable and we would ask for everyone involved to stand against the zone change and help us protect the neighborhood. Sincerely, Phil, Laura, and Gail Roy Moab |