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Show Page A6 jgfr (The timfg-3nhrpfnbc- Thursday, August 3, 2000 nt a5S f X ft f I OURTOWW Community Comments by Sam Taylor day when have more of it to spare. Bill Meador was That was the year that in named superintendent of schools Grand County. It was also the year that the Rio Algom mine and mill opened up, with an enthusiastic Merv Lawton arriving here to head up the operation. That was the operation built to mine the ore that was discovered by the Jim Hudson, based on his own theories of geology that surprised his more learned colleagues. Attorney Boyd Bunnell announced that he wanted law to become a district judge. And, a ofBill law a from Benge, opened Berkeley, graduate Longtime supporters of the Moab Area Chamber of Commerce were a little upset last week when they read that their office and entrance station on Nortf. tor deHighway 191 in Moab might be considered I mise story in last week's l indicated that Moab City might be considering moving the Chamber into the old Middle School complex, and the North Main visitor center sold to help finance renovation of the abanA T-- above-mentione- doned school Joe Kingsley is particularly upset. He claims in a story in this issue, that the building was constructed with volunteer help on land donated in 1972 by uranium tycoon Jim Hudson and his wife, Norma, for the express purpose of building a visitor center to serve the community in perpetuity have to agree with Joe. go back a long time, and still have a pretty good memory. To back up that lagto fall ging memory, though, have newspaper files effort that the volunteer back on not only remember remember also went into building the busy center, that then Mayor Wmford Bunce was able to round up some grant money from some of his hundreds of upstate contacts, to help with the project. Leave the Chamber where it is. It is not a government agency. Although it once got generous contributions from both Moab City and Grand County, it is There was a time now totally when the Chamber got generous contributions from Moab City and Grand County That is no longer the case Its total current $94,000 budget is Its token rent payment on the North Mam Center is about the only government help it gets. It needs the visibility it has on the north entrance to the community, not tucked somewhere inside a large government catacomb, hidden among a variety of users assembled in an attempt to fill the old school building. S- itIn reviewing my l file for 1972 a few minutes this morning, found it was a pretty interesting year. plan to spend some more time with the volume later in the ld fice in Moab. Frontier Airlines was making moves to abandon service to Moab, citing a lousy airport runway and lack of passengers as reasons. County officials were busy trying to raise funds to fix the runway. Moab's first modern" RV campground was built in 1972. Bob Kerr arrived in Moab to become superintendent of the Canyonlands National Park complex, replacing the legendary Bates Wilson. A, d that was the year that we lost my father, Bish" Taylor, who served as editor and publisher of this newspaper for 43 years, beginning in 1911. Following his time in the publishing business. Dad and his helpmate, Sis Taylor, enjoyed six years playing politics in state government in Salt Lake City during the Brack Lee administration, before returning to their favorite town of all, Moab, where they enjoyed a number of years of retirement. I intend to spend more times in the dusty vault here at the office going through the files. A whole lot of great things have happened here since 1896 when we first began publishing. I dont remember a lot of them, but I remember hearing about them. Its fun in the files reading about those happenings first-han- d of our publication. And, for the information of anybody else so inclined, our files are all available on microfilm, both in the local library, and the library at the University of Utah. I I I I I member-supporte- member-generate- d T-- I I d Many Trails by Adrien F. Taylor Idle Thoughts from Mt. Waas by Ollie Harris Just because you can Some of our adult children were visiting from out of town. One lovely evening we decided to drive around and let the kids get the feel of the old community. We came upon a fellow working outside in his yard about whom salacious scandal. It crossed there was a kids but I quickly rejected our to it mention to mind my the idea. As we passed by I waited to see what, if anything, Barbara would say. The moment passed in silence-aneither of us said anything about the mans problems. Barbara is pretty good about keeping quiet. It often happens that when I ask her if she has heard of certain things, she has but has refrained from saying anything. It brings to mind a bit of counsel that says, Just because you can doesn't mean you should. I first heard those words articulated in the context of towing with my Dodge truck and its incomparable, d Cummins diesel engine. My truck has the manual transmission with an overdrive, fifth gear.-Thengine is strong enough that I can pull my fifth-whetrailer up many hills in overdrive. But, just because I can doesn't mean I should. When the rprns drop to about 1500 and the exhaust temperature begins to rise it is easier on everything if I just catch another gear, bring the rpms up a bit and drop off a little sjieed. I do not own a ATV, though one is on my list of toys for the near future. ATV riders have had much condemnation heaped upon them for indiscrimiIn my opinion the nately riding off road and condemnation is deserved. Many of my favorite hiking areas have become crisscrossed with the tracks of A good ATV in the hands of a skilled rider can go just about anywhere. But, just because they can doesnt mean they should. A few years ago I listened as a very entertaining well-know- turbo-charge- d, five-Bpee- chair, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, raincoat, l, water jug, donations to the prize pool, items for and spinning project, knitting project, etc., etc., and of course a mess kit. In the workshops I learned two new beading techniques, and a whole new spinning technique. Somehow I missed a workshop on needle felting that I had planned to take, but Ill get that from someone later. I arrived home Sunday night sticky after the four-hostate. Couldnt see the drive through a smoke-fille- d La Sal Mountains from Crescent Junction, but they were a welcome sight coming out of Moab Canyon. As the old saying goes: It's good to go, and good to After being away for over a week, it was tough getting back into the groove, but the necessity of getting statements out on Monday provided a good shove. That, and payroll and cleaning up a pile of mail. It was certainly a week of extremes. I flew into Tucson of a Saturday evening to help out during a family medical emergency. The people on my plane were treated to the most spectacular lightning show I have ever seen as we were landing. It was better than any fireworks display I've witnessed, filling the whole sky to the east of the city. Thankfully, the rain didnt start until my sister and I were safely in her car, but Tucson monsoons can be so intense that its safer to pull over and wait for the rain to subside, which we did twice. Arizona Mexican food has a character all its own, and one of my favorites is the cheese crisp delivered on a stand. They are now being served with roasted garlic in the center, which can be some of the best garlic anyone ever tasted. The medical situation aside, we managed to have quite a bit of fun during the four limes came back days I was there, and fresh-picke- d with me. Thats a fair trade for the fresh tomatoes and cucumbers I slipped into my carry-o- n at the last minute before leaving Moab. On Wednesday I left the heat of Tucson for the cool of Park City. It was the Wasatch Woolpack show-and-tel- ur get back. aft Giving credit where its due is important on any kind of project. The Star Hall Committee has been trying to do that, as we work through the various phases of renovation for our grand old hall. And so I want to extend public thanks to the people from Proud Foot Ranch, who sent a donation of $1 ,000 directly to the county clerks office. That brings private donations to $5,250 since the first of this year, and more money will be needed. As I wrote earlier, the next phase needs to be the basement of the building. Its not visible, like the doors, windows, tuck pointing and painting, but it's just as important. We'll accept donations at any level, and its tax deductible, so please consider Star Hall in your giving plan for the future. aft The Moab Community Singers are rehearsing for the Moab Music Festival. We have only two short pieces this year, but there is talk of starting to learn some other material as well. Rehearsals are Thursdays at 7 p.m. in Balsley Hall at the Community Church, 544 Mi Vida Dr. All singers are welcome. Weve been a little short of voices lately, what with people on vacation and so forth. So please come out if you Handspinners 1 1 annual workshop and retreat, held in a delightful forest meadow owned by one of the members. The owners also raise alpacas, and a new cria (baby alpaca) was born during the retreat. This reminds me, still have one ewe still to lamb, if her bag is any evidence. had earlier thought would have late spring lambs, then it turned out had an early summer lamb. This one will be an early fall lamb, guess. The rule at the retreat is that everyone brings her own mess kit, and also signs up to help prepare one meal for the rest. So, obviously, had to pack everything would need for the retreat into the Explorer before going to Tucson: spinning wheel, related tools, I I I I I I I lc trnes-nhepenhe- are interested in singing. nt xrt ) (UPS) Entered as Second class Matter at the Post Office at Moab, Utah under the Act of March 3, 1897. Second class postage paid at Moab, Utah 84532. Official City and County Newspaper. Published each Thursday at: 35 East Center Street, Moab, Grand County, Utah 84532 6309-2000- ail Postmaster: Send changes of address: editormoabtimes.com P.O. Box 129, Moab, UT 84532 address to: The Times-lndepende- or FAX Member NATIONAL NEWSPAPER UTAH Samuel J. and Adrien Sena T. Flanders Franklin Seal Tom Taylor. Ron Flanders Mary Wright Sadie Warner. Dorothy Anderson Zane Taylor. 435-259-77- PRESS ASSOCIATION and Publishers F. Taylor, Editors Associate Editor News Writer Circulation Mgr., ASSOCIATION T--l Maps Systems Manager Advertising Representative News Writer, Sales Mail Room Supervisor Production Manager Kelly Ericson, Steve Cooper, Bobbie Domenick Jed Taylor, Ken Davey. Betty Bailey. Ron Drake Ron George Oliver Harris Jose Churampi Backshop Contributing Writer Green Ftiver Correspondent ..........Castle Valley columnist Columnist Columnist Distribution el four-wheel- off-trai- l. s. presenter explained to us the phenomenon that he called, minimal brain dysfunction." The principal characteristic of this syndrome is that there are faulty screens between the impulse and the act. In my first example, Barbara and I both had the impulse to say something juicy about the mans scandalous behavior. But, fortunately, in both our cases the screens of judgment and good taste came into play and prevented our saying anything. Undoubtedly, many ATV riders look at a hillside and have the impulse to climb it. For most, the screens of judgment come into play and they realize that just because they could doesn't mean they should. Then there are the truly dangerous. They are those e who would a firearm against their fellow students, or lash out with violence at the least provocation. They seriously need to learn that just because they can doesn't mean they should. There are a few among us, a minority we hope, who demonstrate the symptoms of minimal brain dysfunction. They are the gossips, the road ragers, the abusers, the criminals and ail who cannot or do not wait the milliseconds that it takes for the screens of good taste and judgment to intervene between the impulse and the bemis-us- havior. The illustrious presenter who acquainted me with this concept was an advocate of medication. He believed in chemical intervention to allow the dysfunctional brain to synchronize the impulse-screen-asequence. He may have been right. But, I have seldom been an advocate of medication until all other avenues of behavioral intervention have been exhausted. Without doubt, proper socialization would go a long way toward teaching that just because you can doesnt mean you should. ct High Country News Writers on the Range Summertime, and the drivings not easy by Michael Adams Its summer along the Colorado Front Range. Day- time temperatures rise into the nineties and the sun stares down from a hard blue sky. The fire danger is extreme; afternoon thunderstorms bring the twin threats of dry lightning and wind to spark and drive flames through sprawling mountain subdivisions. And then, of course, there is the traffic, always bad these days, but exacerbated by the hordes of tourists come to enjoy the wonders of the Rocky Mountains. On the highways and freeways, elephantine recreation vehicles join 15- the endless lines of SUVs crawling through rush-hotraffic. The owners of these vehicles who listen to the radio may have been heartened by a recent news story: The Saudis, worried that America will grow weak at the knees and expire from gasoline at almost $2 a gallon, are increasing production in hopes of bringing the price of crude down to $25barrel. This is not, by the way, out of any sense of pity or charity, but out of a desire to keep demand strong. In the past year gasoline has gone from practically free to cheap, and the power of the rhetoric that has accompanied the modest price rise is almost enough by itself to fuel this countrys energy addiction. Ordinary Americans are outraged at OPEC and the other oilexporting nations, who, after all, are only being good capitalists and exercising their rights to maximize profits; at the big oil companies, who have seen their profits skyrocket in the past year; at our leaders in Washington. But, except for a few lonely voices, there has been no finger pointing back at ourselves. After all, we have an inalienable right to drive gas guzzlers anywhere we please and pay next to nothing to fuel them. The rest of the developed world, where gas is sold by the liter rather than the gallon, and costs two to four times what we pay, looks at the great chorus of moans and whines coming from our shores with a mix of pity, anger and contempt. Our political leaders are, of course, addressing the issue. They are alternately pleading with and threatening OPEC, blaming the oil companies (who, conveniently, are far from blameless and so easy to hate) and hinting at dark conspiracies or blaming the very regulatory agencies, such as the EPA, Congress created and fund. One of the more maRterfd solutions is to eliminate or reduce state and federal gasoline taxes, so that transmiles-per-gallo- n portation infrastructure, already deteriorating, can crumble even further. And there are the calls, mostly from the old Republican extractive-industr- y dinosaurs of the Western states to ojien up the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration so we can have another hole to suck dry within a few years. Americans everywhere have come to rely on the amenities and prosperity that come with cheap fuel. Westerners, especially, have built their lives around it, thinking nothing of driving 40 or 50 miles roundtrip to Dork, to shop, or for an evenings entertainment. We routinely drive several hundred miles on a weekend to recreate in our increasingly crowded national forest and parks. But cheap fuel exacts a price in other ways. It has allowed the West's booming population to spread out wide and far across the land, turning our highways into parking lots and our open spaces into sprawling residential and commercial developments. The last time reality intruded on the American fantasy of unlimited cheap energy, in the early 1970s, we actually developed productive policies. We reduced the size of our vehicles, increased fuel mileage and created incentives for alternatives to fossil fuels, such as wind and solar. Public transportation also got a boost Maybe well get there yet. A1 Gore, to his credit, has at least opened a dialogue in this direction. George Bushs entire energy policy seems to be to blame the Democrats and somehow charm OPEC into giving us more oil at lower prices, even if it means reduced profits for them. There are few truly blameless actors in this drama. The working poor and lower middle class are the only real victims. With housing costs that have soared in recent years, inadequate or public transportation, many are forced to drive long distances to jobs in communities where they cannot live. Their budgets are stretched to the breaking point. There should be some sort of relief from higher gas prices for these Americans. But not for the owners of big SUVs and pickup trucks and of motor homes as long as city blocks, towing their boats and vehicles to the mountains. So far, increased gas prices havent slowed this crowd, but maybe if prices continue to rise, well see some changes in behavior. We can al. non-existe- nt full-size- d in ways hope. Michael Adams is a contributor to Writers on the ' Range, a service of High Country News (www.kcn.org). He writes from Lafayette, Colo. |