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Show (The Page A6 Thursday, September! nt Community Comments t L. by Sam Taylor spring and fall, and added the intoxicating aroma of pthon smoke to the yard bringing back memories of dozens erf desert campouts we have enjoyed over the years. When we enlarged our patio to fit our enlarging family for Sunday afternoon cookouts, our friend and local contractor Craig Haren built us a special brick and concrete stand for it The outdoor fireplace often became a center-piec- e of backyard gatherings especially when the weather turned chilly It was also great lor roasting marshmallows. A tew weeks ago. smacked it with my riding lawn mower and broke it in dozens of pieces I felt a little heartbreak and guilt How would I explain to Adnen what had happened to it while she was gone for the weekend? We decided it had to be replaced In the meantime, we had seen a tew in some of the city discount stores. But models and didn't appeal to us at they were all We can make a trip to see our fi lends at Mexican Tile and Interiors m Grand Junction Surely, our friends, the Hunt family tliere, would have one," we said. Sena had to be m Big J a few days later, so she stopped by to pick one up. She was told that the store was for sale, and they had just sold their last one and didn't plan on getting any more of the fragile fireplaces in Since I have to be in Salt Lake City a few days this week, said I would go to a Mexican import store there and try to find one Then we discovered that Marjorie, at Sunset Gardens Nursery right here in Moab, had some, and we went down to look. She had a glorious selection of the real things, made and imported to her store from Mexico. Her manufacturers call them Chimaneas rather than Chimaderos, but no matter We found the perfect model. It was even heavier and prettier than the original that I smashed to pieces. It now takes center stage in the Taylor back yard, and we are enjoying it immensely. There are a couple of lessons here, friends. First, check out your local vendors before heading off to the big city for things you need. You may find that not only is the selection pretty darned good here, but the prices are also very competitive. The other lesson is that while racing my new riding lawnmower around the yard, I've got to be a little more careful about my driving. I always manage to get a few sprinkler heads a year in my lawn traveling, but I'm sure going to steer a careful route around my new Chimenea. number ot yea's ago Adrien and attended a conference in Portland Oregon Conventions and conferences have often been trie closest things to vacations we have had in our nearly four oecades of marriage Regardless of whether they have been connected to tfie newspaper business or various government-relateorganizations we have we have tried to tack on over the with years, been involved a couple of days on either end of business meetings to get acquainted with cities around the nation The Portland convention was unique, despite the fact that we were lodged in the absolutely worst motel we and shabby, had ever stayed in It was not even though it was owned by a major national chain, and we took turns sleeping on the floor The only saving asset was that it was on the banks of the Willamette River To escape the heat and grubbiness of the room, spent dozens of early morning and late evening hours on the river bank, watching the many drawbridges raise and lower for all sorts of nvercratt It was fascinating lor an inlander like me And our Greylme Tour of the Columbia River Gorge, by land and riverboat, was an experience that left an indelible memory But thats not what these ramblmgs are all about, and so will get on with it One cool and drizzly afternoon we took Portland's light rail system into the heart of the city, find to a bookstore and particular book that I'd mainly learned about from a very interesting fellow Greyline passenger We found ourselves chilled and damp in a downtown tlea market We discovered warmth and friendliness in a bazaar operated by a couple from Mexico All around the large booth, they had comforting heat coming trom some pottery outdoor fireplaces they call Chimade'os We were fascinated Although their cost was a little excessive, and they had to be shipped from Mexico, we bought one on the spot, after receiving assurances that it would indeed be shipped to Moab After a few weeks after arriving home, we received word trom the vendors, that they had tried to ship a couple of them s had been broken in shipto us but the fragile ment They finally managed to ship one safely in a huge box on the Greyhound bus system We placed it on our patio and loved it. The Chimadero extended our patio season a couple ol extra weeks in both I A d I I flimsy-lookin- super-- efficient fire-pot- The Creation program also featured Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, with Michael Barrett and Ken Noda providing the four hands on two pianos, as originally scored by the composer. It's a challenge for both piano players, and Sam loved it. But I have to admit liking the score for orchestra better than just the two pianos. And so it goes. I'm not planning to comment on all of the concerts or pieces, but can't leave this one without complimenting Stephen Burns for his arrangement of Darius Milhauds The Creation of the World, presented that same evening. Backtracking, the two concerts at Pack Creek Ranch were delightful sidetracks from the mainstream of chamber and classical music. The River, Moon and Stars, presented Sept. 3, was a benefit for The Nature Conservancy of Utah. The readings by Utah Poet Laureate David Lee added greatly to the already classy concert material, and festival planners should be urged to continue including this kind of material. Lee, and UtahMoabs own Terry Tempest Williams, who was a part of the Sept. 6 concert at Pack Creek Ranch called Go West! made us proud to be Utahns and Moabites. Information about this weekend's windup concerts for MMF's eighth season will be found in separate articles in this issue. Many Trails by Adrien F. Taylor This season's Moab Music Festival has been a hands-dow- n favorite for me, at least so far . . . and I dont expect any negative surprises for the four remaining conBruce certs A big bravo goes to composer-m-residenc- e Adolphe It's perhaps unfair to single opt one musician in a field of so many fine ones, but since he IS the composer in residence, I dont need to apologize. He has characterized himself as more a teacher and a composer than anything else. But he's no slouch at the piano, either. And members of the chorus were surprised when Bruce and his wife the pianist Marija Stroke joined us to sing our pieces in the concert entitled Latin America in Star Hall last week. I should say surprised and delighted. Her comment was We just dont get to sing very often." Those who weren't at Saturdays concert The Creation ot the World missed a real treat. Adolphes own 1999 creation Tyrannosaurus Sue, a Cretaceous Concerto brings new musical images to the world. Michael Barrett commented that it's akin to Peter and the Wolf, but better. For me, nothing will ever replace Peter and the Wolf, but Sue is a great new piece. Its available on CD. Go to the internet at www PollyRhythm.com for information. Also, KUER will likely be broadcasting tapes from this concert at a later date, and well print information on that when we get it mit g I I aft We're moving some things around here at The Times office, trying to create new spaces, or rather to use the space we have more creatively. As a result were bringing some things out of the back rooms and into the front office. There is stuff here which was ordered when the newspaper was new 1 896. So, if you dont know what second coming" refers to in newspaper vernacular, check out next weeks issue, and we'll have photographs and information. imcs-Jnbepcnite- of address: editormoabtimeSi.com P.O. address to: The Times-lndependen- or FAX 435-259-75- Member UTAH T. Flanders Franklin Seal Tom Taylor Ron Flanders Mary Wright Sadie Warner Dorothy Anderson Zane Taylor t, of March 3, 1897. Box 129, Moab, UT 84532 435-259-77- PRESS ASSOCIATION Taylor, Editors and Publishers F. Associate Editor News Writer Circulation Mgr., T-- l Maps Systems Manager Advertising Representative News Writer, Sales Mail Room Supervisor Production Manager Kelly Encson, Bobbie Domenick Jed Taylor, Ken Davey. Betty Bailey. Ron Drake Ron George Oliver Harris Jose Churampi Backshop Contributing Writer Green River Correspondent Castle Valley columnist Columnist Columnist Distribution Two accidents occur on Highway 191 earlier this week On Monday, at 5 p.m., three cars woman collided when a made an improper left turn onto the highway from a driveway. Doris McDougald was driving her 1990 Lexus when she turned onto the highway in front of two northbound vehicles about two miles Bouth of Moab. Lisa Adkins, driving a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, and Crystal Alveres, driving a 1995 Ford Mustang, collided with McDougald Both Alveres and McDougald received minor injuries and were transported by Ollie Harris Compulsory education dent in private school will be motivated for one reason Imagine a classroom full of students all motivated to learn. The unmotivated, oppositional and undisciplined are nowhere to be found. Of course, there may be a few who are not They get their motivation from their parents because their parents are on top of things. Parents know how their students are doing in all facets of school participation and they will not tolerin our ate any nonsense. There are no trouble-maker- s No is the lost to time classroom. management mythical of disruptive students. Is our imaginary classroom to be found in a contem-jxirar- y American public school? Is our classroom perhaps found in a private school? Such a classroom may exist only in the fantasies of a bewildered, overwrought, underpaid teacher. I should have left underpaid out of my description. Underpaid teacher is redundant. Anyway, teaching never was about the money. But, if you take away the prestige that a community once gave to its teachers, and you replace it with disrespect from students and a chronic lack of support from parents, it is a complete mystery why any young person would consider the teaching profession. It is also no wonder that there is a national teacher shortage which, under current conditions, will only get worse. But, I digress. The mythical classroom that I describe is probably somewhere in a private school. The primary difference between public and private school is the issue of compulsory education. The difference isnt the quality of teachers, the fanciness of the building or the latest material. It is because there are no unmotivated, oppositional, undisciplined students in private school. Not all students are blessed with an innate desire to learn whether in public or private school. But, between the parents and the teacher you can be sure that the stu or another. Compulsory education requires that all children have to go to school. What is the first thing that many of us do when we are told that we have to do something? We resist. I believe that if public education were noncompulsory we would see little change in the numbers of children in school. They would still attend as they always have except that there would be a fundamental shift in attitude. A simple you dont have to be here would change everything. Many parents and students would suddenly have to consider for the first time that there are other reasons than compulsion for attending school. I'm reminded of the answers that children give to the question: Why is it important for people to wear seatbelts?" Some will say that it is for safety, so that you dont fly out of the car or through the windshield if you have a wreck. But, others completely miss the point and respond that it is, so the policemen wont give you A ticket." If school attendance were not compulsory you can bet that there would be many formerly disinterested parents vigorously promoting the importance of education to their children. No longer would they send their children pff to school for no more lofty reason than to avoid the equivalert of a policemans ticket. Come to think of it, compulsory education" is an oxymoron. It calls to mind the adage, You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make him drink." Compulsory education might be better called compulsory attendance. Would we lose some children if school attendance were not compulsory? Possibly, but I doubt we would lose any more than are already being lost under the current system. High Country News Writers on the Range to Allen Memorial Hospital by Grand County Emergency Medical Services. Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Rich Haycock said all three were wearing seatbelts. McDougald was cited for failure to yield. The Lexus and the Mustang each incurred an estimated $10,000 damage, while the Malibu incurred an estimated $1,500 damage. On Tuesday, at 12.55 p.m., an Ogden man was slightly injured when he drove ofT the highway to avoid a collision with an unidenti fied van. Stephen Zaiser, 38, was northbound about 13 miles south of Moab on Blue Hill when a passing maneuver apparently went awry. In order to avoid hitting an oncoming van as he neared the end of the passing lane, Zaiser drove his 1996 Subaru off the road. The vehicle rolled one time before coming to rest on its wheels in a wash on the west side of the road. He was wearing his seatbelt and received minor cuts and bruises, which were treated at the scene. in Montana's Bitterroot Valley, firefighters from across the nation and abroad drive up a winding, dirt road to a trailhead in Blodgett Canyon. From there they hike a short distance, passing timber and brush blackened by a fire that ignited at this point in The object of their visit is a granite and bronze memorial to Don Mackey, killed along with 13 others in an explosive fire on Storm King Mountain in Colorado on July 6, 1994. In Blodgett Canyon this summer, the fire moved so fast it swept by the Mackey inemoi ial and left, not a single scorch mark. The memorial bears quiet witness to the spirit of Mackey and the others who died, the Storm King 14. Quietly, that spirit has been partner to firefighters on lines from Florida to California in this, the worst fire seasons in most living memory. It accompanies them in fire camps, at planning sessions, and on the long, thin firelines that criss-cros- s a blackened landscape. The Blodgett Fire already has forced Dons parents, Bob and Nadine, to evacuate their home at the mouth of the canyon for several days, and they are on standby in case the fire threatens again. Weve met fire crews from North Carolina, Australia and Canada who know all about Storm King, said Nadine. We meet them down at the fire camp at the fairgrounds, or they call up. If they want to talk about it, I want to talk to them." In the six years since Storm King, a wealth of formal studies hae helped improve firefighter safety at many levels. Agencies have learned better how to coordinate among themselves. Supervisors are held more to account for their decisions. The weather service now frequently sends forecasters to fire camps. Perhaps most imjxrtant, though, is a lesson npbody wrote down Just Say No. After Storm King, crews have been more willing to turn down dangerous assignments. In the past, a refusal invited contempt from peers and superiors. This summer, supervisors have pulled crews back from fires at an unprecedented rate, risking the anger of ranchers and homeowners. Storm King is not the only reason for this. Fires are bigger and hotter this season because of problems with forest drought, high winds and long-teris more dangerous because of a scar g health. -- Fire-fightin- city of experienced supervisors and budget-cuttinMany have come to realize, though, that the biggest mistake on Storm King Mountain the day of the blowup was using people at all to fight the fire. That fire had simply become too risky; the 49 firefighters on the mountain that day had no real safety zone. The 35 who escaped could just as easily have perished. In hindsight, a supervisor could have withdrawn the people from the mountain and assigned a helicopter or two with water buckets to douse flames, sending in The tactic would have cost firefighters later for mop-uhundreds of thousands of dollars. But the fire eventuand 14 lives. ally cost $4.5 million Wildfire academies now teach rookies to speak up when they face alarming situations, for example a fireline with inadequate escape routes or safety zones. Supervisors learn to handle that kind of question. Firefighters felt the quiet ghost of Storm King this June on the Bobcat Fire in Colorados Front Range. The crew looked wery as they came off the lines at the end of a hot and windy day. The fire had broken out once to the north, but they had checked it with backbreaking work. Now, at dusk, the winds had died down and flames as quiet as campfires burned around them in sagebrush and pine trees. Back at fire camp, located at a high school in the town of Loveland, night shift supervisors gathered for a briefing. Dont try to be heroes tonight, team leaders said. Just hold the lines. A cool front is on the way. When day- light comes well jump all over the fire and knock it down. The incident commander, Joe Carvelho, wore a purple ribbon on his shirt to remind him of the Storm King 14. A few days before Storm King, he had been on another fire with several of those later killed. At the Bobcat Fire, the memory of the Storm King 14 meant being cautious and waiting for help from the weather. When the cool front arrived, firefighters attacked. In a few days they had brought flames under control, but not before 22 buildings had been destroyed and several hundred people evacuated. The fire, however, killed no one. John N. Maclean is a contributor to Writers on the Range, a service of H'gh Country News (www.hcn.org). He is the author orFire on the Mountain, the True Story of the South Canyon Fire. g. r. NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION Samuel J. and Adrien Idle Thoughts from Mt. Waas by John N. Maclean During these days of endless smoke 6309-2000- Postmaster: Send changes stress syndrome: (vass) voluntarism anxiety Firefighters feel the quiet ghost of Storm King nt ) (UPS) Entered as Second class Matter at the Post Office at Moab, Utah under the Act 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 Sena 2000 OUBTOWM : f A imcs-3ln)rpnii)r- p. |