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Show 'I'fJ (Ehf Page A6 Thursday, April 18, 2002 tmfs-3ndfpnthr- nt ouanrowN 'Vutt?-4- n Community Comments by Sam Taylor We were more fortunate than a lot of businesses in the area, though. Many didnt make It at all. I stopped to visit a business friend in the post office one morning while he was leafing through the mail. Did you get any money m the mail this morning? I A story on Page B8 of this issue details the ted that unemployment rates in both Utah and the U S have risen as of the end of March Utahs rate now stands at 5 9 The last time the state had a rate that high was in 1 987 The year-ove- r change m the non-terand salaried of number wage jobs showed a loss of 1 4 This was the first time m 20 years that the state showed a year-ove- r drop Nationally things are about the same as in Utah The March 2002 unemployment rate stood at 5 7 drop in According to the report, the 1 year-ove- r the U S non farm jobs total continues to refled the nations economic slowdown Government employers in Utah, however, have been hiring more people They have added 2,400 more staff than a year ago, an increase of 1 600 job expansion The federal government's 1 is largely due to increases at defense installations State government budget shortfalls are already impacting state employment Higher education made small year-ove- r gains, while other state agencies lost 900 jobs Local government, the report states, was about the only segment of the job picture that showed increased hiring There were 2,300 jobs added in Utah local government entities, a 2 3 expansion activities Why am I weighted toward not surprised? Word this week that Grand County might lose some $400,000 in federal payments in lieu of taxes from the federal government is grim news indeed. How will that loss be handled? Cutting costs (and jobs) might be one way County Clerk Fran Townsend has stated that local taxes might have to be increased that on top of the tax increase we taxpayers shouldered last year I hope that does not have 3. 8, to No, he said, but at least there weren't any bankruptcy notices today We saw our share of those in our business too. The only small bright side of that couple of years was the fact that we didn't have to face April 15 with any anxiety There simply weren't any profits, hence no taxes. To spare the property taxpayers of this county the burden of more taxes, local officials should do all they can to see where costs of operation might be reduced Thats the least we should expect of them. sjt this Ive heard from a lot of Moab area week about my column last week about my Jefferson Corn." Alright, I got the wrong Westwood, and I apoloI gize attributed the academic interest and research into my corn to Ken Westwood. Actually, it is his older brother, Dr. Melvin Westwood who Is helping me trace the origin of the corn. Another brother, Richard, was and is still a friend. I was saddened to learn that Ken is seriously ill and in a care facility in St. George. Richard didnl look like he was doing too well the last time he dropped by to visit. The years, Im afraid, are catching up with all of us. It's been a long time since we all whiled away the time as kids on the blue foothills between their home on Nob Hill and mine on north 200 East. All three Westwood brothers were and are outstanding people Im sorry I got the wrong name off the top of my head last week, and didn't do a little research into my own files. But speaking of the corn, people have been coming by the office all week with their little plastic bags, looking for samples of the corn to start In their home gardens. You don't even have to bring a bag well furnish you one. There is still quite a bit of coin seed in Adrien's big cookie can on the front counter (unless she decides to save It for posole). Im afraid any that isnt picked up will go to three of Sena's horses, who are now hanging out at our place. asked old-time- happen Back in the early 1980s, when the bottom dropped out of Southeastern Utah's economy in a very short period of time, we all had to tighten our belts. Our little staff of eight people dropped, over a period of time, to half its size. You've got to cut the cloth to fit the pattern," one of my major suppliers told me. That was wise advice, bul cutting four of our valued people was one of the hardest things we ever did, and we didnt do It until we had run our accounts severely into the red Idle Thoughts from Mt. Waas by Ollie Harris Secret place ever-changin- much-sought-afl- er Many Trails by Adrien F. Taylor Franklin Seal's old regular parking space in behind the l looks mighty vacant this week, as he has moved on to other challenges In his life. And one nice thing about his future plans Is that they Involve Moab, which means can call him if gel stuck on one of niggly things always used to ask him about. We would like to welcome Janet Lowe to our staff. Janet and Lisa Church will be dividing responsibilities for covering a number of community meetings and activities. It appears they will be branching out Into areas that may not have been so thoroughly covered on our pages, as happens when new people bring In their spheres of Interest and expertise. Sadie Warner has also assumed new duties, and it's going to be a challenge to back her up sufficiently that she's not feeling pushed all the Western Slope a few days ago. Grand Junction was just a haze of bllldwing dust, said Brang. 1 can imagine what It must have been like during the Dust Bowl she commented. Moab Valley was not much better, and hear talk of roof damage during Monday nights worst T-- , I I I I ' A foray out for a walk was cut short by the fickle winds and the junk they were carrying along. But all in all we fared better here in the valley that many other points across the West. aft It was nice to have Lisa Church join the spinning group, writing a feature piece both for the Sail Lake Tribune and the T-- Judy Gunn, of Centerville, grabbed her right away for the purpose of giving a lesson in spinning, but I can't tell yet if it took! As for me, I was able to receive instruction on the rudiments of tatting, which is one of the few needlework" projects one can still take along on an airplane. Traditional tatting involves a small shuttle. And while it can aiso be accomplished with some pretty large needles, I will attempt to pre-bedti- l. aft My mother, Norma Foote, and sister Brangwyn Foote are visiting with us this week from their home in Northglenn, Colorado They were concerned about the state of the weather, mainly the wind that caused such bad traffic pileups on the Accolades and Admonishment with regard to issues in our community horn-hunte- i o master the shuttle lace method before moving on to something they wont let me do while Brick Bats and Bouquets down-canyo- Ibf gusts. time. We all have to remind ourselves that change is good, and things will settle down in due time. 5 Barbara and I and Ruth and John were clearly the first persons to come down the old road in years. The tracks disappeared into numerous sand dunes and reappeared beyond to wend their way between the cedars and pinions. The wind quickly brushed sand over our own fresh tracks, leaving sculpted ripples in their place. The best evidence that no one had been there mule deer antler lying recently was the three-poin- t just off the road. It had been there, under the cedar tree, long enough to have turned chalky and soft. We were in the low country, in prime mule deer winter range, the land where bucks shed their antlers. The horn hunters would have picked the antler up long ago. I had been down this old road twice before. The first time was on a deer hunt with Preston Nielson and Steve Lovell nearly 30 years ago. The second time was about ten years later, again with Steve and one of my sons. We had gone there to photograph deer. Over the years my interests have changed. The country has changed. The old road has seen little traffic. Still, I have stored in my memory the vista of a deep canyon. Across a short side canyon, sitting high in a crack on the cliff is an exquisite little Anasazi ruin. I would know the point when I saw it. BarRuth and John were each on bara was riding double with me. I love having her dose to me. We visit. We laugh. She points things out to me that I would otherwise miss while driving. We probed to the end of a couple of roads, then got off the machines and hiked. We saw big canyons and we saw cliff dwellings. In spite of the drought we came across large potholes containing water. It was all very pleasant, but I could not find the vista and the ruin I was seeking. The following week Barbara and I tried again with the same result. It was time to seek out the expert. Steve went with me yesterday. He guided me, almost unerringly, to the exact spot I was seeking. It turns out that I had come within 14 mile of that spot. I had simply missed the faint tracks of the road that went out onto the point. We turned onto those tracks. We slowly unraveled the road over more dunes and across bare rock until we came to the spot where we had parked the truck in the old days. I know better than to leave my pack when I hike. But, it didnt seem necessary to take it this time. I put my GPS unit into my pocket, grabbed my walking stick and we began hiking. We traded stories of old hunts. I listened while he told of a successful hunt on that point with my second son, Doyle. We found four blackened cartridge casings, two 06, one .30-3- 0 and one .32 Winchester Special. There have been some good hunts down there. We hiked over to the rim of the side canyon. Sure enough, there was the Anasazi ruin as I remembered it. It sits safely sheltered under an overhang high on the canyon wall. Its entry-way- s appear as two rectangular eyes staring vacantly over the canyon as they have for perhaps 1,000 years. There is little room in front of the ruin and none of it level. On the side of the ruin is a barrier wall that comes right out to the edge of the cliff. I would not risk crawling past it without being securely fastened to a solidly anchored n side has a similar barrier wall rope. The though not in such good ahapie. 1 turned the GPS on so that 1 could record the coordinates of my viewpoint. The batteries were too low. Dang! The fresh batteries were in the backpack. I didn't want to make the hike again so I simply recorded the coordinates when we got back to the r. Anyone who reads those coordinates will have to find their owti view of the hiin. I best tate to share the coordinates because the evidently havent discovered this area and, as near as I can figure, Steve and I are the only ones who know how to get there. fc - ' o Audrey Talley, left, and Carole Miller enjoy sunny April weather in Moab, spinning yams for future needlework projects on the pleasant patio at the home of Adrien and Sam Taylor. Most bring tents and camping equipment, or motor homes for the event, where they take turns cooking meals and leam new techniques from one another. Fiber artists from across the area gathered in Moab for annual three-daspinning event y Submitted by a reader: Bouquets to Grand County Road Supervisor Dave Warner, his crew and the Sheriff s Department for painting six speed limit signs on Kane Creek Boulevard. Now, can you do the same for Spanish TYail Road? by Lisa Church staff writer Their lives are connected by thread. For three days each year, women of all ages, and backgrounds gather at Adrien Taylors home for Taylors Moab spinning retreat. All day and into the night they ait before their spinning wheels, feet in constant motion on the treadles, creating skeins of yam that will later become sweaters or rugs, or other handmade objects. I proudly tell people Im a spinster cracks Judy Gunn of Centerville, Utah. Im always spinning. I carry a drop spindle w herever I go. In the supermarket, wherever. In the centuries-olart of transforming raw batted fiber into delicate yarn, the seventeen women at this years Moab spinning retreat also say they have learned an ancient truth: It helps them maintain the delicate balance of their lives. Gunn says spinning gives her a connection to nature while also helping her stave off physical ailments such as arthritis. Handling natural fibers and spinning just gives the body something it craves, she says. My doctor told me as long as Im spinning Im less work." likely to have arthritis. Its Others find spinning to he soothing and mediwide-rangin- 3Jljc cEtnics-Inbcpcnbc- nt ) ISSN (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 etch Thursday at: 35 East Center Street, Moab, Grand County, Utah 84532 6309-2000- 1538-183- 8 of March 3, 1897. address: editoremoabtlmea.com Postmaster Send changes of address to: The Tmes-lndepende- PO. Box 129, Moab UT 84532 or FAX 5 Member d NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION and PRESS ASSOCIATION Samuel J. and Adrien F. Taylor, Publishers Sena T. Flanders, Editor UTAH & mutation Manager. much-neede- Bobbm Domenick, l Maps Jed Taylor Press, Production Manager Backshop Dann Hawk Ron Flander Systems Manager News Wnter Green River Correspondent Lisa Outh Bey Baley Ron Drake News Wnter Cast's Valley columnist Janet Lowe Ron George Warner 0fioe Manage Sales. 'Design Columnist Mail Room Supervisor Over Hams Cofummst DoroFy Anderson DtsHbuttoo Ryan McDowell Jose Churampi Sports Tom Taylor Zane Taytor T-- Saies-Producho- Sd ISfervS g d zero-impa- tative - a welcome escape from the hectic, hur- ried pace of an average day. The repetitive act of stretching and guiding the fiber, romhined with I the rhythmic clack and whir of the wheel calms even the worst worn nerves, they say. I started spinning because a friend convinced me it would be good for me and good for my family. And it has," says Shirley Marshall. I have six children, and 1 used to put them to sleep with the sound of the spinning wheel. It worked like a charm and helped me keep my sanity. And the retreats provide an opportunity to s, nd time with other spinners as well as the chance for old and new friends to reconnect. For Marshall, that element of the retreat ia especially important this year aa she grieves the loss of a old granddaughter. My granddaughter died earlier this month, and its been hard for me and my family," Marshall say's. I really needed this. Its like group therapy for us, says Carole Miller. We share pieces of our personal lives." Each year, spinning retresta are held in msny cities and towns in Utah and in most other states. In Utah, 10 spinners guilds have formed in communities from Hurricane and Cedar City, to Salt Lake City and Bountiful. Moab has about 15 spinners, Taylor says, hut no formal spinners' guild. That ia one reason she enjoys hosting the Moab retreat at her home. It's fun. And I love spending this time with other epinners," she says. "And I always learn something new" three-mont- h |