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Show Growing with ivaste water UP&L experimental farm different than Old McDonalds by Elizabeth Hanson Correspondent Old McDonald had a farm, but he never had to cope with two farms miles apart with only waste water from coal - fired power plants for irrigation, as does Leslie D. Young, project manager for Utah Power and Lights experimental farms. Young manages the acreage near the Huntington plant m Huntington Canyon and the Hunter Plant near Castle Dale The purpose of these farms are a little different from Old McDonalds. Theyre set up for the economic disposal of waste water and for research on the effects of salt water on diverse crops. Waste water has been used successfully to raise tomatoes, potatoes, string beans, corn, forage crops and apples. Young travels between the 400 acre Huntington farm, where he lives, and the smaller, 80 acre plot near Castle Dale. Development of the Hunter farm was hastened after the first unit went on line in June. Engineers how fast misjudged the evaporation pond which supplies the irrigation water would fill, Young says Jelco construction worked a month putting m underground mainlines, clearing, leveling and disking the ground, Young says Sagebrush, salt grass and vestiges of alfalfa were swept away. Some of the land, including alkali patches, had never been farmed before. The evaporation pond holds up to 250 acre - feet of water and has become a haven for ducks. A unique 800 ft. pivot sprinkling system compliments the one half - mile wheeled sprinkler system rolling across the broad expanse of bare soil. The sophisticated equipment is -- totally automatic and could handle waste water from all four units planned at the Castle Dale site. Sometimes a pebble may clog a jet and Young will get well soaked removing it. A valve at the station stops the flow if anything goes wrong with the sprinklers. Each morning and night Young regulates the system, driving two miles up to the pond and back again The system cannot operate in freezing weather so it has to be shut down every night and the valves under each tower drained Before the irrigating began, the soil was powdery up to eight feet below the surface. Now, however, the ground is spongy and Young must wallow around in it in his rubber boots Water is being pumped into the ground at the rate of 1,100 gallons per minute The pressure is kept at 60 pounds. The automated system will aid harvesting a winter grain crop Water will tie stored during summer, the grain planted and irrigated in fall, more water stored during wunter, and irrigation again in the spring Young in Utah State University is m volved in the Huntington tarm, working on a grant to study the effects of salt water on crops and to provide students experience m landscaping and cultivating Brigham Young University has begun research to determine the effect of fly ash and dust particles from the plant on fruit production. Greenhouses and fisheries are other areas where power plant waste water and heat can be utilized, according to Young, who This safety valve at the pumping station near the evaporation pond automatically cuts the flow of water should anything go wrong in the sprinkling system at UP&L's experimental farm near Castle Dale. plans to leave for a month in Atlanta, Georgia to study the greenhouse possibilities The salt accumulation in the Huntington River has been rising the past three years up from 500 parts per million to 1,500 parts per million Theory has it that the ratio should level off the fourth year and then decrease due to the chemistry of the soil and the leaching process "So far the computer and lab tests affirm the expected salt level. Young says, but if the level goes up next year, the theorv is shot Young was working on his doctorate at the University of Nebraska when called two years ago to manage the UP&L experimental farms. At present, he has plenty of fall work to do on the Huntington farm, where he is replanting orchards, spraying a hay field, completing a parkway along the creek and mulling plans for a model homestead along the river bottom. The yield from the apple orchard was 3,000 boxes, down from last year, but still a job for church groups contracted for the Ward auction raises $14,000 adjusts controls on the pivot sprinkling system Hunter farm and rushes out of the way of the ensuing Leslie D. Young at U P&L's deluge. . Two students will attend national FFA The chapter of the Future Farmers of American at Emery County High School will send two to the 50th delegates annual in national FFA convention Kansas City. Attending will be Michael Huntsman and Hallie Lemon. The events at the convention will include the National Public Speaking contest, selection of Star American Farmers, and an afternoon at the American Royal Livestock Show. Huntsman is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Huntsman of Ferron. He has swme for his main project in Vocational Agriculture and also works for farmers in the Ferron area. He is active in school and church and this is his third year in FFA. Lemon is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Lemon of Ferron. He milks dairy cows, feeds out show steers and does general farm work as his projects in Vocational Agriculture. He is active in school athletics, church and is in his third year in FFA. Remodeling to begin Dec. 15 Bids for the expansion and remodeling of the Huntington LDS Church building will be received Nov. 15. The winning contractor will start construction Dec. 15 and should be complete within 290 days. The west chapel will be expanded to seat from 300 to 450. The east chapel will be remodeled into an all - purpose room and offices for stake use. The existing stage and kitchen will be removed to make room for new classrooms, shower facilities and restrooms. A new stage and foyer will be added to the north. Fire escapes, air conditioning and a new roof for the cultural hall are also in the plans. The building will be like new when completed. The three wards have been waiting months to welcome the start ot con- struction Meanwhile, the have been raising funds When Bishop Hal Guymon delivered the news to his ward at the outset of their dinner and auction Saturday night, thusiastic members dug deep to en- advance $14,000 for the cause Among the items auctioned were a baby dress that went for $75; quilts from $300 to $500, a pie for $30, and a toy farm set for $75 Grain hay, baby sitting services, livestock and Christmas novelties all sold for fantastic prices. Auctioneers Mark Justice and Steve Stream kept the bidding white hot Huntington First is the first ward to raise the alloted $50,000. Huntington Second, under Bishop Jay Powell, lacks around $2,000. Huntington Third, under Bishop John Parker, is holding a dinner and auction this month to add to their allotment Each ward has sent $25,000 starting money to the church building headquarters. Total cost of the project is set at approximately $500,000. The old bank building will be razed, the soil around the church foundation dug away and the foundation sealed with bentonite. Later, the landscaping, sprinkling system installation and some painting will be complished labor. ac- through donated expected from the membership were outlined at a pre - bidding meeting attended by church building representative Dale Bradford, architect Jack Ehlers, the ward bishops and Activities stake representative Selar Hutching. Bradford commented the Relief Society sisters, would probably make the best painters. Green River school volunteers rated best in Utah for 1977-7- 8 At recent a sponsored workshop by the Utah State Board of Education, Salt Lake City School District Volunteer Board, Durrant, the School outstanding River, the most school program its roots several years Advisory Program, the Cliff Book Elementary School in designated developed School Volunteer Green The when a and National volunteer program m Utah for 1977 - 78. teacher, fifth Mrs. ago grade Carol started mothers to come and help their own children with some of their reading problems. asking This was done in to give the order students extra help in reading on a one - to one basis. It gradually social studies, art, -- speech and Phys. Ed. developed into using volunteers other than sessions were held for teachers and volun- mothers with these students. The first few years, the program pertained only to reading and teers. involved only about six or seven volunteers. Because of the success of this program it was expanded to cover not only reading but math. Castle Dale chiropractor now member ACA Dr. Ronald B. Sanders, Castle Dale was recently selected for membership in the American Chiropractic Association. As a member of the ACA, Sanders joins thousands of fellow of chiropractic, all dedicated to improving general health care, the organization doctors says. Sanders is a graduate of Los Angeles College of Chiropractic located at Glendale, Calif., and is also a member of the Utah Chiropractic Association. Membership dues support jnajor programs of chiropractic ,e9ycation and research, the ACA and provide materials for sy$, use in public education and vocational guidance. Inservice training The program grew from six or seven to apvolunteers proximately fifty - one last year. It expanded into two kinds of volunteers tutors and resource people and included volunteers spanning ages from students to senior citizens. Last year several workshops were held to train teachers and volunteers, the first being conducted by Dr. Nancy Livingston, the State Reading Specialist, and the second by Dr. Jacobs, a reading specialist from BYU. Principal Blaine F. said those volunteers have unselfishly given their time and talent to make the program such a success. Evans Laval Hyatt ivins Biggest buck claims rifle big buck contest sponsored by Skyhaven Resort of Ferron drew more than 400 entrants over the past deer hunt. Claiming top prize for the buck with the biggest spread was Laval Hyatt. Prize winners, left to right, are Merrill Duncan whose deer came in fourth place. He got the buck on the Ferron desert and won a jacket. Mark H. Williams came in second with A I his buck shot opening day In the Henry Mountains, winning himself two new tires. Hyatt shot his prize - winning animal up by the Heidi Troupe on the Muddy. He received a new rifle. Aleen Riley shows off the third - place buck shot by her son Ted opening day at Lizard Lake In the Ferron Mountains. He too won a jacket. I |