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Show HIABT Tuesday, June 14, 1988 30 OF CiTL COUNTS Cents Volume No. 25 89 Jr. high report eyed The Emery County School Board reviewed programs at San Rafael Junior High at the June 1 board meeting at the district office in Huntington. ceived to be morale problems between the board and staff members in the district. Service training and copy machine service costs were discussed with the board. Both Weeks SouthEast Utah Computer: and Office Equipment have indicated a willingness to train district service personnel. It was moved by Thomas Roush that the photocopy equipment of the district be standardized and that a district employee be trained to service this equipment. This motion, passed Superintendent A. Ernest reported to the board on the programs at the meeting and the results of a parent, student and staff survey which was recently conducted at the school. The survey and the CTBS test results indicate that this school compares favorably with other schools of the state and nation. The survey indicated that student discipline was the most significant problem. Parents present at the meeting indicated a willingness to work with the board to solve problems which might occur at the school. J.J. Grant, Emery Education Business sales decline 31.8 Business activity in Emery County as measured by sales and use tax receipts, totaled $43,707,000 last year, a decrease of 31.8 percent over 1986. This was reported by Utah Foundation, the private research organization in their, regular analysis of business activity in communities throughout Utah. The report emphasized that the change was based on gross sales volume before a 3.6 percent allowance for inflation last -- year. Gross taxable sales volume in Emery County totaled $64,042,000 in 1986, $56,850,000 in 1985, $72,351,000 in 1980 and $6,564,000 in 1970. For the state as a whole, business activity in Utah declined for the third con sales volume dropped by 1.5 percent in 1987. In addition, the purchasing power of the dollar was down by 3.6 percent. Thus, when an adjustment is made for inflation, the total reduction in the secutive year. Gross effective sale? . volume amounted to 5.0 percent last year. In contrast to the Utah experience, personal consumption expenditures throughout the U.S. rose by 6.0 percent last year. Even after allowance is made for inflation, personal consumption expenditures were up by 1.9 percent in 1987. Thus it is clear that business activity in Utah lagged behind that of the nation as a whole. Foundation analysts point out, however, that there are some recent signs that the Utah economy may be improving. Although business activity was down for the year as a whole, it was up by 1.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 1987. Furthermore, unemployment in the state has declined and personal income has continued to grow. Total sales volume in Utah during the 1987 calendar year was $12.2 billion. This was equal to about 65 percent of the total personal income of the state for the year. In 1978, sales volume was equal to nearly 80 percent of personal income, in other words, Utahns currently are spending a much smaller proportion of their personal income on taxable items than they did in the late 1970s. More of their income now probably is locally going to meet other obligations (interest payments, taxes, housing costs, medical payments, repayment of debt, etc.) that are not subject to the sales and use tax. The foundation report shows that between 1970 and 1978, Utah business activity climbed by 78 percent, or an average 7.5 percent per year after an adjustment for inflation. Positive economic growth was recorded in each of these eight years. Between 1978 and 1987, on the other hand, adjusted business activity in Utah declined by 4.8 percent. Negative economic growth was registered in six of these nine years. The strong economic showing by Utah during the 1970s was (Continued on Page 8) Association president, was also present at the meeting. The association has selected a negotiations team, and plans were made to begin negotiations with the district team. Emery County High School student Ryan Peacock also met with the board to report on his trip to Washington, D.C. He indicated that the Close-U- p Program was very beneficial and felt it was a great learning experience for him. The school district helped to pay the students expenses. The high school graduation ceremony was discussed. It was recommended by Var Lynn Peacock, a teacher at Emery High, that no one be allowed to graduate who has not completed all graduation requirements. There is now a policy in place at Emery High which does not allow a student to participate in this ceremony if that student is not within one quarter of having all the credit requirements Milled. Mr. Peacock also talked with the board about what he per unanimously. The appointment of junior high counselors was discussed. It would require five summers of training for a teacher to become certified in this field. It was felt that student advisors might be a more viable option for this program. In other business, the board approved a motion for a change order at Cleveland Elementary to install a suspended ceiling and improve lighting in the remodeled section the of building. A comparison of utility usage and costs for 1986-8and 1987-8- 8 was presented and discussed with the board. 7 Valerie Harrison recommended was the by superintendent to fill the home economics vacancy at Green River High School. It was moved by William Bacon and seconded by Wes Curtis that this be approved, and the motion passed. Mr. Bacon has met with cheerleaders and their parents at Green River High to talk about uniforms and costs of the program. The expenses have been reduced from $800 per participant to $425 for next year. A district tentative budget hearing date was discussed. The board set the hearing for Thursday, June 16 at 5 p.m. 50th anniversary Stockshow goes hack to 1939 ByDENNISWORWOOD County extension agent This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Southeastern Utah Jr. Livestock Show in Ferron. The show is Utahs largest display of FFA and 4-- H market livestock and has earned a reputation for being fair, friendly and highly competitive. When the event began in 1939, founder Robert Dahle wasnt planning to start a major stockshow. He was worried about taking steers to the worlds fair. Ferron in as a coach and FFA advisor. Friendly and energetic, Dahle quickly established himself as an innovative, though sometimes unorthodox, teacher Bob Dahle came to 1927 and community leader. He helped launch the countys purebred Hereford industry, developed a profitable FFA swine breeding operation, and introduced the Siberian elm trees which are so common in the county today. Dahle convinced farmers to fertilize their alfalfa by writing his name with phosphate in a field south of Ferron. Motorists on highway 10 could plainly read the word DAHLE spelled out in huge letters by the taller, greener, fertilized alfalfa. Even skeptical farmers soon ordered phosphate for their fields. In the spring of 1939, Dahle faced a problem. Thirty steers from FFA chapters in Ferron, Castle Dale and Huntington could be entered in the 12th Interstate Jr. Livestock Show to be held in conjuction with the San Francisco Worlds Fair. FFA boys from the three chapters were feeding a total of 50 steers. Dahle organized a show and invited state FFA advisor Mark Nichols to select the 30 top animals. Dahle also believed that the FFA show would encourage better feeding of cattle, advertise the countys livestock recognize industry the boys and ac- complishments. The contest was held March 24, 1939 on the tennis courts of South Emery High, which is the present site of the Ferron City Library. The courts were bedded with straw as 30 FFA boys proudly displayed their fattened and fitted calves in the makeshift ring. Nichols selected the 30 worlds fair steers and awarded grand champion to a steer owned by Karl Truman of Huntington. The first stockshow was over, but the boys adventures were just beginning. The following Friday at 3 a.m., Dahle and 19 FFA members set out by train and ferry for San Francisco. While at the fair they got their first look at television, vending machines and a talking barrel that was the predecessor of todays speech synthesizer. The steers were shown, and though none took high honors, the boys were satisfied with the 11 cents per pound selling price. Since the show had been so successful, FFA leaders decided to continue the event. In 1940 the show was hosted by Central Emery FFA in Castle Dale and included breeding beef as well as market steers. In 1941 the show moved to Huntington. Hogs, dairy cattle, sheep and poultry were shown along with beef animals. The list of exhibitors was expanded to include members and girls. Dr. Harry Smith from the Agricultural College in Logan judged the show and told the Emery County Progress that the Herefords raised in Emery County are the finest in the state 1. s c&mia u is I.,.. 4-- H r4 ben ffJp.C. of Utah. The 1942 show rotated back to Ferron. Bad spring weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of participants who showed horses as well as the species previously exhibited. Utah Commissioner of Agriculture Don Kenney attended the show along with other state dignitaries. For the first time, fat animals were sold at the stockshow when the Price Trading Company bought eight steers by private treaty for 13 cents per pound. and one-ha-lf Grover Peacock, manager of the firm, said, While we paid a premium over the Salt Lake market for the beef we bought, I f- i we feel we will benefit enough to make up the difference through publicity and good will. These sentiments continue to motivate many stockshow buyers today. By 1943 the show had gained statewide attention. One hundred and fifty exhibitors brought 200 animals to the show, which was held for the second and last time in Castle Dale. The list of sponsoring organizations now included the state of Utah, Emery County, Emery County schools, and several cattle and horse associations. Temporary pens and show rings were no longer adequate for the growing contest. It was time to find a permanent home for the stockshow. j liwmy; Karl Truman, now a businessman in Minersville, is shown above as a teenager from Emery County in the first county i stockshow in 1939. Truman is exhibiting the first grand champion steer from that show. |