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Show tfP y' XJti fl'iflrmurKrf'iWB" rti'Tr jir nruiit"r'iHT,- - Centennial 1996 momentum builds at local gathering By Larry W. Davis Progress editor CASTLE DALE- - The momentum is building for the 1996 Utah Centennial, and Emery County is right in the thick of the excitement. The local Centennial Committee held a Birthday Bash Oct. 18 at the Museum of the San Rafael, and the program left guests with a new spirit of enPre-Centenn- thusiasm. Emery County Centennial Committee Chairman Laren Huntsman told the guests that the local organization "has big plans for the celebration," but he added, "We need lost of help. It's a celebration for everybody, and we want to get as many people involved as we can. We want to make this a memorable time in Utah, and we want everyone to look back at the Centennial as a memorable experience." Mr. Huntsman said that the county is being organized on the local front to help plan and execute Centennial activities. Representatives from each community in Emery County are being asked to work as liaisons with the committee and their cities and towns. He pointed out that there are al ready several committee members, but more are needed to carry out the many plans for the celebration. Working as a liaison for the county and the Utah Centennial Commission is Jon Judd. To dramatize the importance of the Centennial, the committee presented a skit which reminded the audience that the July 4, 1996, celebration is just 443 days away and that "there's a lot to be done." The skit concluded with a Centennial song with the audience joining in. "What can you do?" Mr. Huntsman asked. "We need all kinds of talent." Guest speaker at the "bash" was Kim Birmingham, executive director of the Utah State Centennial Commission. He quizzed the audience on important dates in Utah history and recalled the nearly 50 years of struggle citizens went Reed Martin, right, leads everyone Centennial at last week's through before finally gaining statehood. He said that when statehood was finally granted, there was a massive celebration. He said that the celebration was so spectacular that everyone involved would always remember where they were and what they were doing when they learned Utah had become a state. Mr. Bumingham said that the Centennial Celebration offers citizens of Utah "a marvelous opportunity to grow, celebrate" and make plans for the future. He said that citizens can help in the singing are Centennial Committee members Karen and Laren Huntsman. Photo by Larry Davis singing about the Utah Birthday Bash. Joining in with local committees by buying Utah Centennial License Plates since the additional $25 fee for the plate3 goes toward the Centennial with much of that fee coming back to the county. He added that other Centennial items are also available for purchase with more coming into the market as the Centennial approaches. Funding for Centennial projects does not come from tax money, he said. bonding support CASTLE DALE- - Voters going to the polls Nov. 8 will be voting not only on county officials, but voters will also be asked to consider a $ 10 million obligation bond proposed by the Castle Valley Special Ser- Incumbent United States Rep. Bill Orton and challenger Dixie Thompson squared off at a 3rd Congressional District debate on the College of Eastern Utah campus last Friday. The Democratic congressman emhasized the importance of following a nonpartisan approach in resolving problems plaguing the nation, while the Republican election hopeful focused on decreasing federal control and returning power back to the vice states. As an Emery County commissioner, Thompson indi- cated during her opening remarks that she understands rural issues. The congression- al candidate referred to the 10th Amendment and said she supports transferring power back to the states. Voicing her personal frustration, the elec (Continued on Page 8A) seeks By LYNNDA JOHNSON Sun Advocate editor bent U.S. representative. remind you that this is your only chance. There is only one Centennial. Help us create a CVSSD Debate centers on Third District Political debates provide U.S. citizens with an opportunity to become involved in the election process and cast informed votes, commented Orton during a brief opening statement. The congressman indicated that he opted to enter the political arena after growing dissatisfied with the status quo and deciding uninvolvement contributed to the nations overall problems. Elected officials need to listen to constituents, analyze the issues, make judgment calls and vote their conscience without regard to partisan politics, stressed the incum- "This is a great opportunity for everyone," he said. "I invite you to be a part of it, but I Ted Capner moderates a political debate between Dixie Thomp- son and Bill Orton at the College of Eastern Utah last week. The tion hopeful questioned the manner in which she perceived Orton has represented Utahs 3rd District. Responding to a question from the audience about financial aid for college students, Orton and Thompson expressed commitment to higher education. The congressman favored continuing efforts to improve financial aid programs on the federal level and expanding existing partnerships with community. The challenger maintained that too many strings are attached to funding at the federal level and called for deve- loping innovative financial programs within the state. Addressing the wilderness issue, Thompson said far too many areas in Utah are already locked up on a defacto basis, preventing development. A congressman from New York should not have the influence to push Wayne Americas business Owens proposed 5.7 million 1 t debate will be aired on KUED on Oct. 25 at 9 p.m. and again on Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m. acre Utah wilderness bill through Congress, added the candidate. Saying Orton developed a good wilderness proposal two years ago, the challenger claimed the incumbent U.S. representative never filed the bill strictly as an election ploy. man indicated that he has joined forces with Rep. Jim Hansen and Gov. Mike Leavitt in a cooperative effort to draft the best possible wilderness bill for Utah. Countering Thompsons allegation, Orton declared that he resented his opp- Amendment, Orton stressed that the federal government should play an active role in controlling massive weapons nationwide. The representative referred to his voting implication that he deliberately delayed filing the wilderness proposal for politi-cpurposes. The congress- onents al or non-partis- an Discussing ( Continued on the Second Page 16) District. The CVSSD is asking for authorization to issue and sell $10 million in bonds over the next 30 years, and to play the principal and interest from taxes to be levied on all taxable property. The district believes it can issue the bonds and repay them without an increase in property taxes. The present tax rates will be continued or extended for additional years, but wrill not be increased. All of the district's existing debt will be "dovetailed" in behind the existing debt so that the existing tax levies will not be increased It will be necessary to extend them for about six years. This is graphically shown in Figure 1. The district has been holding public informational meetings in each of the towns in its boundaries to explain what will be done, costs and provide other information. In examples cited by the district officials, if your home has a taxable value of $35,000, the taxes you pay to the CVSSD are presently $99.87 peryear. This same rate would be in effect until the year 2003. District officials also point out that because of the large industrial tax base in the district, mainly the power plants, it is estimated that around 92 (Continued on Page 2A) I |