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Show Ferron school receives award IB i t Sr f n 4 ., 4 - TO 4 kisssc I mnUi October 29, Tuesday 1 Castle Dale, Utah 96th Year - No. 42 996 500 Officials strive to settle quarry security concerns By Layne Miller Staff writer John Bird and Tom Rasmussen were not in a cheery mood while packing up the few bones left in tact at the Cleve-land-Llo- Dinosaur Quarry Tuesday. The impact of the recent burglary there was finally sinking in. Not much grows adjacent to the quarry. Grass is stunted, even the pinyon and juniper bushes are small. The grey purplish ground contains little of value, except dinosaur bone, lots and lots of valuable dinosaur bone. My heart dropped down to my knees when I drove in here and saw.the doors wide open, said Rasmussen, the Bureau of Land Management paleontologist. Rasmussen believes the thieves knew what they were looking for and Bird believes they had probably visited the site before The thieves took only the best quality, real bones, Rasmussen said. They knew what they were looking for. They left the replicas and the bones that were of questionable quality. Even perfect portions of some bones were taken and portions left in place. ct The display area at the quarry containing the bones is housed in an old metal build ing. To an untrained eye, its often difficult to tell the difference between a plain piece of rock and a dinosaur knuckle or backbone. But the thieves apparently knew. Red, white and blue flags now mark empty holes in the ground. The pitted, grey mudstone now only harbors bone replicas and dinosaur bone that is broken and weathered. Those empty holes used to contain world-clas- s bones. As upsetting to officials as theburglary is, it is just part of a bigger problem involving stolen dinosaur bone from public land. Its a lot bigger problem than I ever thought it was, indicated Emery County Sheriff Detective Kyle Ekker. I didnt realize it was a major problem until I started investigating tional landmark has been hard for the two dinosaur experts to comprehend Its more than just a theft, explained Rasmussen. Its stealing from a national landmark. Its stealing from the citizens of the world, chimed m Bird. Those bones will never be seen again. Bird and Rasmussen admit the burglary has temporarily destroyed their faith in man- kind. Thats why were out here said Rasmussen. Were taking the bones out of here. Weve lost our faith in mankind now, right now. The bones were carefully wrapped, placed in cardboard boxes and will be stored at the museum. Some will hopefully be replicated so the replicas can go back on view at the quarry. this. Rasmussen agrees. The market for dinosaur Its a massive problem, bones is worldwide. Officials said Rasmussen. Bird, United States Bureau dont like to talk about it for of Land Management tangei in fear of sparking interest m a charge of the quarry the last new potential thief, but several years, is also a College internet sites offer dinosaur of Eastern Utah Prehistoric bone for sale. Rasmussen remembers seeing a clip on teleMuseum employee. of the sites vision showing sales booths in About we excavate at the museum another country featuring meteorites and dinosaur bones for have already been vandalized, advised Bird. This is the first sale. time in the quarrys history it Value of the 300 or so pounds has been the target of a major of bones taken from the quarry theft. has been estimated at $50,000. one-thir- d The fact someone would vandalize and burglarize a na The importance of the ( Continued on Page 2) College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum employee John Bird surveys one area recently burglarized at the Quarry. Cleveland-Lloy- d Dinosaur BLM tabs Staircase manager Utah Bureau of Land Management State Director Bill Lamb announced Jerry Meredith has been assigned as the manager of the new Grand Staircase-Escalant- e National Monument. Meredith's transfer from his current post as the BLM's Cedar City District Manager to head-uthe first national monument in the country to be administered by the BLM is p effective immediately, according to Lamb. "We're extremely fortunate to have someone of Jerry's caliber in our ranks. Jerry's blend of resource expertise, people skills and reputation within in the community rock-soli- d makes him the ideal person for of the monument management the job," said Lamb. plan is a top priority, accordIn his new position, ing to Lamb. y Meredith will oversee both "Getting the planning team is one of our most management of natural resources inside the 1.7 needs. We're moving pressing monument and lead ahead with all deliberate speed day-to-da- on-boa- rd re a Bureau implementation team that has been pulled together to launch the monument in the right direction "Jerry has his work cut out for him, but fortunately he is supported by an excellent staff that is truly excited about the future possibilities of the Grand Staircase-Escalant- e National Monument," said Lamb. Assemblinga planning team to facilitate the development and expect to have a 12 to 15 e person planning team the on land and with working the communities during the next two to six months," said Lamb. The Presidential proclamation creating the monument directed the BLM to complete a long-terplan tor the area within three years Lamb aNo expressed enthusiasm lorthe unique pro lsions full-tim- m (Continued on Page 2) HEAT assistance available The Utah Department of Human Services is beginning its winter utility assistance program The Home Energy Assistance Target (HEAT) program is a federally funded assist ance program designed to assist eligible households to meet the rising cost of home heating The HEAT program begins 1 this year for the eldei ly and disabled. Seniors and disabled individuals may call the Human Services office at for an appointment Applications will also be taken to senior citizen centers or to those that are housebound. A representative ofthe HEAT Nov. 381-470- 0 program will be at the following sites to take applications for elderly and disabled individuals. Huntington Senior Citizen Center-N- ov 4 and 18, from 11 30 a m. to 1 p m each day Castle Dale Senior Citizen Cente- r- Nov 5 and 12, from 1130am to 1 p m eac h day Emery Senior Citizen Center- Nov 6 and 13, from 11 30 a m to noon each day. Ferron Senior Citizen Center- Nov. 6 and 13. from 12 30 p m to 1 30 p m each day. People must bring their Social Security cards, their most recent utility bills, proof of income for the pre ious calendar month as well as proof of any medical payments made during the precious calendar month The general public may begin applying for assist ance Nov 15 by making appointments with Human Services Interested indix iduals must bringthe aforementioned documentation, as well as identification and Social Security cards for everyone 18 or older residing in the household. The HEAT program wall run through March 1997 or until funds are depleted The HEAT program does not pay the entire fuel cost for the winter An eligible household may apply for only one HEAT payment per winter season. |