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Show Hunters found men reported last Thursday night missing when they failed to returnfrom a rabbit hunting trip were found Saturday after two days Two Moab of searching by San Juan ami Grand County officers. San Juan County Sheriff Rigby Wright said men from his office aided in the air search on Saturday and had assisted with ground searches the previous day. The two men, Tom Murdock and Gary Shaffer, both 26, were spotted by a search plane about 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Hatch Rock area, about 25 miles north of Monticello in San Juan County. They were reported in good condition. They were a little cold but all right, said Grand County Sheriffs Deputy Roger Coursey. He said the two hunters waved at the rescue air- plane from their pickup truck, which may have developed engine trouble and stranded them. Murdock and Shaffer were reported missing Thursday night after they failed to return home from hunting. temperatures hampered ground and aerial searches, Deputy Coursey said. He Sub-ze- ro -- ft Clutching a sucker in one handf and apparently enumerating his Christmas "wishes' on the fingers of the other , Eric Bayles of Blanding talks with Santa Claus during the Blanding Shop-- at Home son of Mr. and Mrs. George Bayles. program. Eric is the u HOMETQWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY. UTAH Vol . 61, No. 46 1 5 cents a copy December 14, 1978 Messiah Saturday at San Juan High The Messiah, George F. Handel s famous oratorio, will be presented this Saturday, December 16, at 8 p.m. at the San Juan High School auditorium in Blanding. Seats are Johnson, Eastland; Ms. Cindy Walker, Blanding; Ms. Johnnie Bailey, Monticello; Jerry Bates, $1 ected by Peter J. Henderson, will be accompanied by an orchestra made up of local musicians and a group from Snow each. The oratorio will feature five soloists: Ms. Saundra Blanding, and Terry Summer-hay- s of Salt Lake City. The chorus, dir80-vo- ice College. The chorus and soloists, made up of county musicians and sponsored by the Canyon-lander- s, will perform 20 of the more familiar pieces from The Messiah. ' The performance is expected to last about one hour and is not recommended for smaller children. said the men apparently did not require medical attention. Park open Dead Horse Point has shown some rather interesting visitation figures this month, according to Michael P. Slauson, assistant superintendent, Dead Horse Point State Park. Both camping and park visitation have shown a decrease from November of 1977, but total visitation to the park to date for 1978 is up considfigerably over 1977's te to-da- ure. Visitors to the area were reminded by Slauson that the park is open all year round. The visitor center and museum are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except holidays. Restroom facilities are available at the visitor center and at the point. County seeks tax solution Possible solutions to problems raised by the recent move by the Navajo Nation to possession and entry tax on firms and persons doing business on the reserby vation were discussed Juan of San the members County Commission at the annual public hearing on budget requests last Thursday night at the courthouse in Montice- charge a llo. Commissioner Eddie Boyle reported at the public session on a meeting held the previous day with Governor Scott Matheson in Salt Lake City concerning the tax situation. Commissioner Calvin Black explained to those at the meeting possible alternatives for the county if the new tax levied by the Navajos is suc- cessful. The levying of the reservation tax has resulted in oil companies paying their San Juan taxes under protest. Cly-ti- e Barber, San Juan County clerkauditor, said this week that taxes paid under protest thus far have amounted to $2,852,791.05. This is close to the figure which $3-mill- ion county commissioners earlier had estimated would be lost to the county and school district if the reservation tax remains effective. Among the alternatives outlined by the commissioners at last Thursday's meeting was even the possibility of dividing San Juan County into two separate entities, with the border at what is now the division between the Navajo reservation and the rest of the county. In outlining the alternatives. Commissioner Black said that the new tax presents a very serious economic crisis for San Juan County. Of the total amount of taxes in question, an estimated $ 800,000 would be used by the county, with most of the re- (P lease turn to Page 4) Potential disaster averted in Bluff blast, fire By Alvin Reiner potential calamity was miraculously averted when a blast and ensuing fire gutted the Turquoise service station and its adjoining restrooms in Bluff, although there were no injuries reported to several persons in the immediate vicinity. The blast occurred around noon on Wednesday, December 6, when Billy Hurst was mak-cn- g a routine gasoline delivery to the service station, operated by Bob and Barbara A Boot. According to Mr. Boot, the fire apparently started when snow water from melting caused an exposed portion of a power line to short circuit. The resulting arc, coupled with a gasoline fume buildup, provided the catalysts for the explosion and ensuing -- fire. The explosion, which was heard over a mile away, sounding like a sonic boom, knocked Bob Boot and Billy Hurst back against the truck and broke Bob's eyeglasses. Clouds of thick, black smoke, rising several hundred feet, could be seen for many miles. The ( gasoline truck was Please turn to Page 2) Fireperson Betty Gaines directs a fire hose at the smoke and flames as volunteers fought the blaze at the Turquoise service station. Betty achieved a measure of fame last year in several newspapers as Bluffs pregnant fire chief. Alvin Reiner photo. |