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Show Featured in National Geographic Local residents discover dinosaur bird missing link A missing link showing a definite link between dino- saurs and birds has been discovered by San Juan County Paleontologists Stephen and Sylvia Czerkas. Direct descendants of the dinosaurs are on the earth today, said Stephen Czerkas. We call them birds. The remarkable specimen ing with flight, National Geo- graphic magazine says. A life-siz- e foot-ta- re- ll construction of Archaeoraptor by Stephen Czerkas will help bring the animal to life in the exhibit. The other new species are Sinornithosaurus millenii and Beipiaosaurus inexpectus. These dinosaurs support the from China originally was concept that early feathers found on the open market in evolved for insulation or disThe feathered wings of the Archaeoraptor liaoningensis are like a Halloween aparition. the United States and brought play rather than flight. The to the attention of the Czerkas, discoveries mean that depicThe model, by Stephen Czerkas of the Dinosaur Museum in Blanding, depicts the directors of the Dinosaur Mu- tions of many species may missing link between dinosaurs and birds. Czerkas discovered the missing link seum in Blanding. Because of have to change as museums in a fossil from China. Photo courtesy National Geographic Society the fossils extraordinary sig- rethink the appearance of nificance, the directors plan to these precursors of modern return it to an institution in birds. China after And that may include T. rex, study. Three fossil dinosaurs from at least T. rex young: When China with stunningly birdthey were small, they could like bones and indications of have used the feathers for HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH SINCE 1 91 5 feathers - one a species comhad warmth. If adult Vol84 No 4 October 27, 1999 pletely new to science - were feathers, it was probably only 50 cents unveiled on October 15 at the for display, said Philip Currie, National Geographic Societys curator of dinosaurs at Explorers Hall. The fossils Canadas Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, who has provide new, persuasive evidence of the link between dihelped identify the species. nosaurs and birds and of the Stephen Czerkas is a creator Voters in area municipalities Council. Joining him on the seek three available seats on belief that feathers were wideof sculptural restorations of dig will go to the polls at the No- November 2 General Election the Service Board of Trustees spread among prehistoric animals and direc-- vember 2 General Election. ballot are M. Dale Slade, including incumbent Jim Hook nosaurs, maybe even tyrannotor of the Dinosaur Museum. The Monticello City Council, Bryan Snow, Jerry M. Adams, and first time candidates Kent saurus rex. Czerkas sculptures of prehisD. R. Dr. Cook and and The never the Blanding City Council, toric animals, often fossils, Kyle Terry displayed Cantrell, Kathy Carson and the Bluff Service District Kimmerle. Reed Sampson. The three before, are the most recent to are considered both scientifiseek Board of Trustees all have Candidates expired seats open are currently held come out of Chinas Liaoning cally accurate and beautifully seats currently held by Laws, by Hook, Mark Bond, and Jim Province, the area that has lifelike. three available seats. Tues7 His work is on display in nuPolls open at a.m. on Randee Bayles and Lou Sayers. produced other fossils of feathmerous institutions, including The San Juan Record will ered dinosaurs. All of the aniday, November 2 and close at Mueller. All the seats for the meat-eate8 p.m. In Monticello, voters Blanding City Council are four host an open house on election mals were fast, bipedal the Natural History Museum known as theropods. of Los Angeles, the Field Mucan cast their ballot at the year positions. eve beginning when the polls The dinosaurs story is told in seum of natural history in ChiIn Bluff, four candidates close at 8 p.m. Monticello City Office, 17 the November issue of Na- cago and the Queen Victoria North 1st East. The Blanding Museum in Australia. He has tional Geographic magazine. City office is the location of the The fossils three in 100 West scientific articles on 50 written represent polls Blanding, two species introduced in reNorth. In Bluff, voters can the functional anatomy and cent months as well as one -- morphology of dinosaurs; his cast their ballot at the Bluff Capitol for the Day on November 5 the most birdlike of them all -- articles have been published in Community Center. In Monticello, six residents that is completely new to sci- the Journal of Vertebrate Paence. seek three available spots on leontology, Geology and the The three species include the Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs. the Monticello City Council. Born in Alhambra, CaliIn addition to incumbent Evan discovery by the Czerkas. is cabinet fornia, Czerkas began making Governor Mike Leavitt and Governor Leavitt and Lowry, the list of candidates Archaeoraptor liaoningensis include Douglas Allen, Kim his entire cabinet will once members for the meeting. a true missing link in the com- dinosaurs out of backyard mud Other activities for the day in- plex chain that connects dino- when he was four years old Burtenshaw, Kevin Dunn, Bev again caravan from the Utah n clude breakout sessions with saurs to birds. It seems to cap- and producing Rowley and A. Pete Steele. State Capitol to rural Utah. moThe open City Council spots The two-dathe ture animation dinosaur movies at paleontological Capitol for the cabinet members, a meeting are currently held by Lowry, Day tour will visit eastern with local elected officials, ment when dinosaurs were 10. He wrorked in the movie John K. Black and Craig Utah and focus on issues school visits and a media avail- becoming birds. industry before focusing his efLeavitt. Archaeoraptor , which lived forts on paleontology and muability. unique to rural Utah. more make than 120 million years seum sculpture. The will The City of Monticello is caravan then On Friday, November 5, the I am extremely proud of the tour will stop in Monticello and its way to Blanding, with the ago, had a dramatic combinaholding a Meet the Candi' of tion to characteristics work of those at the museum," dates night on Thursday, Oc- Blanding. At noon, citizens are public meeting scheduled physical tober 28, at the City Office. invited to participate in a begin at 4 p.m. at the College - a very advanced, birdlike said U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch of Eastern Utah - San Juan shoulder structure, wishbone of Utah. Although purchased The event begins at 7 p.m. town meeting at Monticello and big sternum - all indicatin the open market and could In Blanding, incumbent High School. State Senator Campus. The governor, lieutenant ing the animal was a powerful remain in the United States, Kelly Laws seeks his second Mike Dmitrich and Representerm on the Blanding City tative Keele Johnson will join governor, and 17 cabinet mem- flier. Remains of feathers sur- it says something for goodwill bers who conduct the business round the specimens bones. that this valuable fossil will of state government will all Yet its tail was strikingly simi- now be returned to China. y bus lar to the stiff tails of a family It is the first time that a sigparticipate in the Record tour. This is the second time of predatory dinosaurs known nificant fossil taken from its the governor has taken the as dromaeosaurs, which in- host country has been returned in this way, Hatch Capitol to rural Utah. In Sep- cludes the raptors of Jurassic The Dinosaur Museum to Park. said. tember the cabinet traveled This mix of advanced and of Blanding deserves special Richfield, Panguitch, Kanab, St. George and Cedar City. primitive features is exactly recognition for this move espeMore tours will be planned for what scientists would expect to cially in light of the priceless See candidate profiles on page 5 find in dinosaurs experiment nature of this fossil. next spring. The San Juan Record in-dep- th T-re- x Municipal seats open in General Election meat-eatin- life-siz- rs Governor Leavitt to bring capitol to Monticello, Blanding stop-motio- y The San Juan A takes CLOSER LOOK at General Election candidates two-da- e, |