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Show Recreational exploitation of public lands THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, November 12, 2003 - Pape 7 Dear Editor: Outfitters with a profit motive in the recreational exploitation of public lands threatened to move their marketing expositions to another state. They are miffed because Utah was instrumental in convincing the U.S. Department of Interior to stop illegal management practices on public lands. These practices were designed to lock up our natural and economic semi-annu- al resources in defacto wilderness. Now some restrictions may be lifted from some land. The outfitters think this correction in federal policy will cost them sales of camping gear. They want Utahs public lands to be dedicated to their interests; to add to their profits. Apparently these people don t believe that Utah has sacrificed enough freedom and economic opportunity on behalf of their recreational pleasure and personal profit. In the interest of pristine naturalness for recreational purposes, our forests are standing corpses; our timber indus- try not bark beetles has been exterminated; billions of tons of coal on the Kaiparowitz desert have been rendered worthless by capturing them in the Grand Staircase monument; oil and gas exploration is virtually impossible in this state due to litigation on behalf of outfitters and the outfitted. Untold millions of dollars have been lost to education and other public services as a direct result of catering to the demands of recreationalists and those who profit from them. At a steady price of $19.50 per ton, the Kaiparowitz coal field alone would produce $80 million per year for 113 years just in royalties to the state. But the resource in the Kaiparowitz desert is gone as a matter of federal policy dictated by recreationalists. The present and future benefits of this coal to the local and state economies went with it. The fact is everyone in Utah has sacrificed plenty for purposes serving the interests of these people. Consider our public school class size, teacher pay, tuition fees and income tax rates for starters! But no amount of sacrifice is enough so long as it is made by someone else. One would think that a governor who is responsible for balancing a state budget would defend economic freedom, viable economies and resource production. But never underestimate the motives of one who lusts for power and for acceptance by the ruling class. Bill Clinton dropped a bomb on Utah when he came to Arizona to announce that he was designating the Grand Staircase monument. Clinton was campaigning for a second term and Utah was a throw-awa- y means to a greater political end. Apparently, Mike Leavitt has learned well the sullied political trade of midnight strikes to personal political advantage. Upon the eve of his departure as governor to assume the directorship of the Environmental Protection Agency, Leavitt announced that he has requested the state planning coordinator to use whatever tools available to him to protect roadless lands consisting of 5,000 contiguous acres or more that have wilderness characteristics. In other words, Leavitt has asked the state planning office to try to reverse the reversal that the state won from the Department of Interior just a few months ago. Yet again, state and local budgets and the general well being of the means to a great political end. people of Utah are a throw-awa- y This eleventh hour kick in the teeth for Utah is a double win for the He no doubt has calculated that he will win the affection of recreationalists and their outfitters while, at the same time, solidifying his green bona fides in preparation for assuming his new Environmental Protection Agency duties. It is appropriate that the article announcing Leavitts recreational initiative was printed in the Deseret News on the obituary page. none-to-soon-to-- be ex-Go- v. Bill Redd Blanding by Bill Boyle Congratulations to the Monticello High School football team, who advanced to the State championship game with a convincing victory over the Duchesne Eagles on November 8 in Price. The Buckaroos will play the Enter38-2- 3 prise Wolves on Saturday at 11 a. m. at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. The Buckaroos have been the top seeded team in 1A for nearly three years according to the Parry Power Guide. The Power Guide, put together by Nolan Parry of Utah Valley, uses a complex series of algorithms and mathematical formulas to determine the relative strength of each high school football team. While the Buckaroos have been the number one ranked team in 1A nearly every week for the past three seasons, they are not favored to win the championship game. After several weeks of closing the gap, the Enterprise Wolves have a higher Parrys Power rating than the Monticello Buckaroos going DO YOU HAVE ADEQUATE INSULATION? STS' YyR f7G IT VGrJRnr-F- f MEAYDNG OY $974 CELLULOSE INSULATION PER BAG INCLUDING BLOWER into the State championship game. It will be interesting to see how the Buckaroos respond to what should be a very challenging game against Enterprise. With a victory, Buckaroo coach Mike Bowring would walk off the field with 36 wins in his previous 38 games over the span of three seasons. Just a quick note of appre- ciation to those who are willing to put their name up for consideration for government service. Democracy is best served when voters have a full slate of qualified candidates from which to choose. In my estimation, that was the case in November 4 general elec- tions in area communities. Last week the S an Juan r Record continued a tradition of marking the winners in the local elections. Even though the election takes place well after the print deadline, the San Juan Record staff comes in late on 'Tuesday night multi-yea- and spends several hours marking in the names of the winners of the local elections. It makes for a late night, particularly during the municipal elections. The City of Monticello does not have electronic voting equipment which has been purchased by San Juan County and the City of Blanding. As a result, election results are not made available until well after 10 p.m. I guess I shouldn't complain. It was after 3 a.m. before the electronic machines gave the final results in the 2002 elections in San Juan County. 9 The Kigalia Fine Arts Council presents RIPPLE TALES a unique blend of fairy tales Outrageously Great! Able to make the quietest puppy howl SAN JUAN BUILDING SUPPLY 1050 South Main St Blanding 435-678-20- 00 Tues 7 Nov 18 pm san juan high school blanding auditorium |