OCR Text |
Show .$ Ban Juan Tecorb HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH 'Volume 67,Number 20' SINCE 1915 0 cents. February 11,2004 Black Hole of White Canyon closed Access to one of the most spectacular adventure sites in San Juan County has been tempo- rarily destroyed due to enor- mous flash floods in September of 2003. The Black Hole of White Canyon was inundated in a massive flash flood. After the water settled, a 70 foot high unstable log jam was left in the canyon which must be traversed in order for hikers to get out. Officials at the Bureau of Land Management Monticello Field Office report that the dangerous logjam is just one of several obstacles caused by the flash flooding. They warn that anyone attempting the descent into the canyon will probably get An enormous wood jam in the Black Hole of White Canyon makes traversing the spectacular slot canyon dangerous, if not impossible. Tom Jones Utah Photo Wild.com photo County officials welcome budget turnaround on PILT funding The National Association of Counties (NACo) recently welcomed President Bushs budget request for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. PILT is a federal program that compensates counties for tax exempt federal land in the county. Public lands counties are relieved that the Administration finally seems to have had a change in heart when it comes to paying its fair share for local services in counties where it owns land, said Don Davis, of NACos Western Interstate Region and commissioner of Rio Blanco County, Colorado. For the past several years Administration spokesmen would claim to support local communities but their annual budgets would call for deep cuts to PILT, continued Davis. If Congress had allowed those cuts to stand, commissioners in the public lands counties would have had to slash even more from already hemorrhaging local services or increase taxes on already burdened local property taxpayers. Even with this turnaround, we are still only about 23 of the way there, noted Sherry Krulitz, Chair of NACos Public Lands Steering Committee and Commissioner of Shoshone County, Idaho. We believe that the public lands counties are entitled to the full payment the law allows and we are asking Congress to step up and take responsibility for the land that the Federal Government controls. Uncle Sam is the biggest property owner in many counties, and he should have to pay his fair share every year, just like the private landowners do. Congress enacted the PILT program in 1976 to partially compensate county governments that have large amounts of public land within their borders. PILT funds are used to offset costs incurred by counties for services provided to federal employees and families, and to the users of the public lands. These include items like education, solid waste disposal, law enforcement, search and rescue, health care, environmental compliance, fire fighting, parks and recreation and other uses. The Presidents budget quest for Fiscal Year 2005 stuck at the logjam. The Black Hole is at the lower end of White Canyon, before it empties into the Colorado River. More than 100 square miles of watershed flow through the Black Hole in the spectacular slot canyon. The massive drainage flows through a very narrow space, thus creating the slot canyon, and also the problem. Officials encourage local residents to avoid the Black Hole until the log jam settles or is flushed out in future floods. Many hikers have enjoyed the ice cold hike through the Black Hole on hot summer days. But the current conditions make a hike through the Black Hole a dangerous proposition today. Felony court report 2 50 years since tragic accident - See page 4 Utah capitol reports - See page 5 Wrestlers advance to state tourneys - See pages 10-- 1 1 Why a science cen- ter? -- Bump - in See page 13 the road? See Caveman, pg. 20 girl Breanna Rae Heather & Daniel Howell January 4 Election season is soon to open It will be a busy election season in 2004, with a host of national, state and local contests. State races in 2004 include Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor and Treasurer. In addition, the State Senate and Representa See page - boy Skyler Diene Michell Harvey & Wilbert Collins January 15 tive position will be contested. One San Juan County Commission seat and three San Juan School Board seats will be on the November ballot, along with several judicial elections. The local filing period runs girl Dee Nikki Gary Torres February 13, 1988 & from March 8 to 17. Monticello Blanding Insurance help for farmers, ranchers served. There is no cost and all by Jim Keyes, USU Cooperative Extension Utah State agricultu ral University producers are invited Extension will hold meetings for farmers and ranchers who are interested in receiving information about crop insurance and risk management. On February 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lamplight Restaurant, information will he presented on crop insurance for dry beans, wheat, and other crops. This program will last until with lunch being mid-afternoo- interested n, to attend. On February 17 at 7 pan., a program will be held at the San Juan County Courthouse on risk for livestock will have Attendees producers. the opportunity to sit down at an individual computer and learn about how to better manage their operations. There is no cost for this program. For more info, call the Extension Office or Keyes at management 459-182- Monticello had 4" of snow Feb. and " Feb. 3 and 5. Blanding had 5" Feb 5, V Feb. 6 and a trace Feb. 7. 4. 1 5. re- gzEnPHtpre in- cludes $226 million for PILT and $20 million for Refuge Revenue Sharing, about the same levels appropriated by Congress for FY04. The budget request for PILT for FY04 was $200 million and $165 million for FY03. The full, authorized payment is about $341 million. The National Association of Counties (NACo) provides legislative, research, technical and public affairs assistance to county governments. Created in 1935, NACo continues to ensure that the nations 3,066 counties Swimming through the are heard and understood. February 9 snow report .7 of water in 40 of snow 10.0 is multi-yea- r average low 2.7" in 1996 is multi-yea- r multi-yea- r in is 1993 24.3" high Current snow is 1 1 7 of normal La Sal snow is 97 of normal 1 1 wood-congeste- d Tom Jones pools in the Black Hole. Utah Photo Wild.com photo |