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Show San Juan Teeorb I HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH 50cents .Volume 87, Number 22 I, SINCE 1915 February 25, 2004 Tony Schetzsle, former Chief Ranger at Canyonlands National Park, returns as superintendent Tony Schetzsle, a veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), has been named 24-ye- ar superintendent of Canyonlands National Park, according to Intermountain Director The water level in Lake Powell continues to drop. The reservoir is now at its lowest levels since 1 970, 1 0 years before it filled for the first time. Photo courtesy Wayneswords.com Snow levels look good, but Lake Powell at low all-ti- With the critical month of March looming ahead, the snow-pack in San Juan County appears to be favorable. On February 24, there was 14.2 inches of water in the 49 situation inches of snow at the Camp Jackson reporting station in the Abajo Mountains west of Monticello and north of Blanding. This is 117 percent of normal. Computerized reporting began at Camp Jackson in 1986. As of February 24, there was more water in the snowpack in 2004 than there had been in 14 of the previous 18 years. The snow-paccontains more water currently than in any year since k 1997. Despite snow totals that continue to be higher than normal, it will take several years in order to make a dent in Lake Powell. As of February 19, Lake Powell was 43.87 percent full, continuing a multi year decline in the water level. On Febru me ary 19, the elevation of the lake stood at 3,588 feet above sea level, nearly 110 feet below capacity. The level at Lake Powell is the lowest that it has been since 1970, which is particularly dramatic considering the lake didnt completely fill until 1980. In addition, the water in Lake Powell has been cold this winter. The coldest water temperature ever recorded on the lake, 45 degrees, was recorded on the morning of January 13, 2004. The level of Lake Powell has dropped 23 feet in the past year, and is 62 feet below its level on February 19, 2002. The dropping water level of the lake has exposed areas that have been underwater for over 30 years. When the snowpack begins to melt, the water level in Lake Powell will begin to rise. At the current time, the snow- pack for the entire drainage which feeds Lake Powell is 90.2 percent of average. Steve Regional Martin. Schetzsle is expected to begin his new assignment on April 18. Tony is an extremely capable public servant with a unique blend of skills and experience that will serve him well as superintendent at Canyonlands National Park, said Regional Director Steve Martin. He listens to local concerns and makes responsible decisions that are committed to good stewardship and to the protection of our natural and cultural resources. Once again, I am privileged to work on behalf of the National Park Service at Canyonlands National Park, said Schetzsle. It is truly one of the great American landscapes that offers the best of our natural and cultural heritage, as well as an unforgettable recreational experience for all who come seeking to refresh themselves. Hattie and I look forward to renewing old friendships and settling into the community. Schetzsle is currently serving as the deputy superintendent at Rocky Mountain National Park. Rising from a position as a seasonal park ranger at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Schetzsle has served in leadership capacities in major park units in the System including park ranger at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, district ranger at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Montana, chief ranger at Canyonlands National Park, superintendent Ranch National at Grant-Kohr- s in Historic Site Montana, and finally returning full circle to Canyonlands National Park. During Schetzsles tenure as deputy superintendent at Rocky Mountain National Park, he was involved in a number of highly visible projects including the development of an agreement between the NPS, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and a number of other partners, in the implementation of an Elk and Vegetation Management Plan. Schetzsle is the recipient of numerous awards including an degree in natural resource planning and interpretation. He is a Vietnam era veteran, having serveel in the U.S Air Force approximately four years. Schetzsle and his wife, Hattie, have two children. Their son, Brian, attends the University of Colorado, and Todd is a senior at Estes Park High School. 2 com- mitment to RS 2477 - See page Shop at Home tures Days Inn - 2 fea- See page 5 Losses mean early end to basketball seasons - See page 8 House roulette - See Mary Lou, pg 16 Kaitlyn Marie girl Marcie & Benjamin Musselman February 18 Ethan Javan Javan Shumway boy Erin & February 18 girl Brooklyn Sharyn & Isaac Sloan February 21 Tracey Cultural Superior Service' Honor Award from the National Park Service. A native of Lafayette1, Indiana, Schetzsle is a 1979 Graeluate of Humboldt State CniveTsity in California, with a bachelors See page State reaffirms Resource Management Award, and a for Kylie Ann Dan Rogers February 22 girl Alisa & Monticello Feb Hi Lo Pr 5 16 43 17 44 18 18 49 36 19 49 32 41 23 20 21 38 30 .41 36 27 .38 22 Blanding Hi 48 51 54 53 47 45 43 Lo Pr 24 29 37 32 27 31 30 .54 .26 Monticello had 3 of snow Feb and 22. Blanding had 4 Feb and a trace Feb 22. 21 21 Schetzsle replaces former superintendent Jerry Banta, who retired from the National Park Service earlier this year. News Roundup Letters to Editor Society Sports Haiti missionaries to be evacuated Community News Legals Classified Real Estate 2 4 6 8 10 13 14 15 The violence in Haiti has hit pretty close to home as Ben Fellmeth, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is in the process of being evacuated from the war-tor- n country. Fellmeth, the son of Jody and John Fellmeth of Monticello, was transferred in the past month from the quiet southern coast of the Caribbean island nation to the capital, The Fellmeths recently received word that the missionaries in Haiti are being evacuated out of the country. Fellmeth is scheduled to finish his two years of missionary non-nativ- of Joel Krouskop firing a 50 cal. machine gun atop a Humvee near Samara, Iraq. Joel is a member e 8th Army, 4th Infantry, Charlie Company stationed in Iraq. The background in the picture was altered id submitted by Jeff Krouskop, Lt Commander, Public Health Service (PHS), Sitka, AK. - Award of Recognition, received from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, for his critical role in the rehabilitation and adaptive use of the historic McGraw Ranch as a research center within Rocky Mountain National Park. He has also received a Program Excellence Port-au-Princ- gt Felony court report service in September. e. e 4.2 of water in 49" of snow is multi-yea- r average low 3.2 in 1996 is multi-yea- r 30.1 in 1993 is multi-yea- r high Current snow is 1 1 7 of normal La Sal snow is 91 o of normal 1 12.1 |