OCR Text |
Show Vol. Tooele, I'tah, Thursday, December 31, 19SI Eighty-Seve- n Gist: Twenty Five Qnits No.lliirty MSI Explosion Weteyes Top 81 News List 5 9 An explosion of a mining explosive plant that killed five Crantsville residents and the safe arrival of 888 nerve agent Ixrmlrs at Tooele Army Depot headed the list of top hx-a- l news stories in 1981. Both stories captured the attention of the national media and were reported on network news, wire services and front pages of the two Salt Lake newspapers. In the early morning of July 30, five workers were killed ai Mining Services International plant, located eight miles northwest of Crantsville. Jeanne Maliey, Richard I ligley, Jeff Boyer, Cary Cilliert and Phil Didericksen, all of Crantsville, were killed in the explosion which left only a deep, 45-fo- 150-fo- wide crater along with debris scattered for nearly a mile. One month later, the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration charged MSI with 11 allegations of serious safety violations in the explosion. Weteyes The Weteyes were then transported by a convoy over 54 miles of mostly unimproved road to storage in the TAD South Area. transfer went off flawlessly and The without a hitch. However, liecause of the controversy stirred up tty Utah Gov. Scott M. Matheson and some special interest groups it attracted great media attention, including coverage by network new-sCan Fork Alxtut 100 workers at Anaconda s Carr Fork Project w ere laid off in early Novemlte r as the mill portion of the mine closed. The low value of copper on the open market was blamed for reduction in force. Mine officials said they plan to concentrate efforts on development of ore veins in the Tooele mine. The company is hoping that in the one year of development, the price of copper will improve. Officials said complete closure of the mine was seriously considered and did not rule out that possibility in the future. One month prior to the strike, miners voted no" on a union strike, mainly liecause of the tight two-wee- k . economy and uncertain future of the mine. Schools School teachers threatened to strike when they were offered only a three percent increase in salaries, but the walkout proposal was turned down. However, leaders of the teachers union said they will not take another ear of low pay. Tooele, which used to Ixrast of (he highest paid teachers in the state, is now the second lowest of the 40 Utah district. Cuts in federal fluids as w ell as small increases in the weighted pupil unit funds from the state and earlier defeat of a voted mill levy hike were cited as primary reasons for the small increase. on to an earlier start in Many of the schools the morning in August, as the bilingual, gifted and talented programs were dropped while music and media center budgets were significantly cut. A Parent Education Resource Center was opened in January, blit controversy over funding eliminated the program four months later. PERC advocates formed a private foundation to revive WM the program in the public sector. Superintendent Clarke N. Johnsen initiated a "Future of Education program to receive public input on how and what should lie improved in the school dist net. Following a heart attack. Superintendent Johnsen retired and Walden Gurney was selected as superintendent. Despite the cutbacks in services and low teacher pay, the district produced several outstanding students. Two Tooele High School seniors were selected to attend military academies and that school handed out a record number of scholarships to its graduates. A national survey showed that Tooele District educated than students consistently are I their national counterparts and the district's scholars are lietter prepared than college-bounothers in the state. City After two years of discussion, the city council approved surrendering the city airport for a multimillion dollar industrial park. If the deal is completed, Tooele will eventually receive a light and heavy industrial park, an golf course and three parks. In return the Nevada-basecity trades its airport to EMkO, a d d development firm. However, petitions were circulated to get the land trade deal on the Novemlier ballot as a referendum measure. Although more than enough people signed the petitions, a district court judge ruled the measure off the ballot because of unclarity. Tooele Mayor Doug Sagers did not seek a third term office and Oren Proliert was elected mayor. Tom Atkin and He easily defeated runner-uHammond. write-ichallenger Randy Colleen DcLaMare was to the city council and David Faddis gained the other council seat. These two council memliers outdistanced a field of eight others who filed for the office. A $3.1 city wide improvement district from the very beginning received heavy opposition from local residents until the project was shelved p n Ljfft rJ 17mm la m indefinitely by the city council. The proposal included 20 miles of sidewalk, 15 miles of curb and gutter and 15 miles of pavement, all within city limits. Other News The state legislature approved a reapportionment measure that placed a portion of Tooele City as well as the southern rural communities of Tooele Comity in the same state House district as part of Box Elder County. A lawsuit is expected to lie filed. In February, a blaze gutted J ('. Penney ' Tooele store. Faulty w inng at the bat k of the store was blamed for the blae. Inventory ilamage was reported at $25MXKI for the store, with another $75.(KMI in structural (Linage. After local ingout lets at three temporary sites in at Tooele, the store was remodeled and reoN-nethe original site in the fall. Comity officials were informed that the Vitro tailings in Salt lake w ill definitely lie transferred to a site on the western desert of Tooele County. A bill that would require comity commissioners to approve transfer of radioactive waste was defeated in the state legislature. The Vil ro issue is expected to continue for the next sesrral years. AImiiiI 500 workers at AM . walked off the job in late March, but returned one week later. The AMAX employees settled for a 10 percent increase. d Growth Tooele County experienced some areas of growth despite the tight economy. Housing and construction, however, continued to suffer locally because of high interest rates. But, the senior citieus center was completed and dedicated, the hospital added new doc tors and $250,000 in new equipment and Cetty Oil announced plans to mine gold in Mercur Canyon. For the first time in several years, an effort was made to revive the Fourth of July celebration in Tooele and Landmark Days enjoyed a successful fourth year. Tooele Army Depot hired 220 new employees, only a fraction of the 2,196 that applied for depot employment. Sports It was a far cry from a banner year in Tooele County sports in 1981. Crantsville tennis teams continued to dominate that sport in the 2A ranks with state championships in the boy and girl classes. The highlight of the athletic year was in February when Tooele High won the stale championship in wrestling and three of its men were crowned title winners. Tooele's swimming team captured its fourth consecutive second place finish at state and the Tooele golf team won its fifth straight region crown while finishing third at state. Tooele County had probably one of its worst years ever in football with the three competing record, and high school compiling a 2 won-los- s only two of the wins in region competition. Whos Going To Be Firstborn In 1 982? DO DO O f rj In t mamm0 a ITRIHE While most expectant mothers would probably prefer a 1981 arrival in hopes of an extra $1,(XX) tax deduction, there is consolation for the first arrival of 82. The first baby bom of Tooele County residents at the Tooele Valley Hospital will receive about $300 in gifts, prizes, certificates and cash from Tooele county merchants. r r ; A? s The parents of the winning infant will be given a letter from the Tooele Transcript stating they have won the contest which they can present to the individual participating merchants to receive S&y, News Of 1981 Some of the major local news events of the year include those pictured above: the transfer of Weteye bombs to Tooele Army Depot, All expectant mothers who reside within Tooele County are eligible to enter the competition, but the winning infant must be bom at the Tooele Valley Hospital. The first baby who meets those requirements and is bom in 1982 will be declared the winner. In case of a close contest, Tooele Valley Hospital records will lie the deciding factor. the gifts. the threat of a strike by the countys teachers, the fatal Crantsville explosion, a major hiring by TAD and a strike by AMAX employees. mans Jewelry and one gallon of paint for the nursery from Boise Cascade. The Transcript will give baby announcements for the parents to announce the new arrival, Just Kids will honor the child with a pair of baby shoes and a quilt. Mode O Day, The Wearhouse and Hamiltons Drug Center will each present the parents with $10 gift certificates. Tooele Countys first arrival will also receive a pair of bib overalls from The Store, $5 in cash from Clyde Gilrson, shoes from Anns Shop. The parents will receive two chicken dinners at the Glowing Embers, a lxiuquet of flowers from Lawrence Floral and one large pizza from the Pizza Hut. Albertsons is handing out a case of disposable diapers, J C Penney a diaper bag, Daves Drug and Caldwell Drug a $10 gift certificate and the new bom will open a $10 share draft account at the Tooele Federal Credit Union. The infant and family will also receive a $10 baby planter from Tooele Floral, $5 in cash from a $10 savings account at Peter Rabbit First Interstate Bank, a case of disposable diapers from Safeway, a case of formula from Allens Food Farm, a needle work kit from the Pink Pony and installation of cable TV in the home. l, Miss or Mr. 1982 will receive its first outfit, of $15 value, from Christensens, a baby carrier from Gordons Decor Plus, a week of day care at The Other Mother, a first feeding spoon from Bate Opposition To Stansbury Tax Hike Surfaces A second side is emerging to the sup- inposed unanimous approval of a crease in taxes sought by Stansbury park property owners. At a public hearing on Dec. 17, the 14-m- county commission assembled to hear comments to a proposal for two special service districts which would pay for maintenance of the recreation and green-be- lt areas in Stansbury Park. Only about a dozen people showed up, and, to the surprise of the commissioners, no opposition was given. But now that the taxing entities are in place and prepared to hike taxes by as much as 26 percent, the opposition is be ginning to surface. The opponents say they may start a petition to rescind the action. Nearly 100 registered voters in the Stansbury Park district would have to sign the document before the county commissioners would be obligated to revoke the two special service districts. In between the two sides is the county commission. Says Commission Chairman Charles Stromberg, We just want to give the people of Stansbury what they want. At this point, the commissioners are waiting to see what the majority wants. Proponents of the service districts see the taxing districts as the only way to maintain services so far provided by the developer Terracor. That company is involved in bankruptcy litigation. Their proposal will insure local control, they believe, and still avoids making the rest of the county pay for the luxuries they enjoy, such as living on the edge of a golf course. The opponents, however, are not eager to see taxes jump dramatically for the benefit of golfers. Most of the golfing is done by people from outside of the county, and they question paying taxes for those Salt Lake City golfers. Also, a public golf course more often than not loses money, according to recrea tion director David Yurth. He speculates that the mill levy would have to increase to pay for the loses until Stansbury residents until objected. Then the special service districts would fail, and the county would be left holding the bag, Mr. Yurth said. He is considering purchasing the properties of Terracor. Of course, if he were to buy the properties, he would be hit hard by the 14 mills of tax. Mr. Yurth noted that his interest in the property would disappear if the special service districts are enacted. He said he is considering making the Stansbury golf course into a private club which would tie in with other clubs he has already developed. Among the plans he is considering, e condoStansbury would have miniums. Members of the club would also have access to his developments in Salt Lake City, Evanston, Vernal, Price and possible outlets in Delta and the Salt Lake time-shar- International Center. The developer said that these concepts for Stansbury are dependent on many things, most of which have not yet been investigated. If he continues with his work, he expects to pay about $50,(XX) just for surveys, he added. Mr. Yurth predicted it would cost a half million dollars to revive the golf course in Stansbury. He also said the course would probably take up to three )ears to le in top condition. Private enterprise, he is the best way to accomplish this. If the special service districts remain in place, and it appears likely that they will, the Stansbury Homeowners Association will seek a private group to maintain the golf course on a lease basis. But that if will not be decided for another two weeks. The new petition has until Jan. 15 to Ire submitted to the count y commissioners. If the protest is not received by then, a board of trustees will be elected and the taxing group officially begins. |