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Show Volume Eighty Nine Tooele, Utah Thursday, May 17, 1984 Twenty-fiv- e Cents Carr Fork Trims Mine Force To 8 4 ' Cost: Anaconda Carr Fork layed off 35 ? workers Thursday, leaving only eight employees at the mine project east of Tooele. The official announcement of the layoff was not a surprise to the skeleton workforce at the underground copper mine which employed 805 fulltime workers just three years ago. Workers had been expecting the closure announcement since Monday when a mudslide claimed the life of a Price man and filled the service shaft. John Harmon, project manager at Carr Fork, said the layoff will go into effect immediately. "Each of the workers will be paid for this week plus an additional two These photos show the Impact of the Carr Fork mudslides which claimed the life of one man and permanently closed the mine. The dot on the lower photograph Indicates the site where the victims body is believed to be buried. The search will continue when the area stabilizes. Photos courtesy ) of Anaconda. weeks, Mr. Harmon told the Transcript today. "They will also be entitled to receive pay for any accrued vacation time. Of the eight remaining workers, three are salaried employees and the remainder are hourly. Mr. Harmon said that Anacondas parent company, Atlantic Richfield Company, will do everything possible to relocate the laid off workers at other operations. "Of course we cant make any promises, but we will do everything we can to relocate those workers desiring to do so, Mr. Harmon said. The mine manager said eight remaining workers were retained based on their overall knowledge of the mine and those that can make building when the slides hit. He estimated the slide to be at least 375 feet wide and 50 feet at the crown. The mine manager complimented his work crew that was just four days shy of two years without a accident. 'They were approaching 400,000 hours without a loss time accident, Mr. Harmon work-relate- d individual decisions. said. another prime consideration was given to those that could help recover the body of Kenneth He said that the future of the remaining employees will be determined when the victims body is recovered. The Carr Fork project began exploration and development in 1974 and was at full production in the fall 1979. Two years later, the mine was bustling with 850 fulltime workers. He said miner Forsgren, the that was trapped in Tuesdays mudslide. Mr. Forsgren was working on a crew of four when the massive slide tipped over his bulldozer and pinned him between his machine and another bulldozer. The other men escaped with only minor injuries. The Carr Fork canyon is closed under a restrictive order from the federal Mine Health and Safety Administration. No one is allowed past the shop and warehouse at the guard gate. Mr. Harmon said that no one was underground or in the main office However, as copper prices dropped drastically, Anaconda was forced to layoff 100 workers in November of 1981. Six months later the largest layoff in Tooele County hit the mine as 700 miners were handed blue slips. The workforce was gradually reduced to a group of 43 employees, 35 which were layed off Thursday morning. Number Fifty Transporation Commission Meets Friday The Utah Transportation Commission will hold a public meeting in Tooele Friday to hear transportation concerns from county residents. The meeting will be held in the county commission chambers in the courthouse at 9:00 a.m. Friday, May 18. UDOT spokesman Tim St. Clair said the commission, which is composed of five members, serves as a governing body for UDOT, approving projects and funding, liie commission does not work for UDOT. "The commission will be available to listen to complaints and suggestions relating to governor-appointe- d roads or other state-owne- d transportation related matters, said Mr. St. Clair. "The commission has not been in Tooele county for some time, so now is the chance for residents to voice their opinions, he added. State Honors Local Volunteer A1 Goetz of Tooele was one of 23 Utahns honored by Gov. Scott M. Matheson for outstanding volunteer service. Mr. Goetz received a silver bowl in a ceremony at the state capitol House of Representatives chambers Monday. Mr. Goetz, a native of Holland h who resides with the Gordon Lewis family in Tooele, spends more than 20 hours each week teaching handicapped students sign language at Oquirrh Hills School. Tooele Stake Sets Conference Nightmare Recurs In Ophir Canyon Like a recurring bad dream, wild runoff has hit Ophir with full force, causing power outages and frantic efforts by volunteers to save the mountain communitys only access road. Water born high on mountains behind Ophir have for the second consecutive year ravaged through the scenic canyon, dumping countless tons of rock and debris everywhere. Ophir Mayor Georgia Russell, whose property at the mouth of the canyon has become a settling basin, says this years runoff appears higher than last "It's perfectly hard to tell how much water is coming down, said Mayor Russell. "But 1 think theres a lot more than last year and the damages are worse." Some of those damages include frequent power outages from falling trees hitting power poles. Most of Ophirs power poles run adjacent to the creek and the waters erosive action has taken its toll. Utah Power and Light crews throughout the week have dealt with the power outages, and are preparing to install new poles and lines away from the creek. Completion of the project has not been set. In addition to power outages, Ophirs culinary water supply has been threatened since the weekend when summer temperatures initiated the excess runoff. Earlier in the week, one water system was barely saved from loss when runoff jumped the creekbed and prepared to wipeout a culinary spring and pipeline. But of greatest concern is the access road leading to and from Ophir. Throughout the week, rushing water has stabbed at the road, eroding it severely in many places. Masslves rock dikes have been constructed to divert runoff away from the road. Boulders from Getty Mercur Mine have been donated for the dikes. If the road were to be wiped out, Ophir would be Isolated and accessible only by helicopter or bulldozer. "All of the work that is being done up here Is by volunteers," said Mayor Russell. They have been working around the clock on the well road and water supply . - never be able to thank them enough." Former Sheriff Walter Shubert has been singled out by Mayor Russell as a key person responsible for keeping much of Ophir intact. "Walt Shubert has been helping us prepare for the flood weeks before it started," said Mayor Russell. "Hes been the leader, organizing everyone to work well and get the job done. We thank him so much for all the help he has given us. The mayor added that sightseers are discouraged from going up the canyon. Heavy equipment operators are working with limited space on the road. Earlier this week, a family in a small car required rescue efforts from volunteers in the Free Wash Volunteer sandbag delivery trucks get afternoon. Dam Is Safe, State Says by David Bern When excess mountain runoff hit Tooele this week, it did not take long for a list of rumors to fester and spread panic throughout the community. But perhaps one of the most rumors passed between neighborhoods involves whether or not the Settlement Canyon Reservoir will hold throughout the flooding ordeal. bone-chillin- canyon. We dont want anyone but workers going up the canyon, said Mayor Russell. "It is just too dangerous up there for sightseers. g Rural Tooele County Faces Its Share Of Flooding Woes Tooele and Grantsville are not alone in the battle against the flood lems in other areas. Pine Canyon residents are rip- waters. ping out driveways to allow the water to flow past their homes. Extensive sand bagging around the LDS Church and other areas have temporarily staved off the flood waters but more work will be needed to keep the area Intact. Residents in outlying communities are scrambling to protect homes from the biggest snow melt ever In the history of the county. Citizens are sand bagging, diking and fighting the tide as they attempt to thwart the raging waters that are threatening personal property. Lake Point has been inundated by more water than ever before and local residents in that area are sand bagging to protect property. Water running out of canyons that produced nothing but buckets full in the past are pounding the Lake Point area. East Erda Is receiving the brunt of waters from Middle Canyon. Droubay Road, Brian Road, Church Road, and Erda Way have all been flooded. Water from Settlement Canyon is destined for west Erda and should hit the area in two days. Most of Settlement Canyon water has been directed towards the Tooele Army Depot but west Erda should receive Its share soon. Tooele County was declared a disaster area by the county commission in an emergency meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Lee Bracken said the disaster declaration helps open doors for state and Water from Coyote Canyon, Bates Canyon and Pass Canyon follow the Union Pacific Railroad line and settle in the Lake Point valley. Lake Point residents were pro- vided with sand bags from the county but have had to battle the problem alone while county crews have been busy battling flood prob- - federal funds. Despite Salt Lake media's misguided reports that a large question mark dangles over the dam, the states geologist, along with city, county and irrigation company officials, strongly urge for everyone to throw away their fears. Following a inspection Wednesday, State Geologist Bill Lund told city, county and irrigation company officials that the earthen dam is not cracked, nor is it in jeopardy. fly-ov- In addition, Mr. Lund said that even a serious mudflow or drastic reservoir level increase, would not effect the dam. However, such a scenario would send more water over the spillway and cause probable chaos for the flood control system and sandbag dikes throughout the town below. Howard Clegg, president of Settlement Canyon Irrigation Company, said that even with the high amount of water in the reservoir, the dam's Inner drainage system for seepage is stable and is no different than when the dam is under normal condition. Analysis shows that the dam is not soaking through, even though the reservoir's level is full. Mr. Clegg added that the dam is constantly being monitored. also inWednesday's cluded an look of Settlement Canyon's interior. Mr. Lund said because of the canyon and mountain's structure integrity, a fly-ov- Is highly Thistle Lake type-slid- e probable in the canyon. Im- There have been numerous mudflows we call skin failures that have reached the canyon floor" said Mr. Lund. "But these flows are only shallow, carrying a lot of debris and could not cause water to back up behind them and create a dam. attend. The conference opens Saturday at 4 p.m. with a Melchize-dePriesthood leadership meeting. Those invited to attend in- k clude: high councilors, bishop- added that these skin failures are the result of quickly melting snow causing unstable soil conditions. Four major mudflows were counted Wednesday, with several smaller ones spotted and others ready to fall. Mr. Lund emphasized that even though the skin failures pose no threat to the canyons reservoir, sightseers who disregard warnings to stay out of the canyon face a different situation. "If someone is in the canyon when one of these flows begin to go, theyll find themselves in serious trouble, said Mr. Lund. 'These flows move around 15 to 20 mph and will outrun a man." Mr. Lund stressed that no one should be permitted to enter the canyon because of the unstable conditions. Also, the past few days have provided ideal flood control conditions with cool days and rics, Melchizedek Priesthood quorum and group presidencies and secretaries and adult advisors to Aaronic Priesthood nights. He added that the water level leaving the canyon and entering the Hughes resigned in April. Mr. Lund reservoir has peaked. But with warmer weather predicted for the weekend, another surge can be expected. Grantsville Under Control Thanks to an onslaught of volunteers and two days of cooler tem- peratures, flooding problems in Grantsville are temporarily under control, say city officials. City council members received calls from people on South Cooley and Flum Streets who were having sewers but problems with back-up adjustments have been made to quorums. There will be meeting at 7 p.m. for all adults 18 and over in the stake. TIIS Names New Principal Joe Trujillo has been appointed as principal to Tooele High School, Superintendent Walden O. Gurney announced today. Mr. Trujillo, who serves as elementary education director in the Tooele School District central office, will replace Gordon Barney. Mr. Barney will move to the district office as director of pupil personnel, filling a vacancy created when Don Superintendent Gurney also announced that Martell Menlove, principal of Stansbury Elementary, will be the new principal at Dugway High School. Dugway Principal Robert Kroff will trade positions with Mr. Menlove and serve as the Stansbury principal. Photos of the men Involved In the school district administra- tive changes and a complete story will appear in the Tuesday issue of the Tooele Bulletin. In Todays Transcript t Reflections (Continued on page six) C i 11111111 the splash while coursing south on Pioneer Avenue Wednesday A general authority of the LDS Church will preside at all sessions of the Tooele Stake Conference slated Saturday and Sunday. All sessions of the conference will be held at the Tooele Stake Center, 253 South 2nd East. The general session of conference will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. All members of the stake and their friends are invited to V am taalUJliUdl Ui4 |