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Show A2 Vernal Express PUBLIC FORUM LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Who! is your opinion? The Express welcomes tetters from Its readers concerning any subject pertinent to the Uintah Basin. There are no restrictions as to contents, It not libelous or vindictive and of , Opinion and Commentary Wednesday, January 8, 2003 reasonable length (two typewritten double spaced pages). Letters must be submitted exclusively to the Express and bear the writer s full name, signature, phone number and address. Letters lor the sole purpose ol expressing thanks to individuals or groups will not be printed In the lorum. Letters may at be mailed, taxed at 789 8690 or through editor vernal com. The name or names ol those submitting lottors must appear on all published letters. All lottors are subject to condensation. Letters express the opinion ol the writer and are not necessarily the opinion ol the Express Editor. Christmas feeling I Vnr Editor. We live in a world wlierr terror is running rampant, mid some people do nothing but spread fear and uneasiness. Our fieedoin and our rights aic on the line mid these people me trying to take this away from us, let us not let this hapjx-n- . Our loved ones arc over seas fighting to nil the world of this termr So while all of om men and women in the armed forces arc doing their job, lets try and make their job easier We can do this by pulling our differences aside and shut helping out each other, going the extra mile to make each other's life a little easier. Remember the reason that Jesus Christ was to give us hojH and to help us out. let us remember the reason wc celebrate Christmas is to rememlxT life of Jesus Chnst and how he does love and care for us. lets not only remember that feeling during the Christmas Season but all year long and I believe that our lives will Ik made better for it. I would also like to thank Mr. Reed Hansen and the Uintah Highlights for doing the great job (hut (hey do by spreading the Christmas Spirit and bringing joy into our lives in a troubled world I do not know how Mr. Hansen dix's it every year, but be surly dies have the magic and the talent to take some students and turn them into some of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. RODNEY EARLY WITHI.E Naples Hands on Christmas Dear Editor, On behalf of the Helping Hands Christmas live dinner, I wanted to publicly acknowledge the many families, individuals and businesses who generously gave their time mid resources to once again make this event a big success. Whether you donated fixxl or money, delivered a meal, washed a dish, etc., please know how mmh you were appreciated. Also, special thanks go out to the staff at the Western Park for your help. What a wonderful community wc live in with such a spirit of giving! WI NDY MAY Vernal oilier mega ioipor.ite packing houses and feedlots for holding the pmc ol entile on the hixf down in the basement so dial Western stockmen scrape by from year to year or leave the business entirely. Nolxxly even reflects on how imjrohablc il is to try to raise cattle in a land with practically no rainfall and ever declining snow pack (blame Cnxl). Nuw, its always the wolves, the coyotes, the hears, the cougars, even the eagles and prairtes dogs, and those gixldam Free hugger that make Western ranching such a marginal operation. Since facts count lor so little in our little community, maybe only opinions are grxxl for human consumption. In that case Ill give mine, knowing that 1 am not alone d in my sentiments. Yay for the wolves! Tltese because our arc stale cullers pioneering theres Mutable habitat They me going hack "home." Some of these pioneets will, peifotce. he from packs in no way connected with the intrrxliiced Yellowstone wolves. As we all know, mtrixluced wolves arc subject to lawful "control " Other wolf pioneers will have the protection of the law. let the counties pass their statutes. A higher law- - and public opinion-stan- ds between the wolves and a second wave of annihilation. I seem A point of clarification: to recall that a Defendeis of Wildlife, private, non profit group, was paying the lion's share of reparations for livestixk ilepradations in Wyoming and Montana. Bulks, that's free rnterpnsc! lets celebrate that wherever we find il! I et's hox tix, that the chokehold that Big Ag has on cattle prices comes to an end. Most stockmen dont get significant piedalion. It's the mounting overhend and perenially paltiy sale prices that are killing them. Until they stand up on their hind feet and start fighting Big Ag in an organized fashion, they will never see much for all their hard woik. Maybe the Utah Barm much-maligne- Bureau and other farmerrancher "advocate groups could get off their duff or out of bed with Big Ag and start shaving some of the profits from the "middle men" in the feedlots and packing plants, (liven the Sony state of the nation that "common sense" has gotten us, many of us take solace in the "uncommon" sense of Nature. Between Pch Cross's version of common sense and more wildness in the woilil, I'll take the wolves every lime, W II. I. DURANT Vernal Dear Editor, Wc as a family wish to release (his statement of gratitude to the, Vernal Express, Uintah Basin Standard, and St. (ieorge Specturm, due to all the siiijxrt received from these communities due to the tragic passing of our four family niemlxrx. "Wc would like to express our gratitude to the outpouring of love and support that has been rendered to our family these past few weeks following the passing of our parents, Bruce and Sandra, and brothers, Bryson and Tyier Hunt, It has been a very difficult time, hut all of your selfless acts of kindness have helped in the casing of our pain. The manner in which our family has been honored has made us proud to lx- - part of such a wonderful community. Wc wish wc could express this gratitude to each of you individually, but understand that this may he impossible to do. So. we wish to publi-call- y thank the entire community for everything that has, and is still being done in behalf of our family." THE HUNT CHILDREN KIMBERLY. AND ANNALECE BRANDON, TREVOR Wolves Icar Editor, "Paranoia strikes deeplnto your heart it will creeplt starts when you're always afiaidStep outta line, the man comes A nil lakes you away " As I read the article by Deb Cross, for some reason that absolutely escapes me, I thought of these lyrics by Buffalo Springfield. Nolxxly ever faults ConAgra and the four or five FulillOad avary Wadnaaday lew $74 par yaai In phn(iping ra and I'Vs pm y mu out ol showing M wtlNn Mai and I'M pm yaai out at alula wtttitn USA by lha Varnal I aprma Putlthng Company. M North Varna! Avanue. Varnal, Utah MO 78 Pertodxal poataga paid at Varnal. Utah MO 71 POSTMASTf Ft Sand addraaa ehangat to Vt FINAL tXPHf S4 PO Boa 1000. Varnal Utah M07 Jar Ft WoHia ftlavan PutiNahar Virginia Harrington R PatrlrA BoahtA and Co Pubhahar F aatura Wrttar ... Put Ac Ntrttoaa Richard Harrington Jana AycotA Jody Smuto AtVartHung Aihrarhamg ClaatXiad Ada Taaha N J F ditoi Walltt .. Cwoutahon FSotrtoaon I Adyadialng and Layout 7IW y.11 FAX 4V, 7 Ml MHO Fmona 4 Wahalta www varnal own a mat adnor varnal com t Ullmr ra nm , . ,i,t, MFplCVy g p ffl UOaCies Nancy Utah to climb out of recession this year According to the Winter 2(X)5 issue of Z.ions Bank's Economic News Of lhah and the National released last week, the states painful recession is expected to give way to mixlest growth this year and Insight next. "Utah's economy is expected to return to its tiadition-a- l role as a net job creator this year, following nearly two yents of substandard performance," said Jeff Thredgold. economic consultant to .ions Bank and author of Insight. The relatively mild U.S. Recession of 200 hit Utah and most Western stales hard. In contrast, Utah and its neighlxw largely escajxd the impact of the prior U.S. Recession in TTie ijiiiii ter ly Insight publication features updates on current and projected economic and financial developments for the stale of Utah, the Intel mountain region and the nation. The Winter 2003 issue also examines the level of household net worth in America, which totaled nemly $40 trillion at ycaicnd 2002. Eollowing arc a few highlights from the "Utah Economic Outlixik" section of the Winter 2(X)5 issue; Utah is a slate well know for its manufacturing, technology, anil tourism strengths. Unfortunately, it was these critical sectors that were impacted greatly by recession and the aftermath of Sept. II, 2001 . Utahs employment sector has suffered. The past two years of economic weakness are the most extensive periixl of malaise since the early 1980s. The estimated ,5 percent employment decline last year was the most significant job weakness since 1954, Employment prospects do lixk Ix'tter this year. Wc expect overall Utah employment to grow nrnily 1.0 percent in 2005, followed by stronger job gains in 1990-1991.- Hunt family pbeaf 2004. The latest monthly data had total employment down 12.8(8) jobs over the latest 12 month periixl. In contract, comparable data three months before had employment down neatly 20, (XX) jobs. Utahs unemployment rate has also dipped, averaging 5.1 percent over the past six months., after averaging 5 A percent in 2X)2'x first four months. By comparison, Utah's jobless rate averaged 4 4 percent in 2X) and 5.5 percent between 1995 and 2(XX), Hie states ski and snowboard industry is ulready benefiting from the success of the 202 Olympic Winter Games Many Utah ski resorts have reported strong bixikings for the season. In addition, Utah's 14 alpine resorts more the doubled the slate's uphill lift capacity or nonexover the past five years, leading to shorter lines. istent An estimate 24 of (he 50 slates have raised various taxes in recent months; with the aggregate $8 5 billion tax hike the largest since 1992. In addition, 26 states have enacted aiross the board spending cuts, while at least 15 states laid off workers. Bostlck-Ebbe- rt really like graceful dogs. East dogs. In particular, sight hounds like and Borzoi, greyhounds Afghans have always entranced me. Now wait, Don't start trotting out all those stories about the intelligence (or lack thereoD of these breeds any creature that manages to con another species into meeting their every need cant be all that dumb. first, a little background. A friend of mine rescued two Afghan hounds 5 6 years ago. She wasnt able to keep them and after 1 expressed an interest in "just lixiking" at the dogs, she was very encouiaging. (She knew me pretty well and could read me like a fxxk. Im afraid. ) It didn't occur to me that a real friend would never have let me near them knowing how weak 1 am when it comes to needy critters. Some people battle the bottle-ot- hers 1 battle the bulge. I battle my innate desire to take everyone and everything home with me. llpon my arrival, she led me into the kitchen where two very beautiful, very shy coal black sight hounds, Sasha and Ashley, had taken refuge under the table. As I talked with my friend about these poor canines, another lady arrived to meet Ashley. My friend explained to both of us how the dogs (puppies really) had been jammed in a small kennel with a number of others all of them badly neglected. I could sec how malnourished they were and yes, gonna-lixik-you guessed it: the Tm-jus- t " loaded up Sasha as a "foster dog" and took her at them-person- home, In all fairness, I have to say that it's not like my friend hid the dog in the trunk of my car and called me when I got home to announce that Sasha was there and would probably expire if 1 didn't get her out. No. she was much subtler than that. Site showed them to me and waited for me to say yes. (Eollowing my rather lengthy discourse on what should happen to people who abuse animals...) Within a couple of weeks (it happened so fast, I didn't know what hit me) she called to say that the other dog, Ashley needed a home.. .she hadn't worked out with the other family.. .the dog was a wreck and really, really needed her sister. Blah, blah. blah. So, I made two appointments for spaying, vaccinations and grooming. They were lovely girls and lixkcd wonderful with their coats cut and fluffed. I liked watching them chase each other around the yard but I didn't realize how fast they really were until 1 had them for a while. It was sometime after my daughter brought her old golden retriever home to live with "Grandpa and Grandma that our learning curve was fully engaged. The old dog (and 1 mean that in every sense of the phrase!) promptly taught the Afghan hounds to jump the fence. ( It apparently hadnt occurred to them before.) By then, 1 had added a third Affie Nick, their father and when those three hounds decided to run, they could be a half mile down the road before I could be out to the car. Eor the next several months, I fixed fences and chased my foster dogs for miles at a time. The first 20-5times, I was enthralled by their grace: "Oh (huff, huff, huff) you silly dogs, (pant, pant) you look so pretty when you run like that... But that wears thin in a hurry. Before a couple of months had elapsed, I was not nice. I did not think they looked pretty when they ran away from me. I became paranoid and began wondering if it was a plot to make me have a heart attack and drop in the middle of the road somewhere... And after the honcymixin was over, 1 must confess that my language when chasing them may have indeed offended most of the neighborhood. And then came the phone calls. I became very creative in my apologies. You see, unlike Border Collies who really, really like to intimidate or Bay sheep, Chesapeake Retrievers who love to wade through icy waters to fetch dead 0 animals for their masters or even little Chihuahas whose job it is to sell tacos, Afghan hounds absolutely love to run. And run. And run. That is hard to explain to your neighbors who do not want large dogs anywhere near their cows or sheep no matter how cute they look with their new haircuts. My husband thought they were really pretty too until the morning the dogs escaped at daybreak and we spent close to three hours chasing them. They would almost let us up to them, then as wc were alternately begging and flattering them, they would give us that doggy grin, their tongue lolling lazily and off they'd go. When they had enough, 1 think the only reason they let us catch them is because they wanted a ride home. . Wc got home in time to hear the phone ring. Paul answered. "Them black, poodle-lookidogs yers?" came the voice. Paul is really goixl at soothing people which is a goixl thing because he was on the phone for quite a while. The dogs and 1 kept a pretty low profile for the rest of the day. I found homes for the three of them a couple of years ago. It was hard but it was something 1 had made the commitment to do... It seemed weird without them around but 1 knew their new owners loved them immensely. I don't know how they got my number but I kept getting calls from people on the Wasatch Front needing to find homes for neglected hounds. And I began to realize that not only was I not getting enough exercise, but I actually missed those silly hounds. In a weak moment, I joined the National Afghan Hound Rescue organization and since April of last year, we have fostered five Affics and one bloodhound. Six dogs came in five left for new homes. I am now getting more exercise. The ncighborhoixl occasionally hears some cussing. And I guess I just love fast dogs cause Magic, the sixth hound is home to stay. n' Do you know your community? IjisI week's pulurc was of a cougar mounted above the reception desk in the offices of the Division of Wildlife Resixirccs Sixteen people callcJ the Vernal Express with the correct fixation: Judy Craft, CV lyse Ihxlgkinson. Jade Cixm, Came Keel, Bi. PcCamp, Brooke I .arson, Kragc Auguste, Tracy Kay, Jessica Shirk, Brendan While, Camille Johnson, Evan Bullixk, Kim Johnson. Carole Jackson, Brent Brown and Natalie Brayton Take a ilose look at this weeks photo (f a mixlel of a horse pulling a tart. If you tan identify it location, 1. All those wiih the call the Venial I xpress at 789-55coreeil answer will he listed in the next edition of tfic Vernal I xpress. proving they know their community Identity the correct location ot this model horse and cart to be listed with others who know their well I a smart dog...1 ( i |