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Show f D2 Vernal Express Wednesday, April 30, 2003 0 ICXIWlCSStlWtlS Community Calendar She can tie it, plumb it or paint it... The little lady that thought she could! By Maureen G. Spencer Express Feature Writer Lori Burthinal Bally can't imagine why anyone would want to live anywhere other than Vernal She knows that if someone else an old, house then she can able be to to, too. ought And best of all, this blonde woman knows how to put life into perspective. Her father long-haire- d taught her the First two concepts. Life taught her the Final one. Reg Burchinal played saxophone and clarinet in the big bands decades ago. He played with some ny of the Goodman, Les Brown-a- nd lived a pretty exciting lifestyle compared to most folks who lived in the Uintah Basin at the best-Ben- time. Then one fateful engagement in Salt Lake City brought him face to Vernal girl, Donna face with Mccham He married her on their ninth date, and a whole new life of adventures began. and Donna moved to Reg Duchesne where the talented musician taught math and music. That was before teacher's certificates were necessary, and when they did become necessary, the Burchinals moved to Vernal. Her mother worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a receptionist and Reg taught band at Uintah High. Vernal is where Lori Burchinal and her brother Cris were bom to the couple. Talking to Lori Burchinal Batty is like driving down a highway in the course of the conversation seems to be quietly moving along, sudden forks iitfYd'Yoad require an instant directional change. But not to worry, when Lori is doing the driving, the change will be accompanied by a low chuckle, and wide grin. . She's been told by friends that they can Find her in a large room by just listening for that chuckle. It's the kind of relaxed sound that draws total strangers to listen to her wit and experiences. She was raised in Vernal around , the mountains and wildlife that attracts people to visit from around the world. For her, the outdoors and native beauty of the mountains and desert became a comfortable home. She realized throughout her child. hood that she could learn just about anything, and her father encouraged this facet of his daughter by offering her experiences that not every young girl could have. For instance, much of what she has accomplished in her skilled professional life is based around Fishing. But who taught her how to love this sport so much? "Oh, that was my dad," she says, and the chin tips slightly forward automatically as her mind skims across the years, and pride in the dark- - when the man who shared this great passion with her. "We would take family vacations to East Park and fish. Mom was the camp cook, and Dad would take a nap while the kids fished. Im getting so I can relate to that!" Again the chuckle. When she was 12, her uncle Glen Mecham sat Lori down with his kit and taught her how to make her own Fishing flies. The rest, it has been said, is history. "Uncle Glen looked at my First fly and told me, 'You throw that in the water and all the Fish will jump out!'" She judged them as beautiful, but she holds your gae with a steady look and unflinchingly tells the truth. "They were ugh-leBut getting to hunch over her own hook, twine and tiny chunk of a feather had put her hands and imagination to work in a combination that today has become steady and sure. She started to make flies. She tied every kind she could imagine and ended up with boxes and boxes of flies. That's when the entrepreneur started to stir in her young soul. Boxes of Lori's flies could be found at her dad's Five Star Motor, and at gas stations around the valley. By the time she was 13, she took a class through Utah State University from a teacher the college would fly in for classes. She recalls she was the only girl in the class. No doubt at 13 she truly was the only "girl." The rest of the students were men! Lori wasn't just exposed to fly tying as a child. Her father had much more to share with his daughter. As a girl she also was taught the fascination of remodeling . and The rebuilding an old house. Burchinal family home had its origins in the community of Watson in the Bookcliffs before being moved into "town." Its virtues were few and its needs many. Who was it that apprenticed the grade school girl to learn how to change plumbing that had turned bike inner tubes into a sometimes useable water system? Who demonstrated to her how to repair walls and floors that had tin cans lids nailed over mouse holes? "Oh, that was my dad." The grin gets a little wider. And as the years passed, she kept tying flies. Better. Bigger. More. By the time she was in high school she recalls her art teacher, Glenn Spencer, let her tie flies in class. "Lori made fly tying an art form," he muses today. Time has proved that to be the case. Not only has she designed every size, shape and color of fly imaginable, there are large flies that she has matted and framed just for the artistic beauty of the work. Lori even designed the gigantic metal welded Royal Wulff that flies high above the roof of her business. May 1 TOPS meets in the Conference Room of the Vernal City Building, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, call Gwen Peterson at An open house will be held from 1 1 :30 a m. to 12:30 p.m. Vernal Rotary Club meets at noon in die 1 1 Ranch Cafe. Fibromyalgia support group meets id 7 p.m. In the AVMC conference room, lower level. 789-835- 6. 7-- fly-tyi- fly-tyi- April 30 Incoming sophomore registration will be held at Uintah High School May 2 Community dance at the Golden Age Center at 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., every Friday. All ages are welcome. Kay's Band provides the music. 155 S. 100 W. May 3 14th annual Multiple Sclerosis fund raising walk will begin at Colton Pavilion at 9:30 a.m. Ouray Wildlife Refuge Open House. For more information, call Jennifer Deleon at County Clean-u- p curbside pickup for Vernal City. Free ' community appreciation breakfast at Vernal City Fire Station, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Medieval Festival, Vernal City Park noon to 4 p.m. Medieval Feast, Western Park, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Adults $10, students $8, children $4, family of 6-- 8 $45. World Vision Assembly of God 3rd annual Cinco De Mayo dinner. Golden Age Center, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tickets $4. Ouray Wildlife Refuge open house today and tomorrow. 545-252- Greg Flawkins taught Lori how to hand build graphite fly fishing rods. She now teaches others to build their own. Married at 18, she moved into another home. She helped tear that roof off, and really started "getting interested in carpentry." "I just do my best to make it straight, she says as a matter of fact, defending her many building projects as if that's all it really takes. Where did she get such ambition and confidence to learn how to mitre and install ceiling and floor moldings, build in a zero devclearance fireplace, or astated floors? "Oh, that was my dad." Another of life's lessons was learned as she discovered that, "It's hard to hang sheet rock when you're pregnant!" Daughter Brook, son TJ and daughter Jessica were now part of her life. So was a business. Of course, it was closely related to tying flies and fishing. Loris grandmother Gladys Mecham's home was systematically being rented and repaired by the family. Donna Burchinal suggested that this tiring cycle could be broken if her daughter would just straighten up the little house and put her business in it. She still was selling her flies out of the trunk of her trunk and from little display boxes around town. By now the woman was showing that all of her time had not been spent tying Hies in art class. She painted in oils and watcrcol-orand had an interest in pen and ink and photography. Her work showed her strength and sincere artistic skills. Original paintings had been added to her inventory of flics. She had studied with noted 2. 6-- May 4 Uintah School District observes National Teacher and Employee Week through May Appreciation ' 10. v Mays Uintah School District Art Show begins at Western Heritage Museum featuring the works of students in Uintah High School, Vernal Junior High and Vernal Middle School. May 6 Fingers deftly wind twine, feathers or fur into elaborate and accurate fishing flies as Lori adds another specimen to the collection of the day. Reading Radio on KVEL Radio at 6 p.m. The secret word and the drawings for free books continue along with great stories for kids. NOTE the day change for Reading Radio, May 7 Reception for Uintah School District Art Show at Western Heritage Museum, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The National Weather Service will provide basic weather spotter and safety training at the Uintah School District Office, 635 West 200 South, from 7 to 9 p.m. The training is free and open to the public. s, May 9 No school in Uintah School District. Trade day for conferences. See Lori Batty on page B3 May 10 Letter carriers food drive. Place food donations in a bag beside your mailbox or feting them to die Post Office. May 12 Jordan Circus at Western Park. Call 6 for more informa' tion. Utah Wildfire Academy will be held through May 17 at Deseret Peak Complex in Tooele County. 2930 112 between Hwy. Grants viile and Tooele. Web site: 789-739- www.ut.blm.govfireacademyintr o.html. l6 Flower planting downtown Vernal. Call 7789-135- 2 for information. is To cf c.i tbe Ca7-:r.- :$ "Naomi enjoys Lori's attention, as do several other large birds. She is sure that Naomi "adopted' her some time ago and doesnl fear the jaws that could break her finger. I The equipment has become more sophisticated through the years since she was 12, but the end result is the same as Lori Batty spins tiny pieces into a fish tempting lunch. She has added a magnifying glass saying, "Now can relate to folks with bifocals! I i CZzraar, to rjf.l Vazzl Express, P.O. Cox 1000, E-m- etorvemsLcom or call 7893511. I poor c |