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Show Safina SunGunnison Valiev News Page 3 April 5. 1995 SOAPBOX is a regular feature of editorials and public opinion generated from the residents of the Salina, Redmond, Aurora, Gunnison, Fayette, Centerfield, Mayfield, Axtell, communities. We welcome your editorials, cartoons, comments, and ideas. SOAPBOX will be published the first week of every month. Deadline is the week before. We will publish signed Letters to the Editor weekly. If you have an issue you feel strongly about, call us at 528-3- 1 11, Gunnison, or 529-783- 9, Salina, for space constraints. Thank You Very Much for helping to make this new feature a success! P.O.Box 189 Gunnison, Utah 84634 NEPA analysis required on all grazing permits, says Fishlake National Forest Recent court and legal interpretations have concluded the decision to authorize grazing on National Forests is a discretionary one to which the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) applies. As a result of this decision, NEPA analysis is necessary on all grazing permits prior to their issuance. This is a massive undertaking for every national forest office in the nation. On the Fishlake National Forest alone, 87 permits expire by Dec. 31, 1995. Some of these permits already have completed NEPA analysis, but a large number have been issued in the past without NEPA documentation. Therefore, prior to the issuance of a grazing permit, the Forest Service will determine rf.NEPA has been completed. Where the analysis is lacking or incomplete, the authorized grazing area must be analyzed with respect to the effects of livestock grazing on the environment. Where livestock grazing is determined to be an appropriate management activity, specific practices which would mitigate any negative effects to the environment will be prescribed when necessary. These may include changes to permitted numbers, season of use, class of livestock, duration of the permit, range improvements, grazing system, utilization levels and so on. If changes are determined to be needed, they will apply to all permittees on the allotment, not just those with expired permits. In addition, since permit issuance has been determined by the court to be a discretionary act, all permittees will be required to submit a grazing permit application in the year their permit expires. Permittees with permits expiring in 1995 will be mailed an application in the near future. The NEPA scoping process is scheduled to begin in early May. As the Forest Service evolve through this analysis and permit issuance process, permittees will be kept informed and involved. ' According to Forest Supervisor Toby Martinez, The employees of the Fishlake National Forest are committed to completing our legal requirements in this permit issuance process with an emphasis on quality and customer service. Our objectives are to manage for healthy rangeland resources within standards and guidelines established in our existing Forest Plan, he exof the plained, to support livestock grazing as one of the multiple-use- s Fishlake National Forest, and to comply with NEPA and related laws. We are committed to demonstrate livestock grazing is an appropriate use of National Forest lands. site-speci- I am writing regarding last weeks article on the Gunnison Fire Dept. As Far as I am aware the Fire Department, just like the Hospital, has belonged to all of the Towns and is and always has been the Gunnison Valley Fire Department. I would like to know just when the Fire Dept, started being considered Gunnisons. Back when the first of the new trucks were purchased the towns of Centerfield, Mayfield, Fayette, and Gunnison all contributed a share on a per capita basis. The County also gave their share to cover the County area covered by the Fire Dept. After this truck was paid off it was agreed that the same amount would still be contributed by each of the towns and the County to purchase needed equipment for the fire dept. At one time there were representatives from each of the towns working together for the good of the fire department When the Second truck was purchased with a grant I am sure that all of the residents and the area the fire department covers was taken into consideration. I do not feel that Gunnison alone would have received this grant. Then we come to the most important part of the Fire Department. This is our volunteer Fire Men. If it werent for these men there wouldnt be a Fire Deptartment at all. If you will check, you will note that now as in years past, these men are from the whole valley, including, Gunnison, Centerfield, Mayfield, Fayette, Axtell and in the county. They all work together for the good of the valley. These men donate their time and are ready to drop whatever they are doing to respond to a call. They have spent thousands of hours of their own time in training and fighting fires. We owe these men a lot of thanks for the work that they do. I feel that Ray Limb and Nancy Lemons comments are a real slap in the face to all of these good men. Where we are looking at joining the County Fire District or forming our own we should take a good look at what will be the best for all concerned. Also this should be a com- bined decision of Gunnison, Centerfield, Mayfield and Fayette. It should not be just Gunnisons. As for the $per month and having Utah Power and Light collect it, why should we pay UP&L 12 collect this. Utah Power and Light l2to Ensure your right to know! Subscribe to the Paper! It is Easy! 529-78- 29 528-31- 11 New coalition formed to The color of Blue Who cares for those educate public about wilderness trade-of- f who are abused! The color red symbolizes the awareness of AIDS... green symbolizes the protection of our environment. But what color calls our attention to the need for protecting our children when they have been abused or neglected? The color blue symbolizes the nearly 3 million children reported each year to Child Protective Service agencies throughout the United States as being victims of abuse. In an effort to address this problem, this week, April 8, 1 995, is being recognized as National Blue Ribbon Week, to kick-o- ff April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Read these recent news headlines: Two Children Left to Drown in Lake, Parents Leave Children Left Abandoned in Apartment, children Behind While They Vacation ... unfortunately, child abuse makes headlines every day. According to 1994 statistics just released by the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Criminal Identification there were 3,202 children and 1,822 women sheltered in Utah during 1994. The Domestic Violence shelter in Provo sheltered 501 womenchildren and the shelter in Richfield sheltered 181 womenchildren. Offenses committed against children by family members: 134 assault offenses; 1 homicide; 27 kidnaping abductions; and 76 forcible sex offenses. This is a total of 238 offenses against children in Utah during 1994 by family members. It is astounding to review the statistics of where and when domestic violence occurs. Incidents peak between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. and are greatest on Saturday and Sunday. 89 of domestic violence offenses in Utah during 1994 occurred at home. Are children in our area abused and mistreated? I know if you ask teachers at the area schools, many could relate concerns they have for children here in Salina and Gunnison. Where do these children turn? Who can help? How can we protect our children? We would love to hear your ideas and constructive response. Write: Protect our Children co Salina Sun & GV News at PO Box 189, Gunnison, UT 84634. 2-- Rat-Infest- ed ad Lori and Jim Olsen, Publishers WASHINGTON, DC, -"- Senator Bob Bennett recently issued the following statement regarding the Senates failure to pass a constitutional amendment requiring an annual balanced federal budget: Im disappointed by the six of my Democratic colleagues whose flip-flo- p on this issue insured its defeat. Within the last year, they spoke publicly and passionately about the need for a Balanced Budget Amendment, the irresponsibility of those who opposed it, and why it was crucial to our countrys future. They voted in favor of it in March of 1994. Now, in March of 1 995, they voted against the identical amendment. Nothing in the language of that amendment of twelve . doesnt service all of the county anyway. Out ofeach $ 100,000 they would get $12,500 that could be going to buy equipment for the fire dept. If the $2 per month is the way to go, why not let our city offices collect it and give it to the county. Or since we are already paying money into the fire deptartment why dont we just keep going the same way and not make the utility bills of our residents any higher than they already are. Lets put our heads together and work this out together. It is a decision for the whole Valley to make, not just one city. . Carolyn Brock (R-Uta-h) months ago has changed, not one word. If Social Security is at risk, as they now claim, why was it not at risk last year when they voted yes? The real truth is that Social Security was not at risk then, and is not at risk now. The fact still remains that the reckless spending has got to stop. Congress must be mandated to live within its means. The demand for a balanced budget, and an amendment to require it, is not going to go away. Todays action is only a delay, driven by partisan posturing. This amendment will be back on the table, along with my support for it. i, . A new coalition, the Utah Wilderness Education Project, has been formed by a diverse group of organizations to educate the general public about the costs and trade-off- s of designating excessive wilderness on Utah BLM lands. The task ofthis project is quite simple to assist Utahns in understanding why designating only moderate amounts of BLM wilderness is in the public interest, not only for residents of the state but for all the citizens of the nation, explained Mark Walsh, associate director of the Utah Association of Counties who also serves as chairman of the new group. Along with the Utah Association of Counties, a number of other Utah groups have joined the education project, including Utah Farm Bureau, Utah Mining Association, Utah Petroleum Association, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, Utah Wool growers and Utah Cattlemen. We are also please to have joining us some groups whose membership is mostly outside the state, Walsh said. These include the 500,000 member Blue Ribbon Coalition, an organization composed of outdoor and off-rovehicle enthusiasts, and the Western States Coalition which represents hundreds of state legislators and county officials across the West. Other groups are being invited to join as well as are concerned individuals. What brings us together and energizes us is that the public debate on wilderness has been increasingly characterized by misinformation and deception by those advocating large amounts of wilderness, Walsh explained. It is our goal to refute dishonest statements, correct items of misrepresentation and expose every wilderness myth. That is a big task! Walsh listed some of the most common myths, deceptions and misinformation about wilderness. A basic problem is that the general public does not understand the difference between what they think of as wilderness, that w hich is undeveloped, wild land and legal wilderness which brings with it many restrictions designed to protect a specialized form of backpacking, he pointed out. One of the most common deceptions used by the wilderness extremists is trying to make the public believe that if public land is not designated as wilderness it will be destroyed. They seem unable to resist trying to characterized this debate as protection versus destruction, but as with any simplistic explanation it has little connection with reality. The hundreds of federal laws, regulations and court decisions already in place insure that the public lands will be managed wisely and responsibly even if no wilderness is designated, Walsh said. Another public misconception is that there is no cost to wilderness designation, he pointed out. The recent Utah State University study underscores what we have been saying for many years. There is a real economic cost .to wilderness that will be paid right out of the pocket of everyone in the state and the countiy. Walsh also noted that most people do not understand the negative trade off which accompany wilderness designation. These include negative impacts on some plant and animal species, wildlife habitat, water quality and quantity, biodiversity, range and forest fire danger, scientific research and many others, he said. The coalition wifi be doing analyses and fact sheets pointing out these and other misconceptions and explaining the realities of wilderness. To my knowledge, this is the first time there has been such a broad-base- d coalition formed to combat wilderness misinformation and myth, and I am convinced that it will be a critical turning point in the wilderness debate, both in Utah and nationally, Walsh said. - Bennett disappointed balanced About the fire department . 3 East Main Street Salina, Utah 84654 ! TRUSTS vs. WILLS Which is right for you? A Free Public Seminar with Featured Speaker Attorney Del B. Rowe Medicaid Issues, Right-to-di- e Wills and More. Tuesday, April 1 8 at 1 :00 p.m. Salina Senior Center 330 West Main, Salina Tuesday, April 1 8 at 7:00 p.m. Richfield Quality Inn Quality Center 540 South Main Richfield I Mown hey kids; spring break is COMING AND I 'M NO EXPERT, BUT I DID TALK TO THE GUNNISON VALLEY NEWS AND SALINA SUN, INTO SPONSORING A MOVIE DURING SPRING BREAK COME SEE A SPECIAL SHOWING OF THE SWAN PRINCESS AT THE STAR THEATRE ON IURSDAY, APRIL 13 AT 2:00 P.M. THE COST IS ONLY Sl.OOl Bountiful Attorney Del B. Rowe in the estate planning attorney who will speak regarding family wills and the new living trusts, wills and avoiding probate, as well as Medicaid issues, "right-to-die- " federal policies on advance directives. Mr. Rowe is a member of the Bountiful Chamber of Commerce and the St George Area Chamber of Commerce and has lectured throughout the state for various groups including ThiokoL BLM, Hercules, U.S. Postal Service, BYU Education Week, Senior Games, Senior Citizens Centers and numerous church and civic groups. "A Family Living Trust Can Avoid the Probate Trap! For more information call: Del B. Rowe , Attorney At Law 535 West 500 South Bountiful, Utah 84010 298-064- 0 AH guests will receive a FREE wallet-siz- e Right to Die" Will and be entitled to a FREE private consultation (Please cal! for a free consultation if you cannot attend the seminar) IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, COME ENOY THIS MOVIE. REMEMBER, THURSDAY, APRIL 13 AT 2:00 P.M. FOR ONLY Sl.OOl SEE YA THEREf |