OCR Text |
Show Visit us on Emery County Sutk'iQNiinUJQ3JXTa LraZ)p7(L Tuesday, June 11, 2002 Home Grown News Since 1900 . r the World Wide Web http:www ecprogress.com 314 Castle Dale, Utah ::&v Volume 102 Number 24 50$ I Crews foafttfle Firefighting efforts will continue until the fire is blaze on Nelson Mountain Smoke filled the air In Carbon and Emery counties this past weekend. Although most of the smoke was from large fires near Cedar City and in New Mexico, the Manti-L- a Sal National Forest has also been battling two blazes. A fire on Nelson Mountain, five miles southeast of Ferron started around June 1 by a lightning strike. The fire remained small until winds whipped up the flames this past weekend. The blaze is now estimated at 450 acres and is visible from town. This fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain on top of the mountain. It Is 'very difficult and dangerous to put people near this fire because they could easily get trapped In this rugged area," said Forest Supervisor Elaine Zieroth. We hope to use water dropped from buckets carried by a helicopter to keep the fire from spreading," said Zieroth. The bucket carries 1,000 gallons of suppressed. water at a time and will be filled at Millsite Reservoir. Anyone using the reservoir when the helicopter is working should stay well away from the bucket with their boats. A hotshot" crew from Logan is also assisting. This crew is highly trained to work in steep, rocky terrain and will build fireline w here they can. A smaller helicopter will help shuttle the crew to the site. A change In weather to cooler, moister air with lower wind speeds is predicted this week, which will help the firefighting efforts. There are no structures or private property threatened by the fire, but it is burning within the Ferron Municipal watershed and an important goal in fighting this fire is to minimize damage to watershed values, while protecting firefighter and is INSIDE -- A r? ) Spanish Trails Rodeo Rodeo fans treated to one wild ride 5A. Continued on PAGE 6A. Tax Vote BRIEFLY Medical center to host health fair Voters to consider tax increase for school district Emery Medical Center will be hosting their third annual Health Fair on June 15 from 10 a.m.-- 2 On June 25 the question of authorizing an increase in the leeway tax to assist in payment of operation and maintenance expenses for the Emery County School District will be put before the voters at the primary election. The question of putting this issue to the voters was voted on and approved by the board of education of the Emery County School District. p.m. To name just a few of the exciting health related and educational activities planned for the day. Fam Konakis for the Castle View Hospital will be at the center to do free diabetes screening, InterwestPraxiar Home Medical, Dr. Leonard D.D.S., American Cancer Society, Domestic . After receiving projected revenue figures from the Utah State Office of Education, the Emery County School District faces the chauenge of meeting a revenue shortfall of nearly $1.1 million for the 2002-0- 3 school year, second highest percentage loss of revenue among the states 40 school districts. That revenue shortage is a result of budget cuts imposed by the 2002 legislature when faced with a $250 million shortfall in state revenues. The shortage is also caused by declining enrollments. As in past years the district has taken steps to address declining enrollments by cutting staff and taking measures to reduce or eliminate some school programs. These budget reductions for next year, however, make up only half of the districts revenue short- Members of the Green River community gather for the opening of the new Green River Water Treatment Facility. Wafter in the fall. If approved, the increase In voted lee- way will generate approximately $550,000 each year to assist in the payment of necessary operations and maintenance expenses for our schools. This will enable the district to continue providing essential educational programs within the schools in the district. I It was pointed out that property owners will not see an increase in their taxes. The election is being held for the purpose of receiving authorization to increase the voted leeway levy from a rte of .000400 to a rate of .000800 per dollar of taxable value. The district will at the same time lower its debt service rate from .001785 to .000364, a reduction of 80 percent. This reduction is due to the districts lowered bond payment for the next five years. ; I The proposed voted leeway tax increase, if approved by the voters, will (hen be absorbed by the decrease in the debt service rates. Property owners will Continued on PAGE 4A. Business incubator impact discussed By PATSY STODDARD Editor The Emery County Municipal Building Authority met in their regularly scheduled meeting on June 4 at 2 p.m. Those present wele Commissioners Ira Hatch and Drew Sitterud. Board members Dennis Nelson, Sharon Jensen and Randy Jensen were also present. The first Item of business was the presentation of the Emery County In1 dustrial Incubator Project survey. Welles Cannon from Cannon and Can-poInc., a professional management group, was on hand to make the presentation. He brought copies of the Impact Study of the Industrial Incubator p, jorthe board members. The purpose of the study was to determine feasibility of manufacturing at the incubator kite. We have looked at the building Continued on I f T tion. Relay for Life set for July 12-1- 3 Tare The Green River community celebrates the opening of a new water treatment facility Editor The completion of the new Green River Water Treatment Facility was cause for celebration In Green River on Friday as an open house was held. County residents inspected the facility and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held with the ribbon being cut by long time city employee GaryFluckey. A meeting was held at the John five-sta- Wesley Powell River Museum 3 A, POOR COPY United We Stand is the theme for Relay For Life 2002. This is a family event. This is a community event. This is an event for anyone who cares about others. Walkers, runners, and strollers are requested to participate in the 4th annual Relay for Life 6 p.m. at the Emon July Come camp overtrack. High ery night, enjoy the entertainment, food and activities, or just lay back and gaze at the stars. Each participant is asked to raise donations for cancer research, cancer education, and patient services here in Emery County. The American Cancer Society is funding $8.8 million in research grants throughout the Rocky Mountain Division, supporting 29 scientists. The following grants are In effect for Utah and Idaho as of 21 02: Brigham Young University, $319,000; Huntsman Cancer Institute, $1,226,000; Utah State University, $236,000; University of Utah, $2,280,000; Boise State 12-1- 3, By PATSY STODDARD where the origin of the project was discussed. Mayor Glen Dale Johnson became involved In the process as a city councilman and the appointed mayor and as the elected mayor. Mayor Johnson said, In 1997, Judy Ann Scott, then mayor of Green River asked the community impact board for a grant for a study to look at the sewer system and water plant. We hired SunRise Engineering and they have been here for the duration of the projects. We were threatened with fines on the old plant which was 28 years old. Its scary what Gary Fluckey and Larry Hopkins and Bryan Meadows have to do and have done to keep water In the taps of Green River citizens. In 1998 the drinking water board funded money for the project. We were not ready for the money yet, but they kept the money available. The end results are good. We know now what were doing is good for Green River Violence Coalition, Free Bone Scan for bone density, Dr. Hansens staff will be here doing free glaucoma checks, hearing screening by Karen Brown, car seat safety checks, Emery County Sheriffs Office will be fingerprinting the children, physical therapy department at the clinic will have some great tips on exercise without stress to the joints, breast exams by Donna Mathis FNP, Dr. Hardy will be doing prostate exams, and many more activities too numerous to men- The water passes through five tanks in the treatment process. and that the citizens will be well pleased with how we spent our tax dollars," said Mayor Johnson. ' Mayor Johnson went on to thank those people In the audience Involved in the project, city workers and engineers and those present from SunRise Engineering. John Chartier from SunRise Engineering presented a slide show of the project. In Jan. 1998 we prepared a water master plan to identify deficiencies and recommend improvements. A five point analysis was made with the state guidelines as standards. We analyzed water rights, sources and Btorage. We found a problem in the distribution system. There was an undersized line. The old plant was built in 1974. It was starting to fall. In Aug. 1998, we had a final draft. We looked at alternatives; we could do nothing, upgrade the existing plant or build a new treatment plant. The old plant would have to be taken out of production to fix it so that was not an alternative. To do nothing, would lead to problems down the road. We recommended that Green River go with a new facility. That was our goal and we began to chase funding. Green River is to be commended and those men who kept the old Continued on PAGE 2A. te University, $446,000. Call Cathy Sitterud at 381-56or Debbie Wilson at 381-28for more information. 47 86 MEETINGS Upcoming meetings In the Emery County area include: Commission Meeting The Emery County Commissioners will meet June 18, 9 a.m., in the commission chambers of the Emery County Courthouse. Orangeville City The Orangeville City Council will meet for their regular monthly meeting on June 13, 7:30 p.m., at the Orangeville City Hall. |