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Show Visit us on fie World Wide Web http:'www.ecprogress.oom Emery County if Aua awrr it- - Home Grown News Since 1900 Tuesday, December 11, 2001 C Volume 101 Castle Dale, Utah u 0 some innieircIhiaBifts The average American plans to spend 37 percent less on holiday gifts this year, according to a recent survey. The average holiday shopper will spend S773, down from 81,220 last percent plan to spend year. Fbrty-fou- r under 8500. The sharp decline in planned holiday spending by consumers was discovered during the third annual holiday survey conducted by Mwesta.org, a financial crisis and treatment center. The aftermath of September 1 1 and with an economy in recession, Emery County business owners hope more than ever to draw shoppers into their stores, but for some, business is down. We can see a definite change in shopping. Were down at least 40 percent from last year, said Lisa Bawden of County Sole in Huntington. d shoe store opened The for in the time shopping holiday just season last year, but this year things are definitely different, according to Bawden. I think people are more cautious, theyre paying off debt." At T.C. West, a gift, store in Castle Dale, Koni Liston said she has not only family-owne- t'--'f vfc Photo by James L. Davis Cheryl Nielsen shops for Christmas decorations seen a change in shopping habits this holiday season, but a change since the terrorist attacks of September 1 1. Its affecting us and if its hurting a little business like ours I can only imagine what its doing to bigger businesses, she said. Other businesses, however, seem to be holding their own this holiday season. Mike Jones of Jones Ace Hardware and Radio Shack said the crucial day after Thanksgiving shopping day was a busy one for both Radio Shack and Jones Ace Hardware. We did four times the normal day at Radio Shack the day after Thanksgiving, he said. Jones said that Ace Hardware saw double the normal day of business the day after Thanksgiv- three days afterSept. 1 1 were slow, but since then its been pretty good," said Kevin Jensen of Magnuson. Jim Bell, the Salt Lake County undersheriff, pled guilty on Dec. 4 to two Class A Misdemeanor counts of Attempted Wanton Destruction of Protected Wildlife and Attempted Obstruction of Justice. Bell, who represented himself, was e originally charged with two destrucwanton of counts felony tion of protected wildlife and obstruction of justice. He pled guilty as a result of plea negotiations with the Emery County Attorneys Office. Seventh District Judge, Bryce K. Bryner, sentenced Bell to one year in the Emery County JaU, with said term suspended, and placed him on two years bench probation. As terms of probation, he ordered Bell to pay a fine of $1,850, restitution of $750 to the Help Stop Poaching Fund, and to forfeit his hunting rifle. He further ordered Bell not to go hunting during the period of t probation. As an unusual term of probation, Bell was ordered to write a letter of apology to be sent to both major Salt Lake City newspapers. At the sentencing hearing, Deputy M !r - Gr. y b itif Emery County Attorney, Brent Langston, stressed this case was not it Had fie BA C K Early in the 20th Century Temple Mountain was the site of a flurry of activities as miners dug for uranium Editors Note: Emery Countys long and varied history is the source of fierce pride for many and as the county and its people look forward to what may seem like an uncertain future, it is perhaps appropriate to look back at where we have been. In the first of a three part series, key moments of Emery County s history will be hi? involvement. fishing rules to be discussed The Emery County Chamber to visit with friends, enjoy a dinner and listen to the music of the Val Jensen band. Staff, Emery County Progress . Drive. Biologists and anglers alike believe . Continued on PAGE 3A. f t 1 . of Commerce will hold its axmual Seniors Christmas Dinner Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Huntington Senior Center. All county senior citizens are Invited to the dinner By PATSY STODDARD , In Carbon County the proposed 2002 budget will result in a small tax cut, the county intends to adopt a property tax rate that is below the 2002 certified rate. Carbon County is also unique in that its health care insurance costs are actually budgeted to go down due to a new contract negotiated with their insurance provider. $8.3 million is included in the 2002 budget for general fund spending. In Grand County no tax increase is budgeted. A 5 percent increase is budgeted for health insurant and 3 percent for a cost of living increase for county Senior citizens dinner planned for Wednesday - Emery County has a rich and varied past. There have been many activities and endeavors that have come and gone. One of these is the mining activities on Temple Mountain and the surrounding areas. Among the first operators of a mine on Temple Mountain were Oscar Beebe, J.R. Browning and AL. Olsen. TTiey filed a mining claim on the third day of November in 1903 on a mining claim known as Orinoco. These mining claims had to be proved up on a yearly basis. Beebe is reported to have found uranium deposits , erty taxes. According to the association many counties have not yet provided it with budget data. Of those who have, the common factor that has emerged is significant increases in employee insurance costs averaging 10.3 percent On average counties will be giving a 3 percent cost of living increase to employees. Locally, the association reports that Emery County officials have submitted a tentative budget without a property tax increase. No increase is budgeted for health insurance and no cost of living increase will be given to county employees. $7.6 million is budgeted for general employees. explored. Anglers who fish at Joes Valley Reservoir are encouraged to attend a public meeting in Price on Dec. 13. The purpose of the meeting is to receive input on proposed changes in fishing regulations at the reservoir. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources office, in the basement of the state office building, located at 475 West Price River that only one fund spending. EM about the illegal taking of an elk. Bell may not have been aware the elk was, y The Utah Taxpayer Association annually review the budgets of county governments. In its December newsletter the associacounty intended to increase prop- Road from Green River to Hanksville passing near Temple Mountain in 1 91 6. taken steps to contact the fish and game division and been honest about what happened, this case would have resulted in no charges or, at most, a simple ticket, according to Langston. However, Bell chose to try to cover up the truth by first cutting off a tine and later shooting it off in an attempt to make it look like a legal kill. ..An elk must be branched on both sides to be illegal duringthe spike-onlhunt. When questioned by fish and game officers, Bell at first denied hunting at all and then denied shooting the horn off. According to Langston the felony charges were based solely on Bells actions in attemptingto cover up County tentative budgets analyzed tion indicated . changed to protect large splake (a hybrid cross between lake trout and brook trout) from overharvest. They also see a need to more strongly encourage legal fishing methods. Numerous large fish have been taken during $ vulnerable period in the last several weeks as they have attempted to spawn. Manus settles into retirement life BRIEFLY HV, third-degre- that fishing regulations need to be Retirement Bound Dick J charges when he shot Santa and students meet at the bank IB. guilty on two-poi- nt INSIDE ing. At Magnuson Lumber the day of the terrorist attack and the first few days afterward were slow, but since then things have returned to normal, perhaps even a little better. So far this year were better than average. Hie first Bell pleads a 50C 3 GSojisiiiraess dowmt ffoir in fact, Number 50 Photos courtesy United States Geological Survey east side of San Rafael Swell in Uranium and vanadium miners on 1911. while in the area herding sheep. Joseph Swasey also discovered uranium in the Temple Mountain area around the same time. On Nov. 15, 1918 a notice of intention to suspend the performance of annual assess- ment work on the mining claims was filed. The first permit was for the removal of lode, vein or deposit bearing silver, gold and other MEETINGS Upcoming public meetings for precious metals. Many tales have been told of mining operations and the people involved in this mining. The Swasey family comes to mind with the mention of uranium mining in the early days. Royal Swasey was an avid letter writer and many of his Continued on PAGE 10A. the Emery County area include: The Emery County commissioners will meet Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. in the commission chambers of the Emery County Courthouse. The Emery Town Council will meet Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Emery Town Hall. The Huntington City Council will meet Dec. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Huntington City Hall. . f |