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Show Emery County Progress Castle Dale, tftaii Tuesday August 14, 2001 3A Chamber implements program in response to fraud claims By JAMES "Its a service for chamber The Emery County Chamber members. We get the contact information on the individuals so the merchant doesn't have to chase them down, said Mike MeCandless, chairman of the chamber of commerce. According to Sheriff Lamar Guymon, although reports of fraudulent solicitation are not a huge problem in the county, there are cases where it has been reported to have happened. There was recently a case where some individuals put out collection cans for a person who was injured and the person who was injured never received that money, he said. MeCandless said that the chamber was not looking to get into the private investigation business and admitted that those requesting a Green Card could, in fact, con the chamber itself with fraudulent information. They could provide fraudulent information to us, but then we would have a record of it for the sheriff, he said. of Commerce is not the only chamber to have such a program. In fact, chambers dotted L DAVIS Editor, Emery County Progress The Emery County Chamber Commerce has implemented pf p. program it hopes will arm , chamber members against possible fraudulent solicitation at local businesses. Called the Green Card" Program, county business owners fcan ask to see a solicitors Green Card when they are asked for donations or contributions by individuals or groups. Having such a card means that solicitors have provided information to the chamber on wiio they are, how they can be reached and why they are seeking the dona! tions. In a letter to chamber mem- bers, Jackie Ungerman, president of the chamber of said that the program was being implemented in response to cases of solicitation at local businesses which proved to be fraudulent in com-tnerc- e, throughout the country have a program similar to the Green Card program. Despite that, since implementing the program the chamber has received a number of complaints about it, particularly' in regards to the fee involved. A Green Card costs solicitors $25 and $5 for each additional card. We feel the fee is reasonable because if its someone who is legitimate then its a small price to pay to get access to all of the businesses. The fee also discourages those who arent legitimate from attempting to try it in the first place, MeCandless said. Neighboring Carbon County has a program similar to the Green Card. In Carbon County the program is called the Blue Card and operates on much the same premise, with one exception, there is no fee involved. Board of directors selected for new district The board of directors for the til members of the North Emery newly created North Emery Water Users Special Service District were selected by the Emery County commissioners during their regular meeting on Water Users Association voted - for the dissolution of the companys assets, which was done in late June. With the board selected, three of the members will serve two year terms and the remaining four Aug. 7. Seven members were selected to the board from approximately 15 applications received by those who reside within the boundaries of the new district. terms. Wiio will serv e four-yewill serv e what terms was decided by drawing lots in a special meeting of the district held on Friday. Grimes, MeCandless, and Barton will serv e two-year Board members selected are: Joy Barton, Carl Fillmore, Ben Grimes, Ray Quinn, William Coyne, Mike MeCandless and Randy Bell. The selection of the board members could not be done un ar terms with the remaining four terms. serving four-yeOf the board members, three reside in the Elmo area, three reside in the Huntington ar . Lawrence area and one resides in the Cleveland area. The creation of the special service district was debated heatedly by members of the association for years. In the end, the vote for its creation was overwhelmingly supportive. The new district will provide for the water needs of ou thing areas around Huntington, Cleveland, Elmo and the community ofLawTence. The North Emery Water Users Special Service District was recently granted more than $286,000 and loaned the same amount from the Community Impact Board. E.C. museums benefit from grants seums, said Jan Petersen, Three Emery County museums will receive needed fundingto improve their ser--' vices from the Utah Office of - ing to Petersen, the museums are looking at replacing the windows in the Pioneer Museum and possibly building a new storage area for artifacts. Were making a wish list, she said. The John Wesley PowreIl River History Museum in Green River received a total of $8,000 in grants. Plans for how to use the grant money are still being discussed by museum officials Museum Services. The Utah Office of Museum Services has awarded 241 grants to museums through-othe state to help them with the preservation and display of historical items, structural ut .. needs, including building repairs and restoration, computer upgrades, and expanding education outreach programs. The Museum of the San Rafael and the Pioneer were granted $6,000 Mu-seu- 'j ex- ecutive of the museum. Accord- there. The stabilization and enhancement grants were made possible by a special $1 million appropriation by the legislature earlier this year. All 207 museums in Utah were eligible to ap m each. Its a godsend to the mu ply for stabilization grants of $3,000 which could be used for any purpose except personnel Enhancement grants of up to $6,000 were given to "We consider it a benefit to our members. It's to let them rest assured that it's a kguimaie solicitor," said Marjorie Jones, secretary of the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce. MtCandlesvs said the program was not intended for individuals known by local business owners. "We're not here to be an obstacle, thats not what it is about. Were not saying w hen the boy scouts come to your door and you know them that you should send them to the chamber. Go ahead and donate to their cause if you want to. But if you have someone come to the door who you really dont trust you can avoid a confrontation and get out of these uncomfortable marketing situations by referring them to the chamber." The Green Card program is not a new one for the chamber. It was run in the past and discontinued because it w asn't being utilized. MeCandless said that the program could be a benefit to local residents as well The Emery County Chamber of Commerce sponsored Green Card is designed to discourage possibly fraudulent solicitation at local businesses. when they are approached by salesmen or solicitors that they do not know. It only works as well as door-to-do- or Record number of rural projects funded by CIB A record 27 government entities in rural Utah will receive $11.3 million for local improvement projects. The Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund Board at its second trimester meeting of the year on Aug. 9 approved grants and loans for projects that include the construction of several new' fire stations. The CIBs next regular fundingmeeting is scheduled for Dec. 6. The following projects were approved grants or loans for the Em ery and Carbon area: Cleveland $87,000 grant for improvements to the park, including the purchase of land, construction of a pavilion, installation of fencing, and paving a parking lot. Elmo S9.000 grant for defor a new municipal work sign to house offices, a fire building station, and senior citizens center. North Emery Special Service District $286,435 grant, $286,435 loan for the newly formed district to replace water lines and tanks, develop a The Emery Cou nty Historical Society, present an evening of cowboy poetry, entitled Cow- boys, Chords, and Cobbler, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 16, at the Petersen Ranch at 1725 South 800 West, in Ferron. This annual event is filled with Cowboy and Cowgirl Poetry recited by our local talent, the im museums received both . Emery County Recreation Fair Grounds Building in Castle Dale. On Aug. 17. Barbeque Dinner 8 p.m. - $5 a plate Val Jensen Band 1 p.m. - This is a Lions Club Benefit. Free Dancing from p.m. Fun for Everyone! A Lot of Food and Dancing. All Ages Welcome. 5-- 7-1- 7-- 11 w year bv Wes Curtis and Roger Barton, and to top off the evening...Duteh oven cobbler and ice cream. Call JoAnn Taylor, for more information at 687-914- 2. QaaiaiB ORANGEVILLE I MMDjOFClOVTR Milk 2 HUNTS, 26.5 2 Liter oz- - Spaghetti Shasta Sauce,! D9 I With 10 Pricebusters 1.99 without y Family Pack, Lean With 6 Pricebusters With 7 Pricebusters 69 without -- Cut l'p 79? without Time to Ground Chickens Announcin Price $2.5 million loan for the city to replace approximately 12 miles of water transmission lines from the city's water treatment plant in Price Canyon to its water storage tanks. Price $95,IXH) loan to upgrade the citys police department computer system with new hardw are and soft-are to be more compatible with computer systems at the Carbon County Sheriff's Office and Highway Patrol. 300 Q 300IP dollar-for-doll- ar Last of Summer Country HoeDown ment. wonderful music provided every in-ki- seum Services. spring, and purchase equip- Evening of cowboy poetry planned museums that are open at least 1,000 hours a year. They require a cash or match and can also be used for any purpose except staff. Eighty grants. These grants are a real lifeline for most museums that have very few funding sources for their survival and are able to operate largely on the efforts of dedicated volunteers, said Dan Burke, director of the Office of Mu- people make it vv ork. We hav e a service there for people to use if they want to, but they dont have to use it," MeCandless said. 1 BBQ Fresh Iiahohs Liz Unsworth is the new owner of ARIES FINE DINING Red or Green Seedless Come in and try the delicious food & meet the friendly staff 86 East 100 South L 0 Catering & Banquets Tues.-Sa- t. , 637-550- , -- JiVH v f Liz wishes to thank Marie Owens for giving her the chance to follow her dream. Fresh Bakery In Our Store Food Ranch for your Archery U French Bread ' Supplies-- - With 5 Pricebusters |