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Show Record-breakin- by Bruce Jennings g Soaking wet. precipitation in November brings threat of more flooding next spring Thats a reasonably accurate description of weather conditions in the Sanpete Valley following November's precipitation. And that high level of precipitation appears likely to continue, according to the forecasts. Already in December, Gary Jorgensen says, he's measured .34 inches at the Sorensen Field station southeast of Ephraim. record-breakin- g Of course, he measured a lot more for the month of November at Sorensen Field 3.07 all told, which sets a precipitation record for the month going back to 1930. Ted Olson, Volum 98 Number 22 w ho operates the Snow College similar inches normal weather station, recorded a amount in town 3.09 of water, which is 39 for the month. November's precipitation also broke a record going back to 1908 in Manti. Lee J. Anderson, weather observer, measured 3.39 inches. That compares with a .93 inch average for November in Manti. James M. Anderson, Lee J's grandfather, began the Anderson family tradition of weather observation service in 1908. The November precipitation that year was .50 inch, and the wettest November, until this year, was in 1946, with 2.49 inches. November 1983 followed a drier .73 inch in than average October Manti and 1.12 inch in Ephraim. The water year begins on Oct. 1, and even with the dry October, Novembers precipitation has alwater ready brought the 1983-8year precipitation far above the average to date. 4 The Soil Conservation Service has not yet begun its monthly measurements on Sanpete Valley watersheds but Mr. Jorsenscn was able to get as high as Major's Flat in Ephraim Canyon. There he found over three feet of snow containing 5.60 inches of water. The water year is only two months old, the weather observers pointed out, but if above average precipi tation continues the Sanpete Valley could be in for even more serious fkxKling next spring than in 1983. One reason is because the land, both in the valley and on the watersheds, is already supersaturated and cant absorb additional moisture. Some precautions against a repi-tioof last springs flooding has been taken. Dredging of the Sanpitch River channel is designed to move the high water off the land faster than in 1 983 and the Forest Service has removed most of the log jams in the canyons. Manti may have wished they hadnt dosed off that Fourth South river when May arrives," one person commented. n low-lyin- g 30 MANTI, UTAH 84642, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1983 pr copy Handels The Messiah will be presented for 50th time this Saturday and Sunday by Pat Mellor This Saturday and Sunday will mark the 50th consecutive year for the performance of Handels oratorio, "The Messiah", by the Snow CollegeSanpete County Community Choir and the Snow College Community Orchestra. The popular spiritual oratorio will d presented in the Manti Ward, also known as the historic Manti Tabernacle, on December 10 and 11 at 5:30 p.m. The first of the consecutive performances was offered in 1934 by the Snow College Music Department in cooperation with community musicians. At that time. Harry A. Dean headed the Snow Music Department. The 1983 performance will be dedicated to Snow College Professor Emeritus Harry A. Dean, and five local musicians w ho sang in the 1934 program: Gladys Dean (Mrs. Harry), Melba K. Armstrong, Marie Benson, Virginia Nielson, and , Ije Participants In tha first production of Tha Mosslah" in Sanpoto County in 1934. Back: Virginia NIolson, Molba Armstrong, Mario Bonson. Front: Howard Willardson, Gladys Doan, Harry A. Doan. DWR tax payment not nearly enough, say commissioners by Pat Mellor The Sanpete County Commission Tuesday unanimously agreed to return a $2,000 payment to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, saying the sum was a "drop in the bucket" compared to the$16,000the County figures DWR owes it. The difference of opinion as well as the sum of about $14,000 centers around property the Division of Wildlife Resources has purchased front private landowners in Sanpete County. Customarily, the state agency pays money in lieu of taxes to help support the tax base of the county, which contends it loses money in taxes every time private land is diverted to public. (By law, governmental agencies do not pay taxes on property they hold.) Sanpete County says the DWR lands are valued at an amount which should generate $16,000 in taxes. The Division of Wildlife Resources says the property should be valued at the Grccnbelt provision assessment for agricultural land, which would only generate about $2,000 in taxes. "Its not agricultural land when Wildlife has it," a commissioner stated last month. They arent the kind arent and it, they farming of operation Greenbelt was created for. Commission Chairman Ned Madsen suggested that the County refuse to accept the $2,000 in lieu of taxes paid by the Division of Wildlife Resources and send it back to the Division "until the matter can be settled by court action or by the Legislature." The commission memand bers unanimously agreed, Assessor Yvonne Howell was instructed to return the Division's check. Upcoming budget discussed Willard Smith. CPA for the county, discussed figures from the upcoming December 14 budget hearing for the county. Smith said his firm had pushed the assessed valuation for Sanpete County back from 1983's $55,700.-00- 0 to a flat $55,000,000 for 1984 due to damages incurred by the spring floods and loss of revenue caused by the Thistle slide, which isolated the area of Sanpete and resulted in a significant loss of business due to the closure of Highway 89 and the loss of Denver-Ri- o Grande Railroad traffic. Mr. Smith estimated, however, that tax payments and redemptions for 1983 would amount to 90 of the total u taxes billed. Smith said of taxes moneys might amount to approximately $180,000 more than originally estimated, and that Gass B road funds would also show a significant amount above that anticipated. The December 14 hearing will also provide the commissioners an opportunity to open the 1983 budget to take care of unanticipated expenses. Among the departments and budget items currently in need of an increase, Mr. Smith said, are the County Commissioners budget, $1,000 over its estimated $32,810; Fairvicw-Milburn-Indiano- I Juvenile Court, $400 over; the Public Defender position, w hich ran $4,000 over its original $13,200; Audit, which ran $400 over; Emergency Manager, which ran over from its estimated $1,000 to $7,400; the golf course, $500 over; Exhibits, $2,500 over; Historical Society, up $2,500. Mr. Smith cited several areas of the 1983 budget which did not expend all their funds: the Miscellaneous account of $17,000 finished the year with a surplus of about $10,000. The county attorney didnt hire a deputy as provided, so there is $20,000 w hich can be deducted from that account, and Mr. Smith estimated the county will end the year with a net reduction in the 1983 budget of about $57,000, despite the overages in certain departments. On the departmental requests for 1984, Smith said, "You have your work cut out for you, referring to the trimming the commissioners must do on departmental requests. However, the accountant noted. "If you stick with the budget, it looks like you'll end up with a good surplus in 1984. Smith said it appears the county will end up with roughly the equivalent of its 1984 tax revenues in the General Fund, which he characterized as good; "If your carryover is roughly what your tax picture is, you dont have to borrow for expenses that come up during the year." For December Calendar of Events and Holiday Activities please turn to page 2 .1 ) First-Secon- Howard Willardson. all of Ephraim. All will be performers in this years presentation, according to McLovd Ericksen of the Snow College faculty, the conductor for the oratorio. Mr. Ericksen said once again this year, as has become a tradition. Professor Dean will take the baton to conduct congregation and chorus for the Halleleujah Chorus". A departure from tradition will be this years double performances. Saturday's presentation will be followed by a reception in the cultural hall honoring the participants from the first 1934 presentation. The second presentation on Sunday will allow everyone who desires to attend The Messiah" the opportunity to do so. In previous years, attendees have endured makeshift overflow seating and have utilized stairs and standing room only to enjoy the performance. Mr. Ericksen said the chorus determined it would prefer to present two performances rather than sacrifice the excellent acoustics of the historic Tabernacle for larger quarters. This Saturday and Sunday evening, the Tabernacle will resound to the traditional music tracing the life of Jesus presented by a choir under the direction of Mr. Ericksen. assisted by Judy orchestra Morgan, and a directed by Dennis Hansen. 1 Accompanists for the chorus throughout the weeks of practice have been Ardith Peterson, Norma Olson, and Kathleen Hansen. The Saturday evening reception following the performance will be hosted by the Manti Utah Stake Relief Society and the Snow College Campus Women. A special invitation has been issued by Mr. Ericksen to all those who were part of that first presentation in 1934 to make a special effort to attend the 1983 performance and join with old friends afterward at the reception. Manti livestock operator to head Utah Wool Growers by Bruce Jennings Kay Frischknecht, prominent Manti livestock operator, is the newly elected president of the Utah Wool Growers Assn. He will serve in the position for two years. Mr. Frischknecht has been involved with livestock for most of his 60 years. As a boy, he assisted his father, Wilford G. Frischknecht, with a small sheep and farming setup. While still in his early 20s, he took over his fathers operation and has gradually built it up until today it involves about 3,000 ewes, 300 cattle and thousands of acres of farm and range land. One son, Joe, works with his e in the business and father two other sons are also involved in phases of the operation. full-tim- Water content high Data gathered by radio for the River drainage show precipitation considerably above average at three locations. Sevier At the Mammoth-Cottonwoo- d course in Fairview Canyon, the water content in the snow pack is 171 percent of average. The Pickle Keg Spring course in Salina Canyon is 200 percent of average and the Farnsworth Lake course in the same watershed is 127 percent of average. Measurements obtained by radio for the Price River drainage show precipitation at the Seely Creek Ranger Station east of Ephraim 148 percent of average. "We've worked together as a family," Mr. Frischknecht says. Working together earned the Frischknechts designation as Farm Family of the Year in 1974 by the Farmers Home Administration. He was named Rancher of the Year for 1979 by the Utah section of the Society for Range Management. Mr. Frischknecht winters his herds in Antelope Valley and on several allotments on the west side of Gunnison Valley. His summer range is on Black Mountain and in Duck Fork and Indian Creek. Having his winter range close to his home base, he says, is a distinct advantage. The importation of lamb, mutton and wool, he says, tend to keep prices down to the point where the American livestock operator is having a difficult time surviving. He thinks that federal import regulations need to be revamped to provide more protection to the producer. He says the subsidy on lambs is the only thing keeping most of us in business. That subsidy is produced by import duties on mutton, lambs and wool. The industry faces other problems besides imports, Mr. Frischknecht observes: predators, labor, high fuel and equipment costs. Much can be done, he thinks, to improve the overall situation: range improvements, predator control, better marketing. Mr. Frischknecht secs some reason for optimism: a renewed 1 interest in wool as a fabric and an improved price for lambs over the seasonal low. "These are encouraging develophe says, "but they may be only temporary. We have to hope for the best." ments," A graduate of Manti High School, Mr. Frischknecht attended Snow College and Utah State University as a range management student before settling down in Manti to build up an extensive livestock operation almost from scratch. |