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Show mi 91st Year No. 99 Price, Carbon County, Utah Wednesday, December ip mi i r p Xu p F 66 15, 1982 i f , , ,, , r Pages p Single Copy M, 25c Legislators look at bonds By SCOTT LLOYD r Staff Writer As the Utah SALT LAKE CITY Legislature begins its special session today, at least one Carbon County lawmaker is doubtful Gov. Scott M. Mathesons proposed $176 million bond program will even be considered. Just reading the folks up here, Im guessing there is considerable question whether the majority party thinks we ought to hold discussion on that at this Carbon, time," Rep. John Garr, said Tuesday. Garr said Republicans in the Legislature tend to think that another 30 days would not make much difference as to when the bonds could be issued, and the matter could appropriately be carried over into the general session in January, thereby saving time and expense during the special session. The bond program is aimed at financing construction of highways, water projects and buildings throughout the state. Four projects under consideration are - located in Carbon County, three of them at the College of Eastern Utah. A proposed $3.76 million physical education building at the college ranks fifth on the $61 million building project list. The Utah Council of Student Body st Presidents has endorsed the entire building package. (See related story on page8A.) Ranking 21st on the list of 26 building projects is a proposed mine training center at the college, estimated to cost $1,474 million. Ranked 24th is a project to convert the colleges present heating system to coal, carrying a $570,000 price tag. The other project up for consideration in Carbon County is on the water list. is a It treatment projects plant expansion proposed by Price City, estimated at $6,464 million. The only one of the bond projects proposed in Emery County is a $1.5 million culinary water project in the Castle Valley Special Service District in Huntington. Garr agrees with Matheson that .the bonds should be issued in time to take 34-ite- m advantage of low interest rates. I think if we're going to do it, now is the time to do it," Garr said. "Any thing we do now would help with our own state and local economy and get some of our folks back to work. He said the Democratic leadership were to meet with the governor early today to determine how adamant he is on getting the program passed during the special session. Rep. Ray Nielsen, County, who represents northern Carbon County, also endorsed the bond program, saying it would create a lot of jobs. Nielsen favors a road project which would connect from Salina to Clear Creek Canyon. Other Carbon County legislators were unavailable Tuesday for comment on the upcoming session. In a news release this week, Matheson said interest rates have been falling steadily since July but are expected to fluctuate, especially on long-terbonds, m (Continued on Page 6, ) County prepares for a lean 1983 Next year will apparently be a lean one at the Carbon County Courthouse, a barometer of conditions which prevail throughout the county. . t The County Commission is expected to pass a $5.18 million budget today calling for no salary increases for employees and no major changes from last .i years budget. With the economy the way it is, we felt we had to hold the line, County Norman Prichard said. With as much unemployment as there is in the county, we didnt Clerk-Audit- V pv or feel we could give our ployees a substantial raise. Window dresser Debra Heideman, Wellington, puts the tinishing touches on Frosty the Snowman. Ms. Heideman started the window painting project on various businesses this year to help merchants and shoppers get into the holiday mood. She plans to continue the tradition in future years. Photo by Rick Egan em- The budgeted figure represents an increase of about $672,000 over the total revenue estimated to be received this year. Much of the increase results from an additional fringe benefit being granted to county employees. The commission is taking advantage of a new state law allowing local federal judge in Salt Lake last month that the railroads may put half of their property taxes in escrow while paying the other half to the counties, pending the outcome of the suit. Semken said that shorts all taxing units in Carbon County, including Helper and Price cities, by a total of $70,000. If the suit is decided in favor of the railroads, it would apply to all in Carbon County, not just the plaintiffs, increasing the loss to about $100,000, Semken added. He said if the state Tax Commission follows a recommended plan to tax coal mines A governments contribute to employee retirement plans. The county will put 3.95 percent of each employees gross income into his retirement account. to City ruled late Commission Chairman Lee Semken said a number of factors make it so the formulation of a budget is a guessing game. He said the commission is never sure it will receive all of its anticipated revenue. Although the countys mill levy for this year was at the legal limit of 16 mills, he estimated that the county may spend as much as $1 million less this year than was budgeted. One factor complicating matters this year is a suit by most major railroads in Utah against the state Tax Commission. The suit is based on the Railroad Revitalization Act which holds that railroads may not be taxed more than 5 percent above other classifications and other us mines on the same basis as metaliferous mines, it may result in a windfall allowing the county to reduce the mill levy by the time it is set next summer. The bulk of next years budgeted revenue, some $2,564 million, is expected to come of property. State officials eye health care alternatives Editor's note: This is the third and final installment in a series examining the controversy surrounding health care facilities in Carbon and Emery counties. Today's installment takes a look at additional alternatives being considered by concerned area residents and state officials. By STEVE HEIDE Staff Writer When it rains it pours, and the citizens of Price may find themselves inundated with alternatives as the search for improved health care facilities continues. Most local residents are aware of two options that have come to the forefront in recent the expansion of weeks Castleview Hospital or the reopening of the old Carbon County facility. Supporters of both of these alternatives have pushed their cases, and are preparing for a showdown Thursday as the first official I Ep L public hearing is held on the certificates of need filed by the two groups. Representatives from the state agencies that will ultimately decide the fate of the two proposals will be on hand at Price Municipal Auditorium to receive input from the community and the officials of Castleview and the Carbon Hospital Reactivation Corp. The meeting gets under way at 6 p.m. But in addition to the proposals already presented, there are other options being considered by state officials as they hope to fill the gap in medical care left in Carbon and Emery counties by the rapid population growth. These other options may be more attractive and for the local communities, according to some state officials. cost-efficie- nt alternative mentioned is increasing the number of private physicians practicing in the two counties. Proponents of the Castleview expansion and the Carbon Hospital reactivation have both expressed One HOSPITAL HEADACHES Who has the cure? concern over the patient loads now being experienced by local doctors. As the population grew, the need for more specialized medical care grew, and new doctors began filtering into the area. But the rapid growth outstripped the influx of qualified medical care, and local doctors are now sometimes forced to turn away new patients as their Facilities, is the building of freeclinics. Elison is quick to point out that no one option has the lead in consideration, but the clinic idea could be a good one. We have to consider all the alternatives as we look at the needs of the community, Elison said. A clinic, such as the one built in Emery County, could be a viable alternative to the problem. Elison said the building of a second hospital might not be feasible if the local economy doesnt improve. There could be a radical change in the health care demands of the community. We work on a slight time lag when considering new health care facilities. We have to plan for the future, in order to control costs. Thats why free-- ( standing specialized eliminate the overcrowding, and allow local facilities to be better utilized. But more doctors would not necessarily fill the health care gap. Proponents of the Carbon Hospital reactivation feel the need is for additional facilities, not just more doctors. One local doctor expressed concern that the specialists needed to serve the unique needs of the two counties wouldnt be attracted unless modern facilities were available for them to practice in. There is no need for the doctors to come to the area if they have to take their patients over the hill, he said. A second option, one that has been mentioned by Gar T. Elison of the Utah State Bureau of Health Planning and I ' : Michael Donovan is missing and no one in the Carbon County area seems to know i what happened to him. Price Police and the Carbon County Sheriff's Department Tuesday were still 'V 1 , $ r investigating the mysterious disappearance Nov. 26 of the Price automobile salesman and former Roman Catholic priest. Deputy Sheriff Ben Poloni said Donovan, 42, took with him a demonstrator car from his employer, Kraync Motors in Price, and left behind a bounced check for $1,325, an intended down payment on a home in Spring Glen. The car, a 1980 model r Buick Skylark, solid white in color, has been entered by the police department on the four-doo- Michael Donovan National Clime Information Center $77,000, earnings for miscellaneous and contributions from the state Class B road fund for $343,000 $75,000. In the general fund, the biggest appropriations by far go for highway expenditures, with (Continued on Page 6A) INSIDE: N Holiday shoppers can protect their own pocket-book- s store by alerting employees shoplifters when they spot at work. Price merchants that report shoplifting has increased this holiday season and they say they have stepped up security measures. See page 8A. free-standi- Jf T J r El . 1 ' rr fK-- I. J c s ' tyii '' -i -- if - xr?, W'-v-- Continued on Page 7A ) - - Karate class Akbar Tizpas karate class went to the University of Utah Karate Invitational Tournament Saturday in Salt Iike City and came home Price auto salesman missing ,v I forfeitures for Shoplifting Investigators baffled U? s practices are bulging at the seams. Additional physicians, some residents feel, would from taxes. Intergovernmental grants and loans account for $1.44 million, charges for service for $543,000, fines and computer as a stolen vehicle, Poloni said. The check, dated Nov. 12, was made out to Irene Hovat of Helper, who kept it for a couple of weeks before bringing it to the Sheriffs Department for investigation. Poloni said Donovan never occupied the home or moved out of his room at the CB Inn east of Price, his last known address. Donovan had a bank account under the name Brownstone Enterprises," with a balance of $125 at the time of his disappearance. He wrote two checks on the arcount, one dated Nov. 24 and the other Nov. 26, leaving only about $9, according to newly-purchase- d Poloni. native of Northern Ireland, Donovan has a mother and brother who live there, but Poloni said neither knows of his A whereabouts. The deputy said he also checked with some of Donovans acquaintances in Salt Iake City, including his attorney, a Utah Supreme Court justice, Catholic priests and a former girlfriend. None of Donovans Price acquaintances remember seeing after him the Thanksgiving holiday. Poloni suspects foul play. He said Donovan is known to have consistently picked up hitchhikers and he may have been the victim of violence. He also said there are unconfirmed rumors that Donovan may have been in a depressed or suicidal state of mind prior to his disappearance. Poloni said anyone with information or (Continued on Page 6 ) winners. Although they lacked the crowd support, the class united together to bring back the hardware. See page IB. Business Castle Valley Watch Green River News Helper News LegalPublio Notices Letters to the Editor IDA lie 6C 8C .... IOC 5A Market Bazaar 4B News Scene Obituaries Opinion Shopping Mart Sports Utah Scene 2A 2C 4A II) ib 4(; pl |