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Show l ! 4 IIJ mj Vernal Mft s il tr , 'y?y it ' if n iii Vwcvr'rru,i VV ViS niifliiTirrynn f riday, September 6, 1985 Express '? 1m"tfl('HIH 'T'WpWy -- - ; nc St V VJlZ r ' ' A ' " . GATHERED AT THE Chevron Resources infor- mational overlook are (L to R) Myke Hall, Bob Nicholson representing Uintah County, LeRoy Fyock, environmental and safety manager for Chevron Resources; Miles Weaver, operations supervisor, Chevron Resources; Brad Gale, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce transportation committee; and Dick Had- Chevron Resources operations denham, manager. OF THE activities of the phosphate minA ing operation can be seen from the overlook of and Vernal the view surrounding panoramic MANY Ashley Valley can also be seen from the Artist completes work for mine overlook complete with rock work trim and a panorama of informational signs The structure allows an unencumbered view of much of the activity at the mine site plus a fantastic overlook of the surrounding hills and valley The informational placards have a simple, clear text of the mining procedures and future of the mine The four signs discuss mining reclamation. the mining of phosphate, ore concentration, and have a map In order to better inform the public to the Chevron and visitors Resources mining site north of Vernal. a project was conceived and completed through the cooperation and efforts of Chevron Resources local craftsmen. employees, Chamber of Commerce and Uintah County An informational turnout building area is nearing completion at the top of the hill overlooking the mining operations on Highway 191 The facility features a unique gazebo type & i ' u - xT-''t- L 1 i i v . JT w describing the scenic view of Vernal and Ashley Valley spreading before the observer The idea lor the turnout was con ceived about three years ago by Chevron Operation Manager, Dick Haddenham, Alvin Kay, a local citizen and others who were concerned with the questions that were ad dressed tow ard environmental issues and those involving the mining operation Actual w ork on the project began in December 1984 with workers from all five of the departments of the mine the Vernal Area Chamber of Com Uintah merce, local contractors, woikers and craftsmen County gradually doing their part on the various stages of the building We got everything and everyone we could locally to work on the pro ' stated LeRoy Fyock, enject vironmental and safety manager for Chevron Resources, "This project is not a usual function of the mining company but has offered us a new kind of oppoitumty to le.ich the public w ith our message One of the local individuals who was commissioned by the turnout committee is talented local artist and commercial sign designer, Myke Hall Hall was born and raised in Maeser and his family roots are firmly embedded heie He has lived in or near Vernal off and on during his life wuh stmts in the armv and a few other years spent away His parents are Eula and Lynn Hall who still in the home where Myke was born Hall, who was asked to design and prepare the informational signs at the turnout, has been involved in many other kinds of things that have happened locally He with served those who spearheaded the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo several times, has performed with musical groups singing and playing his guitar, worked with children at schools to teach them the techniques of cartooning, been a radio DJ, helped w ith charitable fund i aising ev ents and much more His love of art became apparent the day he found he could hold a pencil and has continued to follow a creative path since that time While serving in the army he illustrated training aids and created specialty items like signs, cartoons and things He prefers drawing and painting western people and doing cartoons that, get a chuckle from people Cartooning is never a copy It always starts with a whole new idea," Hall noted I decided for sure I would be an artist when I was in the 5th grade A teacher of mine, Edith McCoy, taught me about color separation and other art techniques This w as my first real art training While I was a teenager, I did a sign for Kate Lopez at the ' to get a look at the Chevron mine and enjoy the information available on the signs in the building VISITORS MAKE THEIR way up the hill V . y f. - . 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Gateway Cafe, my first commercial job, he reminisced Hall's talent was further enhanced by the opportunity to travel with Ollie Andersons Auto Daredevils whose show makes a performance circuit across the US every summer He was the announcer of the show and helped with the publicity and advertising The performers of the daredevil acts, including Myke, were hired to do the driving stunts in the movie, Over Under Because of his varied background and many personal recommendations from local individuals, Myke was retained as the graphic artist for the Chevron Resources turnout This was not a simple art assignIt required said Fyock, ment, hours of research, tours of the mine and refining the text for the signs We took Myke through every operation and function at the mine so he could get a feel of what we needed to say to the public The actual making of the signs was no simple matter, either It required hours of sketching, silk screen printing with the help of Jim Peltier owner of the Pro Shop in Vernal, and many more critical techniques to get them just right Myke had some experience as a cartographer gamed while working with Caldwell and Covington in mapping oil field sites The techniques of map making and learning drafting been helpful have techniques his commercial art throughout career, and with the Chevron project miles north of Vernal even before the work was completed A man and woman from California remarked, That was very worthwhile," at the conclusion of their stop at the scenic overlook According to Fyock, copies of the signs are being given to the museum in Vernal Others will be offered to the library and other public buildings Smaller prints of the signs will be used in a phamplet and in brochures about the mine In pointing out the cooperation between the entities, it was noted that the Chamber of Commerce prepared the map of Vernal and surrounding area which fills the corner of one sign The parking area was paved by Uintah County, the beautiful rock w ork w as completed by Max McLean of Vernal, site preparation and building was done by the Chevron crews and a private contractor completed the fencing around the site, and the State Highway Dept will maintain the access road in the winter months There is more to come A nature w alk w ill be de eloped to enhance the reclamation plans by Chevron Resources Trees, shrubs and other plants will be identified with small signs along the pathway As the mining eventually spreads to the opposite side of the highway, there w ill be even more to see One of the most important aspects of the informational site is to inform the public about the extensive reclamation that is done after mining is completed The land is restored back to its original shape, or better Already, , '1 A,.- - " - f c.- - .5, , Jl A' overlook is given by AN INVITATION to the newly installed 191. US Highway sign on this - .Ait- - A iWSAktf '.' ' touches are added to the ore concentration sign at by artist Myke Hall SOME FINAL the turnout .- I - .'' , , 3 - .. v- - v; MYKE HALL joins Roy Freestone at one of their favorite artistic endeavors, capturing the quaint nature of outhouses on canvas. 5 V, |