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Show WEDNESDAY, December 4, 1985 ;J l Vernal MU i ,1. , U d' V S' U . J7 . i. During the cold, winter months, visitors at Dinosaur Gardens, the popular display of 14 dinosaurs, decrease to a mere trickle. This year the community joined together to revive the dinosaur-mani- a of the community with a little Christmas spirit. The idea to light Dinosaur Gardens came up about four years ago, but the lack of money and community support kept the idea from amounting to anything until this year. The Vernal Rotary Club, which has adopted Dinosaur Gardens as their pet project, along with other individuals and clubs, donated $7,000 for the purchase of lights, extension cords and plugs for the gardens and Main Street. The donations purchased about 35,000 lights. Then the work begin. David Haralson took on the task wiring the over 300 strands of lights at Dinosaur Gardens. The outlets at the gardens could only provide enough power for 67 strands, so additional power had to be provided. Cliff Wardle trimmed back the trees and shrubs so that the lights would be seen. With the cooperation of Alden Hamblim, director of the museum for the park service, the Dinosaur Gardens Committee, the Rotary Club, three cherry pickers from Mountain Bell and one from Utah I 'i Vernal, Utah 84078 93rd Year No. 97 i , 'rill L a UglMs Mud It is a common belief that the Dinosaurs of ancient times were all destroyed by the Ice Age, and so it has been in Vernal. it, Power and Light along with crews spent two Saturdays putting the lights on the trees and shrubs in the gardens. It was decided by the gardens committee not to place the lights on the dinosaurs so they would be left in their natural state. The efforts of the community paid off Saturday as Mike Perry, former museum director when Dinosaur Gardens was created, flipped the switch to turn on the lights. About 3,200 people turned out for the lights on celebration that was complete with Christmas carols by Davis, Ashley and Discovery, Maeser elementary school children and a combined choir of the Glines Third and Vernal Eight Wards. Television crews from KUTV Channel 2 broadcast the event for their 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news programs. Everyone I have talked to about the lights have said, How beautiful, that was the nicest thing, said Irvin Haws, chairman of the Dinosaur Gardens Committee. Dinosaur Gardens will be open for two hours in the evening free of charge from Dec. 13 until Christmas. Entrance is through the southeast gate. Haws said that his committee cant take all the credit for the success of the Christmas celebration, it belongs to the entire community. A good portion of the credit for getting people in the Christmas Spirit Continued on page 2 )) 5 28 Pages Single Copy 25 to visit gardens out 3 I & . ... ... 4, jl THE LIGHTS GO ON, all 30,000, at Dinosaur Gardens during the official lighting Saturday. This is the first year that the gardens have been decorated for Christmas. The Dinosaur Gardens Committee spearheaded the project, but the entire community pitched in to help out. Area economy slumps during second quarter The third quarter was not a shiny example of a lush economy in the Uintah Basin despite a decline in the unadjusted unemployment rate and 125 more jobs over last year, reports the Utah Department of Employment Security. Nonagricultural jobs increased .9 percent higher than the third quarter of 1984. The 125 net new jobs are evenly distributed over all sectors, but the service sector did produce the most with 171 new jobs in the Uintah Basin. Daggett County is attributed with of all new jobs created in the district in areas of transportation, communication and public utilities. Uintah County was strong in manufacturing jobs cornering nearly all jobs gained over third quarter 1984, but total job growth was barely noticeable at .2 percent. inDuchesne County showed creases in all sectors. two-thir- 3,200 people strolled along the winding paths at Dinosaur Gardens during the official OVER lighting that culminated a lot of hard work and numerous donations from individuals and clubs. Humane Society wins court but Searle says all was not lost October 22 is heralded as a momentous day for the Utah Humane Society, but for Woodey B. Searle it was year legal the end of a battle, and in a way, he got what he was after. After that meeting, Searle filed suit against the Humane Society of Utah claiming that as owner of the Diamond Hills Cafe and Restaurant, he suffered financial damage brought by the Humane Societys campaign. During the Humane Societys camIn 1971 the Humane Society reVerpaign, the transient room tax for Uinquested both Uintah County and tah, Duchesne, Daggett and Rich jointly-ownenal City to improve their counties declined 30 percent from the of east at located dog pound previous year, Searle said. Vernal. In August 1979, after over 120 proThe unsuccessful effort of the jurors had been eliminated. spective two the Humane Society to convince David Sam granted a motion Judge to needed entities that improvements to change the site of the trial from be made, spurred an all out media Vernal to Provo. to visit not tourists to blitz urge the The Humane Society stood behind Dinosaurland because of what as First Amendment as a defense in termed the Humane Society of the the case, and their defense was succonditions deplorable cessful in getting the trial dismissed. pound. In 1982 the decision was appealed In April of 1976 billboards saying to the Utah Supreme Court, which See pets swelter in the heat and held that the motivation for the freeze in the cold, visit City- County Humane Societys actions could not went up on the Pound Vernal, to protect the Humane Socieused be Wasatch Front. Newspaper ads, from a suit brought by an innocent television coverage and radio spots ty owner. motel were purchased by the Humane into leaders local Society to pressure However, last October the Utah making improvements. Supreme Court agreed that the United States Supreme Court case of Searle said he became involved NAACP verses Clairborne Hardware comwhen he was invited by a county Co. which ruled that white merchants missioner to attend a meeting conin a Mississippi town could not sue a cerning the condition of the dog black organization for economic loss first at was he said Searle pound. suffered by a boycott organized by hpsitant, but then agreed to go. d r. the blacks to protest racial segregation, protected the Humane Society from Searles claim. Mad? I am not mad, Searle said about the ruling. Searle has spent about $45,000 on the case. I went into the case not wanting to win a lot of money, but to prove a point, he said. The (Humane inSociety) thought the could come to a small town and push us around. I filed the suit so they would leave us alone, which they have done," Searle said. I did what I thought had to be done, and looking back, I would not have done anything differently. Searle contends that his side of the story was never heard in court. other economic indicators, sales and construction taxable gross activity decreased for the second Two quarter of 1985. The gross taxable sales has the Uintah Basin down 39 7 percent from 1984. Major declines were in Duchesne County, off 91 percent and Ballard, off 52.7 percent. Vernal City sales were down 11 percent and Roosevelt City taxes were down 8 6 percent. In Manila, gross taxable sales was up 114 percent the only area beside Altamont showing an increase. Altamonts gross taxable sales were up 43.8 percent. Construction activity was off 39.4 percent from last year for the Uintah Basin, New dwelling units were down 68 percent, new residential units were 57.8 and new down percent nonresidential building was down 72.5 percent. Additions, alterations and repairs to nonresidential dwellings were up 316 percent. The slump in the local economy is compounded by the closure of the Ute Indian Tribes Bottle Hollow Resort, 80 employees being laid off and closure of Gibsons Discount Center affecting 18 workers. Two other announced closures will additional layoff employees. Ashtons has announced it is quitting business and Osco Drug will close some time in Januarj Projects which may boost the economy is a $1,638,690 contract for a new post office now under Construction in Vernal by Mast Construction Company of Vernal. LeGrand Johnson Construction has been awarded a $1,082,853 contract to resurface the Randlett Road in Uintah County. The district was dealt an increase in the number of job seekers applying for work through Job Service offices, states the report. Robert Dearman, Naples Center development, said Tuesday that if everything goes as planned, work on the Naples project should begin next summer. There is no reason to get something started this winter, as we originally planned," Dearman said. Over 1,430 individuals were actively seeking employment at the end of . Continued on page 2 The pound was built to Mr. Litof the Humane Society specifications and when a new director, Lonnie Johnson, wanted it changed, we refused. The Humane Society believes the October decision will assist all groups who are seeking political change in Utah through the use of economic persuasion. It is, in the final analysis, a decision which protects the First Amendment right of free speech and the right to petition the government for change is the same spirit as the Boston Tea Party or the Russian grain embargo, says the Humane Societys publication Speaking of Animals tles Thomas Continued on page 2 Santa tells children how to send letters Attention children! It is the time for you to begin sending me your nice Christmas letters. You may send them in care of my helpers at the Vernal Express at P.O. 1010 Vernal, Utah 84078. Please print your letters carefully so I can choose the things from you list that are just right for you. Mrs. Santa Claus and the elves and I are anxious to hear from you. Write soon and remember to be good boys and girls. seat of a vintage Model-A- , Santa waves to children as they greet him at the Vernal Junior High School. ARRIVING in the rumble Love Santa |