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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS Opinion WEDNESDAY APRIL 14, 2004 4 Guest Editorial Your last chance to be heard By Bud Barnes Tonight at 7:30 in the Kanab City Library, there will be a Town Meeting to discuss the plusses and minusses of the pending congressional bill to designate our Highway 89 corridor, from Fairview to Kanab, as The National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area. This is probably your last chance to be heard on this issue before Senator Bennett finalizes his presentations before Con- only a central government can Senate had previously passed this bill, without one descending vote. Only because the House didnt finalize their version does Sen. Bennett have to do it again. The vast majority of residents along this corridor understand the many benefits this designation would bring. The few, who we think are misinformed, disagree, but they certainly have the right to be heard. Come and listen to both sides, and you decide whether we want this designation and recognition, or not. Other areas in this country, that had significant historical values and were so designated in the past, tell of the many benefits it has brought to them. All maps of Utah will show this Each electrician and plumber will make about $15,000. Each carpenter will be hired for about $20 per hour. Other cities have already learned this. There is no doubt that this designation will increase tourism along this corridor. The full extent of this increase will depend on how well the State of Utah wants to promote it, how well the six travel bureaus along this route want to promote it, and how well local businesses want to promote it. The potential will be enormous. The full benefits will be up to us. What other economic stimulus can you foresee for our area? It would be nice to get some manufacturing going here, with higher wages, but that isnt likely. We are too remote and shipping costs are a factor of all sales pricing. It should be understood that the average tourist will spend about $170 per day for all services. That can be spread around in a small community like ours, and reach a lot of people. The more we plan for them, for entertainment, recreation, and cultural and historical experiences, the longer they will stay and the more they will leave with us. We have one potential source for a revived economy. We are right in the heart of the greatest concentration of natural wonders found anywhere, we are in the greatest playground, and we have a great history and culture to tell. Put the three together in planned packages and they will come. Lets capitalize on these, and make it happen. We need to let Senator Bennett know we appreciate and support his efforts, and pray that his bill passes. Come and get involved, or always wonder what we could have had! do. Building our national high- ways and freeways is one of them. Designating a National Historical Area is another, and without stings attached. Some believe that newly created jobs from tourism will all be at minimum wage. True, many will be, but if it takes two minimum wage earners to make a household, they will need a home. For each new home we build in our community, some gress. You should know that the builder will profit about $20,000. National Historical Area. Many traveling through Utah will see this and realize that they can leave the freeway, travel just a few miles over the mountain, and discover something of interest. Once we receive this recognition, film crews will come to document our unique heritage and cultures. The Mormon Pioneer stories will be retold, only much better than ever before. Many Kanab residents are of anything the governgun-shment does, and rightfully so. They killed our timber industry. They want to close our back roads. They usually have strings attached to any funding program. But lets give credit where credit is due. They have done some things right. Their Louisiana Purchase from the French made it possible for many ofour southern states to belong to our union. Their purchase price for Alaska, from the Russians, has been repaid a thousand times, and didnt many call this y www.bdfry5cartoon5.com there are serious shortcomings front of Congress prior to any in the proposed legislation (HR decision to resume testing. 3921) due to a lack of input from 2. HR 3921 is inadequate in its local officials and Utah citizens. reliance on a National EnvironIn fact, the Kane County Com- mental Policy Act (NEPA) Envimission recently passed a reso- ronmental Impact Statement lution outlining the most serious flaws in HR 3921 that should give all Utahns concern. Before any legislation proceeds on this issue, the concerns of affected Utahns should be both actively sought and diligently addressed. In short, Mathesons legislation fails to provide adequate health and safety assurances for Utah residents. ( Utah News Jik. A, Deadlines AAA FRIDAY 1PM See GUEST ED, Page 5 Southern Utahns should be skeptical of any future government safety claims. All Americans should be skeptical of proposed legislation that relies heavily on the same old model that allows the fed- eral government to pursue a preferred action, follow well-tro- d C0l0fl'CQUNfRV, bureaucratic procedures and simply offer repeated assurances. HR 3921 accurately identifies the concerns surrounding past and any possible future nuclear testing in Nevada. However, Mathesons legislation falls short in how it addresses these concerns. The most disStewards Folly? concerting shortcomings of the There are many things that and legislation are three-folhave been well articulated in a recent resolution passed by the Kane County Commission. This resolution not only opposes the Give Utahns a stronger voice on resumption of nuclear testing, also outlines the most seribut protection from potential nuclear testing ous shortcomings of Mathesons Nevada and elsewhere was re- - legislation. By Tim Bridgewater Legislation aimed at protect- cently introduced in Congress 1. HR 3921 fails to require that there be reasonable debate and ing Americans from the possible by Jim Matheson. , pjrptjonqf nuclear testing yi t While I applaud the intent, , 9i.tizen.an4 expert testiijipny in Guest Editorial (EIS) as the fundamental assurance prior to the resumption of nuclear testing. 3. Monitoring and health studies as presented in HR 3921 are inadequate. The first two shortcomings are Southern well-found- d, ed H0WE - 46WN NEWSPAPER The Southern Utah News (ISSN No. 0049-165is published every N. Main at 26 84741 SUN serves Kane Utah . The St., Kanab, Wednesday the and Arizona Please address communications by County, Utah, Strip. mail to: 26 N. Main Street, Kanab, Utah 84741 ; telephone fax or sunews kanab.net. The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright 2004 Southern Utah News. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. Advertising rates available upon request. Second Class postage paid at Kanab, Utah 84741 . Newsstand price is 60c per copy. Yearly subscription rates to Kane County addresses and Fredonia & Moccasin, Arizona - $25; others - $35 (out of U.S. - $50). The Southern Utah News reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement or submitted items. 9) 435-644-290- 0; 435-644-29- 26 ail Dennis and Dixie Brunner Publishers and Editor Michael Evangelista SalesAVebmaster lro lf?van Rachel TueHer Tracy H.scock Sharlotte Brewer Reporters Receptionist - Postmaster: Send change of address cards to 26 N. Main Street, Kanab, UT 84741 Now online at www.sunews.net -- |