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Show s SUN CHRONICLE, I March 10, 1979, Page 14 Crop dusfiiirDCj) meeds r .yvnwi W"1 reeo! professsomolosirm Anthony Mather looks the r. e part of an old-tim- crop-duste- with really cheap rates, so I moved to Kalispell, Montana to teach flying for a friend who He is tall and ruggedly handsome. His curly brown hair and trim moustache reminds one of a World War 1 flying ace. But according to Mather, the president of Am-sCorp., Utahs largest sprayplane operation, the days of the "devil-may-car- e gypsy crop duster are gone for good. "It used to be like that, but the industry has pretty well weeded that kind of person out, he explained. Its a matter of economics. The planes used to cost $2,000 a piece and at that rate, if you broke one you could just burn it and get another. Now with planes costing an average of $75,000 you cant have a guy in the pilots seat who isnt a professional. According to Mather, a Sunset resident, spraying is the safest job in the ,riculture industry. Its el ran the airport. My friend did crop dusting on the side and one day he wrecked his plane in mid season. He still had half a season of work to do but he was laid up in the hospital. He gave me a quick course in spraying and up I went. Mather confided that he doesnt know how he survived that first year of flying. The next year I sprayed grain in North Dakota, from there I went to Manaua, Nicaragua to spray and then to Nairobi, Kenya, Mather I began in the said. business here in Ogden in 1971. I started working for Bill Hunter and when he died I started my own business. We started out with one $6,000 plane now we have four planes. Mather, the father of three children, talked about the is. The insecticides that we use now are so selective that it will kill a particular bug and leave its cousin alone. Most of the flying is done during daylight, according to Mather, but he tells of the night flying that spray pilots have to do in Delta, Utah. In Delta they have a lot of alfalfa fields, Mather said. "They cant be sprayed during the day because the bees that pollinate the crop would be killed by the insecticide. Mather uses two flaggers, men with kerosene lanterns to give the nightflying pilots directions, on each field The fields are usually surrounded by power lines, he explained, We can see them in the dark but every third pass over the field we know that we are close to a pole. We cant see them at all so we depend ont the flaggers. We sight in on their lanterns and then give them hair-raisin- g point to stay on good terms with my flaggers, he said with a grin. Despite the inherite dangers in the business, Mather maintains that it is a safe profession, especially for bystanders. Our first concern is for the safety of anyone on the ground, he said. Most of us feel very strongly about that. "Last summer, I had engine failure just after takeoff. I looked around for a place to land and the only empty field had a baseball diamond at the other end. Kids were playing baseball and I didnt want to take the chance of overrunning the field and plowing into them so I dumped the plane in a canal. Mather told of how other sprayplane pilots have flown there planes into mountains rather than risk forced landings in residential areas. It is our decision to fly sprayplanes, not the people on the ground, Mather said if anything emphatically, goes wrong we suffer the consequences not the people on the ground. ROY FIRE CHIEF Dick Waters, left, puts the department s new mascot onto the back of the mini pumper. The seven-montold dog was donated by llene LeFevre of Layton, who knew one of the firemen. The firemen have been calling him "Clyde' but would like the residents of Roy to help give him a permanent name. Right, "Clyde" checks out the view from the cab of the Roy City Fire ruck, and asks that residents give him a name. Those interested in naming the dalmation should fill out the coupon below and return it to the Sun Chronicle office, 5388 S. 1900 W Roy, before 5 p.m. March 14. Local merchants have been contacted to help donate prizes for the winning entry for a name. The Fireman's Association will pick the best entry to name their new mascot. Prizes h Albertsons 5 Lb. Canned Ham $5 Gift Certificate Bee Gees Branding Iron Smith Food King Dinner For Two Free Turkey $5 Gift Certificate Ten Free Tacos Free Knife Set McDonalds Taco Time Sun Chronicle think the dog should be named I I I I I I I I My I name : I I Address I I I Division of Wildlife Phone Number I I I (insert), president of Amsel Corporation, Utah's largest aerial spraying company looks at supply of insecticides in his Ogden Airport warehouse. Pictured also is one of his 4 spray planes. Converted from a World War II Stearman trainer, the plane is valued at $50,000. TONY MATHER transformation of crop dusting into a highly We regulated science. safer than driving a combine, but thats because of the professionalism of the who the pilots fly sprayplanes. Mather, who have to know alot about entomology, the study of insects, agronomy, the study of crops and of course the chemistry of the insecticides we use. Things are so complicated, did you know that there are 175 different insecticides that can be used on corn alone? A farmer calls up and says that he has little black and green bugs eating his crops. We have to drive out to the farm and catch one of the bugs and identify what it holds a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from San Jose State University in California made a dramatic entrance into the business 12 years ago. I got my degree just as the airplane business was going into a decline. I managed to get a commercial pilots license in college; we had a flying club k 0 Bass clubs from Ogden and Salt Lake have donated time and money to assist Division of Wildlife fisheries biologists to improve fish habitat on Willard Bay reservoir. Artificial reefs were constructed by biologists and a chance to get out of the way. We know that we have bass club members and about five feet or less of wing placed on the ice in the North clearance, if the flagger was West corner of the reservoir. accurate in his position. As the ice melts the 50 reefs Mather explained that if will fall into place in 22 feet the flagger isnt accurate in of water. his position, if for one reason The reefs are made of or another he stand a couple discarded vehicle tires, old of feet closer to the pole than Christmas trees, and conhe should, the pilot runs the crete. The reef materials risk of catching a wingtip on were collected and assemthe pole. bled on the ice by bass club If that happens youre members under the direcdead. Your plane flips and tion of fisheries biologist comes in upside down. It's Kent Summers. that simple, you dont make Fisheries biologists feel the mistake twice, he said the reefs will provide the grimly. I always make it a cover for game fish presently in Willard Bay. Biologists have found that the bottom of the reservoir lacks the natural cover for game fish such as largemouth bass, crappie, walleye pike, and channel catfish. At present spawning activity of the game fish are restricted to rip-ra- p areas along the dikes surrounding the reservoir. Fisheries biologists and bass club members are hopeful that the additional cover on the barren bottom will be utilized for cover and spawning habitat by the game fish. Willard Bay is rapidly becoming one of the most popular year around fishing waters in Northern Utah. DOWN Mayor of Roy. 2. Pronoun by which a speaker or writer denotes himself. the 3. A word expressing sound made by convulsive sobbing. 4. Plural of a masculine Christian name. 5. Last name or one who makes clothing. 6. Slang for the windpipe. 7. In the way or manner 1. Fishermen are anxiously waiting for the Walleye pike to begin. If trends from past years are used as indicators, described, indicated, or Walleye fishing should suggested. pickup after the ice leaves 8. Past tense of sit. the reservoir. In past years 9. Article of clothing worn on Walleye fishing is at its best head. in late March or early April. Crappie fishing is presently good in both North and South marinas. With the warm weather the ice conditions are rapidly becoming unsafe. Extreme caution should be used when traveling out on the ice to fish. Amateurs Forum By Cliff Bachihon As the snow melts and Spring draws humanity out of its winter cocoon, its time once more to turn thoughts and energy to the upkeep and beautification of yards and gardens. As the days get longer and hotter many people use their backyards more and more for barbecuing, entertaining, simply just relaxing and enjoying the climate. Electric lighting is a must for any garden or backyard during the summer time, but it need not be expensive or a long drawn out project. The final touch is supplied not by baby spot lights oi d electric lawn lights but by a more primitive light source, the candle. The soft glow can add an exciting or mellow quality to a party or barbecue. Striking bases can also enhance the mood. Try the clearglass chimneys from camping lanterns. Use them alone on fences or in groups on patios. Clusters with bright candles look Spanish. Glass jars give a similar effect. Metal casings and ceramic containers are easily adapted as is construction tile. A d drain tile can be used with 4x4 blocks inside to raise the candle. It gives a sparkling light effect which is marvelous to behold. In addition to candles, simple lighting device is the flare pot. Take a coffee can and punch a hole in the top, add a wick and enough kerosene to give an hour of flame. Candles can also add a sense of mystery or drama to common plants and shrubbery. If a person is really looking for a different mood, try making your own candles and adding a few drops of fragrance to the dry wick before dipping it. Once the wick absorbs the odor it will provide a delicious scent when lit. By adding sandalwood oil your garden or backyard will take on an oriental scent by candlelight. Oil of spearmint will provide the minty fragrance of a riverbank in the northwoods of Canada. Vetiver, oil derived from a tropical grass will add the touch of Africa, while oil of cloves will add a spicy romaman scent. Whatever one decides candlelight provides a fun new atmosphere to your plain old backyard or garden. multi-colore- Crossword Puzzle 10. To depart hurriedly or secretly. 11. The greek letter that represents the letter u. plunder or pillage. Last name of Spanish playwright, first name Francisco. 14. Either of the two fleshy structures which form the edges of the mouth. 15. A wild species of garlic. 16. To call upon for or an answer. 17. Double nothing. 12. To 13. 18 A parcel of ground upon which a house is constructed. 19. Furnished with bristles or prickles. 20. Local position. 21. A number or group of people. 22 African timber tree ACROSS In Scandinavian mythology, the great tree whose branches and roots extend through the universe and support it. 2. disorders. 3. The partners of a firm whose names do not appear in the style or title. 4. Superhuman persons who are worshipped as having power over nature and the fortunes of man. 5. A bar on rod of wood used or shaped for a praticular purpose. 6. A young sow or boar. 7. Abbreviation for quoth. 8. Inclined to act rightly. 9. Oblong single-seede- d berries, growing m clusters, with sweet pulp. 10. A Roman copper coin originally weighing 12 oun 1. ces. 11. Slang greeting. 12. Seventh tone in an octave. 13. A number of persons or things arranged in a straight line. 14. A call to a horse to stop. 15. A heathen feast lasting 12 days. 16. A negative response. 17 To leave to allow to pass. 18. A Nickname for Lois. 19. Advertisement. 20. Spanish word for eye. 21. The terminal part of the arm below the wrist. . 22 An exclamation ex- pressing surprise. 23 Expressing motion directed tow ards and reaching. 24. A negative particle coordinating two or more words, phrases or clauses between which there is an alternative. Local position. The fifth sign of the zodiac. 27. A seabird. 25. 26. 28. Preposition indicating position. 29. Smallest letter m the Greek alphabet. 30. A quack. 31. Man's first name. |