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Show n. rJvr r ' Southern Utah rMi. S' Ay- UewA r r" f V - 1 lOLJ Vol. 58 No. 6 Thursday, Novsmbtr 13, 1838 ? Kansb, Utah 84741 Single Copy 25c Jijs L . jjf'- ' V w 11 Elementary Plans Halted Until Conflicts Worked Out The Kane County School Board placed a halt on any more work or development of plans to build a new elementary school on their property in the Kanab Creek Ranchos. The motion approved by the board states that, due to the conflict between various governmental entities and the developer concerning the water system and sewage disposal at the Kanab Creek Ranchos school site, a moratorium be placed on further development and that the superintendent be directed to the present Kanab school site, the site near the high school, possible other sites, year-roun- d schools and other productivity models." Letters were received from the Utah Department of Health and the Southwest Utah District Health Department which were reviewed by the board. They both commented on questions of being able to have a culinary water connection at the Ranchos site and Southwest denied a septic system permit at this time. Suggestion was also made to consider a connection to the Kanab City sewer outfall line which passes through the subdivision. The school site is in KCR Unit 4 which has not yet been approved by the state's Bureau of Drinking Water Supplies. Southwest's closing comment is: "This department is attempting to reconcile the existing problems between the Ranchos, the State Health Department and the City of Kanab so that orderly progress may continue. As soon as the culinary water question is resolved, we will be able to issue the necessary permit to you, since the data submittsdby consultants is in accordance with the sanitary code." Rick Abbott's plan for landscaping the new district offices was accepted. Abbott informed the board that, as construction has progressed, there is less area for landscaping and he noted changes he had made from his original plans which were based on the architect's renderings. Abbott pointed out that considerable savings can be realized with this plan as he set it up as maintenance-fre- e as possible. Some pruning will have to be done once or twice year, but no lawns to mow and sprinkling will be fully automated. Further savings are possible by purchasing plants, trees and shrubs when there is a special discount available. "It may seem piece-meabut it really wont be, Abbott assured the board. Installation by present custodial staff with Abbott's assistance will save even more costs on the project. Overall Abbott states, "these costs are cut to nearly half what we originally had figured. Principals of the two elementary schools made reports to the board, both very enthusiastic and positive with the programs being utilized in their schools. Both also felt the climate at their schools is positive and enthusiastic, with teachers and staff sharing their excitement of this school year. l, Ron Taylor of Valley Elementary School praised the accomplishments of the string orchestra and the programs for the gifted and talented, reading and the PTA Reflections. He did point put they are in need of more room with the e room and library both now used as classrooms and, at time, the office space is at a premium for counselling or conference meetings. Taylor is very happy that VES is one of only 37 elementary schools in the state which is accredited. One of their main goals is to maintain the standards required for accreditation. New this year will be participation in the Presidents Academic Fitness Award. Bob Johnson, Kanab Elementary School Principal, shared with the board a handbook they developed this year for parents. It states the purposes of school work and activities and what they want to accomplish. Emphasized this year are homework and attendance. Part of their effective school" multi-purpos- and high expectations" goals, homework studies and surveys have shown a marked improvement in students accomplishments and the success of a school in teaching. The handbook states the homework recommendations of a mini 1 st5 mum of time the pupil should be working at home and, if there is no specific homework assignment, suggests that this minimum time be spent reading. An attendance log is kept on each student with a weekly review by Principal Johnson. He is then able to give individual attention should he notice a regular attendance problem. outcome based A five-yea- r education, OBE, written master plan has been put together outlining essential elements. Three OBE parents nights will inform, answer questions and explain the one-hoprogram on Wednesdays where the teachers work on their OBE student education plans. Johnson stated he felt that the teacher evaluation process initiated last year has really brought some improvements and has become a cornerstone for improving teaching at KES. He has been happy with efforts in working with parents and these public relations have been going well. Johnson said that the teachers are working, sharing ideas of effective teaching they read about or create themselves. Its an exciting time to be See SCHOOL BD., pg. 2 qualified Mountain applicant, Kumar says Fuel or any other company must allow more direct municipal participation in the ownership and operation of the natural gas service. Kumar recommends the communities, if they wish, should have the right to buy their local gas distribution systems ten years after the project starts up. Municipal ownership would help spur competition with the private gas service, Kumar believes. Furthermore, Kumar recom- mends that any community establishing its own distribution system should be allowed to interconnect with Mountain Fuel Supply pipeline if capacity is available. Such interconnection is required of interstate pipelines and the same should be required by the Utah Public Service Commission at the state level. In a similar vein, Kumar says Mountain Fuel should be required to transport gas to municipal or other potential customers in the new service area even if the gas is purchased from a different source. The proposed central and southern Utah service area includes up to 57 communities in nine counties, where over 120,000 persons reside. System cost estimates range as high as $58 million (Central Utah in Gas) with a projected start-u1987 and 1988. p Commission Canvasses Votes; Recount Conducted Wednesday More than 30 people were present Monday, November 10, as the Kane County Commissioners opened absentee ballots for the November 4 elections and began the election canvass. Eight absentee ballots 'had ar- rived, two were disallowed for too late to having postmarks qualify. Only the race for county sheriff held any suspense as it showed only a e margin with the unofficial results of the election day vote count. Both candidates were among those assembled, four votes were one-vot- r I added to the tally for Joe Gonzales and two for write-icandidate Dave Little and one more uncovered in the canvass for Gonzales bringing their official totals to 883 and 879, respectively. An official request for a recount from Little was received by Kathy Chamberlain, county clerkauditor, Monday afternoon. Judges for the counting of the votes in the ten precincts are named by the political parties with at least three each. Chosen by Mrs. Chamberlain to conduct the recount at 8 a.m. Wednesday were the n Utah Power & Light Company will sue the federal government, claiming that cheap electricity produced at federal dams is unfairly s of the withheld from people in Utah and from portions of three-fourth- Wyoming. About 140 cities and towns in Utah and southwest Wyoming will be joining UP&L in the lawsuit to be Vfiled in the Federal District Court of Utah. Utility customers in those cities could see rates drop as much as 25 percent if the lawsuit is successful. UP&L proposes to pass directly to its customers the benefits of any allocation of federal hydro power. The company would not earn a profit on the transaction. All taxpayers contributed to the construction of the dams along the Colorado River, said UP&L President James C. Taylor. "But the benefits of inexpensive hydroelectric power from the dams are being parceled out only to a select few. You have to live in an area that is served by a government-ownepower system to receive the benefits. It is a blatant subsidy that should not be tolerated. The lawsuit will be filed against the U.S. Department of Energy, its Western Area Power Administration, the U.S. Secretary of Energy and the administrator of WAPA. Specifically, the lawsuit will challenge the fairness and constitutionality of preference." Preference" is a concept that power syssays government-ownetems should be given first choice when power generated at federal dams is allocated. It means that all resource is divided of this low-cobetween systems serving only up h of the people in Utah. UP&L has fought the preference the concept for decades. In investor-oUP&L and other wned utilities offered to finance and build certain hydroelectric generating facilities on the Colorado River or its tributaries. The utilities then would have paid the government a fee for using the water. But the government refused and built the facilities itself at taxpayer expense. In the early 1960's, UP&L sought an allocation of power from the dams. Citing the preference con cept, the government refused. In 1983, the Western Area Power Administration began the process of reallocating power from the dams for the post-198marketing period. This time UP&L requested an allocation of power on behalf of 143 cities and towns in Utah and southwest Wyoming. Again citing the preference concept, WAPA refused to allocate power to any of UP&Ls customers. Now UP&L is moving the fight to the courts challenging the criteria WAPA used to exclude UP&L customers from the benefits of inexpensive hydro power. d st one-fourt- "We believe this preference facility ware, left to right, Sandy Banks, Paulina Robinson, Barbara Hamblin and Board President Jim Willis, on-tim- well-respecte- For Witholding Cheap Power while his neighbor across the street in another city is deprived of it for no other reason? Taylor said there is a growing dissatisfaction with the preference concept nationwide. Congress itself has been sending signals that preference is not a sacred principle," he said. Just this month, President Reagan signed into law a that bill prevents government-owne- d utilities from using the preference concept in bids to take over investor-owneand licensed hydro plants. Earlier, in 1981, Congress accomplished in the Pacific Northwest the same thing UP&L now seeks in Utah. Congress decreed that the benefits of low-cohydro power should be shared by everyone - regardless of what kind of utility serves them. Overnight, UP&L customers in Idaho saw their rates go down by a third. Taylor predicted a lengthy battle over the lawsuit, but said the company is committed to continue d system is unfair and illogical," Taylor said. It distrubutes benefits solely based on whether you live in an area served by a government-ownepower system. Why should someone living in one city be favored with a tremendous benefit working for fairness and equity. UP&L has an obligation to serve its customers at the lowest possible rates, Taylor said. A share of inexpensive hydro power from dams we all paid for will lower our customers' bills. This is our obligation and a common objective we at UP&L take seriously. Taylor said he expects strong objections from the public power lobby. I urge you to look at where the opposition to our effort comes from, he said. It will come from the minority of people who enjoy cheap federal power at the expense of the majority of the citizenry and it will be urged on by the national public power lobby. They will fight vigorously to protect this unjust subsidy. Don't be misled by their roundabout arguments. The issue here is plain and simple - Is it fair that 75 percent of the people in this state cannot receive the benefits of projects that were paid for by everyone? Cancer Society Talks Cold Turkey Nov. 5 The Kane County Unit of the American Cancer Society met November 5 at the Country Kitchen for lunch and making plans for their 1986-8calendar. The decision was made to meet on the first Wednesday on a regular basis andor in committee when necessary. Next meeting is scheduled for January 7 at the home of President Clyde Vance. The remainder of the time was mostly Cold Turkey". Iris, Zola, Jan, Vicki, Eleanor and Kathy all participated in the lively discussion that followed on the subject of the 10th anniversary of the Great American Smoke-outand the ACS Awareness program concerned with the dangers of smoking. The 7 " brainstorming proved fruitful. Dont smoke, for health's sake! One week before Thanksgiving, November 20, is the day set aside nationwide to celebrate the occasion. There will be special activities and program at area schools, cold turkey on the menu at Valley High, Kanab High and Kanab Middle School; restaurants will feature cold turkey specials. Participating in this will be J.V.s in Orderville, Thunderbird at Mt. Carmel and the following establishments in Kanab: Downstream Deli, Chefs Palace, Houstons Trails End, Frostop, Country Kitchen, Chic 'N' Things, Coyote Cliffs and Travelers Inn. If you dont smoke, dont start -Cold If you do smoke, quit, Turkey. Public service is contributed by area media. Southern Utah News, KCKK and Channel 12 TV. Groundwater Protection Strategy Meetings Set 9 KANAB'S SCHOOL LUNCH program received the School Board award at last week's board moating. Staff members them for the presentation and lending their comments and gratitude to the board for their new judges from voting district two, Laurie Franklin, Elda Henderson and Lloyd Vance. "They were so efficient and e with their count Tuesday after the elections," stated Chamberlain, that I felt they would do a good job. Also present for the recount will be Vernon Carr, election specialist. Carr is the author of the voting d booklets and is state and has the throughout counseled many legislators and authored many works pertaining to elections in Utah. UP&L Will Sue Govt. mid-1950- -- interested observers to learn the final official vote count. open and count abstnlee ballots as they prepare for the election canvass last Monday. The commission chambers were nearly full of COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Natural Gas System For Southern Utah Given i direct participation by municipalities, Mountain Fuel Supply is the company recommended by a professional expert to serve Central and Southern Utah with natural gas service. The expert, Jatinder Kumar of Rockville, Maryland, was hired by the Utah State Committee of Consumer Services to analyze the applicants seeking approval by the Utah Public Service Commission to supply the gas service. The Committee of Consumer Services is the public advocate for residential small commercial and agricultural utility consumers of electric, telephone and natural gas. Mountain Fuel Supply, Central Utah Gas Company, Natural Gas Corporation of Utah, and Grynberg Petroleum Company are the competing applicants. Only one applicant, if any, will be approved by the Utah Public Service Commission. Hearings in the applications started October 27th in Salt Lake City. Municipalities in the proposed service area are seeking a major role in how the new service is delivered. At one point, a formal coalition of area cities and towns including Nephi, Richfield, Cedar City and St. George, among others set down goals for the type of service they thought desirable. The coalition recently disbanded. Kumar supports a larger role for the municipalities. While he finds Mountain Fuel Supply the most Sr s Governor Norman H. Bangerter encouraged the citizens of Utah to participate in public meetings to discuss a ground water protection strategy for Utah. Southern Utah meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. in Cedar City November 19 at the SUSC Library, room 213, and in Richfield November 20 in the large city courtroom. In a statement released, the Governor said, Ground water resources of Utah are a critical source of water for the public, industry and agriculture. Almost s of our public water supplies are furnished by ground water. In the rural areas of the State, ninety percent of the residents are dependent on ground two-third- water for their domestic needs. Livestock and wildlife are also heavily dependent on ground water, particularly during the summer months. "Today, this resource is threatened by the careless use, handling and disposal of many of the products we use in our society. Small but significant amounts of organic and inorganic chemicals are being found as contaminants in our ground water. This contamination is diffi cult and expensive to clean up. Unlike surface water contamination ground water contamination is, lor all practical purposes, permanent. To prevent further pollution of this valuable resource. State govern See GROUNDWATER, pg. 2 |