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Show I i ) SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS - Thursday, March 24, 1988 - Page Five Local Man Awarded For Hunter Safety Contributions - BASEBALLS HERE Getting the baseball season off to a start last weekend were four teams who played In the "Chuckwagon Invitational" in Kanab. Participating teams were Lehl, Manti, Richfield and Kanab. According to Kanab Coach Arlyn Hafen it was a "warm-u- p tourney" where the teams batted from a pitching machine with each team playing 1 0 games over the two days. A champion was not crowned but Hafen said he thought Kanab finished with a record for the weekend. The season will get underway in earnest this weekend when Kanab travel to Virgin Valley for a three-da- y tournament Glen Canyon Prohibits ORVs If youve driven off any of the paved roads in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area tGCNRA) lately, you've probably encountered or or more narrow orange-coloreNo stakes with the message, vehicles allowed. Park employees have placed several hundred of those four-foo- t tall stakes during the past year on road unauthorized segments throughout the GCNRA. Chief Ranger John Ritenour says it's part of an effort to protect Glen Canyon's backcountry resources - a function that is regarded with no less dedication than the management of the areas water-baserecreation. In addition to staking road and trail segments, the program involves increased public and visitor contact education throughout the backcountry. The objective, Ritenour says, is to halt the unregulated practice of vehicles - two wheelers, three drive wheelers and four-whevehicles - traveling where they are not supposed to be, inflicting damage on native vegetation, and in effect establishing new trails, and,, pathways where none is intended. Ritenour says scores of new scars and unauthorized trails were being created each year by unauthorized vehicles. And once a single vehicle breaks a newr trail, others that come along are prone to believe that they are entitled to follow the same tracks, he said. Each passage worsens the situation and extends the resource damage." Glen Canyon is a delicate desert environment whose sandy soils support a wide variety of fragile plant species that struggle to survive. The passage of a single vehicle can destroy some plants and produce a wound that will remain for a century or more. Paths marking the remote route of uranium prosectors" vehicles nearly 50 years ago are as prominently in evidence today as when they were first made. There remain many miles of unmaintained roads that continue to be available for authorized use in the National Recreation Area. In area at Lone addition, a 1,000-acrRock Beach is available for ORV use. Any unimproved segment that is not staked is available for vehicle use, Ritenour said, as long as vehicle is street licensed and the operator has a valid license. Additionally, there are back country roads and trails on adjoining public lands administered by the of Land Management Bureau Another part of GCNRA's current road program involves a segment numbering system that is expected to be in place in 1988. The park will erect small signs along all unpaved road segments open for vehicle use. each sign with a thre-digi- t number. d Powell Buoy System Their foes are wind, vandals and novice skippers prone to pilot ponderous houseboats directly over buoys that mark the principal waterways of Lake Powell on the Arizona-Utaborder. But Ron, Martin and his two helpers are nothing if not philosophic about their role at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA), which last year attracted nearly three million visitors. Many of them became weekend pilots in a freshwater armada that typically scatters among the lake's 96 major shore-Une- .' canyons and d 1,960-mile-lon- ' ' ", ' 1 We try to keep them out of trouble, says Martin, a National Park Service career man who goes by the title Dive Leader. Specifically, Martin and his crew are responsible for a buoy system that is believed to be the largest such fresh w ater installation in the nation, wdth the exception of the Great Lakes. GCNRA operates a total of some 300 buoys that are dispersed along the length of the lake to mark a safe channel for the boaters. What one sees, however, doesn't begin to tell the story of the waterway safety effort at this spectacular National Park area. All that you can see is the top half of the buoy itself, Martin says. deal more a great There's suspended beneath it." In fact, under each buoy is five chain connected feet of quarter-incto a half-incpolypropylene line that extends to near the bottom of the lake. There it is linked to a length of chain that is bound concrete anchor. to a That's a lot of chain, and a lot of line. The deepest buoy we have is in about 460 feet of w ater in the main lake channel near Warm Creek, Martin says, and we have a lot of others that are in the 300- - and t range. Its called a Lateral System, with red buoys knowm as nuns on the right as one moves (northeasterly) from Glen Canyon Dam and green buoys called cans on the left. On each buoy is a number indicating approximate from Glen Canyon miles Dam. Each buoy is within sight of its next neighbor, so that boaters can maintain line of sight at all times h h 30-fo- 300-poun- d e 400-foo- up-lak- e (BLM). If prospective visitors are unfamiliar wdth park and BLM boundaries, Ritenour said, should inquire either at the Carl Hayden Visitor Center at the Glen Canyon Dam near Page, up-lak- e Mobile Home Auto Business Boat Life and Health For All Your Insurance Home See us first. Turner Insurance Licensed agents in Arizona and Utah 645 N. Navajo Dr. Page, AZ 645-243- The numbers correspond with those that appear on newly published maps of the recreation area. The numbering system will better enable backcountry travelers to orient themselves within the National Recreation Area, and to identify their locations in the event of emergencies. Arizona, or at the nearest BLM field office in Kanab. 1 except in the worst weather. Pass between the line of buoys and you're in safe water. Get outside, and you're in jeopardy of running into rocks or scraping submerged bottom. One major problem for Martin and his fellows is keeping the buoys on station. High winds ranging up to 80 and 90 miles per hour drag the buoys nd their anchors well away from their appointed places, and its important to get them returned or replaced as quickly as possible. Vandals are a major headache, too. The buoys are popular targets for those with firearms, although firearm use is strictly limited throughout the National Recreation Area. One buoy in the vicinity of Antelope Island was found to have 80 bullet holes in it. Still other buoys have been run down by careless boaters piloting everything from small runabouts to 60 foot houseboats. Last year, upon retrieving a buoy from its station near Bullfrog, Martin and his helpers were astounded to find a propeller impaled in the side of the buoy, apparently from a houseboat that had either run over the floating device or brushed close by. The buoys themselves are foam-filleThey are 86 inches in height, weigh about 75 pounds each, and have plastic or fibreglass walls a thick. They cost about quarter-inc$280 (plastic) or $500 (fibreglass) new, although lighted buoys cost up to $1,500 each. The costs don't include chain, polypropylene line and anehor. The buoys are provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, but all other costs are borne by the National Park Service. The Coast Guard makes buoys available only on the condition that the waters be classified as navigable, and because the San Juan arm of Lake Powell is not so certified, there are no buoy markers there - yet. Martin says about 75 buoys are needed for the San Juan. In addition to the red nuns and the green cans. Lake Powell has red and white striped markers that signify safe channel, lighted buoys and wakeless area buoys, each with a different message. Between Wahweap and Hite Marinas, at opposite ends of the lake, there are 216 main channel buoys. In addition, there are 18 lighted buoys between Wahweap and Rainbow Junction (the approach to Rainbow Bridge) and 39 w akeless area buoys. The buoys are serviced continually. Martin and his crew use a buoy tender to pull the buoys on deck for cleaning and general maintenance. On the average of once every four years or so. the devices are returned to the Park Service maintenance shop at Wahif weap for repainting and, necessary, replacement. Whether at Lake Powell or elsew here, buoys and other floating aids to navigation should not be regarded as unmovable objects. Some may have burned-ou- t lights, be adrift or missing because of storms and winds, unusual lake elevation or collisions. Martin, a native of the Los Angeles area, has been at Glen Canyon for 12 years. He's called Dive Leader" because his functions include underwater work with SCUBA gear. 30-fo- Call a child stupid, and it can destroy one of the most valuable assets that young person may have - self esteem. Now iet's get positive. Great teachers guard students' selfesteem as if it were a months paycheck. About a year ago, an article in a publication that goes to more than 1.8 million readers demonstrated that kind of teacher concern. The teacher is Susan Seehafer, a member of Provo's West Ridge Elementary School faculty. In the article she described how she grades her students' creative writing. Instead of marking their misspelled words with red ink, she considers the quality of the student writer's thought and imagination. But she doesn't ignore the misspelled words. Susan Seehafer adds the misspelled words to a list for the class to study. Her pupils deal with their spelling mistakes eventually, but not in a wav that damages their self esteem. Too many times we hear somebody say something like this to a youngster: You put that box on the wrong shelf, stupid! Used in that context, the word stupid is an obscenity. Its loathesome because it can destroy one of a childs most precious assets self-estee- Two southern Utah Hunter Education instructors were presented with prestigious awards Saturday, March 12, at the annual awards luncheon for the southern Utah Hunter Education program in Cedar City. Clifford Helms of Kanab received the Outstanding Employee of the Year award, and Earl Roe of Panguitch received the Outstanding Hunter Education Instructor of the Year for southern Utah. The Utah hunter education program is sponsored by the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Helms has been employed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 12 for years but began his involvement as a hunter education instructor 32 years ago. Helms was in the first instructors class offered by the DWR and has been active in the program ever since. He was recognized for his outstanding efforts in teaching and promoting the hunter education program while emnloved with the DWR. Officer Helms said, Utah has the finest hunter safety program available in the United States and Canada. He noted the National Rifle Association has given Utah the highest honor several years in a row for outstanding and programs instructors. Besides being an excellent hunter safety instructor for 30 years, Roe has been a teaching principal at Panguitch middle school for over 35 years and a scoutmaster for 28 years. Roe is now one of the five finalists for the Instructor of the Year award for the State of Utah. This award will be presented at the April 22 Utah Wildlife Federation Annual Convention at Park City, Utah. Both Roe and Helms received plaques, handsome hunting knives and additional awards for their over 30 years of service. Utah's Hunter Safety Coordinator Ed Cornia presented the awards to the wo presented the awards to the two men. Cliff Helms (right) receives the "Outstanding Employee of the Year" award from Ed Comia, Utah Hunter Safety Coordinator. The award is sponsored by the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources. Utah Summer Games Athletes! On your marks! The Utah Summer Games will enter its third annual presentation in 1988 as the largest amateur sports organization in the state of Utah. The Games are specifically designed to showcase Utahs dedicated and wormy amateur athletes and registration deadlines are rearing. The Games in years past have been held solely in Cedar City with no qualifying competitions but because of the increased interest regional qualify ing meets h ave been set prior to the amateur sports festival that will be held in Cedar City. The regional meets wili be held for the North, Salt Lake, Central and South regions of the state. Thirteen counties make up the south region with the events being held in Salina and Richfield, Utah. The counties include Millard, Sanpete, Emery, Grand, Sevier, Beaver, Piute, Wayne, San Juan, Iron, Garfield, Washington and Kane. The South Region Qualifying dates have been set for April 14,15 and 16 and April 21, 22, and 23. The sporting events that will be involved in thisyearsqualifying finals for the South region will be Athletic Track and Field, Volleyball, Softball, Swimming, and Basketball. These events will be divided between Salina and Richfield cities with the Track and Field events and Volleyball to be hosted in Salina and the Softball, B asketball and S wimming events to be held in Richfield. Registration forms can be ob-t- a to be mailed These applications brand regional softball meet will qualify for the final events. Four additional teams from around the state will be selected by the USSS A to ensure lop competition. Teams are limited to 15 players. The Swimming divisions will be as follows: Mens Scholastic (age 17 back to the Games Committee as close to April 7, 1988 as soon as possible. John Roberts, Richfield, is the South Region area director and states that plans are progressing nicely for the will be no pole vault category. Participants in the Open and Masters divisions must compete at the regional level in order to qualify for the finals competition. The top four athletes or teams from each region will be seeded into the finals competition. All participants in the Scholastic Division will be advanced immediately to the finals without the necessity of qualifying rounds. The Basketball competition will involve several divisions. Mens Scholastic(17 yearsof ageoryounger). Mens Open, Mens Masters (35 years of age or older). Womens Scholastic (17 years of age or younger), and Women's Open. Participants in all divisions must complete at the regional level in order to qualify for the finals competition. The top two teams from each region in each division will be seeded into the Finals. Eligibility will be for any amateur athlete. NCAA players must submit written permission from their college athletic director to participate. Not more than twoNCAA college players may participate on the same team. All teams are required to bring one certified official with them to help officiate the tournament The Softball games will be divided into two divisions: Mens Slow Pitch and Womens Slow Pitch. The format to be used will be that all teams will play in one division. Lower classified teams will be awarded a four run "equalizer per difference in class when playing a higher classified team. The home run rule of the lower classified team will be applied. The higher classified team will be the home team. The top six teams from each ned from offices of First Security Banks and Utah Power and Light or by calling a toll free Applications Hotline are will be 4K and the Discus IK and there events. Salina completed a new track and field complex late last vear and will have all new equipment for these events. Both communities will be involved in providing fields and courts for the other events if team interest demands it. We will be ready and eager for the participants, he stated. John can be reached at 896-52or From the Salina area and for questions concerning the track and field events or the volleyball 1 or games Mel Briggs at Lanna Shaw at The following track and field events will be offered by the Games Committee this year for Open and Masters (35 years of age and older) by men and women. 1GGM Dash, 2CK3M dash. 400M dash. 800M Run, 160CM Run. 5 DOOM Run. 1 10M 42" Hurdles. 490M 36 hurdles, Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, Shot P'Jt (16 lbs.). Discus (2K), Javelin, OiIOOM Pvday and 4x 40GM Relay. For the women the hurdles will be 33" and 30" respectively and the shot put and younger). Mens Open, Mens Masters (age 35 and older). Womens Scholastic (age 17 and younger). Womens open and Women's masters (age 35 and older). The events will include uic following: 50 freestyle, 100 freesiyle,200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 1650 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay, 800 freestyle relay, 100 breastroke, 200 breastroke, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 200 indivi dual medley , 400 Individual medley and 400 medley relay. There will be preliminaries and finals. All events will be measured in yard distances. The event limits will be 5 pier individ ual event and 2 team relays pier relay event. The top three finishers in each regional qualifying event will complete in Cedar City. The next twelve fastest times from the regions as a whole and anyone who achieves Utah Senior time standards will also qualify for the finals competition. Volleyball will have four events offered: Opien Women (18 years of age and older), Opien Men (18 years of age and older), Scholastic Women (17 years of age and younger) and Scholastic Men (17 years of age and younger.) The lop two teams from each region will be seeded in the finals competition. Any amateur athlete is eligible with no more than two NCAA college volleyball players from a single college may participate on the same team. US VBA rules will be used to govern the event. Participants are requested to get their registration material submitted as soon as piossible. They are also encouraged to call those people listed if they have any questions concerning any of the events or eligibility. We are excited lobe a part of the Utah Summer Games qualifying events, said Mel Briggs, Salma. Our motels, eating establishments, schools and espiecially the people jn the area are ready to host these events. There should be great fun for all those involved. Zion Gets New Booth 896-998- 7. 529-747- 529-748- A new entrance booth at Zion National Park is under construction and its completion date is set for June 1. Harold Grafe Superintendent reported that the new booth will be located adjacent to the existing booth at the south entrance of the park. He said the operation of both stations should help expedite traffic fiow during the busy summer season. We had over 50,000 people visit the park this past month, which is a 25 percent increase over last year's figure, said Grafe. That brings visitation figure to our year 92,093 people, which is a 16 percent increase over last year's figure. If this trend continues, we are expected to exceed two million visitors by the end of the year. The new entrance booth will be a welcome addition as we host these concluded additional visitors, Grave. All trails within the park, except those at the higher elevations, are snow and ice free and open for hiking. Park ranRers recommend taking advantage of the cooler spring temperatures to hike the low elevation trails that are too hot to hike in the summer heat. |