OCR Text |
Show Letters to the Editor cartel What is your opinion This newspaper welcomes opinions from its readers concerning any subject. Anything of a libelous nature or defamation of character will not be considered for publication. Please limit your letters to 300 words or less. Wip reserve the right to edit for clarity or length. Letters must be signed and include your full name, address and telephone number. - From Sheriff Smith Dear friends and fellow citizens of Kane County: The purpose of this letter is to state the official policy of the Kane County Sheriffs Office on roads within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Recently this issue has become a subject ofconsiderable debate within the county. It is not my intention to interfere in any way with the regular and legitimate legislative process as it occurs within the county. It is however my intention to insure peace and good order for all of our citizens. First, some preliminary explanation: As the July elected Sheriff of Kane County, my authority in the area of the law enforcement within Kane County is equal to that of the President of the United States. The difference between us is that he has primary responsibility for enforcement offederal law, while I have primary responsibility for enforcement of state and local law. Maintenance ofpeace and good order within the county has always required a high degree of cooperation between my office and the federal authorities because the federal government owns most of the land within our county , and therefore, the likelihood of violations of federal law is high. My office has been and will continue to cooperate with federal authorities in the enforcement of violations of federal law. The issue of continued public access to the land within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument presents a challenging mix of federal and state law. While the federal government owns most of the land, access to that land via roads throughout the Monument has traditionally been determined, in both state and federal court, by reference to state common law respecting the creation and use ofroads. How this issue will ultimately be decided with respect to the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is unknown at this time. Several agencies are at work on this issue right now. The Governor of the State of Utah is in the process of filing suit to establish once and for all the states common law road rights recognized by RS 2477. The Kane County Commission is considering a road agreement with the management ofthe Grand Stair- - case Escalante National Monument. Other lawsuits have been filed. It is not my intention to interfere in any way with any of these processes. Nevertheless, I am declaring as the official policy of the Kane County Sheriffs Office that all roads within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument will remain open and accessible by all persons until such time as a court of competent jurisdiction, be it federal or state, declares otherwise. This policy will continue and remain in force notwithstanding any road agreement negotiated by any legislative body, be it county or state, unless and until such an agreement is approved and ordered implemented by a court of competent jurisdiction. In my judgement, this policy is required to maintain the peace and good order of Kane County. It will be strictly enforced. Any individual with information respecting the closure of any road within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is invited to contact my office for follow-u- p investigation and if necessary. ng Yours truly, Lamont Smith Kane County Sheriff Attitude questions mvgllfiv iwrm (nm Im not one to cause trouble or pen, Bill Clinton changed the problems, but I am concerned at lives and threatened the culture what kind of effect this is going and economic stability of Kane to have on our town. I love living and Garfield counties with the here and I would never ever want illegal creation of the Grand anything to jeopardize my won- Staircase Escalante National derful home. I hope that we will pull together as a people and make the best out of all of this. I promise you its not worth losing our friendships over. Publishers Note: Unfortunately, we did not have room to print all of the letters to the editor this week. The ones that didnt appear will be first in line next week. Monument. At that time, local citizens had no public input in the decision to lock up most of Kane County. Now it appears that history may Harriett Perkins repeat itself with two Kane Kanab County Commissioners donning the role of the Clinton Administration by agreeing to sign a Enlightened A A road agreement with the BLM Dear Editor: On behalf of the Kanab FRIDAY 1 PM See LETTERS, Page 5 Womens Forum Board, I thank this community for your support in making August 26 a very successful day! It is fantastic that we can have this kind of event in our own area. Thank you to those women who joined us to Enlighten Their Life Through Learning. Regardless of age or profession, MEOWN'MEWEPAF the women who attended were The Southern Utah News (ISSN No. 0049-165is published every uplifted and educated. N. at Main 26 St., Kanab, Utah 84741 . The SUNews serves Wednesday Thank you to the many busiKane County, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Address communications to 26 nesses who contributed to the N. Main St., Kanab, Utah 84741 , or telephone Fax Forum with donations of money Advertising rates available upon request Second Class and services. It also took a lot of postage paid at Kanab, Utah 84741 . Newsstand price is 50$ per copy. volunteer hours to put the FoYearly subscription rates to Kane County addresses and Fredonia and rum together. Thank you to the Moccasin, Arizona, $22; others $30 (out of U.S. $50). The SUNews people-ANtheir families who reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement or submitted items. helped organize and carry out the plans to make this Forum Dennis Brunner Carol Sullivan happen. The board and committee are already planning for next Dixie Brunner Laurali Noteman Publishers and Editor year. We hope to see you next Reporters August! Sharlotte Brewer Myma Cox Thank You! Production Staff Valley News Emily Lind Michael Evangelista Kanab Womens Forum Chair Barbara Pyles Feature Writer ProductionLayout Southern Utah News aaa Deadlines Dear Editor: This last week I have been appalled at all the negative and bitter feelings that have been going on around our beautiful town. I thought that this town was full of the most wonderful people in the world, but Ive come to a different conclusion. This town is full of bitterness, hatred and ugliness. These people who you want out of the commission happen to be my friends... I am confiised at what they have done so bad that its worth all the hatred... The people who want them out so bad should have had their names on the ballot so that, we the people of Kane County, could have the opportunity to vote them into office. I personally would not want to put my family through the things that these men and their families have had to go through. I pray that a lot ofyou will step back, and look at yourselves and see where all this is getting you. When my children are affected by the negative attitudes that A vote are boiling around town, its time that we look at things in a differ- Dear Editor In 1996, with the stroke of a ent light. IP amgmma 9) 435-644-292- 6. 0, D Postmaster Send change of address cards to 26 N. Main St. , Kanab, UT 84741 . . $4 |