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Show hreat to the freedom and well-being of rural Utahns, | always had the strange feeling that he loved the desert as much as I did, but maybe in a different way... For years, Joe’s letters the editor of the Times-Independent and public statements entertained, intrigued and aggravated me...In 1977, during the "to pave, or not to pave" controversy at Canyonlands National Park, my fellow seasonal ranger pal Mike Salamacha and I engaged Joe in a series of letters to the T-I. Here’s a sampling: Stocks: "It appears that the ‘control the people--no growth’ philosophy has been adopted by the state government...Where would the West be if that insane criterion had been applied during the last two centuries? Where would the human race be?" Salamacha and Stiles: "Joe Stocks asks, "Where would the human race be today?’ without (we presume) the likes of Salt Lake City. Where indeed, Joe? Just look at all it has cd 415 N. Main St. 435.259.1134 800.825.9791 www.twoemoab.com We Have Rentals. to offer--foul air, urban sprawl, drug abuse, runaway crime, bumper to bumper traffic and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir." Stocks: "It is astonishing to me that environmentalists can make fun of the economic suppression of southern Utah, as evidenced by their stand opposing growth and progress...and by their ridicule of Salt Lake City and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It is incredible that they have succeeded in imposing totalitarian, police state rule upon our wonderful national parks." Salamacha & Stiles: "We were shocked to learn that a police state now exists in all 39 national parks. Why weren't we told about this? Isn‘t this the land of the red, white and blue? And if they are a police state, doesn’t that make Reagan’s Secretary of the Interior, James Watt, its sinister commander?" Salamacha whacked him with yet another letter, and Joe replied, "I don’t know Mr. Salamacha but my guess is that he is a functionary of some government agency, probably the National Park Service." POW! Hit ‘em where it hurts. Salamacha had been zapped. "Did you see what he called me? A functionary. I don’t even know what it means." A couple of weeks later, T-I publisher Sam Taylor called a halt to the letter bones and proposed to take us all out to lunch. "There’s a whole lot more to these guys,” he said, “than one might think when reading their polarized position statements." But the get-together never happened and, to this day, I’ve never met Joe Stocks. Wherever you are, Joe Stocks, nobody can aggravate me like you can. That’s why I miss you so much. So if you get a chance, let us know what's on your mind. You're long overdue. Road & Mountain BMX Espresso Service & Repair Catherine Shs! a Shank, LMT Cranial Sacral--Ortho--Bionomy In the very next issue, a letter arrived from Joe... z Massage To: The Zephyr From: Joe Stocks Re: "Where am I?" Therapy 76 S. Main St “11 I am locked in mortal combat with government regulations which have been unleashed upon the American People by environmental and other extreme movements...Pride and common sense will cause the people to rally, and most of the “causes of excitement" generated by extreme movements will clearly be seen as "delusions." onal . ae Se Now...13 years later...I'll ask again: Where are you NOW Joe Stocks???” 259.8123 DO YOU HAVE A "SECRET" LITTLE BURR IN YOUR BODY, CAUSING PAIN? WELL THEN... Kyle CC; COT le Raile y's Wi OOD After 13 years, Stiles finally cartoons me, and now that he has, I'd like to KILL HIM! Overnight ee, Full Kitchen (ee Away from noig 9 259.6597Mai E. ae COW. CANYON TRADING BLUFF 435.672.2208 100 So uth UT 84539 8%, oo)z gp 100 wea ad POST an on «Ri © esooa? we . . |