| OCR Text |
Show THE ZEPHYR/FEBRUARY-MARCH 2009 growth and a booming real estate market. It was a foolish notion, but what is the point of living THE CANYON COUNTRY without foolish notions? And for a while, Moabites did pursue their visions in ways today’s residents can only... ae well...dream. But to be fair, most of the newer Moabites would not have wanted to live there thirty years ago. It was too isolated. Too lacking in amenities. Too poor. And if the question PO BOX 327 . MOAB, UTAH 84532 JIM STILES, PUBLISHER was put, www.canyoncountryzephyr.com cezephyr@gmail.com moabzephyr@yahoo.com history. For New Westerners, both in Moab and far beyond, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ken Sleight Martin Murie Ned Mudd Doug Meyer | James O. Stiles, Sr. LA Freeway Wars must have thought I was either insane or For the first time in 20 years, I am at a loss for words. But a word of caution to those who have sought refuge in the New West; What you left behind may be gaining onyou, | faster than you could ever imagine. But fear not...I’ll think of something. I am writing this a couple months before the February/— and subscribers’ mailboxes. That has been the Zephyr custom for two decades. It was always a great relief to get away from the “issues” for a while. But of course, this has a slightly different feel to it. So I am struggling a bit. Recently I was-trying to remember how I got myself into this mess in the first place. I wandered back to the first issue, to remind me and you just what I had in mind for The Zephyr, two decades ago. This, in part, was the Plan... HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS Herb Ringer (1913-1998) ZEPHYR PILOT & AERIAL RECONAIGSANCE | TRANSPORTATION FLEET SPECIALISTS Gene Schafer Tom Wesson WEBMASTER ~ Gary Henderson spankme2times@excite.com SUBSCRIPTIONS & TRANSCRIPTIONS Linda Vaughan CIRCULATION Lance Lawrence Jose Churampi Doug Meyer THE ZEPHYR, copyright 2009 The Zephyr is published six times a year at Moab, Utah. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of its vendors, advertisers, or even at times, of its publisher. All photographs and cartoons are by the publisher, unless otherwise noted. Oh for a split or a chasm. Oh for an unbridgeable abyss or an insuperable mountain. lock traffic on Main Street, I’m sure a few veterans of the By Jim Stiles THE ARTIST John Depuy Paul Swanstrom the lifestyles they've made for themselves is a decided improvement on the urban nightmares they thought they'd left behind. When I complained in recent years about grid- TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT March 2009 edition reaches newsstands ZEPHYR many of them would believe Moab is a far better place now than it was then; they'd insist that its population reflects a more environmentally sensitive demographic, mage likely to support wilderness legislation and a group more inclined to avoid stepping on cryptobiotic soils. I wouldn’t argue that point at all. I also know that happiness itself is relative to one’s own This is the first issue of The Canyon Country Zephyr, a monthly publication of news, opinion, information and entertainment...According to Webster's, “zephyr” is “any warm, western breeze.” As it applies to this newspaper, the definition may vary. To some The Zephyr will represent a breath of fresh air; to others it may sound like a lot of hot wind. At one time or another, I hope that every reader will reach both conclusions... we're not here to cater to and patronize any one constituency, or anger and provoke another. But we would like to stimulate intelligent discussion of the issues that concern the citizens of this county... : This newspaper is determined to objectively tell its readers about the stories and events that are affecting Southern Utah. But we will also express opinions which, in your eyes, may not be correct. I may find myself disagreeing with conamentaries within these pages. If The Zephyr hopes to offer a balanced view of life ungrateful for Still I can’t They have But a word in the New the relative quiet. They may be right. help but feel a bit sorry for them. no idea what they missed. of caution to those who have sought refuge West; as Satchel Paige once said...don’t look back. What you left behind may be gaining on you, faster than you could ever imagine. Now I turn to the next part of my life, both excited and a touch apprehensive about some of the changes that await me, but hopeful that the future will be as rewarding as the times I’ve already had the honor and pleasure to experience. Life’s journey never fails to amaze me. What's next? We'll be reminiscing about it, sooner than you can imag- ine. See you there. THANKS...WHERE TO BEGIN? This is impossible. First I want to thank my old home on Locust Lane in Moab. It served as “Zephyr HQ” for more than 15 years here, it has to offer more than one perspective... All this opinion and commentary won't be worth the paper it’s printed on without the participation and feedback of its readers. If you disagree with The Zephyr, don’t sit there and grumble—let us know. Tell us why we're wrong....Only through an exchange of ideas and information can anyone hope to learn and provided me a roof over my head and wonderful neighbors like Toots McDougald and Ken Davey and Julie Fox for most of them. My best friend, John Hartley, bought the old homestead anything... last year and, with his own two hands, restored it magnifi- This first issue is in its embryonic stage. It will change and grow as time passes. We'll try new ideas, new formats, new features and sometimes they'll work and sometimes they won't. If you have ideas for us, let us know; we have an open mind. The Zephyr hopes to be around for along time, but it depends on your participation and approval. I think I succeeded beyond my wildest ambitions when I pledged NOT to “patronize any one constituency,” and the idea of creating an open forum where opposing points cently. Over the years every time the house needed major renovations, I opted for the cheaper quick fix and another ticket to Australia. As a result I worried that if I sold it to a property speculator, the Locust Lane home might go the way of the wrecking ball. John’s loving craftsmanship has assured its survival. Thanks old pal. And I want to thank two dear friends who are gone— Herb Ringer and Bill Benge. Both are honored elsewhere in this issue, but I miss them both and always will. The paper Zephyr survived all these years because of of view might be openly discussed and debated was a the loyal and long running support of its advertisers and dream I cling to, even now. readers. Many of them deserve special attention. Bruce More than anything else, The Zephyr was born out of an _ Benge (Benge’s Shoes in Grand Jct.) started ads in the secalmost primal desire to defend my home, no matter where ond issue, way back in May 1989 and is STILL in there. I thought the threat to it came from. Not only is Benge’s the oldest shoe store in Colorado, it is And isn’t that what we all want in the end? A safe and the Zephyr’s longest running ad. Vern Erb’s Hogan Tradlovely place to call home that we would defend with our ing Company didn’t miss an ad for 19 2 years. And Rivhearts and souls? I came to southeast Utah more than 30 years ago, so young I still only needed to shave the tips of what I claimed . were sideburns. Nixon was president. Gasoline was 38 cents a gallon and the canyon country was a very conspicuous blank spot on the map. (“To what avail are 40 freedoms without a blank spot on the map?” Aldo Leopold) More than a decade later, when the Zephyr idea began to form nebulously in the corners of my brain, my optimism was unbridled and my enthusiasm was unprecedented. It wasn’t that I thought Heary James The Zephyr could make a differ- ence—instead, it was that I believed my fellow citizens and I, working toward a common dream, could create a community that did not look like all the other “progressive” New West towns. I saw a chance to meld the old and the new. I hoped we could preserve and honor Moab’s history and pioneer culture while maintaining a community that respected all kinds of lifestyles. I wanted Moab to be a community of homes, not property investments. I thought the riches we already possessed were worth more than double digit 2 erside Plumbing never missed an ad in 19 years...thanks Rick. And Tom Till...even before Tom had a gallery, the great photographer bought an ad that often said, “I have no idea why I buy an ad in the Zephyr,” but I knew why. |
