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Show THE ZEPHYR APRIL 1992 PAGE3 THE HOGAN TRADING COMPANY home of authentic Indian Arts & Crafts jewelry sandpaintinq rugs kachinas pueblo pottery baskets sculptures I've been meaning to get this very short piece into the paper far months, but until now, I kept forgetting. It's an excerpt from last August's Travel fc Leisure magazine. Its cover feature was called "Great Family Escapes For Less Than You'd Think," and indudes a four page spread on Utah's Canyon Country. It carries foe usual guide book descriptions of foe area (overwhelming landscape, otherworldly spires, windswept mesas. ..you get the picture), and then plans a typical vacation for foe reader. But here is the part of the article that caught my eye. I quote verbatim: 5 North Main at the Grand Emporium 259-811- 8 "Utah is dirt cheap. It's actually a challenge to spend money here. There aren't many fancy places to eat, and comfortable places to bunk damn after along day's drive are scarce. A family of four todI spend about $1,600 in a week, so if you've budgeted three grand for the trip, you'll have enough leftover far a posh weekend." In other words, after ripping us dumb Utahns off for a week, these folks can go somewhere realty nice...perhaps a Saturday night in Aspen? This was written before last winter's motel boom, and if I'm hearing the rates being proposed for some of these motels correctly, we may soon lose our "dirt cheap" classification. In any event, if this is the kind of "promotion" that our Travel Council is providing us, it's one more good reason, in my mind at least, to find a better way to spend the transient roam tax revenues. And to foe writer of this article, Ms. Kimberly Brown (if that is your real name), if we're so "dirt cheap," Ms. Brown, could you please send me your spare change? We po' people down here would four 'predate it Licensed jlOAB Bonded PBperty MAINTENANCE Professional Property Caretakers Commercial Residential . ! . Clean Carpets & Upholstery Wash Windows ... . Commercial Contracts Complete Rental Clean Ups We Meet All Your Needs 259-622- 2 AN OPEN LETTER TO ONER MANUEL TORRES Dear Manuel, I read with interest, your comments at the March 16, 1992 County Commission meeting, as Just to refresh your memory, let me recount foe passage reported in foe from the front page story that intrigued me enough to send you this open letter. The artide discussed foe appearance of Brent Hutchins of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and his remarks on payment in lieu of taxes on over 7,000 acres of Cunningham Ranch land in foe Book Cliffs. The land was purchased by the Nature Conservancy and turned over to foe DWR to manage as a wildlife preserve, according to foe T--L "But, the story continued, "commissioners expressed suspicions toward the aims of The Nature Conservancy." " There's certain elements out there that come up with funds and pay you to go in there and buy these lands,' said Commissioner Manuel Torres. 'My question to you, as a county commissioner to foe state, is what do these people want? Why are they buying these lands? Are they holding a gun to your heads and saying, we want something later?'" While Mr. Hutchins attempted to assure you that there was nothing sinister about the Conservancy's actions, I would bet, Manuel, that you still have doubts. I'd like to throw a concept at you that may until now have been quite foreign. There are actually ddzens and organizations of people who make noble gestures, simply because they think it will benefit the planet and the people who reside upon it They're not even trying to be noble; that is merely the effect They think that it is for the good of humankind, and they expect no compensation except the knowledge that they have at least tried to make this grim little planet a little more pleasant. Among organisations that consider themselves defenders of the Earth, I've always felt that The Nature Conservancy belonged somewhere near the top of the list No one would ever mistake the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for some renegade bunch of "greenies," a term you may be familiar with; yet, they seem to have developed an honest and mutually beneficial relationship with The Conservancy. The truth is, there are a lot of humans out there who "like to do the right thing." Good deeds don't always have to be connected to profit margins. Give The Nature Conservancy a break. Commissioner. You'll be a better person for it Tlmes-Independe- Free Estimates Satisfaction Guaranteed John A. Beck EQUIPMENT RENTAL nt Now at our new location! 989 N. Main Call anytime 259-697- 6 WE RENT ROTO TILLERS Moab Pager 259-283- 8 WE RENT HEAVY EQUIPMENT WE DO NOT RENT MOTEL ROOMS (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) Your pal, Stiles industrial residential commercial lawn & garden |