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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, June 13, 2001 &S&&& Thanks for graduation party Page 6 (&db Dear Editor I am writing thi letter on behalf of the Monti cello graduating senior class to thank all the businesses that donated money or prizes to the Graduation Party. We considered the party a success as 85 percent of the courts Crook trip was in full view graduating seniors attended the party and over 25 parents were involved. The party kept them safe, occupied, and entertained on an otherwise high Dear Editor. risk night I can hardly list all of the businesses and people that helped, but Dear Mr. Skelton: accidents and no vandalism has to be San Juan County received a copy of your letter from Sheriff Lacy this morning. the fact that there were no reported all in the community. Thank You!!! Our first question must be, since the letter was written on the letterhead of the appreciated by Marilyn Low, Chairman law firm you work for, is this the official position of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, or is this an inappropriate use of the law firms letterhead? We were truly dismayed at your lack of understanding of the issues surrounding this matter. We would assume that from the letterhead on your stationary you are an appointed officer of the court bound to uphold the law. If that is the case, then you should understand that there is significantly more to the trip up Salt Creek Canyon than you may be aware of. Dear Editor: For example, were you aware of the 1866 mining law, which among other things First I would like to thank the San Juan Record for reporting the prowas an authorization to patent lands as well as explore and produce minerals. If ceedings of the Monticello City Council and San Juan County .Commission. you were, you would understand Revised Statute 2477 also provided for the develSuch complete coverage rarely happens in places like Provo or Salt Lake opment of transportation networks on public lands in the west. Other ways lands City. I also felt the reporter did a fair job of reporting the concerns of Red were patented were through the Homestead Laws, Desert Land entries and so on. Rock Forests about the proposed Monticello and Blanding watershed ImYou perhaps were not aware that Canyonlands National Park did not come into provement Plan. I appreciate accurate reporting particularly when it conexistence until 1964, and that legislation creating the National Park did not specerns a controversial viewpoint. The only words I would have changed were access. mention cifically those ending the portion concerning my statements. I am puzzled by the Did you know that prior to Canyonlands National Park, there was a homestead notion that natural processes could be interpreted as letting "wilderness on upper Salt Creek. This homestead was located well above Angel Arch Canyon. take its toll. Facetiously, I suppose I could say, "Ask not for whom the Did you know that prior to Canyonlands National Park several mines and a minwilderness tolls, it tolls for thee. Actually, the statement educated me a little toward understanding the different ways people look at and think about ing camp was located well above where the road goes into Angel Arch Canyon? Did you know the road above Peekaboo Canyon existed for years and years prior nature. to National Park designation? Second, I would like to respond to Joe F. Lymans concerns about Red Rock Did you know that this route was used by tour guides since at least 1954? And Forests (June 6, 2001). I asked to speak to the Monticello City Council so did you know that the road was open, with limited entry, until about three years that they would understand our position. I do not believe in taking posiago? tions which I would not take to both supporters and nonsupporters. As Did you know that Federal District Court Judge Dale Kimballs decision to close g Utahn I have expected, I was received politely. As a native and Salt Creek was overturned, vacated and remanded back for further consideration come to expect such courtesy even among those who disagree with me. I by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. appreciate that the City Council gave me a few minutes considering the Sir, if you are truly an officer of the court, and if you truly believe in upholding number of complex issues they had on the agenda that evening. the law, and if you would just for a brief moment not react to emotionalism, you I hope I am not the only one who can see the irony of Mr. Lymans comwould understand that what San Juan County did was done as a matter of law ments being published directly above the letter from Mr. Young. Even the and on behalf of States Rights. best of communities can become entangled in well meaning projects with The trip up Salt Creek was done in full view of the Courts, the Department of disastrous results. We all need to be cautious about the ability of local, state Interior and the National Park Service. and federal governments to make decisions which affect our lives. The conWe agree that tourism is a vital part of San Juan Countys future. sequences of shortsighted decisions today are realized in some very unforeThe real question here is not why we traveled the legally designated "road into seen ways, sometimes decades in the future. I hope we Americans never Angel Arch, but rather why you did not choose to hike in one ofthe many thousand again make decisions with the tragic consequences suffered by Mr. Young other canyons in Southeastern Utah where there are no roads and where roads and many other Utahns. Thankfully, the kind of decision we are concerned have never existed in the past. with in this case is unlikely to result in the kind of personal tragedy experiFace it, Salt Creek Canyon is not, and for many decades has not been a pristine enced by Mr. Young. Canyon. We can take you to many pools where a vehicle has never been and show Red Rock Forests expressed a number of concerns about the scientific bayou oil slicks that for one reason or another are there. sis for parts of the Watershed Improvement Plan. Perhaps the Forest SerSan Juan County claims a legal and legitimate right to Salt Creek Canyon. Once vice will have an adequate response, perhaps not. But the questions we the courts recognize this, then the County will make a decision on management raised are legitimate. They are the kind of questions we would expect from schemes for the road. a concerned and knowledgeable citizenry. Even a FS employee noted this is Thank you! an experimental project. I would be glad to make the full text of our comSincerely, ments to the Forest Service available to anyone. Ty Lewis, Chairman County Commission Wayne Y. Hoskisson, Red Rock Forests Mike Lacy, Sheriff Moab All-Nig- ht of the Salt Concerned about watershed proposal life-lon- - Wf ,11. 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