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Show THK SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, May 8, 2002 - Page 8 Cow - car accidents are a tragedy Wed StU - 1kuM 9tk Dear Editor: The Rookie 7:00 rollover on HighYet another car-coaccident; last night, a one-ca- r way 163 west of Bluff, the stretch of highway very frequently traveled w I he San Juan Record welcomes Idlers from our Fcadcrs. Letters to the l.diior must he: No more than 350 words Signed Include the author's address and phone number The Sun Juun Record reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and to eliminate libelous or tasteless material. by people on vacation going to and from Monument Valley and economy; Canyonlands; a highway crucial to our Countys tourist-base- d a a highway traveled often by our friends and families; highway with laws. Its a highway with many blind legal corners, sharp curves, and steep hills with steep drops on either side of the road. A very lethal stretch of highway. Last night the two guys coming home from work were lucky; nothing more than a nasty cut requiring stitches, some bumps and bruises, and a future of bad dreams in the middle of the night. However, my memory returns to a fateful night last fall. A scene of utter carnage; a d on the side of the road... a pickup truck laying upside-dow- n boy screaming in the arms of a policeman, his mangled and shattered right leg dangling like a badly broken toy, ripped open d from the top of his buttocks to the top of his knee... his brother clutching his broken arm repeating over and over, Is my Mommic going to be alright?", staring at her inert body laying motionless in the borrow-pit.- .. my EMT partner working feverishly trying to brother bleeding profusely from soon to be fatal save their injuries... and lastly, the inconsolable sobs and screams of rage and prayer from the father of the family to please, God, please save them. I remember the look of utter horror on the face of the firefighters who responded for extrication and traffic control, as they were placed in the midst of the unfolding nightmare to assist us as there were only two medics on the scene, five patients, and the nearest backup ambulance at least 30 minutes out. I remember the anguish of my stated later at debriefings, both private and professional, of the allermath of something that could have - and should be - prevented. This particular accident last night involved not one, but three cows on the road, all struck by the vehicle. The causing cow had been hit by two other vehicles previously to the rollover within less than 30 minutes, mercifully not causing any other injuries; just putting someone out of a lot of repair dollars that probably no one could really afford in the first place. Do I feel sorry for the ranchers loss of property? Somehow that idea seems to stick in my craw. Don't get me wrong; I don't consider myself to be too much of a ferne I love a steak as much fondling, as any man alive. I respect a ranchers rights and needs to make his way in this world; but PEOPLE ARE DYING, and all for the sake of a few cows. Recently there was a little blurb in the paper about how red s as reflectors on the range cows were going to make a difference. Sure didnt help much last night, lb me, the solution is very Either fence the highway, or JUST DONT simple, almost a GRAZE. I hear Montana has legal workings to make the owner of the livestock liable for the wrecks, as our government has protected itself e against lawsuits for allowing grazing with Eminent DoI main laws. hear theres a grass-root- s movement to get the fencing in funds small slow the and but in coming. In the meantime arc place, the owners of the livestock keep grazing their cows. There have been over 60 REPORTED accidents on Highway 163 in the last ten of folks a lot wont report it as they are afraid of having to pay years... for the cow as well as their own damage expenses to their vehicles. Shouldnt the ranchers voluntarily pull their stock until fencing can be put in place? Are human lives worth the effort, or is that just too much to ask? As an EMT, I monitor the EMS and County Sheriffs radio frequencies, and have listened to over half a dozen accidents in southern San Juan County since that fateful chilly fall night. How many more people have to perish? The next time you drive west of Bluff on Highway 163, as you cross Comb Wash and start to climb the hill of Lime Ridge, keep your eye on the right side of the highway; about a half-milwest of the wash youll see two little white crosses in the rocks where the road cuts through a red notch of Halgaito Shale, marking the spot where that father lost his loving wife and eldest son; the son that carried his own name. G tydIOtk The Rookie 6:30 G Call for 9: 00 show ng Sat IfIk The Rookie 1 :30 call for show 4:00 The Rookie 6:30 Call for show 9:00 Mm (3tU Wei IStk half-nake- five-year-o- -- ld The Rookie 6:30 Call for 9:00 show eight-year-ol- W3515S7R027a ld 'The San Juan 'Recorb HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY. UTAH SINCE 1915 AN AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER two-fatali- Publishor Editor BILL BOYLE Off ico Manager TERRY CRAMER Pasto-u- Ad Design p AMANDA HILLHOUSE tree-huggin- Proofreader DAWN BOYLE Office Assistant KENYON FAUSETT Writors NELL DALTON MAXINE DEETER MARY LOU HOGGARD LEOPLATERO GARY TORRES SUBSCRIPTION RATES San Juan County SIS Outsido County - USA $26 APO or F PO address 26 Nowsstand 50c Sr. Crtiron $17.50 Sr. Out ol County $25.50 environ-meddle- g ty rib-ey- r; 435-587-22- 77 IL car-co- roserved. Reproduction, prohibited without prio written permission by the publishor. ISSN Published 0894-327- 3 at 49 South Main. MonticaSo.Uiah. Pa nodical wMfcly postage paid at Monhcotto, Utah 94535 Poatmaatar: (ISSN0B94 3273) Sand all address to P.O. So 179. Utah S4S3S. Tha San Juan Reootd la a member ol lha Utah Praaa Association and change MonttcoNo, Notarial Naaapapaf AaaocaOon WWW.THEGRISTMILLINN.COM AVAILABLE FOR: BRIDAL SHOWERS, WEDDINGS, RECEPTIONS, FAMILY REUNIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS BUSINESS MEETINGS, CLUB MEETINGS GOVT RATES SEASONAL RATES DISCOUNTS FOR: AAA. AARP U ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY &Phyfes$wsnk tnnteepers A MEMBER OF THE MONTICELLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE w e Sincerely, David Inscore, EMT Bluff www.utahpress.com sanjuanrecord reuse or transmittal of all matter herein is 800-045-37- 62 7 open-rang- WEB PAGE Copyright, The San Juan Record, 2002. All rights MONTICELLO, no-brain- sjrnewsaol.com To have a sample copy sent to a fnend, sond us his or her address. Write to PO Box 879, Monticello, UT 84535. 800 04 435-587-250- ear-tag- car-co- w PHONE & FAX THE GRIST MULL, INN a Bed and Breakfast UTAH EAHT KOUTII Appreciate Shop at Home Dear Editor: As a new business owner in Monticcllo (open only 1 12 years), I can testify that it's a challenge to open a retail business in a small town and compete with the big city WalMarts, etc. I just wanted to personally thank the San Juan Record for focusing on our local businesses and making the effort to communicate to the public the vital part they play in keeping the local establishments alive. As a small community, it is, of course, impossible to have available every conceivable item a person may need or want to purchase. As business owners, we know and understand this, but the bottom line is - check out your local stores first if you cant find it at home, of course you go elsewhere. As business owners this is also our lot. But you might be surprised what you can discover in your own backyard. We want to serve our community, and shopping at your local businesses as much as possible is a win-wi- n for everyone. Thanks San Juan Record for your input and support to all of us. Pauline S. Jensen at The Parlor - Fairboard Requests Help! We need uniforms of military service that can be put on display at the County Fair Uniforms need to be taken to the Fairgrounds August 12th and 13th All uniforms will be behind a fence and will NOT be touched by the public, just admired Looking for uniforms from over the centuries -new and old will be displayed For any questions, call Heidi at 435-587-32- 39 DIVERSIFIED SOQl MORTGAGE SERVICES ITTI The Experienced Mortgage Professionals Your Number One Choice For Real Estate Financing. Guaranteed! 409 South Main St. Blanding UT 845 1 1 Ph: (435) Fx: Britt barton 678-353- (801)912-658- 5 8 bbartoncitlink.net lorlgagejjdtline |