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Show 1 ,,i Thursday ms.s.0 MB 'Hu 11 1th Year June 27,2002 I ' -- No. Price, Utah 52 ' .rf , TTT i J7 Dino camp draws players, 500 ftp. Lightning ignites fires in Bookdiffs 1 V rive in the wildfire area June 24. Initial attack crews have been on scene since the outset and have had limited success in establishing control lines on the fires, pointed out the BLM. The United States Bureau of Land Management announced TUesday that a type two incident jHkvVSi. o o command team has been brought into the area to battle two wildfires in the Bookdiffs approximately 40 miles north of Moab. Rattle blaze, loThe 600-acnortheast miles cated 20 of Green Due to the extreme nature of the fire potential and the weather, the type two team was brought in to provide additional capabilities. There are currently 147 personnel assigned to fighting the fire. Fortunately, no structures are under threat at the current time, according to the Moab BLM official. But the extreme fire dan- rc River, and the 1300-acr- e mond fire, located 20 mile northeast of Thompson, were started by lightning on or around June. 20, indicated the Moab . BLM field office. The wildfires have been des- -. ignated as the Rattle complex. The wildfires are burning in separate remote areas of the Bookdiffs in rugged terrain consisting of ponderosa pine, Douglas fi r, oak brush and mountain Primary election polls attract low percentage of voters in Carbon County area ACarbon County resktentsigns in attheCastleview Hospital prinuuyeiectioiis station as poll judge Lola Anderton points to where the voter's signature should be placed. Officials across the state reported a number of people who Walked into polling places and left without casting ballots due to the dosed the flipside of the June 25 elections, local voters selected two county commission candidates on the Carbon Democratic Party ballot. Incumbent William Krompei defeated John Serfustini tv 1,287 to 660, Party primary. On Public, By 6A while Steve Bulge squelched loin Matthews' bid for at 1,272 to 713. Carbon Democratic candidates will square off with Republican rivals in the November election. On the Republican side, the only race on the county ballot involved picking a challenger to run against second congressional incumbent Jim Matheson. John Swallow led Tim Bridgewater by 22,312 to 20,346, with 529 or the 532 districts reporting at press time. Locally, Bridgewater received 129 Republican votes compared to Swallow's 73. bid mahogany fuels, explained BLM field manager Maggie Wyatt. The fires are separated by approximately 12 miles. Access is extremely difficult and getting water and crews into the areas to battle the blazes will be a primary concern. The type two team, under the direction of Bill Casey, will establish a base camp at Thomp-so- n Springs, continued the BLM. An array of helicopter resources along with hand crews were ordered and started to ar . ger has managers concerned for potential watershed damage and impacts to wildlife and timber resources. The blazesare located study areas and the Diamond fire is burning on the edge of a large state of Utah roadless Indian area. Tbe Uintah-Oura- y reservation is located from three to seven miles north of the two inwil-deme- ss fires. Wyatt reminded Castle Valley residents of the fire restriction order placed on public lands in Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties on June 25. Open flames are prohibited until further notice. (Continued on page 10A) higher education programs facing cuts in funding from stale RICHARD SHAW Staff reporter The cuts in state funding that the public sities and colleges took last year were painful But according to a number of state and local officials, next years reductions could be worse. Since 1999, the number of students in our colleges and universities has increased twice as fast as the state funding to support those students, indicates Utah Board of Regents chairNolan Karras. There is a limit to which our colleges and universities can absorb the combination of budget cuts and enrollment growth without seriously diminishing the quality of education. People m higher education are no longer concerned, but many are scared what next years budget will look like. The effects of further cuts could impact not only longterm higher education employees, but core programs at schools around the state. People tend to be more concerned about a local college and the situation is no different in Carbon County, where College of Eastern Utah a cultural and learning hub as well as the second largest employer. In the rihg,anumberctf maintenance employees were laid off because of cuts and a number of positions have (appeared by attrition. One was the debate team coach, which effectively eliminated the program from CELTs curriculum. 'lifMM 5! v. r The regents put out a couple of formulas last wedc to demonstrate the problems that could arise with various kinds of state funding cuts. A 4.75 percent or $27 million reduction would require an 113 percent increase in tuition paid by ytnVnt nr the elimination of 420 faculty and utaff positions, resulting in 620 fewer classes offered e students. statewide and impacting 3,150 The reduction would, in turn, decrease die amount of tuition paid by $7 million, bringing the actual cut to $34 million or 6 percent of state funds. . full-tim- at College of Eastern Utah are traditionally rather empty during the summer. But CEU could become emptier throughout the year if the Utah Legislature implements major cuts in higher ed funding, The board of regents recently indicated that the cuts in state fundingcouldtotal 4.75percitto9pMcaiL While the smaller In a second scenario, a 9 percent or $51.6 mil- Kan cut in state fundmgwould require a 21.3 per-cent increase in tuition costs or the elimination of about 950 faculty and staff positions. Elimi- - nating the positrons would result in 1,425 fewer e classes and impact 7,080 students. The loss in tuition would be $15.5 million for a total cut of $67.1 million or 1 lpercent of state funding. The ha I Is in the Rseves Building percentage would be difficult for CEU, the larger reduction could eliminate programs offered at the college in Price. full-tim- . According to Utah Rep. Brad King, CEU vice president for institutional advancementand auxiliaries, the situation will probably be bfeaker at the college in Price than for many institutions in the state. We already had that deficit to make up for, points out King, referring to a debit from several years ago the state is forcing the college to make up. We consolidated or eliminated 24 positions in the last year alone. We have already cut $13 million out of a total $12 million budget. According to King, the two scenarios developed by the board of regents are relative to what the Utah Legislature does with funding for public education in the state. If the Legislature decides to fully fund public education, with schools having to absorb no cuts, we will be looking at the 9 percent cut in higher education, stated King. The other option comes into play if both have to share in the cuts. Either way will not be easy. But of course, 4.75 percent would be much easier than 9 percent. The situation pits proponents for public education against individuals who support the colleges and universities. People who generally support both face a true dilemma. For higher education, solutions are not as simple as for public education when revenue reductions take (dace. In public education if a district loses a couple of kindergarten teachers, they take the number of kids arid just divide them amongst the remaining kindergarten teachers, explained King. That is not an easy thing to do, nor is it a good thing to do, but they have that ability. In a college, particularly a small one, when a school has to cut a faculty position,often that person is a specialist or maybe even the only one that can teach that course. continued King. In some cases, they maybe the only one who runs a depart--( Continued on page 10A) Dry conditions compound Governor supports exchanging fireworks related dangers San Rafael parcels for USland KAREN BASSO Staff reporter By With the approaching July 4th and July 24th holidays, Carbon readmits are finding fireworks readily accessible. Stands are popping up across the county and store are stocking shelves with the potentially dangerous objects. Because of the extremely dry conditions, residents are urged to use caution while dealing with the explosives. A stray firework could set a hillside ablaze, not to mention injuries may also be sustained by consumers igniting the devices. In Utah, firework sales are prohibited between June 20 and July 24. The permitted fireworks cannot be lit or discharged legally until July 1. Specific bans have not been - announced in the Carbon County area, but residents should OR COPY Gov. Mike Leavitt recently announced the second largest proposed state and federal land by severe drought conditions and steadily worsening fire hazards. Despite no specific firework bans, several federal restrictions do apply. Prohibited explosive s, devices Include M-80- exchange in Utahs history. , The agreement calls for swapping 108,281 acres of Utah school trust land for 135,237 acres of land administered by the United States government This exchange benefits the nation and our state, indicated M-10- blockbusters, cherry bombs, reloadable shells, larger firecrackers containing more than two grams of powder and mailorder kits designed to be assembled by die consumer. The explosives have been banned across the United States since 1966 under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act Often times, legally prohibited fireworks are avaflabie to the public. 1b ensure that the unlawful explosives are not used, consumers are for labels on all fireworks. Labels should clearly, name the item along with the manufacturer and list instructions, for proper use. Carbon residents should not (Continued on page 10A) - Leavitt It enables the federal government to improve the management of scenic, recreation and environmentally sensitive lands and provides the state with eco nonuc opportunities that benefit schools and communities. The Agreement between the U.S. Department of Interior and .the U3. Department of Agriculture will increase public lands governed by the state by nearly 27,000 acres, explained the gov- . Old Ooiy serves as a symbol of patriotism not only on Flag Day, but also during the Juiy 4th twfiday season. Due to extreme drought conditions, Carbon County residents shouU exarcisa caution wtwn ceLetwating the hofiday with fireworks. ernor. Lands received by Utah wi benefit schools and comities jue to the potential for residential, commercial od, gas and mineral development activities, continued Leavitt The public lands in question are located in Uintah; Emery, Utah, Washington and Sevier counties. The lpnds acquired by the federal government are located in Emery, Grand and Washington County. Maity parcels are located in the San Rafael Swell area in Emery and the desert tortoise habitat in Washington County. Prior existing rights on all land parcels will be honored ty the state and federal government Previous exchanges occurred in the Grand Staircase-Escalant- e National Monument and Utahs west desert. The trades helped increase the balance in the permanent state school fond from $843 million in 1993 to approximately $400 million, pointed out Leavitt action win require ratification by the US. Congress and approval of the Utah Legislature. v: |