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Show Pifl 2. May 15, 1986 Mlhtah Basin Standard Policy changes to preserve public forum AM AQ MISS IS MOT ANOTHER THIS SECRET MEETING IT'S good reason, the STANDARD will no longer withhold names on letters to the editor. We've changed our editorial policy to preserve the original intentions of our newspaper as a public forum. As of late, we've printed too many confidential letters. Some of our concerned citizens have used the paper to launder personal vendettas, but without the character to stand behind their Our responsibility as a paper is to provide a place where a free market place of ideas can intermingle. We feel that truth will win out over deception, and therefore welcome contrasting viewpoints so that individuals can formulate own opinions. With that in mind, we couldn't justifiably trash a letter because of its message, even if it was objectionable to words. Nor could we refuse a letter, at the time, if someone wanted their name withheld by request. Our previous policy clearly stated that we would keep For us. has always seemed to us that unsigned letters have no, credibility. We couldn't understand what they accomplished in the first place, except to make assusations behind a mask of anonymity. Without considering the source, it was difficult to take these letters seriously. We didn't place much significance on unsigned letters because they appeared destructive instead of constructive. It hardly seemed fair that an author could ridicule another man by name in public, while hiding from view. It was like a heckler in a crowd making catcalls to an umpire. Never have these expressions resulted in social good. These confidential expressions in our paper have become so overbearing that the community has tired of them. We have been asked, several times, why we would print such irresponsible letters to begin with. Let us explain our position: Since our Founding Fathers drafted a Constitution to protect the rights of individual expression over two centuries ago, we couldn't in good conscience' censor letters that didn't meet our approval. In our newspaper, we provide a public forum for all points of view. We feel obligated to print all letters that don't contain libelous or defamatory statements. It's not our objectives to screen out controversial material critical material or even irresponsible material. Uintah Batin Standard welcomes and encourages opinions from readers in the form of Letters to the Editor. All letters will be published unless they contain libelous andor defamatory statements. Letters must be signed. Letters should be submitted to the STANDARD Office at 268 S. 200 E., Roosevelt, Utah 84066, before 5:00 p.m. Monday. All letters become the property of the STANDARD and may be edited to fit space restrictions. THE UINTAH , BASIN STANDARD 722-513- 1 (USPS 49-000- 0) A Consolidation of the Roosevelt Standard and Uintah Basin Record Published Weekly at Roosevelt, Utah 84066 P.O. Box 370, 268 South 200 East, By The Uintah Basin Standard, Second-Clas- s Postage at paid Utah. Roosevelt, names confidential. rational behind this policy was that citizens, who have something criticaf to say, might be afraid to speak up in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else, unless they remained confidential. But the confidential aspect of our letters to the editor policy has worked against us. Too many people have written letters of such a private nature that they don't belong in the public forum. Most often these confidential letters made accusations on someone else's character. So to alleviate this problem, we've changed our ways. We will continue to print all letters that aren't libelous or defamatory, regardless of the viewpoint, as long as the authors are responsible enough to sign their names. An unsigned letter isn't worth much anyway. Who would send a Mother's Day letter, with name withheld by request? We encourage community dialogue through letters to the editor. It's our best read section of the paper. Go ahead and express your opinion; some positive action might result. But be prepared to stand behind your words. We won't hold your name confidential. It's the new policy. Will Rogers Letters Postmaster! Send address changes to the Uintah Basin Standard 268 South 200 East, Roosevelt, Utah 84066. . might chuckle over editorial Dear Editor: As Will Rogers used to say All I know is what I read in the paper I can imagine old Will having a chuckle over the editorial in the past weeks STANDARD suggesting the County build a recreational center near the Roosevelt Post Office. Being roughly only one fourth of a mile from the East end of the County or the Uintah County line, it would be centrally located and conveniently situated for the use of all the citizens of Duchesne County? Nevertheless, not in my wildest dreams can I see a rancher in Tabiona, after pitching bales of hay all day riding to Roosevelt for the exercise of an exciting game of racquet ball, or a taxpayer from Altonah motoring in for a leisurely jog around the indoor track South of the Roosevelt Post Office. All of this is meant to be humorous except it illustrates a trend that is bankrupting the ' nation. . We have pressure groups, and individuals lying awake nights trying to invent new ways and means to spend the tax dollars plus elected officials looking forward lo lending a hand and sympathetic ear to these free spending ideas. I assume most of us listened to President Reagan in a latest television appearance .as he for pleaded help to reduce the deficit and balance the budget by stopping these demands of grants, gifts, studies and new programs. This idea that it is free and the government pays for it is merely an illusion. We are mailed the bill. Government funds come from taxes, be they Federal, State, County or Municipal. Here in the County our taxable income, to a great extent depends on an oil economy. I can very dearly remember the depression of the 1930s when due to lack of funds the schools did not operate foil terms, main Lai nance of the roads was abandoned and the County, to obtain a little revenue was only too happy to sell land repossessed for taxes at twenty five and fifty cents an acre. Oil is a very uncertain asset and if the colnpanies should suddenly fold their tents as the Arabs and as silently steal away, Subscription Rales: One Year, $9.00 Two Years, $16.00-P- aid in Advance PUBLISHER CRAIG ASHBY BOB GREEN GREGDUERDEN TOM BRENNAN JOAN Z. CROZIER . Union baseball like to take this thank all of the to opportunity businesses in this area who have supported our High School baseball team. The team players and coaches appreciate this support a great deal. We have been successful the past few years, and this success is due in part to the people who support our program. It takes quite a bit of money to equip a team and pay for umpires. Without the help from our community, it would be difficult to be as competitive as we have I would been. We appreciate the moral support of our fans as well as the financial support of individuals and businesses in the,' area, I would like to publicly thank the following businesses on behalf of the Union Baseball Team.: Jav Gates Chev.-Buic- k. Baseball Coach, Union High School stewardship of the soil week The Uintah Basin Soil Conservation District will join the nationwide ovaervance of Soil Stewardship Week during the week of 12 May to 19, 1985 announces Grant Pickup, Chai- rman. is the Tomorrow Together theme of the 1985 observance. As the 1985 booklet for the- observance points out, human survival depents on other living things: the grasses and grain, fishes and birds, wild and domestic animals. And ws all depend for our basic necessities on soil and water. Together, we must think about ways to preserve and renew the topsoil from which all our food comes. Together, we must work to purify end protect our waters. - I Special educational displays by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and the Uintah Basin Soil Conservation District (UBSCD) an being prepared for Soil Stewardship Week. A dis- play on the SCSs Salinity Program win be in the new State and County Building in Venial Pictures and information on the Districts program are on display: in Up Niles Chapman Building on West Highway 40 in no-ti- ll Friday Noon 722-513- 1 fiftieth anniversary. During the Dust Bowl era of the 30s, conservation districts, local units of government, were founded to take soil conservation information and techniques out to farmers and ranchers. Since 1955, the National Association of Conservation Districts has sponsored Soil Stewardship .Week, in cooperation with the nearly 3,000 conservation districts as one way to emphasize the importance of good stewardship of our basic soil and water resources. Materials especially designed to carry the 1985 theme of Tomorrow Together" are being distributed through the local conservation district to clergymen in the Uintah Basin. Information and materials for the 1985 observance are available in this area from Sherry Fuller, UBSCD st 722-462- 1. Nursing instructor going to retire The Uintah Basin Area Vo- cational Center announces the retirement of Beth Sweatfield, Instructor in the Licensed Practical Nursing Program. Mrs. Classified Deadline Roosevelt where the SCS and UBSCD have their offices. A display on windbreaks is in the lobby of the Vocational Center in Roosevelt. And smaller displays are up in both the Vernal and Roosevelt Post Offices. In 1985, the soil conservation movement in America marks its Sweatfield and her husband, E A. are the proud parents of four children and ten grandchildren. Beth wee raised in Wyoming end moved to Vernal in 1945 whoa she has been involved in nursing except for the six years she was supervisor of the Uintah School District lunch Tex, program. Mrs. Sweatfield started at the UBAVC ten years ago when the tflHMfEB May 15-2- 1 LPN Program was started. She served as slate president of the Lunch Workers Association and on a National Legislative Council in Washington, D.C. She has been very active in community programs which includes: Lady Lions, P.T.A., Federated Womens Clubs, and several church positions. A retirement dinner will be held at the UBAVC on Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in attending is asked to call the UBAVC by Wed3 or nesday, May 15, at "We appreciate the outstanding work Mrs. Sweatfield has done in teaching 'the LPN Prpgram. Her influence has really helped upgrade the nursing profession in the Uintah Basin, states Mr. Keith Bergquist, Director of the Uintah Basin Area Vocational Center. ., 722-452- 789-486- "CAT'S EYE" P.G. 13 CORRESPONDENTS Friday 722-277- 6 ROOSEVELT BALLOONS ARCADIA GARDA SEELEY, BLUEBELL . 454-318- 3 TRACY ROBERTS, HANNA . 848-54- 1 7 LAPOINT MANSFIELD, 247-237- NELSON 5 353-454- 4 SPECIALS MONTWELL KATHLEEN TESTER 722-48- MYTON TABtONA. . .8465471 LORNA McKEE, TRIDELL IVY CHANDLER . . . 247-235- 0 545-243- 9 Peachfoce Fischer Lovebird $29.95 RAN0LETT ZOLA SPENCER, .3564528 NEOLA. VIRGINIA FERGUSON,... 3564584 WHITT ROCKS ORME 454-369- 7 Rag. $40.00 Assorted Swords 99 aa. MT. HOME FRED JONES, UTAHN. PATMANNINGA . . .8465534 5462655 FRUITIAND LAURA HARRISON, 7362544 DUCHESNE & FREE 6464289 IDAHORROCKS LEE, L&L Ford, Smiley's, Jones Paint & Glass, Zions 1st National Bank, L.C.L. Oil, Doves Discount , Market, Delaco Northwest. Big A Auto Parts, Basin Country Produce, B&K Drug, First Security Bank, Seagull Refinery, Gamache Oil, Brothersons Store, Gardner Dodge, Frontier Grill and Roosevelt Theatre. Many of the ' above have contributed and supported us year after year. I hope we can continue to represent our community positively and again, thanks lo everyone for your help! Sincerely, Brent Field Bted SCS joins in .AD DESIGN GLADYS ROSS BARBARA has helped TYPESETTER TYPESETTER CINDY BETTS CONNIE Fine support NOAH EDITOR REPORTER REPORTER BUSINESS MGR. ANGIE MATHEWS TAMILONG NOLA Duchesne County would be in serious financial Birails. Tom Gentry BETTS. ..CIRCULATION STFPHANIE ARDA EXECUTIVE , It Th AM Lg. Marble Angel $4.29 Rag. $7.99 Saturday FREE FREE DRAWING GOLDFISH May Winners Choice FREE 10 gal. aquarium with accessories FREE Parakeet with cage Many More In Specials Zebra Finch 15-2-8 "POLICE ACADEMY II" Their First Assignment $.99 each Store Specials $12.99 Pair With each bird We Also Have Guinea Pigs Gerbils purchase receive a cage for $10.00 and Golden Teddy Bear Hamsters mu NOAH'S ARK S5 N. 200 E. Roosevalt Acoss From Smiley's "SLUGGERS WIFE" Plus "MICKI & MAUD" Beth Sweatfield has announced her retirement as an instructor in the Nursing Program at the Vocational Center. . |