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Show (VJSnSah IBstsin Staumdlardl November 19, 1986, Page 11 'Operation Santa' on but needs more help Time for Santa la fast app- roaching and the "Operation Santa is underway. "Operation Santa is the local effort coordinated by VISTA Volunteers from the Uintah Basin Association of Governments. This effort is to help insure the less fortunate children of the Basin are not forgotten at Christmas. It is designed to serve those who need assistance and to help those that want to substitute for Santa. UBAG la being a true Santas helper by coordinating the project for families living within the boundaries of Uintah, Duchesne and Daggett Counties. They are asking that families who might need assistance for Christmas this year apply for this program by December 12. Donations to the program con be given to UBAG or the Roosevelt Chamber until December 22. These donations can be anything from useable, mended clothing; new or used toys, to whatever anyone would like to provide, including financial donations or food stuff. Some of those already helping in the project are the Duchesne Lions Club, Toys fin Tots, Shoes for Kkls, the Christian Assembly Church, Christmas Activity Committee, the Chamber of Commerce and several business and civic groups in thp area. A.P.I. has donated over 3400 in .turkey and hams, St Helens mens club has pledged to match the job completed by 5 p.m. They were able to get the rest ot the decorations up the next day and now1 Roosevelt is ready for the Christmas Holidays. As you may have noticed, the city crews got the lights up early this year. As the first lights were put up, starting at the Circle K Comer, the crews began about 9 a.m. one morning last week and had FIRST LIGHTS UP BURR ELDREDGE 35 years teaching -- . . . State-assesse- '86. In most communities the largest share of the property tax goes for the support of local schools. According to the dation analysis, the property taxes charged in Roosevelt will be ' distributed 49.6 percent to the school district, 31.7 percent to the city, 14.2 percent to the county and 4.5 percent to special taxing districts (like mosquito abatement, Johnson Water, etc.) Property tax rates vary widely among the different communities 'of the state. Among the 71 cities surveyed by the Foundation, the total tax rate ranged from a low of 1.1227 percent in Brigham City to a high of 1.9811 percent in Sandy. Throughout the state, however, property taxr varied from 0.7838 percent n one unincorporated area of Summit County to 2.1353 percent in a small section of South Jordan City. The report observes that tax ' increases were rather general this year although Roosevelt and Damage to Forest roads and areas during the 1986 hunting season waa probably the moat severe it has ever been, commented Ashley National Forest Supervisor Duane G. Tucker. The unusually wet conditions encountered by hunters resulted in a noticeable increase in road damage and rutting of meadows and other popular, hunting areas. Despite recent publicity about road closures and areas dosed to vehicle use, over 80 percent of the Ashley National Forest outride of the High Uintas Wilderness remain open to vehicle use. Of the remaining 20 percent where restrictions apply moat of that area is accessible by using designated roads, noted Tucker. This Forest also has one of the highest road densities (over one mile of road per square mile of land) in the State, so hunter access has not bear unduly restricted. However, the problem still remains as to how to curtail damage to the basic soil and students. He has been, at Eldredge has taught some social studies classes, and pome math. Roosevelt Jr. High ever since. Eldredge, and his wife, Jean Eldredge said he is teaching who has been teaching for 28 many children of former students, but there is a difference. years at Roosevelt Elementary, has raised six children in Students in the past were much more cooperative and eager to ' Roosevelt He was born in Myton, and has lived in several learn, he said. The discipline Uintah Basin towns, including problems weren't as severe as they are now. .Myton, Altonah, and Duchesne as well as Roosevelt However, Eldredge said dlities have greatly improved over the years. Teachers have a Eldredge said teaching Jr. lot more to work with now than High has been a lot of fun. I've had a bunch of really greet years, they had then. most of them, he said. In addition to P.E. and health, - . Duchesne declined. Overall pro- perty tax rates rose by an average of three percent with increases recorded by 59 cities and declines in only 12. Of the 40 school districts in Utah, 29 raised their tax rate, seven reduced their rate and four Duchesne made no change. County School District decreased slightly but Uintah School District raised. Generally, the average property tax rate imposed by school districts in 1986 was raised by 2.5 percent. County tax rates were boosted in 19 of Utahs 29 counties and reduced in ten counties. Uintah County was one that raised their rate while Duchesne County, again, was one of the ten that reduced the rate. The average off-roa- rate in Utah, for counties, was increased by 3.8 percent this year. LLete awe 226 Altogether, cities and towns in Utah that could impose a property tax. Of these, 108 recorded increases, 114 registered reductions (both Roosevelt and Duchesne are in this category), and four made no change. The amount of the tax increases, however, were greater than the tax reductions and the overall average municipal tax rate in Utah rose slightly. Gifted and talented receives USU 'gift' by Tom Brennan co-edit- Bong one of the first budgets cut, gifted and talented programs in area school districts have not fared well in the past, but Utah State University has started to change all that. Duchesne- and Uintah School Districts received a 325,000 grant, over two years, from USU to share equally and use the money to better enhance their gifted and talented programs. The first year will have 315,000 split and 310,000 the following year. Officials say their is a of receiving some "chance money a third year. The grant money comes from mineral lease money and is specifically earmarked for gifted and talented programs. The money is to stimulate growth and interest in the programs in rural areas, Larry Szaraniec, Duchesne district the specialist who oversees program, said, Rural area programs have been minimal and reduced in scope in years past Presently Duchesne district spends 33,000 for their program Uintah spends 331,000. Duchesne had to cut their program because of a state mandated 2 percent cut in their while overall budget First-yea- r include plans for the money sending personnel to 722-451- 545-244- 8, 353-448- 7, 646-323- 6, 454-326- 738-233- 8, 8. Everyone is encouraged to put their Christmas spirit into action and join the Operation Santa effort to whatever extend they are able, by becoming one of the families in the program or donating for families. damage in forest is a concern Local cities show tax decline Overall property taxes decreased in Roosevelt and Duchesne during 1986. In a report from the Utah Foundation, the private tax research organization, their latest survey of tax rates charged in the 71 largest cities of Utah Duchesne decreased 4.62 percent and Roosevelt decreased 4.19 percent According to the Foundation, the total tax rate in 1986 for Duchesne was 1.3629 percent and 1.3151 percent for Roosevelt Under the new truth in taxation law that went into effect this year, tax rates are expressed as a percentage of reasonable fair cash value rather than in terms of mill levies. , Currently, only state assessed property (utilities, railroads, etc.) and personal property (motor vehicles, machinery, equipment, etc.) is being assessed at 100 percent of full value. Residential property is taxed at only 60 percent of full market value while other locally assessed property is at 80 percent of fail value. Because of these differences, adjustments must be made to determine the true" level of taxation. The average effective tax rates during the 1986 and 1986. years in Roosevelt, for example, show these differences. and personal prod perty was taxed at 1.37 percent in 1985 and 1.32 percent in 1986. Residential property was taxed at 0.82 percent in 1985 and 0.79 percent in 1986 with other locally assessed property taxed at 1.10 percent in '85 and 1.05 percent in 722-921- 0, Off-roa- d Roosevelt's young people Burr Eldredge has been teaching school a long time, 86 yean to be exact Until this year, all that time has been spent at Roosevelt Jr. High. This year he moved to the new Middle School to teach 7th grade P.E. and health. Eldredge began teaching in 1952 after graduating from BYU with .degree in. physical education and health. He started at the old Roosevelt High School on the hill behind the present Jr. High. When the new Roosevelt Jr. High was built he moved into it with the that donation, the Cow Palace has donated 31200 and signed up to sponsor one family, Kohls has provided boxes of food items and boots, Moon Lake Electric has joined the effort as have big businesses, like First Security Bank, and smaller businesses, like Palmer's Tire. Anyone, as a business or individual, can sign up and sponsor a family or donate whatever they would like to this program. However, clubs and organizations are asked to coordinate their activities with UBAGs Operation Santa Office to eliminate duplication and wasted efforts. To check into the program people can call the following numbers to get information: Leslie Harmston will help with family referrals or donations at the UBAG office la at 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, (those living outside the 722 exchange can call collect, just tell the operator the call is for the "Operation Santa project), or call these in the individual areas, Dar at Robin at Tammy at Loal at or Linda at d water resources without additional closure. The 'Tread Lightly program introduced this year has had some positive effects and Forest officials appreciate and commend Forest users for their response. Unfortunately, some vehicle drivers have not heeded this message and significant damage has resulted. With the limited maintenance funds available, repair may take years to accomplish. Finest officials have acknowledged that damage caused by indiscriminate vehicle use is the leading cause of soQ erosion and water degradation. Damage to these basic resources ultimately results in decreased land productivity for all aperies of wildlife aa well as grazing livestock. The best solution to the resource damage problem is a concerned and responsible public who will avoid damaging wildland areas while using and enjoying our National Forests, concluded Tucker. ! Moon chosen county official of the year Two-yea- r Duchesne County Commissioner Alton Moon was selected Friday as the states outstanding county official at the annual Utah Association of Counties yearly meeting held in St George.. The commissioner said he was honored to have received the award. He arid he thought he was in the running but waa certain he would not win. I waa real honored. I never thought I would win the award, Moon said. It just blew my mind. Moon was selected by winning enough votes from all county employees from across the state along with gaining crucial points the many different state and Continued on page 15 from workshops and incorporating them in inservice programs. The following year will have cbriculums developed and hopefully implement programs that are presently not in dace, Continued on page 15 conventions, RPD investigates weekend problems A 1981 Ford pickup truck was stolen and 20 tins slashed sometime Friday or Saturday at Basin Transmission, according to Roosevelt City Police Sergeant Dave Holmes. Holmes said Don Smith, owner of Basin Transmission, was the owner of the stolen truck. The tires dashed were cars left outside the business. Holmes estimated damage between 31,500 and 32,000 not including the pickup truck. Police had little leads Monday. In an unrelated matter, a Iowa man was arrested Sunday at 11 p.m. at the Frontier Motel on a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. Roosevlt City Police Chief Cedi Gurr, sergeants Wayne Embleton and Kim Olsen and Duchesne County Sherif Deputy Dale Johnson were on hand to arrest Frank Conrath of Bondurant, Iowa. The controlled substance was alledgsdly marijuana; Conrath posted his own bail of 3300 Sunday. Officials says Conrath was working on a construction site in the Altamont area.' Roosevelt City Police Sargeant Dave Holmes, left, and officer Steve Merkley, fingerprint a car at Basin Transmission. The car, along with four others, had their tires slashed, this past weekend. Also, Don Smith, owner of Basin Transmission, had his '81 FINGERPRINTING Ford pickup stolen. |