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Show November 9. 1988 - Pam Q Mas in. Life Basin Standard (UJiniah Alterra High alumni gather to reminisce on school days By Karla Cox the original two-roo- m a cabin; High Schools in football as well aa basketball. "The personality of Alterra was warm, and we did a good Job, ays Labrum of his Alma Mater. "We had an outstanding band--w- e took a superior rating at a regional band meet in Colorado when I was there. brick structure was built after a fire destroyed the first building. The new was no longer in use, and was abandoned and in disrepair, but renovated by a determined group of educators and residents when the newly organized Uintah y School district, under the of a Mr. Rod Taylor of Lapoint, determined the need for a high school on the west ride of the county, and got the necessary approval. In a short history ofthe school four-room Alterra High School, d in 1934, only existed for 18 yean. But for the atudenta who pent their high school yean in Al terra's halls, thoae yean wen some of the beat. Remembering thoae yean with a fondneaa customary to rural and small-tow- n settings, the Alterra alumni gathered far a reunion last summer in Roosevelt, that included all the classes of Alterra High. Approximately 200 alumni and their partnen attended that gathering, the fint that included all of the schools 18 yean of graduates. Many of those individuals have grown up, married, and remained in the Basin. Still others have flown to g nesting places, but many returned to shara memories of their days spent in the high school built on on Indian Bench to provide education to the Uintah County West-en- d students. Located five miles east of Roosevelt and one and miles north of Highway 40, the school gave the opportunity for a fully accredited high school educa-- . tion to youth who might otherwise end their schooling at eighth grade, as was the case with many west-en- d Uintah County families prior to the schools establish ment. Bad weather made roads impassible during winter months, and the distance to Vernal Highi where the students w era assigned, mgde high school education impossible for many. One of the first accredited high schools in the Basin, Alterra was small, but competitive, says Lynn Labrum, a 1943 alumnus ' who served as the studentbocfy president, played team sports n football (including a team), earned the "Gold A few academic and athletic excellence at the school, and served on the committee to organize the summer reunion. On the committee with Labrum were Arda Mans- field, Thelma Wooley, Elroy Walker, Katherine Walker, and ' Parrish; this group waa further assisted by June Wooley, Lorna McKee, Elaine Krissman, and Ora Labrum. The high school was housed originally in a building that had earlier been a combination school, recreation center, and church, Eight grades had been taught in eatab-liehe- brick-buildin- superin-tendenc- . Three' brothers, Halle, Lauren, and Mervyn Haub, also attended Alterra High School aa they were growing up. Mervyn and Lauren have long since left the Basin; but when the three brothers gottogether a month ago, they all proudly claimed Alterra. Their education at the small school prepared them well for their various occupations, they . mechanic work, and oil science. Their mother, Mabel Haub, helped to write a history of the Basin, and taught at Tridell Elementary where the boys grew up. "The school's been gone a long time, Mervyn reminisced, "but I till remember how excited we were as kids when the first water wells were dug: Progress waa something we measured our lives by. Closed in 1951 at the end of the school year, Alterra had served its purpose when Union High was completed and the west-en- d Uintah County students were moved there. Lorn an Hutchings served as the last principal at this school, and moved with the students to Union, where he served as the first principal at that institution. Alterra became an elementary for a time, then a junior high, where Wilts Crumbo taught, and current Basin teacher Junior Hicks began his educating career. When West Junior High was completed in 1962, the school building was used as a Head Start building by the Ute Tribe. . - compiled by alumnus Vionne Smith Parrish, she quotes first principal, Reed Morrill, who gives details of the quick progress the brand new high school and its small staff made: "That first year we established a yearbook staff and put out a yearschool song; put book, adopted on several plays, as well as one mqjor opera. We organized a girls athletic association, a leaders club, a home economics club, a boys agricultural club, and various other clubs that sponsored activities that grew out of academic claaawork. We seemed to have been quite ambitious musically, snd we established a beginners orchestra, aa well as an advanced orchestra. Many of those to clubs dubs were that exist in the high schools today. The atudenta in those early years participated with the adults in building and landscaping the school. Gradual additions brought the school to an impressive level of appearance and performance, with most of the work being done by local residents and the students, who were often hired to assist in the process and paid for their tuition by doing so. The school alao entered into athletic competition in most traditional sports that first year, including basketball, baseball, and track. Football waa added later. Sineo all athletics took place out- aide in the beginning (because the gym wasn't built yet), Alterras basketball team vuffered embar- rassing losses to the nearby com- petitors (including Vernal and Roosevelt High Schools), but fared well in others, states Morrill in the history. In later years, boasts Parrish in her history of the school, Alterra did occasionallydefeat both Roosevelt and Uintah as , far-flun- one-ha- lf six-ma- ' ' fore-runne- ALUMNI FROM THE CLASS OF 43 These 1943 graduates of Alterra High gathered at Constitution Park last summer for a picture at the reunion that included all 18 graduating classes of the high school that was built especially for Uintah County students living on the west side. After 45 years, these "students are still friends, laughing and joking about their escapades of days gone by. Many are still residents of the Basin. ing, . ' - rs ALTERRA Houston Parnell, left, and Francis Ncbckcr Bullock sit in front of the Eventually die building fell to its earlier state of disrepair; it old Alterra High School, once situated on Indian Bench east and north of Roosevelt For eighteen burned down and was never students attended Alterra, when roads, county lines, and rural disadvantages prohibited , built, and even traces ofthe school ,.y. s yean, western Uintah County youth from attending either Vernal or Roosevelt High. Lorna recently' eventually vanished. But the 'returned to the Basin, along with her sisters, to donate a scholarship to a Union student in their memoriae of school days at Alterra live in minds on and the name. fathers High hearts of the many students who formed their basic attitudes for life at the high school on Indian Bench. ne - -- - v sir . Family Support Center will help Basin families in crisis 4 By Karla Cox foster kids; the parents them- selves must bring the child to the center. We take in abused chil- dren, or children in danger of abuse, for any period of time up to three days, until the parents feel ready to cope with being with their A new center baaed on as- is ting families in crisis will be opening in the Basin soon. Thats to Roberta Hardy, di-rector of the Ogden Family Sup-port Center. The Uintah Basin Family Support Center, as it will be called, will be a sister organize- tion to seven other such agendee in the state; a support center will open in Cedar City at approxi- mately the same time aa the Basin Center, so the total statewide will be eight Centers are presently located in Logan, Ogden, Davis County, two in Salt Lake, and Provo. non-prof- it, ' . - . The purpose of the center, explains Hardy, is to provide a temporary location for a parent under stress to bring their child or children, while the parent deala with that stress. She fiirther ex- plains, "We are not a shelter for children again. The Family Support Can- ters are private or-with g&nizations government con- tracts. There is no charge for the service. This aspect makes it pos- sible for anyone, regardless of income, family setting, or circum- stances to use the center. The purpose for using the center may vary as well, saya Hardy: "Chil- dren are brought to the center far many reasons. Crisis can be a lot of things- -a parent may just need time to get himself or herself to-gether. The Family Support Center will provide these services: A crisis nursery, where even babies can be brought to receive meals, a place to sleep, and ever care is necessary while they are at the facility; Parenting classes, offered to the community as well as the cli- entele, and geared to reach fami- lies. The "Nurturing Program is authored by Steve Bavelok, a na-tionally known parenting expert, class and is an extensive that the parents and children both attend and receive homework that they can work on together. Hardy points out that the center is geared mainly to children 12years old and under, "Our program is tailored to meet the needs of younger children, and there are already programs established for the teenager. a crisis hotline. Hardy stresses that this is not a suicide hotline, as that is handled through mental health agencies; the crisis line is basically a way to provide someone to talk to when you are in need, she says. Counseling for the physically or sexually abused child. These children can recieve counseling when they are at the center, or appointments could be made. The fundingfor this service is pending. A Speakers Bureau. Organizations throughout the community will be able to schedule speakers on various topics, including parenting; dealing with crisis situations, and much more. Hardy saya the centers throughout the state have been very successful. For instance, the Logan Center, which she also helped set up, is considered a ru- -' ral setting and opening expectations were low. But children were brought the veiy first day the center was opened, and they now handle an average of 70 children a e month. That represent a is center so the service schedule, declares. die definitely busy, An important point to remember, states Hardy, is that the center is a partnership effort. We dont take over the role ofthe what-accordi- ng 1 15-we- ek 350-tim- ALTERRA WAS OUR SCHOOL left, Lauren, and Halle Haub, Tridell natives, all attended Alterra High School when they were young. Mervyn, 67, and Lauren, 69, later moved away, while Halle, 70, stayed in the Basin. The brothers had their own reunion this fall. Lauren lives in the Clinton, OK Veterans Center, Halle in the Cedar Crest Convalescent Center, and Mervyn lives in Helena, MT. All three were in the U.S. military for a time. TOO-Merv- yn, parent. Ws are hare to assist the parents in dealing with the problems they face, but our purpose is to holp the family unit remain a family unit That ia why the parenting classes offered by tha can-tare so important And tha classes, like the center, are free from economic barriers, appealing to a broad spectrum of the populad tion. Unlike some are rewhore people programs, ferred to tha course by an agency, and tha parent receives instruction only, the Bavelok courses require only a desire for mane education as a parent, and serve to join child and parent in tha learning process, eo they can work together to become a happier family. Children and parents even have identical "homework, which they work together to complete. Further, the Family Support Center ia confidential and advocate-orientestates Hardy. The Uintah Basin Center ia set to open February 1, 1989. Before that time, a staff will behind and a suitable home consigned. Applications are now being ace director, cepted for a work week; a involving live-ihouse parents, who spend 24 hours a day at the center, with weekends off (those accepting this ar agency-relate- . d, full-tim- 40-ho- ur n Continued on page 14 Central Basin book still available In 1919 Walter E. Attwood came to Roosevelt with an idea to plant trees in the Uintah Basin. We were pom, honest, g people with no money. The boya went downtown to visit the merchants and told them that far ten cents we would tree in two deliver them a years. Attwood tolls about his life in Rooaevelt in From Then Until Now - 75 Years in Central Uintah Basin, 1905 to 1980. His experiences include the introduction of the Siberian elm and the Russian olive tree into Roosevelt The drought of 1930 ia aleo described by Attwood along with hie experiences with the city council. Copies of tha book are still available said Emily T. Wilkerson historical commit-toof the at file Ink Spot in Rooaevelt The book, which ia 1040 pages long, includes compiled history from residents of the area throughout the years. herd-workin- six-fo- ot bi-sta- e, - Besides writings by Attwood, readers will find many family histories, said Wilkerson. A special section at the back of tha book ia dedicated to memories of authors. "There are some people who ordered the book but h ave moved, aaid Wilkerson. "If they can contact me, I will send it to them." The book took seven years to write with the help of committee members; Lester Bifftlett, Charlie Bird, Rhode Rudy, Boyd R. Lemon, Grant Kent, Pstrisch Hollis G. Hullinger and George H. Layton. Ward representatives, typists and editors alao helped. Family history in tha book includes names like Adams, Allred, Goodrich, Huber, Mitchell and Yack. History buffs can also read about memories of Ioka by Albert LeRoy Mechsm and find out who graduate from Rooaevelt High School in 1940 and what the. school song was. |