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Show I T T t Con Amore kids are winners at State Special Olympics ee 78th Year "Sound of Music" returns to Union stage in four performances -- See Page Page 3 Wednesday, November 20, 1991 No. 47 loka residents ' daughter suffers from debilitating disease 1 1 0 -- See j lo Pages Roosevelt, Utah page 5 50 Cents RPD investigate burglaries and shooting incident over weekend An early morning shooting incident resulted in damage to a local area business. Roosevelt Police Department officer Steve Hooley was dispatched to the Hilltop Lounge, Friday morning, November IS at 1:30 a.m. Three shots from a rifle entered the Hilltop Lounge with 0 people in the building at the time. One of the bullets struck a window and part of a metal frame hit a woman, who suffered minor 80-10- iijuries. Roosevelt Police Chief Cecil Gurr commented that it was quite fortunate that there werent any additional injuries. The building was crowded Solvers Presentation December 5 at 12 noon in the Cow Palace, Roosevelt. Gurr commented that all interested individuals are invited to attend. Gurr has asked all Rixtsevelt City residents to remove cars, trucks, boats, campers, etc., from local streets in order to enable access by snow removable equipment. Despite low sales percentages Real Estate economy stabilizing in Basin at the time. One mole suspect Emmett Duncan was arrested at the scene while trying to leave in his vehicle, according to RPD Chief Gurr. Duncan was charged with the alleged crime of aggravated weapon offense. Another male suspect was arrested later that day at 6 a.m. by Bureau of Indian Affairs officers. Chief Gurr reported that the Roosevelt Police Department investigated a burglary over the weekend at Roosevelt Junior High School. Cash and checks totaling several hundreds of dollars were stolen. During the post three weeks other burglaries have occurred, according to Chief Gurr. Two automobile burglaries were reported at T & G A Auto and Rods stolen of in truck out was a shotgun the area of 300 East and 100 North. A burglary of tools, etc., took place at Roosevelt Rentals. A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals involved in the burglaries. Chief Gurr reported that the Roosevelt Police Department and Duchesne County Area Chamber of Commerce are cosponsoring a Crime Mini-Lub- e. According to the Utah Association of Realtors the percent of houses sold in the Uintah Basin has fallen some 38 from the previous year, as compared to a 47 increase for Carbon and Emery County. For sales in the third quarter the figures dropped from 135 in 1990 to 82 in 1991. These figures however, are misleading as to the true state of the housing market in the Uintah Basin. A year ago at this time there were many houses which were in the process of foreclosure, these houses would account for the high numbers in "sales". Currently the market has leveled off and there are very few foreclosures. According to Bob West, "Weve had a leveling and increase of value in the market. The market is becoming firmer." This year the average price of a home sold in the Uintah Basin has risen from $34,896 in 1990 to some $41,585 for 1991. According to local realtors the reasons for the increases is due to the smaller supply of houses. A year ago at this time there was a large inventory of homes in the basin with many HUD homes. According to West they have gone nine weeks without a HUD home which is very unusu- is one of the few new homes being built in the Basin as many people have RARE SIGHT-Th- is turned to buying some of the previously vacant houses in the area. Due to this recent trend in the area the real estate market has stabilized. al. After the people associated with the oil boom moved out of the area, leaving many homes empty, building in (he area came to a virtual standstill. The people who remain in the basin are a more stable group and have created this stable market situation. According to West another reason for the price increase iB that some people are buying in the basin to retire who want to have all four seasons and like the area. There has also been an increase in local and people buying homes as an ivestment. If things continue they way they have, people of the basin could actually see a shortage in housing especially for rentals. According to Gordon SnowofCentuiy 21 Realty, "Were going to face a shortage of housing. Apartments have become difficult to receive financing on therefore rents will continue to rise." Local realtors also commented that the supply of houses is down, but the peoples attitudes are not up. If these attitudes were to change then the market could still see further increases. non-loc- Youth City Council Jenny Mower elected 1st female mayor in Roosevelt City area By Aldon Rachclc al School Board meeting at RMS covers broad range of topics Jenny Mower of Roosevelt City was elected the first female mayor, but dont worry Mayor Leonard Ferguson isnt going anywhere as Mower will be representing Youth City Council, the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7 a.m. Amy Johnson, Megan Wilson, Farah Ferguson, Rutl Hackford, Julie Ripplinger and Teima Riser were voted in as councilwomen. Mower was the top vote getter in a Youth City Council election held November 5. She is the daughter of Dennis and Beverly Mower, Roosevelt. Any student in the Duchesne County School system grades 9th through 12th were eligible to run. Student candidates had a special booth and voting was held during the regular general election. Originally it was planned to have five council persons and a mayor, but Hackford, Ripplinger and Riser tied fur the fifth position with the same number of votes and instead of having a special runofT election it was decided to go with six council-womeThe net result will be that the Youth City Council Mayor Mower will be voting more to break ties than is usually the case during regular city council. Mayor Ferguson usually only votes to break a tie when a councilman is absent from a meeting. Other individuals who took part in the Youth City Election were: Cari Evans, Michael McQuivey, Ke.lie Ercanbrack, Saori Phouthavongsay, Todd Riser, Vanessa Shearwood, Rita Needles, Gina McKenzie, LeeAnn Phouthavongsay, Deborah Griffin, Pepper Daniels, Loriann Fish, Clay Jesica Rios, Keely Hamilton, Whiting, Scott Sanders, Natalie Tbdd, Heather Long, Micki Marshall, n. The Duchesne School District discussed a wide variety of topics, from Unions progress to pending grade shifts, during their regularly scheduled meeting at Roosevelt Middle School on Thursday, November 14. The Union High School open house previously scheduled for early December has been postponed due to a recent accident on Highway 40. The mill work for the UHS cabinets were destroyed in the accident. This has caused a three week delay for the prqject The state audit reports are not required to be completed until December 1, 1991, so district the audit report by Rodney Aycock was postponed to the December 12 board meeting. The board voted to increase the Activity Payment Schedule by retroactive for the 1991-9- 2 school year. This means advisors from all athletic programs, drill team, cheer leading, forensics, drama, journalism and yearbook will receive slight pay increases. Margaret Grant, PTA President for East Elementaiy, reported that fencing materials for the school had been purchased by money the PTA had raised. She requested help from the Districts maintenance department to install the fence before weather conditions worsen and the ground freezes. Local bus drivers and Thompson School employees attending the meeting volunteered to assist with the prqject. Bus driver David Richman presented a persona complaint to the board. Apparently Richman has e classified employbeen a ee with the district for the past two years. After receiving a salary increase, Richman was upset because his take home pay is $38.00 less per month due to the increase in insurance rates. In the employees have past, part-tim-e been responsible for 50 of their insurance benefits until they have been employed for five years. District Administrative Clerk, Phil Thompson, pointed out that while salaries were increased by three percent, the insurance rates went up 19 12 percent. Following heated discussion between bus drivers and board members, Thompson was asked to gather information about the issue and present it to the board at a later time. Employees from Thompson School informed the Board that there will be a Child Abuse workshop December 2 in Vernal. Superintendent Mower reported that he v t had sent letters to all the principals informing them of the workshop. Superintendent Mower also informed the Board about the Roosevelt Area Grade Shift Plan for the 1991-9- 3 school year. The plans are to move the third graders to Roosevelt Middle School, and the ninth graders to Union High. It was mentioned that additional trailer space may be needed at the Middle School once the student grade shift takes place. Other issues discussed included a report about the Fiber-Optic- s, Tele-Leami- prqject, representa-Continue- d on page 3 Melissa Rasmussen and Lee Foster. The positions of city administrator, recorder, finance directortrens-urer- , police and fire department chiefs will be appointed by the Youth City Council. Other positions that might be considered are city attorney, recreation, public works director, dog catcher and maybe even a reporter. "Youth City Council was formed to enable youth to become familiar and interested in city government and politics. They can see what it is really like to run a city," said Roosevelt City Administrator Brad other improvement ideas. Memliers of the Youth City Council will be nble to meet with other councils throughout the state of Utah in a league meeting, where awards will be presented for best projects. CDBG workshop held to begin applications The Uintah Basin Association of Governments recently held a "How to Apply Workshop" for organizations wishing to receive Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG). The meetings held on November 6 and 7 were mandatory meetings for counties and cities wishing to apply for the funds. Representatives from Myton City, Altamont town, East Duchesne Water District, Fruitland Water District, Duchesne County Upper Water Improvement District, Duchesne County Economic Development and the Uintah Basin AOG were present at the workDuchesne shops representing County. With approximately $80,000 available to Duchesne County, the County Commission recently held ' f?'V. ; 4, : 1 ' Air - Uf part-tim- residents met SCHOOL BOARD MEETS WITH PUBLIC-Lo- cal with Duchesne District school board members and officials at Roosevelt Middle School during their regular meeting last week. Transportation was a hot issue of the evening, along with pay Hancock. Hancock addl'd, "Tin Youth City Council may take on projects to work on and complete as well become about different knowledgeable aspects involved in city business." Youth City Council will also discuss ways to beautify Roosevelt City nnd schedules, insurance rates and new fences. The board occasionally meets at schools throughout the district to give residents the opponunity to attend the meetings. A good crowd took advantage of the board's presence in Roosevelt. a meeting where some of the dollar amounts originally being requested had to be revised. The Chamber of Commerce originally applied for some $25,000 for economic develop- ment and small business development, this amount was revised to $18,000. The Upper Water Improvement District had originally intended to apply for $65,000 to ble used for 43 culinary water hookups, this amount was changed to $20,000. Tabiona intended to apply for $120,000 to install a pressurized water irrigation system for the city, because of the shortage of culinary water during the summer months. This amount was changed to $10,000 for the engineering to begin on this project. Fruitland had originally wished to apply for 20,000, but this figure was changed to 38,000 as bids for the water hookups were higher than originally expected. East Duchesne Water District had planned to apply for $40,000 for twenty water hookups along the Bluebell bench area. The final figure is undetermined at this point. The Uintah Busin AOG will apply for $46,000 which will go to planning and technical assistance, administration of the RLF (Revolving Loan Fund), administration for Housing Rehab, job creation for Utah Procurement and updating available economic development CDBG funds are to be used, "to assist in developing viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic for opportunities, principally persons of low and moderate income." They are also intended to "expand economic opportunities, develop and use all land resourcefully, provide decent housing through the use of all available programs either direct or indirect and provide needed public servic- es." The application process is a long one, with public hearings to be Continued on page 3 |