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Show T h May 6, 1992 - Page 11 Basin Life iCIintah Basin Standard Child abuse cases on the increase in Uintah Basin By Janet hunt The Division of Family Services recently released the 1991 Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics for Utah. The figures, which were released at the Child Abuse and Neglect Advisory Council, indicate "We live in percent, with a figure at 2,316 making it the number one form of abuse in the state of Utah. The Roosevelt office of the Division of Family Services had some 188 referrals for child abuse and neglect during 1991. The report indicates that these referrals Department of Human Services stated that the reason children from ages 8 are in the largest category is because, "Children ages 5 to 8 will believe anything an abuser tells them. If someone says. Tour mommy said it was okay for me to do this to you,' the child is likely to believe them. Once the children become older they also get 5-- wiser." More females (54) than males (46) were reported to be the victims of abuse and families with 3 to 4 persons in the family showed a violent society. Movies and television are desensitizing people and family values seem less clearly defined than ever before." to have the largest amounts of abuse reported. The number one site of abuse is the home and the number one overall child abuse neglect perpetrator is still the mother. Twitchell stated that this is often due to the mother being the primary caretaker and becoming overly stressed. Family Services also states that sexual abuse perpetrators are usually abusers, but the number one sexual abuser is the brother. The age of most perpetrators for 1991 fell into the 9 age bracket with ages 9 coming second and perpetrators under 20 coming in third. Alsoincreased were the numbers of children receiving protective youth services. These figures Barabara Thompson, Director of the Division of Family Services and almost 20 percent increase in child abuse over the previous year. "There were 10,179 children abused in Utah in the last year. Tioee are the ones we know about How many more children are suffering abuse that we don't know about?" stated Barbara Thompson, Director of the Division of Family Services. According to Family Services, child sexual abuse went up 23.7 make up only 1.3 of the total investigations which occurred in the state last year. Figures further indicate that children ages 8 were in the largest bracket of children to be abused with some 2,625 cases had reported in 1991. Ages some 279 cases, 8 had 2,136 reported cases and 937 cases were reported in the 1 age category. Terry Twitchell from the Utah out-of-ho- 5-- 9-1- 2 13-1- 30-3- 20-2- 0-- self-inflict- ed An old Sandy youth died in Roosevelt early last Monday morning from an apparently 18-ye- ar self-inflict- ed gunshot wound. The young man was found by a truck driver at about 420 a.m. Monday morning behind IGA in Roosevelt He had suffered gunshot wounds to the head at close range, reports Roosevelt Police Chief Cedi Gurr, and a suicide note was found beside his body. The note indicates depression over lifes events, including not graduating. "No diploma means no navy, and no life." The youths parents were notified as soon as identification of the body was made. No further investigation will be conducted, Gurr stated. County Hospital ia to announce that May 11 pleased through May 16 is the National Hospital Week. In addition to it being Hospital Week, it is also National Emergency Medical Services Week. TO celebrate this event,' the hospital is sponsoring several activities to promote healthy lifestyles. "One of the easiest ways to reduce the.cost of health care is to maintain the miracle called the human body," says hospital spokesperson Tim Cox. The hospital will sponsor several informative and interesting presentations, beginning with an open house from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, May 11, held at the Duchesne County Hospital Fitness Center. The public is invited to test the equipment and see what is available. "Membership has increased from the very beginning. To meet the increasing demand, the hospital has installed additional treadmills and stairdimber exercise units. We are pleased with the usage, but we would like to see more people exercising, Cox says. Dr. Wayne Stewart, radiologist at Duchesne County Hospital, will address the topic "Mammography: What You Know Can Save Your Life," at 7:00 p.m. at the UBATC Tuesday, May 12. Dr. Stewart is one of the few physicians in the United States to be chosen to participate in a seminar on mammography located I; M n i f h- : . -- ' By Janet hunt After a little over a year of sitting empty, steps are now being taken to refill and stock the Bottle Hollow reservoir. Despite recent concerns over possible contamination, the Ute Tribal Fish and Game recently stocked the reservoir with huge numbers of cutthroat trout According to Lynn Hansen ofthe Bureau of Indian Affairs, the reservoir was originally drained a couple of years ago to repair a seal on an outlet gate which could only be fixed with the reservoir empty. With the gate broken, a lack of water circulation through the reservoir caused water temperatures to become much warmer than normal. Warmer water temperatures and the presence of anchor worms, along with a lack of oxygen was causing the fish to become sick. Karen Corts from the Ute Tribe Fish and Game Department stated that a nutrient had been building hospital, County EMS and the Highway Patrol are sponsoring a health and safety fair all day Saturday, May 16. "This will be the biggest health fair ever in our area. There will be something for every member of the family," Cox declared. There will be a hot air balloon, the Air Med helicopter and the Highway Patrols "Wall of Destruction. In addition, a blood chemistry test for cholesterol monitoring will be reduced to only $10.00. Those interested should fast for 12 hours before they come. The fair runs from 9:00 am. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact Tim Cox or Debbie Mellor at 722-469- "Many children are becoming sexual abuse offenders themselves because of things which are learned in the homes. Same parents are watching pornography and letting the children watch it also. Whats appropriate and whats not appropriate has become less dearly defined." "Parents need to make themselves aware of whats going on then each parent needs to take the time to teach their children what abuse is," Twitchell stated. "Many times our children will give us clues as to what is going on, but we Continued on page 13 1. i ; y - -- M f . ss ' fl : ft s v .1 ; . , LONG WAYS TO GO Water is now flowing into the Bottle Hollow Reservoir, but is no where near full. Ute Fish and Game predicts that it could take as long as two yean to see the reservoir completely full of water. Cutthroat trout have recently been stocked and the reservoir is scheduled to be open for fishing for the 1993 fishing season. . INDIAN iO SIGN Ute Tribe Jasana Cuch performed a special number, narrated by Tribal Elder Clifford Duncan, during the Northeastern Utah Sterling Scholar Competition held at Union last week. Union students performed other special numbere prior to the program. LANGUAGE-Mi- ss American Legion meeting Belletristic Club temperatures," stated Fred Chaves migrate into the warmer water where the anchor worms were." According to Chaves, the anchors worms are a parasite which actually feed off the fish and can retard their growth. Hansen and Chaves both stated that once the reservoir was empty and had dried out, soil was tested from below water levels for possible contamination. "We tested the ground because several people had expressed a concern about contamination from an old dump site," Chaves stated. Chaves went on to state that samples were taken to test for heavy metals and tone materials but the tests were found to be inconclusive. Corts stated that a control sample was taken from the west side of the reservoir where high levels of mercury were discovered. The mercury was reportedly, naturally occurring and some concerns were raised about whether or not the fish would be affected. "Were filling the reservoir now," said Hansen. "It could take up to two years to get the reservoir completely full." "It all depends on mother nature and how much water we have," commented. - . from the BIA. "The trout wouldnt water with the Ouray Park Canal which was set up when the reservoir was drained two years ago. "For every three feet of water they were able to use, theyll return two feet of water to supplement the water in Bottle Hollow," Hansen i. . The regular monthly meeting of American Legion Post 64 will is today (Wednesday), 7 p.m. at the American Legion building in Roosevelt All Post members are urged to attend. fill Bottle Hollow will be coming from an agreement to exchange l i up on the north end of the reservoir which was adding to the problem of, "stressing the fish". "The real question was the water stated Chavez. Some of the additional water to ' p. they own the children and that they can do anything they want to them," Twitchell commented. "Children coming into our care are more abused than ever before. I think there is a lack of reverence for life and a lot of stresses which are attributing to these factors. Cutthroats stocked in Bottle Hollow reservoir the the week, p. p; Terry Twitchell, Utah Department of Human Services increased from 5,402 in 1990 to 5,787 children in protective services in 1991. Thompson attributes the increase in abuse and neglect to Utah prevention programs, which include better awareness and reporting, and more stresses facing families, which include economic problems and lack of supportive systems. "We live in a violent society. Movies and television are desensitising people and family values seem less clearly defined than ever she went on to state. 'A lot of parents feel as though in Sweden. Dr. Stewart has made the center at Duchesne County Hospital one of the best in the state. Thursday, May 14, Dr. Garth Fisher, a renown expert on fitness, will present a seminar on maintaining your health. Dr. Fisher has written several books including, "How to Lower Your Fat Thermostat," and "Maintaining the Miracle." This presentation will also be held at the UBATC at 7:00 pjn. Hands-o- n experience will be available with local EMTs as they present "What to do Until the Ambulance arrives," on Friday, May 15. This seminar teaches basic first aid and CPR, and will be held at the UBATC in the mall area from 6:00 p jn. to 9:00 p.m. To conclude p; "Children coming into our care are more abused than ever before....There seems to be a real Ilack of reverence for life." Hospital announces Hospital Week events Duchesne 1- -r, p; in-ho- Sandy youth falls victim to wounds By Karla Cox STERLING SCHOLARS-Duches- ne District students who fared well in last weeks Sterling Scholar competition, held at Union, include, back: Ruth Hackford, English runner-uAmy runner-uShane Jankunas, art runner-uFront: Natalcc Luck, social science Potter, English runner-uJoe Perdval, art Sterling Scholar winner, and Teima Riser, homemaking runner-uPotter and Jankunas arc Duchesne High seniors; Hackford, Luck, Pcncival and Riser arc seniors at Union. Cutthroat trout were planted in the reservoir on April 15 by the Ute Tribe Fish and Game and it will remain closed to fishing for the remainder of this fishing season. "This will give us an opportunity to check for the health of the fish," Corts stated. The Belletristic Book Club will meet Thursday, May 7, 7:30 p.m. at the home of Sarah Snow. Bonnie Oberhansly will lead a discussion of the book, "The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter. Members and interested individuals are invited. Demo convention The Duchesne County Democratic Convention will be Thursday, May 7, 7:30 p.m. at the Duchesne High auditorium. Although nominations are low, state democratic candidates are scheduled to attend. Fifteen delegates for the state convention-Ju- ne 3 in Salt Lake City-w- ill be elected. Voting is limited to registered Democrats, but the general public is invited to attend. 12-1- Chamber luncheon The Duchesne County Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly luncheon meeting on Thursday, May 7, 12 noon at the Cow Palace. John Jefferies, Duchesne County Hospital Administrator, will make the presentation. Still nothing to do on Thursday? Well, drop in at Union High School, where the Duchesne District Academic Excellence Fair will be going on all day. Student competition will be in various areas, including art, music, and more. For additional information, call Union High. writing, County chemical sales Duchesne County Weed Department will hold chemical sales every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the weed department warehouse and office, one block south of the county courthouse. Questions? Call 738-274-5. Natl Small Business Week Tie 29th annual observance of National Small Business Week is scheduled for May The estimated 20 million small businesses in America account for 39 percent of the gross national product, provide half of all jobs and generate 53.5 percent of all sales. Never underestimate the power of small business. 10-1- 6. Petroleum DaysGeological Symposium The Petroleum Days Committee announces a trade show and technical conference as part of the first annual celebration. Planned for May 13 through May 16, Petroleum Days will be followed by the Uintah Basin Geological Symposium, and conclude with the Society of Petroleum Engineers golf tournament. All events are free; unless otherwise specified, they will occur at the Western Park in Vernal. For more extensive information, call the Vernal Chamber of Commerce. |