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Show Piee 2 - August 30. 1994 Editoriat cOintah Basin Standard jfhm'pvN m tmibm ) Response to More Sacred Cows Here Than in India Guest editorial by Senator Alarik Myrin I appreciate last weeks editorials about the previous editorial More Sacred Cows Here Than in India. I would like to make the following points which I think are pertinent to this discussion. The first point I would like to make crystal clear is that we all need to work together as a rural area. If we dont, we will fall behind the urban areas in all aspects very rapidly. The original Sacred Cows" editorial seemed intent on pitting the various interests against each other. If successful, that would be a big mistake. The statement that the state i$ largely run by farmers seems odd to me since only four members of the State Senate could be considered farmers, and one member used to run an Ag related small business. The percentage of farmers in the entire ture is very low, probably an all time low. Also the greenbelt assessment was made possible by a constitutional amendment voted on by all of the people of the state. A Legislative committee has been told that agricultural lands more than pay their own way as far as services provided to them from property tax is concerned. Small business also more than pays for their services. The other side of this is that in areas undergoing residential development the increased property tax on that property is falling about 25 percent short of paying for the services that then are required. All taxpayers lose if we force development of Ag lands by raising the property tax on them. When development occurs, what about the big game habitat and other things that are important to our way of life and the reasons we have chosen to live here? .There sure are subsidies for farmers, mostly federal programs paid for out of income and other taxes that everyone pays including farmers, not local property taxes. The wool subsidy is paid for by tariffs on imported wool and lamb and is scheduled for termination even though it is not a tax expense. Im not sure who pays the dairy subsidy, but many dairy farmers have told me they would much sooner have a free - market . Many programs, both state and federal, arguably benefit small business. Some of these are the SBA loans, the High Tech Finance Corp., the UBAG small business loan program. Redevelopment agencies, relief from annual property tax on inventory held for resale, enterprise zones, technical aid from the universities and state and local governments, business incubator programs, etc. Not all small business people use or condone all of these programs just as not all of agriculture people use or condone all of their programs. During the last session of the Legislature, SB 90 was passed which reduced the state assessed portion of the property tax by $9,000,000. TTiis was done so that the increased valuation on small business forced by the AMAX decision would not impact small business as much. So while the assessment went to 100 percent, the state tax rate went down to compensate. This made the increased five percent valuation of small business basically revenue neutral to the state. Some local levies have increased which then have impacted small business as well as other property owners. Not long ago the community here in the Basin got together and worked for and got some tax relief for oil well workovers. This was done because of the overbearing severance tax and to help the general economy in the Basin. Economic results show that it worked. Recently sportsman groups and agriculture have started to communicate and work together on a tentative basis. Relations be-- . tween the Ute Tribe and state and local' governments go up and down, but we will all be ahead if we keep working together. Progress has been made on many fronts during recent years through working to- MUST CONTAIN 400 WORDS OR LESS, BE TYPED OR WRITTEN LEGIBLY, SIGNED, AND INCLUDE NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE AUTHOR. Letter will be published u niece they contain libelous or defamatory statement. We reserve the right to withhold a name by request ifthe nature ofthe letter i positive, and toedit letters. Letter may be submitted to the Standard ofliee at 268 1. 200 E., Roosevelt, Utah, 84066 by the published deadline (normally Thursday at 5:00 p.m.). All letter become property of the Uintah Baain Standard. Comments made on Standards apology Dear Editor: Hie Standard apology to the farmer! and rancher of the Uintah Baain (and all over the United State) waa about a elk meat at a the the bottom of my deep freeze. Aa the apology wa written, one could aaaume it wa put together by EVERYONE who work at the Standard or just aa likely by the worn out mop rag molding in the Janitor1 cloaet Why couldn't w have had a straight forward, personal reply from the author, such aa: 1 was wrong, and I am vny aony that I wrote such an inaccurate article about the people who help pay my wages. cover of the Tree Oh, well-T- he Proto give all of u uflicient warm-hearte- d three-year-o- ld hard-workin- fXCUMSe Norma D. Mitchell Babbitts plan. If you are sincere about the desire to improve the environment without devastating western Dear Editor: Under a pretence of policing the Ute Indian reservation, Duchesne and Uintah County official continue undermining Ute Tribal law enforcement by creating a deceptive image of Indiana running amuck; while claiming that tribal jurisdiction prevent justice from being served. Who do our local officials think we are? Its like theyre saying: residents of the Basin haven got the brains to comprehend that tribal law enforcement officers an out on patrol. Apparently, the state of Utah is so hungry for an extra dollar, that its willing to candy coat the truth and defy one federal law after another to gain jurisdictional control over the Ute Indian people. Just how for will they push the federal government Its our tax dollars that will pay for their conduct The state of Utah, in its lust for Indian money, ignores its own constitution as well as the U.S. Constitution. It also ignores the "Enabling Act which Utah agreed to in order to enable it to become a state. By accepting the above act the state of Utah agreed that "they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within ths boundaries thereof, and to all land lying within said limits owned or held by an Indian or Indian tribes. Yet standing ready to assume jurisdiction, taxing the Indian rings out as the main objective to the strategy being used by the state; and even if they did gain jurisdiction, the "Enabling Act" itself prevents the state from taxing Indians within its domain by stating: "..Indians not taxed," and does not limit said restriction to the reservation only, but refers to Indians living within the state. As it now stands, Indians must display an enrollment card to be exempt from taxes; I suppoee no one informed them that the state cant make it mandatory to show enroll Dear Editor Dear Editor. If there "pride to be held by and in a community of LDS members and shop keepers, then that "pride" must be in the way the People from over the state came d, golf-carte- Sincerely, Hackford discusses May Jane A. Thompsen conference Dear Editor: I do not recall how many times Ive heard itth oath of office-- to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. A concept developed to prevent the tyranny of European kings and of power hungry dictators. It formed the foundation of federal responsibility to protect its citizens from those it who would oppose However, the wind of opposition does blow; and over the state of Utah that wind gained momentum at the Western States Summit n conference held in May of 1994, where Utah Governor Mike Leavitt spoke of "open rebellion. ..to get Washingtons foil attention. Among topics discussed were a detailed strategy for state insurrec- non-Indi-an Bennett requests withdrawal of proposal two-ye- Butler writes about treatment of Indians West-wid- ment cards in a place where it has no jurisdiction to do so. What can they do, impoas another illegal fine on tribal members? In Indian country, merchants possess no authority to demand LD. from members of a sovereign nation. On the contrary, they should be made to operate under a tribal license. What will Utah do next, try to tax Wyoming? Utah is invading the jurisdictional territory ofanother sovereign while us so called good neighbors ait back condoning the veTy things we blamed our ancestors of doing. who But this is one is willing to show support for the Ute Tribe by purchasing my gas from Bottle Hallow and shopping somewhere other than Roosevelt. Sandra Draper Dear Editor: On the baas of the enclosed letter signed fay member of the Wyoming livestock industry, I would like to rsquast that you withdraw Rangeland Reform 94, moratorium implement a on issuing new regulations and. allow Wyoming and other western states time to devise workable state solutions. You have repeatedly stated that you want to work with Western states and are willing to listen to their concerns. The administration held roughly 50 hearings across the West earlier this summer. You personally attended hearings in Washington, D.C, as well aa two out of four Congressional field hearings, including the on in Casper, Wyoming. You have met with individual members of the Wyoming livestock industry. It is now time to demonstrate that you have heard the unanimous ay from ths stewards who live on the land and the communities whose economies an dependent on that resource. I understand that the administration may be considering other options or at least "deviations" from the Rangeland Reform proposal. It is rumored that you an Thompsen commends recent contributors to share and participate in the Third Annual Rooeevalt Festival for People With Disabilities on the 20th of August They were ase moratorieconomies, a um would be less divisive and mas tounded over the spirit of help and useful for Wyoming than this cooperation so evident an that day. Many expressed delight with the 'divide and conquer strategy. No and the facilities, includdoubt, than will be a loud, public program marvelous a barbecue, the ing outcry from other western states if our beautiful and pool swimming is an Wyoming granted exemption! course. But golf always, the comTaka this issue out of the political included plements praise for the n arena and put it where it belongs--ithe hands of those who live on, atmosphere ofkindneas, friendship and sincerity. work and taka care of the land. To everyone who cooked, Each of the 14 public lands d and in any states can came up with workable thank contributed, you! way plans if given the opportunity. It's live! Every to What a place great allow and fair that only right you citizen can share the pride of being that to happen. part of a community demonstrating Robert F. Bennett such compassion, courage and UJ3. Congressman caring. gether. Lets not let feelings and emotions rise to the point that we stop the progress we have made at working together as communities, economic segments and cultures. Jurisdiction issue addressed by Draper EDITOR'S NOTE: The Uintah Baain BUndard welcome and encourage op inion fromreader in the form oflet ter to the editor. Letter may be utilized to ezpreee opinione or comment, to highlight outstanding enrice ofan individual or oiganization, or any other worthwhile purpoee. Letter may not be uied to replace Cauda of Thank, or to list ponaora, participant or contributor to a particular event or minwe. LETTERS conai dering designating Wyoming as a public lands "management model or a "review laboratory, either of which would temporality exempt the state of Wyoming from tion that included formation of armed state militias..., and paaeage of state laws that prohibit federal bureaucrats ftxxn carrying firearms while performing their duties. The summit produced concepts of annexing "all federal lands and declaring stats jurisdiction over the same. The ooncepta produced at the Summit II conference should scar the hell out of Indian people, not to mention other minority group who reside in Western States. The image theyve created too closely mirrors the early stages of the Jewish holocaust Alrsady federal law is being ignored on the Uinta and Ouray Indian reservation, where Indians are being proeecuted in courts of jurisdiction; and despite a federal court injunction, Uintah and Duchesne counties are imposing unauthorized jurisdiction over on and off of Indian people-bo- th trust lands. Contrary to what has bsen fed to controlled gh the media-t- he "Hagen case may have hurt more than it helped the state's position. Nevertheless, the counties continue to misinform their public that nothing has been implemented as of yet For instance, aa Roosevelt City Attorney Clark Allred so skillfully put it: "It makes it hard to taka can of matters in your own city when you cant proeecut certain crimes." What is he saying, that Indiana have no system of law, or is his motive simply to collect extra cazh for the city by stripping away finss destined for tribal court? I ask you Mr. Allred is it justice youtu after, or more tribal fluids' for your community? The propaganda you and your cohorts exploit on the Ute reaerva-tion-i- n every my opinion-prov- es historical bigotry found in the moral and religious system you Firefighters, others earn appreciation Dear Editor The purpoee of this letter is to publicly thank the following persons for their help on the Fruitland Fire Station addition. Thanks to Paul and Mika Young, Jim Forakis, Yarn Roberta, Leo Macham and his grandson. Bud Sullivan, Neil Muir and all thaee volunteer firefighters who gave so generously of their time and talents. Also a apodal thanks to Lee Robertson for using bis talent so laviihty in building a muzzle loader rifle for the FVFD to us as an income prqject IBs support is greatly appreciated, and his work is immenasty admired by all who see it A thanks also to those volunteer firefighters who have been dedicated to taking First Responder medical training since March. FVFD now has five new First .Responders to help with the emergency situations they may be called to, or encounter. Thanks to all, especially Fruit-lan- d community, for the great support of your fire protection volunteers. Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department is doing well and progressing. Sincerely, Leon "Rusty" Campbell Chief, FVFD (USPS . represent Kenneth Hackford and snickers about their mistreatment of the Indian people. . LDS members can even be honest with themselves. They couldnt oven acknowledge where they made their homes; they took it upon themselves to change the name of the Uinta Indian Reservation, and placed thereon the fictitious title of the Uintah Basin. If an Indian promotes a product, the LDS members will seek to take over even going so far as to remove the UBIC from its place of origin in Ft Duchesne to its pres-ent location in Roosevelt-whe- re it now supports the LDS economy. For a so called religion, that claims to be of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I personalty feel tlwt the position being taken by this' prominent group of Latter-da- y Saints is a disgrace to all moral ethics. For they promote the idea of a "Lamanite People," professing them to be Gods chosen, and then having the gullibility to attempt to degrade and slander them In their pompous conversations. It doesn't reveal a very Christian attitude to me,- but what it does reveal are LDS values, concepts and systems. If not the Indian people or their communities being the aggressors in this society. For there is absolutely no doubt in the minds of those Ive talked with, that it's the "Indian DcdlaF flowing through the hands of the LDS (Roosevelt) economy that has been their sustenance. But the Indian people are repaid with a city and county government-mo- st of wham an LDS members-w- ho continually attempt to disregard the federal government and to destroy tribal sovereignty: the very essence of their being. "Pride" to an Indian, can be found in the fact that no Indian has ever tried to take from white society their way of life, or the cruel, vicious god theyve chosen to worship. But "Pride" to some American Latter-da- y Saints seems to fester in their constant attempts at taking what doesn't belong to them. Richita Butler 1 Continued on page 3 Second Clui pots paid Rooievelt and Duchttne, Uuh Publiihed weekly at 261 S. 200 E. Rooseveh, Uuh 14066-310- 9 POSTMASTER: Send addmi dunce to die Uinuh Baiin Sundaid at 646-90- 261 S. 200 R. Roosevelt, Utah 54066-310- 9 OFFICE HOURS: MO un. to IsOOpjn Monday, 9:00 am. lo 5:00 pm. Tueiday thru Friday. Phone Fax: 0 DEADLINES: Newt, Legal Notion, QMitfiedi. 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