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Show Page 2 - January 10. 1995 Editorial Uintah Basin Standard Still a Pile of Garbage The recent arrangements by Duchesne' County officials to address the problems of solid waste collection are and certainly seem to be a step in the right direction. well-intende- d, The dumpsters throughout the county have usually been unsightly and overflowing, and werent adequate, to take care of garbage needs. The new $3 fee should help cover the incredible costs of landfill operation,' and addressed the equity issue;, thus far, unincorporated county residents have not been accountable (beyond taxes) for the landfills expenses. With the fee, everyone helps. However, there are still concerns for many county residents, in and out of city limits. What about big items? Since the landfill is far from most of the countys population, and many residents dont have the capacity to haul bulky and large items, it is not really convenient, and sometimes not even possible, to take care of the waste that cant be picked up in weekly collection. While a transfer station in Ballard helps Roosevelt residents, it is kept locked and is therefore not an answer. No portion of the plan, previously or now, seems to address the issue Of large refuse. Perhaps arrangements could be made, with a separate charge collection for those who need a large-iteservice. What about violators? There is no way the county can police garbage disposal. We fear unsightly, unauthorized dumps will appear overnight, and owners of dumpsters m will find themselves sharing their disposal space, willingly or not. We believe this issue could ruin the success of the present arrangement. What about the dumpsters? While it may be useful to distribute a few within city limits; they seem to suddenly be expensive white elephants, purchased to fulfill a contract that has now been altered or. ignored. Unless they can be sold somewhere, they will probably become rusting reminders of a rather unexpected but sad mistake. What about costs? If the $3 monthly fee doesnt deal with the somewhat insane expenses of operating a landfill, then what is the next step? A contingency plan of some sort should probably be considered now, just in case. And what of K & K? While its not the countys duty to protect or take care of one private business, certainly the company increased overhead to serve the county and may now be in trouble as a result of the countys change. Their efforts should probably be considered carefully. We hope county officials will keep a close watch on this cumbersome problem. We recognize what a difficult decision it is, but we dont believe the recent decision has really solved all the problems, so continual monitoring will be necessary to determine if additional changes need to be made. We especially hope that county residents will care enough to participate, obey the rules, and keep our little comer of the world from being buried in a big pile of garbage. stop." EDITORS NOTE: Hie Uintah Bum Standard weicomea and cncomagBS opinions from rea dersin the formonetters to the editor. Letter may ha utilised to expreu opinion or comment, to highlight outstanding Mivice of an individual or organization, or any other worthwhile purpose. Letter may not be used to replace Cards of Thanks, or to liat spon-on- , participant or contributor to a particular event or nurooee. LETTERS 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 unleu they contain libeiou or defamatory statement. We reserve the right to withhold a name by request ifthe nature ofthe letter is positive, and to edit letter. Letter maybe submitted to the Standard oilloe at 268. 200 E Roosevelt, Utah, 84066 by the publiehed deadline (normally Thursday at &00 pjnJ. All letters become property of the Uintah Basin Standard. Pike responds to recent articles Dear Editor: In reading the January 3, 1995, issue of the Roosevelt Standard I came across two articles in the paper that made reference to the Ute Indian Tribe. First of all I would like to respond to your front page article entitled, Tribal members seek spending cuts, halt work on truck Regarding the Martin Seneca matter It should be noted that, in my opinion, the Supreme Court , rendered a political, decision not based on law, therefore, it made no differeooe what kind of ayideoce once had before the court or who the attorney was that represented Mr. Hagen. It should be first understood why this case came about, and it was not because of Mr. Senecas involvement. It is my feeling that this case was being carefully orchestrated by other governmental entities. These entities were trying to decide which case they could use to place their cause before the Supreme Court ' (either, the Robert Hagen case or the Clinton Perank case). The decision was made by these entities to try Mr. Hagen for his alleged violations. Key roles were also played by Mr. Raymond Murray, along with Wayne Perank, who assisted local lawyers (Joell Barrett, law partner with Anthony Famulaxy) in running errands and attempting to contact Mr. Hagen to keep this case under 4066-310- Phone Fax: 722-41- DEADLINES: For ell News, Leg il Notices, Clajiifiedi, A Adveitising. the Deadline is Tbondey at 3 PUBLISHER: Cnig Ashby EDITOR: Lezlee E. Whiling ADVERTISING: Cnig Ashby OFFICE MANAGER: Tracy Womack PRODUCTION: Writer; Kid Cox, Aldan Rechele, Delyie Addley and Cheiyl Medum. Production; Colette Aihby, Jeani Thompson, Bonnie Parrish, Robin Taylor CORRESPONDENTS: ROOSEVELT - Tresa Hamuton ; ALTAMONT ; BLUEBELL - Shan Lee LAPOINT-Marlen- e HANNA Tracy Roberts Medum Lowtscher MONTWELL - Nola Ndion MYTON ; TRIDELL - Lome McKee WHITEROCKES - Virginia Ferguson NEOLA - Zda Spencer DUCHESNE - Orinda Gee p-- . 722-23- 247-233- 0; -- 848-341- 353-454- 4; -- 333-432- 8; 333-438- 4; 738-263- 4; Subscription Rates: Clip and Send to: Uintah Basin Standard 268 S. 200 E. -- diligently in all areas of importance to the Ute Indian Tribe and its membership. Many long hard hours, weeks and months have been spent in analyzing proposals and ideas that could be beneficial to the Ute Indian Tribe, its members and the entire Basin. I, for one, dont fed comfortable with the many hours I have negotiated on many different issues concerning matters that could be vital to the economic survival of the Ute Indian Tribe as well as the community at huge when these very fragile relationships could be destroyed through unfamiliarity. Individuals should have the ability to focus on issues on a much larger scale which could be overall beneficial to our entire area. I am disappointed to see that the editors and writers are not more careful in assessing opinions on such touchy issues without checking Into both aides of any issue that 'could destroy j the tribes ettemptk to negotiate with other entities in bringing favorable results that will benefit the entire Basin. This relationship is still fragile, and it could be . easily damaged by unproven and inaccurate statements. west of the section line that divides a parcel This area was also 40-ac- re environmentally cleared when Bottle Hollow complex waa constructed many years ago. This area's material was also used as back fill for the complex. Highway 40 runs along side and very dose to the cemetery , and there is no buffer zone with hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles, including trucks, passing by this area on a daily bans. It should be noted that the Ute Petroleum property line will in no way infringe upon this cemetery. However, one can stand on the north side of the cemetery by the fence line next to Hwy. 40 and reach across and touch the highway's right of way while on the west side, where Ute Petroleum will be located. There is approximately 200 to 300 feet separation with a fence line running between the two locations. Furthermore, the tribe maintained a herd of buffalo in this area for several years. Also Mr. Murray failed to let the tribal members know that. he had his personal cattle running on this property for several years. Finally, it should be noted that a lot of tribal members do support this effort to build a new gas station and trading post and a start to improve the conditions and upgrade the cemetery area (i.e. new trees, railed fence, dictate and disrupt the- entire governmental operation an a month to month basis. Mr. Murray and his supporters one month could fire certain individuals and the next month another group could rehire these same individuals based upon Mr. Murrays suggested system. So, therefore, this vote is not binding but only a recommendation to the Business Committee. Note, that it is a referendum vote by the entire voting membership that is binding upon the Tribal Business Committee. Budget and editorial I would like to suggest that Ms. Lezlee Whiting, who wrote the article, get both sides of the issue and all the information instead of making judgement calls on where and how the Ute Indian Tribe generates its revenues. To see the Ute Indian Tribes entire budget projections pasted all over the front page leads me to believe that the writers of this article have no common courtesy. Those writing articles should have consulted with the tribal leadership and organizations before printing this for the entire Basin populace to read and digest without any understanding of the actual knowledge and with incorrect assumptions made. In the Uintah Basin 1 Yr. $16 -- - 2 Yr. $26 Out of the Uintah Basin 1 Australian visits Basin, checks Indian & State ties A member of Australias Northern Territory Legislative Assembly (similar to a State Legislator) spent a few days in the Uintah Basin the recently to gain insight into ' State tire between relationship Legislature and Ute tribal members. Not only is Dennis Burk investigating the situation in Utah, he also visited Montana, South Dakota and Arizona to delve into the relationship between other Native Americans and their respective interested in knowing how programs in place in the United States to programs we have in relate JJti was a 0I4 place qara Looking as putting in k their culture and the maintenance of their culture, but there is not a great loyalty to the state where they have been with the federal government." That is something Burk doesn't want to see happen with the Aboriginals. As his country begins the movement towards recognizing and valuing the culture of their native inhabitants, Burk says he would like to see the Aboriginals in a closer relationship with the state legislature. "When the British government claimed Australia they claimed it as an unoccupied land. But that concept has now been overturned and the Aboriginals are seen as the Comments made on officers, others Dear Editor: After enduring a shocking and despicable experience the afternoon and evening of January 4, 1995, 1 believe that liberty is not in the air I breathe in America. It used to oe so much a part of my life that I seldom thought about it. I always assumed that my liberty would always be there like the sky, the wind, the food I ate and the water that I drank. Do any of us remember the liberties we used to have, where they came from and why we lost than? It was the most precious gift we had! There used to be five chief rights belonging .to every American, old and young, that made American freedom what it was. They were: 1. Personal safety and freedom; 2. Religious freedbm; 3. Free speech; 4. Safety of property; and 5. Trial by jury. In the little town of Zabem, Germany, in 1913, a lieutenant, of noble birth, struck a lame cobbler with his sword because the poor man had laughed at him. There was a great to do over the attack, but the Kaiser upheld the lieutenant, and he was never punished in any way. It was held that under the German law he had done entirely right in hitting the lame citizen to make him respectful. The policeman is not your friend nor protector. The police can enter your home without a court order. An American home is not a sacred snot that the law protects. Trial by jury, that is trail by 12 of a mans neighbors, was the right of every American when he was accused of si serious crime. No judge could convict him, no police officer, no politician, no rich and powerful man. Only plain American citizens like himself alone could send him to jail. Moreover, the trial must be - public. cobbler. ' TKfWimy. IS. siks . ti'ili ' ' When the program first began, 31TBotk noted that, itWasUjforthe nals, Burk ezpl best intentions, but it is very To conduct his research locally, patronizing." Burk met with Ute tribal members. He is hopeful that by spending "Theres no doubt the strength is in Stewart Pike Business Committee Chairman Editors Note: Numerous attempts were made to contact Mr. Pike prior and following the article being printed in the newspaper. That was a very brutal and outrageous crime. But the same kind of interference with liberty happened constantly in Germany under her militarist rule. The German word "verboten" means "forbidden," and every way that a German turned to play, or to work, he found something "verboten. In his home, on the street, in business, he was forced to give way. Nowhere was he a free man and his own master. Now in America we cannot live as we please, there is no safety and there is no security! Every man, woman and child is not protected from attack and arrest. We have nobles and royalty we are required to bow to. Our officers will slash a cultural identity and separateness is actively encouraged. Were now moving towards the organization of tribal governments as in the United States." He said the Australian government is in the process of setting aside areas of land for Aboriginals and "considering how can best serve them." Aboriginals don't have tribal laws, nor tribal governments, Burk explained, but receive assistance from the Australian government in the form of federal ."sit down" state governments. "As a government official I am Bincerefy, . original owners of that land. "Aboriginals were treated as second class," he stated. "In the past there was an attempt to assimilate them into the culture up until the 1960s, but now their . By Lezlee E. Whiting - - Second CUu pottage paid a Roosevelt and Ducheme, Utah (USPS Published weekly 268 S. 200 E.. Roceveh. Uuh 14066-310- 9 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Uinuh Basin Standard it 261 S. 200 B., Roosevek, Uldh 9 OFFICE HOURS: SrfX) ua. to 1:00 pja Monday, 9:00 un. lo SaOO pun. Tbesdey ihni Friday. -- Economic BenefitsNegotiations: The majority of the Tribal Council members have worked hard and tribal members could basically 646-90- 0) 434-397- 6; -- this firms local jurisdiction. This firm basically coordinated with these governmental entities in attempting to steer this case in the direction of the U.S. Supreme Court This case would not have even have come have come before the courts if not for the violator or for those individuals who etc.). were involved in orchestrating their Vote held at meeting: Contrary own agenda to have it ultimately to Mr. Murrays statement concernbrought before the Supreme Court ing the voting that took place Now, where does the blame really December 28, it is only a recommenbelong, and who is really responsi- dation. You can just imagin the ble? chaos that would exist if 50 to 75 Next item - Ute Petroleums new tribal members decided to change site: The facts are that Ute Petro- the existing system. Then all they leum sets west of the cemetery and would have to do'is call a meeting every other month and these few "Uintah Basin Standard Inc. 247-237- 5; . In the past centuries despotic kings ran tiie courts as they pleased and sent anybody to prison or beheaded anybody they wished. Secret trials have always been a favorite weapon of a despot. Before the turn of. the century, "Star Chamber proceedings" was a common name for a secret decision by any group of people. It dates back to 1487 in England when Henry VII founded a special court that decided in secret to torture prisoners and condemn them without a hearing. The men of this court sat in a room with gold stars on the ceiling and thus was named the Star Chamber. It was abolished in 164 -1 54 years later. Have these Star Chamber proceedings been resurrected within some of the police departments of our country? Has a man, because of his noble position, a black uniform, the right to strike a common citizen because the poor man laughed at him? Are we being forced to give way to royalty in black uniforms because of militarist rule? I remember the liberties of my youth and my heart is sad because I took them for granted, and now I have lost them, for they are gone. Signed, Melpha Whiting J time on Indian reservations in the knowld U.S. he will gain edge of what will work and what wont when it comes to guiding the ftiture of the Aboriginals. Because the relationship between the Native Americans and the U.S. has been developed tti a greater extent than the relationship between the Australian government and the Aboriginals, Burk says he wants to find out just where his country fits on the 'time spectrum. And in the event that Australia were to take the same road as the U.S., will we see the same successes and failures?" Burk first-han- . . questioned. He says two of the main problems pointed out which may come as the result of establishing the same scenario for Aboriginals as the federal government created for Native Americana is jurisdiction by Aboriginals over Australians, and the inherent difficulties in the reservation system. "If you set people aside .on reservations and encourage cultural separateness which is fiUe, unless you encourage people with jobs you're going to have a big problem at the end of the day." From Burks viewpoint, difficulties are exacerbated by the fact that because American Indian tribes are under the federal government and not the state, decisions are made in Washington, D.C. rather than on a local level "The problem is the people who have to deal with it don't make (he decisions." Right now, he says, thats similar to Australia, but the situation is something he .would like to see changed by promoting closer ties between the Aboriginals and state government 1- - . l(3S0 SGEGB M'J tv |