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Show I i February 7, 1995- - Page 9 Basin Life iCHntqh Basin Standard A ) A commitment to the Basin Remote Operating Systems: tomorrows in a business thats meeting practical needs hi-te- ch Zane White moved to the Basin with his wife Chris when the oil industry was booming. He managed an oil field service company for many years, but when the industry began to decline, his job was sold out from under him. He was faced with the choice many in the area have faced: start over, take whatever you can get or leave the area in search of work. White was luckier than some. He received two good offers-o- ne with a local company, and one from a tiny company in Texas that had connections with his former employer. White chose the position that was less secure, but had more potential for growth and development: Remote Operating Systems. How did ROS get started? "The next move in the oil indusLets step back a few years to try was likely toward automation," understand ROS a little better. White recalls. In order to cut operating costa and comply with increasing environmental regula By Karla Cox companys hsadquarters. ROS was unknown in this area until Ballard resident Zana White, now president,' became associated with the company and commercialised its technology. Remote Operating Systems does just what its name implies: it designs, builds and installs SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) syatems-baaical-ly, high tech remote control systems-th- at monitor and control operations at remote sites such as oil wells, gas plants, pipelines, municipal water systems and even snow making equipment . locations. A powerful personal computer is at the heart of each system. By now, moat of ua hava heard of a company called Remote Operating System; known more limply aa ROS. But if a quiz included the question, "What does this company do, and why are they located in Roosevelt?" many of ui would probably flunk. There's no secrecy about ROS, an environmentally friendly company with a group of employees who are proud of their business and its incredible growth during the lut five years. Perhaps the overwhelming' growth has kept them so busy they havent had time to boast, h any case, the information given here waa offered between back-to-back meetings and trips between Roosevelt and San Antonio, Texas, ths . . tions, a means of monitoring a site far from headquarters was needed. The founder of ROS, a Texan named Bill Dunn, had developed a program that utilized radio communications to control equipment at a remote site. In the spring of 1990, White, along with Pryor Harrell, a previous associate, joined the company and opened the Rocky Mountain region with an office in Roosevelt. Whites approach to this fascinating monitoring and control system was logical: find a customer, determine the needs within that company, and sell the company a system that fills these needs in the most manner possible. The system devices were initially created for oil well management, but he immediately identified other applications, and had the systems altered to meet the demand White and Harrell established a computer-operate- d cost-effecti- ve good base in water systems management, installing integrated systems for Roosevelt City, Riverton City, South Salt Lake City, and many others. In fact, 32 municipal and private water systems in Utah are controlled by ROS equipment Unusual and sometimes extreme oil field conditions found in the Basin made it the perfect place to refine ROS Digital Liquid Level Sensor-o- ne of the key components in the integrated system --that had previously been used in the less challenging Texas dimate. The level sensor uses a float with imbedded magnets to accurately measure ths level of liquid in a tank. ROS1 first oil field customer was Held By Production (HBP), with Marc Eckels at the helm. Eckels, who recognized the value of the device from his first introduction, participated in the effort to make the level sensor operate in the Basins waxy crude and cold weather. He eventually joined ROS as Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Board. Meanwhile, the need for an engineer in the Utah office had ' developed. Bruce Wilkerson, native who had left a lucrahe believes the act of the two men tive job in California seeking a By Chayl Mecham "was different, they werent unibetter environment for his family, Two local men were honored last formed officers, just first class was hired. The three-Whweek by Roosevelt City for the heroic, citizens that took action, and did a Harrell, and Wilkerson --opera ted the whole Rocky Mountain effort. act of rescuing a child from a fine thing." burning structure. John Schneider and John Cassel-bur- y received a letter of accommodation which was read, by Mayor Leonard Ferguson praising the men for their act afbraveiy that granted a child a "second chance of life without regard to their own personal safety." Along with the letter signed by Mayor Ferguson, Chief cf Police Cedi Gurr and Ken McDonald, captain of the firs department, presented a plaque of recognition to each man honoring them for their courageous Roosevelt City honors local heroes for rescue ite, an oil tank or line is moniTHIS DOESNT HAPPEN--Whe- n tored by an ROS integrated system, oil spills such as this one dont occur, because the flows are regulated by computerization. ROS PRESIDENT-Za- ne White at a project Antonio in San from Canada to New Mexico, west to the coast. and Time to move ahead ROS in Texas spent money on Continued on page 18 ' In a later interview Mayor ' Ferguson said that when he heard about the fire and the rescue of the child he personally felt that the men ahould be .honored. City council members, along with members of the fire and police departments canie Literacy Activity . Volunteer families or individuals are needed for Storytelling Hour at Stewart's Cedar Crest Care Center on Sunday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. beginning Feb. 12. Come and share a story from good literature or an experience and make new friends. Those who participate will gain from the experience as well as give service to our community. Call Pearl Manning for more information at 722-391- 0. TOPS Open House The local chapter of TOPS (Take Pounds Off Sensibly), a nonprofit weight-los-s support group with over 300,000 members worldwide, will hold an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. at the Ballard City Hall. Women, men teens and preteens interested in losing weight are invited to attend. The open house is free. For more information contact between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Lynn Benson at 722-33- 05 OnDisplay The winning PTA Council level Reflection entries submitted by area students will be on display at the Roosevelt County Library from Feb. City-Duches- ne 1. Nominees Sought forward with the same response. "It waa a tremendous act, and it takes some bravery to do that kind of thing, and it is something real special because they saved a little life, everyone was just thrilled about it," Ferguson remarked about the rescue. Ferguson went on to say that during his time as an officer in the Highway Patrol he found himself in a similar situation during an "enormous fire that burned down seven businesses at the corner of Gales, (Lagoon Street and Main). He related that someone called out that there was someone unaccounted for in an office that hadnt come out. He said aa a "uniformed officer" he had to go in. He explained, "I began to go in ... and then I was told that the person I went in far was out, what a relief that was." Ferguson said that being in uniform he had to preform whether he "dared to or not," and that is why HEROES HONORED-T- wo local men, John Schneider and John Casselbury heralded for their heroic act of rescuing a child from a burning building were honored by Roosevelt City Tuesday evening. Mayor Leonard Ferguson, Fire Department Captain Ken McDonald and Police Chief Cecile Gurr were in attendance to represent their departments and express appreciation. QVC to feature local product on nationwide cable TV show Lezlee Ballard resident LaVell Asay began work on what eventually What began as a prqject to relievs became The Snow Pusher Plus, some pressure put on a bad back while 25 years ago while tinkering in his shoveling snow has blossomed into garage. In 1987, after numerous a bumness soon to be featured on a revisions in ths design he had his nationwide cable TV network. product patented. By E. Whiting The Duchesne County Farm Bureau is accepting nominations for Agriculture Teacher ofthe Year in grades K - 6, in the Duchesne County School District The deadline for the contest is May 12. Interested teachers may contact their school principals or Janice White at for an application. 454-317- UHS Parent-Teach- er 6, 20 products selected by QVC to be featured an their show in late March. The big break is just what Asay needed. "Inventing things is the easy part," he admitted, "getting it on the er es. General Elections market is the hard part Asay and his family have promoted their product at the UBIC and Utah State Fair, and its on sale in The Roosevelt Commercial Club will hold their general elections on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. All members are requested to participate and vote! Roosevelt at Nielsens, Coest-to-Cba- st Hardware and in Vernal at Milts Merchandise Mart. It retails for around $179. Assistance He credited local merchants, along the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issues can meet with a representative from the Disabled American Veterans in Wednesday, Feb. 15 in Roosevelt at the Job Service Office from 9 to 11 a.m. In Vernal at the Job Service Office from noon to 1:30 p.m. and in Fort Duchesne at the Administration Building from Those seeking assistance with 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Assistance will be offered in the area of compensation requests, pension, medical treatment, VA home loan defaults and education. Single Adults The LDS Regional Single Adults Organization will host a Valentine's Dance on Friday, Feb. 17 at the 1st and 4th Ward building on 32 South State in Roosevelt at 8 p.m. For more details call the activities hotline ; 722-408-8. Cattlemen's Dinner Don't fotfget to attend the Duchesne County Cattlemen's dinner this Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. at the USU building in Roosevelt USU Extension specialist Norris Stenquist will be the guest speaker. Signups begin at 6 p.m. th broadcast It was announced last week that the Snow Pusher Plus had made the grade and was one ofjust er at full-wid- products submitted for consideration by QVC officials for possible sale on their nationwide cable television Conferences conferences on Thursday, Union High School will hold parent-teachFeb. 16, from 5 to 9 p.m. School will not be held at Union on Friday, Feb. 17, because of these conferences and will also be in recess on Monday, Feb. 20, due to the President's Day holiday. Parents areencouraged to conferencsupport their child's education by attending parent-teach- VA Since that time hes sold 500 of the Snow Pushere which move on blade with wheels, has a seven adjustable angles to "cut and lift the snow," and adjustable handles for h eighth. It easily removes snow from a large driveway in just minutes, and if such a thing is possible, actually looks "fun" to use. Asays 8now Pusher Plus, manufactured locally by KarVell Industries, Inc., was one of 160 Utah , ' t Asay of Ballard poses with his two Snow Pusher Plus models. The model on the right is sold for industrial use and features larger wheels and a heavier frame. The model on the left is Asays latest model designed primarily for residential use. The Snow Pusher Plus will be featured in late March on QVC, the home shopping network. ENTREPRENEUR-LaV- ell with the Uintah Basin Association of Governments, Duchesne County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Uintali Basin Small Business Development Center for giving his company the encouragement it needed to get off the ground. Both the Uintah and Duchesne County School Districts have punhased several Snow Pushers and several area IDS Churches use them for snow removal ps well. Asay says custodians have told him they argue over who has to use the heavy snow blower and who gets to use the Snow Pusher. Because the Snow Pusher is lightweight, its easy to maneuver, doesnt require any bending or lifting; is easy' to maintain and works on heavy wet snow when snow blowers clog up. |