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Show November 7. 199S- - Page 11 i Uintah Basin Standard I Didn't Think It Could Happen To Me BasinLife Teens hear dangers of walking a "fine line" from accident victims By Anne Colton "If I had only listened to them then, I wouldnt be like this now", Dana Mathews exclaimed looking down at her wheelchair. Hie Altamont resident recently pleaded with students at Union High School to stop thinking they are invincible and start making responsible decisions. anti-druAn assembly featuring Mathews, and James Moore, of West Valley City, brought Unions Red Ribjron Week to a close Friday, Oct. 27. Both Mathews and Moore were seriously accidents injured in alcohol-relate- d while they were teenagers. Union students watched the video, "A Fine Line" which focuses anti-violen- ce g, on Utah who teens took unnecessary risks and ended up seriously injured. Mathews and Moore both appeared in the video. Five years ago, at age 17, Mathews was in an automobile accident near Bluebell which left her paralyzed from the neck down. The driver of the car she was riding in had been drinking and took a corner going 85 miles an hour. The potted speed limit was 35 miles per hour. The car rolled and stopped upside down in a ditch. She was not wearing a seat belL On the video she spoke of how hard it was to go on living after the accident and now she wanted it all to end. "I went into the kitchen to look for my pills, they were gone, my mom had hid them", she said. She spoke of her social involvement. "I used to date all the time, now I am not ever comfortable around guys, she Dana said that continued. a bad choice, made in a matter of seconds had impacted the rest of her life. She presents her to high school students across state in hopes that other teens wont make the same mistake. She encouraged the students to be more responsible, "Be careful who you get into the car with, Mathews implored. "Never drink and drive and wear your seat belt." when she was in high school. She said she thought it couldnt happen to her. She wished now she would have listened more carefully. Moore is a paraplegic who is confined to a wheelchair, the victim of a shooting. His father sat near him to hold the microphone up as his son related his story to the audience. The young man told of the night that he and some friends went to a party. '"We carried guns, thought it was cool, slowed speech. After the party Moores best friend shot him in the head. The bullet i brain Moore coma. "My brain thinks it can do something, but my body cant do it anymore, he related. "I used to rollerblade 22 miles. I was popular. I had a lot of friends. Now, my friends have abandoned me. I am no longer of any use to them. My parents are the ones who really stuck by me, he continued. A wheelchair is "no place for anyone to be, he tokl the students. He encouraged the teenagers to listen to their teachers and parents. Trust them, he said. Volunteers to join in MADD efforts locally By Cheryl Mecham Recently in Neola, a mother and her child were buried together, victims of yet another drunken, She told of her depression after being a cheerleader for a short time and then having to box up all of her cheerleading clothes, never to wear them again. She said that her friends did the best they could to support her but they were too busy with their own high school activities to take the time to visit. Mathews viewed "A Fine Line" impaired driver, and the loved ones left behind are rick with loss and grief and want to get MADD ... that is Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. MADD, a nationwide grassroots organisation farmed over a decade ago, is now more than 3 million members and supporters strong. The groups objective is to end alcohol and otiier drug impaired driving, and support victims of this violent crime. Is there a need? Stan Bench, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper says, Tea, this area (the tricounty region) has a problem with drinking and driving. In fort. Bench report that the Celebrate the Centennial wjth Brassworks number of Utahs celebration of statehood begins in January, but residents of the Basin will have the opportunity to begin the festivities early, with the local appearance of the acclaimed "Brassworks1 Centennial Band, alcohol-relate- d fatalities state wide is 22 percent, while in the region that number is 44 percent Responding to thaw high statistics and perhaps personal loss, a group or individuals who desire to find solutions to this local problem will be meeting Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 pm. at the Roosevelt CityDuchesne County Library to organize a MADD Community Action Team (CAT). tri-coun- ty sponsored by Basin West 2000 Fine Arts Council. This authentic style brass band performance is Monday, November, 13, 7 p.m. at Union. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, Gales Office Supply, from any Arts Council member or at the door. (Save your Brassworks ticket, and receive a discount on the next Arts Council paying event!) Single Adults The area Single Adults will hold a progressive dinner Saturday, November 10 at 7 p.m. Meet at the 2nd and 7th Ward building. i As wall, younger proponents of Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) will meat to organize November 15, 8:30 p.m. at the Union High School Auditorium. MADDa main goal is to lives by reducing the proportion of alcohol related traffic deaths to under 20 percent 2000. Currently educating the public to danger of impaired driving. The MADD organisation -- actively pursues stronger k legislation for driving laws to help polios, prosecutors and judges remove impaired drivers from the nations anti-drun- tx. also attend court and track cases involving impaired driving and petition judges to evoke stiff penalties against prepertndtors, and locally MADD has assisted law enforcement effort by donating alcohol testing equipment to law enforcement agencies which can be used out in the field to determine impairment. Sines MADD was created 1,400 driving laws have been anti-drun- k passed, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "an estimated 58,000 fives have been saved in the fight against drinking and Scholastic Book Fair .si HOPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE-Da- na Mathews, of Altamont 0) and James Moore of West Valley City (center) talk to Union High students about the accidents which left them confined to wheelchairs. Their presentation was part of Unions Red Ribbon Week. City to seek grant to fund master plan study By Anne Colton Hancock estimate! it will coat about $100,000 dollars to complete the master plan. "We need a plan," Hancock said. "The city has other projects to consider but the master plan ia mast favorable Roosevelt City is expected to apply for between $80,000 to $100,000 in Community Development Block Grants to finance the compilation of a e master plan for planning for development and infrastructure. The master plan is a state mandate. Its been over 13 years since the city has had a master plan to aiuriyze the present infrastructure, identify which areas need replaced, determine how to the citys growth and the communitys ability to its citizens. "If you dont know where you are going any road will get you there," Hancock related. "The Last master plan was dona in 1982, it should be updated every 10 to 15 year." Roosevelt is nearing (he end of that time schedule right now, Hancock explained. it now." long-rang- . city will make their final decision on their planned CDBG application at the next city council masting scheduled for Nov. 14. . The funding request is due Dec. 1. The city wont know how successful they are until February, then they have one year to get the project in foil swing. There is $430,000 in CDBG funds for the area. The. money it divided among the entities which submit successful applications. Hancock feels the city must have apian because of the growth. "We are growing, Hancock arid. There is a need to develop more commercial areas, as well as residential areas and keep open open, he explained. ty i driving. Opposes, sale of federal power facilities . Do your Christmas shopping early at the East Elementary Scholastic Book Fair November 8, 9, & 10. Open to parents, grandparents and the general public. Wednesday - 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday 3 to 5:30 p.m., and Friday morning - 8 to 11 am. Area Quilters Plan to meet November 14 at 7 pm. in the Moon Lake Building. LeeAnn Allan from a Vernal Quilt Guild will show "Round Robin quilts from the Vernal area. For more information call 722-313- 7. Musical Program Hear America Singing will be the theme for the musical program November 10 at 1:30 pm. at the Roosevelt Middle School. The program is being held in connection with the schools Fine Arts Fair. Public and Parents are invited. "I Bazaar The Duchesne Senior Citizen Bazaar will be November 1 1, at the Senior Citizens building starting at 10 am. Space is still available. For more information call Tammy Mullins at 738-261-9. sale. Locally, the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and I station is part of the Western Area Moon Lake Electric General Manager, Grant J. Earl, reported that during the past several months Congress has bean working on legislation that could have seen the nations hydro--electric power stations, asms, reservoirs, and surrounding lands auctioned off to the highest bidder. Such action could hays negative consequences on the pricing of electricity for all public power consumers. Earl reported that recant developments seam to indicate that insufficient support exists in Congress to place the federal governments Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) up for Administration! power System. "PMAi operate dozens of facilities across g the country. To sell or privatize such facilities simply would be a poor business decision on the part power-producin- of the federal commented Earl. government, Earl stated that the lack of support in Congress to auction off federal power facilities comes as good news to all public power consumers nationwide, including Mom Lake Electric consumers, and as bad news to the nations investor-owne- d utilities (IOUt) who have lobbied hard to weaken the nations public power community use offederal power. Celebrate adoption awareness month these current "While developments are good news to public power consumers, ws can be assured that investor owned utilities will view this only as a Caretakers of temporary public power, such as Mom Lake November as Adoption Awareness Electric, realize that this latest Month in Utah. battle may have been won, but not Utah a The Adoption Council, the war, in protecting the longvolunteer organization, standing relationship between the supporting adoption, advocated the federal government and public signing of the proclamation and power groups, continued Earl. the Mom Lake appreciated requested support from volunteers statewide. support of its members who voiced Thomas K. Baxter, president of their objections to Utahs congressional delegation during UAC, stated, We who woric in the g recent campaigns. adoption field see life unfold for all members of the adoption triad and how significant the recognize decision of a birth parent is in impacting the lives of others as well as their own. The UAC said that adult adoptees have indicated a desire to express their deep gratitude for the birth parents for having provided for them opportunities associated with being raised in their adoptive By Anne Colton By Maty Jane Page Recently Governor Mike Leavitt signed a proclamation declaring -- set-bac- k. non-pro- fit PTA Reflections "Just Open Your Eyes And See... is the theme for the 1995-9- 6 PTA Reflections Program. The Reflections workshop for East Elementary will be November 11 at 10 am. in the cafeteria. Entry deadline is December 1. Entries may be submitted in literature, music, photography, and visual arts. For more information contact Mary Page at Festival of Trees Celebrating 25 years, Festival of Trees will be November 29, 1, 2 from 10 am. to 10 pm. at the Salt Palace. Trees, wreaths, kids komer, gifts, and tribute tree are just a few of the displays to be seen. There will be a charge. Contact Mona Dean McGinnis for tickets 738-534-5. Outreach Program DAV representative will be at the following locations in the Uintah Basin on Wednesday, November 15 to assist veterans with questions they may have concerning their benefits. They will be in Roosevelt, at Job Service from 9 am. to 10:30 a.m.; in Vernal at Job Service from 1 1:30 am. to lp .m.; and in Ft Duchesne, at the Administration Building from 2 to 3 pm. Holly Fair The Lions Club will be hosting the 1995 Holly Fair Saturday, November 18 from 9 am. to 7 pm. at Union High School. Admission is free. Donations of food accepted for local food pantry. All proceeds go to children in the Basin. provide glasses to low-inco- & I MLE Qualified instructors are ready to prepare high school students who are planning on taking the ACT test in all subjects. The classes are held at Union High School, Saturday mornings from 8 am. to noon, beginning November 11 thru December 2. Test date is December 9. A fee is required. Register at counseling office by Nov. 9. Donuts ana Public Treasures Not For Sale ACT Prep Class at sHwt Juice Sale The Union High PTSA will sell donuts and juice for $1 in the commons area on Thun day, Nov. 9, from 7 to 8 pm. letter-writin- Kosmack joins Roosevelt Police force families. Sarah, a six year old adoptee, wrote to her birth mother, "I love my mom and dad and I care about you too. Im happy with my family and I hope you are happy too. This sentiment is. generally shared by all involved with the adoption tnad. Christine Adamec and William L. Pierce, Ph. D., stated in their book. Encyclopedia Of Adoption, "Learning about adoption further advances the knowledge and understanding among those who are directly affected by adoption, as well as those within our society who set the standards and the lawmakers who make the rules we live by. The children ve worth every effort we can make. for more Call information or to join UAC 393-86- 71 . COMMON SCENE-Ma- ny new homes continue to pop up in the Uintah Basin despite higher construction costs and a jump m real estate prices. Prices Up. Sales Down Real Estate Market holds mixed bag in 3rd quarter According to sales statistics from the Utah Association of Realtors, the third quarter held mixed news for Utahs 14 Boards of Realtors. Seven boards, including the Uintah Bazin, reported decreases in home soles, while seven others reported increases. "With such broad swings in percentage increases and decreases, the important thing to watch ia relative numbers, said UAR President Gage Froerer. The numbers themselves are still showing quite a strong market in many areas despite climbing The average home price Css. $8,000 just since last quarter. Sooner or later those prices will negatively impact salsa. In the Uintah Basin the overall y average sales pries of homes during third quarter 1995 totaled $72,300, compared with $07,463, during third quarter single-famil- 1994. The average sales price of a hone in Utah during third quarter 1995 wai $137,481. Realtors in the Uintah Basin reported a 21.8 percent drop in sales of single family hones from third quarter 1994 to third quarter 1995. Last year during the months of July, August and September 78 homes were sold in the Uintah Basin, this year during that same time period 61 homes were sold. In neighboring Carbon and Emery Counties, realtors reported a ISA percent decrease in home sales at an average price of $70,361. To the west in Wasatch County the average price of a home want up by almost 40 percent from third quarter 1994 to third quarter 1995, to stand at $176,780. Surprisingly, home sales in Wasatch County jumped by 105 percent during that same time period. Tran Kosmack from Helper, Utah started work for die Roosevelt Police Department last Wednesday. Kosmack, a native of Helper, is a recent graduate of Peace Officers Standard and Training located in West Valley. When the position opened up on the squad in Roosevelt, he applied and got the job. Kosmack replaces officer George Patton who moved to Vernal. Before attending POST Kosmack worked as a security guard. He was also employed by College of Eastern Utah as a campus police officer. Kosmack has only been in the area a short time but says he likes it here so far: He is. single and enjoys hunting, fishing, basketball, softball and basebalL ON PATROL-Roosev- elt City Clerk Carolyn Krissman swears in newly hired city police officer, Tom Kosmack. Kosmack replaces officer George Patton who moved to VetnaL |