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Show ' 11 I . P t t r, UH (.Rf ' u. ':fll7 () ?aiATjoN i",v r ,JT f J Happinet is good health and a bad mmmojy. Ingrid Bargman 1 J j Serving the residents of Duchesne and Western Uintah Counties f. IHVAMVO outstanding athletes 93rd Year seed empire -- page Tuesday, Juns The Basins alfalfa Uintah Basin High Schools name 14-1-5 see page 1 1 vh4vwHvfr'1' Teacher wins $4,000 in civil lawsuit settlement 1996 Roosevelt, Utah 20 Pages No. . yil.'miKK 50 VM4M4 see page '' 3 REVENUE STAGNATES, OPERATION COSTS RISE Roosevelt drafts conservative '97 fiscal budget for lean year By Lezlee E. Whiting It appears that Roosevelt City residents wont see any hikes in water rates, taxes or fees included in the 1997-199-8 fiscal year budget, but city leaders expect they will be forced to consider such increases to boost their revenue in order to make the 1998-199- 9 fiscal year budget balance. As the city council grapples with ways to continue to keep service levels status quo, while holding the line on expenses as they draft their tentative 1997 fiscal year budget, they are finding they dont have a lot of breathing room. Surplus revenue, carried over from the previous years to assist in balancing the budget, has dried up making it necessary for the city to juggle money available in other accounts to make the general fund balance. The city is considering taking the $38,000 they will save this year when the county takes over sole operations at the library in January, along with transferring funds from the utility account to the general fund to come up with over $44,000 needed to break even during the coming fiscal year which begins July 1. But even that measure is temporary at best They will need to use the $38,000 next year to repay a Community Impact Board loan for construction of the Centennial Senior Crossroads Center. To compound money-relate- d concerns, the tentative $1.8 million budget doesnt frilly reflect the court costs the dty is expected to incur in jurisdiction litigation, or pay for a comvery expensive prehensive master plan. , The 1997-9- 8 fiscal year budget is almost identical to last years bottom line. The lack of financial prosperity for the city is due in part to the fact that while some revenues, such as sales tax receipts are increasing, property tax revenue which is another major income source, remains unchanged from last year. City coffers also continue to suffer from the closure of the Penn roil Refinery, as evidenced by a net income kiss of $115,887 in the water fund. City officials now say its almost certain that city water users will see an increase in their utility rates sometime next year to ease the shortfall. In addition, last year the city had over $17,000 in drug seizure forfeiture money, but that source has dried up as well, as the federal courts debate if such seizures are constitu state-mandat- tional, and a federal COPS Fast grant to fund additional police officers which totaled $119,629 last year, has plunged to $17,965 this year. At the same time that revenues are down, operational expenses continue to climb. (Sty council members had hoped to have enough money this year to offer employees an across the board raise, something that has Teen in critical condition after hap- pened ony once in the past five years. As it is, however, no sal- ary changes are being considered with the exception of administrative department assignment shifts and in two cases where probationary periods have ended. While the actual dollars may come in higher than anticipated in many areas, city leaders are weekend crash the best but preparing for the worst. 16-ye- NEW FACILITY COULD DOUBLE OUTPUT $1.8 million renovation proposed for Whiterocks Fish Hatchery The crash caused the cars engine to fall out. Seeley was not wearing a seatbelt. budget pretty conserva AUGUST SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT-Excessi- ve speed was blamed for an accident Saturday morning, June I , which left old Roosevelt girl in critical condition, and dea ar the stroyed Toyota Corolla she was driving. The engine fell out as the car spun out of control, striking a hillside. A Roosevelt girl is in stable, but critical condition at the University of Utah Medical Center, after sustaining numerous fractures and internal injuries in a one car accident over the weekend. According to UHP reports, Jeanne M. Seeley, 16, was driving eastbound on the Bluebell Road 4 miles west of Roosevelt at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at a speed of approximately 80 miles per hour when die failed to make a curve and went off the south edge of the roadway. She then overcorrected and want off the north side of the road. At that point the vehicle went airborne, slamming the right end into a nearby hillside, said investigating UHP trooper Merv Gustin. The impact caused thqcar to rotate, sending the backend into the same hillside. The Becond impact shot the car back onto the road. The vehicle ended up on the south side of the road. typically very frugal when plugging in projected revenue calculations, hoping for We tively, explained Ralph Hill, city finance director. There's no crystal ball, you just have to be as careful and conservative as you can. The city council will hold a public hearing tonight (Tuesday, June 4) to fisdiscuss their tentative 1997-9- 8 cal year budget. The final public budget hearing will be held June 14. 1-- By Lezlee E. Whiting The Whiterocks Fish Hatchery in Uintah County is one of three fish hatcheries in the state targeted for m tr renovation s and new construction. Should funding be approved, the Whiterocks Hatchery could realistically more than double its out- 3 celebration two months away UBIC By Aldon Rachele The annual Uintah Basin In Celebration is slated for August 1, 2 and 3 in Roosevelt, but there are a number of events that will be held prior to the traditional three-da- y fun filled activity. Queen contestants will compete for the UBIC crown at the pageant, Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m., and the Mr. UBIC Contest is set for Tuesday, July 23, also at 7 p.m. Both events will be held at Union High School in State wildlife management officials have proposed spending over $1.8 million this year on upgrading Centennial Steam Engine that has touring around the state will be part of the UBIC parade. UBIC President Bill Cook reports that Lakota, a Country Western group, will be the main entertainment Saturday, August 3 with Counwhich try Western Amber-Coalitio- been n, SEE UBIC on page 3 RESIDENT JUVENILE COURT JUDGE TO SERVE 8TH DISTRICT Nominating Committee meets to decide applicants for position By Cheryl Mecham The 8th District Judicial Nominating Commission together with Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice, Michael D. Zimmerman held a 30 minute public hearing Friday afternoon in Roosevelt as part of the process to select three candidates out of 20 possible applicants for consideration by Gov. Mike Leavitt to fill the newly created position of Eighth District Juvenile Court Judge. The meeting was called to hear public comment concerning issues facing Utahs Judicial System, including suggestions for improvement in the system. While no one from the public attended the hearing, 8th District Court Judge A. Lynn Payne addressed the commission and Chief Justice Zimmerman regarding his opinion as to the attributes which would best serve a juvenile court judge. Judge Payne said that he was pleased that the position was created because the judicial system has suffered for the lack of a permanent juvenile court judge and so have the youth of the community suffered without access to a judge out here. Payne advised the commission to select candidates who havcIdemon-strate- d a commitment to children, and who would be able to work well with those who come in for court hearings as well as with office staff. Payne suggested that the candidate be perceptive, stern, and pathetic, who will "hold people accountable for their' crimes. As well as have a "rich experience in the law, and have the skills of a district court judge. Following the public hearing, the meeting was closed to allow the commission to select at least three applicants to participate in an interview scheduled June 27 by commission members. After the interview the commission will chose three candidates for review by Governor Leavitt. After this a 10 day period for public comment will be held, and only after this will Leavitt consider the positive candidates for the position with accompanying public remarks to the final selection for the judge-shi- p appointment. Members of the Judicial Nomi- make nating Commission include Roosevelt City Councilman Russell Cowan, who serves as committee chair: Roosevelt businessman Marc Eckels; Manilla Mayor Carol Scott; Roosevelt attorney, Cindy Barton-Coomb- s; Beaslin Vernal attorneys John and Ken Anderton; and Ver- nal Mayor Leonard Heeney. srnaU it has become a bottleneck to production of the station, and the immediate replacement of the hatchery building is the only alternative. Its estimated that replacing the SEE FISH HATCHERY onpage 3 Whiterocks Hatchery put The traditional parade, which has been a huge success over the past few years with many entries, is scheduled for the first day of the event, Thursday, August 1 at 5 p.m. The Roosevelt. station's program needs. According to the proposed plans for development submitted recently to the legislative Energy, Natural Resources and Agricultural Interim Committee, because the area inside toe current hatchery building is too Current and future fish stockings by water and year and expanding the Whiterocks Hatchery. Close to $5.5 million is being sought to upgrade the Kamas Hatchery, and DWR officials estimate it would cost over $5.6 million for restoration and construction work at the Fountain Green Hatchery. While the Legislature has already approved a portion of the funding needed for the renovation work, the remainder is being sought through mitigation monies included in the Central Utah Project Completion Act, said Ron Morrill, Whiterocks Hatchery superintendent The $1.8 million proposed for the Whiterocks Hatchery would fund the development of a spring, install a well and supply lines, repair concrete raceways, remodel the two residences used by the hatchery supervisor and his assistant, renovate utility buildings, construct and pave roadways, and install a sprinkler system, landscaping and fences. Some of the minor repair work is now underway, said Morrill, but it doesnt appear that the complete funding package will be allocated until next year. The largest funding portion of the proposed project, just over $1 million, would be spent to construct a 4,500 square foot hatchery. The Whiterocks Hatchery was established in 1927. The hatchery building, constructed in 1941 by the Work Progress Administration (WPA), is in bad condition and is too small to adequately serve the Strain . . . RTFDrainbow RTSHrainbow fryfingerlings rub adultadult SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME Health Department to deter child abuse with presentation By Lezlee E. Whiting A babysitter in Kearns, who is h described as a mother, pleads guilty to a reduced count of child abuse homicide for causing the old in her care by death of a shaking her too hard. old Closer to home, a Duchesne County man is charged with a second-degre- e felony count of child abuse as his infont daughter lies in a hospital bed with permanent brain damage. Medical experts atold tribute tiie injuries the suffered to violent shaking. In just the past few years a newly recognized injury to infants and older children has been identified and described as "shaken baby ayndrome. Because young infonts have very weak neck muscles, if they are shaken their heads wobble rapidly back and forth, sometimes tearing the fragile blood vessels connecting the skull to the brain. The action results in brain damage and bleeding in and on the surface of the brain. The injury cn even occur if the heed is supported while shaking. From 1991 to 1995, nine Utah children lost their lives from violent shaking, typically hy an adult venting their frustration with a crying child. Those children ranged in age from two months to two years old. Many others didnt die, but lie hope "top-notc- 20-ye- ar irrr DECISIONS DECISIONS-T- he Eighth District Judicial Nominating Commission receives counsel from District Court Judge A. Lynn Payne in choosing candidates for the newly created juvenile court judge position. The commission will select applicants to undergo interviews, and from this screening will choose three candidates to submit to Governor Mike Leavitt who will appoint a candidate for the judgeship with consideration of public input. CTBLcutlhroal, fryfingcrling KSGLKokanne Salmon fryfingcrling KSSBKokanee Salmon fryfingcrling lessly damaged for life. At the same time, many responsible parents with good intentions, who would never dream of hurting their child, think nothing of giving a small infant, "a good shaking. While such punishment is generally considered harmless, the effects of a mild or moderate shaking can be far graver than anyone could ever ize. Even playfully bouncing real- a young child over a knee, or tossing an infant in the air, spinning a child around, and even jogging while carrying an infant on the back or shout tiers, all have the potential to cause serious medical consequences. Because this form of abuse, and even accidental injury is on the rise, the Uintah Basin Public Health Department (UBPHD) is offering a presentation on the prevention of shaken baby syndrome as a free service to groups and individuals. The presentations, given by UBPHD nurses Marilyn Steinmetz, LPN and Cindy Strawn, RN, provide discussion and instruction in techniques to use to avoid taking out frustrations on an infant, and include the showing of a short video entitled "Portrait of Promise: Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome, which details some iff the physical SEE HEALTH DEPT, on page 3 |