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Show CRRT: UTAH 307 salt CR19 PRESS W. EXP: 0 p association lake CITY, UT bowing wbafa right doomi moan much unku you do what't right (A) S. Ttew Ifeon, 84101 . What will the new Uintah Basin 1996 Top Sports Stories... i ANDARD page 12 TuMday, DnuIw Roosevelt, Utah 93rd Year No. 53 20 Pages year hold? 31, 1996 50 seepage . r t r Vw M 11 r tMMk . .hwrt. At Oil recovery project to be conducted in Bluebell see page 3 SCHOOL ISSUES, JURISDICTION DECISION STILL PENDING Many of 1 996s top ten news stories still await resolution By Lezlee E. Whiting The top news stories for 1996 definitely present a mixed bag -n touching upon topics from the dollar Uintah and Upalco Unit water projects, to windows of tei hnology-relate- d opportunities multi-millio- manifesting themselves in the Uintah Basin, the anticipated decithe latest round of Indian jurisdiction litigation, as well as new construction ofhomes and buildings. The number one story on the list of news events in 1996 caused more than a little commotion among farmers, ranchers and irrigators in Duchesne and Uintah Counties. With precious time running out, they had to commit to purchase water SCORCHED TANKS-Thr- ee tanks at a Coastal site in Utahn were damaged when flames erupted after a spark shares from the proposed Uintah lit vapors in a tank of production water on fire. and Upalco Units. The massive water storage projects are part ofthe Uintah Basin Replacement Project TANKS BURNED AT COASTAL SITE NORTH OF DUCHESNE authorized through the Central Utah Completion Act. Water users were, and still are hesitant about allowing their farm and ranch lands to fall under restrictive federal rules attached to the purchase of the project water. Nonetheless, the water has been signed up for and environmental assessments are being conducted prior to sending the construction proposals Two families living within a quarhole in the top of the lid. By Lezlee E. Whiting to Congress for funding to meet the Duchesne County Sheriff Ralph ter mile of the site were evacuated 1997 deadline. Stansfield said that three produced for a short time, and SR 35 was No one was injured, but approxiAfter two years of waiting, a fedreclosed 15 on as fire for about minutes a as water a tanks waa done caught mately $20,000 in damage eral judge issued his verdict in the when a spark from a welding probe sult of the Mast Fire crews from precaution. The site is a few hunIndian jurisdiction ignited hydrocarbon compounds Altamont and Duchesne were called dred yards off the road in a remote issue. In April Judge Bruce Jenkins to the and said scene was the it and between the insulation Maze, spot extinguish easily isolated, trapped ruled that the 1993 U.S. Supreme the outer shell of a produced water which took about 30 minutes to Stansfield. Court decision in Hagen did not di- tank at a Coastal Oil and Gas Pro- douse. duction site in Utahn. An unidentified welder had just BUT OIL INDUSTRY POSTED 165 FEWER completed some repair work on the tank when the accident occurred around noon on Thursday, Dec. 26, said Brian Mitchell, Coastal spokesman. The welder, who was doing some subcontracting for Coastal, was probably on the side of the tank when the Mast occurred. Because of the way the tanks are designed the force of the Mast went upwards instead of shows that in second quarter 1996 field services in Uintah County. With A recently released economic reexpanding the tank outward, according to Mitchell The blast ripped a port for the Uintah Basin District unemployment was down from one fewer trucking positionsin Duchesne year ago, construction was strong County and a drop in power genera-tionjob- s in Uintah County, the and lots of mobile homes either UNIT PLANNED NEAR SENIOR CENTER moved into or relocated within the sector experienced a loss of 75 jobs. area. According to the Utah DepartHelping to counter these declines ment of Employment Security, the was a increase in local unemployment rate for the Uintah government employment, mostly in Basin District fell from 7.5 percent a the Bchool districts. Construction was year ago to 7 percent in the second another strong employment indus-fa- y with approximately 115 addiquarter. Nonagricultural employment tional jobs. Construction employgrowth waa very modest during the ment is strong in both Duchesne and months of April, May and June of Uintah Counties. The service sector this year, increasing by 1.1 percent is the third strongest industry with This is an increase of approximately more than 100 new jobs added mainly 140 positions, and places total emin Uintah County. The value of new construction ployment for the second quarter at showed a marked drop this 12,790. E. ered federal tax credits is Lezlee permits Ry Whiting securing In second quarter 1995, the Ba- quarter, but this is due to an abnorfor investors. Roosevelts rental sin showed a year-ove- r The Roosevelt Housing Authoremployment mally high valuation a year ago when decline. second In benefited from 1996, the Vernal LDS Temple waa permitof land has has market a quarter already purchased piece ity Uintah Countys employment stabi- ted. The $6.7 million in permitted across the street from the new Cross- the federally regulated roads Senior Citizen Center, which program with the construction lized by showing no change, mainly value this quarter is in line with the due to employment growth which districts historical trend. With 101 is currently under construction, in of the Cottonwood Apartment comwas generated within Duchesne new dwelling units approved, resibelow Metro senior Hill. of construction a plex just anticipation dential valuation totaled $4.9 milThe senior housing project is also County. citizen housing development The oil industry, reflected in the lion. Much of this residential activThe housing authority bought one a possible candidate for a Commumining classification, showed a sig- ity is for mobile homes. New parcel of land and a vacant home in nity Development Block Grant apdecline. Most valuation fell by 61 pernificant disrepair. The home was demolished plication next year, Cowan comlast week and efforts are underway mented. The apartments would be of this drop developed in oil and gas cent to total $1.1 million. seavailable to senior citizens in the to obtain funding for a five-un- it nior apartment complex, said Russell low to moderate income brackets. Senior citizens, those 55 and older, Cowan, Roosevelt City councilman. Were in the land preparation are the fastest growing segment of the population in the area, phase in anticipation of the Roosevelt Housing Authority building a project according to a survey conducted by tiie Uintah Basin Association of Govfor senior housing. We're also in preliminary discussions with local con- ernments. There is a need for affordable tractors to come up with a conceptual drawing and design, he stated. senior housing. Were very, very conThe housing authority and the fident we can make this go. We'd like city council are working together to to see it become a reality in 1997, he stated. investigate various financing alternatives. One option being consid sion in 13 Wayward spark ignites vapors in production water tank in Utahn long-runni- JOBS Economic highlights for Uintah Basin show jobless rate down ty Roosevelt to proceed with plans to build housing for seniors 160-positi- low-inco- 165-positi- minish the boundaries of the origiliminary opinion stating that the 1985 Union High Agreement forged nal Uintah Valley Reservation. However, because Judge Jenkins between Uintah and Duchesne Coundecision conflicted with the U.S. ties was null and void because the Supreme Court ruling, he remanded Ute Tribe wasnt included in negothe case to the 10th Circuit Court of tiations which concluded in the sale Appeals in Denver for review. Three of Uintah County's share of Union to members of that court heard oral the Duchesne County School District. The issue appears to have arguments in September. Their decision was expected by year's end, reached a stalemate, although both school boards have agreed to hold but has not yet been rendered. Governor Mike Leavitts decision talks rather than enter the courtto launch the SmartUTAH pilot room to set out differences of opinproject from the Uintah Basin last ions. Growth on the countys west month, earns a number three rank on this years top ten list. end comes in at number six. The e The purpose of SmartUTAH is to influx of more and more make technology available and useful o the general puMic. To accomplish this goal Community Learning Centers have been established in - Five-yesunset clause falls on Uintah and public libraries in Vernal and Roosevelt to allow Upalco Units of the Uintah Basin Replacement everyone access to the Projects as plans are readied to seek Congres- e nternTeJ,-Uinsional funding. SmartUTAH Mnqlo- - 2. 10th Grcuit Court of Appeals hears Utah vs. Ute 'ndian Tribe in decades old Indian controversy. jurisdiction becoming a technology 3-- Gov. Leavitt launches Smart UTAH technology village where mnipmi driven pilot project in Uintah Basin. can come to train employ- ees, and at the same time 4-- New buildings going up. Construction of new eiyoy the rural lifestyle. public safety complex for county, new senior New buildings which center construction, new addition to hospital have been completed or completed, work continues on LDS Vernal are under construction come in at number four. 5--Temple. Discussions continue on westside Uintah Ground was broken this County school crossovers and status of Union year on the $8.2 million High agreement. Duchesne County Public Safety Complex on Blue 6- - Growth on Duchesne Countys west end brings Bench near Duchesne, need for culinary water system, and work began about & Uintah County complete two months ago on the Whiterocks Road project, other plans for eco- $1.8 million Crossroads nomic development detailed as tribe enjoys v6nt6nnuu ocdiot ucn ter in Roosevelt A new &-- le?Wme!,t: by teen shuts down schools. wing at the Uintah Basin Increasing juvenile crime warrants appoint-opene- d Medical Center was ment of juvenile court judge for area, in October. Work also continues on sched- - 9- - Buyer for Pennzoil told refinery isn't for sale, ule cm the LDS temple in 1 0- - Fighting for water: Mixed bloods take tribe Vernal, with completion slated fra1 this summer. The stay coming in fifth place also made the top ten last residents brings the call for increased year, and although new information law enforcement protection on the has emerged, a lasting solution has remote west end, and the need for a yet to be worked out The separate culinary water supply. The Pinion issues of the westside Uintah Forest Special Seivice District has County crossover and Union been formed to work towards estabHigh Agreement hit high points lishing a culinary water system for towards the end of the school year the area. What a difference a year made when the Duchesne County School Board made the decision not to allow when it came to Ute Tribal govany new Uintah County students to ernment. While 1995 was a year register in Roosevelt area schools filled with political upheaval among (with the exception of Union High). the tribes governing body, 1996 saw Along with that, the Utah AttorSEE TOP TEN on page 3 ney Generals office rendered a pre- full-tim- ar SSlSritK long-await- ed IGET READYT0 BE BOOKED Want to spend a fun night in the new jail? By Dixie R. Brown Hie door slowly closes behind you, a eery clank reminds you that it ty - POSSIBLE MAGIC BULLET" Study hails selenium in fight against cancer A new study bolsters research touting selenium, a mineral found in seafood and liver, as a cancer fighter. The study found that when compared with people who received a bo, patients who took daily of selenium had 63 percent fewer cases of prostate cancer, 58 percent fewer colon or rectal cancers and 45 percent fewer lung cancers. In the selenium group, there were 50 percent fewer cancer deaths than in the placebo group, researchers reported in Wednesdays Journal of the American Medical Association. But the researchers cautioned that their results need to be replicated because the study initially was designed to measure only whether selenium would help prevent skin cancer-a- nd it didnt SEE SELENIUM on page 3 will be locked. All around you cameras monitor your every move ...just a bad dream? Could be you just started serving your sentence at the new Duchesne County jail. To give community members an opportunity to experience the new jail - without being part of the judicial system - Duchesne County Sheriff Ralph Stansfield, will be giving anyone who wants to the chance to spend the night in a cell before the jail begins to fill with inmates. Sheriff Stansfield hopes that local residents will want to see what the facility is all about, and raise some money at the same time. Fa $10, we will take your picture, lock you up and treat you like one of our own for an evening, he elaborated. Inmates will be subject to most of the rules that apply to the usual residents; however, Stansfield hopes that participants will have a greater appreciation fa his department and his officers than the typical inmate shows. All funds old home, once owned by Roosevelt school teacher. Dicey Emmert, ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST--An is tom down mnwke way for the planned development of senior citizen housing near the new Crossroads Centennial Senior Center on State Street. raised will be used to help purchase additional equipment that is needed at the facility. Sentences will be served during the week-lon- g grand opening events next spring. Tbe facility wifi not be fully operational so guest inmates will be served light snacks and a continental breakfast. Participants will be released early the next morning, (unless, of course a background check determines someone should remain just a little longer) and hope-fiilt- y will comply with the terms of their parole. |