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Show I I kS.. UINTAH BASIN STANDARD. March 3. The dream comes true for 300 families buying first home Three hundred Utah familiei from e acrou the state be fortunate enough to soon become home owners. The Utah Housing Finance Agencys (UHFA) Board ofDirectors has approved the release of $25 million of mortgage funds that will make home ownership affordable for families with will modest incomes. A 6.09 fixed interest rate mortgage money will be available to Utahs lower income, first-tim- e home buyers paying 2 percentage points discount. Because coming up with the down payment and dosing costs are big obstacles for first-tim- e home buyers, UHFA will offer a 6.39 mortgage loan with absolutely no discount pints being charged. This greatly reduces the down payment and dosing costs required of UHFA home buyers. Many of these families will find home ownership less expensive than renting an apartment. Monies will also be available for down payment and closing 1997 Fire deaths in Utah lowest in twelve years f lower-incom- e &3V-4- - 'VT Ji f vrfffe cost assistance. UHFA will target the $25 million in mortgage funds to first-tim- Pace 19 BQnRK low-inco- me lower-incom- 1998- - , & 1 i '7 e, gw! '33 m home buyers across the state. Prospective buyers may qualify for these mortgage monies provided their income and the cost of the home they want to buy is below certain limits. Limits vary from county to county across the state depending on the size of the household and the location of the home purchased. Many Utah households are currently paying upwards of $900 a month in rent, and unlike a mortgage payment, their rent will continue to steadily rise in the future. Monthly mortgage payments, on the other hand, remain virtually unchanged over the 30 year life of the i t: SSi r fa loan. Currently, UHFAs average In 1997, fire deaths in Utah were the lowest theyve been in 12 years. The State saw a decrease of almost 33 in fire deaths from 1996 to 1997. Fire deaths in 1996 were 12, while fire deaths in 1997 were eight. Although there is no significant explanation for this decrease, fire prevention educators would like to believe: it's the increase of the publics awareness of fire safety over the past decade. However, the State Fire Marshals office cautions about to much optimism. Until we have working smoke detectors in all residential dwellings, there will always be a chance for an increase in fire deaths, said Gary A. Wise, State Fire Marshal. Fire caused 206 deaths in Utah during the ten years between 1986 and 1996. The dead included babies and young children; they included adults who had escaped but returned to salvage property or save a pet; they included people who lost valuable time trying to extinguish the fire but the greatest tragedy is that many of the victims died in fires caused by their own familys failure to observe basic fire prevention behavior in the home. Many died in their homes at night, without the advantage of a working smoke detector that could have given the alarm in time for a safe exit. Ninety percent of deaths in the U.S. occur in fire-relat- residential settings. Smoke detectors double the chances of surviving a fire but without working batteries, a smoke detector is useless. Careless disposal of smoking materials; frayed extension cords; food forgotten on a stove and allowed to smolder, combustible materials, such as curtains, blankets or newspapers too close to heaters; and children playing with matches or lighters, are among the most common causes of these fires. Fire is hot, toxic and very fast. In 30 seconds a simple flame can be out of control. In three to five minutes, the fire can reach flash over, when all combustibles reach if .liti on temperature simultaneously. Thick, black smoke fills the environment. n be seen. Temperatures above waist level become so high, they sear lungs arid fuse clothing to the skin. The fire uses up oxygen and produces toxic, suffocating gases. Those in the area become unconscious and have very little chance to survive. Despite continuing refinement ofthe fire code and the technology of fire suppression, todays home is as vulnerable to fire as ever, if not more so, says Wise. When subjected to fire, plastics and other synNoth-ingea- thetics create dark, heavy smoke and toxic gases that can kill within minutes. Moratorium on logging covers 3 million acres Annociated Frew The Forest Services planned moratorium on logging and across 33 million acres rood-buildi- of national forests includes an estimated three million acres in Utah. Forest Service Chief Mike the policy as a Dombeck defended necessary interim step to assess the condition ofthe agency's crumbling roads system and consider whether areas without roads should be made off limits to logging permanently. Western Republicans in Congress have promised to fight the plan. The rule applies to all roadless areas 5,000 acres and larger. It would apply to about 130 national forests, including all six of Utahs. In Utah, environmentalists say the new rule will help keep roads out of about 3 million acres of roadless areas in the state. Utahs national forests cover 8 million acres of land, or about 15 percent of the state. Parochially, its going to be great, said Amelia Jenkins, coordinator of Wild Utah Forest Campaign. It will offer interim protection to a lot of lands (in Utah), but we'd like to see real leadership for national forests systemwide. Jenkins said the rule falls short nationwide because it exempts 15 million acres in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado. The timber industry opposes the plan. We dont like it one bit, said of South & Dan South, Jones Timber, in Evanston, Wyo. In the past, the company has logged on e and Ashley national forests in Utah. South said the new rule, contrary to its intended purpose, will not improve forest health but will lead to further deterioration of the forests, which he said have become overgrown and subject to conflagration. Bill Howell, director ofthe Southeastern (Utah) Association of Governments, said the rule is the beginning of the end of logging on public lands. The Sierra Club has called for an end to logging on publics land. This is merely a step toward implementing that policy, he said. Jenkins calculated the new rule will affect about 586,000 acres in the Ashley National Forest, 344,000 in the Dixie National Forest, 688,000 in Fishlake National Forest, 537,000 in the Manti-LaSNational Forest, 455,000 in the Uinta National Forest and 447,000 National in the Wasatch-Cach-e the Wasatch-Cadi- al ii mi m 1 J I?! ha I I Mi ty" household income served is under $29,000 annually-howev- er, many households earn much less. As a general example, UHFAs new 6.39 mortgage interest rate allows a household earning approximately $28,500 annually to purchase an $87,000 home with a monthly mortgage payment of approximately $650. This payment includes insurance, taxes as well as principal and interest payments on the loan. This results in a several hundred dollar monthly savings to the first time home buyers under the UHFA program as compared with rentals. UHFAs mortgage rate is generally more than one full percentage point below conventional rates and allows many households to qualify for home ownership who would not otherwise. The program announced recently by UHFA is also offering down payment assistance for very home buyers. Under UHFAs CHAMP program, approximately low-inco- m f, ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK They can sing and they can dance! Roosevelt Middle school students in Chris Dyes core class perform the 1950 song and dance numbers they learned from music teacher Mrs. Reynolds. 10 of the $25 million in mortgage funds will be eligible to receive down payment and closing cost assistance up to 4 of the mortgage for very home buyers. This set aside portion of UHFA funds may substantially reduce the down payment contribution by the home buyer, thereby making home ownership possible for many first-tim- e home buyers for the first time in their lives. The UHFA down payment contribution is typically avail low-inco- The key to preventing residential fires is to recognize fire hazards and remove them. Avoid misuse of electrical appliances and extension cords. Seek professional installation and regular maintenance of all heating equipment Keep combustibles at a safe distance from any heat source and matches and lighter out of the reach of children. Fire Marshal Wise makes the following recommendations: First, agree on an escape plan fin the entire family. Make sure there are at least two ways out; practice Exit Drills In The Home (EDITH) on a regular basis. Second, regular inspection and maintenance ofsmoke detectors is essential. When a smoke alarm is heard, every person in the house should get out immediately! Lastly, Once out, stay out. Call from a neighbors phone or a phone booth. Do not go back for any reason. Nothing is more important than preserving life. Local fire departments and the State Fire Marshals Office are happy to share life safety information. Families that seek fire safety information and put it into practice can protect their lives and property from the devastation of fire. To help safeguard your home contact your local fire department or the State Fire 0 for free Marshals Office at literature and information. 284-635- able to larger-siz- e first time home buyer families with household incomes below $28,500 annually (income limits vary by size of household and by county). UHFA's low interest rates make buying a home more affordable than renting in many cases, and home ownership through UHFA allows families to control their housing costs by enabling them to escape the spiral of ever rising rent rates. UHFA Executive Director, William LAKKY NUELSIEN For MOON LAKE ELECTRIC DIRECTOR Current Director Moon Lake Electric Roosevelt Businessman for 27 years ' j J I .. m in Church and Community .... . mT Active . Leadership U Author Gary Hogg recently entertained Neola stories. He received the help of a few students his with Elementary students when he told his story, Beautiful Beulahs Day at the Fair." COPY I Family Man "Having been a director of Moon Lake Electric, I feel I understand the current issues that concern us and would like the opportunity of serving you again as your director" A PLEASE VOTE LARRY NIELSEN DISTRICT 4 Paid Political Advertisement oooo HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS... Get your applications now, for the UBTA Communications College Scholarships. There are 3 scholarships available, two through UBTA and one through UBET Wireless! The only requirement is that you or your parents are a UBTA or UBET customer in good standing. Pick up your applications now at the UBTA office or from your High School Counselor. Applications must be submitted to UBTA by May 1, 1998. GOOD LUCK!!! HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS... UBTA Communications invites you to submit an applicaiton to attend the UTAH RURAL ELECTRIC YOUTH SEMINAR, to be held July 27 through August 1, 1998, at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. Applications must be submitted to UBTA by April L ence in allowing lower-incom- e Utahns to purchase their first home. These hard working families finally escape the spiraling rent increases of apartment living and will be allowed to get control of their housing costs. Those interested should act quickly because these low rate mortgage funds will not last long. All expenses paid! Get your applications today from the UBTA office or your High School Counselor. Please include a 2 Vfe by 3 V2 photograph of yourself with your application. to TELLING TALES-Ut- H. Erickson, said, This incredibly low rate along with down payment assistance will make the key differ- 1, 1998. GOOD LUCK!!! ah North Myton Bench Roosevelt, Utah COMMUN ICAXIOWS 646-500- 7 r |