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Show I CR19 0 PRESS UTAH 307 Ul. 0 P ASSOCIATION (2) 200 S. SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84101 STATE SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER LONGER DAY ROSS WINNER IN DISTRICT Parents oppose proposals to extend school time and year 5 VOTE Moon Lake members elect new director tion judges and tabulators then recounted the District 5 ballots three times. Each successive tally had Peatross ahead by four votes. Ross cited concerns over the tabulation procedures and the way the distribution of ballots were handled prior to the election and requested Members of Moon Lake Electric Association living in District 5 (the Bridgeland, Arcadia, Mylon, Fort Duchesne, Randlett and south section of Hancock Cove area) voted in a new board member to represent them after a second election was called because of inconsistencies during the first vote. According to Moon Lake Electric Association Board President Tom Thacker, Richard Ross of Myton defeated incumbent Ron Peatroas by 41 votes. Ross garnered 241 votes to Peatross 200 votes. AH 441 ballots were returned by mail. Thacker said the mail ballots determined this years election because no members voted in person during the June 2 special meeting held at Union High. During the first election St the Moon Lake Electric Annual Membership meeting April 9, Ross was moments away from being declared the winner by one vote when an untubulated ballot for incumbent hoard member Ron Peatross was found in a stack of envelopes. The discovery tied the race. Elec that a second STEVEN HARMSTON"More school time isn't necessary. We would have to getup early in the morning or stay later, which would mess up jobs or after school activities. election be held. The protest prompted Moon Lake Electric to revise the cooperative's election-relate- d and articles. Peatross has represented the District 5 members since 1989. He will be honored at the next regulartyached-uleboard meeting . During his term in office Peatross served on the Deseret Generation & Transmission Board of Directors, as well as the Blue Mountain Energy by-la- d ' i Board. Peatross said he has enjoyed his years of service on the Moon Lake Board and has developed an appreciation for the complexities associated with the electric utility industry. Ross will now serve a three-yeterm on the Moon Lake Board beginning immediately. Townsend said NO WAY-Sar- ah an extra hour of school each day sounds stupid to her. ar State School Supt. Scott Bean feels that in order for Utah's students to succeed in the technological information age they must increase their literacy skills and understanding. The best way to do this, he sap, is by lengthening the instruction day. need to improve our opportunity for additional education and offset diluted classroom time. Parental concerns are real, Haslem sdded, explaining that he recognizes that kids are unproductive at times, a problem which the board is aware of. Are other State Board ofEducation Eileen Rencher, Public Relations diBy Cheryl Mecham members supportive of the measure? rector for the State Office of EducaHaslem disclosed he believes they The Roosevelt Jr. High Parent tion. The board is reportedly considare, however, the board would like Advisory Council is strongly opposed ering extending the school year from local school boards to have the option to proposals offered by Utah State 180 days to 220 days. to chose extra classroom time, rather School Superintendent Scott Bean, According to Rencher, Bean feels than make it mandatory. that Utah schools extend their aca- that in order for Utah students to What if the day is extended? demic year, as well as lengthen the succeed in the technologicalinforma-tio- n Superintendent John Aland reschool day by as much as an hour. PAC age they must increase their lit- sponded, explaining, it would mean members say they will present Bean eracy skills and understanding. The an extra hour for everyone, (students, with numerous petitions signed by best way to do this is lengthening the teachers, administrators), it would Basin residents who oppose the idea. instruction day. mean double bus routes, we would Mohea Sprouse, PAC presidentsays Bean will be making the proposal need money for the extra expenses... I that Bean hiss not been in the Basins complete with recommendations dont think it will be done without schools and does not know the schools grade levels - kindergarten funding from the legislature, so it nor students, and that extending the through high school, Rencher said. wouldnt happen this fall. school day wont increase learning, Aland also said that if the school Lynn Haslem, of Altamont, and but will decrease productivity. member of the State Board of Educa- day was extended children would Bean will make a proposal to the tion, said that he is in favor of Bean's need more break time, especially elboard considering the extended day proposal to add instructional time ementary kids, we need to pay attenand submit a separate proposal to saying, the expectations of schools tion to the kids. increase the amount of days children today are so different, there are interBeing sensitive to the needs of stuattend school at the June 12 board ferences and activities ... things have dents is exactly what the Roosevelt meeting at the State Office of Educa- changed. We live in a highly competiSEE EXTENDED DAY on page 3 tion building in Salt Lake City, said tive, highly technological world, we ! Serving the residents of Duchesne and Western Uintah Counties Uintah Basin Little Leaguers root for pro athletes -- see page 16 Tuesday June 9, 1998 ' Roosevelt, Utah 85th Year No. 23 20 Pap 50 TANBARB Nine seek title of Duchesne County Rodeo queen see page 14 Three youngsters are victims of attacks by dogs see page 10 NEW SALES TAX REVENUE WILL IMPROVE STREETS City's proposed budget includes hike in water and sewer rates Since the closure ofthe refinery the utility fund has been struggling and certain bond requirements must be met. By Lezlee E. Whiting Beginning next month Roosevelt city residents and those with water connections will see an increase in their monthly city utility bills, due in part to the 1995 closure of the Pennzoil refinery. In the citys proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year a $2 increase has been included in both the monthly y water and sewer monthly. water users will see a $3 increase in basic water rates. Since the closure of the refinery the utility fluid has been struggling and we have certain bond requirements that must be met, explained city administrator Brad Hancock. In addition, the city must look towards securing water for future needs, he is out-of-ci- ty FIRE AND AFTERMATH-T- he cause of an explosion which destroyed three hot oil tanks owned by D&M Oil Field Service remains under investigation, but fire officials they dont suspect foul play. Three hot oil trucks were destroyed in the fire. Traffic on Highway 40 had to be rerouted while fire crews battled the blaze. said. BUILDING, EQUIPMENT DESTROYED IN EXPLOSION Damage to hot oil trucks, building estimated at $1 million le )R COPY Two men who argued and fought with police because they believed they could put the massive blaze with handheld fire extinguishers were arrested and booked into the Duchesne County explosions. jail on charges of intoxication, assault Fire crews were able to contain the and interference with a peace officer. The building is owned by Charlene flames to the portion of the building where it began, although there was Hurley and houses other businesses some damage to a 5th wheel parked at besides D&M Oil Field Service. D&M another business in an adjacent bay. is owned by Jay Bolton, of Roosevelt. cany propane tanks," Yack detailed. Fire officials say damage costs from an explosion at D&M Hot Oil Saturday, June 5 are estimated to be about $1 million. The blast occurred about 7:30 p.m. at D&Ms shop on Poleline Road, one mile west of Roosevelt No one was injured in the blast. The explosion claimed three hot oil service trucks parked inside the building. Two of the trucks had been out on jobs earlier in the day. D&M employees had left for the day. The force of the blast blew two overhead doors 75 feet from the building and destroyed the base of the building. We believe the cause is accidental in nature, theres no suspicion of foul play, said Roosevelt Fire ChiefRob-e- rt Yack. A representative from the Stale Fire Marshalls office spent Sunday at the scene. Yack said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but should be determined within the week. Businesses and homes within a one-miradius were evacuated as a precautionary measure while firefighters from Roosevelt and Myton battled the blaze. Highway 40 was closed to traffic for sevei'al hours to allow firemen access to a fire hydrant on the south side of the highway. When we arrived we had a real concern because the hot oil trucks Roosevelt City Proposed Budget Worksheet - Detail May 31, 1998 Out-of-cit- ''y By Lezlee E. Whiting ter of a one percent increase in the improve our streets. We plan to pay as citys sale tax will boost the roads we go unless it would be to our advanbudget by dose to $100,000. tage to do otherwise by bonding, Our service emphasis for the next Hancock reported. several years will be in the area of The final public hearing on the streets. With the voter approved .25 1998-9- 9 fiscal year budget for percent sales tax and the new B&C Roosevelt city will be held on June 16 Road fund formula we will be able to in city council chambers. The propane was ventingand feeding the fire, but ifthe tanks had gotten too hot there was a risk of having the vent valves malfunction resulting in more The Pennzoil refinery utilized vast quantities of water in their opera-Uon- s and helped subsidize costs for residential users. The refinery ceased operations in March 1995. To stay in compliance with bond documents the city must have take in revenues which are 125 percent ofthe debt. The planned increase in water and sewer fees will take place July 1. The 1998-9- 9 fiscal year proposed generalfund budget totals $2,127,500 - it is up by just over $114, CKX) from the current budget year which will dose on June 30. The majority of the increase in expenditures is attributed to reviold pay sions in the citys d matrix which resulted in pay raises for employees ranging from 3 percent to 11 percent. Hancock said the pay schedule was updated to reflect the current market and to keep pace with the increase in the minimum wage. The implementation ofaone-qua- r20-ye- ar across-the-boar- . SUMMARELL ACCUSED IN BURGLARY Convicted murderer back in prison By Lezlee E. Whiting A former Myton man, convicted in 1978 in the murder of an Ioka home-ownfollowing a botched burglary has been returned to prison for allegedly committing a residential bur glary west of Duchesne. James W. Summarell III, 42, now of Sandy, was sentenced in 1979 to a term of 5 years to life in the Utah State old Prison for the murder of Leonard J. Walker. He was paroled in 1991 after serving 11 years on the murder charge. According to Utah Department of er 24-ye- ar Corrections Public Information Officer Jack Ford, Summarell completed parole in 1993, but was sentenced to another prison term in 1995, this time for theft He was paroled from prison on the thelt charges last September and successfully completed an electronic monitoring program before he ran into trouble with the law on May 24 just west of Duchesne. On that day an eyewitness noticed a suspicious car parked near a home near the Strawberry cemetery. The woman, who was watching the home while the owners were away, went into the house and discovered a bro ken window. She saw a man, later identified as Summarell, walking around outside and immediately called 911 to report a possible crime, said Duchesne CountySherifTsdeputy Kerry Hatch. Summarell was stopped just a few miles away by DWR Conservation officers Tony Wood and Sean Davis. Hatch said Summarell was in the process of hiding a stolen firearm and collectible coins behinda tree and was ordered to surrender at gunpoint. Hatch arrived a short time later and SEE SUMMARELL on page 3 Council willholdapublicbudget 1 6 at the The S2 million budget will on June building. city Tuesday, hearing take effect July 1 . City officials are planning on spending more on roads and increasing sewer and water rates. PROPOSEDBUDGET-TheRoosevehC-ity |