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Show January 5. 1999- - Page 9. Basin LIFE Uintah Basin Standard From politics to Olympics, Blackhair is excited about new opportunities By Lezlet E. Whiting It was aim pie aentence that thruat Ute Tribe Buaineaa Committee member, Larry Blackhair, from the political arena into the of effort! to organize the 2002 Winter Olympica in Salt Lake main-atrea- m City. Just over a year ago, Blackhair waa aitting in a meeting with other leadera fiva Utaha eight Indian Liny tribee, discuaaing how Native Americans could become involved in the Olympica with ita predominant western heritage theme, so they would be properly represented in the upcoming Games when he said. Blackhair lormon church to build grave larker at Mountain Meadows "I ski. 111 do it." Since that time he's gained an unmistakable excitement about the Gamea and has accepted invitations to sit on various Olympic committees he's on the Arts and Culture and Youth Program committees and is an advisory board member for the Education and Volunteer committees. Blackhair has also been endorsed as the Native American spokesman by 45 different Indian tribes, and is president of the Native American 2002 Foundation, a nonprofit merchandising company. business is expectThe brand-need to be officially sanctioned by the Salt Lake Olympic Committee to sell authentic native products. "After seeing how big the Olympic movement was I wanted to get the native people involved. I was told to think on a national scope, he detailed. - v Jfl fm A I of rubble and rocks is all that marks the resting place of 34 members of a wagon train, ambushed and massacred 141 years ago by militant Mormons and a band of Paiute Indians. The victims of the slaughter had camped at Mountain Meadows, a pastoral area in Utahs extreme southwestern corner and a common campsite on The Spanish Trail. The party numbering 120 men, women and children, mostly from Arkansas was en route to California when it was besieged and, after A pile Baker-Fanch- being promised safe passage to nearby Cedar City, ruthlessly slaughtered. "There was nothing like it in the history of the West and it's the second largest loss of life in Americas move west," said David Bigler, a historian and author from Roseville, Calif., who has written on the topic. But the site of the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, 250 miles southeast of Salt Lake, had been largely ignored until this decade. In 1990, descendants of both sides erected a monument overlooking the field. Now, the Mormon church has volunteered to rebuild the marker on the mass grave, first erected in 1859. The offer by The Church of Jesus Christ ofLa tier-da-y Saints is viewed as a departure from the faith's history of reluctance in acknowledging the role of Mormon settlera in the Mountain Meadows massacre. "They finally have a man in the (church) president's seat that knows the story and understands the pain and anguish that a lot of the families are still going through," said Ron Loving of Turnon, Aria., whose at unde led the wagon ? SV hki t; ; y '.)! t u ?;; ; !i ' ;'- k ends in May. 5 f ta J - i: HuS i. SI u M ut j ; By Jaett Athby Having served the community of Roosevelt for over 36 years, Dr. Dale "Doc Larsen, as he is known, has retired from his dental practice as of Dee. 30, but not without leaving a legacy that his son. Dr. Todd Larsen, will be sure to filL Doc Larsen was born and raised in Roosevelt After graduating from Washington University, he decided to come back to Roosevelt to start his dentistry practice. Back in September of 1962 he started a tradition of service toward the citizens of this community. Doctor Larsen has continued his dental education through the years, which has kept him on the cutting edge of dentist-F- - - two-wee- . Larsen to retire after 36 years in dentistry -- - . f . Dr. Dale "Doc" mass-grav- non-India- :'i V S: . trill , - Dale Doc" Larsen sunds by his ton Dr. Todd Larsen. Dale has retired and DRs. DALE & TODD LARSEN-D-r. has turned his practice erf dentistry over lo his son Todd. Dale plans lo trasel ith his wife with all this new free time. dors and participants who will take part in the arts and cultural Olympic events, Blackhair attends large conventions where Indian leaders gather to spread the word about Salt Lake's 2002 Olympic Game plans. train. Thirteen other Loving ancestors also perished in the attack. Loving is referring to Mormon church President Gordon B. Hinckley. In 1990, when he waa the churchs No. 2 man, H inckley dedicated the monuIt has already been determined ment at Mountain Meadows. Last that the tribes themselves will have October, Hinckley again visited the to confirm the products that cany site and was saddened by the condie marker. He their label are made on the reservation of the called Loving and offered the tion by tribal members in order to churchs services and funds to rebear the Olympic stamp of approvMemoribuild the memorial. al, he explain. alising the site has been a decade-lon- g Blackhairs business background task for the Mountain Mead.has helped him assume the role he ows Association, a group of descendants of victims that Loving now has found himself unexpectedly heads. Harsh winters caused the playing. Prior to being elected to the Business Committee three years monument to foil apart shortly after it waa erected in 1990. Last ago, he headed the tribe's wood prodmonth, the state, which assumed ucts department Before that he handled insurance claims for Ridell the task of maintaining the monument, finished extensive repairs. Construction for four years in PortNow Hinckley has committed the land, Oregon. church to building a park like memorial to mark the resting place for While he's in the process of orga34 victims buried in the mass grave. nising Native American participaHistorians believe the massacre tion in the Olympics, he's also worksenstemmed from ing on drafting volunteers to assist timents and Mormons' fears of inin the vast Olympic effort and would vasion and persecution by the U3. like to have about 40 volunteers n from the Indian and Army. The wagon train, for unknown reasons, became the focus of Uintah Basin sign up. ' that hostility. Blame for the attack "We're trying to get local partic- was laid on John D. Lee, a zealous ipation and getting people excited. Mormon portrayed by the church as Ifl can doit anybody can!" Blackhair a rogue mqjor in the Mormon milistated. tia. He and others were excommunicated from the church and Lee He's become so involved in the was tried and executed at MounOlympics and with his merchandistain Meadows nearly 20 years after ing company an enterprise that the slaughter. For the next 140 will continue even after the Games years, the church kept its distance conclude their stint in from Mountain Meadows, said 2002 that he has announced he Bigler. will not seek tothe tribe's Business Committee when his term to the One kick-o2002 Olympics will happen right here ; : LjMfcAkMii t:t Tb recruit Native American ven- -' great-gre- l5 A? w ' -- t The practice is the same, but some of the materials that we use have come a long way," Doc explained. And his son Todd reiterates, "Theres only a certain number of ways to fix a tooth, but the materials used in fixing them have drastically changed over the years." The use ofsilver fillings in teeth has been practiced for hundreds of years. But the white filling used in the front teeth and sometimes in the back teeth has changed drastically, even in the last 25 years. It looks, holds, and feels better and lasts longer. The continuing education program for dentists has not been mandatary in Utah until this past year, but Doc Larsen felt it necessary to attemd classes and seminars held initially in order to provide the kind of cars he felt was appropriate. In order to do this Dale had to do a lot oftraveling and sometimes pay quite a bit of money. Some of the classes were held in Salt Lake and Las Vegas, as far away as Denver, and in several places in California. With gratitude and thanks in his heart. Doc Larsen retired as of December 30, 1998. T am retiring and would like to thank everyone," Larsen says. "My son Todd will be here in my place." Doc Larsen hasnt really thought much about retiring until just recently. He says that a lot of people will be surprised to see him retire. He and his wife would hke to travel the countryside a bit before he gets too old to do anything. The transition from the "old" Doc Larsen to the "young" Dr. Larsen baa been uncomplicated and they would like to thank all the people who have made the change such a pleasant one. "Tve had a good life, Doc Larsen says, "and I appreciate the people more than they will know." Todd and his wife Christy have a beautiful family of three; two older boys, Jordon and Jeffrey, and a little girl, Hanna. Todd graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine in June 1998. He was number four in his class and acquired scholarships and high honors for his outstanding efforts and accomplishments. Most of the a wards were given for his skill and ability in accomplishing exceptional dental work. He received an award for his outstanding ability to work with removable pros thodon tics (dentures and partials) and periodontics, and accepted several outstanding student awards both nationally and internationally. Neither Todd nor Dale wanted to say much about themselves, but they were more than willing to talk about each other. "It's overwhelming to see the admiration and respect people have for my dad. said Todd. "Hes one example of what a great human being should be." He went on to relate a few stories about how his dad has served this community. When the need arose, he would come down at midnight, or even on New Years Day. to help someone in need. "On raws than one occasion my dad would give his assistance at a reduced rate or for free to help someone out, Todd remarked. ff Todd Elementary school has been chosen by the Salt Lake Olympic Committee as the site where a promotion will be launched. Olympic coordinators wanted a rural setting to kick-of- f their "Olympic Grove" program in which 3rd grade classes throughout Utah will be awarded with trees to be planted on their school grounds. Olympic Committee members will present each 3rd grade class in the state with the trees at different times over a three year period to plant in their Olympic grove, explained Larry Blackhair, a Ute Tribe Business Committee member who sits on several Olympic organizing committees. Blackhair is working with Diane Conrad, Olympic coordinator of Environmental Issues, on the promotional event that is designed to educate youngsters about their environment and at the same time, get them excited about being residents of the state hosting the prestigious games. Third graders from throughout Duchesne and Uintah counties will be invited to participate in the program planned to coincide with Earth Day on March 20. A special meeting to plan specifics of the event will be held Jan. 8 with 3rd grade teachers, school administrators and Olympic Committee officials, said Blackhair. Defensive Driving Course The Utah Safety Council is now offering a four-hoDefensive Driving Course fiir people in the Vernal area. Thedaas will be heidon Saturday. Jan. 9 from 8 am.-1- 2 noon at Job Service. This class is for those age 25 and older only . Thrre ia a fee for the clasa To register, or for additional information, 0 ext 905 or please contact the Utah Safety Council at ext 305. 262-540- Area Quilters Area quitters will hold their meeting January 12, 1999 Crossroads Senior Center. at 7.00 p.m. at the American Legion Meeting American Legion Poet 64 will hold January 6 at 7:00 p.m. their regular meeting Wedneedqy, Cancer Clinic TriCounty Health Department will hold a Cancer Clinic at TriCbunly Dealt Dept, on January 15 A January 29; February 12 1 February 26. Please contact TriCounty Health Department at to make an appumtgwnl or for more details. Copy Remains determined to be those of historic Indian SLOC licensees depict "Utah" in merchandise It would be simple to slap a Salt Lake 2002 logo on a product and call it official merchandise for the Salt Lake Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 (SLOC). But SLOC licensees Dale of Norway and Robert Talbott had something mors creative in mind for their 1999 designs. The new collections of wool sweat- ers from Dale of Norway and mens neckwear from Robert Talbott, available in stores in January, ape-- ., cifically reflect Utah and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games with designs that include stats symbols. Native American petrogiypha snow-cappe- d mountains and images of skiers, higera and Plus, Robert Talbott baa developed special packaging, labeling and hangings for its merchandise. Robert Talbott will release 68 different ties ia the ensuing months based on 17 designs. The neckwear is made of the world's finest silk cuts and at Robert s. hand-finish- Talbott's workshops an tho Monterey Peninsula. A first-tim- e Olympic participant. Robert Talbott, based in Carmel Valley, Calif is the SLOC licensee for men's neckwear and dress shirts. ath- r sr letes in action. m impels y at you." said Shelley Thomas, SLOC Senior Vice President for Communications and Public Affaire "We certainly want an identifies-- . tion srith the Salt Lake 2002 Gamea, but we hops tbs merchandise ia fashionable as well. Robert Talbott and Dale ofNorwsy have researched and designed these products to give i. V r Togo ? others may venture into the area and disturb, destroy or steal other Indian artifacts. The remains were found about two weeks ago by an outfitter checking his traps in the area around the town of EMalante, Garfield County officials said. ' - T, , : 5 - Monument officials are aw ailing word from southern Utah Indian leaders on how best to handle the remains. Cannon said Officials for the Paiute Tribe, headquartered in Cedar City, were unavailable for comment Thursday. She declined to disc lose the exact location or the surrounding artifacts where the remains were found. Cannon said park managers fear v.'. ' ; an Indian. fr-- i i This apparel doesn't scream Skeletal remains discovered last month by a trapper in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument have been identified as those of an Indian woman buried in a granary about 100 years ago. Monument and law enforcement authorities were initially concerned the could have been more recent and shipped them to the state medical examiner. "According to that office, the remains were of a woman in her 20s and wert historic, something in the vicinity of 100 years old," said Kate Cannon, associate monument manager. She said the skeleton was wrapped in clothing and the surrounding artifacts indicated it was s ?.i - 5 ''A . ' A them mors life." Incorporated into the design of the Dels Of Norway sweeten are elements such as evergreens (stats tree), seagulls (state bird), Sego lilies (stats flower), mountains, and snowflakes. The colorful borders oa the sleeves and body were inspired by, basket weavings of Utah's indigenous peoples. In addition te the loral design elements, the Olympic flame and image of children joi rung hands celebrate tbs spirit of the Games! The "Dale Classic sweaters are available in five colors. Dale of Norway, with itaUB. headquarters in Waukesha. Wia. ia the largest manufacturer ef Nerwegiaa knitwear. The Robert Talbott ties take a similar design approach. While the Salt Lake emblem is woven into the background, the primary demgn elements include Native American petrogiypha, mountain peaks, a id CLOUDY FVTURE-- An m! ng near Ouray, Uuh fogged in due to cold inter wTsthcr. which is alnwri as drprcwmg as low crude prices throughout the I'intah Basin. Gasoline at tht puirps has dropi t L tu an all-ti- low. |