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Show ati I Papg 1 - February 9. 1999 1 Basin OPINION Uintah Basin Standard " vkmkmmsmmm,nn i New focus on T T I i Utahs crime crisis by Rep. Gary F. Cox a lieutenant in the West Jordan Police Department. Pets Suazo is a business consultant and Job Skills Training Coordinator with the Salt Lake Boys & Girls Club Recent news about the nationw ide de- crease in crime is very encouraging. In spite of the continued growth in population and the media's constant coverage of the shocking events that occur in our communities, itwould seem that states and communities across our nation are doing something very right Unfortunately, Utahns cannot share that good news. Our state has gone against the trend of the country. Our rate of crime is increasing. The Federal Bureau oflnvestiga-tio- n (FB I) reports that U tah' s crime index (the number of crimes per 1 00,000 people) rose 1 4.5 in 1 997. Utah has climbed to number nine ofthe 50 states for overall indexed crimes and holds tire number one position for thefts. Crime statistics show that a woman is more likely to be raped in the Salt Lake area than in New York City! Why? . Because our current efforts are obviously not working. Democratic state legislators recently conducted a hearing at the State Capitol to learn about our crime crisis. Experts fiomavarieiyofstateand local criminal justice agencies provided the lawmakers with some valuable insights. Among these was a very novel idea plan for the future! New ideas, innovation, and proactive planning with an emphasis on prevention need to be aggressively pursued. Utah does not currently have a plan to decrease overall crime rates. The experts who appeared at the hearing urged us to set objectives to decrease crime in the StateofUtahby 10 each year for the next five years and then work to achieve those objectives. EDITOR 3 SOTE: The Uintah Basin Standard welcomes and encourages opinions from readers in the form of letters to the editor. Letters may hie utilized to express opinions or to highlight outstanding service of an individual or organization, or any other worthwhile purpose. Letters may not be used to replace Cards of Thants, or to list sponsors, participants or contributors to a particular event or purpose. LtllfcRS MUST CONTAIN 400 WORDS OR LESS. BE TYPED OR BRITTEN LEGIBLY, SIGNED. AND INCLUDE NAME. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE AUTHOR. Letters will be published unless they contain libelous or defamatory statements. We reserve the right to withhold a name by request if the nature of the letter is positive, and to edit Inters. Letters may be submitted to the Standard office at 268 S 200 E.. Roosevelt. Utah, 84066 by the published deadline (normally Thursdays at S 00 pm.) All letters become property of the Uintah Basin Standard. comments, Photos & stories sought by family Dear Editor, Several montha ago our old daughter. Tiffany Ellingford. waa killed in a hone accident. Now our treasures of her consist of our 12-ye- ar Tl"1 In many cases it may require that we change the way we are currently doing things. For instance, we cannot expect to keep throwing money into the construction of new prisons and have crime decrease. The phrase build it and movie a from popular they will come" applies here. State government cannot, and should not, be expected to solve all ofthe problems oflocal oft-quot- ed communities, but it should give some direction and create a forum w here we can come together to work on new solutions. The State of Utah should provide coordination and leadership in solving the problem ofan increasing crime rate. Just as we have asked local governments to develop growth plans pertaining to planning and zoning, they should do the same regarding their plans to cut crime. Further, Utahns need to demand accountability and flexibility from state and federal grant programs which for many years have been funding the same old projects that were intended to decrease the crime rate. Ineffective projects should not continue to receive public financing, andUtahns should expect that this will free up monies for new and innovative programs. ate consequence to every constituent in the state. As another legislative session begins, itis our hope that the state legislature will not just make new laws that offer management from crisisto crisis. We hope they will set innovative and effective policies pertaining to crime and plan for our collective future. memories and photos. We were wondering if any of her friends miit have pictures of them with Tiffany that we could have. We'd love to tee them, or if anyone would like to share with us in writing, a memory concerning her. Tiffanys 13th birthday is on Valentine's Day, and it would be nice to be able to share these new pictures or stories with her family on that day. Thanks for your help. Please send them to: Ellingford, HC. 64 Box 166, Bridgeland, UT 84021. Sincerely, Tom k Sidney Ellingford Families should be the priority in our lives Dear Editor, A few years back, I lived in Eastern Idaho. One of the well loved church leaders there was always the young people this question. "How is your love life?" Now they had all been taught that sex outside of marriage is a no no! So this is not what he meant. He really wanted to know if they were dating different people and having good clean fun. 1 think we all need to ask ourselves this same question. Do we love our spouse? Do they love us? Do we really love our children? Do our children love us? Do we spend time with them or do we think buying DEADLINES: ADVERTISING: 4 Advertising, the Deadline Tfcmday a 3 pm EDITOR: Lcrlec E Whiting OFFICE MAN ACER: Tracy Womack Michelle Roberts PRODl CTION: Writers: Aldus Rachcle. Mary Wcrte. Loraa Stradinger. 4 Siacy Median Production. Colette Ashby. Ronnie Parish, kaclyn Meters, Kim Marks Jaccc Asbbv and Shauna Gilbert CORRESPONDENTS: ROOSEVELT - Teresa Harnskm ALTAMONT - ; BLCFBI LL - Shaia Lee Loertschcr HANNA - Tracy Roberts LAPOINT Mafcne MTure MONTWELL - Nola Nelson 3534544 MYTON . . 722-231- 1. 454-397- 6. 141-341- TRIDFLL - Loma McKee 247-235- 0. WHITEROCKS - Virginia Ferguson NFOLA - Mnndi Taviur 353-47JDUCHESNE Oinda Gee 353-451- them things is loving them? - , Do we go to Church together? A? a Family?- - take your wife out on a date twoor three times a month? Remember we use to before marriage. Whet has changed? The Lord has told us that the family is the moat important unit in the world. The church ia a means to help us learn what God wante us to do to be better families and a better person. Also sows can be an eternal family, if we are obedient to hie Men, do you 4 Subscription Rates: and Send to: I Clip Uintah Basin Standard I 268 S. 200 E. I Roosevelt, Utah I I 84066-310- In the Uintah Batin 1 Yr. $24 2 Yr. SJ7 Out of the Uintah Basi 1 Yr. $36- -2 Yr. $56 - 9 Name Address. City (adafWah, 7ip4. Syt.laCkiivi Community urged to contribute to park improvements Dear Editor, I am asking for your help in the project of the new basketball court at the old Roosevelt City Park. As some of you may know the basketball court ia in need of replacement Our goal is to raise enough funds to replace the court and put some new playground equipment in the park. I have asked the city council members for help on this project and received some funding but wo are a long way from reaching our goal. We the citizens of the Uintah Basin have taken pride in our youth for many years and now they need your help again. Hus project will give our youth a safe place to play basketball and at the same time it will keep them off the streets and perhaps keep them out of trouble. We hope this project can be achieved with your help, we are in need of any fending you may be able to provide. If you are able to help, please make all donation payable by check to Roosevelt City Tor city park project". Any and all help that can be given is deeply appreciated. Sincerely, Todd Farley Oppose proposed prison for Duchesne Dear Editor, In response to the letters end articles concerning the proposed state penitentiary. Those that wish to convey their thoughts to the one person that can stop the process, Mr. Richard Wachenhut CEO, 4200 Wachenhut Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. Florida, 33440. Fax or phone Thank you for covering this. Sincerely, Susan end Keith Coleman, Mt. Home, Utah. Prisons arent money makers for counties I became very interested end alerted when 1 learned a jail may be installed in the City of Roosevelt. I have been a lifetime resident of Duchesne County, living in the Roosevelt area I have served as a County Commissioner for many years in Duchesne County and know, personally, many County Commissioners throughout the state. I have listened to these County Commissioners who have experienced jails in their areas and their by Senator Beverly Ann Evatu At the end of the third week of the 1999 legislative session we ere working hard to serve the citizens of this state in their best interests. It seems as ifthe historical issue of the banks end credit unions dispute has overtaken this legislative session. State law requires that the legislature handles this dispute if a compromise between the two sides cannot be reached. After many days of unsuccessful debate, the issue wee presented before the legislature. The initiative didnt get far as both sides decided to postpone voting on tho issue so each aide could resume negotiations. Now both sides will continue frying to find positive solution that pleases each side. Legislators wanted to increase the oversight afOlympic finances so they created a panel focused on the state's 2002 Winter Games investment. They also pointed out the res ponaibih ties iff the' goverdof to review.-to- approve, budgets, A requirement waa passed that all contractors and vendors for the Gaines waive their right to file monetary claims against the state, the Utah Sports Authority or Salt Lake City. The bill passed the House with vote. It is now on a favorable its way to the Senate. There are still concerns about the Legislature keeping lookout over Olympic financial matters because it could increase the state's liability for any complications from the Win60-1- 4 ter Games. This action creates the state Olympic Coordination Committee, which will consist of seven representatives and five senators. The body will have the power to make recommendations on Olympic finances and draft bills to accomplish them. As we continue through this legislative session, please feel free to contact me regarding issues or concerns which you have. Contact me ia these ways: Senator Beverly Evans, Home Address, HCR 65 Box 36, Altamont, Utah 84001; Senate Address, Utah State Senate, 8!66tateCapitol, FO Box 140111. Salt Lake City, UT 54114-011- (capitol); (home); nings); or Fax: lf3 S' S'm fl (eve- (home). $ by Cheryl Mrxrham Warning! Warning! Don't work overtime mi SL Valentines Day! Unless, of course, you're being paid, then by aU means work overtime ... but don't work overtime on this holiday because romance won't show up anyway. Trying to force romance is like arriving somewhere only to discover -- much too lat- e- that you've tucked the back of your dress into your pantyhose! There is not a more awkward feeling in the world. No matter how we try to coqjure up those romantic feelings they're not going to happen. Oh, how IVe tried. IVe constructed atmosphere; romantic music, candles, perfume. IVe left little love notes around the house to create a mood of expecta- tion. Forget it! Real emotion just wont show up at the appointed place and time. Maybe if I wrote his dialogue. are the moat fantastic woman IVe ever known. I love you beyond anything in the world!" Nope. In reality my husband isn't going to say that. 1 may be fantastic, but, he has a serious attachment to his old Chevy truck. So what ia the answer. By no means cancel your date! But have fen. Remember the feelings you first had when you fell in love? Everything took on a rosy glow, you were happy and optimistic and then wasn't one problem that together you couldn't overcome! Whats changed? Nothing. Those "You Hatch computers crash-e-ma- ils beamed into space The year 2000 is still a few months away, but staffers in the office of Utah Senator Orrin Hatch didnt have to weit that long to appreciate what computer "glitches" can do. This week, computers "crashed and were feet, due primarily to a huge influx of mostly concerning the impeachment of President Clinton. "Shortly after the first of theyear, we started getting a large amount of mail," Hatch said. "WVe had an in the feat average of 20,000 few months, 5,000 from Utah resi il. bevan9ubtanet.cotn; Phone, intense feelings are still there, but theyVe been trampled down by kids, bills, and our daily grind. The funny thing is, they wont surface when we try to nqjun them, instead, they bubble up at the strangest times. A few weeks ago my husband and I stopped in at Burger King for one of our favorite Vernal treats, a Whopper. We were pretty relaxed, just smiling, chewing, end bantering back and forth when it hapd pened. I nearly choked on my burger when all those intense, "1 love you more than anything in this world," feelings surged through me. With a grin on my face I leaned over and said,You know what, if I hadn't ever know you until this minute Td fall in love with you all over again." He chewed for a minute, grinned and said, "Why?" I didn't have an answer. I love him, I just do. IVe loved him since I waa 14 yean old and I know I always will. He's a good man. He goes to work every day and ia kind and generous. But, I know a lot of good men, and I don't love them nor ever will, the way I love my husband. There really isn't a lot of logic to these emotions. We were having fun and I didn't want the feeling to atop so I just leaned over end answered, "Beta use youre so cute." Be happy and have a fea Valenchar-broile- tine's : ' 1; bevane91e.state.ut.us l3L3. r-tZUlXiI- Sincerely, J. Rulon Anderton commandments. A Prophet once said, The moet important thing we cen ever do or teach, will be within the wall of our own home." A few years back, I took a aurvey of inmate at a state prison. Most wee from a family, la this telling us something? 1 tee and hear of men who are not very kind or considerate to their wife or children. They want to bo the boss and domineering. Marriage ia and should be a partnership. Remember, ladies have more tender feeling than men end need to be told that we love them. Then show it by our actions. I am reminded ofthe man standing by the aide of hie wife's open grave. With tears in hie eyes, he said," I almost told her one day that I loved her. From Your Big Old Friend Mr. Whitney R. Checketts Dear Editor, I against putting a jail in the Roosevelt area. one-pare- nt Periodical pextage pad U Romcvck aid Ducbnnc. IUi (US PS 644-90Published weekly at 261 S 200 E. Roosndt. Utah 14066-310- 9 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Umiah Basis Standard at 261 S. 200 E. Roosevelt. Uirfi 14066-310- 9 OFFICE HOt RS: 100 am. to 100 pm. Monday. 9 00 am to 500 pm Turvdav thru Friday Phone Fat 722-414- 0 Clswlicdi Pt RUSHER: Craig Ashby issue with immedi- n Crimeisanon-partisa- Uintah Basin Standard Inc. For aH Newt. Legal Notices. spoken words and testimonies are that not one has gained any revenue as a result of having the jails in their areas. Rather, it has actually cost their county money. Also it kept people from moving into their areas. The few that did choose to move in had lower standards. Do you want a jail Bitting in your community housing thieves, rap-ist- a and murderers who can break out and harm citisena in your community? One break out could cause irreparable trouble. People living in the community will always think of that and be fearful. Even though there are a lot of people who are moving to the cities and using the agricultural land for housing developments there are those who long for the rural life. I have talked to a number of people who would like to move from the city to a nice rural area. These are the questions they ask: 1 ) What are the people like in the Uintah Basin? I tell them they are the beet in the world! There is dean air end great places for recreation. These are people, with money, who could build a beautiful home, bring in tax money, buy care, shop end help with community projects. But another question they ask is: 2) Is there a jail? If there were a jail they would have no desire at ell to move to that area. My vote is a resounding no -- Day! Immigration is the sincereal form of llattery. Jark Faar dents alone. "I have been very im pressed with the volume of mail, showing mo a real democracy in action. Unfortunately, though, the system went down and despite several hours of effort by Senate computer experts, wo did lose mail. Hatchs normal practice is to answer an the mail, but when the computers went down, that became impossible. 1 rely heavily on input from constituents and I hope this 'glitch never happens again, this year or into the new century," Hatch added. U6IC DATE CORRECTION Dates for this year's UBIC will be July 29. 30 and M (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). The date in last weeks story on the IBIC change of schedule were offby one day. It is important to note the annual summer celebration will not be held the first weekend of August baa it has been in provi- mu years. Thie year it will be held the last weekend of July. Poor t ( |