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Show 7 T OPINION Paye 1 - Auyust 47: 1999 4 UmuuTbasm Standard Tornado Was Good for Something Wednesday started outjust like any other. Alarm clocks sounded, the dog barked at the paper boy. It was Wheaties or scrambled -eggs, shake a leg or youre going to be late - and a new day was bom. Who would have known that a few hours later garage mechanics, book keepers, mothersvuthtoddlers.everytivingthingwould be running for their livesas an 2 tornado cut its wicked path through downtown Salt Lake City eastward into a residential portion of the F-- avenues. Everywhere, people stopped and stared at the pictures broadcast on TV. The news was simply unbelievable ... heart stopping. The destruction of Mother Nature seemed completely incomprehensible. Our first thoughts turned to family. Where are they? Are they safe? While we jammed telephone lines to locate our loved ones, rescue crews were scrambling to aid the injured. Answers did not come immediately. Answering machines picked up, or there were no answ er at all. Busy signals sounded. Forsomeitwasavery long and anxious wait As tornado victims were interviewed in Salt Lake City and here at home, one common factor was noted over and over. When the terrifying moment was over and composer collected ... it could have been much worse. Hearts have been filled with gratitude this ' week as they realized what could have been. Faith has been renewed that God is watching over all ... even in the crudest moments. And those who were prepared and those caught completely unprepared have recognized the wisdom of flashlights, food and water storage, and first aid kits, not only for their use, but to help others. Let us now, rev iew our blessings over last weekand then gel busy to pteparefor something wehopewill never happen. merited to me that it EDITOR'S NOTE: The Uintah Borin Standard welcomes and encourages1 opinions from readers in the form of letters to the editor. Letters may be utilized to express opinions or so highlight outstanding comments, service of an individual or organization, or any other worthwhile purpose. Letters may not be used to replace Cards of Thanks, or to list sponsors, participants or contributors to a particular event or purpose. LfclTERS MUST CONTAIN 400 WORDS OR LESS. BE TYPED OR WRITTEN 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 letters. Letters may. be submitted to the Standard office as 268 S 200 E.. Roosevelt. Utah. 84066 by rite published deadline Inormally Thursdays at 5:00 p.m.) All letters become property of the Uintah Basin Standard. v- - .. A big thanks to all UBIC . -- - volunteers Dear Editor, I would like to take the time to thank all those who were involved in UBIC 1999. We had a very successful celebration and there are numerous people to be thanked and appreciated for their time and talents. I know that there are too many to thank in a letter and I would probably leave someone out so I will just make mention of a few individuals who gave exceptional service to UBIC this year. Brad Gale and Vicci Re ary who served with me in the presidency great service and were a great elptome. We actually began working together in January in preparing for July. Alfred Stringham, UBIC Chairman of the Board, gave many hours and personal sacrifice to make sure that every detail waa covered. We had some issues concerning power for entertainment and for the booths and he did everything he could to assure that everything was covered. Pat Stringham is also an important part of this yews UBIC as the Entertainment Director She is responsible for the wonderful local performers of Friday night and she is also the key figure behind bringing Exile to the Uintah Basin. Lynne Smith is to be congratulated on a wonderful Miss Uintah Basin Pageant. One judge com- . Th u the nicest pageant he had ever attended. Lynne was hospitalized during dies rehearsal, the awimauit competition and the interview. She waa releaaed for two houra to attend the evening portion of the pageant, after which she returned to the hospital. I am grateful for her hard work and organizational skills, which prove to make a great pageant Congratulationa to Meagan Olsen who did a wonderful job in the pageant and who will represent the Uintah Basin well. Also, a congratulation to Will Nebeker who won the Mr. UB1C program. Low anna Duncan and Britnney Dye did a superb job in organizing a very entertaining evening. I am very grateful for the won- derful Friendship Day Committee and eepedally for Maxine Natchees who spent countless hours preparing this historic event No other event in UBIC had more importance than did the Friendship Feast. The entire community owes a thank you to the Roosevelt City Council, the Ute Tribe Business Committee, and the Uintah and Duchesne County Commissioners fig funding and nerving the feast eryoyed by 3000 people Twice as many people as we had planned for showed up. I waa impressed to aee that both major cultures of our area showing up in abundance. This event is monumental in establishing n foundation for which our governing entities can build upon in the future. If we can cultivate the feelings of friendship established in the park that day we can develop a strong future for the Uintah Basia Native Americans, whites and all other cultures living in our area need to do more than just get along, we need to be friends, and that is what Friendship Day is all about This year Carol White and the Basin Fine Arts Council took on the task of organizing the Arts, Crafts, and Quilt Show. If you missed it, you missed out on a great opportunity. Mick and Jamie McKnight are to be noticed for their excellent softball tournaments. This year we doubled the amount ofrevenue made on softball and they are to bo commended for making it all come together. I would also like to thank Carolyn Krissman for the countless hours spent in raising money for UBIC. Carolyn takes her personal time off work to raise money for the UBIC program booklet. This year she raised $5000 more than budgeted. She is a quality person who gives eo much to the community by making UBIC financially able. As with all events, without money UBIC could not be poosiblo. I would Uintah Basin Standard Inc. Periodical posUfe paid (USPS 646-90Romcvck aid Duchesne. Utah Published weekly to 261 S. 200 E Roceevdt. Uuh 14066-310- 9 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sic Uintah Basis SUndad 261 S. 200 E Roosevelt. Uttoi 140663109 OFFICE HOURS: 1 00 am. to 00 p m. Monday. 9 00 am. to 3 00 pm. Tuesday Ora Friday. Phone Fax: 722-414- 0 DEADLINES: For tol News. Lcfal Nonces, Clawfiedi A Advenumg. toe Deadline a Hands) S p PUBLISHER: Crag Ashby EDITOR: Lake E. Whiting ADVERTISING: Michcflc Roberts OFFICE MANAGER: Bonhc Parish 1 a a PRODUCTION: Writers; AMoa Rachels. Lena Stradinger. k Cheryl Meehan Production. Colette Ashby. Jacce Ashby, Laly Meyers. Km Maks, aid Shaaia Gilbert CORRESPONDENTS: ROOSEVELT Teresa Hannsum ALTAMONT - ; BLUEBELL - Shaia HANNA - Tracy Roberts I4S-S41LAPOINT 247-2375. Maknc McClure MONTWELL - Noia Nchna 4. MYTON - ; TRIDELL - Lorna McKee 247-235- 0; NEOLA - Mcmdi Tailor 353-475- 3; WHITEROCKS 4; DUCHESNE - Onnds Gee 731-263- 4. Virgins Feigusoa Lee Loertschcr 454-397- 6; Subscription Rates: Clip and Send to: Uiatah Basil Standard 268 S. 200 E. Roosevelt, Utah 84066-310- 9 Ib the Uiatah Basis ! 1 Yr.S24- -2 Yr. S37 J Oat of the Uiatah Basia I 1 Yr.S36- -2 Yr.S56 like to personally thank eveiy business that aponaoevd UBIC thisyear; without you there would be no celebration. If you as an individual enjoyed this yean programs, concerts, and events; you can express your thanks by shopping and spending your money at home. We need to give beck to the businesses that give eo much to us. I know that I have left out eo many people, but know that you are appreciated and defiantly not forgot tea Sincerely, UBIC Perry P. Taylor Happenstance and luck of the draw encountered by two during tornado just above hia. And the south end at By Lezlee E. Whiting Vicki Ellis wasn't one bit hai Wednesday morning, Aug. 11 wt she found out she couldn't park where she always did when she went to the LDS Family History Center in downtown Salt Lake. A group of large tents had been erected to acMiss commodate the city's largest convention for the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market at the place she uaually parked. well From there she went to the Delta Center to find parking, but that lot Dear Editor, Praise to Elaine Bistiyski, for waa full. The lot attendant recomproducing a moat magnificent and mended she try parking by Deea Family Restaurant on North eqjoyable Mias Duchesne County Queen Pageant Inst Saturday. Temple. She took hie advice but Heather Johanson, Mias Duchesne couldn't find an open spot. That made her even more irate. County 1998 and Vanessa Ballam, She ended up parking in the unMiss Utah 1999, really know the ina and outs and were delightful derground lot at the ZCMI Center where she would have to pay to MCa. - . ,i The production number was so finally taking her seat in the of the Pamily History unique, thanks Michele Carter." and Center to all the settling down to start particiCongratulationa ancestors. finding long-lopants, everyone of you were outNot too long into her research standing (including those off stage). Well Done Cherie Low, you earned the lights went out and computers the crown! Remember the people of shut down, while a shaky voice announced there had been a severe Duchesne who support you as you represent ua. Best wishes in the storm. The man urged patrons not to panic and not to go near windows. coming year! A Former Pageant Director, They told us they were going to close the building and advised us to Sue Wardlo stay hers and not to go out because theirs was all kinds of debris. Then we went upstairs and looked out. Really, it was an unbelievable eight! A nutty woman came in and yelled that it waa the last days and it waa the end ofthe world, and then she did say there had been a torDeer Editor, ... that was the fust we heard I have road with great interest nado about a tornado; we still didn't reall the letter from teachers. I have know noticed that they are all dedicated, allyVicki what had happened. knew her family would be hardworking, caring people. Then I worried about her and made up her look at the test scores at the chilto leave the building and go to dren in most schools and aee that mindcar. her many of the scorn are Mow the 60 As 1 walked outside it was unbepercentile mark. It just doesnt add lievable. Here the whole street waa up. These teacher care. What is the filled with greenery and big trees problem? Then it hit me. Teachers around the temple were broken; big are not beirg given the correct tool rock and concrete garbage cane were to work with. out in the middle at the street. They are being required to teach 1 looked up the street and it was from programs that don't educate like somebody had stooped the the children. They are asked to teach just clock. It wss like peopli were whole language methods of read- - stunned or just sitting there. There ing, which are a dismal failure, when were dozens of people on corners i has been time and it proven again with cell phones and they were all that real phonics works the hirst. facing west looking at the Delta Look st the home schoolers scores. Center. What do they use? Phonics. Later on, when she heard about In 1963, we were a nation that where the tornado struck, it hit her. waa headed for the stars. Our SAT 1 wouldn't have even had a car if I cores were brilliant Then them had parked in any of those other waa something introduced into eduplaces. Then the tornado went right cation. It waa called the Elemenover the library the library waa tary and Secondary Education Act. right in the middle of its path. And It flooded schools with massive fedthing, as I sat at ZCMI I eral funds. It opened the doors and another looked up at the temple and it was pushed forward many psychologiall intact It gave me a really serene cal and psychiatric programs which feeling. You knew the Lord was continue to this day. Our SATs there. Here I was grumbling and started dwindling from that point the Lord waa blessing me aU this on. Money for these programs has time! from that point, also, yet gone up Watching the Tornado Head the product is worse. Toward Ilia Home Every typo of education reform A1 of has sold our teachers down the river. his Carpenter waa taking care Jesaio granddaughter Lets help them out Lets do sway and her friend when they saw with all the psychological, d window the tornado the through and them the tools programs, give approaching. Hia home overlooks they deserve. Real academics. the Sslt Lake Valley from its perch Sincerely, on 1 1 th Avenue near Memory Grove. Lora Mengucci, Salt Lake City 1 had seen other tornados from a distance and I knew what they looked like. I looked out and could see the debris and 1 knew it wasn't an ordinary wind storm. We could More it swirling and coming this way. We didn't see it constantly because it bounced between houses. Wo ran downstairs to a hallway ita the Ray Jensen, of Neola and Boyd safest place in the house, you're Thacker, of Altamont, are tho rebut you could still see protected, y of Lagoon passes. cipients he exclaimed. lt was over out, They won the passes for signing up faster than it started for subscriptions to tho Uintah BaHia home sustained minimal sin Standard last week. Each man but tho entire area waa damage, will receive two pasaea to the amusewithout power. A flying piece of floorment park. ing slammed into hia neighbor's car. The worst damage occurred to homes Memory Grove really got wrecked, he said. You really don't know a lot when it's happening; you're taking care of your family ... when it (was over people came out of their house amazed. It wasn't long after the tornado passed that another amazing thing happened. Trucks showed up out iff nowhere and started hauling away downed trees and debris. Tve never seen anything work so quickly and so smoothly. Everyone just descended on this place and they hauled that stuff away just as quickly as they could. Helicopter of all shapes and sizes appeared in the sky, some to go to nearby LDS Hospital and other to document damage for TV viewers, while atill others aided in law enforcement effort!, Federal Emergency Manage-- ' ment teams "and police set up k" command post across the street from the Carpenter's home, whets food and comfort were offered. We have had people looking out for us ever since the storm ended. We had police come door to door to check on everyone for injuries. Last night the food bank people roiled up - Duchesne County Pageant done! Kk st scrota the street. Lagoon ticket winners all-da- - million-and-a-ha- State and tribe to update judge on status of tax talks Teachers need the correct tools to educate youth feel-goo- lf We had about a phone calls which made us feel real good. We went out to check ou neighbors end aee how they fared. A neighbor was out of town ana her granddaughter called to have us check her house. A huge birch tree had come down and neatly clipped off e covering on the back porch, but didnlt hurt the house . Als wife, Helen, was at work at LDS Hospital when the tornado struck. News that a tornado hit waa first met with responses of, Yeah, right she said. The hospital admitted 15 tornado victims, two of them in critical condition. Onehund red people came in for aid from off the street. On her way homo Helen surveyed the damage done to the area where she was born and raised. Oh, the damages coming home! UjeaaaaritoarelhatraastoU.brehaaw down and everything gaoa.. Those, trees had been there sine I waa a little girl. Everybody waa out all night and talking because nobody wanted to go home, but those trucks were out and they got everything cleaned up so fast. There waa one right behind the other. We were lucky, lucky really lucky. By Lezlee E. Whiting U.S. District Court Judge Bruce S. Jenkins will meet with auto officials, the Ute Tribe Business Committee, and legal representatives from each entity on Aug. 20 in Salt Lake for an update on how a long- running series of tax discussions are going. Assistant Atty. Gen. Phil Pugaley says the two entities are still having active discussions but so far have yet to reach an agreement on whether individual tribal members and the tribe will or wont bo taxed when it cornea to motor-futax, income tax and atete ales tax on purchases within the exterior boundaries of the reservation. The taxes are all imposed by el the state. At the status hearing this week, the state and tribe intend to ask the extension to give judge for a y them additional time to return with a signed agreement in the complicated tax matters, Pulley said. In accordance with the terms of a injunction issued by Jenkins, enrolled Ute Tribe member are currently exempt from paying sales tax and income tax within the exterior boundaries of the reservation. The boundaries include almost all of Duchesne County and the west aide of Uintah County. Ita undisputed that the local portion of the sales tax will be remitted to local entities; the question is what's to be done with the portion that goes to th state, Pugslc said. On the issue of income tax, Pugaley said discussions will determine whether tho exemption would be "modified or left status quo. Tho tnbe and state must also reach an accord on tho collection of tho motor-fue- l tax at the wholesale level when purchased by th tnbe or a distributor who sella the gasoline to the tribe. Once an agreement on the taxation matters is reached, Pugaley aid the state and tho tnbe can jointly ask that the injunction which continues to prohibit city and county government from exercising civil such as taxation powauthonty ers ever enrolled Ute Tribe members be removed by the court. Jenkins modified the injunction 30-da- . two years ago to allow entities on undisputed homestead lands offthe reservation, such as Roosevelt, to exercise criminal jurisdiction over tribal members, but left the civil injunction intact throughout the exterior boundaries. Just which government entity has jurisdiction throughout th reservation's exterior boundaries haa already been extensively mapped out and accepted by the court. Motel tax passed, but not without opposition A tax that will add Iff percent to the bill of anyone who rente a motel room or slays at an overnight RV park in Roosevelt waa passed by city council members, but not without some dehate. During a public hearing last week, council members Steve Yack nd MikeGuinn both argued against the tax that will be added on top of the county's 3 percent transient room tax and the city's current 6.25 tax. The new Us will Kvent sales tax on a motel room to 10.75 percenL and generate approximately 55,000 to 57,000 a year for the city. There was no public comment on the tax from those attending the city council meeting The tax would apply to travelers staying in lodging such as a motel, RV park or beJ and breakfast for 30 dsys or lees. Roosevelt has just two motels from which tho majority of tho tax would be produced. The increased transient room tax is al ready in place in Vernal, and rrner-andt-h ates revenue from tourists in town on business. Yack said that if Roosevelt voted down the transient room tax hike, travelers may be mors inclined to lodge in tho city where they would save a little money. Roosevelt has three (motels) and Vernal has 18, sure it's a good deal for emal, but maybe word will get around that we don't have the Ux. I just feel if we didn't charge that tax mabe it wouldn't give us a on page 3 black-Continu- Poor ( |