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Show OPINION Pace 2 - November 23. 1999 ' Uintah Basin Standard Are We Truly Thankful? With Qiristmas only wedisaw'ay. Thanksg giving often seems relegated to a feastwith no regard for the original intentions behind the long observed ritual. We purchase the items for the annual feast, sometimes without preparation and attempt thnnghand then make a to have some aspect of what Thanksgiving day-lon- half-heart-ed really means. ' While we are enjoying our feast - the Do we really know w hat it is to go hungry? Are we forced to end each day with no food, as well as feeling the uncertainty asto w hether food will be available tomorrow? A life of great abundance has been bestowed upon us, and for that we should be truly thankful. Weliveinacommunity whichisiso-late- d from many of the problems that confront the world. Wehave the opportunity to live a life ofour own design, andfor these we should also majority ofusover indulging andold the world over are going hungry. Atthe same time, people in cities and countries unheard ofby most of us arc dying in wars that make their very existence uncertain from be grateful. JeremyTaylor.anEnglishBishop, expressed it so eloquently inthe middle 1600s: The private and personal blessings we enj oy, the blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity, deserve the thanksgiving of a whole life. Political leaders around the world are bargaining for power with food needed for their people, all while their people arc falling prey to the great injustices they are forced to And we have set one day aside for this ourselves-you- ng day-to-da- y. endure. The injustices continue, but they dont touch us aswe feast on turkey and ham in the serenity of our homes, with our greatest concern that ofwho will winin the football games on TV. What a shame it is for us to let another Thanksgiving pass into history without giving thanks for what we have been blessed with. giving ofthanks! It s not too late to express our thanks for the many blessings we have been given. Granted, we each have our problems, but arc they so overpowering that we lose sightofthe real giftsoflife? As we prepare this year's Thanksgiving feast, let's take the time to reflect on all the wonderful gifts we have received. Is one dayoPlhanks giving too much to ask ofourselves? we do is react. My mother also told me that Silence Is Golden. It is hard to have a fight if no one will fight back. That is unless alcohol is involved. Then thats a whole different stay. If a person has EDITOR'S NOTE: The Uintah Basin alcohol in his or her body die brain is Standard welcomes and encourages in the readers not working properly. They can easof form from opinions letters to the editor. Letters may be out of control. We are told in ily utilized to express opinions or the get Bible that we should be in concomments, to highlight outstanding trol. Or be masters of our soul. Other service ofan individual or organization, or any other worthwhile purpose. Letters scriptures also tell us to pray always, may not be used to replace Card of Aat we be not led into temptation. Thanks or to list sponsors, participants, Let us all treat each other or contributors to a particular event or better by staying in control and not purpose. LETTERS MUST CONTAIN 400 WORDS OR LESS. BE TYPED OR losing our tempers. Everyone will be WRITTEN LEGIBLY, SIGNED. AND blessed. INCLUDE NAME ADDRESS, AND Also remember our actions PHONE NUMBER OF THE AUTHOR. are teaching our children? Do we Letters will be published unless they contain libelous or defamatory want them good or bad? You know Statements. Wtreservejhf jighU edit. what God wants! letters and to withhold a nameby request From your big old friend, .the nature of Am letter, is Whitney R. Checketts t may be submitted to As, Utters become property Basin Standard. of the Uintah - . The most important things in life Dear Editor, Control your Good temper better Dear Editor, Temper! How is your temper? Every one of us has a temper. But most have learned to control diem fairly well However, there are those who don't take much to set off their bad tempers. Some little thing may go wrong, and the person may get mad and throw a vase or bang a door, or hit their child or spouse. In other words, they are out of control. Many a person has died of a heart attack because of losing their temper. On TV they were talking about the different names we use for temper. One I remember was Road Rage. Do we get upset because of the way other people drive? I personally think that if we could all control our temper there would be lots less child abuse and also fewer divorces. Someone may say something we don't like and the fust :hing TlN Besides we could save hundreds of dollars on our food bill. After all is said and done, one of the moat important things in life is our health physical, mental and spiritual. But we have to work at it to keep good health. We all do dumb things. Why do we not atop taking bad things into our bodies?The Bible tells us that our bodies are the temples iff God. Let's take care of thou. We also need to put good things into our minds. Not the traah we see and hear so much of. I heard a saying a few years back t which goes like this: When we are young we rely on our health to make our wealth. Then when we are older we have to use our wealth to keep our health. We will all live until we die, but the big problem is getting from here to there. If I do not see you before, I will see you all in the hereafter,, Dont .worry, we will alike there ( sooner or later. No one has ever got out of this life alive. (Only Jesus . Christ.) From your big old friend Mr. Whitney R. Checketts - Good - Good! How long has it been aince you have had hot homemade bread, with butter and honey on it? Hue morning Helen got whole hard red wheat out of her storage can and put it into her electric wheat grinder and ground her own flour. Even the aroma of the freshly-groun- d wheat smelled good. She then mixed it with all the other ingredients that go into bread making. Then when she had mixed it good she put the dough into four loaf pans andlet it rise to rounding above the pans. She then baked it until the whole house was filled with that wonderful smell of fresh-bake- d bread. We are told that wheat is the staff of life. I can remember as a young boy my mother baking 12 big loaves of brad each Monday fin- nine children and Dad for the week. At times all we would have for supper would be bread and milk with green onions. Bey, was it good with a little sugar or honey on it I truly uu ik that if we would eat more like that now, we would all feel better and also not be so fat . Dear Editor, I would like to say thanks to the paper for their help in finding a place for the Brain Injury Support Group to hold our meetings. Coffee Time owner Kathy Hadlock called and offered her place of business for us to meet. We appreciate her and her commitment to serve the area in this effort Our meetings will still be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Everyone is encouraged to come join us. Thanks again, Sheila Fenn - Uintah Basin Standard Inc. Paiodtal postage paid at Roosevelt and Duchesne, Utah (USPS 646-90Published weekly to 261 S. 200 E.. Roosevelt. Utah 04066-310-9 POSTMASTER: Send adihess changes to the Uintah Basis Stondwd to 26 S. 200 E, Roosevelt. Utah 4066-31OFFICE HOURS: 1:00 ast. to 1:00 p.a Monday, 9.00 am. to 5:00 pm. Tuesday thna Friday. Phone 9, Fax: 722-41DEADLINES: For ad News, Legal Notices, ChsMficds A Advauanf. the Deadline is Thursday at 3 p m PUBLISHER: Craig Ashby EDITOR: Latte E. Whiting ADVERTISING: Michelle Roberts OFFICE MANAGER: Bonnie Pamsh PRODUCTION; Writers; Aldon Radicle, Loma Stradinger. A Cheryl Mecham Production: Colette Ashby, Jaccc Ashby, Kactyn Meyers, Kun Marks and Shauna Gilbert CORRESPONDENTS: ROOSEVELT - Teresa Harmstou 1, ALTAMONT - ; BLUEBELL - Shana Lee Locrtschcr 434-397- 6: HANNA - Tracy Roberts 7; LAPOINT Marlene McClure 247-237MONTWELL - Note Nelson 333-434MYTON - ; TRIDELL - Loma McKee 247-233- 0: NEOLA - Mondi Taylor 333-475WHITEROCKS - Virginia Ferguson 353-45(- 4; DUCHESNE - Ormda Gee 738-26- Subscription Rates: Clip and Send to: Uintah Basin Standard 268 S. 200 E. Roosevelt, Utah 84066-310- 9 Support group has found a home In the Uintah Basin ! 1 Yr. S24 2 Yr. S37 Out of the Uintah Basin I 1 Yr. S36 2 Yr. $56 - - Forgotten patient Christmas project Dear Editor, It's time to recruit volunteers to help with our Forgotten Patient Christmas Project. This project has helped thousands of Utahs mentally ill at the Utah State Hospital to eqjqy Christmas over the past 30 years. Once again, we are asking for your help to get the word out to Utah citizens that their help is needed in sponsoring a patient for Christmas. Could you please run the following announcement Christmas is a time to be joyful and a time to be with family and friends, but for many patients without families at the Utah State Hospital Christmas can be the loneliest time of the year. Each year the Hospital recruits sponsors tor over 300 patients, ranging in age from six to ninety, who would have no Christmas without the help of groups, families and individuals in the community. The Forgotten Patient Christmaa Project was designed to help provide Christmas gifts for these people who need to be remembered. The success iff the program depends totally on volunteers from the community and there an a variety of ways in which they can help. They can take a patient name and provide Christmas for that person; cash donations can be made and hospital volunteers will do tbs shopping; or donations of generic items may be made that can be used for anyone, such as socks, underwear, deodorant, brushes, candy, etc. The Forgotten Patient Christmaa Project is often the only touch of the holiday season that these people may experience. Please feel the spirit of giving this holiday season and sponsor a forgotten patient For further information on how you can help, contact Shawna Peterson, Volunteer Director, at 4. Your help in advertising for volunteers has been critical to the success ofthe Forgotten Patient Christ-im- u Project. The perfect time for reaching the public is between Thanksgiving weekend and the second or third week of December. If you could run this release during this Christmas. Sincerely, Shawna Peterson, Volunteer Director, Utah Stats Hospital Traffic stop, stops alleged drug sales in Roosevelt Police aay that a traffic atop led them to a Roosevelt motel room Friday night, Nov. 19, where four people d were arrested on numerous drug-relate- chargee. Corrections Agent Brad Draper received a tip earlier Friday which led to the traffic atop of parolee Ronnie Neal, 54, Vernal, at about 6:30 p.m. Neal was on parole tar previous drug distribution convictions. A search of his vehicle turned up about $135 worth of metham-phetamiwhich he allegedly had ne recently purchased. Neal was County road crew is appreciated booked into the Uintah County jail on a second degree felony for possession ofmetham phetamine and class A misdemeanor for possession of Dear Editor, To the Duchesne County Road Crew: We would like to express our appreciation to Doug Nielsen and his road crew for their fast response and action on fixing a spot of county road by Tahnage. Keep up the great work and thank you so much. Sincerely Amy Christensen, Les Wilckcn PS and the whole gang at Talmage. drug paraphernalia. Invest In the future by saving the past) Information gathered during the top led police to the home of Roosevelt resident William Casey Sprouse, 34, and then to a downtown Rooeevdtjnotcl.MiA Draper. Law enforcement, agencies, from Dueheane-Cetmty- , Roesevelt'and Vernal city and Utah Highway Patrol were called to assist, he said. After surveillance determined the room the alleged drug sales were taking place, police moved in to arrest four suspects just after 10 p.m. Inside the room they found a small amount of marijuana, a substantial amount of cash and an old baby playing in the middle a bed covered with syringes, some filled with drugs, said Draper. The child was turned over to state protective services. Arrested were Charles Leftwich, 27, Vernal; William Casey Sprouse, 34, Rooeevelt; Diana Carmickle, 38, Colorado; and Jana Lind, 38, Vernal. Leftwich waa charged with a 3 degree felony for absconding parole supervision, and with felony drug possession. Sprouse was charged with two first degree felony counts of distribution of methsmphet-amin- also charged with felony drug charges. All four suspects were booked into the Duchesne County jail. The arrests came down quickly and smoothly, thanks to the coop- eration of neighboring law enforcement ageqgieg, sgylDnpfiraj 4 Tt took the serious users out of the picture for rwhjle.Therewere' loaded, used and new syringes in the motel room. I dont know how much waa sold in Rooeevelt, but it is believed tobe a ugnifimnt amount." Agencies assisting in the drug bust included Adult Parole snd Probation, the Uintah Basin Narcotics Strike Force, Duchesne County Sheriffsoffice, Vernal and Rooeevelt city police departments and the Utah Highway PatroL Dear Editor, When I first came to Vernal, the local State Field House of Natural History was just in the process of being built. Ever since 1909 when dinosaur boms were first discovered in die Jensen area, tons of fossil material were shipped back east, as well as other fossils found in the Uintah Basin. The people here were determined to have a building locally that could be used for the display of all die material and natural things that make this area so unusual They were finally successful with local contributions and money from the State Legislature to build the present Field House. Professional paleontologists and amateurs had already collected a lot of material. Two of these to manpeople were age the new Field House when it was formally opened in 1950. Dr. Earnest Untermarn and his father came to this area to study the material and unique geology of this area. Dr. Untermann met a professional female paleontologist here, Billie Ruple, and they later married. They were a wonderful team to manage the new facility. Since they retired, the Reid House has continued to have very capable people and staff to manage it. My own family has always enjoyed visiting the Field House and .taking advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the unique natural history of this area. However, after 50 years of usage, with the passage of time and the accumulation iff a lot more material, it is impossible to handle and display everything as it should be, and the building itself does not meet present-da- y standards. It has become vitally important for a renovation, new building and expansion to take place. Also, the proposed expansion there would greatly enhance educational opportunities. Again, as it was 50 yean ago. it is necessary for the local population to help as much as they possibly can in this project. Dr. T. R. Seager well-qualifi- By Cheryl Mecham I'm glad to see the snow foil. pers carnivorous? I wondered. At the end ofsummer the weeds Weve put the past summer behind us ana the weed trimmers special were towering far above our heads. order gas tank from Japan is just a I looked up and wondered if they were magical beanstalks. An memory now. grasshopper jumped down from Catastrophe starts out with one element In our yard it began with a the thick boughs and began chasing few little weed seeds and a broken the cat "WeVs got to do something!" weed trimmer. It seemed so simple. "Lets buy a new weed trimmer," Just order a new ns tank. We waited and waited and the my husband suggested. weeds grew strong and mighty. We "Wed need a chain saw at this tried to pull them from the ground, point," I countered. We dont have the money for a but their roots stretched for down into the soil We struck them with weed trimmer let alone a chain saw, garden hoes and whacked at them anyway, the gas tank should be comwith shovels, but alas the weeds ing any day now. Our embarrassment grew. We were stronger than our garden implements. posted a large disclaimer on our Surely the gas tank would be light pole that read, "Due to the lack of a gas tank for our weed trimmer coming any day now. At long last we cussed the weeds. we are unable to remove weeds. We waited and waited. The first gas Please do not feed the grasshoptank on order never showed up. It pers, they may look friendly but are waa regretfully lost in the great unpredictable and dangerous inbeyond, the dimension where single sects." socks go after being thrown in the Still we waited, knowing that the gas tank would arrive any day dryer. A second tank was ordered after we waited until the first killing 18-in- ch weeks of waiting. We cussed the weeds. We cussed the company who promised to send a second gas tank, which should be coming any day now. Ours were happy weeds. They provided shelter from the hot sun and under their cool boughs thousands of grasshoppers multiplied rapidly. There were so many weeds that the grasshoppers never ran out of their abundant food supply. Surely the gas tank would be coming any day now. Late at night we plotted the demise of the weeds. We thought of poisoning them. "But the gas tank will be coming any day now, then well have spent all of our money on poison and wont be able to pay for the gas tank," I reasoned. Tired of eating the same old weed fare, the grasshoppers turned and devoured our vegetable garden. Then 1 saw one hanging around the vacant bird feeder. Are grasshop e. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found at the Sprouse home, according to police reports. Lind and Carmickle were froet strangled the life from them. The huge grasshoppers clung to the lifeless branches, finally dying and dropping down to the ground in heaps. The weeds changed into tall brittle skeletons. Then, last week the call came! The tank had arrived! We had the machine whirring within seconds of unloading it from the car. Weed talks were snapping in two. Then to our horror we noticed gasoline leaking down the sides of the gas tank onto the ground, a quick examination showed the tanks screw-o-n lid was cracked. I called the and told the owner of the problem. "Oh, I was going to toll you, that gas tank didn't come rith a lid. That's the old one foci Be you want me to order you oner Stephen King, if you're reading this yes permission is hereby granted for use of this article to create a new horror story u - - |