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Show T :;v;: 0305 UiTilvii 1,0 i iAii !!.: I M.wi Vcmrst i I i Ii ili il I 1C, L 5.1 tlf HdOH If! were (P.P-- i iiui mil it In Hi tit h id it lull n Id, ii fro-face- d, ill 1 1 Mould be wearing this one? A hrJum Lriuln Uintah Basin 500 Very enterprising Tuesday new service station and store in Myton, and a water bottling plant in Whiterocks top the Ute Tribe's economic development list See page 3 A . April 18, 2000 Roosevelt. Utah Vol. 87, Number 16 www.ubstandard.com ( Giving of themselves man provides A Roosevelt j , i countless hours helping young wrestlers. A west Uintah County woman devotes her time to helping the disabled. Both are very dedicated volunteers with heartwarming stories to tell. Seepage 13 FINAL RULING MOST LIKELY STILL MONTHS AWAY GAS Strong public support voiced in favor of UBT A buyout of US WEST exchanges By Cheryl Metham Public comment on the proposed sale of the UBTA Communications buyout of US WEST exchanges was overwhelmingly in favor of the action during a public hearing hosted by the Public Service Commission at the Uintah High School auditorium in 1 VeraaL During a public hearing held last week in Vernal, a panel comprised of representatives from the Division of Public Utilities, Public Service , located in Vernal, Roosevelt and Duchesne areas when the sale of US WEST territory is officially approved by regulatory agencies. Steve Mecham. Public Service Commissioner, opened the meeting, informingeitizens that what they had to say was important to the Commission's decuion-makin- g process concerning the proposed sale. He said that comments would be recorded as informal, unless citizens desired to be sworn in, at which time their status would be considered a "public witness in the matter. Commission, US WEST and UBTA listened Communication officials to comments from the audience. UBTA announced last December that a new subsidiary - UBET will be formed to serve the Telecom 15,000 former US WEST customers Uintah County Commissioner Lloyd Swain asked to be heard. He began his comments by saying that he haa "looked forward to the merger and hopes it takes place because the area needs local leadership and local service, adding that be has been dissatisfied with the service of USWEST concerning the time it takestomake connections and discuss problems. Swain added that the technological upgrades UBTA Communications has made will provide opportunity for economic development in the county, where we are so isolated. A question directed to Brace Todd, general managerofUBTA, concerned changes US WEST customers could expect. "We will be able to make new features available. We think its critical to access to homes to make get high-spegood use of Internet and broadband service thats available. he detailed. Ofan audience of nearly 100, just over two dozen speakers echoed Swains comments during the meeting advising the panel that local service was indeed an issue and that improved technology was sorely needed to advance the economic op- Guilty plea A Roosevelt businessman has entered into a plea bargain with prosecutors and is now awaiting sentencing after entering pleas of guilty to two charges ofchild sexualabuse. Seepage 10 Dash for cash Petroleum Downs is where it's all happening when it comes to spring horse races. Find out what's going on at the racetrack. Seepage Panel comprised of the Division of Public Utilities, the Public Service LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT Commission, UBTA Communications and US WEST representatives: pictured left to right: Steve Mecham, Public Service Commissioner, Connie White, Public Service Commissioner, Peggy Egbert. Division ofPublic Utilities; Gary Harrison. US WEST District Manager, Laura Scholl, Regional Director. US WEST ; Bruce Todd, General Manager of UBTA Communications; and Kent Peatross, President of Board of Directors for UBTA Communications. ed 20 POSITIONS TERMINATED 16 r Mounting debts force major cuts ByEexIec portunities of the area. Irene Hansen, president of the in food service program E Whiting- - school lunch workers are losing their jobs, and the price of school lunches and breakfast will rise to help ease the deficit Part-tim- Over tha past two years the Duchesne County School District has subsidised the school lunch and break-faprogram by dose to $330,000. School board members last week approved numerous cuts in the nutrition program to help start blotting out the red ink on the balance sheets. Cuts which will be implemented beginning in the 2000 -- 20001 school year in September include: Terminating all 20 of the part-tim- e positions in the kitchens. The st Duchesne County Area Chamber of Commerce, said that the Chamber Office would like to voice their strong support of the UBTA acquisition of exchanges in the Basin, noting that Some of the more minor change several companies have turned their include the elimination of one conBasin to do business tract position which will be taken care backs on the of through attrition, the removal of elsewhere because the area has not had adequate technological capabilione ofthe serving areas at Union High, the termination of a"warc house de- ties. Roosevelt Mayor Dennis Jenkins li wry person, and through the uaeof stood and voiced hissupport in behalf lunch disposable trays. the city, as did councilman Russ Future plans for additional cut- of Cowan. backs may include going toa "central Sen. Beverly Evans kitchen for meal preparation. Such and Rep. Gordon Snow programs have already been successalso spoke in favor of the acquisition. ful throughout the stateand are finanthe cially appealing, even in rural areas. notDuring one voice was raised m opposition School nutrition program worken knew the cutbacks were coining. Those to the proposed sale. It sounds like there is strong comw ho attended a school board meeting last weekin Roosevelt learned ofthem munity support for this buyout to Mecham. first-hanafter the board announced progress, said According to Mecham the com- - e district will then rehire six of the on the basis of seniority. Those who are rehired may be transferred to other lunch kitchens. Part-tim- e nutrition program workers will no longer be paid on a aalary scale, but will all receive $6.50 per hour. The wage will be frozen indefinitely. Contract workers will continue to receive a 3.5 percent step increase for longevity, however, that amount may be lowered in the future. Part-tim- e positions oPlunch secretary will be done away with and the duty of collecting lunch money and entering the records into computers will be given to school office secretaries. That change akme will save about $50,000, according to school district sne ; CONGRESSMEN VACATIONS & BUYING PLANS CHANGE High price of double-edge- d The cost of lunch will rise by 10 cents for student at all schools. Adult lunches will increase by 50 cento. By James WiJis Breakfast prices will also rise. The jump in tbs price of meals will bring tha district Sip to the state average when it comes to what is charged per meal. Beginning next year the prices for school lunch will be as follows elementary $1.25; middle srbool and adults $1.35; secondary-$1.5$2.75. Breakfast prices will go to W cents for Students and $ 1 .25 fur adults -- TO ACCOMPANY HIM THIS THURSDAY Governor and staff in town for "Capitol for a Day" visit With prices rapidly nearing $2 a gallon, il seems as though can may brooms obsolete. Retired because of the high cost of maintenance. 1 have noticed things slowing down, lm not sure if its because of the season, or the gas prices, said Rob Reynolds of Murray Motors. "People have started asking shout gas milage more frequently, buyers art showing mote than a little concern over the gas prices. They seem to he affecting the buyer's decisions. I can say that the current prices will most certainly hurt the recre- pt ational vehicle business, said Reynolds. There also seems to he some dissension in the community as welL People ate angry breausreunent prices ha ve foiled vacat km plans. Ot hers are ftinow because ofthe unpact on their an Governor Mike Lea vitt, Lt. Gover businesses and farms, wo norOlme Walker.and about twodozen department directors are sending their top A small percentage of people seem tote department heada will pay a rat her indifferent to the ruing prices. deputies and all ot the rest of the department heads visit to the Uintah Basin this ThursAfew are even determined toearnrout are coming personally, show it's quite a showing day. They will be accompanied by 3 their vacation plans deepite the high District Congressman Chris Cannon cost of find. and U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch. dcpartmentdirectarsaiesendingtheir meeting at the middle school. At 4 30 FWlpncw are a (kaible edt?td swmrd The trip to eastern Utah is part of top deputies and all of Uw rest of the there will he breakout sessions. in tbs Uintah Basin which has an pjn. the governor's series of Capitol for department heads art coming personThe rovernor and his staff memeconomy that relies heavily on the oil the Day, visits which he began last ally. show its quits showing. ber will return to Salt Lake at 5 JO industry. When the price of oil is tow fmll. The Uintah Basin is the final stop The governor and his entourage pm. Thursday. it helps the trucking companies and on the first statewide Camlal for a Day will meet with the Uts Tnbe Business Someofthe department head whs formers When high, the unemploy-meinitiative, said Leant! Deputy Chief Commutes at 10.45 and then will accompany bun include Kat Wren rat drops, property tarn from of Staff, Vicki Vrrela. travel to Roosevelt for a meeting 1 CUrk.Nalurai Resources. Hub Gross, oil companies jump and more revenue This is a really good opportunity 12.30 p m. with rity and county offi- Workforce Sennets; Fete Haun. is generated helping the school disfor the governor to meet cials at the Crossroads Center. At 1 Hendrirksnn,TaxCon-miakioFas trict and county coffers. with people and take time to update p.m.hewiUlwrtatownmeetingatthe Rick Mayfield. Economic Natwnwide. gas peaked two them on hi agenda, and it's equally Crossroads Center along with and John Haiya. ttannirg weeks agoandunce prices then have receded important for him to find out what's Canon. At 3.30 p m the and Budget about iwoceiiU a gallon, toaround the important to them. said Vetvla. "Two group will be in Vernal to host a town $1 50 anra. nt in s. fore-to-fa- n, Con-grvm- Poor Copy It... Dave Davis. Roosevllt. Yeah gas is too expensive now. I can't afford to real!) go anywhere. I'm already pay ing around S 1 50 a month for gas alone Brs B;rchhl. Ballard Nah. the prices don't really affect my plans. I'mprotubh going to stay in the area for mv vacation. Av ;V - Floyd Broakead. Nuxa. "No, they won't affect me. I'm not going on v acation. But they Jo affect my farming business. SEE USWEST BUYOUT on page 3 SEE SCHOOL LUNCH on page 3 officials. 0; You Said d gas is sword -- JOBS AT STAKE-DuchcCounty school lunchroom ladies listen with interest as the school board announced cuts being made in the district's nutrition program. A total of 20 part-tim- e jobs will be terminated at the end of this school year, however, six of those workers will be hired back in September. PRICES? Margo Swtvson. Ivrt n i vet. Since we drive a motor home the prices affect our plans. W e were going to take the motor home to N1ioun, but now we'll probably leave the motor home and take a truck. It will cost about the same for hotels that we would be spending on gas for the motor home People have started asking about gas milage more frequently, buyers are showing more than a little concern over the gas prices. Late last month OrEC ministers agreed to raise otl production in an attempt to lower oil prices, which at the tune pesked at shout $34 a barrel. The price has since fallen toahout $27 a barrel Refinery production ha increased inventories and lowered wholesale gas prices. Eventually however.the (townward bend will meet up with the increased demand for gaa during the summer montha. The American public won't see any relief in the form of a gaa tax break. Last week IheU-- Senate decided to veto a trir.pviiy federal gas tax cut. Opponents of the proposal said its meager benefits to motorwts paying the high prae wasn't worth endangering money for necessary transportation proifects. The cut would have rolled hack 4 .3 cent of the federal tax foe the rest of the year and suspended the total 1 8 4 cent tax if average prices went over $2 a gallon. In March President Clinton appealed tow! producing countries fora "substantial production increase." one large enough to tost depleted and bring (town the price. Sutra Williamson R.ximvilt. Yeah, it really aggrav ales me that the prices have gotten so high. I'm going to San Dtcgo in August and the prices had better be down bv then Ch:xttn On wrr.Nt ola "We pay too much on gas as it is. Most people can't afford to go on vacation. But Ill probably still go regardless |