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Show page 13 August 29, 2000 Basin LIFE Uintah Basin Standard PERSONAL MICROPHONE SYSTEMS. Turning up the volume in class benefits teachers and students to a belt or pocket lays across the teacher's shoulders and testa at the base of their neck. The audio is signal is picked up by a receiver and amplified through speakers mounted in the classroom. When Robb switches on the battery pack to demonstrate he speaks normally. The voice quality that comes over the speakers is not loud and booming such as would be expected in an auditorium, but enhanced and clearly audible. My voice is better now than two years ago, "Robb said, no ting that not only has he recovered but his studenta's test scores have improved. He intends "Our first motive was to save ourteachers ... we found a side benefittoo, test scores going up." By Cheryl Mecham Roosevelt Middle School 6 grade tearher Sheldon Robb it looking forward to beginning his 28thyear in the classroom, however, two years ago Robb thought his teachingcareer may be over because he was losing his voice. grants that defined what the school would be using the money for. "It's been s real value, there are eome teachers who had to take early retirement whose careers could have been saved if theyd only had this," Manningsaid. Linda Crosier, Communicative Disorders Specialist who evaluates speech end hearing problems for Uintah School District said that two Uintah County elementary schools srs almost completely amplified. "We have well over 100 systems now, one elementary school, Maeser, is totally amplified, Todd will he in another month. LaPoint Elementary plana to add additional units. According to Crosier, children do not have neurological development as adults do, until they are nearly 15. Throw in noisy classroom situations, , with teachers using fans to move air around and you have a 20 percent lota ofhearingpast the second row-- on the third row that figure drops to 40 per- cent "Listening is hard business, Crosier said adding that even children with normal hearing have shard time hearing. The amplification systems provide quality of sound that is the same everywhere in the classroom to reduce stressful listening. She said that the average listener hears only 80 percentof information given verbally, throw in classroom aoise and distractions and students lose another 25 percent on top of that Crosier put a study together at Todd Elementary which has a high percentage of Native American children at risk with language and hearing problems. After three systems e classwere placed in three rooms, which did not haveany curriculum or administrative changes, test scores were compared to the prior year. Years prior to the amplification systemchikirro were scoring in the 43 45 percent basic competency level, rs after the systems were in place scored 74 percent of their basic competency. The results were reported to the school board, w ho has first-grad- first-grade- THE DIFFERENCE IS AUDI BLE-ShclRobb, a 5 grade teacher at Roosevelt Middle School, uses a microphone now to teach class. Two yean ago Robb was in danger of losing his voice and teaching career, but educators have found that the audio amplifying systems are bencfitting students as well by improving test scores. don "It wouldn't come back," Robb said, noting that after testa at the University of Utah, including a scope ofhis throat, doctors fbund that one of his vocal chords were hemorrhaged and did not have ample blood supply. Ony 70 percent of his permanent voice was left. Because most ofteaching is accompanied with verbal communication and teachers must project their voices to the very backofaroom, vocal chords often berome stressed. "We were looking into disability and early retirement, Robb sard, however, the doctors at University of Utah told him about personal microphones being used in classrooms, which allowed their teaching to continue. Hecontacted IXichesne County School District Superintendent John Aland and asked him about securing an amplification system forhisclsairooni. Robb said Aland's answer was, "We want to protect our teachers. "They pursued it, 1 didn't have to pursue it Robb said, noting that a system was installed. The slim microphone component, wired to a battery peck that isdipped to keep teaching several more yean, son has graduuntil his ated, a goal that would have never been accomplished without the amplification system. Now Robb can move about the classroom, write on the chalkboard, even leave the room for a moment and his students hear his every word, even when be talks softly. The use of teaching with the useof personal microphones is gaining tremendous support in the school district. Dennis Manning, principal at Roosevelt Middle School said that all together the school has tea microphone units, which ha said cost just under 11,000 each for "a good system." "Our first motive was to save our teachers, as they age found they fbund By Cheryl Mecham Stephanie Heaps, single mother of two daughters just moved into her new home built by Duchesne County Jail inmates and said shecant believe what they've done. "It's so nice, I can't believe it's mine. said Heaps who works as a two-bat- housing coordinator for Uintah Basin Association ofGovern menu had concluded the transfer of one home and was advertising for a client for the purchase ofasecond when Stephanie came on the scene. "I was renting, paying $350 a month -t- hrowing it away. I had been looking fora home for two years, I was looking into USDA lUmtcd States Department of Agriculture) housing and other programs, Stephanie said. ' f ' W To attend the Area concert in the perk, Sunday, Sept 3 at 7:50 p.m. come listen to the Uintah Community Band! Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and eqjoy fantastic tunee and great weather. Vta. w Annual Basin Fiddle Fair Be sure to attend the Basin Fiddle Fair on Saturday, SepC 9 at the Crossroads Center in Roosevelt. This event is (Yea for the whole family. Food will be available for purchase. Free workshops for sspiring musicians: 2 p.m. Fiddle; 3 p.m. Improvisation; 4 p.m. Cowboy Poetry; and 5 p.m. Guitar. Watch next weeks paper for more information. Attention Cattlemenl The Duchesne County Cattlemens Association will hold their annual summer barbecue on Thursday.SepC 7 at Allsmont Park starting at 6 pm. Come eryoy a great steak and visit with friends! Attention Veterans 722-473- 7, 353-407- 4, All Musicians Calling The their Fall Orchestra 789-554- 7 Hitch Up Your Wagons! The Basin announce the "Last Ride of 2000" Sept. Wagnneerv Colton, Utah to Mjlun Call Leon ( 435 ) 8464(140 or Kyle 435) for more information. TffiBH IIOAiroUNTRSNOlkSicphjnie Heaps of Duchesne with daugh4-- Bom 9 ters Charri and Toni Task, are happy to he livmg in ihctr branJ-neand affordable home built by Dtn heme County jail inmates. w 353-425- 2 By Cheryl Mectum - wv9r ' y-t- An old time copper (till that one produced moonshine whiskey and even a bit of peach brandy owned by Lloyd "Snooks" RobertsofHanna, was part still had been discovered by federal "Revenue Men in the early 1900s it would have been smashed to smithereens during the days ofProhi-bition. "We called them Stool Pigeons," Snooks said, referringto the Revenue Men. His father-in-laFrank Defay was arrested a few times for bootlegging and at one lime was ordered to leave the Hanna Valley for 18 months after his still was destroyed. At the time, the Revenue Men or In order to qualify for the home Stephanie was required to meet income guidelines and be able to secure a conventional loan. Stephanie began with undeveloped property, a gift from her lather, located near the very spot she grew up. Water, sewer, electrical and gas lines needed to be laid as well as a foundation for the home. The first time Stephanie saw her home it was a skeleton of 2 X 4's. "My daughters had their rooms picked out that day and stuck with it the whole way," she said, adding that the jail crew worked with her to modify certain point ofconstruction including the addition of a bathroom. "They accommodate you as much as they can, Stephanie said. "Now I have a beautiful home. One of the best parts of the construction was "chousing the colors, Stephanie said, explaining, "You could choose the color of your siding, the shingle, carpet, tile and linoleum. (Vail of the features in her house, Stephanie believve her kitchen cabinets are perhaps the most valuable to her. custom made in light oak. "The cabinetry work was done by the prisoners peoplesay.no way. It's so nice 1 cant' believe it's mine!" When completed the home, constructed in two sections, was lifted by crane onto the flat bed of a semi and transported to its foundation in Duchesne, in a little over a month it was together and ready for occupancy. On July 27.UBAOG and Stephanie cohosted an open house. Neilsen said the housing project was born when UBAOG was looking for a1way to provide affordable housing for the Uintah Basin area, we knew the inmates needed something todo. Neilsen noted that taking the new home from start to finish was a collaborative effort among UBAOG. the Duchesne County Sheriffs Department and the UinUh Basin Applied - .. Snooks Roberts best trade was 20 gallons of the home-brefor a down payment on a Plymouth. w Internal Revenue Service employees had posed as fishermen, staying at a of this year's UBICparade,takingthe Mayor's Choice Award, however, ifthe cabin and fishing on the river in the Technolop-Center- veterans who need to enroll with the veterans administration medical benefits program, which will also allow a particular veteran sccess to the Uintah Basin Medical Center. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Uintah Basin Post 9275 has the enrollment forma. A the service officer phone call to either the quartermaster, (435) or the commander, (435) 7994531 is all that is needed. (435) We have information for Uintah Community Winter Spring begins rehearsals next week. All practices are in Verna) at the Middle School band room on Wednesdays at 7: 15 p m. Eryoy the fon and satisfaction of being part ofthe Basin's premier musical organisation. All string instruments, trumpets, trombones, Bench horns, percussion plus conductor currently leave message. being sought. Reply to Doug Christensen: whiskey still from Hanna rests among a million memories Old Single mom praises jail inmates for home three-bedroo- phone systems have coma through School Trust Fund procured through KEEPING ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE REVENUE MEN AWARD WINNING HUD PROGRAM certified nursing assistant at the Uintah Basin Medical Clinic. h The that voica becomes destroyed fromprqjecting constantly over the home now resting on it cement founDucheana was under conyean we found a aide benefit too, dation inlast test scores going up," Manning said, struction Jsnuary at the Duchesne noting that the funds for the micro- County Jail compound. Lisa Neilaen, This is Your Last Chance... 3rd SEE AUDIO UPGRADE on page 18 MAYOR'S Cl IOICE Snooks Roberts, Hanna, stands near the old copper still and barrel used to hold mash during days gone by. The still, hauled by an antique wagon was pan of the L'BIC parade and took the Mayors Choice Award. Snooks, his brothers and a few friends were partners in the still purchased from a radiator shop in Salt Lake City brS65. early morning and evening hours. They had become friendly with the locals, attended a dance and began to complain that the country round about was dry. "Everyone knew there were stills around," Snooks said, adding that a fellow toid them he would get a pint from Frank, if his lighU were still on. Hecamebackempty handed. but that next morning the Revenue Men appeared of Defaya step and arrested him for producing alcohol without a federal license and told him to pack his suitcase because be was going to jaiL "He was a champion bootlegger," Snooks said, adding that by that time, because the risk of arrest was so great that he and his partners had abandoned their slilL The Revenue Men were an everpresent threat to the bootleggers. burner was placed under the still's steel bottom and the ingredi-enA gas U heated. The steam from the mixture was captured, cooled down in to a liquid state and filtered through an old wool hat filled with chareuaL Their whiskey was made to be 90 proof (80 percent alcohol). Snooks remembers the nightly with guitar music, played by his brother June, singing, laughter and whiskey. People came every night they knew there would be free drinking " While Snooks can't recall ever making much money selling the brew, he did trade it off for a few pigs and sheep, but his best trade was 20 galfor a down lons of the home-brepayment on a Plymouth car made with a dealer in Karras got Bartering was the wv along back in those times, Snooks said, because money was scarce. He'd trade whiskey for a dance ticket, or for sugar. One time he collected 1.000 w fk d A BOOTLEGGERS STASH-- A clay jug. hip flasks and a collection of corks were prized by bootleggers during the years of Prohibition. Snooks Roberts; a former bootlegger, said that finding quart jar, jugs and containers for their product was part of the challenge. pint-sire- Snooks said. "Theyd take prodding pound of sugar which was hidden in sticks and romr about once every year their farm granary Another time he and stick them in hay and manure traded a sow pig for 40 lug of Freelooking for a keg of whiskey you stone peaches which he made into couldn sell it, so w hy take the chance prach brandy. "It wasn't bitter but you could of getting caught?" Snooks, born in 1914,kvea Curly bvte the pit. it was real good." he said. Snooks and hw brothers were given uiet hfe now with his wife 2 uL he remembers well at theTracey. age of a few hags of turn one year to make 13 when the new 50 gallon copper still corn w hiskey, but the corn mash, left arrived, and the first time he and hit over after processing the brew couldn't run down the nver. as the grain was partners cooked up some homemade brew. They hid their still on the deposed. Corn sank, leaving a trail to the still So the men fed the mash to edge of the Duchesne River. The whukry was made with 75 their pigs, who became drunk. They 5 pounds of Kund of sugar. SEE ILV.VNA ST! LL onpsgeljt YeasC grain and water . t . The AOG provided administrative dollars through a state loan to Bind construction costa, including the 50 cents an hour foe the inmates are allovrwi to collect. The technotngy center gave the program technological upfwt. the inmates rendered the manpower. In order to have dearanrs to work in the corejJMund on the construction the m mates were required to have the appropriate security level With over a (foren ready logo to work, there are that many application on a wailing Let Neilen said. Through the UBAOG program there ere two hr nr fits that are clear- single mothers lke Stephanie are able to pun hare an affordable hme and the prisoners finish our their time and learn a skill that wil serve them well in the Biture. c' ... ' his A Vf RY BIG PF beautiful new home standing in Duchcvne is evidence of a HI program that makes scne and has recently received ruivns! recognition (or man mning rcM?i.cc innov stive method. Both by jail inmate, it allows them to le arn hand cm L ill while providing affordable housing. AL-T- |