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Show 7 P 210601 C005 UINTAH CO. PUBLIC LIBRARY 155 E Main St UT Vernal 3 Behavior is a mirror in which everyone displays his ow n image. Geoihe 84078-260- 3 llllllllllllllfl lllll lllflll llltl III llltlllllllllltll ill Uintah Basin .. Land return U JA, 50$ The Ute Indian Tribe now holds thedeed to 84,000 acres of oil shale reserves on their reservation. Tuesday December 5, 2000 Congress Roosevelt. Utah recently approved the return of the land to the Ute Tribe. The mineral rich parcel was seized from the tribe's Hilcreek Vol. www.ubstandard.com Extension by the federal government in 1916. -- See page 3 4 -- s, j t . eJlti TRANSITION SHOULD BE SEAMLESS ,. - UBET acquisition rf The tax man cometh If you haven't done so you're late. already, well of Qwest expected But as they say in the Duchesne County treasurer's office, "better late than never." Property tax payments were due in the treasurer's office on Nov. 30. -- See page 3 jew.y. Vj- iamrm&fmt' IP' " ,vs - in late February 1 Meet the boys in the band Basin Brass Quintet will perform e free Christmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 9. at 7:30 p.m. at Crossroads Center, in Roosevelt. Read about the guys who make up the quintet, they come from different backgrounds, but have a shared talent --Seepage 13 S Members of the Roosevelt STARS drill team huddle together to warm up prior to the RUDOLPH start of Electric Light Parade. Them were 20 entries in the parade this year. The parade traveled from the Roosevelt city building to Union High. LOOK-A-LIKE- UlNTAH TEACHERS CALL FOR JOB ACTION Duchesne County teachers to stay in classrooms today Longhorn Number round-u- p ranked two Altamont knocks off number i three ranked Panquitch at Altamont, plus whips the Uintah Utes. " Seepage k JfrVfc 16 nle A majority of Utahs teacher art walking off tha job today, (Tueeday, Dae. 5). but educators from the Duchesne County School District Uintah Education Association said they are going to join their counterparts statewide and parlici- "Job action." pais in the Uintah School District Superintendent Dr. John Cawiys said Uintah one-da- y PUBLIC HEARING DEC. 11 2001 county budget lifts levy, offers raises The general Ibnd 200 1 budget proposed by Duchesne County Commissioners drops a small judgement las levy implemented in the 2000 budget, and offers an average raise of 4 percent for county employees. The raise amounts to approximately 48 cents an hour more for employees. The tentative budget is up over last year's by over 8326,000. In terms ofrwenue. Payments In Lieu ofTaxes which are remitted to the county by are exthe federal government pected to increase by 828,000 and the amount the county takes in for housing stale prison inmates isexpected to increase by close to 8330,000. Revenue from property taxes is projected to increase by 830,000 in 2001. On Monday, Dec. 1 1, at 7 p.m. the Duchesne County Commission will hold a public hearingon the proposed 2001 general fond budget, as well as the proposed Duchesne Wasatch Blue the Road fond, Bench Landfill! aolid waste and library budgets for the upcoming year. The budget is now available for public inspection in thederk auditor's office in the Duchesne County Administration building. Progress continues to be made by UBET Telecom to finalise the purchase of Qwest telephone exchanges in the RooscvehA'crnal. and Duchesne areas. UBET Telecom General Manager and CEO Bruce H. Todd expects the transferto be complete by the end of February 2001. Earlier on in the deal, UBET Telecom had hoped to sign off on the agreement in January 2001. The planned acquisition was first announced in October 1999, when then US WEST (now Qwestlagraedto the sale oftheir outlying aerrice territory to several rural telephone companies in Utah. Last summer the Public Service Commission approved the sale following a public comment period and pub Ik hearing. TheFederal Communications Commission is still reviewing the documents involved in the purchase and are expected to approve the transfer early next year. The sale will add approximately 18.000 new accesa lines to UBTA' UBETTriecaa'scurrentbaseof3.100. US WEST territories included in the sale include Roosevelt, Myton, Duchesne, Fort Duchesne, Vernal, Naples, and Jensen. Parent oompany UBTA Communications already pro-vidservice to the exchanges of Altamont, Keola. Randlett, Lapoint, Flattop, Tabiona and Fruitland. "As a company and as employees, UBTAUBET is committed to providing its customers with quality customer services while providing im--; proved services as well as products ee County schools win remain open de- compensate financially for growing enrollment in I'tah schools, the need spite die walkout. Ga wrys said, "Well empty the for an estimated 172 new schools and district office if we need to," to pro- an additional 4.000 teachers over the vide school services as usual. District next few years. offices will not be open today iTues-daToday marks the first time in more Dmc. 5) as district employees are-se- iSanadMsdrthatUtah'spublic school to vaa schools to cover classes. teachers are going through with Duchesne County teachers will threats of a sinks. Utah Education stay in thedaesroom. but will educate Association President Phyllis school district patrons on the prob- Sorensen said the action is needed lems facing education when it comes because teachers are discouraged over to finding stable long-terfunding commit- funding. a lack of long-ter- and features," Todd commented. One of the most anticipated feavoice tures will be a state-of-the-a- rt mail system which will be available once the transition is complete. The company recently laid fiber-opti- c cable from Roosevelt to Vernal Todd explained that some of the improved servicee may take many months to be in place. Todd said he expects the transfer from Qwest to UBET Telecom to be unseen by the customer. Telephone numbers and services currently provided by Qwest wiD remain the same. In accordance with a PSC order, there will be a rate freest on all current rates for former Qwest customers. UBTA Comm unirations has ofTVtvs in Vernal and on South Myton Bench. They are currently constructings new office building in Roosevelt to house corporate offices, along with a retail ales site for the parent company and its subsidiaries. If construction goes as expected, the building should be completed by late June 2001. Until the transition of UBET Telecom is complete, Qwest customers should continue to contact Qwest for their service needs, said Todd. h nt Susan Ballon, president of the Duchesne Education Association said the issue is not over boosting salaries for educators, but instead centers around proper financial planning for public schools. The Utah Education Association board of directors met for 10 bouts last week and came out in rejection of a five-poiplan drafted earlier last week by a lefpslaliro task force commissioned with designing a longterm education binding plan. Rep. Kevin Garn.(R Layton), who the task force, said that not ony are teachers unhappy, lawmakers are displeased as srell "because no matter what we do, it seems like it's neverenough. The task force was created last year after teachers intimated they would strike if legislators failed to come up with an appropriate salary increase during the 2000 erosion. In January 2000 legislators approved a 8.8 percent spending increase for education .The task force was to find wavs to menu from slate lawmakers "We recognise that some progress was made by the Task Force, but our members asked for a plan. We expected groat strides, not just initial small steps, said Sorensen. long-ter- CHRISTMAS SPIRIT CONNECTION PROJECT Volunteers needed to help tie 40 ouilts in time for Christmas Five recommendations of the Legislative taskforce Continue the capital outlay foundation program with a 810 million increase. The Capital Outlay Fouodstion Program, established to provide school for building construction and renovation, will increase from 128.4 million to 838 4 million. Mora districts will directly benefit from an increase in school building construction subsidiaries. district revenues Consider statewide levy to compensate for Inflation To retain sufficient prtweny tax revenues for achool districts, the task force will recommend the Legudature annually consider inflationary adjustments in the statewide property tax levy. Use new waste feee for education Although no decision has been made, if the state decides to accept additional types of waste, fees generated on those wastes should be used for educational purposes. This does not include high level nuclear waste that Private Fuel Storage (FFS) has proposed to store at the Goshute Indian Reservation. The state has strongly opposed storing high-leve- l nuclear waste in I'tah Dedicate 830.6 million to textbook Bawd upon the textbook audit report, the task force recommend d appropriating 830 6 million- - subject to appropriations made this the purchase of textbooks. The amount necessary to meet currant needs is 830.6 million. Increase the guarantee for hoard and voted leeways Giro school districts the ability to solve critical problems by implementr plan to increase the guarantees for board and voted leeways ing at the local lerol. In addition to the f.ro- - point plan, task force leaden will recommend the Legislature dedicated additional revenue to public education. According to the Legislative Fiscal Analyst Office, lawmakers will have an estimated 8800 million in additional revenue this session. revenue which could be used to Nearly half, or 8240 million, is increase teacher salaries or enhance programs. The remaining 8260 million is one-timmoney, which eoukl be utilised for textbooks or school building construction. One caveat that not all 8500 Bullion will be used solely for education. This revenue is also required to meet other state program needs. five-yea- on-gun- items for families in need. Money that is not sprat this year is saved to be Over 200 children in Roosevelt oo sales to prespent and ing, money, toys and the surroundingaross win receive pare for next year's holiday season. Christmas this year thanks to the Hannston said several organics- warm blankets are efforts of the Christmas Spirit Conlions have already stepped forward to needed if some area nection and the community. "adopt" a family for Christ mas Busi- The Christmas Spirit Connection nstsca, chibs, civic organiutiona and families are going to have is nonprofit organisation. Their main church groups often combine their focus is to make sure that the needs of resource and provide Christmas for Christmas this year. families in need of assistance this an entire family. The Christmas Spin! Connection holiday season art met. The Christmas Spirit Connection Chamber of Commerce. The Christ- looks overeschofit applicants need meets their goal by placingAngel Tnws mas Spirit Connection asks that the to see that they an met. This means In local businesses; collecting donagift come unwrapped, with the angel that there are thing such as toiletries tions, and sponsoring (bod driven. They attached to them. and cleaning supples as well asshnee, Food drives take place at some of sheets or dwhee that may need to he alsonceiv aid from sponsor in Salt Lake City such as the Grand Lodge of the local schools. Thu year during the purchased. In some casco there it a the Masons who contributed money month of December the Duchesne need for blankets. for shoos, and the US Marines annual County library will drop late foes in The committee has purchased return for a food donation equivalent enough material for about 40 quills. Toys for Tots drive. Angel Trees are placed in ALCO, to that of the fee. They would like to see the IXuiatkms are a determining fac- broom involved in this community Stewart's, Davit Jubilee and Bill's quilting efBen Franklin. The "angels" on the tor for the Christmas Spirit Connecfort All the materials are supplied, tree list the gender. age.and rise of the tion. The more donations they but volunteers to Ue and bind the child in need of Christmas clothing the more families they can help. quilts, said Harmstoo. and gifts. Some of the angels have Food. shoe, socks, toys, and coats are The committee is heaiM by Lesley bask needs such as clothing, shoes or all welcome donation. GJl wrapping lUrmatoa who a tho chairwoman coats. Other angels my have a toy supplies are also needed, however the Thera are five other volunteers w ho make up the Christmas greatest need 1 for cash. request. Sprit To adopt an angeL simply take the Lesley Hamwton serves as chairertura committee Stacy tforrecks. tog ofTtiw tree and purchase the item woman for the Christmas Spirit Con- vvreham.(VmnwJnhnMMi. treasurer. listed on it. The angr-- l and the Hem can nect km. She is running the operation Linda Anderson. Sandra Jofcnwm and be returned to the original store or out ofhrr home She said ideally they 3 taken to the Duchesne County Arm would liketo raise I6JI00 to purchase JEEVOLUNTEF KS on Donations of food, cloth- - after-Christm- The bottom One is that toachars an frustrated. They don't feel they have been heard or taken seriously. They went a job action because they want people to listen and pay attention to message that impacts all ofour children Utah students deverro a plan." Across the stats the walkout will affect most of Utah's 476,000-plu-s students in kindergarten through 12" grades. About 3.000 teachers are expected to stay in their classrooms, despite the Utah Education Association's call for the statewide action. The UEA ha aboul!9.000 members. Thera are 22.000 teachers statewide. ofthe teach-er- a in the Duchesne County School District are members ofthe Duchesne loog-ten- n year-towar- Poor Telephone numbers and services currently provided by Qwest will remain the same. y, nt By Katie Kelson 87, Number 49 e Two-hundre- d Education Association. Despite a decision by Uintah Education Association to participate in the walkout. Uintah County schools will remain open and classes will be held. Three senator and IV ve representative have met since Mgy to renew and recommend alternative revenue sonic for ftiadtng public education, as well ae provide a bang-terplea to incr-a- a public education fonde. Pointing out the difficulty of this endeavor. Senate President Lyle Hiltrard and cochair of tho task force said. "If establishing a education ftmding plaa were easy, w would have don it a long time ago." long-ter- "As w consider public education issues including teacher compensation. textbooks, and supplies, class-si- s reduction, new school construction, msernev training programs, and many other items, w simply must temper our exportations with reality," said Gam. Utahs education dilemma is unique. 25 percent oflhe states population are school-agchildren and approximately 42 percent of state revenue already go to public education. "When you factor in Utahs ranking among the nation's 18 heaviest tax burdened states based on personal income, you realise our education equation has no simple solutions. aid ILUyard To raise Utah to the national sror-agin per pupil spending, noted Gam, would require one of the three mqjor taxes income, sales, or property tax to at least double. For example, doubling the sales tax on a 820,000 vehicle would result in alas increase from about 81.250 to 82.500. "Public education funding policy will not be determined by bow close w get to the national average for per puprl expenditures, said Gam.."Per pupil fond mg in not n ere manly an indication of a succemfo) and produc- e -- e THF CIW1MA1 SPIRIT CONVICTION-- 1 eley Hanrntonandlmda An Jctvvi ion gift that arc part of the Chnstmas Spirits Connection effort to pros tJe a rrcinirful Christmas for 200 children and then families. SF.E NO STRIKE on page 3 J |