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Show page 13 - March 27, 2001 Basin LIFE Uintah Basin Standard f INDEPENDENCEANDCOMPANIONSHIP V. Maime the guide dog improves life and mobility of USU student v'- temperament and personality they had. Brandi Burdette haa had dogs "They wanted to match up the dogs to us, to our lifestyle and personality, but, they were never allowed in Brandi explained. the house, nor her sole responsibility. After one week of such training, They were peta,Mthing more nothing Brandi was taken into a room and like Maima, a trained guide dogfor introduced to her new best friend, theblind.Ayeliow Labrador retriever "Maime, standing 22 inches tall with who haa given Brandi an indepena wagging tail and affectionate dispodence ahe haa long missed since a retinitis who ia also afflicted with the same eye sition. Thify got along famously right degenerative condition pigmentosa, robbed herofher vision. disease. Brandi knew her stpiTwhenit from the start. AsBrandifitted the harness around Reading became impossible laat came to walking with the cane, it waa year, even with the help of a large ' justherpersonal choke not touee one. Maime's shoulders the first time, sho magnifying glass, aa darkness closed She said using the cane made her feel had no idea how her world would in on Brandi, making her life asaUtah conspicuous. change with the canine companion. State UhnBraifyUintahBaainbranch Busy with studies and an active There were three weeks of trainingto iial life, Brandi wondered about a undergo. campus student more difficult and Each morning began at 6: 30. First more confining. dog, but wasnt holding out Brandi took care ofMaimes physical At the time, Brandi waa living with it would be awesome if needs. She was watered then taken a few roomniatea down the road from USlTaextenaion campus in Roosevelt, didnt think it would out on the grounds to relieve herself. working toward a career aa a social happen. I wouldnt let myself think Formal obedience training was sched uled first. Handlers went through worker. Normally, the girls would about it travel together to run errands and Then, six months alter submitting verbal commands; sit, down, itay.walk socialize and Brandi could go along her application Brandi was notified away, and heel. Maime was asked to and have the help of her friends to respond to every command while instructors presented the distractions, to wanted she her.BuVwhen get guide which were maqy. out on her own, the situation became fajoumey.b for the Blind requires the recipient to atreaaflil. "They had food, turtles, rabbits . T hated my cane. Icould have used taka one month of comprehensive hopping around, cats ... other dogs it, but I fought it and fought it I knew tnriningwith the animal before it can playing, barking dogs, they even the room one day. the area really well, so I could fake it go home with them. Droughts' She did very well. Shes ol wayi trying enough to get around. But itwas nerve racking ... every part waa an advenAllthroiqjh high school I joked to please me. Ifshe gets corrected she ture. Sometimes Id run into stuff. It around about getting a guide dog. Id get really penitent. Like, 'Im so was realfy scary to me, Brandi di- - say my friends were my guide dog; Brandi related. In January, a representative from lung woman pursuing an Guide Dogs for the Blind flew Brandi independent life, Brandi felt leea independent than ever before. One day to Boring; Oregon, (near Portland). hor friend asked Brandi if shed ever There were a total of 1 1 students and one apprentice trainer present to beconsidered getting a guide dog. "She not only suggested It, she gin school. filled outmypapers!Brandilaug The first week found Brandi holdBrandi was hopeftil but didnt ob-- s ing on to an empty harness. One of the about havingadog.Then,arepre- - instructors held the other end at dog sentative from Guide Dogs for the level which gave the students an idea mCaliforniato of what it would feel lika to work with Blind, Inc. traveled Students from DuchesneHigh par Roosevelt to conduct a home inter- the dog. They were instructed in verin the state Academic Deticipated view and see how Brandis cane skills bal commands, practiced them and cathlon and came away with a third were. Though she rarefy used a cane, learned physical commanda with leash trophy and a medal for each Brandi had been receiving mont and choke chain all the while being place DeMille received $160 asaessed by the teachers to see how student Doug mobilifytrainingt him as the Team Scholar. recognizing and high school with her! fost they walked and what type of The Utah State Academic Decathlon contest was held in St George on March 16 17. Students competed in ten events, including math, science, music, art, language and literature, economics, speech, interview, essay, and the SuperQuis on psychology, philosophy, and world religions. ' "The students put in countless ' hours outside of school to prepare for the event, said coach Foster. "These New York City musician David Burgess will perform guitar music ofBraxil are nine very gifted and talented stubn Monday, April 2, at 7p.m. in the Union High auditorium, presented by dents and I was extremely proud of Baain Arts Council. Admission will be charged. Group rates are available. how they represented our school .Gall 7228714 for further information. Tickets may be purchaaed in advance at Gales Office Supply. team met three nights a week to study and even spent holidays studying at ByCheryl Mecham Specially trained Labrador 9 Is an endowment of.. Immeasurable worth, both for companionship and added freedom. -- 1ft, All. AROUND TOWN-Bra- Burdette, having lost her site to a degenerative condition-findconfidence and mobility now that she has a new friend, Maime, a guide dog for the blind. ndi sorry. One day she was distracted by food and I corrected her. The next time she was offered it, she hid behind me, Brandi said. After formal obedience instructors took their students and guide dogs into the city. They were given a route and under supervision made their way through the maze of streets, obstacles and dangers that those who can see never give pause to think about. My legs just ached the first two weeks. Its the hardest thinglve ever done in my life. Doing what youre s she has renewed learning, doing new things and trying to rememberwhat you already know, w,- ISMALLSCKOOLSCORES HIGH ..-- I- Duchesne brains take 3rd place overall in statewide Academic Decathlon competion - ished second. Park City High finished first overall and will advance to Na- - tionals next month in Anchorage, Alaska. Also attending the contest from eastern Utah were Union High and Manila High. -- Guitar Concert to Feature Brazilian Music Name the Golf Course Contest Roosevelt Mayor Dennis Jenkins is sponsoring a contest to rename the Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course. The person who submits the winning entry will receivea2001season golfpass or sesson swim pass. Entriesmust be turned in to city recorder Carolyn Krissman at the city building before 4:30 p.m. on April 9. Entries must be submitted on a 3x5 card. school! The most exciting part was that each person on the Duchesne team won a medal in some event, with some winning two or three. As a team they won 15 medals. Duchesne matched wits with 22 other schools atlarge and with 11 2-schools in their division. and Although Duchesne is nearly the small est schools in the competition, they many larger teams to win third place. Morgan High finished first and Canyon View from Cedar City fin- 1-- 3-- A A Roosevelt DUP Roosevelt DUP ia holding an educational open bouse for the community on April 6 at the Crossroads Senior Center. DUP members and anyone else in the community interested in family history, arts and crafts of our great grandparents time, quilts, antiques and hand crafted itema are welcome. For information or volunteering of services jor time for this event call Beulah Lariss at ROOSEVELT PHYSICIAN ACCESSES RESOURCES 722-611- 3. GED Test Uintah County School District will be offering the GED Test March 30 31 at the Uintah School District Office, 636 West 200 South. The test will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, March 30 Those interested in taking the test need to fill out an application by 6 p.m. Friday. There is a fee to take the test. If you have any questions call Elaine at 781-310- 0. USU Poetry Club The next of USU ACADEMIC DECATHLON TEAM Students from Duchesne High who participated at the recent state Academic Decathlon in St. George were Maren Farnsworth, MaryJo Farley, John Smith, Brian Bleazard, Doug DeMille, Brant Moon, Josh Verde, Heber Hamilton, and Mike Killian (not pictured). They are coached by Mr. John Foster. Duchesne High took 3rd place in the state contest. out-score- d writes that Pacific Island natives are friendly b warm as medical help arrives Dr. B . ; 1 v-- r - (Editors Note: We asked longtime Roosevelt physicianDr. Terry Buxton to contribute periodic accounts of his travels to islands in the North Pacific where) and his wife, Diane, are serving a n lission for the Church ofJesus Christ Saints. His first report follows.) ofLatter-Da- y meeting the Poetry Club will be held Tuesday, April 3 in Rooeevelt at 7 p.m. in the conference room (8b). Anyone with an interest in reading or writing poetry ia welcome to attend. For more information, contact Alan Blackatock at 722-22or ext 245. 94 District Piano Competition The Duchesne School District will a Submitted by Dr. Terry M. Buxton IF t'i - again sponsor piano competition for The competition will be held April 25 at the Duchesne High auditorium, beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. Studenta must sign up by April 18. There are sign up sheets at the schools or contact Ruth Poulaon in Ducheane at (435) 9 studenta Grades Greetings from the Pacific Islands! Upon request of your Uintah Basin Standard editor I am going to write about some of our travels and experiences in the Pacific Islands. In November 2000 Diane and I accepted a calling from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Da- y Saints to fill an 18 month assignment us Medical Specialists in the Pacific Islands area. Our area of assignment covers five missions, inin the North Pacific cluding Micronesia-Guaand F(ji, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti in the South .k-- 2. -- Eve. ;A ,r;. 738-672- a Charley Jenkins to Give Concert - , ms Lv Union Highs Future Business Leaders of America organisation present Jordan Alien and Roosevelts own Charley Jenkins and their band in concert on Friday, March 30 in the Union High auditorium at 7 p.m. They will be performing original songi from their recently released CD along with Charleys old favorites. Tickets are available at the UBATC, Gales, Davis Jubilee, Swaseys, from members of FBLA, and at the door. All proceeds will go to FBLA. '4.; - .3 " i .v AJi v Jv V" ' ' m . Pacific. . Hey Harley Owners! The Flaming Gorge Harley- - Davidson owners group will hold a meeting this Thursday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at Beers Harley - Davidson in Vernal. All interested parties are welcome. For more information call : . 789-519- Diabetes Screening There will beadiabetesscreeningonTuetiday.March 1 ' fc . 27, inthe frontlobhy of the Uintah Basin Medical Center from 4 to 8 p.m. Attention Veterans A service officer from the American Legion will be at the Rooeevelt Employment Centeron Tuesday, April 3 from 1 30 - 3:30 p.m. This if free service and veterans dont have to be members ofthe American Legion to receive assistance; Please bring proper documentation. COPY 1 ,v-jhvLfW iW imi. k - A PIECE OF HOME Doctor Teiry M. Buxton wearing scrubs from the Uintah Basin Medical Center, and sandals is ready to go to work. He and his wife Diane are currently serving an LDS mission as medical specialists in the Pac i fic Islands area. Our assignment is mainly to keep the LDS missionaries healthy andhelp with their health problems. This entails not only seeing them periodically but teaching principles of personal health, disease prevention and control, nutrition, wound care and disease immunization. Since we live in New Zealand I tako care of many problems, as best I can, by telephone. Inoider to know what heal th resources are available we are touring the islands systematically, not only to encounter the missionaries but to index the health systems that are resources in health maintenance and urgent treatment. We have visited doctors, clinics. hospitals, pharmacies, and health officials. All of this information is being indexed for refer- ence by myself and other physicians that will foliow me and also church leaders needing to know where to get help. Our first tour was a longone. We visited 12 islands and were on and ofTairplanes 16 times. We flew aboutl2,000tol3, 000 miles and lived out ofour suitcases for one month. This was a new and great experience, but not a sight- - seeingtour by any means. We prayed for planes that would ffy and certainly not sink. We can vouch for the fact the Pacific is a big blue mass of water. This trip took us to Fiji, Tarawa, Mqjuro, Kwqjulein, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Guam, Saipan, Palau, Yap, and then back to Guam to catch a plane home through Cairns and Brisbane, Australia. We did not spend time in Australis but spent one to three days on each of the islands. Thistriptookusup through the battle areas of World War II in the Pacific. Cannons and old cement bunkers still stood on land and old tanks and ships on shores and in bqys. The islands are mainly tropical or in their foliage. Most are surrounded by reefs that quell the large ocean waves. Inside the reefs the water is not so deep and tends to be calm and have a bluish appearance. All too often the shores are cluttered with remains of our modern society which, to me, detracts from their natural beauty. The weather is hot and muggy. One spends miscrablenights ifthere isnt air conditioning. The island native inhabitants ore friendly, warm, loving, and respective. More poverty abounds than I expected. Medical care is far behind that of the good ole UE A Diabetes is a mjor problem and, lika in the UB., is related to high-fa- t. diets and obesity. I see conditions like club feet, deformed limbs from improper fracture care and infants with bad outcomes of disease or childbirth. This makes me feel badly. To them it is life as they know it. This all makes one feel li kc reachingout and doing the best he or she can. Unfortunately, I dont have time or means to be of much help. They all want to see the American physician that has come tothe island. Im pleased there are those ofour fait h and many others tryingto be of help. As I travel I can see the gcod effect the SEE BUXTONS on page 22 sub-tropic- al |