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Show T 1 UINTAH BASIN STANDARD. Anil 23. 2002- - Page International tension keeps gas prices high " r , - ... sWt. Speculation over instability in the world oil market, particularly with oil producing nation! inthe Middle East, is the driving force behind rising gas prices, AAA Utah reported. Utahs average price for a gallon of self-serregular gasoline increased 25 cents to $1.41. The current national price is 14 cents higher than last month and 17 cents lower than the price of gasoline a year ago. AsurveyofUtah cities shows price increases from 19 to 33 cents this past month. Of the cities surveyed, the lowest price is found in St. George at increases from March. $36, a Ogden has the next lowest vice at increase, Salt Lake $1.37, a City and Vernal each have an average price of $1.39 per gallon, a increase in Salt Lake City and a increase in VernaL Provos price rose 30 cents for an average of$1.41. Moab has the highest price in the state increase. at $1.55, a International tensions raise concern among oil traders and this is reflected in the high prices of crude oil," said AAA spokeswoman Rolsyne Fairdough. ezuelan prices, but his reinstatement erased much of the jnice decline. The Middle East situation also hes been afactor in oil pricing for many higher crude ' j vV- J py Postal Service ready to reform old operating model 30-ye- ar ve Submitted by Stephen L. Johnson District Manager Salt City District U& Postal Service 19-ce- nt VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS ARE HEROS Bruce and Deanne Brighton rewarded the Roosevelt Fire Department with a $1,000 check and letter of appreciation for quickly and efficiently extinguishing a brush fire near their home. You responded within minutes and with complete efficiency and professionalism, avoiding what could have been an unbelievable disaster. Volunteer firefighters are heros in our opinion, read the letter the Brightens delivered along with the money. Pictured from left to right: Roosevelt Fire Chief Lee Rockwood, Assistant Chief Ryan Larsen, and Captain Terry Stringham accepting the check and letter during Tuesdays city council meeting. 24-ce- nt 23-ce- 24-ce- nt 33-ce- nt Crude oil prices increased more than 20 percent since January, said Fairclough. This accounts for ten to 15 cents of the recent price spike. There is a worry factor, but supplies are reasonably healthy and prices should stabilise overall, said oil analyst Alan Kovski. The good news is that the market is unlikely to push oil prices much higher as a result ofthe international situation, unless a specific military or economic activity occurs that actually limits the flow of oil. With the approach of the summer drivingseason it is probable that line prices will continue to over the next several weeks. Representatives of AAA met with UJ3. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham last week to discuss the outlook for summer gasoline supplies and prices. The EnergySecretary and AAA reaffirmed their commitment to share dafai and disseminate information rapidly about gasoline prices to prevent panic buyingor opportunistic pricingof gasoline in the event ofa real or perceived threat to national security. Gas prices in the surrounding Intermountain States show a 20ent average increase over last months prices. The current prices are: Arizona, $1.38; Colorado, $1.41; Idaho, $1.42; Montana, $1.46; Nevada, $1.52; and Wyoming, $1.40. The Postal Service recently delivered its Transformation Plan to Congress. The plan offers solutions to the current financial situation the Postal Service now faces and in the longterm calls for a new business model to reoperating strucplace our ture. Changing toa new business model will require legislative changes, esthe 1970 Postal sentially Reorganization Act that formed the current Postal Service. The Postal Service gets most of its Mail the revenue from First-Clas- s kind of mail used to pay bills and write letters. Any decline in this type of mail has huge consequences since of our costs are covered by the revenue it brings in. Add to that equation the 1.7 million new addresses created every year, nearly 18,000 in Utah, and you can see the crisis we face. Trends like that threaten our ability to deliver the mail. But we have solutions. In the tong term, the Postal Service will ask Congress to adopt a new business model, called a Commercial Government Enterprise (CGE). Changing toa CGE would be a large step towards placing the Postal Service on more business-like footing. We would be expected to provide traditional and products andservkeeand implement market-base- d pricing. Universal mail delivery would be maintained by giving the Postal Service the flexibility to survive in a new economy. We will also cut costs. The Postal Service cut $2.5 billion dollars in opera tingexpenses since theend of 1999. The Postmaster General has asked us to cut $5 billion more nationally (cm an annualized basis) over the next five years, and the Salt Lake City District will do its part to meet that goal. The old legislation served the country well. In Utah atone, we deliver ld two-thir- ds Census Case Motivates Action Shu'SKSi weeks. Leavitt seeks resolution to suggested changes in the primary election date Gov. Mike Leavitt asked legislative leaders late this week to consider the advantages and disadvantages of moving Utah's primary election to htonimnurnrfalUniiynminiiiLifan potential fourth congressional seat. The move was motivated by a review prepared by Lt. Governor Olene Walker, Chief Elections Officer for the state, outlining the pros and cons of three proposed primary dates. Utah faces an uncertain congrea-sionelection process because of a al Leavittsaidinalettertohouse and senate leadership. Resolution to the issue is a legislative decision because any change would require adBoth justment! in state election law. Leavitt and Walker agree there is value in postponing the primary until September 2002. Their recommendation was baaed onadesire to spare taxpayers the cost of potentially fundingtwo primaries and creating a reasonable and fair playing field for prospective candidates. pending United States Supreme ment following the 2000 Census. The fata hue rhnllcngwH th muLhnri 11H by the Census. If the highest court rules inUtahs favor the state could be awarded a fourth congressional seat just prior to or after the nowscheduled June 25th primary. Leavitt has called this scenario a problem we would love to have, but also realizes the potential coat and fairness issues it creates. If discussion in caucuses leads to a request for a special session, I am prepared to call one to resolve this over 27 million pieces of mail every week; that equals over 1.4 billion pieces every year to over 930,000 businesses and homes. The Postal Service delivers in one week as much as UPS delivers in a year, we deliver in two days what FedEx delivers in their typical year. No postal system does what this U.S. Postal Service does today. But what organization can keep the same business model for 30 years and hope to survive? No organization could. Organizations must be able to change in order to survive. No one 30 years ago could have predicted the riseofthe Internet, electronic bill payment and competition from global mail providers. Mail volume nationally and in the Salt Lake City District has always had steady increases and our old business model counted on volume always going up. But that has changed, too. Nationwide, the Postal Service tost $1.68 billion in fiscal year 2001 and could lose close to $2 billion this fiscal year. The plan also allows us to better meet changing customer needs, such as increasing access for consumers. The Salt Lake City District has 300 post offices and other retail outlets, but there are quicker, more ways to get basic services like cost-effecti- stamps. People already purchase stamps by phoneand over the Internet, but we will also explore other non-traditional outlets. We plan to offer simplified, pre- paid package shipping so customers can pay by the size of the box, not the weight. And we recently introduced a product called Confirm, part of tho new generation of "intelligent mail services that allow large businesses to track their mail in near real-tim- e throughout the postal system. As the District Manager for Utah, I am excited to be a part ofthis Transformation Plan. Deiiveringthe mail is a public trust, and the Postal Service is committed to guaranteeing mail delivery well into the future. This plan ia the first step in that process and sparks the public policy dialogue with the American people. Governor Leavitt signs important adult protective services bill Gov. Michael Leavitt signed H.B. Adult Protective Services at a 25 signing ceremony last week in the Gold Room of the State Capitol. The bill, which will become law on Mgy 6, clarifies, codifies and enhances state statutes regarding the provision of protective services to older and vulnerable adults. Enactment of the law will vastly improve the quality of care provided in nursing homes and by care prohome and community-base- d viders. In rare display of overwhelming support, members of the Utah State Senate unanimously approved the bill, which was sponsored by representative Patricia Jones and Senator John Valentine. The bill was previously passed by a similar margin in the House. In recognition of their supportive efforts, Representative Jones invited members of AARP Utahs Legislative Action Team to attend the Bigning ceremony. Members ofAARP Utahs Legislative Action Team worked tong and hard in support of this bill and have been credited for its success, said Michael Siler, AARP Utah Director of Public A (Taira. Siler went on to say that, The bill forwards favorable public policy for the residents of Utah, most especially for older and vulnerable adults. AARP Utah is proud to have been a part of this successful effort." Inland gas plant ErA: Beverly Bunn just returned from helping one of her sons drive up to Oregon. She went to help him drive. Our Senior bus took seven of us Seniors shopping andouttodinner in Vernal on April 15. It was nice. We ate at the Cafo. They have very good food. It was a very nice day. Pauline Brown has been on the sick list again, but she it getting much better. Marian Rigler ofDuchesne, who has been in the Stewarts Care Center for several years, passed away on April 15. When Harold Gee ran the Bingo for seven years, weused to pickupMarian and her to Bingo and dinner. Then when Marian went to the care wntyr HaiNM piVtad .in Mary F.liann three ofthem have passed now.Mariansbirth- day was July 15?The Gees have always 7-- takenherabudvasewithanartiflcial flower in it Lena Thomas and Paul Bowden drove Orinda Gee to Heber on Thursday, April 11, right after our Senior dinner forOrinda to keep her doctor appointment. Alton Richens of Myton ia in the Roosevelt hoepitaL We all send our beet to him and Celia. We miss them when they arent at the dinner with available The Vernal Field Office of the Management announced that an environmental assessment for an Inland Production Conqiany Monument Butte liquids conditioning gas plmit and pipeline ia now ivailabtofor "" " i would be built cm ELM administered public tends in the Monument ButtoMyton Bench oil field which is located ten miles south of Myton. The BLM is interested in receiving written comments regarding the ad equacy ofthe environmental analysis. The deadline for makingcomments is April 30. Copies ofthe document may be obtained at the BLM Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East Comments can also be made on the BLM Vernal Field Office website. This environmental assessment was prepared hi accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act This and other environmental l?$tlPreParBd can he found nal Field OF SAVINGS REBATE Are you ready for agility and refinement? on the website: vemaL Big-tim- e With 0 Ivie,tyralIvie,MuyPOulsan McKee. They ell played for lie. The chib elected new officers comingyear. They are: president, Merrill! McKee; vice president, Valerie Spencer; secretary, Heidi us. Bradjr, and historian, Ruth Paulson. The Gees have loaded apricot trees On Saturday, April 6, there were two baptisms in the Bridgeland ward. They already. Cant believe it; sure that were Mason Remund, son of Stephen theyll freeze. The Gateway Seniors celebrated and Lisa Remund, and Cassia Remund, daughter of Henry and their April birthdays on Thursday, Mari lee Remund. Welcome to the April 18 and the DUP meeting will be held on April 22 at the old blue buildward. The Duchesne Mother Club met on ing at 1 plm. so please come and join April 4 at the home of Ruth Poubon. with us. Venla Gee went to Cedar City to help There were six ofRuth's students that she had given piano lessons to. They her sister Rhea Carter celebrate her Kevin Moon, Brent Moon, 80- birthday. on Secondly and Erica Financing EXT. GAB fin-th- e PubWc Hearing MathsmaMc Cote CwriculMw Special Offer Ends April 30. 2002 See Dealer for details Ji 1! CnOIG n iezza PuMccBHmwUsMitfSonUtrirtMrissdBscondeyMeh. medcs Core Cunlcukim. Opan houses wMbshsU at locaSont across tha (tat. Commsnts may also bo mads through the Internet. your comments to ioMnaOuioo.kl2.uLM. Open houioo tad bo hold on April feBonring bcattona. 25 or as, 2002 at Layton: Layton High School pm. 441 Lanear Lana, Boom 139. Apt 2S. Frame Provo School DUthd OSIce UnuSi. ftm WS Smmitalre,flvHft5T1Wpm ISO WSel nirhflttl' TOcNMd Ugh School 510 WmI 100 SouSLBuldingl.RsamSS. April 25, pm S00 90 SLOeorau: OMtHtah School Madia Canlw.SSOEaW TOO SfluSi Aw25.MO30pJn. UWiSR SaSLeMCNy: 250 Eael 500 SouSl. North S Srih Friday April 20. 03030 pm. AccpyofSwmvtMdCocondwyHrihomslIcsCoreCunlai. lum and commsnt retponae Suite tor thoas unable to attend V open housoo may bo found wwwuaaeJtlZulwAounSneei Command wd bo re(Rrad0mugh May 7, 2002. you have Sons, pdoM cal do Utah Sets Office of Education, (801)530-770- :opy 4 1 1 mm ghuc-mtia- g 157 S 200 E, Roosevelt, Utah OR CALL 722-510- 7 |