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Show DARE TO STAY OFF DRW3S effects ofiltegld drags Fifth graders from Roosevelt Middle School graduated from the Drug Abuse WL n ProSram is designed to educate children about the harmful Pr0gram Illegal burning creates Wildfire season 2002: Nature's smile isn't enough By Kathleen Clarke Hamilton and Larry Picture a map ofthe United States. Then imagine a huge brown swath running from the southern California coast to the Texas border, turning north and sweeping in a track three states wide to the Canadian border. Add another slice ofbrown along most ofthe Gulf Coast, then follow it northward all the way into New England. Get the picture? All of that brown tells us where drought ranging in severity from moderate to extreme is drying out our country. In some areas, it represented the second, third or even fourth consecutive dry year. Walk in the forest and youll likely hear the snap of parched twigs and crunchof dry pine or fir needles under your feet. Rangeland conditions in muchofthe Southwest and Great Basin today look more typical ofwhat is seen in late June or early July. The combination ofhigh temperatures and low moisture has baked dry much of what firefighters call fuel" the trees, grasses and shrubs that can burn almost like paper when conditions peak and ignition occurs. This fire season. has the potential tn.be.1 long difficult and volatile. Too many areas have been too dry for too long a time. Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, southern California, and parts ofthe Southeast have already experienced mqjor wildfires. This doesn't mean were helpless and totally subject to the whims of Nature. Far from it. The Bureau of Land Management and its partner federal agencies, working closely with local communities and states, are better prepared than ever for ataxing fire season. Thanks to generousCongressional flinding, we're not waiting for fires to start, but are taking action beforehand to protect communities and resources through education and mitigation measures. And when we need to, we can respond to fires with more equipment, more firefighters, more aircraft, and better facilities to help fight unwanted wildland fire. All of those resources most probably will be put to good use this summer. Even though the conditions point toward an active season, it still takes a spark to start a fire. We cant do much when a weather ceU moves through an area, pitching lightning bolts in its wake. But we can all take steps to ensure that human-cause- d fires are kept to a minimum. Biases started by peoplestill account for more of all wildland fires than two-thirnationwide. Fire fighters need your help, so remember the basics: Make sure your campfire is dead out. Be carefril with cigarettes. Use fireworks responsibly. where superDont drive heated catalytic converters and tall, dry grasses are a flammable mix. Memorial Day traditionally marks the beginning ofthe most active part of fire season, when people flow to public land. Smokeys message bears repeating. We all can help prevent wildfire. We all have a role m keeping our communities and resources safe, ds off-roa- d, These students at Roosevelt Middle School listened attentively as tilth graders JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS graduated from the DARE (Drug Education Resistance Program) program last week. 5?orPs & A Jh shortsighted to bet on natures good graces. As the saying goes, were pre--1 for the worst. And hopingfor the The drought that plagues much of the nation lias already converted too much ofwhat should be green tobrown. Lets all do our part to help ensure that wildfire doesntadd its own legacy of black to the picture. Kathleen Clarke is the national director of the Bureau ofLandMan-ageme(BLMX Larry Hamilton is the director ofBLMs fire andaviation June . vert n Someone burning illegally almost burns down someone elses house. Over the weekend the Roosevelt Fire Department was called to the same fire four times. The fire, which was started illegally would continue to flair up. According to Roosevelt Fire Chief Lee Rockwood, someone burning weeds on Summerell Lane without a bum permit, started the fire that almost claimed a home. According to Rockwood, if the home hadnt been built out ofrock, it would have burned down. The fire flared up three times on Saturday and once on Sunday when it caught on in the top of a large tree. 3-- 6 Youth Baseball Ray in Duchesne County June n alarming situation 3-- 4 Mike Ross Basketball Camp June 7 Soccer Camp in Roosevelt, Utah June 8 6-- 7-- Bull Riding & Fighting in Vernal nt program. Rockwood wants to remind everyone that it is illegal to burn in Utah without a hurn permit . If you live in Duchesne Countyyou can obtain a fire permit by contacting Fire Warden Nathan Robinson. Residents living within ibi- Roosevelt city limits, should contact Chief Lee Rockwood to get the burn - permit. The permit states the conditions in which you may burn. Burn permits can also be denied depending on conditions. If you burn without a permit and you dont live within the Roosevelt city limits, you will be required to pay the cost the fire department incurs. House endorses $180B in farm subsidies in critical election year The House overwhelmingly apfarm bill proved an election-yea- r Thursday that will pour billions of dollars in subsidies into Midwestern and Southern states that are political battle-grounfor lawmakers in both ' parties.' The bill, which would boost subsi- ' 1996 freedom to Farm law that was supposed to wean formers from government subsidies. The Senate is expected to pass the measure next week and send it to President Bush for his signature. Shortly before the Houses 280-14- 1 vote, Bush said the bill was not everything he wanted but will help ensure the immediate and long-terviability ofour form economy. Weall know that Freedom toFarm the didnt work, said Rep. JoAnn Emerson, While no former wants to depend on the government for anything, it is critical that we provide a safety net to ourproducers." The bill, which has broad support among mqjor form groups, would authorize $180 billion in spending over the next ten years, a $73.6 billion increase over existing programs. It fattens subsidies for grain and cotton farmers, who have traditionally dominated programs, and provides new payments for everything from milk and lentils to honey and o. wool. An 80 percent increase in programs will benefit livestock forms and fruit and vegetable growers who historically have received little federal cash. Were going back to a strong government presence in agriculture," aaid Luther Twee ten, an agricultural economist at Ohio State University. It certainly gives some security to formers. It comes at a very high coat to taxpayers and to the national economy, however. The political implications were hugs. Several mqjor farm states probably will have close Senate races this foil, includingArkansaa, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. Bush will need to retain the solid support he received in 2002 across the Plains and South if he seeks in 2004. Another beneficiary: Sen. James who wanted the new Jeffords, dairy subsidies to replace a New Ensystem that exgland price-settin-g pired last year. Senate Democrats owe and minimising the risk to our firefighters and the public. If you live in area that is prone to wildfire, take a few precautions to improve your chances ofnot becoming a victim. Clear away combustible brush and limbs at least 30 feet from buildings. Move the stack of firewood from the side of your house. Rake up their majority status to Jeffords and dispose of fallen tree needles. If switch from the GOP in 2001. Economists say the subsidies are you're building a home, use materials. likely to encourage overproduction of Wildfire doesnt distinguish be- crops and inflate land rents, which tween file is. The greatest concentra- raises costs for formers who do not own tion offtiels in the path of a wildfire their own land. can be a home with a shake roof, wood Reprinted with permission ofthe deck, and a cord of firewood next to it. Salt Lake Tribune. You can learn more about how to define your home and property on the Internet at www.firewise.org. Look up the site. It may save your home, your possessions and even your life. Theres always the chance that .nature will mil upon the Unites States this year, and the lightning wont come and rain will foil in the 435-722-51- 31 right places at the right times. In the fire community, we hope that turns out to be the case. But it would be L, Get a CENERRUT1RE Buy 4 General Tires $40 See sales associate for mail-i- n claim form and more details Of STVCj and get a FEE lst-Ju- ly rebate when you purchase four select Z7UmOYALD DRIVING DEPENDABILITY HOME. tires, including those with our $25 Gas Card June mail-i- n patented 31st Nailguard See sales associate for claim form and more details mail-i- n technology. May 19th-Jun- c 6th flame-resista- Subscribe Now! AMERITYRE - Uw Americas Finest Flat Free Tire EGSMXZ3E "ammss. Palmers Tire 395 South 200 East Roosevelt, UT Now Open Till 4pm on Saturday 24 hr. Tow "Ruck 435-722-50- 24 B&nRSBSEBSSBSESKSSBBBBEBSBSB |