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Show ' - ' 9 .: t '',. , ,r 1 - '"' m - - r- r - - I THE Vv. 300 uK tywHf i . School News Town News Health Notes Home and Safety Tips ll neighbor or the News Happenings Senior Citizens News Summit County . Dedicated to Serving Summit County CoahrHIe, UT 84017 50 Friday, October 21, 1988 Volume 51 Number FDrtyTwo Route 35 Improvements Discussed, Pros and Cons The pros and cons of paving State Route Forest 35-Ut- ah Highway 5, in the Uinta National Forest, were aired recently during the first public hearing in Wasatch County on the proposed improvements. The Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Forest Service and Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), have proposed stretch reconstructing the between Woodland (Wasatch County) and Hanna (Duchesne County). It is presently a dirt road, 24-mi- le referred to as Wolf Creek Road. The proposal is to improve the horizontal and vertical alignment, widen and pave the travel lanes, add paved shoulders and improve The Wasatch, Summit and Duchesne County Commissions have unanimously declared their support for the project. Funds for the project will be provided by a $1.7 million year federal fund designated for forest highways in Utah, explained Bill Bird, Environmental Planning Engineer for the Federal Highway Administration. Si if f Representing UDOT, James Naegle, Location and Environmental Studies Engineer, said the Transportation Commission wholeheartedly supports the improvements as an important link in the state highway system. "This highway will open up, and make accessible, a section of our state that is, more or less, isolated. It will give us an alternate route to U.S. 40. It will open up a scenic route. The state people are very concerned right now regarding the scenic highways getting people to enjoy them and stay in our state," he said. He said he recognized that there will be objections to the proposal. "We always like to get where we can go, as fast as we can go, if we can do it in somebody else's backyard," he said. Mr. Bird reported that the plan to improve Route 35 was conceived last year. Construction is scheduled to begin during 1991. The first step is an environmental assessment Then public hearings will then be held to discuss the data. Whether or not a complete Environmental Impact Statement will be necessary will be decided based on the results of the study and the public hearings, Mr. Bird said. Vaughn Stokes, Uinta National Forest Engineer, said the improvements would enhance economics in the area, and be more safe and convenient for both recreationists and local users. He said an improved road would save wear and. tear on vehicles and be more comfortable to travel on than the present rough, bumpy dirt road. Because it would open up the forest area to more use, it would disperse reercationists Grom the Wasatch Front. He also said eliminating the dust and sediment produced by the dirt road will enhance the environment. Answering questions from the audience, he said a 100-un- it campground will be developed at Mill Hollow. The Preliminary Design Engineer for the Highway Administration, Terry Haussler, said the new road will generally follow the existing alignment. He said the pavement will be 28 feet wide, with shoulders lanes, two-foand drainages ditches five to ten feet wide. Speed will vary from 25 to 12-fo- ot ot 45 mph, depending on die topography which will be modified to lessen some of the curves and grades. He said topsoil stripped from the roadbed will be used to help restore construction damage and time will be some reseeding. He estimated cost would be about $15 to $18 million. If the funding remains constant, construction will be completed in 1995, he said. Wasatch Transportation Com-- . missioned Pete Colchian said he submitted a written statement supporting the plan, but requested that Lake Creek Road, from Hebcr City to Highway 35, via Wolf Creek, also be paved. He said it should be maintained during the summer, but that he didn't object to snowmobile use during the winter. Commissioner Duke Larry agreed. When asked if people still might not be inclined to take Route A or C from Jordanellc to get on will significantly impact wildlife; snowmobiles, particularly can be dcterimental to big game. Reconstruction will significantly impact the streams and wet-lands along the road's alignment Are there threatened or endangered species in the area and how will they be protected? Is there any provision for the additional law enforcement that will be needed after construction? What is the economic justification for improvements? What will be the extent of impacts, like wildlife, aesthetics, noise, water quality, etc. and how will they be mitigated? An environmental analysis will not be adequate; a complete Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared. The plans for Highway 35 are probably part of a larger plan to open a highway from Highway 150 to Strawberry Reservoir, for intense recreational use; if so, those plans should be made public. Mr. Bird said construction plans are only in preliminary stages and therefore many of the questions raised cant be answered yet. He also emphasized that the meeting was only the first of many public hearings and that public response will be considered right up to Jhg .time of construction. George Wilson, a Division Resources officer, was the first in the audience to voice objec- tions to improving the road. Speaking as a private citizen, he suggested that plans for the improvements had actually begun seven years ago and objected that the first public hearing was just being conducted. He said there would be no benefits to wildlife. He said the only way to mitigate the increased population in the forest would be to fewer deer provide less quality for hunters and fewer, smaller fish for fewer fishermen. He doubted if road dust and sediment has any impact on the fishery, but said tons of contaminants, like lead and heavy metals, leaching from freshly laid asphalt, will enter the stream, seriously affecting the fishery and, ultimately, water quality. Let's Keep The Hunt Safe as Well as Legal and Successful As the deer hunt gets underway throughout the state. Summit County immediately doubles or triples in population. There are Highway 35, bypassing Hcber several critical changes made this City, he said some people will. year in regulating the hunt as well However, he thought a lot of peoas a few suggestions on how to ple would also enjoy a loop that make this hunt a really safe and enwould begin in Heber Gty, even one. joyable without improvements on Lake A new law passed this year by Creek Road. the Utah State Legislature allows Mr. Bird read a letter from the Utah youngsters to hunt big game members of the B. J. Stewart Land at of age. Under the old Company, with dwellings in Pine law, a hunter had to be Valley, raising questions about the before he could hunt big game. Of proposal. Many of the following course, they must successfully points were made in the letter, and a hunter education course "We have a constantly complete were later reiterated by people in the before purchasing a license. The audience. diminishing resource base. We're new hunters must be young forced to provide more recreation for It has been difficult for the a parent or legal by accompanied more people, with less resource public to get information about the must remain in visual and guardian base. We have a lot of roads, and project, causing them to suspect and verbal contact (without the use it's easy to build more roads. But that the agencies have determined of optical or radio equipment) with we don't have a lot of mountain arthat the reconstruction is necessary that adult at all times while hunt eas... When they're gone, they're and will proceed, regardless of pubing. lic sentiment and environmental gone forever," he said. Also new this year, anyone Another Wildlife officer, Terry impact (resident or nonresident) born after Parkin, added that the paved road Changing the road from sea Dec. 31, 1965, must successfully sonal to an Continued on Page 5A paved road complete a hunter education program before purchasing a Utah big game or combination license. Big game licenses will not be sold during the general deer hunt, Oct. 22 through Nov. 1. Resident hunters must purchase big game or combination licenses by midnight, Oct. 21. This decision to suspend license sales during the general seawill Red Ribbon our be for test; Tuesday tion, especially young peoson deer hunt came as a result of meswill class students also reinforce the to want We picture day, ple. excessive abuses of the old license receive their Ribbons Red and own choose live can to that sage you which encouraged unethprocedure, there will be an essay contest; Have Fun Without AlHealthy ical hunters to "parly hunt." Parly cohol or Other Drugs. It is hoped Wednesday will be wear your Red kill several deer sometimes hunters Ribbon students will all in and this that every person Day country during the season, then ask friends will wear a Red Ribbon during this receive Red Ribbon book markers; or relatives to buy licenses so the week to demonstrate an attitude of Thursday, there will be an assemdeer can be tagged. With no resident INTOLERANCE to the uscabuse bly; Friday will be wear Red Day; license sales during the season, sacks decorated on Saturday grocery of drags. these people will be less like to out will be students the at Summit North given by Elementary law. break the what week! a local stores. D. has a WOW, Richens) (Principal Kay firearms in vehicles were Loaded The Prevention Center applauds really busy Read Ribbon Week one cause of firearms the number Summit planned: on Monday, there will be the fine students of North Utah last year. Last in accidents Summit South an Awareness Day, Tuesday will be and Elementary wear your Red Ribbon Day; Schools for their willingness to year, five people were accidentally shot ihis way. Two of them died. Wednesday will be wear Red Day; participate in this important week. Having a loaded gun in your car Thursday, students at the school' Many thanks to faculty and PTA or truck while driving is not only we couldn't do it will have the opportunity to learn members the law, but also just plain against without Ribbon the official Red you. song and stupid! Utah law defines an unutilize the other leaching materials. loaded gun: as having cartridges or South Summit Elementary Support Red Ribbon Week and shells in the clip, but they cannot (Principal Meryl Louder) is equally help to ensure a better Summit in a position that a single pull be for in now and the all as busy. Monday will be an County the trigger will discharge the of future. a and Awareness Day poster con 14-ye- firearm. Revolvers must have two empty chambers, not immediately under the hammer and another next in line to fire. A pistol, and any rifle or shotgun, may have the magazine or clip loaded, but no loaded cartridge or shell in the firing chamber. Muzzlcloading rifles and shotguns may be transported with a powder charge and ball in the barrel, but they cannot be primed with a flash charge or percussion cap. Keep firearms out of reach of children. Never have a loaded firearm in your camp. Never store your ammunition and firearms in the same location. The deer hunt is a wonderful family tradition in Utah. Let's have a safe hunt in 1988. Utah's first hunter safety law, enacted by the State Legislature in Hunting-relate- d firearms accidents in Utah have been investi- in 1960, the first year of the mandatory program, there were only 52 accidents, of which 17 were er 1988 National Red Ribbon Campaign has been designated 0 by President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan as "Red Oct 23-3- Ribbon Week." As Honorary Chairpersons for this event, they will be delivering a proclamation on Oct 24. The Summit County Prevention Center, in conjunction with Summit County's Elementary Schools and their respective PTA's, will be implementing several Red Ribbon programs, f The campaign is sponsored nationally by the Federation of ParYouth and ents for Drug-Fre- e America. Colleen Bangerter is Honorary Chairwoman of the Utah e Youth in federation for Utah. The goal of the campaign is to America. The create a Drug-Fre- e to emwishes Prevention Center seriousness cf the drug and phasize alcohol abuse and the merits of Drug-Fre- preventive education and rehabilita- - r u ij an - mr - in- - - :M. Mr ; - m semi-automa- tic gated and reported since 1957. There were 126 firearms accidents in Utah that year, of which 93 were caused by juveniles. There were also 22 fircarms-rclalc- d deaths involving hunting. This information prompted Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officials to start a hunter safely program, later to become known as the Utah Hunter Education Program. 1960, required all resident first-tim- e hunters under the age of 21 to complete a firearms training course before purchasing a hunting license. During the 1987 Legislative Session, a new law was passed requiring all hunters bom after Jan. 2, 1965, to complete a hunter education course before purchasing a Utah hunting license. The hunter education program has been very successful in Utah. In its first full year of implementation, relying almost completely upon volunteer instructors, the program yielded an immediate decline in the number of field accidents and deaths. caused fircarms-relaic- d by juveniles. Seven deaths were re- ported. The decline in hunting accidents continues in Utah, even though there are almost twice as many hunters now as there were in 1960. In 1971, 22 accidents were reported, of which five were caused by juveniles. There were six deaths. Continued on Page 5A Seat Belt Incentive Contest The scat belt incentive contest is in full swing at North and South Summit High Schools. The kickoff assembly was held in er and since that time the students have been involved in many fun activities. Surprise parking lot inspections are being held where students and teachers of each school are given prizes for being buckled up. Hugs and Kisses Day was fun for all who participated but some were disappointed when they received a "Hug Me I Buckle-Up- " sticker and a chocolate kiss instead of the real thing. The slogan contest was a big success. The North Summit Cheerleaders, and Dan Baker, of South Summit wrote the winning slogans. They each received $50 in cash for writing the first place slogans. Other winners were Christa Stevens and Gary Crittenden Jfeom North Summit, and Darin Prince and Kellie Sullivan from South Summit. Still to come is an Essay Contest, Poster Contest and a Pumpkin Carving Contest The PATCH Coalition feds the contest to be a huge success thus far, and hopes that the students will continue to wear their safety belts and raise those compliance |