| OCR Text |
Show La Officials Brace Guilt By Non-Association For Fire Season Popular geography teacher sacked by Junior High without explanation DEREK JENSEN’ Without significant rainfall, conditions ripe for scorcher year MANAGING © SILVER teve Rutter has already put out oe aE seven fires this season. While that’s an average number of fires for mid-May, the state wildland $ firefighter worries those seven small _ fires could be the prelude toa fire season every bit as. bad as last oe _ maybe WOFSE. <5. 0 ee “Late winter storms: bel this ~ year’s snow pack and moisture levels along the Wasatch Back to near normal for the most part. But one aver-~ age year: doesn’t offset for the previ- ous ‘dry years, says Rutter. - Throw in a snow pack that is quickwy melting off, above normal temperatures and below normal rain predict~ ed in‘the long range forecast, and its easy to understand the angst of fire 3 officials |like Rutter. “We’ve got good moisture this spring...but we haven’t had enough moisture to reduce the fuel [load],” says Rutter, the northeast fire manager olticer for. the |) Utah Department of Forests, Fire and | |. | sir: said. “Tt. grade social FIRE continued ee much floored studies at Park City’s PHOTO Ecker Hill Middle School. “He was very popular here, the Students emercente youthful ef iisiasnt with visual aides to connect with his 185 students. The administration and School. Board refuse to talk about the matter, telling parents, who have drafted protest official who wisheG to remain anonymous told the Courier. Yet. Wasatch pulled the plug Jr. High on their quickly first-year geography instructor who combines letters, they are legally prohibited... _ STEPHENS break. According to Webster, the princi- pal has not said a word to him since the February encounter. Meanwhile, the teacher will fill out the remainder TEACHER continued on A8 Superintendent changes mind on early retirement, steps down for good DEREK JENSEN MANAGING he end.was Talbot, but lye here’s no better place ie be than here.” Board member Ron. Davis light- EDITOR near for the Wasatch Dan ened the somber - with a joke. schools superintendent didn’t know how near until last week. After announcing an early retire- mood “Is our acceptance optional,” of the room | he of. that. letter quipped—drawing a ment earlier this month, ultimately a official retirement « during last Thursday’s School Board meeting. _ Toward the end of the May 10 meeting, Talbot told the Board he has accepted a teaching position to start next fall at the University of Utah. The retirement will mark the end ofa five-year tenure with the disTalbot will work through the end of his contract (June 30) before leaving. _ Though. anticipated (Talbot. had sent. “This has been the highlight oa my professional career,” Talbot said soft- don’t think we'll be able to replace you.” New Board member Robert Salazar | ‘ POSTAL PATRON zt hcsotied's «Standard _ US: Postage Paid — the announcement “was” ‘nonetheless emotional. find someone to sit in your chair. I just end of the school year at the helm. A’ a replacement has not yet been named. trict. _ Board members a retirement. letter), smattering of laughs. | “We've appreciated very much your leadership and your insight,” Davis continued. “It will be our responsibility to took the opportunity to praise: Talbot “as well. “Unfortunately, some of the things you started have not gotten out into the public,” said Salazar who suggested the Board should do a better Job pushing some of Talbot’s projects. : “Maybe that will be the time we get. the fruits of your labors,” he added. Meanwhile, Talbot will finish the leave of absence, the superintendent changed his mind and announced his EF DAN ee Talbot Makes It on Ad NEW COURIER WEBSITE COMING SOON! — BY around Wasatch Mountain Jr. High geography teacher Doug Webster (center) during their lunch students just loved him,” an Ecker Hill Currant Creek area, for instance, is currently of the Year =] ust NO: years prior, WNsteL 5was ined Teacher of the Year for sixth — | at 12 percent of normal moisture and may represent the biggest danger in | the county. GROUP > Some areas of Wasatch County are worse off then others. The MEDIA who recently received a signed petition of support from nearly. 200 students has been fired— and the school won’t tell him why. Doug Webster, Wasatch Mountain Jr. High’s ninth grade geography teacher was told by the administration in February that his contract would not be renewed. Cornered in the hallway by principal Dennis Bacon, the 38-year-.old teacher was also. asked if he wanted to offer his immediate resignation. “It came. as a major shock,” COURIER STAFF STERN yee KING former Teacher TIM WESTBY State Lands. EDITOR PHOTO BY DEREK JENSEN Superintendent Dan Talbot presiding over one of his final school board meetings Heber City, UT Permit No. 32005 MARRIOTT LIBRARY, ARCHIVES 295South 1500 East Salt Lake City, UT, 84112 |
