OCR Text |
Show :onty J PANGUITCH • PANGUITCH LAKE • HATCH • BRYCE • TROPIC • ANTIMONY • HENRIEVILLE • CANNONVILLE • ESCALANTE • BOULDER Thursday, February 25, 2010 • Issue # 257 RURAL. AGRICULTURE VITAL TO UTAH Agriculture production in Utah amounts to $1.5 billion in total direct output and employs more than 14,000 people, according to a recent study by Utah State University. If the multiplying effect is included, agriculture production causes $2.3 billion in economic output and accounts for 19,500 jobs. At a recent governor's rural partnership board meeting, Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Leonard M. Blackham noted that with the effects of the food processing sectors included, agriculture and food processing account for 14 percent of Utah's economy. At the county level, Duchesne County is a prime example of how agriculture impacts rural areas in Utah. The USDA estimates cash receipts for agriculture production at more than $45 million for 2008. Including the multiplying effect, agriculture production causes $56.7 million in economic output, which equates to 395 jobs in Duchesne County. "We value our agriculture community as a necessary and important part of our county," said Irene Hansen, economic development director for Duchesne County. An important aspect of agriculture is that it is a more stable part of the economy. As the energy industry goes through boom/bust cycles, agriculture can remain a stable part of the economy. "In some ways, agriculture has been the backbone of the economy," said Troy Cooper, Duchesne County Extension agricultural agent. "While many producers have energy jobs, their part-time farming operations are an additional source of family income. During slowdowns in the energy industry, the agriculture portion of their income becomes a more important part of the household income." While agriculture is a long-standing tradition, it is progressing and changing. Some producers are adding corn mazes and other recreational activities to their operations. This has been a diversification to respond to changes in the economy. Farmers have had to progress, and it will be important for them to continue to do so to remain viable and have thriving operations into the future, said Cooper. "As farmers and ranchers add other types of enterprises to their farming operations, they, in effect, become small business owners," said Ruby Ward, USU Extension agribusiness specialist. "They need to understand the same business concepts as other small business owners. This includes marketing their products and services, understanding legal issues and making a profit." Because of this, the Diversified Agriculture Conference was established seven years ago to help farmers and ranchers learn how to diversify their operations as well as obtain information on marketing, legal issues and other business management topics, Ward said. The conference provides useful information farmers can take home and use immediately. f1, /‘,........___, . I • THURSDAY HIGH: 39 LOW: 15 A.M.SNOW FRIDAY MOSTLY CLOUDY HIGH: 42 LOW: 23 SATURDAY /-----"---.\ ,-........._, SNOW SHOWERS HIGH: 36 LOW: 21 SUNDAY FEW SNOW SHOWERS HIGH: 42 LOW: 19 MONDAY PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH: 44 LOW: 21 TUESDAY PARTLY CLOUDY r SNOW SHOWERS HIGH: 45 LOW: 22 WEDNESDAY HIGH: 45 LOW: 22 PANGUITCH HOMECOMING 2010 Where were you in January 1930? Pictured below is the Seventh Grade class taught by John Crosby. How many kids can you identify in the photo? After you have carefully scrutinized the photo for an hour or two you will find the key on the inside of the back page. No cheating. Do you have interesting photos or memorabilia that might include Panguitch, Panguitch Lake, Widtsoe, Spry, Hatch, Orton, Hillsdale, Tropic, Henrieville, Cannonville, Escalante, Boulder, Circleville, Junction, Antimony, Kingston or other settlements of Southern Utah? Let us copy them so others can share them from July 21st to 25th during the Decade Homecoming and Reunion where everyone is invited to join in the fun. We need volunteers to serve on cornmittees and you can help even if you don't live in the area. Watch panguitch.org for information and regis- 4 A,' '- M." • 4. 41 0 --..-, au warms. efts map imam Min mans IIIIEP■ , rov#11. WPM dna ■ 446. gni 4 1aA MIMI =1 Y 4 i =JIM. - Nom! Ilan 11■111' ■ east 4, 'AI 111. a ' " 8..E .-!N MIMI NOM OEM it, I , ii =RIP di III MN MI--ii -wie mat um ingiemp . ! EV - AP • vs. gamin? BMW MB MIN .411111111.11/ .11.611111.1411" " d MIN MININIIIIII ", 4AFAINE ARNE. A ME it—, ES. - 100111.11M 0 OS c. 01P; • to ' ' •.. i USN IIIIIIIIIIIMP Nibs 8 MO IIIMINI1=1 • MI es AI •.. ILI , . •Mill IMMO 11•1•1•111118 II oiF p MEM IIMMINI MIN* SEM 41111411111 tration. You may e-mail your name, address, phone number, school you attended, what committees you would be willing to serve on to the website or to lindabardwell@gmail.com . For photos and memorabilia questions you may also contact Steve Marshall at 435-616-2212 or Joe (Alan) Worthen at 801-465-2855. 118.1111111118 ' a 111111111111111 * MIN sumo GRADE ,VII IF • .1 ' fillks, ' "cal 411MMI - MVPIEE MOM SEM I. IMO "MN WINNI MINIM Mb ' ONE IIIIIND VIM I8 ,. NMI 11101111111111111 go MOM 111=11110 UMW: -DISTRICT . JAN.30,0.10. Front row: Jay Talbot, Arvil Henrie, Emil Norton, Doyle Sevy, Milton Boyter, Marion Talbot. Second row: Ora Wilcock, Elda Prince, Pauline DeLong, Margaret Lee, Hettie Hilderbrand, Dorthea Veater, lone Ipson, Mary Judd, Maxine Sargent, Myrtle Gardiner, Edith Heywood, Margaret Hurst, Vera Henrie. Third Row, Ruth Norton Claara Hatch, Deloa Cameron, Lois Bigelow, Norma Sevy, Fern Houston, Mary Linford, Tennys Slack, Vera Worthen, Georgie Owens, Althea Thompson, Myrtle Davis. Fourth row: Lester Wilcox, Keith Steele, Wallace Haycock, Grant Excell, Joe Haycock, Mr. John Crosby, Sevy Houston, Rex Molt Robert Showalter, Clarence Cameron. UTAH HEALTH EXCHANGE LAUNCHES LARGE GROUP PILOT PROJECT Select large employer groups will be eligible to participate in early test of the Exchange Today the Utah Health Exchange (UHE) announced the launch of a new pilot program designed to admit large employer groups into the Exchange earlier than originally anticipated. When established last year, the plan was opened for early testing only to small employers, 2-50 individuals. The Utah Health Exchange was not scheduled to admit large employer groups for beta testing until fall of 2011. However, at the urging of several large group employers, Utah House Speaker David Clark included a provision in his most recent health system reform bill authorizing the Governor's Office of Economic Development's Office of Consumer Health Services to initiate a pilot project for large employer groups. The first five employer groups to contribute to plan design through participation in the pilot are Zions Bank, APX Alarm, Utah County government, HealthEquity, Inc. and Spanish Fork City government. Zions Bank, a pioneer in consumer driven health plan (CDHP) implementation, will evaluate the UHE program and consider the benefits it may present to employees alongside the CDHP plans it has offered for the past five years. "Together, these five groups constitute yet another 'unprecedented partnership' on the path towards meaningful health system reform," said Speaker Clark. "Utah businesses are demanding more predictable and controllable health care costs and increased choice and flexibility for their employees. The Health Exchange provides an avenue to address these concerns," said Spencer Eccles, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development in whose agency the health exchange is being developed. The Utah Health Exchange is a critical component in moving towards a consumer-based system. The Exchange allows employers the opportunity to simplify benefits management by offering employees a "defined contribution", or specified amount of pretax dollars set aside for the purchase of an employeeselected health plan from a menu of various plans and Once, lead this people into war and they will forget there ever was such a thing as tolerance. Woodrow Wilson prices. The Exchange also allows employees, rather than employers, to compare and select the health plan that works best for their individual needs and circumstances. As more employers choose to offer health benefits on a defined contribution basis via the Exchange, increasing numbers of workers will be able to take their coverage with them from job to job. Increased portability means greater continuity of care and a reduction in the number of uninsured. By statute, all plans of- fered through the Exchange must meet federal standards for employer-sponsored coverage; thus, participating employers and their workers can be confident the insurance they choose will be quality coverage from responsible carriers. Furthermore, it is expected the element of consumer choice in this market will put downward pressure on prices and while simultaneous putting upward pressure on quality. This combination constitutes the most effective means whereby consumers may maximize value in their health coverage. ■ Autb Headli6lif 3 S'atikfaction Complete Auto Service & Repair SAFETY INSPECTIONS 475 East Center St. • Panguitch, Utah 435-676-8994 Multimedia Phone: 435-676-2621 Fax 435-836-2700 PO BOX 472, Loa, Utah 84747 snapshot@scinternet.net -.1111MS. Member of: or Utah Press ***** IF PA. NDEPENDENT FREE PAPERS OP AMERICA THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia and is distributed weekly to all of Garfield County. Its purpose is to inform residents about local issues and events. Articles submitted from independent writers are not necessarily the opinion of Snapshot Multimedia. We sincerely hope you enjoy the paper and encourage input 1 on ideas and/or suggestions for the paper. Thank you for your support. ALL content for THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER must be submitted on FRIDAY BEFORE 5:00 PM to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper. BOXHOLDER PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID LOA, UTAH PERMIT No. 5 |