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Show PANGUITCH • PANGUITCH LAKE • HATCH • BRYCE • TROPIC • ANTIMONY • HENRIEVILLE • CANNONVILLE • ESCALANTE • BOULDER Thursday, March 31, 2011 • Issue # 316 SECOND ANNUAL SOUTHERN UTAH BIOMASS FIELD DAY Biomass is the ultimate green renewable energy and there is plenty of it in Southern Utah. All individuals interested in converting Junipers, Pinyon Pines, and other woody biomass into a usable product should mark their calendars for June 3 and 4, 2011. Equipment viewing will begin at 8am each day with demonstrations starting at 9am. An evening dinner on June 3rd, at Eagle Point Resort, will include resource and technology experts. Organizer Lance Lindbloom, of Bloomin Ranch Service in Beaver, Utah expects vendors and attendees from throughout the western region. "The idea stemmed from our stewardship project in southern Utah where part of the goal is not to just thin the trees but also do something with the woody product," said Lindbloom. "At our first event, the focus was on process- ing equipment; this year we have added harvesting, handling, transportation and utilization equipment to the demonstration. Additionally, experts will focus on the newest technology in biomass." Contractors, landowners, and public land managers have long complained about the waste involved with removing invasive woody plants from grasslands or thinning trees from overcrowded forests. Traditionally this "slash" has been burned, scattered or chipped on location. Modern equipment makes it possible to chip this material for use in state-ofthe-art heating and cooling systems that fully utilize the material with minimal residue and smoke. Many schools and other public buildings, as well as some industries have successfully converted to this green technology. Other products can include firewood, landscaping and erosion control materials. Use of chipped woody biomass for fire rehabilitation is being investigated by Federal and State agencies. The event is free but registration is required. For updates, directions and further information visit the following website: www. utahbiomass.com . Sponsors for this demonstration include: Bloomin Ranch Service Bureau of Land Management Beaver County Travel Council Local Soil Conservation Districts Utah Biomass Resource Group Utah Chapter of Society of American Foresters USU Extension Service Western SARE USDA Forest Service NO PRAIRIE DOG SHOOTING AFTER APRIL 1 Starting April 1, 2011 you can't hunt prairie dogs on public land in Utah. You can start hunting Protecting prairie dogs On private property, a them again, however, startJust like game animals, landowner and those to ing June 16, 2011. Utah has a hunting season whom the landowner has There are two exceptions for Gunnison and white- give permission can hunt to this rule—Utah prairie tailed prairie dogs: prairie dogs year-round. From April 1 to June 15, dogs in southwestern Utah, Tony Wright, a sensitive and the white-tailed prairie all prairie dog hunting is species biologist with the dog population in Coyote prohibited on public land Division of Wildlife ReBasin in northeastern Utah, across the state. The closure sources, says the shooting may not be hunted, no mat- does not apply to private closure is designed to help ter what time of year it is. property, however. Gunnison and white-tailed prairie dogs, which are considered sensitive species in Utah. "Protecting prairie dogs during their spring breeding season helps ensure the prairie dogs are able to give birth to and raise their FRIDAY young," Wright says. HIGH: 68 Wright says many wildLOW: 40 SUNNY life species depend on prairie dogs for food. "BlackSATURDAY footed ferrets, birds of prey HIGH: 63 and ground predators feed PARTLY CLOUDY LOW: 38 on prairie dogs," he says. Some areas closed year SUNDAY round HIGH: 55 In some areas of Utah, PARTLY CLOUDY LOW: 33 prairie dogs may not be hunted, no matter what time MONDAY II of year it is: Utah prairie dogs in HIGH: 57 SUNNY LOW: 31 southwestern Utah are protected by the Endangered Species Act. You may not TUESDAY hunt them. HIGH: 59 SUNNY LOW: 34 SHOWERS Member of: fir Utah Press WEDNESDA1111 HIGH: 57 LOW: 34 ***** IFPA. INDEPENDENT FREE PAPERS Of AMERICA ac_ 4.1.1I • I " • ISMII lIA0111 ,11t ►,41n GARFIELD COUNTY 4-H AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS For Trevor Henie and or Hayden Johnson, both seniors at Bryce Valley High School, received a $500. 00 scholarship to any accredited school of their choice from Garfield County Extension, for their involvement in the 4-H youth program. If these youth attend Utah State University (USU) their scholarships will be match with university funds giving them $1000.00 each. These young men are actively involved in 4-H through the Livestock project and because of there projects have learned life skills that will make them more productive members of society. They are desirous of continuing their education and are hopeful to keep their lifelong ties to agriculture alive. Garfield County 4-H is proud of these individuals and their willingness to keep a 4-H record (4-H Portfolio) which allowed them to be able to participate in this scholarship. During the scholarship interviews applicants were asked "How would they suggest how to help teen 4-Her's stay in 4-H" the answers were "Educate Teens about the opportunities 4-H can offer", "Lets youth know there is help and guidance from extension for their projects", and more. With those answers Garfield County 4-H has new passion to educate High School Students about 4-H. About the leadership opportunities, exciting activities, new programs, over 101 project ideas, scholarships, fun, friends, youth developments, character building, Fair, county contests, state contest, camps and service opportunities. 4-H is for anyone 3rd-12th grades. We have 4-H leadership councils for 9th-12th graders where youth can make a difference for their communities and our county. Be involved and be rewarded! www.garfield4-h.org or www.utah4-h.org . If you are interested in receiving e-mails about 4-h activities please send a request to cassielyman@usu.edu subject: 4-h calendar request. Cassie Lyman , Garfield County 4-H Assistant Cassie.lyman@usu.edu , 435-826-4088 USDA OFFERS GRANTS TO CONNECT RURAL COMMUNITIES The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities is accepting applications for grants to provide broadband access in rural communities currently without broadband service. "As President Obama has said, 'Students should graduate from high school prepared for college and a career - no matter who you are or where you come from' - and this program connects school children to educational opportunities via the Internet in some of America's most remote locations," said Jonathan Adelstein, administrator of the USDA Rural Utilities Service. "It also enhances commerce, public safety and health care in rural areas that have been overlooked by modern communications technology. Adelstein added, "Broadband is an important part of the Obama Administration's effort to help rural America 'win the future.'" Funding is provided through the Community Connect Grant program. Grants are available to communities in the most rural, economically challenged areas where loans would not be sustainable. Funds may be used to construct, acquire or lease facilities to deploy broadband to residents, businesses and essential community facilities such as police and fire stations, libraries, schools and health-care clinics. "The Community Connect Program can offer financial assistance to rural Utah communities that have a goal to provide their residents with broadband connections," said Dave Conine, Utah director of USDA Rural Development. "This technology will provide residents with global access to quality economic, social and educational opportunities." Eligible entities are incorporated organizations, state and local government bodies, for-profit or non-profit cooperatives, private corporations and limited li- ability corporations, tribes and tribal organizations. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Grants range from $50,000 to $1.5 million. While grants cannot be renewed, applications to extend existing projects are welcome. Each project requires matching contributions, must serve a rural area where broadband service does not exist, must provide services to critical communities free of charge for two years, and must offer basic service to all premises within the proposed service area. More information on Community Connect grants may be viewed and downloaded from the USDA Rural Development website @ www.rurdev.usda.gov . Visit Utah's home page for information on other programs offered in Utah @ www.rurdev.usda.gov/ut . Contact: Donna Birk, Public Affairs Specialist 435835-4111 x107 COUNTY COMMISSION VOTES FOR HOGBACK DEVELOPMENT In a show of support for BLM/Monument and UDOT development, the Garfield County Commission voted Monday 2-1 in favor of developing the Hogback day-use area. The voting action was not on the Commission meeting agenda. A Boulder resident who called to inquire about the topic also was informed that it "wasn't on the agenda." (The GSENM manager and BLM staff person happened to be in attendance.) Dell LeFevre was the one Commissioner who voted against the development. Residents of Boulder and Escalante have been actively protesting the development for several weeks. On March 8, 39 residents attended a mid-afternoon, onsite meeting to voice their concerns. This latest action by the County Commission met with surprise and dismay. Said one resident, "It's disconcerting when our elected and federal employees completely dismiss the concerns of so many local residents and business owners. And it's very troubling when this very public issue is not even mentioned on the agenda of a public meeting. Isn't that illegal?" - Margaret Smith, Boulder It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated. Alec Bourne 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 on ideas and/or suggestions for the paper. Thank you for your support. Multimedia Phone: 435-676-2621 Fax 1-888-370-8546 PO BOX 472, Loa, Utah 84747 snapshot@scinternet.net 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 |