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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Wednesday, February 23, 2005 Sanpete County NEWS•BRIEFS COUNTYWIDE INTEREST HEAT funds are still available By Kathy Lin Eggleston Help is still available for low-income families with high winter energy bills. The Utah HEAT (Home Energy Assistance Target) program helps households by making a one-time payment directly to utility companies. “The Utah HEAT program is entering the final two months of the 2004-2005 winter home heating season,” HEAT program manager Sherm Roquiero said. “There are still funds available to help qualified low-income Utah households pay their utility bills to heat their homes.” The deadline to apply is April 29. Applicants must provide identification, Social Security cards for all people age 18 or older in the home, proof of income, and a copy of the most recent bill from each utility company, or a printout from those companies showing the household’s energy costs during the coldest months. To apply, Sanpete County residents can call 835-2831. Sanpete hospital renovation nears completion MT. PLEASANT—Ned Hill, administrator of Sanpete Valley Hospital, says the hospital’s refurbished emergency room should be finished soon. Speaking in a Fairview City Council meeting on Feb. 15, Hill said the facility should be finished in a-week-and-a-half from that time. He also said the hospital will soon begin construction on a ninepatient exam-room clinic in Mt. Pleasant. Hill said the hospital has no plans to move any facilities to Ephraim at the present time. However, he said he wouldn’t rule that possibility out in the future, as Ephraim is the business center of Sanpete County. He said the hospital intends to spend $570,000 for the clinic in Mt. Pleasant, which it wouldn’t do if it expected to move. He said the hospital’s board of directors might consider moving the hospital 10 years from now, but even in that case it wouldn’t abandon the facilities in Mt. Pleasant. Sanpete County to receive CDBG funds By C. R. Truitt MANTI—Sanpete County Commissioners are reviewing the allocated funds the county will receive from the Six-County Association of Governments’ (SCAOG) Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) Program. Representative Emery Polenoma and Executive Director Russell Cowley visited the commission with the preliminary CDBG allocations for this year. The SCAOG has about $700,687 budgeted for this project that will be split between Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier and Wayne counties based on a population formula. The formula is population times 6.93481944 plus this year’s base of $30,000, which yields the allocation for which a county can apply. Sanpete County’s population figure was set at 23,689 and its total allocation is $194,279. Out of that figure Fayette could receive $21,000, Manti $93,279 and Ephraim $40,000 to promote economic growth and job creation, maintain facilities and building infrastructure, meet basic needs and provide affordable housing for low and moderate income residents. Sanpete communities urged to protect heritage First Lady Laura Bush is inviting more communities in Sanpete County to become Preserve America communities. Mt. Pleasant and Manti are two of four communities in Utah and 220 in the United States to take the initiative to preserve cultural and natural heritage through the White House’s Preserve America plan. “We’d like to see cities and town all throughout Sanpete County become Preserve American communities,” said Monte Bona, a member of the Mt. Pleasant City Council and Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance. “We are encouraging our communities that have projects and programs that convey their national heritage to apply for the program,” Bona says. The next quarterly deadline for applications is March 1. Mt. Pleasant received its designation in August 2004 and was recognized for its preservation efforts. “You honor our nation’s past and inspire and educate for the future,” Bush wrote in a letter to the community. “As your community shares its story with residents and visitors, you set a great example for others.” Manti received its designation in November 2004 and was honored for its use of Old City Hall as a museum and travel and information center, and praised for the more than 4,200 community volunteer hours that went into revitalizing the building. The Manti Historic Preservation Commission, established in 2003, was also recognized by Preserve America for playing a vital role, as is the effort to have parts of the city listed in the National Register of Places as a historic district. “The Old City Hall may be used as the county economic development and travel/heritage council office,” Bona says. “This office in conjunction with the Mormon Pioneer Heritage Center, which is being organized by Snow College and Utah State University, is among the reasons the city is key to our development efforts.” GUNNISON—A facelift is getting closer for the Casino Star Theatre, thanks to a $5,000 grant that will be matched dollar-fordollar by public or private funds. The seed grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation Utah Preservation Initiation Fund will be used to hire a consultant to complete an architectural plan for the restoration of the theatre’s facade. “With these startup dollars,” Richard Moe, National Trust president, said, “Gunnison joins the hundreds of other communities across the country actively ensuring that America’s architectural and cultural heritage is preserved.” Fayette to hold public hearing on creating Enterprise Zone By John Hales Staff writer FAYETTE—The Fayette Town Council has scheduled a public hearing for March 3 at 6 p.m. to discuss setting up the town as an area qualified for business tax breaks. Under the Utah Enterprise Zone Program, established in 1988, areas that meet certain requirements can be designated as enterprise zones and can qualify for tax incentives for businesses located within the zone. Areas so designated must be a municipality with a population less than 10,000 in a county with a population less than 50,000 and not part of a metropolitan area, as classified by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to information on the Utah Department of Community and Economic Development website, enterprise zones applications are reviewed and approved “on the basis of economic development need … and other considerations based on a variety of economic distress factors.” According to former Sanpete County economic development director Sally East, most areas of the county—both incorporated and unincorporated—are designated as enterprise zones. Fayette hopes to encourage business growth by offering the tax incentives that enterprise zones provide. During the public meeting the council will divulge its plan for an enterprise zone and discuss how businesses within the proposed enterprise zone can receive tax breaks. Gunnison (Continued from A1) Chief Blaine Jensen said, “It’s a neat program, but you need people who are willing to take the time for it.” The council also discussed banners that will hang from the light poles. The consensus was while they all liked the marine canvas, they would continue to look for additional options. Councilman Rod Taylor volunteered to contact the city of Salina to see what their banners are made from. Lori Nay also brought in a 48” snowflake as a pole decoration possibility for Christmas. Councilwoman Lori Nay reported that she’s been having some problems with scheduling the Fire Department Advisory Board meeting and will be working on getting people to attend. She also has the cemetery board meeting scheduled for next week and the Sanpitch River Walkway meeting scheduled for the second week in March. Other council business included the possibility of purchasing new trees from Sandy Ranch/Entrada Nursery. There are logistic problems in transporting the trees, which weigh approximately 400 pounds apiece. Councilman Steven Buchanan reported that the water shares owned by Gunnison would be again leased out this year to the same people as last year. There are 80-110 shares available. He also reported that the sewer project is going well. Mayor Scott Hermansen inquired about the dates for the Fourth of July auction and parade. Blaine Jensen said last year “was the largest turnout ever” and “everyone’s in favor of Friday and Saturday again.” City recorder Marilyn Stewart asked why the skate park is closed. The council answered that it has been open on weekends and will continue to be open on days when the weather is good. Farm and Industrial Machinery AUCTION By Kathy Lin Eggleston Sanpete County Compiled by John Hales THURSDAY, FEB. 24 Snow College presents convocation series Free weekly lectures and performances are held from 12:301:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Jorgensen Concert Hall of the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts at Snow College. For information call Diana Spencer at 283-7410. This week, Ken Wallentine will give an address entitled, “Ouch! Your Free Speech is My Pain.” Wallentine is chairman of the Utah Law Enforcement Legislative Committee. FEB. 23-26, MARCH 3-5 Snow College to present “The Fantastiks” The Snow College Theatre Department’s production of “The Fantastiks” will begin at 8 p.m. at the Eccles Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and youth under 18, and $2 for Snow College students with an activity card. The box office can be reached by calling 283-7478. SATURDAY, FEB. 26 Library hosts book writers Seven published authors will be at the Ephraim City Public Library at noon to discuss writing and publishing, and to autograph their books, which will be on hand for purchase at bookstore prices. Portions of the book sales will benefit the library. Authors scheduled to appear are Carol Thayne Warburton, Clair Poulson, Julie Wright, Tara Allred, Josi Kilpack, James Dashner and Shirley Bahlmann. The library will also offer prizes and refreshments at the event. MONDAY, FEB. 28 Symphony to perform at Snow The Snow College Symphony Orchestra will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Eccles Performing Arts Center. Tickets $3 for adults, $2 for children and $12 for families. TUESDAY, MARCH 1 Snow to present choral concert The choirs of Snow College will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Eccles Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $3 for adults, $2 for children and $12 for families. FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MARCH 4-5 Meeting addresses farm, ranch management Rural Utahns for Local Solutions will sponsor Steve Rich, president of Rangeland Restoration Academy, who will discuss holistic management of public and private lands. The first session will be Friday 3-8 p.m., the second session will be Saturday 9 a.m.-noon in the Scandinavian Room at the Noyes Administration Building at Snow College in Ephraim. Casino Star Theatre Gunnison Phantom of the Opera Feb. 25Mar. 1 • Mon.-Thu. .... 7 p.m. • Fri. ............. 7, 9 pm • Sat. ........... 7, 9 pm Adults: $5.00 Seniors and Children 11 and under: $3.00 casinostartheatre.org - 528-STAR Rated PG13 Mar. 1st is bargain night! Mason Machinery Auction 2005 (Hwy 89, Aurora, UT, Sale will be held rain or shine) Sat., Feb. 26 - 11 a.m. Finally, Hearing Instruments that talk to each other! Years of researching, refining, innovating and listening to what really matters to individuals with hearing loss has created the world’s most advanced hearing system - ACURIST with e2e (ear to ear) wirelessT. The first of its kind in the world, e2e wireless built into every ACURIS hearing instruments affords a new level of complexity not possible before when wearing two hearing instruments. ACURIS hearing instruments actually communicate with each other; sensing, analyzing, interpreting, sharing, and adjusting constantly and automatically. Tractors Balers Swathers Harvest Tillage Vehicles Trailers and more! Consignors welcome New lots added daily For information call: Call Today for a FREE hearing test and consultation. Cell: (435) 201-1705 ANDERSON HEARING & AUDIOLOGY 435-867-5761 GUNNISON Casino Star Theatre receives funds A3 Sanpete Messenger-Gunnison Valley Edition C.R. Wood, Auctioneer PO Box 328 • Elsinore, Utah 84724 • (435) 527-3808 • woodj@scinternet.net 4NFMM #FUUFS At the Special Clinics office (next to Dr. Nay’s) in Gunnison |
