Sanpete Messenger Gunnison Valley Edition | 2005-03-16 | Page 2

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A2 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Education (Continued from A1) pay for possible cost increases in benefit premiums and social security taxes? USOE officials will discuss and answer those questions next week during a meeting with superintendents in St. George. Apart from WPU questions, Superintendent Petersen said, “I’m concerned about the portion of reading money that wasn’t funded.” Petersen says the South Sanpete School District received grant money last year to implement an early reading program and hire reading specialists in the schools. He says that schools have had success with the program, but that the legislature reduced the program’s funding for next year. “We’ll lose about $25,000$30,000 in our district,” he said. “I hate to see that area not funded.” Superintendent Syme says his biggest concern is the legislature’s manipulation of the state’s revenue streams in order to use money from the Uniform School Fund for other purposes. “The Uniform School Fund is a dedicated fund for education, but the Legislature diverted it to other areas, and that’s a bit disconcerting,” Syme says. For example, by paying for things like a new college or university building from the Uniform School Fund, the legislature frees up money in the state’s general fund, but that makes less money available for public education. Rep. Rick Wheeler (REphraim) says something like that happened in this year’s legislative session. “There’s a lot more in the [Uniform School Fund] than what the Legislature wanted to spend on WPU,” Wheeler says. “A big chunk of that went to build higher education buildings.” The state’s college’s and universities fared well financially, too. “Higher education did better than they’ve ever done in history, when you include money for buildings,” Wheeler says. However, one of the higher education buildings the Legislature did not fund this year was a new library for Snow College, where Wheeler is a vice president. Snow College president Michael Benson says the library project has an excellent chance of being funded next year however, and says he hopes to get some- thing passed at the Legislature’s special session in April that would give the okay to proceed with designing the building. Benson is also pleased about programs at the college that received increased funding. “I’m very happy to report we got a substantial amount of money for our nursing program. That’s a big deal,” Benson said. With the added funding, Snow will expand its nursing program and begin to offer nursing classes in Nephi. Benson also said that Snow’s pre-engineering program received a 20 percent increase. Both of those funding initiatives are mostly ongoing rather than one-time cash infusions, said Benson. Another funding issue the President discussed was a proposed three-percent across-theboard tuition increase. The regents will meet this Friday to approve it, but Benson said the increase is all but certain. At the same meeting on Friday, Snow will seek an additional six-percent increase for the college specifically, an amount the school’s Board of Trustees has already approved. At a Truth in Tuition meeting held recently, Benson told Snow’s student body that the tuition would go toward hiring three additional faculty members—two in the communications department, and one in the English department. The hirings, said Benson, are part of a two-year plan to increase the number of faculty at Snow in response to increases in student enrollment. Benson says one of the hallmarks of the college is a small student-to-teacher ratio, and that students support using the money to preserve that tradition. Tuition at the school is currently $747 per semester. The combined nine-percent increase comes $67, bringing next year’s tuition to $814 per semester. Fees at the college are also expected to increase by $30, pending approval from the regents. The increase, according to Benson, will be used to help pay for the Activities Center renovation, provide more activities through the Student Life office, and implement an un-funded state mandate for computer management systems in every college and university. Sanpete News Company, Inc., publishing the GUNNISON VALLEY EDITION Member Utah Press Association Seniors reflect on fun facts at party Senior citizens were treated to lunch and dinner (served by young folks) and lots of entertainment (given by young and old.) An interesting twist to this years’ party was a slide show depicting Gunnison life in years past. Most/least prizes were presented based on information discovered from a questionnaire. Attendees found out some interesting facts, including oldest and youngest person attending; Erma Pickett (100) and Andrea Johansen (60), and that Stan Pickett has lived in Gunnison the Deer (Continued from A1) tract is up for renewal and Lyons isn’t sure he wants it anymore. “If I didn’t get the contract, I wouldn’t be sorry. It’s a thankless job,” Lyons explained. “Gas has doubled in the last five years, liability insurance is expensive and Sanpete County charges more to dispose of the deer [at its landfill]. It’s just crazy.” The deer disposal state contract pays 70 cents per mile. The disposal company furnishes the equipment, vehicles and insurance, and pays a disposal fee that averages $100-$150 per month. “It’s a thankless, disgusting job,” Lyons said. “We will pick up the deer along a stretch of highway and by the next morning there are six more dead deer. It’s like a steady drip on a faucet—it just never ends.” “A two-day-old dead deer in warm weather is disgusting,” added Lyons. “You can’t drive fast enough to stay in front of the flies...” Since January, carcass pickup has been more sporadic than in the past. That’s because Restoration Services’ contract for twiceweekly pickup on U.S. 89, State Road 132 and State Road 137 expired in January and UDOT has not yet awarded a new contract. During the interim, UDOT has tried to pick up the slack, the twice-weekly pickup service has been sporadic. “We’d really like to pick up Deadlines, Post Office & Contact Information Phone [phone], fax [phone] E-mail publisher at: [e-mail] E-mail sports to: [e-mail] E-mail school items to: [e-mail] E-mail news to: [e-mail] [e-mail] E-mail ads to: Deadline: Thursday, 5 p.m. Manti: 35 S. Main, Hours: M-F, 9 am to 6 pm Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti, Utah 84642, and at additional mailing offices. • • • POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Sanpete Messenger, 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642 Editor & Publisher ............................................ Suzanne Dean Associate Publisher ................................................ Lloyd Call Senior Reporter .................................................... Sean Hales Assignment Reporter ........................................... John Hales Office Manager .................................................. Jacque Marsh Administrative Assistant ........................... Lindsay Kogianes Webmaster .................................................... David Armstrong Staff Manti ................................................ Judy Chantry (835-8010) Ftn. Green, Moroni .............................. C. R. Truitt (445-3326) Gunnison ....................................... 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MARK LYONS / MESSENGER PHOTO MaeDawn Larsen, Newell Pickett, Marion Christenson, Lucille Campbell, Betty Jacobsen and others look on as Louise Sorensen reaches for a prize at the Gunnison Old Folk’s Party, which was held last Saturday, March 12. longest, 86 ½ years, but Marion Christenson has lived in the same house for 61 years. Robert Larsen owns the oldest vehicle, a 1928 Dodge. The party ended with every- one joining in and singing “Happy Trails”. the deer ourselves, UDOT’s Robert Nebeker explained. “However, we have to contract out a certain amount of stuff and this is one of those.” Even when a contract is in force, carcass pickup is not always 100 percent. “I’ve seen the deer pickup trucks just drive right past the bodies without picking them up,” said a UDOT worker. “In fact, sometimes we’ll just follow the truck and pick up the ones they leave behind.” Many people who hit deer never stop. Failing to stop is against the law, said Sheriff Kay Larsen. “In the event that you kill or injure a deer, you will probably sustain damage to your vehicle,” he said, “and you need to report that to the proper authorities. It’s a good reason to carry a cell phone. You should call 911 and remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives.” “State law requires you to report any accidents totaling $1,000 or more and for insurance purposes, you will need to request a report from the responding officer for damage under $1,000,” notes Lt. McAffee of the Utah Highway Patrol. “We also need to make sure that the deer is off the road so it won’t create a risk to other drivers.” Because deer are migratory animals, the number of deer-vehicle collisions is higher in certain areas and at certain times of the year. “Deer and elk follow migration patterns and the highways interrupt those,” said Utah Wildlife Resources manager Anis Aoude. “You’ll get an influx of animals in the spring and fall when they’re moving from their winter [to summer] range. And they also move in groups—where there’s one, there are usually more. Especially at night, when a headlight shines in their face, they’re blind. That ‘deer in the headlights’ is really true.” Methods of reducing road kill have been tried with varying results. Among some of the most popular are Wildlife Warning Whistles and high-tech systems such as the Swareflex Wildlife Reflector System. Wildlife warning whistles, which are attached to cars, operate at frequencies of 16-20 kHz and are designed to scare animals so they run away from approaching vehicles. But based on numerous studies, the devices don’t seem to have any effect on the behavior of free ranging mule deer. The whistles might not be loud enough to be heard above engine noise or cars might be traveling too fast for the deer to recognize the sound and get out of the way. “Deer whistlers sometimes work but most of the deer, if they hear it, learn to tune it out,” Aoude said. Some research efforts have reported success using wildlife warning reflectors. The most widely touted is the Swareflex Wildlife Reflector System. The reflectors are mounted on posts along the highway and reflect vehicle headlights to create a low-intensity red beam that bounces across the highway. Motorists don’t see the reflected beam. But animals do see it and won’t cross the highway while the light is present. After the vehicle passes, the light pattern collapses and animals go freely on their way. While the system appears to work in some studies, it costs an average of $7,000-$10,000 per mile, plus about $500 per mile per year in maintenance costs. But in many locations, those costs can be less than yearly property damage. Another option is using non-salt deicers to cut down salt and thus the appeal of roadsides to deer. Still another idea is intercept feeding—planting unpalatable plants along the roadways and providing deer with areas other than roadways to forage. A 1998 study in Northern Utah concluded that the method reduced deer-vehicle collisions by up to 50 percent. But the best remedy for deer accidents might be driver caution. “Slow down and use your high beams when possible,” advised Lt. McAfee of the Utah Highway Patrol. “If you see another vehicle coming toward you, and there are deer in the area, let the other vehicle know by turning on your hazard lights. It’s not a good idea to flash your high beams at them because they might get upset and think you’re telling them to turn down their headlights instead of warning them about the deer.” “It’s a lot easier to stop at 65 than it is at 75,” adds Sheriff Larsen. “You need to obey or even keep under the speed limit, especially after dark.” METHODS TO AVOID HITTING DEER: UPS# 232-020 Copyright, Sanpete News Company, Inc.©2004. All rights reserved. Reproduction, re-use, or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. Published each Wednesday for 75¢ each, $24.00 inside Sanpete County, $27.00 outside Sanpete County, by Sanpete News Company, Inc., 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642 Wednesday, March 16, 2005 • • • • • • Slow down and use your high beams when possible. If you see another vehicle coming toward you, and there are deer in the area, let the other vehicle know by turning on your hazard lights. It’s not a good idea to flash your high beams at them because they might get upset and think you’re telling them to turn down their headlights instead of warning them about the deer. Don’t think you’re protected from deercar collisions by using deer whistles, deer fences, and reflectors. (These devices have not been proven to reduce deervehicle collisions.) Stay aware of your surroundings. Continue to scan the road and sides for movement and interruptions of headlights. If you notice a deer in your path, brake firmly but stay in your lane. Some of the most serious crashes occur when someone swerves to avoid a deer and instead crashes into another car, tree, pole or lands in a ditch. Do your best to signal any approaching cars you’re coming to a sudden stop, by using your flashers in addition to the routine brake lights. Don’t ease up because you see one deer safely cross the road as your approach. Deer usually travel together, so if you see one deer more may be on the way. Be especially alert for deer between sunset and midnight and shortly before and after sunrise. Those hours are the highest risk for car-deer collisions. Raise your caution level when passing through deer-crossing areas, in vicinities known to have a large deer population, and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields and forest lands. Use your high-beam headlights when no traffic is approaching. This gives you the best view of the road and high-beams • will best illuminate eyes of deer on or near the highway. As always, wear your seat belt for safety in general and for deer-collision safety in particular. Watch your speed even late at night on the most deserted roads. You may have to stop in a hurry to avoid collision with deer. Almost every time I’ve encountered them, it is been at night on a dark and deserted road. IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO HIT A DEER: • Slow down, and grasp the steering wheel firmly, with both hands. • Brake hard, without locking the wheels and skidding. Steer straight and stay in your lane. • Do not use extraordinary measures to avoid the deer. This could put you in greater danger by crossing lanes into oncoming traffic or by hitting things like telephone poles. Although you can brake hard, ease up as you hit the deer. When a vehicle brakes, the front end dips and could cause the deer to go into the windshield. If you ease up, the front end comes up and the deer will collide with the grill causing less damage to your vehicle.If your vehicle hits a deer: DEER SAFETY TIPS ... • IF YOU HIT A DEER: • • • • Don’t touch the deer unless you’re sure it’s deceased. An injured deer, frightened and wounded, may hurt you. If the deer is in the middle of the road, try to move the deer to the side to avoid other vehicle accidents. Engage your hazard lights. This warns other drivers to slow down.Call 911. This is another good reason to have a cell phone in your car. If you do not have a cell phone, note the location and contact the authorities as soon as possible.