OCR Text |
Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Wednesday, May 11, 2005 Sanpete County NEWS•BRIEFS SBA Economic injury loan deadline approaching By John Hales The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced May 16 as the deadline for applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. According to information from the SBA, the low-interest loans are available to businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers who have suffered losses due to drought, insects, wind or heat since Jan. 1, 2004. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible for the loans. Rather, they are intended to assist other businesses that suffered as a result of reduced farm income. Applications and more information are available by calling the SBA toll-free at 1-800-366-6303, or at the administration’s website, www.sba.gov/disaster. Officers run torch for Special Olympics The Utah Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is coming through Sanpete County on Friday, May 13. The run will start in Fountain Green at 9 a.m. and run through Moroni, Mt. Pleasant, Ephraim, Manti and Gunnison. The run will continue on to Richfield in the afternoon. “Come cheer on your local law enforcement officers as they run to raise money and awareness of Special Olympics,” Larry Nordell, Torch Run coordinator from Central Utah Correctional Facility said. “Last year we raised over $9,000 in our area.” Special Olympics donations will be accepted as officers run through towns or may be given to any local law enforcement officer. Utah Letter Carriers hold food drive SALT LAKE CITY—Utah Letter Carriers will hold their 13th annual Food Drive this Saturday. Utah residents are being asked to participate by placing nonperishable food items in a bag near their mailbox prior to mail delivery on Saturday, May 14 or drop them off at their local post office. Letter carriers will collect the donations during normal deliveries. All of the food will be distributed to the local food bank, which traditionally has bare shelves this time of year. “Many of the recipients are from working families who just need a helping hand to get through some tough times,” said Mike Miller, Salt Lake City Letter Carrier and President of Branch 111 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. SASS holds annual shootout By Tery Robertson MAYFIELD—The Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) will hold its annual Cowboy Shootout on Saturday, May 14 at 9 a.m. at the Crows Seep Cattle Co. located just outside of Mayfield. Darrell Butler (or Buffalo Juan, as he is referred to by SASS members) explained that weapons that SASS members shoot are pre1900 type weapons. Saturday’s shootout will consist of two revolvers, one lever-action rifle and a double-barrel shotgun. “Participants will follow a western scenario,” Buffalo Juan said, “complete with dastardly outlaws (of the metal target kind). Participants will be shooting at separate targets with each of their weapons. So we’ll have a shotgun target at 20 feet, a rifle target at 75 feet.” SASS is a nationwide organization in which all members dress up in old-time western garb, take on monikers and spend the day playing the game of cowboy. The clothing is everything from jeans and boots to elaborate costumes and even full Indian regalia. “It’s just a fun bunch of people getting together and playing cowboy,” Buffalo Juan said. “We shoot at targets and it’s more speed than extreme accuracy. “In addition to the regular competition, we’ll also be having side matches, where we shoot at distance targets,” he said. After that, participants will be treated to a chuck wagon type barbeque beef lunch, Dutch oven potatoes, Dutch oven beans, salad and dessert. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The lunch is included in the $25 registration fee. Participants can pre-register by calling Buffalo Juan at 528-7432 or sign up at the meet. Public input invited in forest plan revisions By John Hales As Sanpete County residents have been getting familiar with the Manti-La Sal National Forest’s Management Plan revision process over the last year, Fishlake and Dixie National Forests have been going through something similar. In a series of workshops to be held throughout May, Forest Service officials from Fishlake and Dixie National Forests will present a collaborative Management Direction Package (MDP) to the public for input. The MDP contains information related to desired forest conditions, area management, suitable uses and guidelines. According to information from the Forest Service, the workshops will be the first time the public will be able to see all the ideas garnered through the revision process in one place, as officials move closer to creating a Draft Forest Plan. The MDP and associated maps will be available for review online at www.fs.fed/r4/dixie/projects/FParea/HomePage.htm. The closest of the offered workshops to Sanpete will be at the Snow College campus in Richfield on May 24 at 6:30-8 p.m. A full schedule of workshop dates and locations can be obtained by calling Kenton Call of Dixie National Forest at (435) 865-3700, or Frank Fey of Fishlake National Forest at (435) 896-9233. Free identity theft and fraud workshop offered By Kathy Lin Eggleston RICHFIELD—Financial risks, security fraud and identity theft will be the focus of an AARP Utah Consumer University workshop co-sponsored by the Volunteer Connection of the Six County RSVP and the Volunteer Center in Richfield. “Individuals in all six counties are urged to attend,” Kathy Erickson of RSVP said. Identity theft and fraud schemes target residents of rural Utah and thousands of elderly fall prey to this crime every year. Once an individual’s identity is stolen it takes thousands of dollars and hours trying to reestablish credit that has been ruined through no fault of the individual, Erickson said. “Education is the best way to avoid becoming a victim,” Utah A3 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said. The workshop will be Wednesday, May 25 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. in the basement auditorium of the Sevier Administration building, 250 North Main St., Richfield. Lunch will be provided. Call Kathy Erickson or Shara Bastian at 888-899-4447 ext. 27 or 28 for more information and to reserve a seat. Health department warns of mosquito danger By John Hales SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah Department of Health (UDH) is warning the state’s residents to prepare for what could be a bad mosquito year and an increased threat of West Nile Virus. The concern accompanies the amount of water the state has seen so far this year. Although the moisture has decreased the drought Utah has seen in the last several years, the amount of water creates additional habitat for mosquitoes, says information provided from the UDH. At this point, the warning is merely an advisory, and long-term mosquito forecasts can be based only on ongoing rain and temperatures. The UDH says the state is currently at a low risk of West Nile Virus, which is spread by mosquitoes. So far this year, no cases of the virus have been detected in Utah. Suggestions to residents to reduce mosquitoes and the threat of virus include getting rid of standing water, removing containers that would allow water to collect, cleaning out birdbaths and wading pools once a week, cleaning rain gutters and repairing screen doors and windows if necessary. In addition, the department urges Utahns to use insect repellents with DEET, and to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors in the evening and early morning. USDA adopts new roadless area rule By John Hales WASHINGTON—U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced May 5 the adoption of a new rule for inventorying roadless areas within U.S. Forest Service lands. The new rule comes after the previous rule, issued in 2001, was struck down in U.S. District Court in 2003 for being in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Wilderness Act. According to information from the U.S. Forest Service, the new rule “invites input from state governors in the conservation and management direction for inventoried roadless areas within national forests.” The rule gives 18 months for governors to submit petitions for regulating and managing roadless areas to the secretary of agriculture according to the specific needs of each state. Such petitions must indicate the areas to be included in any management plan, and may include information dealing with public health and safety, wildfire-risk reduction, infrastructure maintenance such as dams and utilities, and access to private property. The USDA also announced the establishment of a national advisory committee to assist the secretary of agriculture in implementing the new rule. Management of federal land has often been a sore spot in state and federal relations, and between land-users and environmentalists, especially since the previous rule, created under the Clinton administration, went into effect. But on the day after the new rule was announced, Sen. Orrin Hatch said, “This rule strikes the right balance between federal land managers and state officials.” Utah has the sixth-largest roadless area inventory in the nation. The new policy could allow logging, mining, and other industry and recreational uses on those lands, which previously were off-limits to such activities. Constitution Party is on the ballot By John Hales Constitution Party State Chairman Frank Fluckiger says he is excited to announce the party’s place on the Utah ballot for the 2005 election-year, after having been removed from the ballot after the 2004 elections because of a statutory rule. The rule requires that for a political party to remain on the ballot, the party must receive at least 2 percent of the total votes cast in each county during the previous U.S. senatorial race. If that requirement is not met, the party must go through a petition process to get back onto the ballot. In 2004, the first year the Constitution Party was on the Utah ballot, Fluckiger says it took about 10 months to get enough petition signatures. This time though, he says, the process took only 10 weeks. He commended party members for their efforts and particularly noted members from Millard County, which he said does not even have a Constitution Party organization yet. “They turned in over 200 percent of their county signature goal and had over 94 percent of their signatures validated as registered voters. “Theirs is a true example of what ordinary citizens can accomplish by their own initiative.” Its placement on the Utah ballot puts the Constitution Party on the ballot in 16 states. During the 2004 presidential election, the Constitution candidate, Michael Peroutka, received a greater percentage of votes from Utah than from any other state, according to Sanpete Constitution Party chairman Benton Peterson, Manti. CALL FOR BIDS The Gunnison/Mayfield Cattle Association is accepting bids for the 2005 riders job. We are also accepting bids for the 2005 fencing job. For more information, call 435-851-2645 (day), 435-528-7369 (after 6 p.m.). Send bids to David Childs, Box 503, Gunnison, Utah 84634. The riders job will run from June 1 to Nov. 1, 2005. 4/6-5/11 Tell a friend! The Sanpete Messenger The Voice of Sanpete County since 1893 Sanpete County Compiled by Kathy Lin Eggleston WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 Palisade G.C. to offer free lessons to women The new golf pro at Palisade Golf course will begin offering women’s free golf lessons every Wednesday at 4 p.m. until June 8. Call 835-GOLF (4653) for more information. WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY, MAY 11-12 AARP driver’s saftey courses held The 55 Alive AARP Driver’s Safety Program will be offered May from 1-5 p.m. both days at the Mt. Pleasant Senior Citizen Center. For more information or reservations, call Hal Ross at 462-3018 or 462-0249. THURSDAY, MAY 12 Poet to read work at CUAC Nancy Takacs, a poet and instructor at the College of Eastern Utah, will read a selection of her poetry at the Central Utah Art Center in Ephraim at 7 p.m. There is no charge to attend. THURSDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 12-14 Annual ‘Big Daddy’ Roth open house The annual “Big Daddy” Roth open house and reunion will be held at the museum located at 404 East 300 North, Manti, Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. There will be a parade on Friday night from 7 to 8 p.m. on Manti’s Main Street; participants should meet in parking lot of Kent’s Market in Ephraim Friday at 6:30 p.m. For information about the “Big Daddy” Roth open house and reunion, or to make an appointment to visit the museum yearround, contact Ilene Roth at (435) 835-2142. FRIDAY, MAY 13 Local officers run torch for Special Olympics The Sanpete County leg of the Utah Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will start in Fountain Green at 9 a.m. Friday and run through the towns of Moroni, Mt. Pleasant, Ephraim, Manti and Gunnison. Donations will be accepted as officers run through towns or may be given to any local law enforcement officer. SATURDAY, MAY 14 Stamp out hunger locally Utah Letter Carriers will hold the annual Letter Carriers Food Drive Saturday. Look for fliers and plastic bags in your mailbox. Fill the bag with food and place by your mailbox on the morning of May 14 or take it to your local post office. All donations made in your local community will remain there to help your local friends and neighbors in need. TOPS yard sale fundraiser set TOPS Mount Pleasant Chapter is planning a yard sale Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on the northeast corner of the Mount Pleasant Far West Bank parking lot to raise funds for TOPS State Recognition Day. Call Carolyn Jensen at 436-8773 or Gayle Wadley at 427-3605 for more information. Miss Manti Pageant set The Miss Manti Pageant will be Saturday, 7 p.m. at the Manti City auditorium. Ticket are $6 per seat. THURSDAY, MAY 19 “Simply Fit for Life” class offered A “Simply Fit for Life” class to help people educate themselves about making wise food choices, and exercising to fit individual needs and to control emotional and environmental stimuli will be taught by Gunnison Valley Hospital Home Health director, Barbara Lund, on May 19, 5:30 p.m. at 50 S. Main in Manti. UPCOMING EVENTS Alumni to gather in Gunnison The 16th annual Gunnison Valley High School Reunion for all classes since 1922 will be held at the school on May 28. Cost is $10 per reservation or $12 at the door. For reservations contact Lana Larson at 528-3762 or Box 895, Gunnison, Utah 84634 Student art show at CUAC The Central Utah Art Center High School art show will be open to the public until May 27. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.6 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 86 N Main in Ephraim. Summer music lessons scheduled The Horne Youth Conservatory of Music will hold two sessions of summer music lessons. Session 1: June 7, 14, 21, 28. Session 2: July 12, 19, 26 and Aug 2. Lessons are from 8 a.m.–Noon and are $30 for the first child. Discounts are available for families. To sign up call Sarah Lummus at 427-3298 or Elaine Jorgensen director 283-7471. Pre-school class and story-hour end The Manti Public Library and the Manti Ladies Literary Club’s Tuesday pre-school class at 10-11:30 a.m. and story-hour 10 a.m. each Wednesday and Thursday will end May 24 for the school year. Manti Swimming Pool fundraiser to be held The Manti Ladies Literary Club will hold a Salad Bar Fund Raiser for the Manti Swimming Pool project, Saturday, May 21 from Noon-2 p.m. at the Manti Senior Citizen Center. Tickets are $10. There will be a silent auction for items and services, a quilt raffle (tickets are $1 each, or 6 for $5) and door prizes. |