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Show Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 11 Gunnison, UT ECRWSS Volume 4 • Number 40 Thursday, October 2, 2008 Copy Price • 75 cents Ranch and farm theft on the rise by CLARK ISRAELSEN USU Extension agent Mark Henline/Gunnison Valley Gazette Homecoming royalty was announced Monday afternoon. Pictured from left to right is Kasey Bartholomew and Austin Kitchell as Count and Countess, Conner Ashton and Samantha Roberts (not pictured) as Duke and Duchess, Shaydon Hermansen and Kayla Bartholomew as Prince and Princess, and Bailie Reynolds and Colton Lund as King and Queen. Homecoming Week at GVHS is now in full swing. Monday was Tye Dye T-shirt Day. The royalty assembly was also held that day and the windows up and down main street were painted by the various school groups. Tuesday was Senior Citizen Day. The students dressed up like the elderly. Wednesday is Retro 80’s dress up day. The Manly Man Volleyball game, the Powder Puff Football game, and the pep rally will be held on the football field on Wednesday. Thursday is Cowboy/Western style dress up day. There will be a JV football game held at American Leadership Academy, girls soccer at Grand and volleyball at South Utah Women’s Conference The 24th Annual Utah Women’s Conference “Discovering the Diversity and Unity of Women” hosted by Senator Orrin and Mrs. Elaine Hatch will be held on Monday, October 6, 2008 at the Abravanel Symphony Hall. Morning keynote speaker will be Collin Raye and luncheon keynote speaker will by Deborah Gibson. For registration and agenda information, please contact Commissioner Claudia Jarrett at 851-1540. Sevier. Friday is Bulldog Pride Day. Students are encouraged to wear school colors. The day will start with a pep assembly at 9:40. The parade down main street will begin at 1 p.m. The tailgate party will begin at 6 p.m. with Navajo tacos, a rock wall for climbing, music and entertainment. The Homecoming football game begins at 7 p.m. against the ALA Eagles. Homecoming will end Saturday with the Homecoming dance. The dance will begin at 9:30 pm. Cost is $5 per person or $10 per couple. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy Homecoming Week! DO YOU HAVE OLD PHOTOS OF GUNNISON VALLEY? The Gunnison Valley Sesquicentennial Committee is looking for old photos of buildings, events, etc. of Gunnison City and the entire Gunnison Valley. If you have any, please let the committee scan them for our collection. The photos will be returned to you. Photos can be left at the City offices at 38 West Center. If you have questions, please call the offices at 528-7969. Christi Garff/Gunnison Valley Gazette Top row Shaylee Bosshardt and Halie Garff. Bottom row Mindy Bjarnson, Cassity Clayton, Jessica Ward and John Wegener. Cantus! donates blankets by CHRISTI GARFF Gunnison High School’s women’s chamber choir Cantus! donated numerous blankets to the Gunnison Valley Hospital EMT De- partment this past week. 2008- 2009 Cantus! Choir presidency Jessica Ward, Shalee Bosshardt, Cassity Clayton, and Halie Garff as well as choir director Jody Allred delivered the blankets all handmade by choir members. John Wegener director of the EMT’s for the hospital happily accepted the blankets. These blankets will placed in ambulances and used for patients during emergency calls. The School Nutrition Association (SNA) of Utah, which includes food service workers from all forty districts has a local individual closely connected to it beginning this year. DeLene Coates of Gunnison Valley Middle School, is president-elect and is beginning a three year stint in the leadership of the SNA. Next year, as president, Mrs. Coates will assume the full duties of the position which will include presiding over meetings of the organization and being spokesperson for the group. One of the challenges that face school lunch programs, according to Mrs. Coates, is maintaining menu appeal to young people, while ensuring compliance with federal nutrition standards. The federal program, authorized by Congress, plays a major role in the general health condition of the nation. Mrs. Coates will join others from around the nation later this year in Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress for on-going funding. U.S. schools have become primary providers of healthy diet items to millions Property crimes, once considered an urban problem, are being committed in rural areas with increased frequency. Theft and property damage can cause serious financial and personal loss to farmers and ranchers. Some of the most common items stolen are gasoline and diesel fuel, especially where large quantities are stored. Feeds, produce, tools, fertilizer, livestock and field equipment are also common targets. In some cases, employees may be stealing from their employers; especially if there have been disagreements or misunderstandings. Unfortunately, the once common, relaxed country attitude must now be replaced with vigilance and alertness when it comes to farm and ranch security. Of necessity, we need to be thinking in new ways. Law enforcement officials note that a fundamental element of rural crime is opportunity. Criminals are seeking for opportunities to steal without being seen, without taking much time and without making much noise. Farms are ideal targets for theft, due to the relative isolation of each operation. Careful farmers and ranchers should consider simple steps that make theft more trouble than it’s worth. Potential thieves will likely look elsewhere for an easier target if they consider the theft to be too risky. The primary responsibility for crime prevention rests with property owners. They know their operations and should carefully look around for ways to improve safety and prevent theft. Below are ideas to help avoid the loss and inconvenience associated with crime on farm and ranches. • Go around the property and look at it through the eyes of a thief. Be seen around the property often, and vary routines so people can’t easily anticipate when someone will be home. • Construct sturdy, secure sheds with quality locks. Tools, equipment, chemicals and other valuables should be stored inside. Use strong chains and locks on all gates, access routes and loading ramps. Mark or stamp tools and equipment with a permanent identification number. • Form a “rural watch group” to look after each other’s farms and to observe and record suspicious behavior. Jot down description of strangers and vehicles including license number, location, date and time. This can be helpful to police if crimes occur in the area. Neighbors working together, being each other’s eyes and ears, can significantly reduce crime. • Install security lighting around sheds, storage facilities and equipment with lights operating on time switches or sensors. Remove hay and straw from fields immediately after bailing, especially small bales. • Lock fuel storage tanks and make sure they can easily be seen from the house. Have lockable fuel caps on all tractors and vehicles. Park machinery close to home if possible. If necessary, park it where it can be seen from a neighbor’s house or completely out of sight behind a hill or a tree line. Remove keys and lock the cab on machinery when not in use. Consider disabling machinery by removing the distributor cap, rotor or battery. Don’t leave valuable tools in vehicle trays. • Use animals as deterrents. A good watch dog around the property with proper signage such as “Beware of Dog” is effective. Geese are also good noise makers when strangers come. • Keep photographs or video records of property of stock in case of theft. Inventory livestock on a daily basis, but avoid making checks at a regular time. Ensure that all animals are marked or branded for identification and maintain complete livestock records with identification numbers. Photograph valuable animals. • Keep a good record of past employees, especially if there has been a dispute or a firing. Also, regard people who offer deals too good to refuse with suspicion. Either reject the offer or tentatively accept it, but contact the police immediately. Always notify the police of crime. No theft is too small to report. Mark Henline/Gunnison Valley Gazette DeLene Coates at Gunnison Valley Middle School. across the country. The school lunch, in many cases, is the only meal of the day that many American children have access to which absolutely provides the necessary items for a balanced and healthy diet. More schools are now offering breakfast in order to assist each student to succeed to the best of their abilities. South Sanpete is fortunate to have dedicated, professional staff working in the kitchens of the schools and their efforts are deeply appreciated by everyone connected to education. |
