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Show EDITOR'S NOTE: Portions of the following two letters, which were printed in last weeks issue, were mixed up. We reprint them correctly in today's issue with appologies to the writers of both. It's Not A Political Chip The Escalante Center is not a political chip to force our county commissioners to sigh a roads agreement with the federal government. govern-ment. The Center is promoting education, educa-tion, local culture and history, art and science, and economics. But, because of possible federal funding, the Center is being targeted as a political agenda. Rumors are flying! Is the county roads issue tied to the success suc-cess of the Escalante Center? Are our county commissioners being pressured? Well, I'm sure they are. ..by all sides! There are those who would like to use the Center to manipulate others. The road issue has been around for a long time. We know that it is both a difficult and a delicate situation situa-tion in which both sides have to sit down and work it out. We, as board members of the Escalante Center, wish to encourage our county commissioners to deal with the roads issue in a manner that they feel will best represent the desires of the people in the county that they represent. We wish it to be clear that the Escalante Center does not have a political position on the roads issue. Clare, Maloy, Louise. ..we support you as our elected officials. The BLM is one of the partners of the Escalante Center and has committed funds for the first phase of the project. This phase is the completion of a master plan. The master plan, though time consuming consum-ing and expensive, is a very important impor-tant step that will bring everyone to the table to discuss such things as land issues, school usage, museum, art, educational and science programs, pro-grams, and economics, input from everyone will be invaluable to formulate for-mulate the best ideas and opportunities. opportuni-ties. If you have questions or concerns, con-cerns, I urge you to contact a board member and discuss those items. There is a window of opportunity opportu-nity here... right here, right now. Although not popular from our own standpoint, the interest generated gener-ated by the issues of the monument can provide opportunities for us. Will we unify as communities and a county? Or, will we grumble and console each other on how unfair the state and federal governments have been to us? In a time when things are being taken away or changed.. .(1) The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, (2) trading away of the state section, (3) stopping of the Reservoir, (4) more wilderness designation. des-ignation. ..we must look for ways to turn the disadvantages into advantages. ad-vantages. Will we ever stem the tide? Education is the answer. It is the only way. That is what the Escalante Esca-lante Center is all about. We are educational. Maybe that is why some hesitate to support the concept. con-cept. We have to remain positive in the way we think and the things we do. The Escalante Center concept and ideology can be an arena to educate our children and the world about our culture and why we embrace em-brace this way of life. We ask for your support as a community and as a county. Quinn Griffin Escalante |
