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Show It Was My Fault! I think it is important for the voters of House District 73 to know how close Mike Noel came to winning the Republican nomination at the convention in South Jordan on May 11th. It is even more important that the voters understand the integrity that Mike demonstrated demonstrat-ed when he conceded defeat after being initially declared the winner. Mike did the math and calculated that he had 59.2 percent per-cent of the Vote, just short of the required 60 percent necessary to win the nomination. He then notified the convention officials, which cost him a great deal of time and expense to run in the primary. Had I cast my delegate vote, . Mike would have been the uncontested winner. Unfortunately, I was unaware that the vote for House District 73 would be held an hour before the Republican Convention was scheduled to begin." I was in Washington D.C. during the week prior the convention attending the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association legislative legisla-tive rally and was unable to receive my delegate credentials and schedule for the convention which were mailed to Big Water where I live. While I consider Robert Houston to be a good and able candidate for the House of , Representatives, I pledged my support for Mike Noel immediately immedi-ately upon his declaration of candidacy. With no detraction from Robert Houston intended, I am supporting Mike Noel for a number of reasons. First, as a real estate broker, I received professional and expedient expe-dient service from Mike in obtaining necessary right-of-way easements from the BLM when he was in their employ. secondly, l appreciated the countless hours of work that Mike spent to expedite the Andalex coal development on the Kaiparowitz Plateau prior to the proclamation of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The Andalex coal mine would have transformed Big Water and Kane and Garfield Counties by creating much-needed jobs and economic econom-ic development. That Mike terminated his employment with the BLM after the proclamation of the monument monu-ment and assumed leadership of the former People for the USA speaks volumes for his commitment commit-ment to maintain multiple use of the federal lands. Finally, Mike's dedication to preserving water rights in Kane County in his leadership on the Kane County Water Conservancy District is vital to the survival of our way of life. Mike secured over 5,000 acre feet of water from the Green River for Kane County. Furthermore, Mike has pledged his support of a Utah marina on Lake Powell which could add millions of dollars to the Kane (See LETTERS on page 3-A) Letters To The Editor From Page 2-A County tax base. Mike is energetic, passionate, professional, and committed. His record speaks for itself. Mike was kind enough to call me after the convention so that I wouldn't feel bad about his loss, which was entirely my fault. He said he always wanted the seat to go to a vote by the entire electorate. elec-torate. I applaud him for his integrity and for his kindness. May the best man win, but my bet is on Mike. Boudicca Joseph Big Water A Matter Of Priorities To the Editor: This letter is written in response to Norm McKee's Guest Editorial published in your May 30th edition of the Garfield County News regarding regard-ing support for the construction of the new reservoir. At this time, the Wide Hollow Water Conservancy District and the New Escalante Irrigation Company are concerned con-cerned with solving the most pressing problem we have, which is a lack of adequate storage stor-age for our water right. Therefore, our goal has been to build a new storage site with sufficient capacity to contain the water that we build up during wet years, for use in dry years such as this year. As you may be aware, the old reservoir has a current estimated storage capacity capac-ity of 1400 acre feet, down from the original constructed capacity of 2400 acre feet, due to sediment sedi-ment buildup. During wet years, such as last year, water users watch in dismay as potential irrigation water flows over the spillway of a full Wide Hollow Reservoir, and out of their reach for future use. The second problem that has to be addressed are the safety issues with the present dam. In 1991, a geotechnical investigation investiga-tion of the dam by the State of Utah showed that the dam embankment did not satisfy Utah State Engineer Criteria for seismic stability, and the dam was placed on the High Hazard list. In 1998, the dam was placed at the top of the High Hazard list and State officials indicated that the dam must either be repaired ( at a cost of $1.9 million in 1998) or the water volume lowered low-ered to a safe level for dam conditions. con-ditions. The Conservancy District felt that investing that much money to repair the dam would be self-defeating for two reasons: one, sediment buildup would continue in the reservoir and two, storage capacity would continue to be a problem. Costs to dredge the sediment out of the reservoir on a continuous basis had been analyzed and found to be prohibitive. State Parks staff persons have attended several meetings in conjunction with My congratulations to Laura Boshell for earning the Sierra Club scholarship. When I spoke to her this morning, I gave her a little friendly advice. I suggested suggest-ed that after she had received the full $8,000 over the four years, she write them a nice thank you letter and tell them that she was not taken in by all the BS and other misleading crap they feed to the media. Even though she is from Panguitch and knows how the majority feel about these so-called environmentalists, environmental-ists, she should not be embarrassed embar-rassed for receiving this scholarship scholar-ship because it is mostly East Coast and West Coast money and we should welcome all that we can get from these sources. And now for the rest of the story. In the article from the . Sierra Club Regional Representative Lawson Legate, he states that our Western Communities are "experiencing a transition" from economies based on ranching and logging so they give these scholarships to stimulate the thinking of young students who are our hopes for the future. What he should have said is "We are forcing the Western Communities to give up their economy of ranching and logging." log-ging." I know Laura is a thinker and will not be taken in by their so-called so-called factual information which they would have us believe to be the only way we can save "our" land. (When they use the term "our" they mean theirs, not yours and mine. They are all imbued with the idea that they have been empowered to be the saviors of the world. What they really are is the wreckers of our economy and the frightening thing about it is that Congress and the Courts are helping them do it. I agree with the cattlemen that these eco-terrorists will use the downturn of the sage grouse population as another lever to Water Resource staff, BLM specialists, spe-cialists, Engineering staff, and Irrigation Company and Conservancy District board members regarding this project and are fully aware of the conditions condi-tions of the dam and reservoir. Although, the Conservancy District has indicated that the spillway has to be lowered to allow for lower water levels in the old reservoir, they have not been formally approached by State Parks with any proposals regarding the situation. As far as the comment that the reservoir will be constructed for a single use and that Garfield County needs every opportunity for economic development, we feel that the proposed reservoir will offer a more secure basis for agricultural economic development devel-opment by providing a continuous continu-ous and reliable irrigation water source throughout the growing seasons. At present, Wide Hollow Reservoir will be empty within an estimated 3 weeks with little or no chance of refilling refill-ing this year because of serious drought conditions. By addressing address-ing and attacking the most important problems first, that of stabilizing the irrigation water supply and addressing dam safety safe-ty issues, the way can then be open so that other uses, such as recreational activities, can be explored and analyzed in the future, one step at a time. If the project goes through, and a plan for public recreational recreation-al access is presented to the BLM, access to the reservoir will need to occur through private pri-vate lands. Landowners adjacent to the reservoir site are also current cur-rent stockholders and water users, who have stated their intentions to work with the Conservancy District and Irrigation Company on this matter. mat-ter. Please contact the Wide Hollow Water Conservancy District or the New Escalante Irrigation Company if you need further information regarding this project. Kim Keefe for New Escalante Irrigation Company Board of Directors Escalante Take It And Run! deny ranchers from grazing cattle cat-tle on "their" land and people from the East and West coasts (who would not know the difference differ-ence between a prairie dog and a waterdog or a sage grouse and a sage bush) will send them money to help them destroy our economy. If Congress had the "guts" to do what is best for all of our people, they would scrap the Environmental Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act, rewrite them, re-enter the Bald Eagle and the California Condor, then make these enviro wackos present their statistics (showing how they were obtained) in a hearing open to the public. In other words, make them prove with hard evidence that whatever plant or animal they (See LETTERS on page 4-A.) Letters To The Editor From Page 3-A are using as a tool, is really endangered. I have yet to read or hear of Congress or the courts asking them for proof. A prime example of why this needs to be done was contained in a recent news item in the Spectrum, telling of a request to release another flood from Lake Powell because the resulting sand bars from the firs one disappeared. Instead of releasing more water (this request is just another anoth-er nail in their platform to have Lake Powell drained), the government gov-ernment should provide them with a copy of "The Geology of the Grand Canyon" that they might gain knowledge. The reason rea-son for their request was that the hump-back chub population had dropped from 4600 to 2000 in the river. Now the Colorado River is over 1400 miles long and has over 50 tributaries and the article gives the impression that they had checked every foot of this great river. These enviros must think that the majority of our citizens are lacking in environmental knowledge, stupid, or just don't care when they throw statistics like this to the media. It's way past the time that these radical groups should be put in their place, but it will have to be done by the people. Congress will never do it because these wackos have too much political clout. Thanks, Laura for providing me with a lead to get my whacks at these enviro terrorists. W. EarlRoe Panguitch Thanks For The Memorial I have been thinking what I would like to say since we left Tropic yesterday. I hope I can say the things I feel in my heart. First I need to thank you, your fellow Lions and community commu-nity members for all the work you have done to make the Veterans Monument a reality. I am sure you all have spent many hours researching, writing and phoning to find out all the information infor-mation you needed to make yesterday yes-terday a success. Your dedication to seeing this project through is wonderful. I say, "is" because I am sure you are not through yet. Thank you so much from all our families. It was truly an honor to be in attendance, not only to honor those who lost their lives but also to honor those who served so faithful to the end of their service time. I am sure some of their sacrifices were as great or even greater than Chris'. We just wish that more members of our family could have been there. As fellow Lion members, mother and dad would have been so thrilled with this memorial. memo-rial. They dearly loved Tropic, the Bryce Valley area and all you wonderful people there, as do we their children. We express our gratitude to all who helped in any way with the Memorial. Thanks so much from all our family members. Elaine Munson Brown |