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Show Recapping The Year 2002 The Garfield County News continues its review of significant signifi-cant events of 200 1 : MAY Escalante Marks 125th Year of Settlement The city of Escalante celebrated cele-brated its 125th year of settlement settle-ment on May 26 with day-long activities. The date marked the anniversary of the day several families from Panguitch entered Escalante Valley in the Spring to establish a settlement. Garkane Energy Board Elects Officers Members of Garkane Energy's Board of Directors selected officers for year to follow. fol-low. Director Boudicca Joseph of Big Water was elected president, presi-dent, replacing Don Torgersen of Koosharem; Directors Terry Griffiths, Orderville, and Marjie Lee Spencer, Escalante, were reelected re-elected as vice president and secretary-treasurer, respectively. JUNE Cannon Listens To Concerns Pro And Con On GSENM Public hearings about changes on public lands were nothing new in Garfield County, but the public hearing on June 2 in Escalante arranged and chaired by Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) was one of the most impassioned in recent years. With 114 local citizens present, almost all of whom were opposed to the Grand Staircase-Escalante Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Cannon said he was there to listen, lis-ten, and he listened. "It will come as no surprise to anyone present that I don't like the monument," mon-ument," said, referring to the manner in which it was created by Pres. Bill Clinton on Sept. 18, 1996 as "reprehensible". Cannon also met with the members of the Bryce Valley Business Association in Tropic. Charges Filed In Brian Head Investment Deal Fifty-two-year-old Frank P. Venuti of Escalante was charged with 17 felony counts of secur-ties secur-ties fraud, theft and racketeering for soliciting investments for (See RECAP on page 3-A) Kecapping zUUl From Front Page property at or near Brian Head. Venuti was accused of taking more than $4 million from investors and transferring their funds to Rliance Capital Partners and Reliance Holding Company both of which he controlled. con-trolled. The Utah Attorney General's office filed criminal charges in the Fifth District Court in St. George after an investigation by the Utah Division of Securities. Bail was set at $200,000 and a warrant was issued by the Weashington County Sheriff for Venutr's arrest. Accompanied by his attorney Michael Park of the Park Firm, St. George, Venuti surrendered himself to the court on June 14 and was released on $20,000 bond. Canyon Country Complex Grand Opening In Panguitch Garfield County and Panguitch City united to cut the ribbon June 22 at the grand opening of the new Canyon Country ComplexTriple C Arena located at the Fairgrounds in Panguitch. The (See RECAP on page 3-A) Recapping The Year 2001 From Front Page collaborative projectwas a dream-come-true for Garfeild County Clerk Camille Moore who first introduced the concept five or six years earlier. Panguitch City Manager Allen Henrie credited Moore for being the "driving force behind the center." Balloon Festival A Success The Panguitch Balloon Committee in conjunction with Panguitch City played host to 22 beautiful hot air balloons Saturday and Sunday June 30-July 30-July 1. The mass ascension of the balloons on Saturday was followed by a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Panguitch Lions Club and other events related to the balloon festival. Utah Forest Products Receives $40,000 Grant A $40,000 Four-Corners grant would be usedby Utah Forest Products and The Escalante Center to experiment with a cost-effective and low-impact low-impact restoration and maintenance mainte-nance technologies, study opportunities for developing sustainable businesses using material generated from forest management practices. The information developed was to be made available to the U.S. Forest Service to be shared with other projects throughout the region. |