Church ends pageant’s annual performance

James L. Davis

After 30 years the Castle Valley Pageant will undergo a major change that saddens many of the legion of volunteers who dedicate their talent, time and effort into bringing the tale of hope and faith to life for visitors. After the 2008 presentation of the pageant, it will only be performed every other year instead of annually, as has been its tradition. After the 2008 performance of the pageant it will not be held again until 2010.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announced Nov. 9 that the Castle Valley and Clarkston pageants will only be performed every other year beginning in 2008. The two pageants will alternate performance years, with the Castle Valley Pageant being performed on even number years and the Clarkston pageant being performed on odd number years.

“From time to time it is necessary to adjust our programs to meet the needs of the expanding church. In this light, it has been decided that the Clarkston and Castle Valley Pageants will be performed on an alternating basis, so each would operate every other year,” said Ronald A. Rasband of the First Quorum of the Seventies, in a letter to the pageant presidents.

Church representatives had taken a look at all of the pageants it sponsors approximately two years ago, the Castle Valley Pageant among them, with an eye toward possibly eliminating some pageants. As time passed organizers of the Castle Valley Pageant began to feel that their pageant had escaped any significant change. Word that the pageant would be curtailed was sad news for them.

“We’re very disappointed,” said Mark Justice, Castle Valley Pageant president. “We’re just going to have make the best of it and do everything we can to attract people to our pageant.”

Attendance to the Castle Valley Pageant has declined in the past few years, which may have had something to do with the decision to reduce it to an every two year performance schedule.

With the change, the church hopes that the change will relieve any burdens an annual production causes to community wards and stakes.

“It is our intent that this change will bless the lives of the families who participate in the pageant while still maintaining the important tradition of the pageant in the Clarkston and Castle Valley areas. We appreciate the countless hours of sacrifice by those who have served so diligently over the years to carry out these pageants. Further, it is hoped that producing the pageants every other year will increase anticipation for the pageants and their positive influence in your areas,” Rasband said.

Commission approves new budget

James L. Davis

The Emery County Commission paused during its regular meeting on Dec. 4 to hold a public hearing to receive comment on the fiscal year 2008 budget for the county, which includes pay raises for county employees and elected officials in the county.

The budget of $10,818,905 includes a $6,000 annual raise for each elected official in the county and a step increase for employees of the county. For elected officials the raise amounts to a six to 12 percent increase in pay.

For employees of the county the step increase will include a 1.5 percent increase for employees with 11 to 15 years of service, a 3 percent increase for employees with 16 to 20 years of service, a 6 percent increase for employees with 21 to 25 years of service and a 9 percent increase for employees with 26 or more years of service. The pay raises, coupled with benefits, amounts to approximately $200,000 in payroll increases for county employees and elected officials. That is on top of $400,000 in raises that were given to some county employees in August. The pay increases are in reaction to a wage study that was conducted in July that found that the county was lagging behind other similar agencies in its pay to employees.

The $6,000 pay increase for elected officials was implemented, according to county officials, to bring the pay for elected representatives in line with the employees that worked for them. In many instances the employees of elected officials were making a larger salary than their boss. According to Commissioner Drew Sitterud, not included in the 2008 budget was a cost of living increase.
The Castle Valley Special Service District budget, Capital Project Funds budget and Special Revenue Funds budget were also considered and approved in the Dec. 4 meeting. The CVSSD budget included a 2 percent cost of living increase for its employees.

During the public hearing there were no objections to the budget and upon returning to the regular commission meeting the Emery County commission unanimously approved the 2008 budget.
The Emery County General Fund budget for 2008 includes the following:

Commissioners, $287,550;
Justice Court, $334,600;
Public Defender, $85,740;
Special Counsel, $27,500;
Law Library, $3,500;
Safety Coordinator, $72,800;
IT Department, $319,000;
Clerk/Auditor, $192,100;
Treasurer, $178,300;
Recorder, $211,450;
Attorney, $379,100;
Assessor, $292,920;
Surveyor, $10,000
Vehicle Registration, $58,100;
Senior Citizen, $272,806;
Courthouse, $161,200;
Elections, $54,500;
Planning and Zoning, $149,800;
Public Lands, $96,700;
Sheriff, $2,222,600;
Traffic Enforcement, $144,000;
Wild Land Fire; $23,500;
Corrections, $710,500;
Detention, $96,400;
Communications, $690,000;
Animal Control, $27,000
Homeland Security, $133,000;
Health, $79,800;
Mental Health, $60,784;
Ambulance, $475,100;
Poor and Indigent, $3,000;
Highway, $243,800;
Landfill, $207,450;
Television, $40,700;
Extension, $63,500;
Weed Control and Mosquito, $271,425;
Unemployment/Workers Compensation, $85,000
Independent Audit, $19,000;
Dues, Contributions and Transfers, $1,503,505;
Non Departmental, $230,125;
County Insurance, $178,900;
Airport, $29,000;
Personnel Director, $93,150.

Santa’s Secret

Supplier of Huntington gift shop
and students join forces in the spirit of the holidays

James L. Davis

Students at Huntington Elementary who visit Santa’s Secret Shop run by the school’s 6th grade class have been learning a thing or two about shopping and budgeting for years.

How many years is not entirely known, according to Tricia Zwahlen, who, as 6th grade teacher has organized Santa’s Secret Shop for years.

“We’ve been doing this for 13 or 14 years. Maybe 15 years,” she said with a smile. “I do this with my class because I want them to know that there is a mark up on things. I want them to learn something about earnings and it’s fun for them.”

This year the students will learn another thing in the Santa’s Secret Shop, that giving is perhaps the most important thing in life. And to that end the funds the students earn with the shop this year, rather than go toward field trips for the class, will be donated to the families of the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster.

According to Zwahlen, the idea for the donation came by way of Rick Allen and Randy Draper of Fun Services. Fun Services is the company that provides the items that are sold at Santa’s Secret Shop and Allen and Draper had contacted Zwahlen to tell her they wanted to donate all of their profits from the Huntington Elementary Santa’s Secret Shop to the miners’ families. Zwahlen thought it was a good idea and her class decided to do the same thing. The Fun Services donation and the school donation will amount to more than $1,000, according to Zwahlen.

“The response has been really great,” Zwahlen said. “My kids just love coming down here.”
And as the children of Huntington Elementary gather file into their own Santa’s Secret Shop to pick out presents for their loved ones they can take pride in the fact that they know the secret of Santa’s Shop. It is caring, sharing and love.

Castle Dale community celebrates holiday season

Citizens of Castle Dale City enjoyed an evening of free food, fun and games on Dec. 6. There were free hay rides and inflatable games available for those who wanted to participate and Santa Claus arrived for his annual visit.

The evening was sponsored by Castle Dale City and Castle Dale City Youth City Council. GayLee Jeffs, director of the Youth City Council, said this was the biggest crowd they have had for the Christmas Party. Mayor Neal Peacock thanked all those who helped to make the evening a success and the City Councilmen were also there helping in the activities.