Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 36
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

Rationing The Road

-A shortage of asphalt, fueled by increased demands and higher prices has led to delays for some UDOT projects

CEU Merger Fears Continue

-News on the legislation that may merge the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University is being gathered by a task force organized by the State Board of Regents.

Industrial Park interest more than just nuclear

-Although much of the focus on the large industrial park west of Green River has recently been placed on a nuclear power plant possibly being built on the land, county officials are receiving inquiries from a myriad of companies interested in the area.

Meal services for center seniors about to go upscale

-Meal service for residents of the Emery County Care and Rehabilitation Center in Ferron will soon be revamped.

Commission holds hearing on tax increase

-A Public Hearing on Aug. 20 discussed the judgment levy tax increase to repay Pacificorp as a result of judgments issued by the Utah State Tax Commission on 2007 valuation.

 

 

 

 

 

Rationing the Road

A shortage of asphalt, fueled by increased demands and higher prices has led to delays for some UDOT projects

James L. Davis

The high cost of oil is hitting Utah motorists in more than just the fuel tank; it’s making for a bumpy ride as an asphalt shortage is delaying many area road projects until next spring.

Nielson Construction has idled one of its two asphalt paving crews as a result of severe asphalt oil shortages that have limited the ability of contractors throughout Utah and Colorado in completing road construction projects.

The shortage of asphalt oil has been an issue that contractors have had to wrestle with for more than a year, but the drastic increase in oil prices has made a bad situation even worse. With asphalt oil being a byproduct of oil refineries and the higher profits available in gasoline production, many refineries are not producing asphalt oil at the level they once were.  Add to that the fact that the demand for asphalt has skyrocketed in the Intermountain area, and the end result has been that the once rapid pace of road construction projects has slowed to a crawl.

The Utah Department of Transportation is looking at postponing a number of projects, partly due to the shortage of asphalt and partly due to the fact that asphalt prices have increased so dramatically that budgets are being busted.
Like many contractors in the state, Nielson Construction is having to adjust to a shortage of asphalt oil and polymers to make its asphalt.  Hardest hit have been the asphalt oil and polymers required to make superpave for UDOT projects.  Nielson Construction is traveling as far as Montana and Colorado now to purchase asphalt oil, but the oil it has been able to purchase does not meet state specifications for superpave for state and federal highways, meaning that the asphalt they are able to produce can be used for commercial use for such things as county roads, parking lots and driveways, but not for state projects.  The cost of the oil has also skyrocketed, as well as the added expense of traveling longer distances to purchase the oil.

According to Robert Peirce, Nielson Construction Asphalt manager, the construction company is running tests on a new asphalt mix using asphalt oil it is able to acquire to see if it can meet UDOT specifications, but the results of those tests are still pending.
“If the mix design passes we can still get a lot done this year,” Peirce said.

UDOT is keenly aware of the problem and has been working with contractors throughout the state on projects that have already been started to allow for extensions and are delaying some of those that have not started.

Locally, Nielson Construction has all but completed a project on SR-6 between Wellington and the Sunnyside Junction.  All that remains is a little more than two miles of road that needs an overlay.  But with the shortage of asphalt oil, that final two miles will most likely have to wait until spring for completion.  The same is true for a road project the company has been working on in Cat Canyon, where five miles of roadway is waiting for asphalt and may have to wait until spring.
A project that was scheduled to begin this fall but has been delayed until next year because of asphalt shortages is the South Moore Cutoff project, which is ready for asphalt.

Of course, the delay on asphalt projects just makes for an even busier spring, as more construction projects planned for next year will increase the demand for asphalt.

The asphalt shortage fuels frustrations for not only motorists but for contractors stalled in their projects due to shortages.
Nielson Construction made modifications to its asphalt plant that produces superpave, updating equipment and making improvements.  It relocated its commercial asphalt plant to Carbon County to put it in a better position to meet the demands of customers and the asphalt oil shortage has left customers wanting a product that the company can only provide in a limited supply.

“We’ve been able to keep our two crews busy up until two weeks ago.  We’ve gone down to one paving crew for now,” Peirce said.

For Nielson Construction, the company is diversified enough that it has been able to transfer the paving crews to other departments until the asphalt oil crisis is resolved.

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CEU Merger Fears Continue

Josie Luke

News of proposed legislation that would merge the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University produced a firestorm in Carbon and Emery counties in February of this year, but the legislation was quietly put on hold until more information could be gathered. A task force, organized by the State Board of Regents has recently been doing just that.

The interim task force was called for by the Legislature in House Bill 3 to study possibilities for “greater collaboration and cooperation between the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University, including consideration of partnerships, alliances, or a merger, in order to increase educational opportunities for the citizens in eastern Utah and maximize state resources.”
When the proposed merger legislation was initially announced in an article by the Salt Lake Tribune, many were caught off guard, including many of the faculty and administration at CEU, who along with many community members were reticent because of what they viewed as “unanswered questions.”

Now that the interim task force is examining the idea, concerns have risen again, the most prevalent issue being the possible loss of vocational programs at CEU were the two colleges to merge.

Edward Clark, the career and technical education director for the Emery County School District is especially concerned over the possible loss. “If CEU and Utah State were to merge, there’s a good chance we’ll lose vocational programs,” said Clark.
He bases his view on the differing missions of the two institutions, with USU moving toward becoming a research institution and CEU recently merging with the Western Energy Training Center as an example of its commitment to continuing vocational education.

Emery High School currently has four programs that are tied into CEU programs. Clark fears that two of those programs would be lost were the merger to occur. “I’m just afraid people don’t really understand the issues,” said Clark, who fears that along with the loss of vocational programs, tuition would also jump, and scholarships, which benefit local students would be lost.
The loss would also have the “potential to have a huge effect” on the local economy, according to Emery County Economic Development Director Mike McCandless. He explained that the job training that students receive at CEU provides capable workers needed in local industry.

McCandless held, “Any proposal to merge must include how to continue these programs.”

Brad King, State Representative and CEU Vice-President of Institutional Advancement and Student Services commented that of the “myriad of things” people are concerned over, he would put the possible loss of vocational programs “at the top,” explaining, “We share those concerns about vocational programs.”
King also revealed that although the task force is still “in the middle of the study, direction will come in the near future.”

The CEU Dean of the Professional, Career and Technical education Division, Russell Goodrich is also intent on preserving the programs. He believes that vocational education is “crucial” for the college and the community. He revealed that many of those who were interviewed by the task force expressed the same view. “I think they [the task force] understand that particular message, and I think Utah State understands that as well” he said. “We need to continue to send that message.

Goodrich is more optimistic about the prospects. “Interest in expanding vocational programs throughout our region has come from an increased desire for that training, and I think the vocational programs will continue,” he stated.

CEU’s Interim President, Mike King, also attempted to ease any anxiety, stating “the college’s vocational programs are not in jeopardy.” He believes that language in the House Bill that created the task force specifically addresses the issue.
The language he referred to states: “The study shall include ways of protecting the traditional community college role including access to career and technical education currently provided by CEU. The task force and the Board of Regents shall provide their recommendations to the Executive Appropriations Committee for any changes that require legislative action or funding.”

President King conveyed, “I know lots of people are concerned, but we intend to make sure the programs are not reduced. Those programs are integral to the mission CEU has and will continue to be. I’ve told faculty here that there is going to be a CEU here next year just like there is this year.”

He encouraged those who are concerned to be patient while the study is conducted, saying there would be more answers when the study was concluded.

Clark is still not convinced. “They can’t really build a safeguard into it. If USU takes over, they’ll do what’s best for USU,” he maintained. “It may be protected for a year or two, but they can’t guarantee it.”

Miles Nelson, associate vice-president for workforce education at CEU is also concerned. He related, “It is unclear on how they would keep that intact because that is not part of USU’s mission. How will they maintain those programs when that’s not their focus?”

Without more information, the issue will continue to draw concern, as the task force is not expected to make their final report until the next legislative session.

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Industrial Park interest more
than just nuclear

Josie Luke

Although much of the focus on the large industrial park west of Green River has recently been placed on a nuclear power plant possibly being built on the land, county officials are receiving inquiries from a myriad of companies interested in the area.

Emery County Economic Development Director, Mike McCandless reported that he receives inquiries from companies “once to twice a week.” He said that many of them are excited about Green River, but explained the area will not fit every business. “I’m targeting businesses that fit Green River. If it’s not a good fit, we don’t want to pursue it,” he said. Still, many are interested, and McCandless is in contact with them on “a daily basis.”

Because the companies involved have not committed, he is hesitant to name them specifically, but revealed that several would be “exciting opportunities” for the community. One of the companies McCandless spoke specifically about was a “very large, well-respected distribution company” who works in the gas and energy industry. Another is a large manufacturing company, dealing with paper manufacturing, and a third is a “recycling project.”

He added that discussions are continuing with Mancos Resources, and said that work on that front is “progressing well.”
McCandless continued to stress that the power plant is a long-term process, and so he is looking at many other options. He has been frustrated with reports in state newspapers about the plant which “just don’t tell the whole truth.” He clarified that those who wish to lease land in the area would be required to do so on a “first come, first served basis and, if the company were to purchase the land, there would still be a large amount of land still available, with the industrial park consisting of 2,500 acres of state institutional trust lands and 800 acres of private land.

“I am still trying to fill every acre,” he stated. “At this point, I don’t have any concern with excluding anybody.”
At a recent Emery County Commission Meeting, the commissioners elected to sign the latest draft of development lease on the land with SITLA, and a public hearing on rezoning the area is scheduled for Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Green River City Hall.

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Meal services for center seniors
about to go upscale

Josie Luke

Meal service for residents of the Emery County Care and Rehabilitation Center in Ferron will soon be revamped, including having made-to-order breakfasts and elegant restaurant-style dinners. The changes were announced by the Center’s management at a Board Meeting held Aug. 27.

Al Shakespeare, center administrator, described several changes which will be made, including the made-to-order breakfasts which will be extended by half an hour, 8 to 9:30 a.m., in order to allow residents to sleep in longer

The lunch meal will be much the same, but will be held at 1 p.m. instead of noon. Dinner will be served in a more elegant style with china and table cloths on the tables. The dining room will also be decorated to look more like a restaurant, including draperies on the “windows” and an awning with the name of the new dinging room, Mill Creek Café. 
  
They hope the changes will help the residents “feel like they’re going out to eat, so it is a better dining experience.” So far, the response to the upcoming change has been quite positive. At a monthly Resident Council, the dietary manger explained the changes, and Shakespeare revealed the residents were “really excited.” 

The moves will not be as simple for the facility as simply offering a menu, redecorating and using nicer dinnerware; the changes will require rescheduling of many of the usual activities during the day, including work schedules. “It will kind of change everything we do,” said Shakespeare.

Barry Snow, nursing administrator, echoed his judgment, explaining that the changes would take some time to get used to. “It might take us a couple of weeks, or a month, or longer,” he quipped.

Donna Sorensen will start decorating the dining room this week and the new dining schedule will begin Sept. 8, with the grand opening to occur mid-September.

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Commission holds hearing on tax increase

Kathy Ockey

Emery County Commissioners Jeff Horrocks and Gary Kofford, along with Darrell Leamaster of the Castle Valley Special Service District led a Public Hearing on Aug. 20 to discuss the judgment levy tax increase to repay Pacificorp as a result of  judgments issued  by the Utah State Tax Commission on 2007 valuation. 

The county judgment levy tax increase to repay Pacificorp is $95,700.  The Emery County Special Service District also has a judgment levy tax increase for Pacificorp in the amount of $38,910. 

The commissioners explained that each year Pacificorp appeals to the Utah State Tax Commission that Emery County is overcharging them on their property taxes and each year they are granted an adjustment to their taxes resulting in a judgment levy.  The Utah Association of Counties is litigating this ongoing issue with their attorneys and trying to get it settled.  One citizen at the meeting said that the UAC attorney doesn’t seem to be making progress on the situation and suggested a new approach be taken, possibly getting the county attorney involved.

The commissioners said the judgment levy hit hard this year because the State Tax Commission claimed property taxes were undervalued and had to be within 20 percent of value and the county needed to be in line with these figures.  The Tax Commission told the county to bring the taxes up or they would do it for the county.  The county did raise values, but they still can’t collect any more taxes than they collected last year. This makes the values go up but the tax percentage goes down and is equalized.  Empty lots and improved property is also included in the average sales.  Farmland falls under Green Belt and is not affected.

One citizen reported his property taxes went up 300 percent.  The commissioners said there is a process available to review or change the taxes but an appraisal has to be done and the matter has to be completed before Sept. 15.

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Emery County
Emergency
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Network

© The Emery County Review 2008   .
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 36
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

 

 

 

 

2007 Archives

January 1, 2008 Edition

January 8, 2008 Edition

January 15, 2008 Edition

January 22, 2008 Edition

January 29, 2008 Edition

February 5, 2008 Edition

February 12, 2008 Edition

February 19, 2008 Edition

February 26, 2008 Edition

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April 1, 2008 Edition

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April 22, 2008 Edition

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May 6, 2008 Edition

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May 20, 2008 Edition

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June 3, 2008 Edition

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 36
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

 

 

  • Tributes
  • Weddings

 

 

Stephen Gabe Vlamakis

SPRING GLEN/HELPER - Our beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend, Stephen Gabe Vlamakis, age 26, died Aug. 26, 2008 as the result of injuries incurred in an industrial accident.
Stephen was born April 10, 1982 in Price to Gabriel and Sherrie Johnson Vlamakis.
He graduated from Carbon High School in 2000 and earned an associate’s degree from the College of Eastern Utah in 2002. He attended Utah State University, but later decided to pursue a career as a lineman. He was working as an apprentice lineman when the accident abruptly cut his young life far too short.
Stephen enjoyed all sports and played baseball on a championship team in Helper. He was an avid golfer who enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He had a fierce love and unwavering loyalty for his parents, his brother, extended family members and friends. He dearly loved his bub, Christopher. Caring, kind-hearted and generous, he turned strangers into friends everywhere he went. He had a fantastic sense of humor and never hesitated to lend a helping hand when one was needed.
Stephen lived his life to the fullest and savored every moment of his brief stay on earth. His tragic death has left a void in the hearts of his family, friends and the people whose lives he touched.
We love you, Stephen, and we will miss you far more than mere words could ever express. You were our first miracle. We will see you later.
Stephen is survived by his parents, Gabe and Sherrie Vlamakis of Spring Glen; his younger brother, Christopher Vlamakis, Spring Glen; his maternal grandparents, Don and Eunice Johnson of Price; his special cousin and buddy, Joseph Dunn; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, George and Tassia Vlamakis.
Funeral services were Aug. 30,  at Mitchell Funeral Home, Price. Burial was in the Mountain View Cemetery in Helper.  Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home.

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Breann Bentley
Kallon Cowley

Troy and Tammy Bentley announce the  marriage of their daughter Breann to Kallon K. Cowley son of Barry Cowley and Wynne Ann Cowley on Sept. 6. A reception will be held in their honor from 7 – 9 p.m. in the Huntington Stake Center, 240 North Main Street, Huntington.

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Jeremy and Brandie Jeppson

Jeremy and Brandie Jeppson were married Aug. 14 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Brandie is the daughter of Roger and Janet Brown of Bountiful.  She graduated from Weber State University in 2006 with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing.  She is currently employed at LDS Hospital as a registered nurse.
Jeremy is the son of Steve and Shelly Jeppson of Orangeville.  He served an LDS mission in the Chile, Santiago, West Mission from 2001 to 2003.  He graduated from Southern Utah University with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice in 2005.  Jeremy is currently employed with Adult Probation and Parole as a probation/parole officer.
Following their honeymoon, the couple will make their home in Bountiful.
There will be an open house on Sept. 6 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Orangeville Third Ward House at 65 West, 800 North, Castle Dale.

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 36
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

 

 

  • Animal Life
  • Business
  • Health

 

 

August 5, 2008

From Puppies to Lizards: 
What Makes a Pet?

Colleen Davis

When beginning this article, the first thing I did was look for the definition of pet. Well some of what I found was that a pet or companion animal is: an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment, as opposed to livestock, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for other reasons. Pets also seem to provide their owners with health benefits; keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress for those who like having animals around. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with exercise, fresh air and social interaction.

My research also revealed that for thousands of years people from all different places and cultures around the world cared for some animals simply because the liked them. Sometimes it was because of the way they looked, felt or the sounds they made. Some people chose the pet they had because of the status having such a creature gave them. Some animals are just good company and show an attachment to people.

Pet is a word that started appearing in the English language as early as the 1600s. Pets are generally not expected to work for their keep and they are not eaten. People have been using animals for hundreds of years in many ways. Dogs have been used for generations as guards, for hunting, and herding, but as time has passed, dogs have been kept as companions and playmates. Then and now most family dogs are not purebreds although they still are recognized as retrievers, spaniels terriers, shepherds, hounds, and other types. Their looks reflect the kinds of dogs that are living in the community.  At first domestic dogs appeared to have been similar in appearance. As civilization proceeded, dogs began to evolve so they could perform various functions in the community. Some were used to work with stock, while others served as guards. The selective breeding to develop dogs with deliberate physical traits began about 150 years ago. Today there are about 300 different breeds throughout the world.

Cats were first introduced to help keep rodents and vermin away. What farmers from centuries ago saw and realized is that the crops and grains attracted vermin and rodents. The vermin then attracted cats. The farmers then started encouraging the cats to stay by leaving out food that would attract them. Since they had a source of food. They moved in on a permanent basis. Being a naturally calm animal just as are feral cats today, they first started allowing people to approach them to be petted and then eventually to be held.

What have been considered “children’s perfect pets”, are rabbits, mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs, because they were easy to care for, didn’t have a long lifespan and are generally gentle. Chickens have also been considered to be a perfect backyard pet for some of the same reasons; they are easy to care for and are gentle and friendly.

One of the most recent changes in the types of pets have been reptiles: lizards, snakes and turtles. One reason for this is because people are able to care for them, but also because a large number of our society finds lizards and snakes both dangerous and repulsive.

Keeping a pet takes a lot of work and dedication, and involves a number of practices. These include providing the animal with a special diet or food, playing with it, giving it adequate shelter and sometimes even allowing it to live in our home or sit on the furniture or your lap. And one of the most important practices in having a pet is caring for it when it is sick or injured.
As I stated earlier pets have been part of our lives for hundreds of years and we continue to debate what our responsibilities are to them. The issues are difficult and opinions vary. Americans for the most part value their pets as companions and associate them with their happiness.

Pet owners include the family pet as a part of their family life. They are included in family portraits, family vacations, holidays and also when buying gifts. Some pet owners celebrate their birthdays, and when the time comes they have a memorial service to mark the end of their life. Over time pets have become an important part of many of our lives, whether it has been a faithful pet or just one that we are used to having in the yard.

So the question again is “what is a pet”? Well a pet  in short is an animal that is a companion and brings us comfort, joy and in general helps us to be happy.

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June 17, 2008

Wilderness Program up and Running in Huntington

Josie Luke

Many residents of Emery County appreciate the surrounding area because of the ability they have to have two very different environments in such close proximity, with the Manti la Sal Mountains to the west and the San Rafael Swell to the east; this also made the area a perfect place for a group of entrepreneurs looking for an area to run a wilderness therapy program.

Elements Wilderness Program is one of the newest businesses to select Emery County as the place to base their operations. With an office in Huntington, the program is now up and running, and began accepting clients on May 30.

Wilderness therapy is emerging as a viable alternative option for the treatment of youth. It incorporates group and individual therapy with the opportunity for youth to learn how to take care of themselves and cooperate with others while working through challenges in an unfamiliar environment.

 Program Director Karen Hesselman described the group’s reasons for selecting the area. “Our first thought was that we’d like to be a little bit closer to our home, Salt Lake, but there really was nothing remote that would work. The elevation was a problem because we need two different field areas, one for summer and one for winter,” she said.

“So, Huntington and Emery County, this strip along Highway 10, was perfect because you have the Forest on one side and you have the Swell on the other. This is really nice, just being in between the two different field areas. ”

She also explained another benefit to the location-- safety, saying, “The time it will take for us to get to the group on either side is quick and that is a big deal for us for safety. It seems like the perfect fit.”

The partners in the business are Hesselman, Admissions Director John Karren, and Clinical Director Lynn Smith. All have previous experience with similar programs. They joined to organize a program they believe will benefit those adolescents who are involved. “We want to go back to the real wilderness piece, as in using the outdoors as a therapy tool, getting rid of all the distractions,” Hesselman stated.  

The Field Director Dan Shorb explained their program’s approach. “This program is smaller and we’re trying to specialize by dealing with less, what we would call, clinical kids, meaning, students that aren’t acting out as much as others in other programs,” he said. “I think our specialization is really a kind of a symbol of where this genre of educational programs has gone. From its real roots of being kind of boot camp style, to now where its gone to the other extreme to where its very therapeutic and very clinical.”

In this light, in the program the youth are referred to as students and staff are called field mentors. For every group of 10 students, there are four field mentors assigned. The field mentors will work with the students for eight days and then have six days off, with a another group of mentors alternating in each week.     

Most students will be referred to the program through an educational consultant who is versed in the many different treatment types and treatment providers, and selects a specific program according to the needs of the client. Parents can also find such programs online. Information on the Elements program can be found at www.elementswilderness.com.

Hesselman also revealed that it took a great deal of time to get permits and licenses in hand for the group to finally be able to open such a business in the area. A license had to be granted from the state, a business license from the city, and permits from the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.  

She related, “It would come and go, one day it would be really exciting and I would think ‘everything’s working perfectly,’ and then the next day, you’re just totally depressed and depleted because there would be another glitch. It was up and down a lot, but everything seems to be working out now that we’re up and running.”

Hesselman and her partners are pleased to be in the area and plan to look to the community for support. “We still need a lot of local support to make it happen. We will need more employees as we start to go, so I hope everyone is open to what we have to offer and know that we are very interested in bringing the community into what we’re doing. We do want to know the community and use the resources and hopefully they’re accepting,” she said.

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August 26, 2008

OccMed helps businesses
keep employees healthy

James L. Davis

A new medical service being offered to businesses in the Emery and Carbon County area aims to help improve the health, safety and wellness of their employees.

Castleview OccMed is the newest service being offered by Castleview Hospital, both from the hospital in Price and from Emery Medical Center in Castle Dale.

PAC Lowell Morris is the manager of the new department and will balance his schedule between the Price and Castle Dale locations as demands for OccMed services grow.

And Morris expects that they will grow as word spreads of the department.

“I’ve heard from several companies that said it’s about time somebody down here started doing this,” Morris said.

The purpose of OccMed is to partner with local businesses to provide the medical needs of the company, from pre-employment physicals, drug screens, hearing tests and respirator fit tests, to helping employees who have been injured on the job.

Morris said OccMed will also be there to provide wellness programs to companies, which is one of the areas he is excited about.

“It’s a lot more fun to help a person learn about maintaining their health than to be there after something has already happened,” Morris said.

The new department has already been out to several local businesses to provide health training for employees and Morris said he recently finished a “back school” for Westridge Coal Mine, teaching employees how to prevent back injuries. Being able to be involved with companies and go out and help conduct safety training for employees at their place of work will be one of the benefits that might interest employers.

With the number of companies in the two county area devoted to what can be hazardous work, such as power plants, coal mines, oil fields and construction companies, the need for a centralized occupational health program has been a long time coming and one Morris said companies have been excited about.

While the hospital and the clinic have always provided services such as physicals and drugs screens for employers, with OccMed, employers have one source to provide all of the medical needs for employers. 

“It’s definitely an area that’s been needed down here. It will give employers and employees one contact,” Morris said.

Joining Morris in OccMed is Kaylene Behling, a occupational nurse who worked in the lab at Emery Medical before moving to OccMed.  Morris said Behling will be a great asset to the department because she already knows all of the requirements for physicals, including commercial drivers license physicals and the procedures for drug screens.
Dr. Otto Dickman will be the supervising physician of the department.

Morris said that he will continue to see patients at Emery Medical Center.  As demand for OccMed services grow Castleview will look into hiring additional staff to provide care for patients and OccMed clients.

For more information on call 381-2305.

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 36
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

 

 

 

 

Advertisement


Meet the
Candidate Night

A Meet the Candidate Night will be held at the Spartan Center Little Theater on Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.

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Veterans from Orangeville

Orangeville City is looking for names of veterans and those who have served our country since World War II to the present.  The city is sponsoring an Eagle Scout Project of updating and making a new plaque to honor Orangeville Veterans and military personnel.
To qualify to be on the list: 
1.     They need to be currently or have been a resident of Orangeville City sometime during their life.
2.     They need to have served in any military branch or been called to active duty with the reserve or guard units.
Orangeville City is proud of the men and women who serve our country in the many capacities that the military offers.   If you know of anyone or you are a veteran yourself, please contact Orangeville City at 748-2651.  We need to have this information by Oct. 1.  Please check with us to see if you are on the list.

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Living with Hearing Loss Class

A class sponsored by the Sanderson Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will  be conducted in four weekly sessions on Wednesdays from Sept.  17, 24, and Oct. 1, and Oct. 8 at the Castle Dale Senior Citizen Center. The classes begin at 10 a.m..  Carma Jackman is the instructor.
Learn about signs and symptoms of hearing loss, myths about hearing loss, causes of communication breakdowns, repairing misunderstandings, grieving over hearing loss, and useful adaptive equipment (not hearing aids).
Call 748-2788 to sign up or for more information.  There is no cost for this class and it is limited to 10 people

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Scones/Lamb for Sale

The Emery County Youth Leadership is selling scones and lamb that were left over from the pageant and fair.  Terrels scones and roll dough is $4 for a bag of 36 or $30 for a case with eight bags.  The lamb is cut and wrapped and costs $100 for half a lamb.  Call Jamie Jensen at 653-2219 or Julie Jones at 749-0674 for more information or to purchase these items.

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Peach Days Idol

Emery County Care and Rehabilitation Center will present a Peach Days Idol contest on Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. The age groups for contestants will be 8-12; 13-17; and 18 and up.  There will be a $50 cash prize in each group. Call the care center, 384-2301, to sign up.

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Foster Parenting Classes

Free foster parenting classes start in October for Carbon/Emery county families. Visit utahfostercare.org or call 1-877-506-4666.

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Farmers Market

The Farmers Market will begin July 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Price Peace Gardens.  Come out and gather up your fresh produce from your local farmers.

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Images of the San Rafael

The College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum Gallery is presenting Images of the San Rafael by Stephanie Massie Clark through Sept. 30.
The artist’s inspiration for the watercolors in the show came from the ancient rock art found at Buckhorn Wash, the Rochester Panel, Nine Mile and Sinbad.
Clark’s work can be viewed at the museum’s second floor gallery. General admission fees apply

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Food Handler’s Class

A Food Handler’s class will be held at the Southeastern Utah Department of Health, 25 W Main Street, in Castle Dale.  Class will be Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.  For more information call 381-2252.

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Monumentally Important

Emery Town is updating the Veteran’s Memorial Monument in the Emery Town Park.  Please call the Emery Town Office at 286-2417 by Aug. 30 if you know of any veterans who need to be added, deleted or changed.  The update is expected to be completed by Veteran’s Day.

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 36
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here
'

Emery Starts Season with 0-2 Record

-Spartan Varsity Football

Emery Crushes Carbon in Tennis

-Lady Spartan Tennis

Lady Spartans Slay Wolves 3-1

-Lady Spartan Volleyball

Cross Country Team Focused for Season

-Spartan Cross Country

Spartan Hustle

-Spartan JV Football

 

 

 

 

 

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Emery Starts Season with 0-2 Record

Josie Luke

Plagued by penalties and Emery turnovers, the game between the Emery Spartans and the Canyon View Falcons lasted over two-and-a-half hours and ended with Emery losing their second game of the season, 23-12.

On Emery’s first possession, the Spartans looked strong, drawing the Falcons off sides on fourth down, with four yards to go to gain the first down, but their first fumble of the game halted what looked to be a promising drive.

The Emery defense forced Canyon View to punt, giving their offense a good chance, but the Spartans coughed up their second turnover, an interception after they had nearly reached their opponent’s 20-yard line.

After punts by both teams, Canyon view again proceeded to move it down the field, and despite a backfield tackle by Emery Middle Linebacker Derrick Allred, and a batted pass by Cornerback Dusty Jensen, the Falcon Quarterback wrapped up the drive with a three yard run into the end zone.
After Canyon View ran Emery’s third turnover back for a touch down, they added a field goal that bounced off of the crossbar and through the uprights for their third score, to lead at the half by a margin of 17-0.

Emery excited their fans by forcing the Falcon offense to punt on their first possession of the second half, and then marching 80 yards down the field to score their first touchdown, with plays by J.T. Noyes and Colby Snow culminating in a touchdown run by Chance Ariotti. But again, after exchanging punts, the Spartans lost their momentum and any chance of coming back in the game with their fourth turnover.

Canyon view responded to the turnover with another score and so despite scoring their second touchdown on a catch and run by Cameron Hansen with less than a minute left in the game, the Spartans lost, 32-12.

 The game between the Falcons and Spartans was also marked by a number of penalties. Between the teams, there were at least eight off- sides calls, more than five un-sportsman like conduct penalties and altogether, nearly 20 penalties, which proved to make a tough game for the Spartans last even longer.
Despite all of the missteps, the Spartan football team provided a number of impressive plays in the game, which will either prove to infuriate the team, coaches and fans for the rest of the season, or the team will come together to prove that their first two games served as simply the time they needed to work out the bugs. Let’s hope it is the latter.

Emery’s next game is against Desert Hills in St. George on Friday, Sept. 5. The two J.V. and sophomore teams will play at Emery High on Sept. 4. Desert Hills comes into the game with a 2-0 record, with wins against Salem Hills and Uintah. 

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Emery Crushes Carbon in Tennis

Casey Wood

The Emery High School Tennis Team went up against the Carbon Dinos on Aug. 28 at Emery High for their second match of the season. 

Carbon High’s newly assembled team was no match for the Spartans in the first match of Carbon’s season.  Emery came away with what amounted to total domination, winning every match, from the first doubles team of Adriane Weihing and Melanie Frisbie, and the second doubles team of Courtney Sitterud and Brittany Hansen, to first and second singles players Whitney Saupan and Katie Turner. 

The team did extremely well and both coaches were proud of the effort they put forth.   Assistant coach Willie Frisbie said, “All of our girls played like we wanted them to play.”

The next match will be at Delta on Sept. 2, followed by a match at North Sanpete on Sept. 3.  It’s safe to say that the Emery Tennis team is a force to be reckoned with.

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Lady Spartans Slay Wolves 3-1

Casey Wood

The North Sevier Wolves traveled to Emery High on Aug. 26 only to be vanquished by our own Lady Spartans volleyball team. 

The matches began less than perfect for Emery, who lost the first of four matches with a score of 19-23 Sevier. 

Following the first loss Emery really picked up their game.  In the three succeeding matches the scores were 25-23, 28-26, and 25-23, each game respectively going to Emery.

“They fought back, they’ve become fighters!”  States coach Kris Bell. 

The game was statistically great for Emery.  “They only had 5 missed served out of 4 matches, which was excellent for the team,” said Bell.  There were many saves, contributing to the great comeback.  Jodi Robertson led in good hits with 20, followed by ShiAnne Allred with 15.  The team’s libero (or back row specialist) Jenni Stinson played extremely well.  Brooke Jensen did very well with 13 blocks, and Frankie Komar did extremely well with her sets.  The team also did very well with their passing when they started getting into the game and really playing.

The next tournament will be Sept. 2 against Union at Emery High.  The team is shaping up to be a great one, and their games are certainly not something you want to miss. 

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Golf Team Struggles in Tournament

Casey Wood

The Spartan Golf Team traveled to Delta on Aug. 28 to face off against the other Region 8 teams and see if they could once again fair well in a tournament.

The tournament ended with Emery not faring as well as they had hoped.  The top four scores which the team used were: Junior Mark Guymon first, shooting an 88, Senior Jason Giles next, shooting a 90, Senior Tayler Tanner third, shooting a 96, and Sophomore Andrew Terry rounding it up with a 99. 
Unfortunately the final team rankings were not great for Emery.  Carbon took first, followed by Juan Diego, then Salem Hills, Delta, North Sanpete, with Emery High taking last. 

Don’t yet give up on Emery, next week the tournament will be held at North Sanpete. 

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Cross Country Team Focused for Season

Josie Luke

Emery High School Cross Country Coaches Darrel Gardner and Kristy Guymon have more in mind for the students who compete on the team this year than simply winning competitions, they believe that the sport teaches self-motivation and determination.

“Hopefully we’re teaching them a lifestyle,” said Coach Guymon. “Eventually, when they go to college, the only form of exercise that’s cheap and easy to get to is running. Having learned a love for it here in high school, they can go back to that.” They also enjoy coaching the athletes who compete because cross country draws students who already have those attributes.

Coach Gardner has coached for years, and still enjoys coaching because “it’s fun working with the kids. The kids we get are cream of the crop kids. They are very dedicated.”

Anyone who thinks about running three miles can understand the self-motivation such a sport would take. “You accomplish something 95 percent of people can’t accomplish,” said Gardner. “It is a person versus themselves.”

The team practices every day after school and run on their own on Saturday. Both coaches encourage anyone who would still like to join the team, or who would just like to run with them to join them.
The Spartan Cross Country team competed in a practice meet on Aug. 27 at Salina Creek against Richfield and North Sevier, placing second. Lacey Montgomery performed incredibly well, coming in first overall in the girl’s race, with a time of 20:58. For the boy’s team, Spencer Fehlberg came in 9th. Guymon said the team did well overall, especially for a first meet.

The team competes next in Ferron on Sept. 3 at 3:30. For those interested in watching, the coaches said the Grub Box will be a good place to see the runners.

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Spartan Hustle

Emery High running back J.T. Noyes carries the ball into the end zone for the team’s first score.  Though the varsity team lost to the Canyon View Falcons, the J.V. Team hold on after a 19-0 halftime lead to win 19-12, and the sophomore team won 6-2.  Both the sophomore and J.V. teams face Desert Hills at Emery on Sept. 4.

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© The Emery County Review 2008    
 

Local News,
Local Voice,
Locally Owned

Volume 2, Issue 36
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Edition

 

For Emery and Carbon
County Events click here

 

 

 

  • Other News
  • Dazed
  • Casey's Pockets
  • Swell Recipies
  • Swell Books

 

 

Cowboy Poets gather at
Castle Valley Ranch

Kathy Ockey

Another successful yearly Cowboy Poetry night was held at Castle Valley Ranch Aug. 28.  The Emery County Historical Society sponsors this event and Joyce Staley, president of the Historical Society, welcomed the large crowd. Emcee and also a cowboy poet for the evening was Kent Peterson.  Appreciation was expressed to Castle Valley Ranch owner, Glendon Johnson and his employees for hosting this event each year.  

Music was provided by Desert Rose and poets for the evening were Kent Perterson, Shirley Hill and Evelyn Huntsman, who also sang.

Mark Justice paid tribute to local historian and one of the founders of the Historical Society,  Montell Seeley, who recently passed away.  Mark worked with Montell for seven years on the Castle Valley Pageant and related several very interesting stories about their association.  Mark concluded with the comment, “Montell was a wonderful man with many great accomplishments.”

The Cowboy Poetry gathering started in 1990 when Jan Peterson, the Historical Society president at the time, wanted to have a fun activity for the group.  She and her husband, Kent, hosted the event for at least 10 years until the group became too large for their back yard.  Castle Valley Ranch then began having it at their ranch, which provides a scenic background and a wonderful environment for the event.  

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-Dazed-

They Call Me Noah

James L. Davis

My brother calls me Noah.  He not only calls me Noah, he gets far more satisfaction than is healthy in calling me Noah.

From time to time he will come down to my house just so he can call me Noah.  He usually does this while I am feeding animals, which is, of course, the primary reason why he calls me Noah.

The reason it is not healthy for him to continue calling me Noah is that when my brother calls me Noah he is not trying to compliment me. What he is trying to do is get under my skin and see how far I can be pushed before I snap and start beating him over the head with whatever farm animal happens to be closest at hand.
My brother started calling me Noah shortly after I married my wife and just before I finished building my first chicken coop.  He called me Noah again while I was in the midst of putting up a pen for the goats and he got quite a hoot out of calling me Noah after we put up the horse corral and started collecting cats to keep the field mice away from the house.

This was all funny to him because I am a city boy and seeing me gathering eggs was only slightly less strange than it would have been to see me dressed like a ballerina.  He thinks that just because I was not raised on the farm that I do not like animals.  He is mistaken in that.  I like animals just fine. 

I like them on Animal Planet and I like them on my dinner plate with a side helping of French fries.  While it is true that animals that don’t appear on my television or dinner plate don’t hold much interest to me, they hold plenty of interest to my wife and since she holds my interest I help out with the animals where I can.

In our five years of marriage I have learned a thing or two about animals, but then, since I married a veterinarian technician, I guess I was destined to learn something about animals, whether I wanted to or not.
I have learned that no matter how dumb you might think chickens are in reality they are far dumber.  If you don’t believe me, then you haven’t watched your fair share of chickens.  Not only are chickens dumb, but they are in a constant state of surprise, even when they have no reason to be surprised.  Every morning our chickens lay eggs and every morning these same chickens are amazed, completely and totally amazed to discover that they have laid an egg. 

They will scream to high heaven about this amazing thing that has passed through their body.  The only thing truly amazing about the whole situation is that after gathering these eggs and washing them I will sit down at the dinner table and actually eat them.  They tasted much better when I was under the impression that eggs came from the grocery store.

Another thing that I have learned is that goats will ride your horses if you give them half a chance.  I discovered this quite by accident one morning when I went out to feed the animals and noticed that my wife’s horse had baby goat prints all over her back.  We had put her filly in with the goats to keep her safe from the geldings, who were harassing her.  So, to be safe from the other horses she had to face the indignity of being ridden by the goats.

It should be noted at this point that we have pygmy goats and don’t ask me why we have pygmy goats because I am not entirely sure.  As near as I can tell they are just supposed to be out back so when company comes to visit they can say, “oh, look at the cute goats.”

Seeing baby pygmy goat prints on the horses back I became a little bit curious about just how these baby goats managed to climb on the horse’s back.  In the end I discovered that pygmy goats not only enjoy riding horses, but they can bounce off walls as if they are made of rubber. 

I know this because as I was going back to the house I happened to look back to see our two baby goats bouncing against the fence, leaping into the air to dance a jig on the back of my wife’s horse and then bouncing back down again.

The horse meanwhile was looking at me as if to beg for deliverance from the goats and I for a moment considered putting her in with the chickens, but didn’t want to surprise them any more than they already were by all the eggs they were passing through their bodies.

I went back to the house trying to think of someplace else a city boy could put a young horse to keep her from being ridden by goats.  Perhaps an ark would do the trick.

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-Casey’s Pockets-

Video Games on the Net

Casey Wood

Video games have grown vastly in popularity, as I have commented in previous articles, but I have previously failed to mention a highly influential reason in their growth.  A reason which for many is one of the soul reasons they play video games: online play. 

The idea of online video games has only become an important concept and driving selling point in recent years, although the idea of online video games has been around for a relatively long time. 

Online play began with computer games.  Games where players from all around the world could connect, communicate and compete in a massive simulated reality.  A lot of popular online video games for the PC are RTS (real time strategy) games or RPGs (role play games).  Some popular titles are World of Warcraft, Runescape, Warcraft III, Diablo II, Starcraft, and Age of Empires.

The same concept has only recently has come to home consoles, in fact, only since PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube have consoles been built for the purpose of playing online.  The fad really didn’t take off until the new-gen consoles of Wii, PlayStation 3 and of course the most widely used online console, Xbox 360.  The strongest selling games for consoles are RPGs, First Person Shooters, sporting games, and Racing games.  Some popular titles for console online play are Halo 2, Halo 3, Gears of War, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Madden ’09, the Guitar Hero Franchise, Warhawk, Resistance: Fall of Man, Super Smash Brothers Brawl and Mario Kart Wii. 

The online environments used in these new consoles can be set to strict or loose security depending on the desires of parents and account holders.  For instance on Wii users must have the “friend code”, which is imbedded into another person’s console, added to their friends list, to play against competitors.  As for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 the online networks allow restriction of access to play against unknown people.  They also allow a feature that automatically mutes conversation between the user and unknown gamers worldwide through the headset. 

Online play is quickly shaping up to be one of the most important factors in video games today.  The ability to compete with friends locally is no longer sufficient.  Gamers want to be able to compete with gamers across the globe and show their ability, or lack thereof, at a video game.  The online competition allows gamers to learn and increase their abilities at video games through help from others, and through practice against other human players. 

Video game companies have also imbedded online abilities into their handheld consoles, the Nintendo DS and the PSP (PlayStation Portable).  Access is granted through wireless internet and allows gamers to play online wherever they go. 

Online capability will certainly be a driving force in future consoles, both home and handheld.  Without online play video games would not be as widely used throughout the world.  Whether that is a good or bad thing is for you to decide.

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-Swell Recipes-

Fay Roper Shares Some of Her
Canning Secrets

Kathy Ockey

Fay Roper has a wonderful knowledge of homemaking skills that most women would love to have.  She not only knows how to sew, crochet, quilt, garden and can and bottle both fruit and vegetables, she loves to do it.
Fay was born 92 years ago to John and Ruby Brasher and has lived in Huntington all of her life.  She is the mother of four children, two sons and two daughters. 

Fay said she can’t work in her garden like she used to because she is having problems with her back, but when she could, she would go out early in the morning and do the weeding and pick the vegetables she would need for the day. 

Fay has a very good friend, Esther Cheshire, who would help her in her garden and in canning the produce.  She said they enjoyed each other’s company and spent many hours working together.  Esther moved to Brigham City recently, and Fay said she misses the friendship they share. 

Fay said she was still able to bottle seven different kinds of pickles last year and is known for her delicious pickle recipes.  She also likes to bottle fresh fruit when she can get it.  She has a peach tree on her property and said one year someone stole all of the peaches off from it while she was at church.

Another of Fay’s favorite pastimes is crocheting and she has beautiful items to show for her labors.  She has a lovely hand-appliquéd quilt on her bed she is very proud of and she also taught 4-H for many years. Fay said her mother taught her how to crochet and quilts and she wishes she had kept track of all the quilts she had made for her family.

It is canning season and the following are several of Fay’s recipes she is sharing.

Pickled Beets
“These are the best you will ever have”

Syrup
2 quarts vinegar
1 quart cooking water from beets
4 pounds brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 Tablespoon pickling spices
Cook cleaned beets in pressure cooker with 4-5 cups water.  Bring to whistle.  Put on petcock and bring to 10 pounds.  Cook 8 minutes.  Run cold water over skins and they will slip off easily.  Slice or dice and put in bottles.  Cover with boiling syrup.  Seal and cold pack for 30 minutes.
You can cook beets the conventional way, but using a pressure cooker saves time.  You can also cut down the amount of sugars, but the beets will not be as tasty.

Sweet and Sour Dill Pickles
“I was given this recipe from Sharlene Roundy
and it is delicious”

4 1/2 quarts cucumbers – sliced or speared
6 cups vinegar