The Case of the Missing Perch

Would you like to step on the ice, wet a line and help solve a mystery?

If so, meet at the Starvation State Park boat ramp at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17. It’s time for another “Starvation Perch Search.”

It’s easy to catch yellow perch at Starvation Reservoir in the summer.  The fish seem to be everywhere.  Trend-net surveys conducted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources indicate the reservoir has a large, expanding population of perch, with several strong age classes.

But when the reservoir freezes over in the winter, the perch at Starvation disappear.

Fishing is usually good in the winter at other perch-fishing waters in Utah.  So what’s going on at Starvation?

To answer this mystery, the UDWR is organizing another “Starvation Perch Search.”  And you’re invited.  It doesn’t matter how much ice-fishing experience you have—all you need to participate is a current Utah fishing license (the first Perch Search was held in 2008).

The idea is to put as many anglers as possible on the reservoir to try and find where the perch have moved to.  To do this, biologists need the help of anglers—lots of anglers.

If you’d like to help, meet at the Starvation State Park boat ramp at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17.  And bring all of your ice-fishing equipment.  Powered ice augers, portable fish finders and underwater cameras will make it easier to find the fish.

When you arrive at the boat ramp, biologists will show you a map of the lake.  They’ll also keep track of where anglers fish and collect information from anglers as they leave the ice.

Starvation Reservoir is just west of Duchesne on US-40.

For more information, call (435) 781-9453, and ask for Ed, Ron or Roger.

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Wild Turkeys Come to Castle Country

During the past several months, the Division of Wildlife Resources has released nearly 150 wild turkeys at sites in Carbon and Emery counties. Release sites have included the Fuller and Hambrick Bottoms in Emery County, and Gordon Creek, Hiawatha and Miller Creek in Carbon County. Turkeys came from southwestern Utah, where wild turkeys have become so abundant that private property owners have begun to complain.  Their loss is our gain.

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Red-Tailed Hawk Rehabilitated

In partnership with Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation, the Division of Wildlife Resources released a red-tailed hawk south of Moab near Kens Lake on Jan. 6. A month earlier, the injured hawk had been found by a concerned citizen, who called Moab area Conservation Officer Tj Robertson. He transported the bird to Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation, where it was treated for a broken leg and malnutrition. Under the care of rehabilitator Debbie Pappas, the bird was ready for release after only 28 days.  Officer Robertson released the hawk in the same area it had been found

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-Out N About-

Fifth Annual High School Art Competition

The Fifth Annual High School Art Competition will be held in Gallery East on the College of Eastern Utah campus in Price from Jan. 7 to 24.

All artists of high school age (14-18 years old) are invited to participate, including
public high school students, home-schooled students and students attending private schools.
They need not be enrolled in an art class to participate.

An artist Reception will be held from 7 pm to 9 pm on Jan. 16. 
Awards will be announced at the reception. All artists, their families and the general public are welcome.

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-Sports-

Spartans Win Big at Home

Casey D. Wood

On Jan.9, The Spartan basketball team found themselves facing the Kanab Cowboys Jan. 9 for a game that ended up being a decisive victory for the Spartans.  After being defeated earlier in the week by Wasatch 70-53, the Spartans were ready to redeem themselves, and they did just that. 

The Spartans started out the game with a dominating defense and baskets dropping one after another. The first quarter ended with a Spartan lead 16-9.  In the second the Spartans stepped up with even more unstoppable play.  Widening the gap with more defensive shutdowns and offensive free-for-alls, the Spartans ended the half 42-23.

As the teams returned to the court for the second half, the Spartans weren’t ready to rest on their lead. They continued to outmaneuver the Cowboys at every turn and ended the third with a score of 63-37. 

As the last eight minutes began to tick away on the clock the Spartans maintained their confidence, near the end putting in members of the junior varsity team.  The game ended with a 24 point victory, and a final score of 77-53. 

The Spartans were led in scoring by junior Nevin Jensen with 22 points, three from downtown.  Closely following Jensen was junior Colton Barnett with 17 points of his own.  Next was senior Jason Giles with 14 points, including a three-point shot, then junior Tanner Procaroine with 8 points, senior Karson Jensen with 5, senior Gatlan Huntington with 4, senior Brett Mecham with 3, and senior Tayler Tanner and junior Derek Tuttle rounded up scoring with 2 points each.

The Spartans have a season record of 6-2.  Continue to show your support for them as they mow through the competitors next week, traveling to Delta on Wednesday and facing their archrival Carbon on Friday. 

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-Tributes-

Elwood “Woody” Thomas

FERRON - Elwood “Woody” Thomas age 80, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2009.  Woody was born April 1, 1928, to Theodore and Christina (Jensen) Thomas, in Hiawatha, Utah.  He married Shirlene Bawden on April 12, 1948, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Woody grew up working on farms in the Price-Hiawatha-Wellington area.  He served his country in the U.S. Navy, and he worked for Geneva Steel for 30 years.  He enjoyed outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, and camping.

Woody is survived by his children: Jann (Jay “Pete”) Parduhn, Page, AZ, and Herb E. (Jean) Thomas,  Ferron, UT; three granddaughters; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two brothers; and three sisters.

He was preceded in death by his wife: Shirlene “Doll” Thomas, May 12, 2004; his parents; and a grandson, Zachery Benjamin Thomas.

Graveside services were January 10, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Cleveland Town Cemetery. Interment was in the Cleveland Town Cemetery.  Services were in the care of Fausett Mortuary.

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Harris M. Gitlin

HONOLULU/PRICE - Harris M. Gitlin, passed away peacefully in the arms of his son, Bob on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.  He was 94 years old.
He was born February 20, 1913 to Phillip and Bessie Gitlin in Columbus, Ohio.
He was raised there and in Grove City, Ohio where he worked on a farm and developed his love for agriculture.  He graduated from both Ohio State and Michigan State Universities.  He served in the military from, 1941 to 1946.  He was a major in the 928th Army Corp. Of Engineers.
He married Margaret Watts in 1943.  She was the love of his life.  They were married for 54 years.
 After the war he returned to Ohio State as an assistant professor. He next went to Michigan State for an advanced degree and later he took a position with the University of Hawaii as a professor of Agricultural Engineering.  He was a world wide consultant in tropical agriculture.
Harries retired at the age of 68. He then pursued his next great passion, sailing. He spent the next 20 years sailing his boat, the Shamal, around the world.  In 2007 Harris moved to Price to be closer to family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret.
He is survived by his son, Robert (Janis) of Price; grandchildren, Lisa (Tito) Nanni, John (Mika) Gitlin, and Mike (Genna) Gitlin of Salt Lake City; and his six precious great grandchildren, Rachel, Tito-Mike, Bella, Brighton, Gabi, and Eden.
There will be no funeral, at his request.  At a later date Harris’s ashes will join Margaret’s on the beautiful waters of the Pacific off of Diamond Head in Hawaii.

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