The Wayne & Garfield County INSIDER
Page 2
October 24, 2013
Government Shutdown Ends WAYNE and GARFIELD COUNTIES - Furloughed federal government employees in the area returned to work last week as Congress finally passed a bill funding government operations and extended the federal debt limit to provide for the government’s continued functioning. The government reopened on Oct. 17 after nearly a twoand-a-half week shutdown and congressional impasse that brought chaos to the area’s tourism industry when national parks abruptly closed on Oct. 1, leaving visitors from around the world in limbo. Efforts springing from the work of seven Utah counties and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert had led to a temporary reopening of the parks Oct. 11, funded with a $1.67 million appropriation from the state paid to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Commissioners from those counties had met in St. George the previous Monday, expressing serious concern over the effects of the shutdown on the region’s economy. Four of those counties had declared states of emergency due to the national park closures. As a recognition of the importance of the national parks to the local economies, the State of Utah, with support from the county commissions worked a deal with the Department of the Interior to reopen the parks.
Repayment of the $1.67 million will require action from Congress. The shutdown had a big effect on local residents, ranging from the many furloughed federal employees to concerns about programs such as food stamps, Women and Infant Children and other federally administered programs designed to help the poor. Some businesses in Escalante and Boulder reported brisk business from the many tourists unable to visit the national parks, although other businesses clearly suffered due to the closures. The concessions at Bullfrog, for instance, almost completely shut down, and a locked up hotel and restaurant along with numerous cancelled reservations had a serious impact on business in spite of the eventual reopening of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Other businesses, like Ruby’s Inn outside Bryce Canyon NP, were preparing to shut down when the state-sponsored reopening occurred, creating numerous issues with food suppliers and other purveyors of hospitality industry goods. Cancelled reservations and tour groups affected a variety of outfitters, motels, restaurants and other tourismdependent businesses. —Bob Phillips
Firewood Permits Now Available from the Dixie National Forest CEDAR CITY – Now that the partial government shutdown has ended, the Dixie National Forest is able to sell firewood permits again to the public. Firewood permits are issued in a series of half-cord tags. The minimum purchase price is $20. This package includes four half-cord tags, for a total of 2 cords. Additional half-cord tags can be purchased for $5 each. Firewood permits are available at all Dixie National Forest Offices (St. George, Cedar City, Panguitch, and Escalante), and are valid through the end of the 2013 calendar year. Special regulations dictate what types of trees and tree size (diameter at the stump) can be cut in different areas of the forest. For instance, on the Powell Ranger District it is not legal to cut oak. On the Pine Valley, Cedar City, and Escalante Ranger Districts oak can be cut. These regulations are provided with the purchase of a permit. Tags, which come with the permit, should be attached to the load before transporting the firewood. Stumps left after cutting should be no higher than 12 inches in height. Slash
created from cutting should be left no deeper than 24 inches. Firewood may be collected anywhere on the Dixie National Forest except in the following areas: • Areas posted or identified as closed on a map that is provided with the permit • Marked timber sales • Administrative sites • Campgrounds • Picnic grounds Motorized vehicle travel off designated system roads for the purpose of firewood gathering is limited to 150 feet unless otherwise designated in the firewood permit. It is highly recommended that an official Motorized Vehicle Use Map (Travel Map) is carried with the firewood permit. These complimentary maps are available at all ranger district offices. To limit damage to the forest road system, please do not drive on muddy roads. If you need suggestions on where to cut, please call or visit your local Forest Service office. For more information, contact the Dixie National Forest at (435) 865-3700. —U.S. Forest Service
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Bob Phillips
Loch Wade gave a lecture on ice storage and natural refrigeration during the Boulder Harvest Festival Friday, providing numerous details on the nature of evaporative cooling and various ways of using that process in lieu of electrified refrigeration.
Boulder Harvest Festival BOULDER - A variety of old-time skills and a distinctly old-fashioned community atmosphere were on display last Friday in Boulder at the annual Harvest Festival, where the teaching of traditional crafts and methods mixed with local food, music and discussion. Local residents presented information on everything from ice storage and natural refrigeration to chicken farming and knife sharpening, as scores of locals and visitors enjoyed brilliant fall sunshine and blue skies at the Red House Farm. The day’s activities included presentations on beekeeping, chicken farming, ice cream making, goat milk soap making, the use of natural bacteria and mushroom spores to increase soil fertility, and various other skills. The annual festival is sponsored by the Boulder Heritage Skills Foundation. —Bob Phillips
UT Ranchers Giving Cows to Devastated South Dakota Ranchers MOUNTAIN HOME, UTAH - South Dakota ranchers and farmers who lost 100,000 head of cattle in winter storm Atlas are getting some help from ranchers in Utah and other states. Rancher Guy Thayne from Mountain Home, Utah is leading an effort to send cows to South Dakota. He says there are commitments in place from within the state to donate about 150 animals. Thayne adds ranchers coming together across the U.S. can make South Dakota whole again. “That everyone that owned a herd of cows would give one - and if that were the case, even in the West, we could replace a good lot of those cows for them,” he says. Thayne is working with Montana rancher Ty Linger, who founded Heifers for
South Dakota. Heifers are needed, as well as volunteers and cash to get the cattle to those who need recovery help the most. Thayne is calling on ranchers to send their best animals. “We want them to give the best they got,” he says. “That’s what I did, and hopefully others will do the same thing. We want good-quality cows.” Thayne says the cows being given to South Dakota ranchers are valued at up to $1,800 per head. Volunteers are available statewide to coordinate animal transportation, and all donations are tax deductible. Details at HelpForSouthDakota.com or you can call Guy Thayne at 435-454-3657. —Troy Wilde, Utah News Connection
Realtor
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Over 25 years of friendly, professional real estate service to Wayne County.
Fall Farmer’s Market this Saturday at the Escalante Mercantile Patio from 10 AM until noon. Winter Squash varieties, Indian Corn, Kale, and lots more. Thank you for supporting the Escalante Farmer’s Market
Tropic Town Meet the Candidate Night Friday, October 25, 2013 Heritage Center 7pm
Garfield Memorial Hospital Will Offer Flu Shot Clinics at the Following Times and Locations Circleville Clinic: Oct. 28th 2-3 PM Junction Piute County Courthouse: Oct. 28th 3:30 4:30 PM Escalante Kazan Clinic: Oct. 23rd 3:30-4:30PM Henrieville Senior Citizen Center: Oct. 24th 4-5 PM Tropic Heritage Center: Oct. 24th 2:30-3:30PM Cannonville Bryce Valley Clinic Oct. 24th 1-2 PM Panguitch Garfield Memorial Clinic: Oct. 29th and Nov. 5th 5-7PM
Candidates will be available to answer questions and address your concerns WaLon Brinkerhoff * Mayor Jeanne Shakespeare * Mayor Jason Bybee * Council Member Sara Syrett * Council Member
Calendar
Travis LeFevre * Council Member
Friday, October 25
Wednesday, October 30
n Wayne Athletics Pumpkin Run n Tropic Town Candidates Night @7pm
n Bryce Valley Haunted Train 7-9pm
Saturday, October 26
n Hanksville Turkey Shoot
n Escalante Farmers Market at Escalante Mercantile 10am - noon
Saturday, November 2
Wayne County Early Area History Classes by Steve Taylor will start at 1pm on November 1 at Steve Taylor’s home 830 East 200 South in Fremont Questions? Call 435-836-2747