| Candace Jensen from DCFS, Kisty Childs and Christy Weston representing XTO and Julie Jones, co-chair for the Healthy Family Coalition. The donation was for $500. |
XTO has donated $500 to the Local Interagency Coordinating Council. The LIC began functioning with a series of grants. The planning grant was lost two years ago so the council lost its coordinator Gareldine Wright. The LIC is set up to focus on activities for youth. Including at risk youth and low income or just those in danger of falling through the cracks.
This also included disabled youth who might need extra funds to allow them to participate in the same programs as other children.
The LIC is a valuable resource to fund, but no funding was available to keep the council going. The council then decided to refocus and look for other avenues of funding to keep the programs going. One new focus is to educate families. The council is focusing on an education component. The council approves or disapproves projects for the flexible funding. One project the council has agreed to take on is the family awareness night. This is where the funds donated by XTO and other organizations come into play. This awareness night will be held on Sept. 12 at Emery High beginning at 6 p.m.
The topics for this night will include workshops on drugs, parenting, internet safety and a variety of others. A dinner will be provided. The workshops will be pertinent for a variety of age groups. The council is also planning a nursery for the small children so parents will be able to attend the workshops while their children are being watched.
Emery High students will also be able to earn extra credit for attending the awareness night.
The council estimated they would need $2,000 for the event and they have raised $1,500 to date. If anyone would like to donate to the event they can contact Delena Fish at the Workforce Services at 381-6100.
Boni Seal and Julie Jones are the co-chairs for the Emery County Healthy Families Coalition.
They hope to involve a number of volunteers in pulling this event together.
If you are interested in helping you can contact the co-chairs at 687-9744.
| The Hypno Hick, Shaun Dee, puts the Emery County audience deeper and deeper under his control. |
The Hypno Hick, Shaun Dee will again visit Emery County for a repeat performance at the fair on Aug. 3. He performed at Fair 2006 for two shows where he packed them in. He had participants dancing, singing, playing in a band and smelling their shoes. It was a funny experience during the afternoon and the word spread quickly as the night time performance was standing room only. The Hypno Hick was born in October of 1975, “I attended Dixie High in the wonderful town of St. George where I was exposed to the powers of hypnosis while attending my psychology class in 1993.
“This exposure began a lifelong and earnest study of hypnosis and the amazing things that the human mind can achieve and that are limited only by the imagination. I found myself experimenting with my little brothers and got a kick out of making them bark like dogs and getting away from them by making them believe they were stuck in their chair.
“During these years I found myself being a natural at entertaining. I love showing the crowd a good time and dishing out the laughs one after another.
“In 2002 I achieved the level of Master Hypnotist and became a Certified Hypnotherapist in March 2003. I have found that hypnosis is extremely powerful in achieving success in almost every aspect of life. It can help you achieve success in business, sports, and life. It is also is one of the most effective and safest means to break bad habits, lose weight, and sleep better. It is also the single best method to reduce stress.
“One of my great joys is doing fundraisers. Some of which have included organizations for terminal illnesses, school sports, scouts, etc,” said the Hypno Hick.
The Utah Department of Transportation will release the Long Range Transportation Plan 2007-2030 for public comment beginning March 26 through April 26.
This plan focuses on capacity projects in the rural and small urban areas of Utah. It can be reviewed at local libraries throughout the state, at UDOT Region offices or online at www.udot.utah.gov.
“Planning for future transportation projects is a comprehensive process that requires the input and perspective of community members, elected officials and public agencies,” said UDOT Planning Director John Thomas. “Utah is experiencing tremendous growth and an increased demand for transportation facilities.”
Small urban areas across the state are growing rapidly. The St. George area’s population has increased from approximately 26,000 residents in 1980 to more than 90,000 in 2000. It is expected to grow to more than 218,000 by 2030. Similarly, Cedar City, Heber City, Hurricane, Moab, Tooele, and Vernal all are growing at record rates.
Public comments regarding the Long Range Transportation Plan 2007-2030 will help UDOT to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the state’s plans to increase mobility and address future transportation needs.
“Feedback from those who use our state highways on a daily basis helps us identify transportation solutions that will meet the needs of Utah communities,” said Thomas.
In addition to this plan focusing on rural areas, separate plans have been written for the metropolitan areas under the direction of the Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization (CMPO), Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) and the Dixie Metropolitan Planning Organization (DMPO). When available, these plans may also be accessed on UDOT’s website.
Once public comments are reviewed, an executive summary of all five plans will be produced. This summary, called the Unified Transportation Plan, is due to be released statewide in July.
Carbon
U.S. 6 Helper Interchange
Project includes the construction of a grade-separated interchange on U.S. Highway 6 at North Main Street in Helper. The interchange will feature a bridge over Main Street with new on- and off-ramps onto U.S. 6. Crews are currently building retaining walls, placing pipe culverts, and driving piles for the bridge. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction with a reduced speed limit. Motorists should expect minimal delays. Expected completion: July 2008.
Emery
U.S. 6 Milepost 283-288 (about 10 miles north of I-70)
Project includes the addition of uphill passing lanes. Crews are currently performing shoulder excavation work. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction with a reduced speed limit. Motorists should expect minor delays throughout the summer. Project completion expected by fall 2007.
Grand
U.S. 191 Milepost 147-151 (about 15 miles north of Moab)
Project includes the addition of passing lanes. Crews are currently excavating shoulder areas of the roadway. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction with a reduced speed limit of 55 miles per hour. Motorists should expect minimal delays. Project completion is expected in July 2007.
San Juan
U.S. 191 Milepost 95-110 (about 10 miles south of Moab)
Project includes the addition of passing lanes in three locations (MP 96-99, MP 104-106, and MP 108-110). Crews are currently working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and are excavating shoulder areas. Traffic is reduced to one lane in alternating directions as directed by flaggers and pilot cars. Motorists should expect delays of up to 20 minutes while traveling through the area. Speed limits are reduced. Project completion is expected in September 2007.
U.S. 491 East of Monticello (Milepost 1-9)
This project includes a total pavement reconstruction, shoulder widening, and the addition of passing lanes. Crews began work April 9 with traffic reduced to one lane in alternating directions as directed by temporary traffic signals. Motorists should expect delays of up to 20 minutes. Project completion is expected in October 2007 with a chip seal project to follow in May or June 2008.
U.S. 491 Between Milepost 9 and Colorado State Line (Milepost 9-17)
Project includes the pavement rehabilitation and shoulder widening of a seven-mile section of U.S. 491. Crews have suspended work until May 15 when they will return to place a chip seal on this nearly complete project. Project completion is expected in July 2007.
American Legion District 5 consists of Emery Carbon, Grand and San Juan counties. This April 21, the district’s convention will be held in Huntington at the Senior Center at 11 a.m.
All department officers of the American Legion and the Auxiliary will be in attendance. According to District Commander Ray Quinn and Auxiliary President Carolyn Randall, the convention will be beneficial to all veterans and all members are encouraged to attend.
A mountain man rendezvous will be held for all boy scouts, varsity and venturing scouts at the Buckhorn rendezvous site. Come and join the fun on the Buckhorn.
There will be competitive shooting with Burt Oman as the range master. Shooting will be 22s, shot guns, and blackpowder guns for a combined score. There will be trophies for the top three in Boy Scouts (ages 11-13), and the top three Varsity/Venturing (ages 14-19) combined scores. Come on out and show your stuff and have some springtime fun. There will be lunch.
The Buckhorn rendezvous site is approximately 14 miles east of Castle Dale. The date is April 14 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. All boys, ages 11-19 are welcome. Younger boys need to be accompanied by an adult. There will be no charge for this activity.
The Ferron American Legion Auxiliary #42 works year round to see that our soldiers are not forgotten. For many Emery County residents, they think that Operation Home Support only comes into action during the Christmas holidays. That idea is erroneous.
Jan Hess said, “We send the soldiers a box of supplies with a letter inside at most of the holidays throughout the year. That includes Valentines, Easter, Armed Forces Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We want them to know that we care and they are not forgotten.”
The Operation Home Support program began three years ago and has been in action ever since. At the present time they are requesting that all Emery County residents who have a loved one serving in a war zone, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, contact them to get that name on the list to receive a package at the next holiday.
Contact Hess and 384-2753 or Dixie Swasey at 384-3172 to give the name and address of your loved one who is serving our country in a war zone. Don’t let your soldier be forgotten. “We are continually looking for donations also,” said Hess. She said they need funds for postage and to fill the boxes.
A hotline has been established for the residents of Emery County to report any suspected drug activity. Reports can be made anonymously. Call 381-2888 to report suspicious or suspected drug activity.