Explore Escalante
jana@exploreescalante.com
In arid country, making the best use of water is essential for survival. In a contemporary backyard garden, water conservation means less work and lower water bills. That’s what the Utah Division of Water Resources Chief of Water Conservation and Education wants to see. An article in the Deseret News identified three Utah cities/districts that had not complied with HR 71 (passed in 2004) requiring any water district that 1) accepts drinking water grant/loan monies; and/or 2)has 500 + connections on their system, to provide the department with a water Conservation Plan. If you don’t submit a plan the Dept. has the right to publicize the name of your district so peer pressure will make you comply. Out of the three in the press release, two had done theirs but had not sent them in. One, Gunnison is working on theirs. How hard would it have been to have the Chief, Eric Klotz, call before the press release went out and confirm that it had not been done? He did call, as the press release was being sent. Was Escalante City’s plan done? Yes, back in December of 2008. It has to be done every 5 years. Mr. Klotz informed me that the Division wanted financial penalties for cities that didn’t comply, but the legislature would not go along with that. The publication of the names was a better tactic and Mr. Klotz agreed – they’ve had 100% compliance since 2004. Now if we could get Mr. Klotz to call first, no one’s names would be published. You can reach him at 801-538-7264 or e-mail him at erickloztz@utah.gov
In the meantime, the citizens of Escalante are planning their Saturday Market for the coming season at the Utah Canyons Store. They will open the first weekend in July and continue until the Saturday prior to Halloween. You’ll see press releases in the Insider reminding you. But you might want to think about what you’ll plant in this water-tight era of new water lines and rebuilt irrigation dams. What vegetables are not high water users? The three sisters (corn, beans and squash)? Corn and Squash require quite a bit of water. Chiles are less so, and Punta Banda Tomatoes are not too bad. Some herbs can be grown inside (cilantro, parsley, Mexican Oregano) as long as they have great window light. You can add onions and shallots to the ground along with Sunflowers and Amaranth. Just be sure you water before 10 AM or after 6PM, because we told Mr. Klotz that’s part of our water conservation plan. And don’t forget – the Saturday Market can include crafts, plants, personal care items (like homemade soaps) and live chickens. Just a good ole’ village market (home canned items must be prepared in a commercial kitchen) – plan your part now. These markets are not exempt from sales tax collections, so if you sell be sure you report and pay.
Fat Men Basketball – at the heart of the playoffs, these tested athletes stunned the crowd with their expertise. And the ref did his part with a two point layup for the underdogs. The Underdogs were those wonderful folks that paid to play to support EMT’s. The rest of us paid to watch, paid so much a point for certain athletes abilities (Mr. McKnight cost me $10 and Randsom $0.00) Organized by Toad (aka Terence Mitchell) a lot more spectators would have been wonderful, but they still raised over $500 to help offset the costs for EMTs to volunteer their time and travel to train to take care of us and our visitors. Thanks. It was a delightful evening of “tom foolery”. Until next week – - –

Explore Escalante

Jana@exploreescalante.com

It’s been a week of sports – mostly triumphs; some personal and some team oriented.  In wrestling we’re delighted to congratulate Neil Owens and Keaton Durfey for their fourth place finish in their weight class.  With 34 schools it means they were the top of probably 100 students.  Good Job.

Our senior girls are playing basketball at Bryce Valley this year.  They ended up in the top of the region, played Duchsene Wednesday and won; played Wendover Thursday and won.  They are playing Panguitch Friday.  If they win they’ll play either Rich or Piute.  You’ll know by the time this hits the streets.  We hope it’s been a good year for the girls.

The boy’s basketball game Thursday night was a different team than played Panguitch the previous Saturday.  Their last two games were strong, focused and good.  On to Regions.  But I have to comment on the Saturday game.

Have you ever seen one of those movies where the whole town attends the High School home game?  It’s basketball in this case, because the schools’ too small for a football team.

Its homecoming and they crown the king and Queen and court at halftime.  The game is against their arch rival for the title, but in this case it was position in the regionals.

The game had been close all night, each team playing their hearts out, but minor errors and fouls getting in the way of ultimate success.  With a minute to go the visiting team is ahead.  The two teams trade the lead but time is running out.  The home team fouls and the free throw breaks the tie.  Visitors by one.  With seven seconds left the home town boy grabs the ball from a miss by the visitors, dribbles down the court and makes a basket as the game buzzer sounds. 

Screaming and jumping with joy, the town folk spill out of the stands; the team members hug and high 5 it; and there’s joy in the valley that night.  The families slowly filter their way home.  The boys start appearing from the locker room dressed for the homecoming dance.  The town settles down as the music starts. And the streamers and signs are all that is left as the custodian sweeps up the gym.

But in the back of Logan McLemore’s mind he’ll always have the picture and joy of winning the game.  Not giving up until after he caused the last foul and not until after the last second.  And feeling the pride of knowing he made a difference, for himself, for his team, for his town. 

Thank you Moqui’s for a great team effort.  Wherever we go from here, I know that those movies could have been written about our town.  A place where everyday life is shared by everyone interested in being a part; and that living the story is better than the movie.  Until next week.

PS.  We’ll be closed March 4-6 to purchase (hopefully) a photo kiosk.  Reopen the 7th.

Explore Escalante

Jana@exploreescalante.com

We proudly report Wrestling Results from the regionals.  Benny Carrizosa  3^rd; Ryan Brooks 3^rd; Neil Owens 3^rd;Keaton Durfey 2^nd.  By the time you read this the State finals will have finished.  I’ll include those results next week.

Cell Phone – do not call list.  Cell phones can now be called by telemarketers, to remove yours from their list, call 1-888-382-1222 and listen to directions.  It takes 30 days before the telemarketers can’t call anymore.  Be sure and write down the date you registered.  When you get a call that is a live person simply tell them you are on the do not call list and to remove your name from their list.  If they call again, turn them in.  If you get phone message solicitations, write them down, who, when and any information you can glean from the message.  File a complaint after your 30 days.  Remember, business phones are not eligible.  I hear from merchant services at least once a day and there’s no way to get rid of them.  Sigh!

In Oregon the school system received nearly half it’s revenues from the O&C lands, federal lands that paid the state royalties for any timber harvests and historically picked up a fairly large share of the costs of schooling in the bigger cities.  When timber harvesting on public lands went away so did the school funding.  You can imagine the results.  Well Utah, here they come for the Oil and Gas royalties.  Kevin Carter, the director of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration responded to the announcement of the Oil and Gas Lease cancellation by the Obama Administration by saying, “Secretary Salazar took $3.5 million from Utah’s School fund today.”  Perhaps President Obama will replace those monies from the state’s bailout money?  Don’t count on it.   And in Escalante, we’re extremely fortunate that the funding for the water project and the Fire Station are committed.  The state removed $6 million uncommitted dollars from the loan fund last week.  For those waiting in line to receive funding for their projects it’s not good news.  There’s a meeting of the New Escalante Irrigation District coming up.  They are listed in the State’s website as receiving a $7 million grant for the Dam Replacement from the Division of Water Resources Dam Safety Revolving Construction Fund.  On the State’s website it reports construction in ’09. I hope their funding is committed as well.

House Bill 272  Utah Scenic Byway Designation Amendments, is awaiting a vote in the House.  The amended code will require Legislative designation for a byway instead of just a committee.    It also would prohibit a non-scenic area (i.e. commercial district) from being designated as state scenic byway or nominated for National Scenic By-Way or All-American Roads.  If you have any opinion on this bill you might contact Rep. Mike Noel  - Work Phone: 435-644-3996 Cell Phone: 801-647-8853.  If it passes the house you might contact Senator  Dennis Stowell  Home (435) 477-8143 Cell (435) 559-8143.

Punxsutawney saw his shadow so it’s six more weeks of winter, two down and four to go.  The official report is Escalante is at average rainfall for 2009.   Until next week  - – -

This blog is written with the local community of Escalante, Utah in mind.  Since our town of 950 elevation 5900′ and12 miles from amjor shopping does not have a local newspaper, we have a shopper style that accepts articles in their weekly publication.  The Garfield County Insider prints my articles each week.  I’ll be adding the archives which I’ve had posted in another blog.  I hope you enjoy.  Feel free to subscribe to get the most current update.

Jana