June 14, 2012 Wayne and Garfield County Insider

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Panguitch • Panguitch Lake • Hatch • Bryce • Tropic • Antimony • Henrieville • Cannonville • Escalante • Boulder • Fremont • Loa • Lyman Bicknell • Teasdale • Torrey • Grover • Fruita • Caineville • Hanksville

Thursday, June 14, 2012 • Issue # 948

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK INVITES PARTICIPANTS TO HELP CELEBRATE THE THIRD ANNUAL UTAH PRAIRIE DOG DAY

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Bryce Canyon National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh invites you to join the park in our third annual celebration of the Utah prairie dog, a native species to Utah and the Bryce Canyon area. Utah Prairie Dog Day will occur on Friday, June 22, 2012 from 9 a.m. through the evening with planned activities that include watching Utah prairie dogs in their natural habitat with a Park Ranger, special presentations on Utah prairie dogs and educational tables with fun activities for kids and adults alike! Don’t miss our special guest, “Petey, the Prairie Dog” who will be popping up from his burrow throughout the day! All daytime activities will take place at the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center. The theme of this year’s Utah Prairie Dog Day celebration is “Appreciating the Under Appreciated Utah Prairie Dog” – Bryce Canyon National Park is highlighting the important - and often misunderstood role that Utah prairie dogs play in our environment. Utah prairie dogs are considered “keystone species” that perform a variety of important ecological func-

tions including soil aeration which helps plants grow, providing prey for other animals, and maintaining meadow ecosystems. This year’s guest speaker, Dr. Nicki Frey, a Utah State University Extension Wildlife Specialist and Professor, will present “Appreciating the Under-(Utah prairie)-dog” at the Bryce Canyon Lodge at 8:00 p.m. A year-round inhabitant of Bryce Canyon’s high plateau meadows, Utah prairie dogs live in social colonies or “towns” and display amazingly complex communication. Their burrow systems are made up of several chambers and provide the animals with protection from predators, places to raise young, store food, and hibernate through the cold

PANGUITCH WEATHER

LOA WEATHER

winter months. Appreciating the Utah prairie dog and understanding its beneficial role in the environment can help humans learn about healthy ecosystems and the critical role that every species plays in maintaining the diversity of life. Park Biologist Sarah Haas states, “This year’s celebration of the Utah prairie dog focuses on understanding and appreciating the role of the Utah prairie dog in sustaining healthy habitat for a large variety of wildlife. Over 200 species have been associated with prairie dog colonies, including species that either depend upon or directly benefit by prairie dog activity for survival. Although it can be difficult to appreciate a species that can interfere with human activity and livelihood, the

Utah prairie dog has an important role to play in the environment that positively impacts the natural world.” Utah students in classes K-6th at Bryce Valley and Panguitch Elementary schools participated in a poster contest this year. Artwork depicting Utah prairie dogs was submitted and judged by Bryce Canyon National Park and Natural History Association staff. First place winners from each class were selected with the grand prize winner’s artwork placed on this year’s Utah Prairie Dog Day official poster. The park is proud to present a drawing by Katy Bair, Panguitch 6th grade, as this year’s poster contest winner! Over 300 entries were submitted and the students did outstanding work! All students (K-12th) and their families can enter the park free on Utah Prairie Dog Day. Just tell the Park Ranger at the entrance gate: “I’m here to see the Utah prairie dogs!” and you’ll be admitted for free!

UTAH 4-H CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

The year 2012 marks the centennial for Utah State University Extension 4-H, part of the nation’s largest youth development organization. The theme, “Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future,” has been integrated into 4-H events held in counties through the year, with the key celebration at Utah State University Thursday, July 12, through Saturday, July 14. According to Stacey MacArthur, USU Extension assistant professor for 4-H volunteer development, state celebration activities include Leadermete workshops, youth contests, a 4-H alumni reunion, 4-H Hall of Fame awards, banquets, a barbecue on the quad, games, alumni contests and awards. “The Leadermete workshops, which are geared for adults and teens, include such topics as personal enrichment, marriage and family, arts and crafts, gardening, health, sewing, cooking, 4-H clubs, horses and teen classes,” MacArthur said. “We have between 13 and 16 workshop choices per hour, in addition to all the other events. We also have kid tracks, which are interactive activities for youth in third to fifth grades and sixth to eighth grades, so there is definitely something for everyone.” Cost for Leadermete events is $20 and includes workshops, admission to the Logan Aquatic Center, a movie on the quad, alumni contests and a dance. Leadermete events require preregistration, which is open from now till July 1 and is available online at http://utah4Hreg.usu.edu/lm/. Kevin Kesler, USU Extension director of Utah 4-H programs, said though 4-H is widely known for its early roots in cooking and agriculture, the program has grown during the last century to include offerings such as rocketry, robotics and global positioning systems. Kesler said it is his goal that by the end of the 4-H centennial year, everyone in the state will know that 4-H is alive and well. “We invite everyone to join 4-H alumni and friends in ‘Celebrating the Past, Creating the Future,’” he said. For further information on Utah Extension’s 4-H centennial celebration, contact the USU Extension state 4-H office at 435-797-4444 or visit utah4h.org.

BLOOD SUPPLY AT CRITICALLY LOW LEVELS: RED CROSS NEEDS DONORS NOW

WILDLIFE BOARD REVISES ELK PLAN Wildlife biologists have received approval to manage Utah for a few more elk in the coming years. On June 6, members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved revisions to Utah’s elk management plan. The revisions will allow the state’s elk population to be managed for up to 70,965 elk. The current objective is 68,825 elk. The 2,140 additional animals will be scattered across the Chalk Creek, Kamas, Avintaquin, West Desert, Fillmore and Fish Lake management units. The only area where biologists will manage for fewer elk is the Paunsaugunt unit in southern Utah. The board voted to reduce

the unit’s elk population by 35 animals. Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says the DWR formed committees to help its biologists determine the recommended population objectives for each of the six units. The committees included hunters, farmers and ranchers, private landowners and personnel from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. “Utah has a lot of great elk habitat,” Aoude says, “but we need to make sure we keep the number of elk at a level that doesn’t conflict with others who are also using the land.”

THE WAYNE & GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia and is distributed weekly to all of Garfield County. Its purpose is to inform residents about local issues and events. Articles submitted from independent writers are not necessarily the opinion of Snapshot Multimedia. We sincerely hope you enjoy the paper and encourage input on ideas and/or suggestions for the paper. Thank you for your support.

The blood supply has dropped to critically low levels for blood types O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative. The Red Cross calls on eligible blood donors to schedule and keep a blood donation appointment as soon as a convenient location and time are available. To find a convenient donation location, go to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS (800-733-2767). According to Chief Executive Officer, Julia Wulf, “Distributions to hospitals of types O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative are outpacing donations, creating a critical need for those blood types.” Wulf also said that, “Overall, blood donations are down in the first five months of 2012, compared to the same period last year. As a result, there is almost half the amount of readily available blood in the Red Cross inventory at this point in time.” Eligible donors with types O positive, O negative, B negative or A negative blood are encouraged to double the difference their donation can make by donating via the innovative double red cell technology, where available. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Eligible donors can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go online to redcrossblood. org for more information and to make a blood donation appointment. The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority. -- Ralph W. Stockman Wayne Phone: 435-836-2622 Garfield Phone: 435-676-2621 Fax 1-888-370-8546 PO BOX 472, Loa, Utah 84747 snapshot@live.com ALL content for THE WAYNE &GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER must be submitted on FRIDAY BEFORE 5:00 PM to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper.

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PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID RICHFIELD, UTAH PERMIT No. 122


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June 14, 2012 Wayne and Garfield County Insider by Wayne & Garfield County Insider - Issuu