The Basin's Dirtiest Jobs - Jolly Ol' Saint Nick - December 2011

By: Angela Hanberg
    Twas the night before Christmas and up at the Pole,
    All the reindeer were cranky and tired and cold.
    The elves all had blisters, the toys were half done
    And the thought of the holiday has lost all it's fun.


    Santa had had it, he'd about lost his mind.
    The whole blasted schedule was running behind.
    "Oh why oh why oh why me" he moaned.
    "I never should have tried this alone."


    See, since the beginning of time it's been the same
    Santa huffs and puffs and goes over every name
    Every year, making lists of the good and the bad
    Thinking, 'Surely this time will be the best they've had.'


    But every year, by hook or by crook,
    The folks will complain when they don't get a Nook
    Or an iPad or Kindle and sometimes it's worse
    The grumble and mumble over a designer purse.


    Chimney's are non-existent it seems,
    And the ones that are left have surely not seen
    Any type of a chimney sweep for many a year,
    Poor Santa gets soot clear up to his ears.


    Cookies and milk are the fav but you know,
    This new-age health fad is starting to show.
    Try as he might, Santa can't seem to gag
    The kale and the tofu and the lettuce that sags.


    But he tries, oh he tries, it's his job don't you know
    To trudge through the deer droppings, ice, soot and snow
    To deliver the gifts we insist that we get
    (Cause you know if we don't we just might pitch a fit.)


    Santa's work day begins January 1st and ends 357 days later on Christmas Eve. I don't know of any other employment in the entire world that requires 24/7 dedication with only one week off during the year. When he's not overseeing his crew of elves and the production of Christmas toys, he is keeping a close eye on each and every one of us and revising his list as he sees fit.
    Because Santa believes in free range, the reindeer are allowed to roam freely through the town, eating and "releasing" wherever they see fit. Not a day goes by that Santa doesn't leave his house only to step in a big pile on his front walk.
    You may or may not realize this, but elves are known for their tempers. Being the size of a typical toddler, they also have the attitude of one as well. Think of spending never-ending days with hundreds of elves pitching tantrums typical to the "Terrible Twos." Trying to keep up with the technical advances of the last 50 years, most times they cannot MAKE the toys and gifts that Santa delivers, so they spend a lot of the year traveling the world, looking for the best deals on the latest must-haves. Ever wonder why it's so hard to find that newest model of iPod a week before Christmas? Now you know! Elves have the sole responsibility of making sure the North Pole is stocked with these goodies, and NOBODY is in a good mood after spending that much time fighting the crowds in Walmart. We won't even mention the breakdowns that occur when someone changes their mind a week before Christmas...
    This doesn't even start to cover all the rough parts of Santa's job, but when put to a vote, we decided that Santa Claus has most definitely got the dirtiest job of all. For more information, you can contact him by mail at Santa Claus; North Pole. Or you can also watch him on radar Christmas Eve night at http://www.noradsanta.org.
 
 

Top 10 Ways To Know It's Christmas In The Basin - December 2011

By: Shallin Squire
10. Eggnog (non-alcoholic, of course!) hits the shelves at the grocery stores.
Yes, I have noticed that the delectable liquid is becoming available earlier each year, but for some reason, it doesn't taste the same when poured from a carton with a witch on it, so I try to hold out on buying and consuming the high-calorie deliciousness until Christmastime. This year I discovered the vanilla spice and the sugar cookie flavors, and I'm convinced they are the preferred drink in heaven! Mmmmmm…

9. Kids counting down. You don't need an advent calendar if you're a mom or a school teacher because you'll be asked several times each day how many days (or "sleeps", as they are fondly called in some readers' homes) until the official day. As an adult, I love the season more than the day itself, but I don't mind the countdown. For some teachers, though, the excitement at Christmastime is practically tangible, and it's harder to tame than spring fever at the end of the school year!

 8. "Wise men still seek Him." No offense intended to anyone of another or no religion, but like the wise men in the nativity story, my heart naturally seeks Christ at Christmastime. He is the center of Christmas in our home as we strive to better know Him and act as He would.

 7. The dinosaur dons his Santa suit. Seven-year-old Garrison Spencer was thoroughly disgusted when he noticed that his favorite dinosaur in Vernal wasn't dressed in his usual pilgrim ensemble in mid-November, and he'll be disappointed beyond description if the dino has misplaced his Santa outfit as well!

 6. Street lamp décor. Personally, I'm partial to the snowflakes in Roosevelt!

 5. Pine trees tied creatively to the tops of vehicles of all sizes and shapes. The first couple of years after I got married, I grumbled about the Squire family tradition of cutting their own Christmas trees. I was accustomed to perfect trees from the tree farm, and for some reason, I didn't appreciate traipsing about the dusty (not snowy!) hillsides of BLM land in search of the not-so-perfect Christmas tree. Something about the tradition has grown on me, though, and I wouldn't miss the annual expedition for anything, nor would I trade in my beloved, imperfect tree for one from a tree farm. Seeing a Christmas tree atop a vehicle traveling on a Basin roadway gives me a warm, tingly feeling. If you think that sounds crazy, you've never cut your own tree, or at least you didn't try it enough consecutive years to learn to love it!

 4. "Jack Frost nipping on your nose." It sounds so elegant when sandwiched between imagery like "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and "tiny tots with their eyes all aglow." However, when out and about in the Basin, you're probably more likely to hear, "It's friggin' cold!" On a positive note, the bitter cold is a perfect excuse to build a fire, "get your Snuggie on" (as Jenn Rook delightfully explained in a previous issue of The Edge), and sip homemade hot cocoa or wassail.

 3. Community events that have become cherished family traditions. For the Guymon family of Roosevelt, it's the Holly Fair, held early in November, that heralds the beginning of the Christmas season and permits the playing of Christmas music. Vernal Holly Days and Trees for Charity, the live nativity in Ioka, the Enchanted Forest, and the community Messiah concert in Roosevelt also usher the Christmas Spirit into the Basin.

 2. As much as I hate to emphasize a sadder note…Longing for loved ones missed.
Servicemen abroad; missionaries in distant lands; students, newlyweds, and other family members and dear friends with inadequate funds for plane tickets; winter storms that prevent travel; and especially loved ones who've passed on are sorely missed at Christmastime. Fortunately, I've observed that in the Basin, the majority of people deal with the void by reaching out to someone who is even lonelier than they are.
    A big thanks goes out from the staff at The Edge to those who are serving our country and laboring to preserve our freedoms as well as to their families who are missing them during this special time of year.

 1.Officers in uniform shopping with children, sub-for-Santa trees with all the names taken, and other evidence that we live among generous folks. Basinites are exceptionally generous toward their neighbors who've fallen on hard times. My friend Rachelle told me how she remembers one year as a small child when she received 2 dolls for Christmas and her younger brother 2 trucks. That was all they got, and after they opened the 4 gifts, their parents told them to choose 1 of the items to give to a needy family nearby. They each chose 1 of their toys, got in the car with their parents, drove to the home of a family with even less money than they had, and delivered 1 truck and 1 doll. I believe there are businesses, families, and individuals making great sacrifices to see that children and their families are cared for at Christmastime.
 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and/or a warm December 2011 to all our readers from The Edge Magazine


 
 

Family Support Center - December 2011

By: Angela Hanberg
    Although we don't hear it very often, the term "respite" is something each and every one of us requires at one point or another in our lives.
    "Respite" [res-pit] is defined as an interval, usually short, of rest and relief. The most important part of this definition is that respite is temporary, and may be revoked either after a period or without warning. It is normally associated with people suffering from physical pain, but respite can also apply to those who receive brief relief from financial or social pains as well.
    The Family Support Center of the Uintah Basin, led by director Janet Row, is equipped to offer emergency respite care to individuals experiencing emotional, financial or even legal difficulties that have no one else to turn to. The FSC's caring and capable staff are on call 24/7 to take in children from birth to 11 years old, giving them the safety and stability they need and deserve in these times of crisis.

The Family Support Center in Roosevelt, UT

    "The children remain safe in our friendly, home-like atmosphere until their family crisis is resolved. Whether this means being returned home or placed in the foster care program, our well-trained and caring staff provides nutritious meals, clean clothing and loving arms."
    Parents should keep in mind that this facility is not a drop-off daycare, but a safe place to leave children while they go to appointments, court, deal with medical issues, or just really need a break. The FSC should be used as a last resort. Children are always better off with family or friends that they know and feel comfortable with, but on the other hand, taking advantage of the services at the FSC in a non-emergency situation may take up space needed to attend to other children who really don't have anywhere else to go.
Currently, the FSC is only able to attend to eight children at a time. Their facility is dated and small and although they have made many upgrades and improvements to what they have, they are in desperate need of an expansion. The community has been so generous with donations, in-kind and otherwise, and Newfield has been their biggest source of income as of recently. They also apply for federal grants in order to offer free parenting classes to the public. These parenting classes are held Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting the first Tuesday in January. Please watch our Calendar of Events for a list of classes and times each month.

A visual reminder of the number of children who have been
helped by the services provided at
The Family Support Center.

    The biggest difference between the Family Support Center and other local agencies is that they are not funded by the government. They do not have seemingly unlimited tax dollars funding their facility. Other than the federal grants they have to compete for, for parenting classes, they run solely on the manpower and financial support of the community.
    Another equally important function of the FSC is working with the Children's Justice Center. A common misconception is that these two entities are one in the same. Where they do support and work very closely with each other, they are not covered under the same financial blanket; however, the involvement of each group in these times of crises is equally important to the welfare of the children. When unfortunate events cause children to be removed from their home, the first place they go is the Children's Justice Center. There, the child may spend an hour or two in an interview and screening process to determine the best course of action, after which, they most often go to the Family Support Center where they can stay anywhere from a few days to a few weeks until a foster care family becomes available to them. During this waiting period, they are given food, water, shelter, baths and clean clothes in this comfortable safe environment.


The Family Support Center’s 2011
Enchanted Forest Tree

    "When children have to stay here because they have been placed by DCFS, we not only feed, house, and clothe them, but our staff of seven is extremely patient and loving. They spend time with the children, answering questions, and making the children feel safe. None of them are paid a huge salary, they do this work out of love for the children."

    The Family Support Center also works very closely with the Ute Tribe have been a good resource for them as well. There team of six wonderful caring workers serve the entire Duchesne, Daggett and Uintah Counties. The next closest center that provides this same function is located in Price.
    By request, the center can provide a resource list of every shelter, law enforcement office, court, hospital and countless other resources in our area. This information can also be found at www.211ut.org. The Family Support Center of the Uintah Basin is located at 259 N. 700 E.; Roosevelt, UT. For move information you can also contact the Center at 435-722-2401.
 
 

UBIC Float

It's Snow...Beautiful Snow - December 2011

“Fire and Ice”

Photo Courtesy of Mark Hansen

“Just Diggin’ Around

Photo Courtesy of Kim Barton

“Snow Robin”

Photo Courtesy of Kim Barton

“Snow Crystals”

- Photo Courtesy of Jason Schmidt

“First Snow Angel of the Year” -

 Photo Courtesy of Sherry Kellogg

The Basin's Dirtiest Jobs - Emergency Medical Technicians - November 2011

XTO Drill - EMTs and fire fighters had the chance

to practice their response time.

By: Angela Hanberg
    "9-1-1. What is your emergency?"
    If you've ever had to hear this, you have probably hoped that the dispatcher has immediately called out an ambulance and that they're coming your direction, gear in hand, ready to save your bacon from whatever mess you might be in at the time.
    What if it's not actually an emergency though? I remember learning about this in grade school. They fire department or EMTs would come into class and give us the run-down on what to do when and if we had to call 9-1-1. I had a turn once: They asked me what my emergency was, I said my house was on fire, they said "Where are you?" I said, "Here on the phone talking to you..." I failed that exercise, I guess I was supposed to say I was at the neighbor's house, not my own which was on fire. DUH.
    Believe it or not, there are times when our friendly Emergency Medical Technicians could be tied up on a non-emergency call when they are actually needed elsewhere. One particularly frustrating incident involved a call out involving CPR in progress. Imagine being in their shoes, running with lights and sirens, heading to a scene that could be a lost cause any second, worried you're wasting precious seconds getting around traffic, only to show up on scene and discover the "victim" is in the bathroom on the toilet. The caller admitted, "We knew you'd get here faster if we told you we were doing CPR." I'm sure there are many times they have to just bite their tongues.


Back to our grade-school training:



What do you do BEFORE calling 9-1-1?

This helicopter is the newest addition to the

Gold Cross Ambulance’s tool box.

    Make sure it's an honest emergency. Even the commercials tell us to call only to report a fire, save a life, or to report a crime in progress. The ambulance is NOT a taxi service. You shouldn't call 911 because you're too drunk to drive and need more beer. You shouldn't call 911 if you have a bad case of the sniffles and can't make the runny nose stop. You shouldn't call 911 to ask if their refrigerator is running and that they need to catch it. Every time a call is made, it ties up the lines and makes it harder for someone with a real emergency to get the help they need.

What information do you need DURING the call to 9-1-1?

    Make sure you know your address. Or at least the street number and a really great description of the house. Getting the wrong information is as bad as getting a call to a non-emergency: both waste precious minutes that are needed to save lives. You also need to be able to relay the events that have or are happening in order to give the EMTs a heads-up to the situation they're about to be in control of.

What should you do when the emergency workers arrive?

    Get the heck out of the way. These men and women have been trained to take care of emergency situations. That's what they're here for, it's their job and it's why we called them in the first place. Get out of their way and let them do their job. Also, don't be tough. Don't try to act like you've got everything under control and don't need them. Don't treat them with disrespect. If you wake up tied to a stretcher and cop an attitude about not needing any help well guess what Buddy, you wrecked your bike (or 4-wheeler, or car, or tote-goat, or hotwheels...) you've been unconscious for the last half hour, the kind stranger who found your limp body called 911 for you, you have no say at this point. They're there to help and save your sorry butt so be gracious. The same goes for the on-call folks at the different activities at venues here in town (rodeo, demolition derby, Diamond Mountain Speedway, etc.) The whole reason they are available to you is to keep you safe, healthy and alive.

Dan and Angela on Safety Fair Duty at

K-Mart

    You might ask why would an EMT be a Dirty Job. While some in this profession will admit to being "trauma junkies" and needing their fix, you don't have to use too much of your imagination to figure out why this has got to be up in the top 10 of the dirtiest jobs around. Please be kind to these individuals. Treat them with respect. You never know when it might be your own butt strapped to the stretcher.
For information regarding our local Gold Cross, contact Scott Adams, Director of Operations at 435-789-6907. You can also check out www.whentocall911.com for more information on emergency situations.
 
 

Why We Are Thankful - November 2011

“Family Traditions”

Basin Traditions”

Photo Courtesy of Alycia Bromar

“First Signs of Winter”

- Photo Courtesy of Chanel Wall

“Fall in the Canyon” -

 Photo Courtesy of Sherry Kellogg

“Fall Cemetary Fun”

Photo Courtesy of Jessica Blunt

Law Enforcement Officers - The Basin's Dirtiest Jobs - October 2011

By: Angela Hanberg

                 I personally feel that our public safety workers are not praised enough for all they do here in the Uintah Basin.  They deal with so much and rarely get the recognition they deserve.  This is the second of a four-part series acknowledging those men and women.

                 "Goin' down the highway, doin' ninety-four..."  Actually no, it was only 44, in a 45 mph zone so why did I panic when I looked in the rearview and saw the blue and reds?  I don't know why, exactly, but every time I have a cop driving in my vicinity, I automatically turn into the World's Most Defensive Driver.  First thing I do is yell at the kids to "Sit down and hush up!  There's a cop!"  Like somehow their talking and giggling is going to be grounds for a ticket.  At the same time my hands go back to that 10 and 2 position on the wheel and I slow down to a crawl hoping they'll go around me.  For some (NEVER me) they probably hurry and get off the phone with whomever they've been gabbing with for the last six blocks.  I haven't had a ticket in years, but automatically feel like I'm doing something wrong when I see those law enforcement vehicles.  I guess it has something to do with a guilty conscience.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when I pull over to stop and they don't, but then it's full blown ambulance-chaser mode and I wonder what they're up to.

Although it doesn't happen as often as in the movies, it does happen: the irate race car driver who gets a citation and turns into a sailor, the intoxicated driver who gets his head held out the window of the patrol car on the way to the station to avoid a very unpleasant mess later, or the parolee trying to run from officers on a drug bust with gun in hand.  Local law enforcement officers risk their lives, and sanity, every day on the job.  Some days may be easier and more entertaining than others, but on those bad days, they are dealing with some very atrocious situations.  It doesn't hurt to remember those men we've lost in the line of duty and remind ourselves what they're here to do.

Roosevelt Police Chief Cecil Gurr was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call on July 6, 2001.

Bureau of Indian Affairs Officer Joshua Yazzie died on June 8, 2010 when his patrol vehicle rolled 200 feet down an embankment on the side of Bottle Hollow Dam.

Uintah County Sheriff's detective Kevin Orr was killed in the line of duty when a helicopter crashed during a search and rescue operation Nov. 22, 2006.

Duchesne County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Gerry Lane Ivie was accidentally shot and killed on July 2, 1987 by a fellow officer at a roadblock which had been set up to catch a suspect.

Ute Tribal Police Officer Adolph F. Bush was shot to death on September 19, 1967 while investigating a report of domestic violence at a residence in Randlett.

Celebrating two years of life after a near miss is Vernal Police officer Dustin Gray.  Halloween night of 2009 he found himself under fire while following up on a report of a prowler.  Taking one bullet in the thigh and grazed by another, he came very close to joining the every-growing list of fallen officers in Utah.  We are thankful for Officer Gray along with all the other men and women of our law enforcement entities here in the basin.

Police, deputies, detectives, sheriffs, fuzz, po-po, bacon...  These men and women in uniform are not our enemy but our advocates.  They are available to serve and protect us from the evil, the corrupt and the criminal wrongdoings that occur daily

Jensen Pumpkin Festival - October 2011

By: Angela Hanberg

    Come one come all to the 15th Annual Great Pumpkin Festival! What started out as a small community get-together has now become one of Uintah Basin's greatest annual events. It all began in 1996, the Split Mountain Garden Center brought together friends and family for a bonfire with free cider, cookies and marshmallows to enjoy the company and check out each other's pumpkin carving skills. Attendance was around 250 folks and about 90 pumpkins.
    The numbers grew pretty steadily and in 1999 they estimated about 160 pumpkins and 1000 onlookers and two years later were up to 300 pumpkins and 2000 people. The crowd quickly outgrew the venue and in 2003 used funds from previous festivals to expand the Jensen Park to include walking paths and a new parking lot.
    One only has time to get out of their car before being caught up in the spirit of the festival. It seems the entire community comes together to brave the beginning of the cold nights of fall. The live music from Lamar Farnsworth's band, Lamar & Co., can be heard before you even reach the park. The enormous
bonfire shares its warmth with the dozens who stand around it, hot chocolate and cider in hand. Along the walking paths are pumpkin displays that would make famed sculptures stop and take a second look. As we fight the crowds to get the best view of each one, we hear voices yell out, "Ooooh! That's my favorite! No wait, THAT one! No, wait...." I never knew the joy of carving an intricate pattern into a slimy squash till the year after my first visit to the festival. I went right home and started planning for the next year thinking 'surely if they can do it, so can I!' I was wrong. That was not the case, and my children still have a lot more faith in my skills than I do.
    For those members of the community who are a bit more artistic than myself, anyone and EVERYONE is invited to share their carvings at the festival. It is open to families, businesses, schools or individuals. The more the merrier. Displays are judged in two categories: Best In Show is chosen by the committee members and then there is the public's Popularity Vote.
    Is your baby going to be donning a plush pumpkin costume for Halloween this year? Why not put them in a real one and compete in the "Our Lil Pumpkin" photo contest. Just carve a pumpkin big enough for your little one, dress them up to match the theme, coax them into the pumpkin and take a picture to submit at the festival. Or better yet, bring everything with you and let the festival's photographer take the picture for you! Photos are only $4 and will be mailed to you when they are printed after the event. Submissions will be taken between 6pm-7pm that night with judging at 8pm and winners announced around 8:30pm. Winners do not need to be present to win! The only catch - pumpkin tots can not be older than 18 months.
    Other fun activities that night include: a trike run through an obstacle course for 2-7 year olds, a pumpkin catapult for 8-years and older (which is also in need of pumpkin donations so they have something to hurl,) hay maze, haunted horse trailers, candy pond, live music, bonfire, concessions and the list goes on.
    Actually getting to the festival can prove to be a big challenging for some so it doesn't hurt to get creative. There are actually three different routes to take from Vernal and the committee asks that we take advantage of the road less traveled if and only if we know the way. Besides Hwy 40 from Naples, you can also get there on the Brush Creek road - past the dump, take a right and follow it around to Jensen. You can also turn south off Hwy 40 at Split Mountain Travel (the new truck stop on the way to Jensen.) Just don't get lost - there's always the Bluebell Corn Maze for that!

Great community events could not be made possible without great community support. The Jensen Festival committee would like to thank all who support this great event. For inquiries regarding contests, donations, volunteering, etc., please contact Monica Farnsworth at 435-790-3481 or Christy Thacker at 435-789-8391. This year the Jensen Pumpkin Festival will be held on October 28th from 6-9 PM.
   

Memories of Home - September 2011



  “Last Leaf”

Photo Courtesy of Brandon Griffin




  “Moonscape” -
   Photo Courtesy of Brandon Griffin




  “Arlington National Cemetery”
  - Photo Courtesy of Tahanee Pegaroose



“Changing of the Seasons”

  Photo Courtesy of Paul Lowry



  “End of Summer Colors”
  -Photo Courtesy of
  Alycia Bromar



Summer Fix-Ups - August 2011

By: Crissy Knibbe

    After this unusual weather, you're probably more ready for summer than usual. Now is the perfect time to get your house ready for warmer temperatures too. Kick off the summer with 3 easy projects and a few inexpensive ways to spruce up your home.

     GUTTERS Cold weather can cause gutter seams to leak and fasteners to pop loose. A leaf blower works great for blasting out leaves and other debris. Finish by sealing leaks with gutter sealant and replacing loose spikes with gutter screws.

    AIR CONDITIONER Get your central air conditioner system ready for summer by cleaning the condensation drain line. This small plastic pipe running from your AC unit outside is a magnet for algae and other gunk. To keep it from clogging, pour a cup of bleach through a funnel into the drain line's access hole (near the air handler unit located inside your house), let it stand 20 minutes, then flush the line with water.

    WINDOW SCREENS Before you hang your screens, give them a good scrubbing. First lay four 2x4's on the ground to create a frame, staple a sheet of plastic over it to make a homemade "tub." Fill it with warm soapy water and use a soft scrub brush to gently clean both sides of each screen. Rinse screens with hose and allow to dry. ~Info provided by BHG.
Have you wandered around in your house and wondered what would give it just a little boost, something that won't break the bank or take up a lot of time to accomplish? These ideas may not seem like it would put that spark in your spring, but trust me, it will.

    FIND FRESH FLOWERS Fresh flowers are an automatic room booster. Not only are fresh flowers visibly appealing, but most of the time, the aroma stimulates the appeal of the room, as well. You don't have to spend $100 on flowers from the florist either. Take your family for a drive up the mountain and pick some wild flowers alongside the road and make a family outing out of it. Grab your favorite silk flowers and make your own arrangement and then you can save them and make new ones for each season. Or sit down with your kid's make a bouquet of flowers out of paper, but whatever you do, DON'T pick them out of your neighbor's flower garden.

    CONCEAL THE CLUTTER A bread box can hold more than just bread! Put your sandwich bags and peanut butter in there to cut clutter in your cupboard or pantry and it will make it easier for you to just grab it for a quick breakfast or to make a sandwich for the kids' lunches. A simple island or cart with wheels adds storage and usable surface space to a modest size kitchen. Give your remote controls good homes and they'll be less likely to wander. Most importantly, train everybody to put remotes back in their homes and nowhere else. Store bulky gaming gear (balance boards, guitars, etc) in a storage ottoman. Tired of looking at your shelves lined with DVD's? Put them in decorative storage bins or baskets. Label them kids' movies, mom & dad movies and video games. That way, you will know exactly where to find the movie you're looking for. If you don't want to use the baskets or bins, there are media storage containers that hang on the back of doors or small enough to hide under the bed. If you just have outgrown certain DVD's or games, try downsizing by swapping them with friends or selling them (swapadvd.com, swaptree.com or bookins.com).

    CHANGE UP THE CURTAINS Simply changing the curtains will transform the room that you're bored with. Put up sheers with a neutral bright color to let the most natural light in or get creative and unite colors and layer patterns for a more updated visual appeal.

Just remember, you don't need to spend a million to look like a million.

 
 

Uintah Basin Oilers - August 2011

By: M. Michelle Spencer

It is that time of year when the hearts of many blue blooded Americans turns to...FOOTBALL! That's right baby! It is football time again in the Uintah Basin. Youth leagues are being formed and families are gathering around their TVs on the weekends to cheer for their favorite college and pro teams. But did you know that the Uintah Basin has more than just High School and Youth football?

    In 2008, the Uintah Basin Oilers was founded by Jeremy Conetah in an effort to bring the thrill of the game to those guys who used to play but due to jobs, families and life in general were unable to make it to the professional level. As stated on their website, "The Uintah Basin Oilers are a semi-pro incorporated full pad 11 on 11 football team based in Eastern Utah. Our goal is to bring fun, clean, and hard hitting football to the communities in the Uintah Basin including but not limited to; charity events and youth football camps. We are a spring league giving ex-high school, college, and armchair quarterbacks a chance to play on a competitive level unmatched in the country."

    While their goal was to allow former players the chance to relive their glory days, Conetah soon discovered the difficulties of being a coach/player and so began his search for a new full time coach. It was in 2009 that Lee Slaugh was asked to lead the coaching staff of the Oilers in order help improve their season records. Urged by fellow youth football league coach and Oiler player, Jon Hanks, Slaugh decided to go and take a look at this newly formed team to see if he could help. Slaugh has been a long standing participant of the Vernal Youth Football League as the coach of the league champion Vikings for the past few years and has been involved in other football coaching capacities for the last 12 years. Needless to say he has been able to learn a few things about coaching such as how to take individuals and mold them into a team.

2011 Uintah Basin Oilers Team

    "I am privileged enough to have Todd Shiner as my defensive coordinator and Shane Jackson as my line coach and together we have figured out a few things about how to be successful and win," stated Slaugh, "We were excited at the chance to help others share in the chance to come back and enjoy the game again."

    With only four games left in the 2009 season, Slaugh and his coaching staff went 2-2. In both the 2010 and 2011 seasons the team underwent tryouts in order to strengthen and diversify their choice of players. It paid off by allowing this once 0-8 team to finish off their 2011 season 3-5 and knocking another team out of the playoffs.

    "We are excited to see what this year brings. Our guys are working better and better together and we are always on the lookout for talent that we can add to our ranks in order to bring a better game to the residents of the Uinta Basin."

    Slaugh is currently in the process of talking to sponsors for the 2012 season as his coaching staff prepares for the August tryouts and the youth football league training camp. Slaugh and his staff understand that the only way for the team to find true success is with the help of their home community. One of the biggest supports for these players is for the public to simply come and support the team at their games. The Oilers spilt their home games between the Union High School field and the Uintah High School field during their regular season allowing residents from all over the Basin to come and enjoy the area's only Semi-Pro team.