Daily Archives: July 2, 2017

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

FILE - Homes that were spared from the Brian Head Fire are pictured on Friday, June 30, 2017.

BRIAN HEAD, Iron County Crews fighting the Brian Head Fire had contained 65 percent of the wildfire late Saturday.

The human-caused fire has burned more than 60,300 acres since it roared to life 14 days ago.

Parowan Canyon also opened Saturday. Brian Head and Dry Lakes residents and visitors can return via state Route 143 from Parowan to Brian Head or along state Route 14 through Cedar Breaks National Monument.

While evacuation orders have been lifted at Brian Head and the Dry Lake area, more than 1,800 firefighters continue to battle the blaze heading northeast.

Several areas remained under evacuation orders Saturday: Upper Bear Valley, Horse Valley, Beaver Dam, Clear Creek, Castle Valley, Blue Springs, Rainbow Meadows and Second Left Hand Canyon.

Fire officials said crews made "significant progress" toward containing the fire Friday.

"Thanks in large part to lighter winds, fire behavior has been reduced," fire officials said in a prepared statement. "Some isolated tree torching occurred, but crews had a successful day directly suppressing the fire perimeter and mopping up hot spots around the communities at risk."

Saturday, firefighters continued working on cleanup and planning on contingencies in case of any fire perimeter growth.

"Dozers have been used extensively in the northeastern flank of the fire where there is little containment," fire officials said. "Increasing containment has allowed numerous resources from the west side of the fire to be transferred to the northern perimeter, where most of the fire growth has occurred in the past three days."

Firefighters will continue to patrol the fire perimeter around the town of Brian Head and Second Hand Canyon.

The Dixie National Forest has also closed access to lands north of S.R. 14.

Fire officials encouraged visitors to check their route before planning any recreational activities for the Fourth of July weekend.

Maps of closed areas are posted on the federal fire incident website at http://www.inciweb.nwcg.gov.

Contributing: Ashley Stilson

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Parowan Canyon open; Brian Head blaze 65% contained - Deseret News

The Chesapeake Bay almost died in the 1970s when pollution came close to killing it off. Sewage and deadly agricultural and urban chemical runoff were well on the way to it.

Today, however, the Bay is in better health than its been in for decades, largely because of a determination from the federal government down that this iconic and unique body of water must be saved. Progress thats been called incredible has been made in Virginia, but much work remains.

Last month, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation released a preliminary report detailing the progress thats been made, especially in the last six years, in the fight to restore the Bay to health. Today, there is a record high level of sea grass the foundation upon which a healthy Bay is built, a noticeable rise in the number of female blue crabs, an oyster stock thats coming back from record low levels in the past decade and an oxygen-less dead zone thats projected to be 60 percent smaller than in the mid-1980s.

Considering how close the Bay was to death in the 1970s and 1980s, this progress is nothing short of amazing, though its taken more than three decades of effort to get to this point. Early efforts by Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Delaware simply were too limited in scope to tackle the problem, and because of the voluntary nature of the pact between the parties, the work of one could be negated by the inactions of another.

It wasnt until former President Barack Obama, through an expanded reading of the Waters of the United States Act, directed the federal Environmental Protection Agency to take the lead in the cleanup efforts. At the same time, the states of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York, large portions of which are in the Bays watershed, were added to the group of states involved in the cleanup. With the EPAs lead, came federal dollars the compact members could leverage in efforts to implement a wide range of environmental steps to limit pollution inflows to the Bay; currently, the federal contribution is $78 million annually.

The Bay foundations report notes that Virginia has made noticeable progress incredible progress was the phrase the foundation used in upgrading sewage treatments in the Bay watershed. The progress made on this front was enough to offset shortcomings in state efforts to meet pollution reduction targets for farms and for curbing urban/suburban runoff.

According to foundation data, Virginia fell more than 10 percent shy of the goal to cut urban/suburban runoff pollution. Rain washes chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus chemicals that lead to deadly algae growth from lawns and chemicals from roadways, along with sediment itself, into the Bays watershed. Meeting the 2025 runoff goal the EPA has set for Virginia, the foundation says, will be difficult, if not impossible.

The success rate for meeting the goals set for the state agriculture sector is a more mixed picture. While phosphorus goals were met, nitrogen and sediment goals came up short by 10 percent or so. One highly successful program to tackle agricultural runoff has been working with farmers to fence off streams and their banks, preventing livestock from depositing nitrogen-laden waste in the waters. There are currently more than 300 conservation plans encompassing more than 65,000 acres, with farmers receiving cost-sharing dollars to protect their waterways, but again, unsteady funding and a backlog of cost-sharing applications have held back progress.

We have written many times over the years of the Bays environmental and economic importance, both for Virginia and the nation. We have also written in support of President Obamas federalization of the cleanup efforts, the reasoning being that the Bay is a national resource whose protection and restoration is beyond the capabilities of any one state or group of states. And we have also written in support of congressional efforts to restore the $78 million for Bay cleanup efforts to the federal budget on the grounds that the taxpayers return on investment more than justifies the expenditure.

This Chesapeake Bay Foundation report underscores the success, thus far, of the new approach to Bay restoration. The raw data alone argues for the continuation of this policy; we can only hope Congress is listening and restores the full $78 million in funding for the Bays cleanup.

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Progress in Bay Cleanup, But Much Work Remains - Lynchburg News and Advance

MORGANTOWN Gary Jennings sees West Virginias wide receiving corps as one with a ton of potential but one that also must prove itself.

Jennings listed several possible breakout players for the coming season, including Dominique Maiden, Reggie Roberson and Marcus Simms. The three add multiple skill set complements to the likes of Jennings, a sure-handed wideout and punt returner who tallied 10 receptions for 165 yards and two scores a season ago.

Factor in KaRaun White and his 48 catches for 583 yards and five touchdowns in 2016 and that the Mountaineers again secured the services of David Sills after a stint trying his hand at quarterback at El Camino College in Calif, and WVU has the breadth of ability to provide plenty of targets for new quarterback Will Grier.

The question, then, isnt one of if as much as whom. Can Jennings better his stats, and can White, coming off a season-ending leg injury suffered in November, at least duplicate his?

Will Jovon Durante bounce back as a big play threat to replace Shelton Gibson after a mild sophomore slump which saw his yardage production fall from 378 yards to 331 despite 11 more catches? Thats a difference of more than six yards per grab, which translated in Durante being far more of a true mid-range threat than the vertical one he was in his first year at WVU.

And what of Maiden and his 6-foot-5, 203-pound frame? Simms burst and increased playing time as his freshman season wore on last year, including a career-best 80 plays in the regular season finale versus Baylor, should be viewed as a positive. The coaching staff raves about Roberson, who is the most likely to see significant action as a true freshman.

Even William Crest, a former quarterback like Sills, is back at receiver after flirting with a transfer option during the spring.

Dominique Maiden, and Reggie Roberson, those guys are definitely stepping up, but as a group as a whole were all starting to gel and mesh together which I feel is very good, Jennings said. Marcus Simms, hes a different player as well with what he can bring to the table. He does the right things.

Jennings noted that the wideouts routinely run patterns and work on timing and other aspects with Grier, who showed flashes of his excellence as a freshman at Florida during the Gold-Blue spring game. Grier completed nine of his first 10 throws while also finding Ricky Rogers for a 60-yard catch-and-run in a 202-yard performance.

Hes great, Jennings said. Cant wait for this upcoming season. (The passes are) on point, a good ball. You have to be ready for certain passes. Thats a part of us just meshing together and making sure were all on the same page all the time. Thats what we have worked on. Every single chance we get, were working with the quarterbacks and trying to get timing down.

Thats a key, especially as the Mountaineers, under new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, attempt to play at a faster pace. WVU ran 983 snaps a season ago actually a dozen fewer than its opponents for an average of 75.6 plays per game.

California, under Spavital, ran 1,035, and that was over just 12 games as opposed to West Virginias 13, translating to an average of more than 86 snaps per contest.

We can go pretty fast, Jennings said. Theres a lot of short game stuff and he uses the passing game as a run game as well. Theres a few things as far as tempo wise, but I guess well see.

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Jennings pleased with progress of wideouts - The Exponent Telegram (press release) (registration)

They didnt get everything they wanted, but local lawmakers believe the General Assembly accomplished a lot this year.

This was a good session for the state, said Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman.

Lawmakers approved a plan to fund roads, found additional money for poor school districts and addressed state pension problems.

I think that there were some very big issues that we had to tackle this year that certainly made the session very challenging, said Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg.

Even though some of those issues we did not totally solve, I thought that we at least made some progress in trying to solve them, he said.

Lawmakers say one of their biggest accomplishments was the passage of the road-funding bill.

That was certainly an achievement well look back on in years to come, said Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.

The bill increases the state gas tax of 16.75 cents per gallon by 12 cents over a six-year period. The first two cents were added yesterday.

The state Department of Transportation reported that more than half of roadway pavement in South Carolina is considered in poor condition. Repairs would cost nearly $500 million annually to bring roadways into good condition.

That has been an issue that has continuously hung a cloud over the state, said Rep. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews.

Road conditions present safety issues and negatively affect businesses and their transportation of goods, he said.

Ott said the increase will create a more sustainable and recurring funding source, which the state needs.

Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg, agreed, saying, There is simply not enough money to go around to fulfill all the needs the state has.

We need new revenue streams, he said.

Govan said the gas tax is a fair way to raise the needed revenue, as the burden will not fall completely on South Carolinians. Travelers who use the roads will share the cost.

Its only fair that those persons driving through also share the burdens of the cost, he said. We have taken a positive step forward in terms of roads funding.

Area lawmakers were also glad to see pension reform advance.

Retirees, theyve worked for the state and served, and they ought not to be worried, said Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg.

Currently, the pension plan is underfunded by roughly $24 billion because of low returns in past years.

The plan covers an estimated 550,000 government workers in the state and has collected around $2 billion annually from workers and employers but has paid out $3 billion in benefits.

This issue really got out of hand a number of years ago, Govan said. Im glad to say that we added money to the system and made some other adjustments that hopefully will begin to put us on the right track.

The proposed solution would increase most employees' contributions from 8.66 percent to 9 percent of their annual pay and cap those payments at that percentage.

Employer contributions would increase by 1 percent annually through 2022.

This also means an increase in the amount of money that school districts, local governments and state universities have to contribute.

Nobodys really happy with what had to be done, Ott said. Its never popular, but the worst thing you can do is stick your head in the sand.

In the area of education, the budget provides $55.8 million for capital improvements at high-poverty schools.

Cobb-Hunter said $100 million was originally proposed only for schools involved in the Abbeville lawsuit, which include Orangeburg County schools.

Govan said wishes there was more money for school improvements, especially since it will now be spread throughout the state.

Although the Legislature was not able to pass a bond bill to fund higher education building needs, local lawmakers hope one can be passed next year.

Higher education needs it to pass, Cobb-Hunter said.

Ott said it is needed to address the issues of deferred maintenance at college buildings.

Once you see a leak, you have to go ahead and replace it, he said. It makes sense to borrow the money.

Bamberg said he wants one to pass as well but, A bond bill wont solve the problem itself.

He encourages the Legislature to put politics aside and consider new, innovative ways of creating revenue streams.

Were at a point in South Carolina where we need to be more proactive, Bamberg said. He said the state could get left behind as other states continue to advance.

He was glad to see the governor sign into law the industrial hemp program.

The program will allow 20 farmers to grow and harvest industrial hemp, which can be made into oil, rope, clothing, paper, canvas, soap and even some food and drinks.

Farmers said the ability to diversify the crops they grow will not only benefit them, but the state as a whole.

That was a huge, Ott said. I think thats going to be a program were going to continue to see grow.

Bamberg added, We need to work on passing medical marijuana legislation.

He said it will be a benefit to patients with illnesses or conditions that are treated with medical marijuana.

Bamberg said legalizing gambling should also be considered.

If done correctly, we can strike the balance between those people who are against it and those people who recognize that when we talk about new revenue for education and new revenue for roads, a legalized gaming system is something that can bring in millions and millions of dollars, he said.

The increased revenue could also help the state lower taxes, he said.

It is a very difficult task to consistently lower taxes on industries and small business while at the same time the state fails to create new revenue streams to combat that, Bamberg said.

Lawmakers are looking forward to addressing several issues next year.

Hutto wants to come up with a plan to replace school buses.

Gov. Henry McMaster vetoed $20 million for school buses this year. He said he wants to come up with a plan to replace buses, but doesnt want to use lottery money that should go to scholarships.

Lawmakers arent expected to address the governors vetoes until they return in January.

Education Superintendent Molly Spearman says the state needs $73 million to replace all of the buses which go back to 1995.

Matthews will be pushing for his port enhancement zone proposal, which is still in the House.

The bill would give businesses tax credits for locating within a 35-mile radius of the intersection of interstates 95 and 26.

He says the location makes it an ideal distribution hub for cargo shipped to and from the port and the incentives would help lure jobs into the area.

Bamberg wants to address the Local Government Fund, which provides counties and towns with a share of the states revenue.

I am disappointed in our inability to fully fund the local government fund, he said. It puts them in a bind when we have unfunded state mandates.

He said the local governments deserve to be properly funded.

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T&D Region lawmakers: Progress made on big issues - The Times and Democrat