Fire at Hangdog

NORTHERN NEWS
by Maxine Deeter
Our local volunteer fire folks were called to the Mountain Shadows Subdivision, aka Hangdog, late last Saturday night. 
As often happens, someone was burning debris in the area to protect property and structures against fire when this control burn got out of control.  The La Sal Fire Department personnel made short work of the situation, but they were late getting back home again after everything was safe and sound. 
These volunteers do not receive enough kudos for the work they do on a volunteer basis.  Many locals can attest to attest to their invaluable spur-of-the-moment response and help.     
I fear that this incident is only the beginning of what is predicted to be a hazardous fire season. 
One concern is the amount of dry vegetation close to homes and other structures.  Might want to look around and see what would be prudent to remove to prevent fires near your home and property.
I’ve asked around many times as to how “Hangdog” came to be named such.  I’ve yet to find and explanation. 
I’ve known of incidents where a dog tied in the back of a stock truck or to a stock rack has decided to jump out of its enclosure only to find its owner had only given it enough rope to hang itself.  I suppose that could explain the name of this place.  The area is located northeast of La Sal and up toward The Mountain.
The La Sal Community Center was the scene of a wedding last Saturday, as Stettson Deeter and Collette Woolsey were wed. Performing the ceremony was the father of the groom, who is the  LDS Church Branch President.  The couple is making their home in La Sal. 
Many years ago, an old timer here in Sierra La Sal told us that once you get this red sand in your ears, you can never leave the area. We’ve found that to be true, though a lot of folks have come and gone from La Sal over the years. 
Unfortunately for our village, and in fact our whole county, our greatest export is our young folks.  They go away to college or for work and never come back to make a home here.  In fact, we are so low on kids that we have only a one-room school house.
Speaking of which, in the time warp this week, a meeting was held Tuesday night at the La Sal School to discuss the current situation.  Long time teacher extraordinaire Shelly Thayne is retiring after 20 years of teaching in La Sal. 
Her teaching career started in Moab but most of it has been here. 
This evening is planned to also be a farewell to Thayne, as she is retiring at the end of this school year and hitting the road with her hubby.  They have kids scattered from one end of the country to the other, so they will be doing a lot of traveling to see all the grandkids.  Thayne will be greatly missed in our school and community.
Also Tuesday night, the new school marm for our one-room center of education will be introduced.  Amanda Shupe of Eastland has been hired to fill the very large, vacant shoes of Thayne. 
I’m sure she is more than capable of doing that, as she has several years of teaching behind her.  A couple of aides, one all day and one part time, help the teacher with educational duties each day. 
There is also a hunt for bus drivers for both the local route and the long daily haul to Monticello. 
It’s a rough job getting up early and making the long trek to town each day.  The ideal is to have a bus driver for the “big bus” going to town to be local, but that is not always possible. 
If the driver comes from Monticello, they have to really get up early to drive to La Sal and be here by 6:30 a.m.  We have tough kids here who know how to get up early for school.
Don’t look now, but there are only a couple of weeks left until school is out for the year.  Wow, did that year fly by fast! 
The last few days have certainly been pure spring and so enjoyable. The fruit trees are in bloom, and the bees are buzzing all around them. 
The best sound of spring is children’s voices, as they play outside, especially in the evening when the days are longer. 
But let’s not be deceived. Ma Nature still has some dirty tricks up her sleeve, I’m guessing.  Not going to put out the tomato plants yet.  She’s caught me on that one before.
The answer to the big question is:  we got 11/100 of an inch of much appreciated and delightfully smelling rain last week.  Such a rare treat of late.

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