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Show A2 Wednesday, April 30, Opinion and Commentary 2003 PUBLIC FORUM LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What is your opinion? The Express welcomes letters from its readers concerning any subject pertinent to the Uintah Basin. There are no restrictions as to contents, if not libelous or vindictive and of reasonable length (two typewritten double spaced pages). Letters must be submitted exclusively to the Express and bear the writers full name, signature, phone number and address. Letters for the sole purpose of expressing thanks to individuals or groups will not be printed in the forum. 0 Letters may be mailed, faxed at at editorvemal.com. or through The name or names of those submitting letters must appear on all published letters. All letters are subject to condensation. Letters express the opinion of the writer and are not necessarily the opinion of the Express Editor. 789-869- L Respect for flag Dear Editor, Today as I was driving down the road I saw an American flag in the dirt along side of the road. I stopped and picked it up. This is only one of many American Hags that I have picked up from the ground over the past few months. I have seen our flag dishon-oie- d in many ways recently in the name of patriotism and it disturbs me greatly. I believe and hope that the disrespect that is shown our flag is out of lack of know ledge rather than out of malice or apathy. I have seen the flag flown from all parts of vehicles, including draped across the hood with a girl sitting on it. I have seen filthy flags, tom flags, flags flown slightly below the top of the mast. I have seen the flag worn on the shoulder of a person, and a local store even sold flag golf towels to wipe the grime and dirt from their golf balls on. None of these things show patriotism. Rather, they show ignorance or disrespect. Title 4, United Stales Code, known as the United Stiites Hag Code details how to properly fly our flag so thtil we do not show it disrespect. It is said that the Hag of the United States of America represents a living country and should in itself be considered a living thing. One of the best ways that we can show support for this great nation and also for the troops serving in the current war is by displaying this powerful symbol of otir jyttipn In a waythm honcux aii4shows respect for it. It brings me great joy to drivejuong the roads of Vernal on a holiday and see a flag Wbiearly every yard. It demonstrates to me that my neighbors and I share a love of this great country in which we live. Please take a look at your (lag and make certain that it is in good repair and clean. If you don't own a flag, I would urge you to invest in one and fly it proudly and properly. Most new flags come with a pamphlet with basic display rules and if in doubt, consult the flag code or the library has books on the flag. Information is also available at www.legion.org. May God preserve us a nation and long may our flag fly free. CLAY IIAMANN Vernal Uintah Arts Council Dear Editor, The Uintah Arts Council does it again! The concert by Cedric Pescia was great! Many thanks to the Utah Music Teachers Association, Uintah Arts Council and Mrs. Marshall for bringing this gifted musician to Vernal. It is wonderful to attend such a performance. Clark D. Hall Venial True champion Dear Editor, Now as the seconds came to an end and the crowd rose to its feet, Ryan Lewis would finish his unbelievable collegiate career. And now as you look back on the career.he has had, you can see a pathway of greatness, and how Ryan Lewis has become a true champion. What is the difference between your average champion and a true champion? A true champion never forgets who he is, he excels in all he does. He is a role model, someone you want your kid to grow up and be. He is a hero, a hard worker and the most important of all, a true champion touches peo- - Exp: (ISSN 0892-1091- ) Published every Wednesday for $24 per year In shopping area and $36 per year out of shopping area within slate and $39 per year put of state within USA by the Vernal Express Publishing Company. 54 North Vernal Avenue. Vernal. Utah 84078. Periodicals postage paid at Vernal. Utah 84078 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VERNAL EXPRESS, P.O. Box 1000, Vernal Utah 84078. Steven R. WaSts Virginia Harrington Maureen Spencer Mandl Oaks R. Patrick Bostick Richard Harrington Tom Leverton Tern Black Editor and Publisher Feature Writer Feature Writer Feature Writer .. Public Notices Advertising Advertising Circulation 8 Classrhecl Ads Tasha J Robinson .Advertising and Layout Mmdy Morgan .Advertising and Layout FAX: Phone Website www vernal com editor vernal com NEW DEADLINES Display Advertising Classified Advertising PitoSc Notices Monday 12 noon Monday 2 pm. Monday 2pm Monday 2pm pies' lives and makes all around him better people. Ryan Lewis is one of these. Ryan is a true champion. We have had the opportunity to know Ryan throughout the yeais, and we can honestly say that he has made the spoil of wie siting an art and shown a love for the sport that lew have. lie made all around him better wrestlers, and heightened the hat of excellence. Average was not good enough lor Ryan, he wanted to be the best, and that is why he is Ryan took the sport of wrestling in the small Venial valley and made it better. Now. in Venial the sport has always been great, but Ryan made it even better. He came in and with his work ethic and Ins desue to win made a great program even bcttei. He look champions and made them true champions. Ryan I ,cw is is by far the best wrestler to ever come out of Venial, and is among the greatest wrestlers who have ever come out of Utah and one of the best in the nation. It has been an honor to be one of Ryan's drilling partners, teammates, fans and friends. He has made us belter wiestlers and has given us a greater love of the sport ol wiestling. Lew men have worked harder to achieve their goals than Ryan has. He deserves all the credit and gloiy that has come to him and more. Ryan is a true champion and home town hero. BRAD. BRI TT, JOSH and ERIK HASLEM Vernal DON'T NEED ANY NEW TIP-EON THE BACK THIS CAP HAS PPONT WHEEL I S fj DRIVE Community support Dear Editor, in coming. So many times This has been a long-timlluoughoiit the day and even late at night I'm reminded of the caliber of people that are in our community and how they have influenced and assisted in the development of our children. I'd like to thank all of you in the community who have helped in fundraisers and that have contributed to the music program in our school district. I had one gentlemen donate a nearly new trombone to the band program. I le would have received more for it if he had sold that was developed on it, but the talent and (hilt instillment is beyond cost. Many people have donated considerable funds to the thank you," their music program with only a heart-fel- t, funds have aided many children in developing skills that will hist a lifetime. I can't begin to list all those who have given of their time and skills in assisting in road trips, concerts, parades and fund raising, but I'd like you to know that every contribution of time and money is greatly appreciated and remembered. As simply as the phrase may be know, that it is felt with every e self-estee- note that we play. LYNNA KENDALL VMS band teacher Children Dear Editor. (When I refer to children or child in this letter, it includes teens as well.) There have been many opinions lately about education, special education, and the school system. I have a would like to share. One thing different viewpoint every parent, teacher, and school staff member can do to help children learn better is to learn WHY a child struggles. W hen a child is having trouble with math, leading, suiting, speaking, spelling, memorizing, m ptoblem solving, then learn WHY they are hasing tumble. Maybe Susies brain is not wired to undei stand sapiential steps from the teacher, so she cannot follow instructions, such as putting the completed paps rs heie and the uncompleted papers there. Her teacher thinks she just does not pay attention and is lay. Maybe Bob's mind cannot order his words properly or tpiickly enough, so that when he is called upon in class, lie cannot answer a question. Therefore, his teacher thinks he did not study or is not attentive. These children and children like them run the risk everyday of not doing things correctly to please their teachers-ulti-mat- ely hurting (licit desire to even try and hurting their feelings of being successful. Success is like a vitamin... we need a little of it everyday to feel worthwhile. need the Children success so vitamin badly. ..EVERYDAY! We seem to automatically think that a child who is slow, cannot seem to comprehend things, does not pay attention, or is hyperactive needs to be evaluated for special education or ADIIDADD, when in fact there is an undei lying problem that needs to be discovered in order to really help the child. Dilleicnt minds learn differently is a quote from the front cover of a book which I have just finished reading. It is a very powerful book about the minds of children. It is also very easy to read and understand. The name of it is A Mind at a Time, by Mel Levine, M.D. It would be wonderful if every parent, teacher, principal. guidance counselor, coach, school secretary, school board menilvr. etc. read this book and took it to heart. I think it would really change how we perceive children that seem lay, seem uninterested in school, or seem to be unable to comprehend things. Dr. Levine will really help us discover how each persons brain is wired differently for different things. There are some children who seem to be and can grasp ideas and concepts easily in every subject. I look at those children and think to myself, their brains must operate in a circle because they are so well rounded. What about the children whose brains operate in a square ? It takes extra effort to get into the comers of the squares, but isn't it worth it? Can we do it without frustrating the child and dampening his desire? I agree, wholeheartedly with Dr. Levine when he says. I rustration can be avoided if we understand that not every child can do equally well in every type of learning. We must begin to pay more attention to individual learning styles, to individual minds, so that we can maximize children's learning potential. His book is written to help us understand the minds of children from K-- f 2. Every child learns differently and should be respected for hisher kind of mind. The problems we sec in children are usually just masking the real, underlying problem. We need to help children understand that they are not dumb or stupid, just that they have pxr memory skills for example, and that is why they cannot do well on their tests. If we are specific about why kids arc having trouble in specific areas, then we can help them work on their weaknesses. At the same time, we need to find in every child a specific suength, something hexhc is an expert at doing or learning about, and let himher shine in hisher expertise. If every classroom had a local expert on o h. k v gi,is..hopcrs. dinosaurs, poetry, art, cars, computers. etc., then don't you think that this would be a 1 well-round- Shaffer appointed to board officer and environmental health director Health the for Tricounty Department since 1985. Shaffers list of community service activities is long and impressive. A few of his many contributions to the community include the FACT Administrative Team, Babies Healthy MolhersHealthy Coalition of Utah, Naples City Planning and Zoning Commission the director of healthhealth By Virginia Harrington Feature Writer B. Joseph Shaffer, M.A., M . B . A . , has E.H.S., been appointed by the Uintah School District Board Joseph B. Shaffer of Education to fill the vacancy created when Dennis Stevens resigned from the board. the Shaffer, who Connections Program, said he applied for the position to become "part of the team" serving the community. "Im an educator," said Shaffer, "a real kid advocate. I believe in education." Shaffer also said he would like to see more parent interaction with the school system and he would like to help develop a mentoring program. Shaffer has a long history with education. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Social Studies from Western State College of Colorado. He has also studied at the University of Minnesota, Utah State University, University of Utah and the Centers for Disease Control. He has been Do you Etnow your Chairman, Rural Health Advisory Committee and the State of Utah Task Force on Rural Health Policy Development. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including Rotarys "Service above Self," Utah Center for Rural Life Utah Community Excellence Award and the Utah House of Representatives and the Utah State Senate Certificate of Appreciation. Two win Sterling Scholar Uintah wins two Sterling Scholars Sterling Scholars from Uintah High School, after the competition Tuesday, are Nathan Harrison, in speech and dane and Megan Joy Hawkins in business and marketing. In the past few years, Hawkins has worked with her father, the owner of Western Living. She has learned how professionals organize and implement a productive campaign by designing a logo, writing radio ads, designing newspaper layouts, and keeping track of the budget. Last year Hawkins was a state finalist in the DECA Competition with her public relations project entitled Uintah Unite. Harrison said that most of his close friendships have been made during play practices. He says he treasures what he has learned in drama. He feels he communicates more effectively at every level due to it. Through drama, I have become a better leader, a better neighbor, and a better friend, Harrison commented. Throughout high school and junior high Nathan has been involved with nearly every production. For the past three years, he has been involved with Improv Club. Uintah High had four runners up in the scholarship competition: Brett J. Searle in social science, Travis Baker in trade and technology education and Jennifer Shakespeare in English. The students competed in the 2003 Northeastern Region Sterling Scholar competition on April 29 at South Summit. The Northeastern Region consists of 14 high schools from Rich, Morgan, Summit, Duchesne and Uintah Wasatch, counties. The winner in each category received $500 and the runners up received $300. Both the winners and the runners-u- p will qualify for to scholarships colleges and universities in Utah. community? Last weeks know your community photo was of a cactus made from green horseshoes located at the home of Bob and Nancy Halbert, 1140 W. Main. Those who correctly identified the location were Nancy White, Jim Oldaker, Steven Bassett, Dorraine Robbins, Pearl Cook, Kayl Carter, Kins Abplanalp, Vince Merrell, Norma Kuhr, Shirlyne Trevizo, Bill Hall, Mindy Richens, Cody Lunceford, Hilari Spoon and Debra Higginson. This weeks picture may bring back fond memories of carefree summer days for some long-tim- e Vernal residents. It is of an aging tree house located somewhere in the Vernal area. Call the Vernal Express at 789 3511 by 5 p.m. Identify the location of this tree house to be included those who know their community well. Monday, May 5 with the correct location and your name will be classroom full of kids taking a daily vitamin of success? I can just imagine a classroom full of Susies art and a collection of Bobs rocks. At the same time children are becoming experts in their chosen fields of interest, they are increasing their language, reading, and writing skills naturally, thus helping them all succeed at the very things teachers and parents struggle so hard for them to achieve. KATRINA HARRIS, parent of school-age- d children in the list of added to the list of those who know their community well. you specified. Nor, had your group ever contacted either building to reserve a meeting room. You do not give a phone or mailing address for your group, which makes it impossible to contact you directly. I have also heard from parents that do not support your views or parent group. Please submit for print accurate information that is factual and specific so that your group can become educated and of service to all children. A parent advocating the best education for every child is an Vernal enlightened goal. As a parent and an educator, I give my full support to such a goal. But every long-tergoal is comprised of short-tergoals with specific objectives. Specific objective planning requires factual information. Start with the facts. LORI LEVERTON Rebuttal m Dear Editor, In regards to your 42403 rebuttal, I find none of your points valid. In your original article with the Vernal Express, you stated a meeting time and date for your parent group. I tried to attend that meeting but found no one at the County or City building at the time m Vernal parent and educator A A iT" T ,, ti'iimmi NftR, mu am POOR |