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Show Horizons C2 Circus C6 Classifieds C7 Calendar C11 Comics C12 Tuesday, September 7, 1999 Ct " wm Help light 'u1 .i the night with blaze of glory Summers got several more weeks to go, weve just finished up the Labor Day holiday and until just a few days ago temperatures have been in the 90s. Its not easy for me to talk about what Ive got to discuss in Christmas. this column The grass is still green and the trees are still in full leaf, but its not to early to make plans for the Clipper and Clipper Today Electric Light Parades. The real reason were bringing this up so early is to give you plenty of time to make preparations. Not only do we want you to come and watch the parade, wed like to encourage as many as possible to take part While all the details are not yet worked out, heres a quick primer on what we know so fan Parade dates As was the case last the parade is expected to take place in Bountiful the Friday after Thanksgiving, year, which will be Nov. 26. The North Davis ver- sion of the parade should take place the Monday following evening, Nov. 29. The plan is for the Bountiful parade to start at 6 p.m., w hile in North Davis well have a parade in Kaysville at 6 p.m. and in Clearfield at 7 p.m. While the times are still subject to change, the dates are fairly certain. Last year's success Last year, around 12,000 people attended the parade in Bountiful. And it was especially gratifying to discover that more thanl0,000 people showed up in North Davis, although it was the first Christmas parade ever held there. Frankly, we didnt know what to expect, so we were genuinely pleased to discover that nearly as many showed up as in Bountiful, even though the event has been held in South Davis far years. In addition, the Layton parade featured only about two or three fewer entries than in Bountiful. So, from all standpoints, we were amazed and pleased. Wed like to build upon the foundation this year, and this is the real reason why were talking about Christmas so early. Planning starts now Wed like to encourage you to plan now to enter one or both of these parades. Were looking for businesses, schools, churches, clubs, organizations and others to participate. What makes an electric light parade unique, however, is that its incredibly easy to take part in. All you need is a truck bed, a boat, a flatbed trailer or some other suitable conveyance. For a daylight parade, you'd have to spend a lot of time and money decorating the outside, but thats not the case here. Simply adding strings of lights can transform a pickup truck or flatbed trailer into something of real beauty. It doesnt take long to string the bulbs, the lights themselves arent very expensive and the only limitation is your own imagination. We do recommend, however, that you add as many strings of lights as you can the more lights, the more breathtaking the look of your entry. A call for musk In addition to the lights, lots of music will give the parade fun and charm. We are especially requesting .that school bands, orchestras, choral groups, student officers, cheer groups, etc make an effort to participate. Singers or musicians can fit onto a truck bed or flatbed trailer, making it easy and fun to perform for thousands. Were so desirous of adding music to the parade that wed like to make a special request for all the various groups wed like to invite: School musical and cheer groups, as noted above. Ward, stake, congregational and church choirs of all denominations. Childrens singing groups, dance schools, performance academies. Barbershop quartet groups Marching groups For parade entries without musical numbers, we recommend that you add a boombox and play Christmas carols as you glide down the street. Help build the tradition The biggest reason for entering your group into the parade is because its breathtaking and fun. With hundreds of thousands of colored bulbs lighting the night, its the perfect way to usher in the Christmas holidays. All it takes is a vehicle, strings of colored lights and borrowing a portable electric generator. And its fast becoming a key part of the holiday observance in both ends of Davis County. With your help, itll be even better this year. Frankly we were stunned with some of the imaginative entries last year and the sheer beauty of the parades overall. Its a Davis County tradition well worth building, and we hope you'll put it in your plans this year. How to reach us: Growingstavepains disaster Farmers struggle to BY TOM BUSSELBERG Clipper Staff Writer - Rather NORTH DAVIS COUNTY than a healthy green color, the com stalks in Maurice Morris and Carol Thurgood's field is brown, seemingly struck by a fire that left everything intact. liie stalks never matured to the point that any actual earn of com were produced. This stark picture is the result of Riverdales July 11 canal break. Because even though Carol Thurgood watered the four acres of com every week, there wasnt enough water pressure, much less water, to mature the com. It has no food value. The ears didn't form. Theres nothing (worth anything) here now" she said. And when contemplating the future and whether the canal will be back in busithe West Point resident adds, I cant ness even contemplate it. Dale Powers, with the federal Farm Service Agency, says the Thurgoods case is typical of the impact caused by the break. About 800 farm families fall within the area impacted. As time goes on, its actually becoming a lot worse than what they had expected, Powers said of the losses. To apply for federal aid through the Emergency Conservation Program, losses must be above 40 percent of normal its starting to look like it will get there, he added. Another West Point farmer, Lynn Kirkham, say's the bad conditions caused by lack of water have been tempered by farmers helping each other. Farmers prioritized. Weve taken water off of hay and pastures, put it on onions, for example, which were being harvested last USuMmiS: newsrwmigdippcrioday.com For submitting news releases nications with the news staff. and for all other commu- eztalfcQdippertoday.com For submitting your opinion for publication on the torial page edi- week and are a cash crop. He showed this reporter a pasture that has not received irrigation water since six days before the canal broke. W'e used all the waste water as far as it would go? for instance, in trying to make do. But rather than a couple of feet high, there was little, if any. vegetation left. I appreciate what water we have, Kirkham said, adding that I think we can survive this year, but in another year weve got to have water? Fortunately; by the July 1 1 break, Kirkham had raised his first and second grain and barley crops. But, if things dont change for next year, he said, Itd basically be like dry farming. This country is nothing without water He recalled that the area couldn't even support sagebrush prior to the arrival of irrigation and the canals. And while some may think that the canal break means farmers are forced to take a break, Kirkham quickly dispels that idea. Last night my water turn was at 1 a.m., and then I had to sprinkle at 5 a.m. It makes it worse. You have to watch closer. Eight-hou- r You (water) sets are now four- - or three-hou- r. have to check more often. Its more work rather than less. Farmers like Dan Layton, who farms in west Layton, comes close to tears w hen talking about the situation. Even on my (water) share I've been shorted. I'm at the end were not getting our full share of our half share. Thurgood, with the benefit now of hindsight, says I would've abandoned one field faced with less water. But you dont raise crops and watch them die. You try to save everythingr (See related story on p. Al.) DISCOURAGED farmer Maurice "Morris" Thurgood examines his dried up cornfield in West Point (top), while Kelly Green (above) sits dejected in his tractor cab while plowing up an onion field in Layton. Photos by Marv Lynchard Strange liquor laws abound in U.S. The views expressed in this column are of the writer aiul not necessarily those of the ownership or management of this newspaper. the opinion Adults, like teenagers, are often susceptible to exaggeration. A good example came last week when the executive director of the Utah Hotel and Lodging Association (in Utah) do not realize the difficulty of the (liquor) laws. The Utah laws do indeed include a blend of silliness and an adoration of Carrie Nation. This column has occasionally tweaked some of the absurdity, noting that establish liquor laws is having like having philosophy majors design nuclear power plants. But overall, the Utah liquor laws are adaptable and workable. If a tourist or a nativ e wants to sip an aged Kentucky bourbon, it's not hard to accomplish this feat, whether through an inexpensive visitor's rs off In Nebraska, the state membership at a private club or the purchase of a single legislature has stipulated that any establishment sellpotato chip at a restaurant. And even if some of the ing wine or beer must have a regulations in Utah are infanlarge pot of soup visibly on tile. were not alone. the premises... The In Springs, Pennsylvania, of Department Alcoholic Beverage Control a married man cannot purhas just published a list of chase any form of booze without the written consent similarly idiotic, although of his wife... dubiously enforced, laws from other localities. In Hawaii, it is unlawful Utah cant hold a candle to w histle while in a bar or to some of these gems: nightclub... It is against the law to The state of Texas bans serve pretzels and beer at the i calendars featuring scantily same time at any bar. club or clad women in taverns and in BRYAN GRAY bars... eating establishment North Dakota... Cyclops In Birmingham, No waiter or waitress in Alabama, it is against the law Topeka. Kansas, is allowed to sen e a for a bartender or restaurant owner to tomer wine in a under any circum- - sw eep the floors of their own place of r stances... In Nyola, Nevada, no man is ever allowed to treat more than three drinkers besides himself at any one period in a day.. In Natches, Mississippi, it is illegal for an elephant to guzzle beer.. In LeFors, Texas, it is illegal to take more than three swallows of beer at any time while standing on your feet.. Hostesses, bartenders, waiters and waitresses in any Arkansas drinking establishment are prohibited from taking tips, directly or indirectly from one of their customers... And finally Boston, Massachusetts, mourners attending wakes are not allowed to have more than three sandwiches at one time, no matter how hungry they are. Yes, Utah laws could do with a bit of tinkering But make too many changes and we might end up with a law like Kentucky's in which women are given the right to place castor oil in their spousesboyfriends drinks to curtail his drinking Now thats a sobering thought! |