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Show West Sentinel Guardian of Your Community Neivs WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010 • A3 Benjamin women Reminiscing the Winter Olympics enjoy fireside volved in church and community activities. She was instrumental in helping Kathleen OLsen many boys get started in Cub Scouting and was a Relief Society and strong supporter of the enYoung Women sisters were tire scouting program. She treated to a lovely evening sang with the Relief Socion Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, ety chorus and was consponsored by the Spanish tinually involved in nuFork West Stake Relief merous positions or comSociety. A special musi- mittees. After she moved cal number was presented from Benjamin, she conby the Young Women and tinued to return for special their mothers from Leland activities and to maintain Ward. Speakers for the her numerous friendships. evening included Jonathan We offer our sympathy and Amy Russell who both to her family and to her gave messages full of en- many, many friends. Funeral services were couragement and held on Saturday, Feb. hope. 13, 2010, at the The stake Lakeside 8th Ward Relief Socichurch in Provo. ety officers Burial took place include Karma in the Benjamin Woffinden, Cemetery. president; ^ ^ 7 JoAnn Lan- <f Joe and caster, DeAnn ^ - ^ * \ ( Barbara AnTuckett, counsel\ derson are deors; and JoLyn Chappie, * lighted to welcome secretary. a baby granddaughter to ••• Long time Benjamin their family. Sidney Kaye residents were saddened Anderson was born at the to hear of the death of Orem Community Hospiformer resident, Karen R. tal on January 25,2010, to Lundell Steele, who died Jared and Jessie Anderson Tuesday morning, Feb. 9, of Spanish Fork. She is 2010. She lived in Benja- the first child in the fammin for many years where ily of Jared and Jessie and she raised her family. She the first grandchild for Joe is remembered as a won- and Barbara. Congratuladerful neighbor and friend tions to all of the Anderand was always very in- son family. 'Round and About Benjamin There and Back Again Shirlene R. Ottesen You might be a redneck if: your wife's eyeliner is a Sharpie. With the opening of the Winter Olympics in Canada this past week, we are reminded that it was eight years ago that the Olympics were here in Utah and what a time it was. I saw a lady shopping just this past week wearing the jacket that was worn by the hundreds of volunteers. When it was announced that Utah would be the host in 2002,1 really didn't have a lot of faith that the state would survive such a financial investment. Many of the past-host cities went in the red so far that they paid on their investment for several years putting the tax burden on the citizens. I don't know who had the idea to recruit Mitt Romney for the job to take on the huge responsibility to oversee Utah's involvement, but he did a magnificent job. I really hope that he's our next president in 2012. Maybe he can help this country get back on track. The venue's that were built here are still used by many individuals and not sitting idle. So we were lucky. With Mr. Romney in charge and the help of hundreds of will- ing volunteers it turned out to be one of the best Olympics ever. And if you remember, the national Olympic organization was in the middle of a big scandal at the time and so the success was even sweeter. The thought of being involved in the Olympics never even entered my mind. I thought I was too old to volunteer. I knew I couldn't keep up with all those young, energetic athletes no matter where I was assigned. In the late fall of 2001, we were approached by a friend of ours that we met on some of the wagon trains we had been on and he asked if we would like to participate at the Soldier Hollow event. That was the place where the ski races were held. We were thrilled to have the opportunity. Our grandson, Bryan, spent a few days prior to the opening getting everything set up. Our job was to meet the train that came across the valley from Heber and then give the people a sleigh ride up to where the stadium and races were held. So he took up panels to make the corral for the two teams of mules that we took up. We were furnished with a large sleigh that would hold about 20-30 people. There were five others who worked with the trains and four sleighs that worked near the stadium giving people sleigh rides all day. Some of the other drivers were friends team on the sleigh, but then from past wagon trains and Bryan and Hy used a 4-hitch we became readily acquaint- for a couple of days. ed with the others. The Solider Hollow We were furnished a place event was an all-western in Heber to park our small themed area. People were camping trailer. That way greeted by cowboys and we didn't have to travel up cowgirls. An authentic piothe canyon every morning. neer camp was set up where We had to be through our the people cooked over an checkpoint and ready to go open camp fire near a covby 7 a.m. The first morning it ered wagon and the people was dark and cold and about wore pioneer clothing. A four degrees below zero. big Indian Teepee was set The harnesses and bridles up for people to walk inwere so cold and stiff that it side . There were corrals was hard to get everything with horses and western snapped where it needed to music was performed by be. I remember the mules different groups in a small were frosted and all steamy. amphitheater. The spirit of Bryan did most of the driv- the west was alive and well. ing with Hy as his helper and Security was tight and nothI got to ride on the sleigh and ing happened to interrupt visit with the people who the events. Helicopters flew had come from all over the over us day and night. They world. The very first couple were kept real busy. I spoke with were from San The events at Soldier HolFrancisco who said that they low were well attended with had planned on coming to the people of all ages. Many Olympics when it had been young people were there. announced that the games Many parents brought their would be in Utah. children. Then there were the The first day we met older people. Some had to three trains at a railway sta- be helped up on the sleighs, tion that had been built es- but they were dressed for the pecially for the event. Each cold and had a great time. train carried about 250 peoAll in all, it was a very ple so it took us and the oth- special time in our lives and er five sleighs several trips for those of you who volunto get all the people to the teered at the many sites and venue about a mile away. venues. I'm sure you still To say that everyone was think about your experiencexcited and having a good es. It only lasted two weeks, time is an understatement. but the memories will last a Most days we used just one lifetime. Letter to the Editor Leagues: From BASEBALL • A2 not get invited back the next season — they're crazy. Travel ball does not have that. It is up to the parents to step up for their children. Do not sit back and let your child be abused because it is making them a better player. I have seen too many great ball players with potential quit playing before or during high school because they no longer enjoy the game. They do not find it fun anymore. I am a strong believer of letting kids be kids. Many parents have come to believe that playing sports is a ticket to college or even professional sports. I am telling you it is not. Last year in high school baseball boys from Madison's Avenue the Spanish Fork/Salem area (two high schools) landed seven boys in college to play ball. That was a lot for one age group in one year. When you look at the fact that each age group has around 600 boys from our communities that start playing ball when they are 5-7 years of age, the reward for seven boys is a pretty low percentage. It tells me that more kids need to play for the love of the game and enjoy the opportunity. College and the thereafter are just rewards that come along on occasion. I say play ball everywhere you can with everyone that wants you, and have fun. It is a game. Parents, be the champion of your own child, and make sure they are having fun and not being abused. Spanish Fork High School I am writing to share my views on the boundary changes between Spanish Fork High School and Maple Mountain High School. At the center of this discussion is the problem that Spanish Fork High School is facing of not having enough students to fill the school in the coming years. In the original planning of the school split, this wasn't a problem, but the result was a larger number at Maple Mountain High School. Despite the lack of students, Spanish Fork High School has had a successful year in athletics on many accounts. Our football team placed second in region and made it to the second round at state, where they lost to the eventual champions. The girls tennis team placed second in region and had a good showing at the state tournament. Also the girls volleyball team was crowned region champions and placed third in the state tournament. Currently our basketball team is in a heated race for first place in region and one of our wrestlers, Kaleb Ash worth, won region in his weight class for the fourth consecutive year. This has never been done before at Spanish Fork High School. With this much history and future potential, can we afford to let Spanish Fork High School athletics slip into the void of uncompetitiveness simply because of a lack of new students? I'm also concerned about the academic aspects as well. There are currently classes being offered through the high school that give you college credit as well as high school credit, such as concurrent enrollment, advanced placement and distance learning classes. All of these are amazing opportunities for high school students to get a major head start on a college education. The future students of Spanish Fork High School shouldn't be denied these opportunities just because they live on the wrong side of a boundary line. This problem won't go away either. Without room for expansion and growth within its boundaries, Spanish Fork won't grow while Maple Mountain will continue to grow for many years to come, bringing with it a wave of new students. In the interest of the current and future students of Spanish Fork High School, the boundaries need to be changed for the continuation of a great school. 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