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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A4 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition IN OUR OPINION ... TO Time to revisit Ephraim marketplace concept We mustn’t let the proposal to develop the interior block between 100 North and Center St., and Main Street and 100 East, in Ephraim into the Fort Ephraim Heritage Marketplace die for lack of interest. The prospects of the current Congress designating the U.S. 89 corridor as the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area are looking up. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is purchasing property in the proposed marketplace block for a Snow College Stake Center. With these changes in the works, it’s time to revisit the marketplace proposal. The originator of the concept was Gary Anderson, former mayor and now a USU Extension educator assigned to work on U.S.89 projects. He presented a conceptual drawing of the marketplace to the Ephraim City Council about three years ago. The idea is to develop the block interior, currently blighted and weed-strewn, into a multipurpose public and commercial space. Facilities could include shops where artisans give craft demonstrations and sell handmade goods, a restaurant would serve local dishes, plus workshop facilities, with abundant grass, trees and water features. The site could serve as headquarters for the Scandinavian Heritage Festival and other local festivals. It could be the prime Sanpete County stop for heritage area visitors. One marketplace entrance would be directly across Main Street from Pioneer Park, which contains other historic structures. The park, combined with a developed, landscaped marketplace block, could create a walkable green space running for two blocks through the center of town. What a great feature for Ephraim residents! The 100 North-to-Center St. block is saturated in history. The first Ephraim settlers built their homes, agriculture buildings, a church and school there, protected by tall, thick walls. The streets around the block contain a host of historic homes and buildings, including the Ephraim Co-op, Central Utah Art Center, Bishop’s Storehouse, Peter Knudsen home, Bank of Ephraim Building and Ephraim Enterprise Building, to name a few. When Anderson proposed the marketplace, he suggested that the city purchase historic structures on frontage streets and re-sell them to private owners with covenants requiring the purchasers to restore them. It’s a great plan. It’s too late to set up restoration covenants on two historic homes that the LDS Church purchased for its stake center and then demolished. But we understand the Church has agreed that once it acquires all of its target stake center properties, it will consult with Ephraim officials on stake center development. We believe the stake center and Fort Ephraim Marketplace projects should be coordinated for the benefit of both. On days other than Sundays, marketplace visitors could park in stake center parking. By helping tell the story of Mormon pioneer colonization, the marketplace could advance the Church’s missionary efforts. Twenty-five years ago, the Ephraim Co-op and associated buildings were dilapidated and boarded. A few city officials and citizens had the foresight to restore them. Undoubtedly, some people at the time pooh-poohed the effort. But look at the benefits today—both aesthetic and economic. Development of the Fort Ephraim Heritage Marketplace is a simply an extension of that same effort and spirit. We hope the city council and the public will grasp the marketplace vision and move the project forward. Wednesday, February 9, 2005 THE EDITOR... There’s a first time for everything In a letter to the editor in last week’s Messenger, Sanpete County Attorney Ross Blackham, responding to a concerned citizen regarding the killing of those tur- keys near Fountain Green, is quoted as saying “I want to assure Ms. Robertson and the public that every effort is being made to see that this case is correctly pros- ecuted.” If so, it will provide further proof that there really is a first time for everything. Mitch Peterson , Manti jail time and small fines considering the thousands of dollars they have embezzled and the many lives they have harmed by their actions. How often have I—and most of you—heard the youthful and sometimes harmful idiotic antics of our fathers and grandfathers and yet they weren’t put in jail and have gone on to live useful respectful lives. My own father wrote in his journal concerning his youth “I’m just a short horn, very narrow between the ears. I’m so stupid I can’t do heavy thinking. My brain cavity wouldn’t make a drinking cup for a canary.” I think that says it all. Youth are youth and as such, at times, do stupid things—especially in a group—they wouldn’t ordinarily do. Putting these boys in jail would only make you and I pay for them and wouldn’t teach them much except possibly bitterness and perhaps tip the scales the other way. The turkeys can be replaced and paid for; a young man cannot. S. Wilkinson Pleasant Grove Can’t get a fair trial in Sanpete I’m appalled by the remarks I’ve read in the papers concerning the Sunderland case. How can these boys possibly receive a fair judgment there in Sanpete—turkey country—with judges and prosecutors who are, no doubt, all in the turkey business one way or another. What these boys did was stupid and inexcusable, but when I read the papers, you would think they had done something much worse. I’ve read the paper for months only to read where Ephraim Bank employees, city employees, etc. have received no NEWS County hires financial advisors for Shields deal By C. R. Truitt Staff writer MANTI—Although the process is moving slowly, approval of revenue bonds for Pretty Shields took a step closer to completion as the Sanpete County Commission approved hiring financial advisors for the transaction. At their regular meeting on Feb. 1, the commission approved hiring Kristine Parker and Allan Westingskow to advise the county through the bond issuance process. Although the advisors will be available for other bond issues, they said they were familiar with Pretty Shield’s situation, and could advise the county on the issuance. Parker said they could also advise the county on bonds to build a new jail. She said they have advised 30 councils and commissions and that they can advise on any bond service. Westingskow said their firm works with ten bankers, and they have worked with most Utah counties in some capacity. The county will have to provide a $10,000 retainer fee to use the firm, which Parker said would be returned the county if no bond is issued. Parker said advisors cost $150 an hour, but there will be no charge to the county if no bond is issued. Regarding previous commission concerns regarding TEFRA hearings, Parker told the commission they could sign the TEFRA papers. Previously, the commission had been concerned that wording in the TEFRA hearing documents would commit the county to the bonds. County Attorney Ross Blackham said that the wording doesn’t bind the county. In a related matter, a public hearing was held to consider vacating a portion of Spring City’s Rancheros Subdivision to Pretty Shield. The commissioners told Rancheros representative Lamont Christensen that approval would have to wait until bond approval is finalized. The commission suggested the approval would take place in March. In other commission matters: •Tom Lund of Ephraim requested that the commission limit access to the road that runs between Ephraim and Wales. Lund said he wants to restrict access to the road to reduce rampant vandalism and theft to properties near the road. He said he wants to be able to gate the road to prevent people from stealing his hay. “I just want vandalism to end or be minimized,” he said. To emphasize his point, Lund showed the commission two cans riddled with bullet holes. He said he used the cans to feed his dogs. Steve Keller, county road supervisor, said once a road is gated, the public is denied access and continued that he didn’t favor the idea. He also said he wasn’t aware of vandalism in the area. A neighbor to Lund said vandalism is a long-standing problem in the county, not just there, but all over the county. He said Lund takes the brunt of the vandalism but he wasn’t in favor of gating the road. 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