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Show page Dam County Clipper A4 Tuesday, March 8, 1996 In Our Opinion Legislators should not make new road political football The decision by Gov. Leavitt and Utah lawmakers to put the Davis County portion of the newly announced Legacy Project highway on the fast track is a welcome announcement. Anyone who has traveled between North Salt Lake and Kaysville in either direction understands the critical need for a new road to alleviate the danger and the delays that are inherent in the jour- ney. The planned road should run nearly parallel to in the narrow neck of land near Farmington. It has been speculated that the remainder of the road through the county will be as far west as possible and most likely y will follow the already being used by Utah Power and Light with its power transmission right-of-wa- lines. Last weeks announcement brought the expected concerns from environmentalists seeking assurances that the proposed road will not encroach on wetlands and wildlife in the area. Others who voiced concerns were cattle ranchers and farmers whose families have used the land in question for decades to support their families. None of those protesting were unreasonable, just interested. Their concerns are legitimate and should be addressed by those planning the road. They understand the critical need for the road. They understand that progress wilt encroach on some areas that have remained pristine for decades. They were not asking that the road project be scrapped. They know the road is vital to safe travel in the county. In fact there has been very little opposition to the idea of the road. And perhaps that is the reason politicians have been coming out of the woodwork to take Take responsibility for kids behavior In the classic film. Duck Soup, Grouch Marx mused. A child of five would understand this. Send somebody to fetch me credit for the idea. Those attending last weeks announcement in North Salt Lake, jumped on the bandwagon and spoke of their intense support of the idea. It's interesting to note that some of those attending were staunch opponents to the idea just weeks ago. Now that there is a consensus that the road is a good idea. Now that the news has been well accepted, the detractors have decided to climb aboard the Legacy highway. The woman who deserves credit for the idea, Rep. Marda Dillree, Farmington, was in attendance last week, but not asked to speak. Rep. Dillree has spent hundreds of hours lobbying for the road and introduced legislation to preserve the corridor. Interestingly, just hours after Leavitts announcement. Congressman lim Hansen sent a news release claiming responsibility for the idea. It read, Hansens Highway approved. Hows that for political grandstanding? The next battle over the road unfolded on Take Two Sunday evening with a Democratic leader trying to make the decision to build the road into a partisan issue accusing Republicans of a publicity stunt with the announcement. Please. Davis County needs this road. We need the help of every legislator. Please dont make this project an election year ball to be batted back and forth between opponents. Theres an old adage, Its amazing how much can get done when you dont care who gets the credit. The families of those who have lost loved ones on the overcrowded dont care who gets credit. Find the funds. Find the backbone, find the courage to build this road. Were literally dying out here without it. of five. Well, dont send Keith. A loyal Davis County reader, Keith was noticeably upset last week with children. Keith admits that children have a place in society.. .He a child just doesnt think that place should be located around responsible adults. Several days ago, I went to Wingers in Bountiful, he told me. Wingers is a fun place, so I wasnt expecting a candlelight dinner But neither did I expect to find children in the table next to me throwing stuff at customers and wiggling around on the floor. Here these kids were bothering everyone else in the restaurant and the parents were grinning at these antics. The parents probably thought the kids were cute. And that wasnt the first time children had ruined his dinner. The week before, he said, he had been seated near a table of children at Tony Romas Restaurant in Layton. The kids were totally out of control there, too, said Keith. I frankly dont understand what parents are thinking. If the kids cant behave in public, then the parents shouldnt let them spoil other peoples evening. Since the Utah Legislature has banned smoking from public restaurants, Keith suggested that a similar bill be introduced banning children under the age of 10 from any public facility where food is served. Or, at the very least, have a No Children section similar to the No Smoking sections previously mandated at Utah restaurants. There is nothing in the Constitution that says children have a right to be noisy or obnoxious, he said. There is no reason why a restaurant owner should be forced to let a child turn his restaurant into a pigsty. Keith would be a poor choice to supervise a day care center. But his observations have some merit. Children are often the bane of harried waitresses, especially those who have to clean up after the tikes. And its not unusual to see a child leaning over and tapping an unappreciative customer in the next booth. He likes you, said the parent. Great, says the customer. I might like him too if he wasnt throwing macaroni at my iced tea! The problem, of course, isnt with the children. As Judge Leon Yankwich said in 1928, There are no illegitimate children just illegitimate parents. And parenting takes common sense, not just the ability to reproduce the species. When 1 attended a showing of The Birdcage in Salt Lake City, I was appalled to see a mother escort three children into the theater. Did this woman think a comedy concerning gay lovers would be appropriate for elementary grade children? And if she rou- tinely takes children into theaters without knowing the content of a movie, then the woman should be reported to the Department of Social Services for being an unfit mother. Its not just a Utah problem. A Long Beach, California man wrote in last weeks Entertainment Weekly to complain that a large number of adults brought children ranging in age from 3 to 13 to see The Rock. Wrote the man, These kids watched simulated sex acts and listened to four letter words flying only slightly faster than the body parts being blown off. Keith can sympathize. Dont get me wrong, I like children, he says. But 1 dont like parents who think anything their child does is creative and wonderful. Adults have a right to congregate and not be subjected to the tantrums of a bunch of spoiled kids. So the next time you hear a man ask a restaurant hostess to be seated in the No Children section, youll know you met Keith. He Meal. wont be having a Happy In Vour Opinion 15 Published semi weekly by Clipper ADMINISTRATION R Gail Stahle EDITORIAL Clipper Publishing Co., Inc. P O Box 267 1370 South 500 West Bountiful, Utah 8401 Publisher Managing Editor Judy Jensen Paul Challts Mark Watson Melinda Williams Cathy Linford Brett Taylor News Editor Sports Editor Staff Reporter Staff Photographer Photographer Photographer Roger Tuttle Ron Osborn Photographer Jams Eakms Correspondent Susan Tanner Holmes Correspondent Cherie Huber Correspondent Marilyn Sanders Correspondent OFFICE Annette Tidwell Sharon Lords Anita Keller Terry Perkins Earlene Hall SuBsemmott Office Manager Receptionist Receptionist Receptionist Bookkeeping hats: 50s per ropy Reader disturbed by killing of raccoon Editor, am writing in response to an article printed in yesterdays distribution. I would hope the article has brought much concern to the public and that you hear from more citizens than just myself. This letter is in regards to the appalling story about the innocent baby raccoon that unfortunately paid dearly, like so many other animals, for trusting humans. Ever since I read the article, 1 can not get the facts to clear my head. I am so disturbed to know that there are people out there that purposely hurt and kill a trusting little critter in such a heartless and inhumane manner. And what does someone gain by performing such an act? Power? Respect? Personal Satisfaction? No power or strength is shown when an adult man is able to hurt or kill an animal, especially an animal that size; not to forget he had to use a weapon. I believe that the majority of people could have no respect for such a person. If this was for personal satisfaction I pity the man. He is a complete I hope that justice comes in this mans life. He is most deserving of a very strict penalty. I on Tues) ISSN 1061-122Publication No. (USPS published day and Friday except the week of Christmas and New Years at Bountiful, Utah Periodical postage paid at Bountiful, Utah Address all correspondence to P O Box 267, Bountiful, Utah 84011 0267 The humans should take action to help them, not kill them off. Editor, Once again the citizens of Bountiful are looking forward to our July 24th celebration, including, of course, a beautifully planned parade. It has always been a delight watching chairs and other means for sitting being set out along the projected route the day before the parade. Feeling, of course, that all would be well and they would remain there for the owners to use to watch the parade. Last year, 1995, our family put out our chairs, nice, new chairs, all the while convincing our unbelieving guests that they would still be there for us to see the parade. However, when we arrived for the parade our Cox thanks his support- Dorothy C. Payne I coward! $25 00 per year Mailed $35 00 per year Joy of holiday diminished by theft of chairs feel that the laws definitely need to become tougher on people that abuse animals. Who gave this man the right to take the life of another? It was cruel. It was senseless. It was wrong. Hopefully if justice isnt given here. ...hell get his in the end. With or without punishment, the bottom line is that an innocent creature lost his right to live because he trusted humans. Not only did he lose his life, but was brutally beaten. Sadly, I would bet he was hoping to die to rid the pain he was being put through. Violence is no way to handle any situation; it only causes more hurt and pain, while resolving nothing. I hope that this man, and any other person who causes pain to others, gets help from a professional and I pray that this man does not have children. Sincerely, Texie G. chairs had disappeared. One of our group had experienced a stroke a few months before and another member a double amputee. So, of course, we missed the delight of showing off the artistic abilities of this fair city. For the first and only time in our 16 years of residency in Bountiful we felt ashamed and sad. We hope nothing of this sort ever happens again. Bountiful is too nice a place for such a happening. Betty J. Lewis Bountiful Raccoon beater should learn anger control Editor, In regards to that raccoon killing incident on a public golf course, anyone unable to control their anger and frustration should not be allowed on the course until a session on anger control has been accomplished by the individual involved. What does this person do when he is frustrated at home, hit his girl friend, wife or child? Who will be the next thing or person to be hit with or without a golf club. If the golf course has a problem with wild creatures invading the premises, they should take action to prevent another killing. Be realistic, humans took the animals' land away from them. ers , says hell be back Editor, My sincere thanks and gratitude to all the people that supported me and worked on my campaign. What an exciting experience! I had the time of my, life. It has been a great experience to meet the many fine people in Bountiful. In every area of the city the people were friendly and very supportive. The low voter turnout has shown again that June is not the best month for the primary election. I think we would see a higher voter turnout in September. The children are back in school. Summer vacations are over. People are thinking more about politics and about the issues that affect us as a State and a Nation. Only 15.8 of the 14,500 registered voters in House District 19 voted. My opponent was able to obtain 10.6 of the registered voters. For my first time seriously running for office, and with a very small campaign organization, we were able to obtain 5.2 of the registered voters. If only 2.7 more of the registered voters had voted for me rather than my opponent, we would have won the election. This is a very good first result for my campaign group. Had there been a larger voter turnout, I truly feel that we would have won. I gained valuable experience running and will be a stronger candidate next time. Yes, next time. I am running again in two years (subject only to my circumstances a little nearer to that time). The people of Bountiful will get to see those beautiful Ernie Cox campaign signs, complete with flags, again. Anyone who would like to participate in my campaign can call me at 298-177- 6. Again, thanks to all the wonderful people in Bountiful. Ernie Cox |