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Show SERIAL ORDER DIVISION collection oo Davis tOulfc WfcrvuM 50 LK RATI PAJO Permit no 6 IfMoo. Utah 84041 nMUI NUMBER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1985 1985 News Sr Views By GARY R. BLODGETT News Editor Looking back, there were sever- major news stories that happened in davis County. But which were the 10 most important? THE DAVIS County Clipper and Reflex-Journ- staff individually al voted on their Top 10 stories of 1985. We didnt all agree - and maybe you wont either. The decision to first choose the Top 10 was difficult, but to select the stories in priority of public interest was even more difficult. -- Ralph Bott and his three sons who own Bountiful Memorial Art Company have a slogan: "Theres no job too large or too small for us to do." they had to deviate from that slogan just a little bit a couple of months ago but only because they have hearts as big as all outdoors. The Bott Brothers, Robert, Roger and David, have been in the memorial monument business in Bountiful all their lives Their Dad Ralph has owned the company for 32 years. We were shocked when we received a telephone call from a representative of the United Mine Workers of America asking us if we would be interested in preparing a monument in memory of the 27 coal miners who lost their lives in the Wilberg Mine disaster near Orangeville said Robert. Well, . , VOTING WAS extremely close on the first three stories, based on priority. Of the seven ballots cast, the story about the Davis County Queen received four e votes. Ironically, one staffer did not vote the story in the Top 10. Thus, the missing beauty queen, Fawna Gillette, of Bountiful, was the lead story for 1985 as rated by the Clipper and Reflex-Journa- l. Remember, the stories must have occurred in davis County during the past year, or have a direct "tie" with Davis County. THIS IS WHERE the No. 2 story fits in. Ranked second in public interest was the tragic murder of Steve Christensen, of Centerville, who was killed in Salt Lake City "gang-styl- e bomb explosion in October. Ranked No. 3 is a series of stories, features and editorials about drug and alcohol abuse among first-plac- al missing E year of big stories Mssing queen ranked no. Highlights of news events and personal opinions of people and happenings in THIRTY-THRE- adolescents in Davis County. The Burn Plant controversy - which is by far the "longest running of any story in Davis County history, dating back to 4. 1981 - was ranked THE NEWSPAPERS No. cam- paigns to save a Farmington family from deportation, as well as other stories seeking funds for a heart patient and accident victims, ranked No. 5. Controversies over high-densit- y housing in Bountiful and Centerville ranked No. 6. and plans for a new County Jail complex was No. 7. No. among the Top 10 was the Election with its controversies and election of new mayors. Disputes over alleged 8 1985 MUNICIPAL 1 contamination of the Bay Area Refuse Disposal (BARD) site was ranked No. 9: and to round out the Top 10 were the stories of problems and personnel changes in Layton City government. THERE WERE several stories rating Honorable Mention for their importance during the year. These include redevelopment in Bountiful; inclement weather and problems it caused; North Salt Lake and Kaysville city hall complexes; personnel and policy changes in the Davis School District; Vernon Carr being named state and national "Businessman of the Year: and Ted Stewart and Harold Yancey being appointed to the State Public Service Commission and State Insurance Commission respectively. , Missing beauty queen The No. story of the missing beauty queen began last August 1 shortly after Fawna Gillette, of Bountiful, was named Miss Davis Fawna suddenly turned County. up missing and there were police reports that the beauty queen may have been kidnapped. AFTER AN intensive investigation, Bountiful Police Chief Larry Higgins announced that there is indication that the queen may have been abducted and that her parents, vacationing in Hawaii, already had been notified and were retumig home. Gary Shields embrace at funeral. ture depicting the sale & exchange of drugs. Later, Fawna mysteriously RALPH BOTT, LEFT, and son, Robert, stand by huge Wimonument honoring 27 victims of fiery explosion Dec. 19. 1984. lberg Mine 1 took the call and was almbst too shocked to answer their questions, except to say that we certainly were interested and flattered to be considered. There must be a dozen memorial stone businesses closer to the site than us. still dont know why we were selected. Ralph said the family made up their minds from I the beginning that this was going to be a service project with more concern for the victims and their families than for monetary gain. "We made less than $500 profit on the job," he said. Its a huge monument - more than nine feet tall, four feet wide and weighs more than 7,500 pounds. Its made of Royal Black Granite from Eastern Canada and looks just like polished coal. Ralph said the cost of the monument was quite a bit more than the traditional gray granite, but thats what the families wanted for their coal-- mining victims. The engraving on the memorial was done by Royal Melrose of Minnesota, but the selection of the granite, and the design and inscription to go on the memorial was done by the Bott Family. Its gratifying to be a part of one of the largest and most prestigious memorial and monumental Continued on page three "turned up and told police that she had been abducted and taken into the foothills east of Bountiful where she was held captive. This report, however, proved to be false and Miss Gillette admitted that the story was fabricated to gain attention. t Blast kills ARCHITECT SKETCH SHOWS proposed Davis County garbage bum plant to be construced east of Force Base. Facility has been under fire lor more than five years, Hill Air Davis Bishop A bomb blast in the hallway of a Salt Lake City office building killed Steve Christensen of Centerville, last October. Steve was an LDS bishop and the news of the tragic explosion shocked not only his friends and neighbors in Bountiful and Centerville, but people every- where. Drugs, alcohol series The most intensive camfrnign ever carried out by the Clipper and began in May and is still being continued. It involves more than 125 stories, features and Burn plant the dispute Reflex-Journ- THE CLIPPER and Reflex-Journcarried stories, pictures, and editorials about the incident -al mostly reflecting on the life of Mr. Christensen as related by his friends and neighbors. A dramatic picture of Mr. Christensens wife, Terri, and the husband of a Holla-da- y woman, killed in a similar bombing, appeared on the front page. Alcohol, receiving personal and newspaper honors for his efforts. As a result of Davis County's efforts to lead out against drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers, the State Federation is using the county foremat and other states are adopting what Utah is doing in this behalf. al pictures that were printed during eight-mont- period. STAFF MEMBERS not only got involved in the stories, but News Editor Gary R. Blodgett was named to the Davis County drugs and Alcohol Task Force and the Utah Federation on Drugs and - and Clearfield board officials have decided to go ahead with construction of the facility near Hill Air Force Base. THE PLANT, expected to cost an estimated S54 million to build and equip, should be completed next year. It will be used to burn garbage collected from cities tnroughout Davis County as well as from neighboring counties, if possible. Charity The controversy over a proposed garbage burn plant to serve Davis County has been brewing since 1981. And despite three major cities refusing to join the burn plant district - Bountiful, Layton -- crusade goals Crusading is one of the prime objectives. or goals of any newspap- - Continued on page two Wants to see the president Lucas off to Washington By GARY R. BLODGETT News Editor Lucas Erasmus is off to Washington. our family in peace, without fear of persecution." Then with his voice fading, Lucas added: WHAT GOOD would it do for me to stay home and watch football on television on Christmas Day? Our only thoughts are in a profession that on eternal freedom - freedom to choose; to raise my family without fear of persecution from the government; and most of all, fear of death or life in prison." Yes, the Lucas Erasmus Family is a family without a country. 1 -- NOT EVEN waiting until after the holiday season was over . before leaving, Lucas loaded up his big stationwagon with petitions. carrying "thousands of names" and left his family, friends and news media behind as he pulled from the parking lot and headed eastward last Monday morning. Asked why he didnt wait until after Christmas before leaving, Lucas replied solemly: have a job to do, and that is to do everything I to can get the message across to the public - and possibly hopefully Congress and even the President of the United States - that we (Erasmus Family) should not be deported from this wonderful country - that we deserve to remain here and raise BECAUSE I -- -- -- i TiJE ERASMUS family - Lucas, Kookic and their three children - were denied political asylum by a district Immigration and Naturalization judge from Denver on Dec. 11. Described by some as a "fluke decision, the judge alleged that the Erasmus Family - which has lived in south Davis County for five and a half years without incident - should be deported to their native country of Rhodesia (now known as Zimbawbc). -- -- -- -- Continued on page two |