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Show VOLUME 89 NO. 11 The THURSDAY. JANUARY 30. 1997 MAGNA. UTAH 84044 Man And The Monument by ALAN BLAIN STAFF WRITER i Everyone in the community has the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, whether it be helping a neighbor or volunteering your time for an important cause. Most of us seem to get caught up in the hassles of the day and there doesnt seem to be enough time to get the things we want done, let alone helping someone else. But for Magna resident John Wilson and his wife Gladys, making a difference in the community came naturally. After three years of planning and fund raising, John realized a dream come true. On November, 11, 1996 a monument was dedicated to the memory of those men who lived in the Magna community and who died in the service of our country. Those who were honored included men who served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. I did it just because of the fact that the young men gave up their lives for our country and gave us the freedom we have today, he said. They need some recognition so that these memories will be carried on. Wilson joined the U.S. Air Force in the fall of 1950 and served in the Korean War as a flight attendant for a special mission VIP outfit which flew both President Truman and President Eisenhower out of the Washington National Airport. After four years of diligent service he was honorably discharged in September of 1954. Wilson said he got the idea to build the monument after seeing a similar monument in Elko, Nevada. He came home and began soliciting funds in February 1994. After a lot of hard work he raised $13,000 from business EfimrnunifYmemteis, He.jsesiyed 9nS anfite grant from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7398. The Magna Community Council and the Utah Department of Transportation gave acre plot of permission to place the monument on the Veterans Memorial Park at 8400 West 2700 South. Funds are still needed to help maintain the monument, Wilson said. We need about $100 a month to help maintain the lighting and for grounds maintenance. Those who would like to contribute should send donations to d Memorial Trust, Cyprus Credit Union in care of the P.O. Box 326, Magna, Utah, 84044; Attention Rosemary Coon. Along with the hard work that went into making the monument a reality, Wilson has spent a lifetime in the service of others. He was bom in Indiana and moved to Utah in the summer of 1942. As a kid, he was active in church and scouting, and later in life served as a Scout Master. During his ten years of service as Scout Master he helped seventeen young men achieve their Eagle Scout Awards. He is a graduate of West High School in the class of 47 and attended Salt Lake Area Vocational School (known today as Salt Lake Community College) in September of 57. He served as studentbody president during his time at the college and participated in numerous activities and events. Wilson spent seven years working for Kennecott Copper and twenty years working for Premium Oil Company. He also worked for Equitable Life Insurance Company before retiring in March of 1981. The Wilsons have lived in the Magna community for forty years raising five children along the way. They have 10 grandchildren at the present time. Next time youre driving in Magna, stop at the monument and pay tribute to those soldiers who lived in the community and who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We on the staff of the Magna Times and West Valley News salute John Wilson for his hard work and dedication and for doing his part to make the community a wonderful place to live. one-eigh- th Magna-Garfiel- Enclosed ice rink arena in Centennial Park should be completed in spring. WVC parks being expanded, improved by GARY R. BLODGETT EDITOR Upgrading West Valley Citys parks and recreation facilities is a d program. Despite the cold, and sometimes stormy weather, city parks officials go forward with plans and work to improve the existing parks and year-aroun- develop proposed parks. Centennial Park a development south of 3100 South is getting the east of 5600 West bulk of attention. Although' a park, the indoor hockey rink is being paid for by the Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Department. Construction is about 90 percent and should be ready complete for public use by late fall or early 77-ac- re city-own- spring. This joint venture is much the same as the construction and maintenance agreement of the Kennecott-Magna outdoor swimming pool in Magna. Greg Cudworth, WVC parks said planner and designer, the largest of Centennial Park city-coun- ty is rapideight parks ly developing and most of its sports and family leisure facilities will be ready for the public by early summer. Two soccer and four baseball-softba- ll fields have been completed and seeded for play this summer; restrooms are completed; and the parking lot installed. The scorers tower complex at the is being constructed east four-ple-x at a cost of $1,389,614, an increase in the contract of about $39,200. city-own- However, the cost line with prices for rently underway, explained as the seems to be in the work cur- officials increase was city approved. The scorers tower will have an open second floor with a restroom and concessionaires facility on the main floor. The contract will include construction of the new scorers tower columns, pavilion complex, asphalt tie-i- n on 3100 South) additional parking lot in front of the basketball courts, a'ffd's5Hie''Bvr-excavatio-n of roadway areas, it was explained. A prefabricated metal roof for the 40 by pavilion at Centennial Park has been purchased for $29,300 and will be See PARKS on page 9 60-fo- ot Pleasant Green families to vote Feb. 6 on uniform dress code by GARY R. BLODGETT EDITOR Feb. 7 is show time at Pleasant Green Elementary School. At least thats the day that parents of children attending Pleasant Green Elementary School in Magna have the opportunity to controvote on the versial issue: Should students be required to abide by a volunteer uniform dress code? A secret-ballvote will be held ot at the school on Thursday, Feb. 6, for all parents of children attending Pleasant Green School. Booths will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the school, 8201 West 2700 South, Magna. Information outlining the pros and cons of uniform dress code will be sent to parents of Pleasant Green students prior to the election. Kent Gardner, spokesperson for the Granite School District, said a Task Force Committee has been working diligently for several weeks to gather and disperse information to the public in a manner as unbiased as possible. who heads Shelli an opposition group, said the districts information has been slanted in favor of the proponents, and has not spelled out the true benefits of uniform dress among students. Opponents argue that: School uniform dress will Hutto-Poulso- n, See UNIFORMS on page 9 Granite School District announces restructure Includes curriculum changes to make it equal in all schools by GARY R. BLODGETT Development. Program Services EDITOR Restructure of the Granite School District designating services into was announced four categories this week by District Superintendent - - Steve Ronnenkamp. He presented the School Board with a new district administrative organization plan, outlining the four divisions: Instructional Services -- Curriculum Development; Applied Instructional Technology; Technology; Research Assessment Staff and and' evaluation; t COPY I - - - Human Resources; Student Services; Special Education; Educational Equality; Federal Programs and Grants; and Adult and Community Education. Instructional School Services Network Cones and Long Range Planning. School Support Services Facilities; Maintenance; Custodial Services; School Foods; Energy Management; and Transportation. Services remaining under the are Business Administrator Accounting and Payroll; Budget and Development; Purchasing Warehouse; Information Systems; Safety and Property Management; and Student Accounting. The Office of the Superintendent will continue to administer and Foundation Partnership Relations; Programs; Public and and Police; Policy Compliances. Ronnenkamp said a major thrust of the restructure will be to organize a Curriculum and Instruction Department for collaboration of all studies offered from kindergarten trough the 12th grades. This division will be organized under an additional assistant superintendent, who will be appointed soon. Much of the data emphasizing a need for restructuring is a result of a recent study conducted throughout the district because of relatively low scores on student Stanford Achievement Tests (SAT), and earlier studies revealing that not all students at a certain grade level have the same opportunity of receiving the same educational material available. Most recent SAT scores in the Granite District were below last years scores, and below the state average. Earlier studies revealed that some elementary schools are having success with certain subjects, and not with others. Consequently, when teens arrive at a certain junior high the amount of knowledge they have in certain subjects is vastly different, the study showed. The restructuring of the department for 2 will strive to have all students receiving the same basic information hopefully on the same level before they arrive at junior high school. Its going to take a united effort to formulate the curriculum so that equal distribution of information reaches students of all schools, the superintendent noted. At the same time, more emphasis is being placed on how the information is received, and perceived, by elementary school children. K-1- ? 5 j - - - - - - - - |
