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Show o pinions Yours THE SENTINEL Thursday, School and by Sorry McWIIIiams 7 who did their best and voted tall To "plant" the proposed lan- Editor and the People of our City: Twas the day after Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse ... The recession had hurt not only our money and pride, so we thought it best for a while to rest and to hide... Like the trees of winter who lost their leaves, we are for a short time dormant awaiting spring's reprieves. . . When what to my wandering eyes should appear, but a copy of the Christmas Day THE SENTINEL WEST wherein it said that some of our West Jordan City leaders did their Homo dscape ordinance under the table, near the "soil" so it won't our City spoil ... So with spring you will find us again beating down last year's weeds like the crickets of old, until the time that our City is clean and shines like gold ... For we'll all do better to keep our weeds low and to bind, To plant more seeds and pum- best... rinds . . . For the bushes and lawns that we all like to see, costs a bundle of cash that we can't seem to find . . . So ask any lady "over 29" if landscaping and gardening isn't an art sublime ... Or ask any farmer if the "plan is We were so glad to hear that our City Lawyer and Planner (and others too) had common sense to time"... MOMfrlOUXX m iii it mm LU v -- v Editor: What would you think if you were invited to a Sr. Citizen Housing Complex to visit and listen to a group from South Valley High schools who came to sing Christmas carols? A group of five or six of us walked in, no one came forward to greet us, in fact there wasn't a soul in sight. Finally the manager came dashing out of his office, said "Howieyuh?" and disappeared down the hall. A man with some camera equipment came in and joined us. Still no reception or recognition of any kind. The singers arrived, came in and stood around wondering what to do. Still no one came near. The singers finally started singing, and after a carol or two a few maybe a dozen Senior Citizens came straggling in and sat down, well behind everyone of us. I heard some one say they hand't been told a thing about our coming. However, I know for a fact that the arrangements were made with the manager of Willowood two weeks earlier, and had been confirmed well in advance of the date of Dec. 22. Yet, when we left, he called from the hallway that he didn't know anything about it. No apology nothing. Not even a thank you for those young people what had gone out of their way to bring a little Christmas spirit to those people. As for the little group of us from Mackinnon Meadows, we wouldn't have missed the lovely music for anything. Those young people were not only so very well trained, they knew their parts perfectly, and sang as an octette which was very beautiful. In talking to the group as they finished singing, we found them to be a delightful group of young ladies and gentlemen. We, from Mackinnon Meadows are all proud and happy to have heard this group perform, but as far as Willowood is concerned, never again. s Vera M. Pate Editor: The true meaning of Christmas is many times lost in the hustle and bustle of shopping, twinkling lights and tinsel garlands, but following are some examples of kids that truly remember what Christmas is for Camp Fire boys and girls living their motto, "to give service" sharing holiday cheer with others a little less fortunate than themselves. Sandy clubs made Christmas ornaments which they gave residents at the Senior Citizen Complex and presented an entertainment program of Christmas music. Another club gathered canned goods to present to a needy family referred to them by a local church. Other clubs in Sandy, made tray favors and presented them to the Hillcrest Nursing Home in Sandy. Clubs from throughout the valley have donated food baskets What's best for all and our City's good looks .. . As stated by a learned judge, . . . "Law is rough business at best, and can never be a substitute for morals, religion, art, culture, or science. It merely makes straight the road and safe the highway for the coming of better influences. Even intelligent people expect too much and know too little of 'the law'". s Herbert B. Schreiter ... West Jordan . to the Redwood Multi-purpo- se Center for distribution through SOCIO and to the Kearns Family Center. The kids collected canned foods goods and which will be combined with fresh fruits and meats to make a merry holiday meal for families that would otherwise go without. Hie Utah Camp Fire Council donated three Christmas trees to the Detention Center and assisted the residents in decorating them. Our Camp Fire Kids have been busy finding the true meaning of Christmas giving. Giving of themselves to bring holiday cheer to others. We are proud of their contributions and want to share this pride with you. sK. JoySpindler Utah Council of Camp Fire Girls Theirs IFactoirSinig9 Hie State Tax Commission has ordered county assessors to 'facd real tor' all 20 full to a values perup property cent of market value in four equal steps between now and 1984. This radical new program will cause property taxes to skyrocket if levies are not adjusted downward. The taxpayer revolt resulting from the impact of the state reappraisal program would be- - considered just fun and games compared to the backlash from factoring without a levy rollback requirement. The goal of factoring is to speed up the state reappraisal program and have all property assessed uniformly at 20 percent of market value by 1964. Because of the rapid rise in property values and the relatively slow reappraisal cycle, there is a greater disparity between county assessment levels now than before the reappraisal program began in 1970. Factoring would mean that all d real , property would be state the throughout automatically adjusted upward each year by some percentage This would allow the local figu coun y assessors to adjust your property values each year to keep pace with inflation and rising land and housing values. The tax impact of factoring could be catastrophic if annual assessment adjustments are not locally-assesse- under-assesse- . , ooDdl accompanied by levy cuts. There is nothing now in state law to require local governments to cut levies as property values are adjusted upward each year by factoring. This could cause county, school, city, and special district levies to remain unchanged as assessments go through the ceiling. Past experience has shown that most local governments will not voluntarily reduce tax levies as valuations increase. Here is how factoring .would work in Box Elder County according to State Tax Commission figures: Real property in Box Elder is currently assessed at 8.53 percent of fair market value. To bring all of this property up to 20 percent by 1984, each parcel would be factored up by 26 percent each, year between 1981 and 1984. Increases would be adjusted to coincide with the January 1978 assessment freeze statute. Box Elder taxpayers would experience an annual 28 percent property tax increase every year between now and 1984 unless local government officials could be con-- , vinced to make corresponding cuts in property tax rates. Hie state tax commission to factor claims authority without assessments prior legislative authorization under Utah Code Annotated. This is Utah's equalization property 59-54- 6, toe . . statute. Computerization and annual assessment factoring of home values in Southern California resulted in the passage of Proposition 13 in that state. The Utah Taxpayers Assn. has authored legislation to force levy reductions under this proposal. (From the Utah Taxpayers Assn. Newsletter.) Has someone made you happy? Do you know of something nice someone has done for someone else? If so we'd like to hear about 6 it. Give us a call at and we'll share it with everyone. 255-355- A youngster on Running Springs Drive in West Jordan is alive today thanks to the quick actions of a Mr Bachman. On Christmas day, the mother ran across the street, with child in her arms, crying that he had choked to death. The man was able to work with the child and get him breathing again before the paramedics arrived. nation-wid- e A of survey educators shows that elementary teachers have, on the average, about three students they consider "chronic behavior problems." Middle school and junior high teachers say they average about six students in that category. High school teachers report an average of about five students who chornically misbehave. Another statistic: About 20 percent of teachers say these class disruptions interfere with their teaching "to a great extend." One tool teachers are using in to the effort counteract misbehavior is instruction in common courtesy. Virginia teachers, in a massive campaign, are involved in a serious effort to teach younger students the basics of good manners. They've distributed a slick poster featuring five animals that have something to say about the subject. Utah teachers give instructions in courtesy to their students. r by Barry McWilliams census mate fOOf mv 1 9 Divorce can cause stress to the children of a broken marriage, and that stress can hurt the youngster's progress in school. The divorce rate nationally is on the rise, climbing from 5.2 per 1,000 population in 1978 to 5.3 in 1979. The Utah rate for 1979 was 5.5, according to the Utah State Department of Health. Robert D. Alters, a school psychologist in Grand Rapids, Michigan, said some of the feelings that often create stress in children whose parents get divorced are anger, guilt and loneliness. The children's anger arises from being caught in a situation they can't control, he wrote, adding that many children suffer guilt because they feel wrongly that they have helped cause the divorce. After divorce, a child may see less of both parents. Result: loneliness. Allers said the stress on a youngster can show up in the school classroom in the form of absentmindedness, nervousness, withmoodiness, weariness, drawal, declining grades, agressiveness and physical comsuch as stomach aches, plaints backaches, sore muscles, rashes or tics. Allers notes that children in homes where divorce has occurred often are troubled by a lack of information. "Seldom do parents have a good discussion with their child about their divorce," he states, adding: "The child may pick up some information by hearing the parents discuss the divorce and its causes .in the course of an argument or a phone conversation. "Relatives or babysitters also may try to explain the divorce. Information drawn from these conversations is by its nature often biased or exaggerated." The psychologist says that although divorce has become common, most children feel that they are the only ones who have divorced parents and that other children or adults will not understand their situation and their feelings. Allers suggests to teachers who recognize signs of stress in students to hold conferences with parents. Divorced parents should not hesitate to ask for a conference. jm to plant and harvest "in due So HOORAH again, for our City Attorney (and others too) who must have read in his great books . 2 Executive Secretary Utah Education Association not divine," table the proposed landscape ordinance of course, before those in our City fell into remorse ... We have tried very hard to implement our plans, but the Feds, high interest, taxes, and the recession to boot have kept us busy to survive and to stay alive and hang on to some loot ... And not to miss mentioning the cost of the water, which has made our lives a little bit harder . . . So HOORAH for the boys and girls at City Hall, Page by Dr. Daryl J. McCarty pkin -- Jinuirj 8, 1981 ."SWA COMMUfnVr, s Sound Off! Did " Is something bugging you? Do you hove o comment to make on o current Issue? The Sentfne wants to hear from you. Call and tell us what you think about anything. 6 Dial weekdays between the hourt of 8 a.m. and 12 noon or I and 5 It's the law. A Utah statute says that schools give guidance to 255-355- young peole with special emphasis on courtesy, as well as such matters as common honesty, morality, obedience to law, respect for parents and home and "habits and qualities of character which will promote an upright and desirable citizenry and which will better prepare our youth for a richer, happier life." p.m. 255-355- 6 A retired gentleman phoned in to offer his feelings about the current budget crisis many units of government are finding themselves in. The caller believes that when it comes time to make any budget cuts it's the police, fire, garbage collection and other vital services that bear the brunt. Seldom are the cuts made at the top. "Everyone up in the state offices Nondtoglwyournam: got a raise," he charges, "and many times they've got two people for a job where only one is needed." He believes that if legislators and top level government employes would set an example by not always raising their wages, ' everyone else would be more willing to show restraint and we could control inflation. ; However, such lessons taught at may be lost if parents don't reinforce them at home. school Courteous students help schools work out. |