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Show Page Two - The Pyramid - January 15. 2004 INSIDE by Merrill Ogden SANPETE Iraqi accomplishments Dear Editor: As the nation goes into a new year, it is important to share a few thoughts about what has been accomplished directly, in some cases, and indirectly in many others. The Bush Administration and every member of the armed forces, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and Army, have contributed by wearing the uniform, because the fact that those members who wear the uniform contributes 100 percent to the capability of the nation to send a few onto the field to execute national policy. As these accomplishments are read about, keep two things in mind; this is good news that hasnt been fit to print or report on television; and it is much easier to point out the errors a man makes when tough decisions have to be made, rarely is the positive as aggressively pursued. Since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1, the first battalion of new Iraqi Army has graduated and is on active duty. Over 60,000 Iraqis now provide security to their fellow citizens; nearly all of Iraqs 400 courts are functioning; the Iraqi judiciary is fully independent; and on Monday, Oct. 6, power generation hit 4,518 megawatts, exceeding the prewar average. All 22 universities and 43 technical institutes and colleges are open, as are nearly all primary and secondary schools; by Oct. 1, Coalition forces had rehabed over 1,500 schools. 500 more than scheduled. Teachers earn from 12 to 25 times their former salaries; all 240 hospitals and more than 1 ,2(X) clinics are open; doctors salaries are at least eight times what they were under Saddam; and pharmaceutical distribution has gone from essentially nothing to 700 tons in May to a current total of 12,00 tons. The Coalition has helped administer over 22 million vaccinations to Iraqs children; a Coalition program has cleared over 14,000 kilometers of Iraqs 27,000 kilometers of canals which now of thousands of tens irrigate farms. This project has created jobs for more than 100,000 Iraqi men and women. of preOver war telephone services and over of the potable water production has been restored; there are 4,900 telephone connections and 50,000 are expected. The wheels of commerce are turning. From bicycles to satellite dishes to cars and trucks, businesses are coming to life in all major cities and towns. weed-choke- d three-quarte- rs two-thir- Iraqi banks are making loans to finance businesses; 95 percent of all prewar bank customers have service and firsttime customers are opening accounts daily. The central bank is fully independent; Iraq has one of the world most growth-oriente- d investment and banking laws; and Iraq has a single, unified currency for the first time in 15 years. Satellite TV dishes are legal; foreign journalists aren't on 10 day visas paying mandatory and extortionate fees to the Ministry oflnformation for minders and other government spies. There is no Ministry of Information; there are more than 170 newspapers; you can buy go. A nation that had not one single element, legislative, judicial or executive, of a repre- sentative government, now does; in Baghdad alone, residents have selected 88 advisory councils. Baghdads first democratic transfer of power in 35 years happened when the city council elected its new chairman. Today in Iraq, chambers of commerce, business, school and professional organizations are electing their leaders all over the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced that it is reopening over 30 Iraqi embassies around the world; 25 ministers, selected by the most representative governing body in Iraqs history, run the business of government. The Iraqi government regularly participates in international events; Shia religious ay day-to-d- festivals that were all but banned, arent; for the first time in 35 years, the Karbala thousands of Shiites celebrate the pilgrimage of the 12th Imam. Uday and Queasy are dead and no longer feeding innocent Iraqis to the zoo lions, raping the young daughters of local leaders to force cooperation, torturing Iraqs soccer players for losing games, or murdering critics. Children arent imprisoned or murdered when their parents disagree with the government; Iramillions of in live no perpetual longer qis long-sufferi- terror. arent imprisoned, tortured, ex- ecuted, maimed, or are forced to watch their families die for disagreeing with Saddam. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the first time to an Iranian, a Muslim woman who speaks out with courage for human rights, for democracy and for peace. Saddam is gone; Iraq is free; President Bush has not faltered or failed; yet, little or none of this information has been published by the Press corps that prides itself on bringing all the news thats important. Iraq under U.S. lead control has come further in six months than Germany did in seven years or Japan did in nine years following WW II. Military deaths from fanatic Nazis and Japanese numbered in the thousands and continued for over three years after WW II victory was declared. It took the U.S. over four months to clear away the twin tower debris, let alone attempt to build something else in its place. Now, take into account that Congress fought President Bush on every aspect of his handling of this countys war and post-wreconstruction; and that they continue to claim on a daily basis on national TV that this conflict has been a failure. ar Taking everything into consideration, even the unfortunate loss of our men and women in this conflict, do you think anyone else in the world could have accomplished as much as the U.S. and the Bush Administration in so short a period of time? Lt Col Mike Foley, a Marine from Iraq Booking report Sheep industry celebrated Activities on the MANTI Sanpete County Booking report are as follows: Jan. 5 Joshua A. Monty, Kearns, was arrested in Mt. PJeasant by the Mt. Pleasant Police Depart- -' ment on charges of assault and criminal trespass. Bail was set at $1,760. Jan. 7 Allen Paul Stevens, Moroni, was arrested in Moroni by the Sanpete County Sheriffs Department on a Third District Court Warrant of arrest. Bail was set at $9,936.18. Jan. 8 Shane D. Larsen, Spring City, was arrested in Mt. Pleasant by the Spring City Police Department on charges of domestic assault and child abuse. Bail was set at $2,775. Bruce L. Barton, Salina, was arrested in Gunnison by the Gunnison Police Department on charges of five counts forgery and five counts theft. Bail was set at $27,775. Lawrence Richard Reese, Clinton, was arrested in Gunnison by the Sanpete County Sheriffs Department on charges of driving under the influence (DUI), possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a Sixth District Court Warrant. Bail was set at $9,170. Jan. 10 Billy Ray Howe, Santaquin, was arrested in Fountain Green by the Fountain Green Police Department on a lurricane Justice Court Warrant. Bail was set at 1 $450. Destry R. Young, Indianola, was arrested in Indianola by the Sanpete County Sheriff s Department on a Utah County Justice Court Warrant. Bail w;as set at $505. Michael D. Buchanan, Ephraim, was arrested in The Pyramid Gunnison by the Gunnison Police Department on charges of 49 West Main driving on suspension, possession Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647 of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Bail was set at $2,520. an edition of The Daily Herald a Pulitzer, Inc. Newspaper Subscriptions and Delivery Service Jan. 375-510- 3 News and Advertising Fax ... 11 Jared Y. Jensen, Salt Lake City, was arrested at State Road 132, Mile Post 38, by the Utah Highway Patrol (UUP) on three Sanpete Justice Court Warrants. Bail was set at $720. GARRISO- N- A celebration of the Sheep Industry will be held at the Border Inn, near Garrison, Saturday, Jan. 24, beginning at 3 p.m. Any sheep owner, sheep-herde- USPS No. 365-58- 0 Newspapers, Inc., 49 West Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647. Periodical postage paid Mt. Pleasant UT 84647. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 49 West Main, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647. Millard counties is encouraged RICHFIEL- D- Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps, John M. Bridgeland welcomed news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that significantly more Americans participated in volunteer service in the past year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported that both the number of volunteers and die volunteer rate rose over the year ending in September 2003. Market news Prices for the Salina Producers Livestock Auction Jan. 6, are as follows: Receipts: 142; last week: no sale; last year: 2,992. No price comparison with last week, auction not held due to holidays. This weeks auction had very light receipts, due to bad weather, and concerns about market losses. 200-40- 0 Feeder steers: medium and large frame 450-50- 0 lbs scarce; 400-45- 0 lbs 84.50-97.5lbs scarce; 500-55- 0 550-60- 0 600-65- 0 lbs 85.50-90.0lbs 82.00-95.5650-70- 0 700-75lbs 81.50-85.5lbs 73.50-84.50 750-80- 0 800-85- 0 lbs 78.50-82.5lbs 75.50-80.5lbs 900-100-0 lbs 71.50-75.0lbs scarce. scarce; 850-90- 0 Holstein steers: large frame 3: baby bulls: scarce; 200-30- 0 300-50- 0 lbs 58.50-63.0lbs scarce; 500-70- 0 lbs scarce; 700-90- 0 900-110- 0 lbs 55.50-60.0lbs scarce. 200-40- 0 Feeder heifers: medium and large frame 450-50- 0 lbs scarce; 400-45- 0 lbs 77.00-86.0lbs. 77.50-83.5- 0; 500-55- 0 600-65- 0 lbs scarce; 550-60- 0 lbs 76.50-84.0650-70- 0 75.50-77.5700-75- 0 lbs 80.00-82.0lbs 800-95- 0 lbs scarce; 750-80- 0 lbs 72.00-80.0lbs scarce; 0 lbs 63.25-69.5Heiferettes: 43.00-58.5- 0. Stock cows: medium and large frame 1 : scarce. 38.00-47.0breakSlaughter cows: boning utility ing utility 43.50-- 5 1 .50; commercial: scarce; cutter and low dressing utility 22.00-35.7lbs 49.00-49.5Slaughter bulls: yield grade 1: 1000-150- 0 1500-228- 5 lbs 44.25-53.5- 0; yield grade 2: 1000-150- 0 lbs scarce; 1500-182- 0 lbs 35.00-36.7Feeder bulls: 2: 0; Audit Bureau of Circulations 0; 0; 0; 0; NEWSTAND PRICES 0; 0; 50 ( 0; 1 1 year - $36.50 (in county) 0; year - $45.50 (out of county) 2: 0; NEWS We welcome news tips. Call 0; 462-213- 4 to report a news tip, or if you have a comment or a question. We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must indude the author's name (printed AND signed) and a phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, punctuation, taste and length. Letters are welcome on any topic 0; 0; 0; 950-100- 0. 1- -3 0; 5. 0; 5. 690-119- 0 lbs 46.50-67.0- 0. to attend for an afternoon and evening of storytelling, photo sharing and visiting with old friends. A meal featuring lamb, will be hosted by the Border Inn and Steve Fitzgerald. For additional information or to make reservations, call Denys Koyle at (775) 234-7300. The volunteer connection 0; Member: r, shearer, trapper or trucker who has worked on Utahs West Desert in Juab and pyramidavpro.com Published Thursdays by Pulitzer saw a new reality TV show advertised last Sunday while I watched the end of the Green Bay - Philly game. This new show coming on soon, if I remember right, is called My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance. For some reason, I started thinking about the reality shows that have become so popular on television lately. I satellite dishes on what seems like every street comer; and foreign journalists and everyone else are free to come and Political opponents but go easy on the hot tama- Sanpete reality About 63.8 million people did volunteer work at some point from September 2002 to September 2003, up from 59.8 million for the similar period ended in September 2002, a 28 percent increase. This significant increase in the number of volunteers shows a strengthening of Americas civil society, the fabric of our nation, Bridgeland said. We know there was an increase in Americans participating in volunteer service in the aftermath of 91 1 . There was a surge of interest and ac- tivity. Americans wanted to do something, they wanted to contribute to their communities and their country. The recent announcement demonstrates that even more Americans are stepping forward to serve in their communities, which is what the President and his USA Freedom Corps set out to do, work with nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions and the government to foster a culture of service and citizenship that would last. ed I cant say that Ive watched an entire episode of any of them. And there are many that Ive not seen any part at all. So, I admit that Im not an authority on the subject by any stretch of the imagination. Last week the George Orwell novel 1984 was the topic of this column. The reality show Big Brother was born out of that concept of living. The participants on Big Brother live together as a group of strangers in a house that is outfitted with complete video and audio coverage for TV and internet audiences to have access to watching their total lives. I looked up on the internet what the eligibility requirements were to be on that show. Among other things, a contestant has to sign off and waive all privacy rights and cannot be a candidate for public office until after the series has aired. I understand the privacy waiver part, but not the public office part. Real World, a similar show, made the Utah news a year or two ago when a BYU co-e- d was a contestant. The issue came up in the news as to whether she could retain her status at BYU while on the show in apparent violation of the honor code at the university. I don't remember how that ended up. What Ive been thinking is that Sanpete is a lot like reality TV. The main thing missing is the prize money. (Winners on these shows get up to a million dollars.) I mean, think about it. The biggest show of them all in this wave of shows is Survivor. Hey, everyone in Sanpete is playing that game! Big Brother? Phppt! Living in Sanpete is like living in a glass house. People in the neighborhood know what youre doing before you do. If you mention to someone in confidence that you were up in the night with heartburn, Mrs. McGilli-cudd- y will be offering you Turns at the post office a few hours later. (By the way, think twice before eating about a huge plate of spaghetti with red sauce, broccoli and cauliflower, and cherry cheese- cake, and then immediately hitting the movies and downing a big tub of popcorn AND a big Diet Coke AND a big box of Hot Tamales all right after each other.) (By the Way 2: The The Hometea-cherhad some good laughs. Its worth the look, movie, s, tripled, expanding to 635 communities in 51 states and territories. The Peace Corps received its largest budget ever and has grown to nearly 7,600 members, while the Presidents new Volunteers for Prosperity initiative is enlisting more American professionals to volunteer abroad to support global health and prosperity. The Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps also are on track to receive their largest funding increase in history. Forty-fou- r percent of The response to the Presidents call to service has been enthusiastic and strong for every program and cat- those who volunteered egory measured. unteer service. Through USA Freedom Corps, more than 900 local communities have formed Citizen Corps Councils, doctors and nurses in 170 communities are now part of a new Medical Reserve Corps. Neighborhood Watch programs have doubled and Community Emergency Response Team training has more than re- ported they did so because they were asked. Teenagers showed the greatest increases in volThe data on volunteering was collected through a supplement to the September 2003 Current Population Survey, a monthly survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information on employment unemployment among the nations civilian noninstitu-tiona- l population age 16 and over. les.) How about the reality show, Fear Factor? I know people who wonder how we dare live out here in the Sanpete boondocks. encourage that attitude. I want people to think Im brave just by reason of living here. I know that Fear Factor makes a big deal about eating awful stuff. Rocky Mountain oysters anyone? I know people here who enjoy such delicacies. Fear's not a factor. Sanpete has had Star Search and American Idol for years and years. Ever been to the Farm Bureau Talent Find show at county fair time? Extreme Makeover I happened in my family cently. re- Grandpa gave my kid big bucks to cut his hair. (Maybe there IS prize money available ii some of these Sanpete versions.) My kid went from Cousin It in one to Mr. Clean-cu- t quick visit to the barber. The Bachelor and The Bachelorette plays out their Sanpete versions of the show every weekend, especially at Snow College. The biggest display is at the bell tower at midnight on the night of a full moon. Youve never attended a True Badger Night? Its interesting, but observe from a distance or youll risk being kissed. The Simple Life is the show that Ive probably seen the most of this season. Ive seen substantial parts of two episodes. (I ad- mit it, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie on a farm is intriguing to me. Okay, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie are intriguing to me. Well, Okay, Paris is intriguing to me). Im thinking that San- pete should extend a special invitation to the producers of The Simple Life to do a second season right here. Cant you see Paris and NicoleMworkihg in the Moroni turkey processing plant? I can see them driving in the Demolition Derby and g at the rodeo. hide-ridin- Theres lots of other shows that we live out in regular life right here in Sanpete. I dont think I need to comment on Jackass. We all have acquaintances, friends or relatives who fit nicely into that category. I The Osbournes. dont know. Im hoping that we dont have a Sanpete equivalent for that one. (But I have a sneaking suspicion that we do.) The Amazing Race is just plain life on Highway 89 everyday. Boot Camp is the National Guard. Punk is the workplace. I guess Im just satisfied with reality Sanpete style. How about you? But then, of course, if I could tailor make my own show, maybe Id be interested in being a contestant. Lets see. Im picturing myself on Temptation Island as Joe Millionaire. Not bad. Not bad. Merrill Interested volunteers can find opportunities in their own neighborhoods in Sanpete County by contacting The Vo- lunteer Connection, Kathy Erickson, director, at 350 North Main, Suite 5, Richfield, Utah 84701 or by calling sion 28. exten- For more information visit http:www.bls.govcpc. The volunteer service indicator is an annual national measurement of volunteer behavior developed by the Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics with the USA Freedom Corps. President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to volunteer service by strengthening and expanding service to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. |