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Show Wednesday, February 23, 1994 Page 2 Editorial Orem-Geneva Times Signefics purchase could be a winning investment With the ball in the Utah State Legislature's court, Orem Representative Norm Nielsen is trying to help Utah Valley State College score a winning shot with his filing and sponsorship of House Bill 462. The bill, if passed, would provide the necessary funding fund-ing to purchase the vacant 523,000-square-foot Sig-netics Sig-netics building on a 23-acre site in Orem, which would in turn provide needed new space for vocational training atUVSC. Nielsen says that the timing is perfect for the $7.5 million purchase. Supplemental Sup-plemental money is available with this year's large state tax surpluses, and buying the facility would save taxpayers, in Nielsen's words, "millions upon millions of dollars". Purchasing the Signetics facility would eliminate the need to renovate and expand UVSC's Provo building, which is too small for the college col-lege and needs expensive repairs. Nielsen said it could cost as much as $9.5 million to bring the Provo campus up to code and to renovate it. On the other hand, there is a possibility pos-sibility the building could be sold for $3.5 million, off-setting the cost of the Signetics purchase. In addition to providing a newer home for the Moun-tainlands Moun-tainlands Applied Technology Technol-ogy Center, the purchase of the Signetics building would eliminate two projects on UVSC's wish list: a $15.5 million mil-lion electronics and engineering engineer-ing technology building, and an $8 million physical plant-receiving plant-receiving complex. Nielsen also said that it would now cost $62 million to build the same amount of space as the Signetics facility provides. With building and materials costs escalating, that figure will surely go up in the future. The Signetics building seems to be a bar gain basement investment that will indeed save taxpayers tax-payers money. UVSC continues to set enrollment en-rollment records. Spokesman Val Peterson said spring semester's enrollment is 10,500 students, 68 of whom come from Utah County, Coun-ty, and 88 from Utah. There has been an increase of 472 students over last year. Some projections say there could be 500,000 people in Utah County Coun-ty in 10 years. The UVSC student stu-dent population will undoubtedly undoub-tedly continue to grow proportionately. propor-tionately. In late January, the Utah State Board of Regents rejected the proposal to buy the Signetics building, but by the narrowest of margins, 6-5, and with five board members not voting. Nielsen said he feels the vote was not firm, and that some may have reconsidered their vote against the purchase. One of the main concerns voiced by the board was an estimated $600,000 to $700,000 annual cost of maintaining and operating unused space in the building. However, UVSC President Kerry Romesburg reported that businesses had already approached UVSC about the possibility of leasing some of that space until it is needed. UVSC provides vocational training to more students than any other Utah campus and needs extra room if it is to continue those programs for a growing population. Although Al-though the needs of all Utah higher education programs must be considered, UVSC also has pressing needs that must be met. The Orem-Geneva Times urges our local representatives repre-sentatives to support House Bill 462 and the purchase of the Signetics facility for UVSC as a potentially .winning .win-ning investment in the future. The Human Body Is Unique We know a single drop of human blood Contains a world of mystery and wonder That coalesces into magic mud, When tpickened by primordial light and thunder. We know the window of the human eye Is much enamoured of revealing light That captures luminescent scenes and sky, As well as every other single sight. We know the seashell of the human ear Reverberates with multi-colored sounds. From whispering to clarions, they hear The music that surrenders and surrounds. We know the human hair is crowning glory For anyone who has a flowing mane, And when we read Rapunel's tender story, We know that damsel did not live in vain. We know the touching of the human hand Is welcome on the fair and fevered brow, As friendly fingers move to understand And bless the happy head that they endow. We know the skin is such a precious hide For covering the unprotected flesh, As well as holding all the bones inside, And keeping all the contents dean and fresh. We know the brain controls the thought and speech. That energise the body's every move, Facilitating those who learn and teach The ways in which each person can improve. The human heart enjoys a crudal role In those who love and have a special need For melding with the bright and kindred soul Of one who wants their loving to succeed. The body is a miracle, alive. No accident of nature gave it birth To grow in stature, wisdom and survive Upon this rather unforgiving Earth. Now, every human body is unique; And it will thrive on tender, loving care. So treat it as a valuable physique,. And it will wear, and wear, and wear and wear. So, shun abuse in every form, and live, As though Eternity had just begun. The body has no real alternative, So cherish it. We're given only one! Chamber resolution supports UVSC Signetics purchase The ProvoOrem Chamber of Commerce announced their support sup-port for the purchase of the former Signetics facility in Orem by Utah Valley State College by way of an official resolution from the Chamber board of directors. The Board of Regents voted 6-5 against the purchase, which would enable UVSC to relocate the Provo campus and to utilize the additional space to offer more classes. "This would be a tremendous tremen-dous loss for the state as well as for the future of the educational goals of central Utah," said Chamber President Steve Densley. The board stated UVSC's positive economic and educational education-al impact on the valley as reasons for supporting the proposed expansion. ex-pansion. The board noted that an estimated 4,000 high school students stu-dents graduate each year locally, and only a small percentage are accepted into Brigham Young University. UVSC currently serves ser-ves approximately 11,000 students. Helping your child Succeed in school by Lily Eskelsen, president Utah Education Association Public invited to identify water issues The public is invited to help the Central Utah Water Conservancy Conser-vancy District identify issues that should be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement State-ment (EIS) to be prepared on the Daniel ReplacementWasatch County Water Efficiency Project. The EIS will also contain an analysis of the impacts which may result from the Provo River Restoration Project (PRRP). Public scoping meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. on the following follow-ing dates: March 1, 1994, at the Utah Department of Natural Resources Resour-ces auditorium, 1636 West North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. March 2, 1994, at the Wasatch County High School, 64 East 600 South, Heber, Utah. For some time now, citizens, governmental representatives, and environmental groups have worked together to identify ways to implement the Daniel Replacement Re-placement Project and improve water efficiency and the water-related water-related environment in Wasatch County. These same groups have also developed a proposal for restoring res-toring the Provo River between Jordanelle Dam and Deer Creek Reservoir to a natural, functional state. Numerous team, scoping, and other public meetings have been held to discuss and plan these projects. To meet the requirements re-quirements of the National Environmental En-vironmental Policy Act of 1969, the public is now being invited to review the proposed alternatives and to identify what issues should be considered in the EIS. After months of intensive study, the district has now formulated for-mulated five proposed alternatives alterna-tives for the development of the Daniel ReplacementWasatch County Water Efficiency Project. Preliminary alternatives to be included in this section of the EIS are: 1. Using only a pipeline to transport the water from the Jordanelle Jor-danelle Dam to the Daniel Irrigation Irriga-tion Company area; 2. Using a combination of pipeline and enlarging en-larging existing canals; 3. Using River Ditch and pipelines to convey con-vey the water, in combination with efficiency projects (i.e. conversion con-version of flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation); 4. Employing Employ-ing maximum use of existing canals, including River Ditch, to transport the water, in combina- j tion with efficiency projects; and J 5. Using River Ditch, Wasatch j Canal and an enlarged Tim- panogos Canal to transport the ! water, in combination with efficiency ef-ficiency projects. The EIS will also evaluate the impact of the "no action" alternative. A document summarizing the alternative proposed for consideration con-sideration in the EIS is available from Kirt Carpenter, Project Manager, Daniel ReplacementWasatch Replace-mentWasatch County Water Efficiency Ef-ficiency Project, 355 West 1300 South, Orem, Utah 84058-7303, phone 226-7171. The district will make every effort to make these meetings accessible ac-cessible to disabled attendees. Please contact the district at (801)226-7171 with any special needs or requests at least three days prior to the meeting. Well, OK, I guess one person can't really make a difference. So let's face it. You can't fight City Hall. I mean, you have to be a good 'ole boy or girl. "They" aren't interested in what the little lit-tle guy has to say. Wrong. If you've used those old cliches to keep from getting involved in the decisions that affect your community, com-munity, your home and your school, it's important that you know up front and without a shadow of a doubt that you are wrong. When the legislature is in session I affectionately say that the Circus is in Town. I spend every day up there with people from other groups-PTA, pharmaceutical phar-maceutical manufacturers, bankers, hunters, insurance ex-. ecutives, retirees and motorcycle riders. I see advocates of the poor and disabled and advocates for the ski industry. For the most part, we're all organized. We understand un-derstand how to follow the proposed bills from committee to committee. We make presentations presenta-tions with impressive facts and figures that we've researched and put on nifty, slick posters and entertaining slide shows. But it would be a shame to think that those who have the time and organization to be on the hill are more persuasive than the will of the public. I know better. bet-ter. I know that legislators listen to the public. You are the pulse and they need to hear that beat. Your children need to understand the power of their citizenship. They should hear you discuss the news with more than a shake of your head. They should hear you reach out. Calling a legislator, the mayor, the governor, or a congressman isn't shoutinginto the abyss. Write a quick card stating what you support sup-port or oppose and it will be heard. The messages from the public are the most important ones. And legislators are constantly quoting from those letters and phone calls when they sayr "This is what I'm hearing from the people who've called in and left messages." They know that it will not be the lobbyists who cast votes in the next election. It'll be you. They have to care what you think. And they do. Be an example for your children that shows them the power of an individual citizen. Encourage En-courage them to write or call if there's an issue that concerns them. Give everyone a ticket to the Circus. It's worth the price. Letters to the Editor Gives opinion on increasing gang problem Dear Editor: My name is Michael Hudson, and I am a senior at Orem High School. I am writing to voice my opinion about the increasing gang-related violence and how the media has affected it. I have been watching the news and found that gang-related crimes have become an issue that is talked about more and more. The only vay to solve this problem is to eliminate the publicity that the gangs get. It is no secret that an increasing number of young people have been joining gangs, but my question ques-tion is why? My theory is that because the media has given so much attention to these gangs, in general, that more people want to be involved in them, for the publicity. Five years ago I hardly heard any-thin? any-thin? on the news about gangs, except those in Los Angeles. However, now that famous people like Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg are in gangs, and become be-come famous through the media, more and more young people are joining gangs. In my opinion, the media are to blame for all of this, or at least most. Without the media, I wouldn't even think that there are as many gangs in Salt Lake City as the media say there are. The media do not make it look right, but they do not make it look all that wrong, either. For instance, someone gets shot in Salt Lake. The first thing the media ask the police is, "Is it gang related?" as if it were a contest between gangs to have the most crimes. The media really don't care all that much about the public safety. If they had it their way, then there would be more crime than we could imagine. All they are looking for is money. As I see it, what the media need to do is to stop giving the gangs the recognition that they so badly want. We need more shows that show the tragedies of being in a gang. If we want less gang crimes, we need to do something about it, like eliminate the publicity that they get. Thanks froy our time, Michael Hudson 484 N. 200 E. Orem, Utah Volunteers needed at Orem Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Orem Nursing & Rehabilitation Rehabilita-tion Center needs volunteers to provide various services to their residents. There are a wide-variety wide-variety of volunteer opportunities oppor-tunities at the center. Volunteers set their own weekly schedules and plan activities ac-tivities they will supervise while they are at the center. Darla Baugh, Orem Nursing & Rehabilitation Center's Recreation Therapist, said volunteers are able to build good relationships with the patients. Baugh said the patients especially especial-ly benefit from friendships with volunteers. "We have so many patients. Volunteers can give extra personal attention to the patients that the staff can't give." Volunteers will be given an orientation of the center and will be trained in emergency procedures proce-dures of patient care and basic tasks volunteer may perform while at the center. The staff at Orem Nursing & Rehabilitation Centers said volunteers at the center will have a challenging yet rewarding experience ex-perience there. Volunteers provide pro-vide vital services to the community com-munity while they enrich their own lives. Orem Nursing & Rehabilitation Rehabilita-tion Center houses older in dividuals and individuals with various physical and mental challenges. chal-lenges. The needs and desires of the patients are varied and volunteers volun-teers are reminded the individuals have the same emotional and social so-cial needs as everyone else. For more information concerning con-cerning volunteer opportunities at Orem Nursing and Rehabilitation Rehabilita-tion Center or other volunteer opportunities in Utah County, call the United Way Volunteer Center, 374-8108. |