Show A10 Sanpete Messenger Sanpete Ephraim Elementary selected a free hook last Wednesday through the RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) program Federal grant dollars and the local PTA pay for this program School gets out at :40 pm Wednesday Each student due to the Thanksgiving holiday Mrs Bartholomew’s kindergarten class will be performing a Christmas program at the school Tuesday Nov 30 at 6:30 pm The Christmas program is slated for Tuesday Dec 21 at 6:30 pm in the Activity Center Third fourth and fifth graders will he tending the Manti High School play “It’s a Won derful Life” on Wednesday Dec Junior Engineering is coming to the school This is a hands-oon Dec interactive program that delivers a full day of science engineering and technology to elementary schools equipment from Utah State University will be utilized to learn about space missions environment physics and engineering Students will spend the school day moving through learning modules They are invited to 0 bring their families to an evening fair from pm Gunnison held a drawing contest The winners were Sage Nebcker Mariah Hiltbrunn Shelby Ivory Brady W'alker Carthen Draper and Taylor Walker The school held a Veterans Day program with a number of guest veterans Students observed with reverence while the veterans spoke Thanksgiving break starts at 12:30 pm on Wednesday Valley Students enjoyed an assembly featuring a man from West Africa Christiphore Doozie of Ghana and his family have been in the business of building marimbas entirely from wood He is currently in the United States as a guest artist at Florida Atlantic University Doozie went to several schools around the Elementary district talking to students about his country culture and music All money he earns he sends to fund schools in Ghana Doozie is a friend of Diana Spencer who met him last year while she was traveling Spencer says “It is important expose Utah to other cultures” to Spring City Elementary The school holds brunch on short days at 10 am Sherri Anderson treats the students to brunch Students say they look forward to it all week The school will be participating in the Ephraim City light parade on Dec 3 The fifth and sixth grade bands will be playing in the parade and the fourth grade students will be throwing candy On Dec 4 the band will play at the city hall at 6 pm - pm children One hundred children will receive $100 and a high school pal to go shopping with at The drill team has raised $400 so farj’ami the school will continue raising money Those participating in the big shopping day will meet at the school on Dec 11 at 12:30 pm Gunnison Valley High honor roll 9th Grade: Justin Allerd Jordan Caldwell Alisia Childs Nicole Childs Tessa Christensen John Clark Cari Garff John Hammond Brooke Hyatt Justin Hyatt Bradley Jackson Teigan Jensen Tamellia Miller Kelsey Nay Tawna Peterson Jerrica Pickett Jeremy Reid Jesson Schear Sara Sellers 10th Grade: Carley Anderson Candice Anderson Kimberly Anderson Mitchel Anderson Taylor Ashton Lisa Bartholomew Heidi Bastian Maren Brown Brianne Fischer McKeisha llermansen Brandon Jensen Mette Johnson Sam Judd Mary Matthews Michael Oliver Kristen Thompson Felicia Willden 11th Grade: Nicole Anderson Dallin Ball Jessica Bastian Lacic Carter Jake Childs Tawny Crandall Joey Crane Ben Dailey Ryan Frandscn Jessica Hansen Richard Harvey Brooke Heath Mitch Henlinc Aaron Inouve Tyler James Karlie Jensen Melissa Johnson Tiffany Manwaring Laura Mecham Guy Mellor Heather Naylor Brandon Olsen Shane Peterson Justin Pickett Katie Pickett Amber Prisbrey Jeremy Rosenvall Lee Sorensen Rebecca Sorensen Tricia Vanderwoude Jessica Walker Jared Williams Jenika Woodmansee Bret Yardley 12th Grade: Karalee Andersen Katie Anderson Jay Bartholomew Stephanie Boore Kassie Brown Jessica Despain Brittany Fischer Lacie Higgins Camille Jensen Alex Jensen Alitha Johnson Mckenzy Lund Camilla Matthews Jesse Mellor Wade Miller Scott Nay Dustin Peterson Ross Peterson Kelly Peterson Jaylynn Piep Shelby Reid Joshua Jessica Watters Amanada Squire Willden Stella Willden Wayne Young Crystal Young Limited income families may qualify for homes if they are willing to build By Sean Hales Staff writer EPHRAIM— Phase two of a Six County Association of Governments (SCAG) housing project is planned for the Ephraim area and officials with the USDA Rural Development office in Manti are seeking families who want to own their own home Last year the USDA approved a grant to SCAG to help with costs for at least two phases of “mutual housing" projects in counties within SCAG boundaries The grant is scheduled to build 18 homes: nine homes each in two phases The grant will be used by SCAG to pay the salaries of foremen who will construction train and oversee the families’ work to buy tools equipment and supplies for the construction of the homes to pay for professional services such as work plumbing and electrical and to pay the administrative cepted costs associated houses in phases until all the homes are complete By building their own home families can reduce their mortgage by up to 25 percent Families would need to commit at least 30 hours per week to build the homes Families interested in the program would still have to qualify for a mortgage The USDA Department of Rural De- with the project The first phase was scheduled for the Richfield area and started last summer That project is about halfway completed and should be finished by spring 2005 The second phase is planned to begin in Ephraim in January 2005 According to USDA literature about the program families who want to break the cycle of housing rental and own their own home need to meet three qualifications: Fall under the minimum yearly income level have the ability to repay the loan and be willing to build 65 percent of their home For example a family of four in Sanpete County would have to make less than $38700 annually and have a steady work history to qualify Under program guidelines the nine families who are ac- - u Truitt R Staff writer1 MORONI — Government of- ficials taxes which heard discussed landfill costs sales and roadless areas issues are still in progress and a report on new county busis nesses at the MayorsCommission-ermeeting last Thursday at the Moroni Opera House Mayfield Mayor and County Chairman Doug Bjerregaand reported that the loans the county took out to open the landfill sites are now paid Bjerregaard had intended to have a more detailed report from landfill operator Larry Hansen but does not have the detailed cost figures yet The landfill’s two sites were expected to handle about 35 tons of gaibage per day and instead they are handling nearly double that at 63 tons per day recommended Bjerregaard the mayors consider paying by the ton He said the amount of trash relates directly to operation costs To keep the White Sands landfill site open longer Bjerregaard said since the operator has to dig deeper the cost is greater and the operator has to be more careful because the sides could break down while digging Without a cost layout the mayors postponed making a decision Senator Leonard Blackham reported that the streamline sales tax reorganization has been sidelined while elected officials settle into new positions since the Nov 2 elections The state tax commission had intended to have instated The the new new tax structure was designed to recoup what the legislators believe the state loses through Internet commerce Blackham says under consideration for the streamline tax is a method to have just die big items charged at the point of delivery He said if someone from a local town bought a car in a bigger city and had it delivered to die local town that town would then get the tax The new streamline tax could also do away with specialized taxes such as restaurant taxes and sales taxes could be redistributed by Blackham said the population ideas are still being discussed and no decisions have yet been made Blackham also said he wanted to change the way the state tax commission uses taxes chained on life insurance payments The money currently goes to retirement funds for firefighters He said rural towns see little of this money because most towns have volunteer firefighters Economic Director Sally East suggested the money go instead to a firefighters’ academy East said the academy helps rural areas with training and she has been informed that because of cuts the academy has reduced training for rural areas Blackham added that he wants to “do something” about helping state employees East reported that two companies have moved into the second floor on the Snow College campus bringing new jobs for Sanpete One company is a Manti company selling timeshares on condos The company will employ one employee at $6 an hour with no benefits The other company is based in Pasadena Calif and will hire several employees at about $8 an hour with benefits starting after 30 days of employment East added that the company has already hired who lives in Wales the manager Town Commissioner County Claudia Jarrett said work on the roadless issue isn’t over yet She said several potential roadless areas are being planned for both east and west mountains She said she is planning to get the proposed maps and she recommended that city mayors post them where they can be readily viewed by residents There is still time for comment while the Forest Service moves into phase two of their management plan proposal Victims gain assistance coordinator Kathy Lin Eggleston Staff writer Nov 23 for eighth grade students The choir has a concert on Dec 8 at 7 Manti High The school is participating in the Manti City Light Parade on Friday at 6 pm After the parade Santa Claus will be at the school as well as food and refreshments until the schools Christmas musical starts at 8 pm The school is sponsoring Jazz Bear’s Christmas this year The Jazz Bear’s Christmas is a holiday project that provides Christmas for By C By North Sanpete Middle The school has been honoring 2 outstanding students every week The Explorer Test will be held Tuesday Wednesday November 24 2004 Commissioners mayors eye landfill financing Landfill Fountain Green Elementary a special had fun celebrating happy birthday lunch for Mickey Mouse The cafeteria and the gym were decorated with balloons and pictures: Students entered the lunchroom to see a giant banner that read “Happy Mouse cars were passed Birthday Mickey!" out to students Students were given mouseshaped cookies to decorate During the festivities student government Students Valley Edition Messenger-Gunniso- n into the will program help to build each other’s FAIRVIEW — Fairview City in conjunction with the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Department announced that Sanpete County has hired a new victim assistance coordinator to help victims of crime and violence The position was made possible by a Victim of Crime Assistance grant that was awarded to Sanpete County the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and Fairview City Mark Topham of Aurora Sevier County Utah is the new victim assistance coordinator Topham has been on the job since Nov 9 and will be working 28 hours per week to serve citizens of the county He will have offices in Fairview and Manti The grant will pay for Topham’s salary and allow him to provide services to those who are referred to him by the sheriff’s department and other state agencies “There are resources so that I can work to assist individuals through providing services that meet their needs” says Topham The program has several options available such as providing phone cards when needed or covering shelter costs when victims need protection is a strong “Confidentiality issue with me” shares Topham Topham believes that not being a local native and having lived in the area for only 14 years gives him a unique perspective “I will be unbiased in my judgment and treatment of victims of violent crimes This would be an advantage in that victims should be more willing to trust me feel comfortable with me and share information that would be necessary to provide services to them” Topham says “I have skills to - iting police departments and organizations throughout the county to introduce himself and the new services “As a retired trooper I have worked as backup for most of the local officers for several years” says Topham I believe that we have outstanding officers serving the people of Sanpete County” Topham will be working closely with officers to help them learn the most effective ways to handle domestic disturbances and assaults Topham served as a St George City police officer for seven years and served 3 years as a Utah Highway Patrol state trooper He has received numerous law enforcement awards for his performance and service “Mark is honest and knows how to work hard” says Captain Keith Squires of the Utah Highway Patrol Fairview will provide an office in the north end of the county for Topham as the city’s part of the matching grant “We are happy we have the to support this program” says Don Worley mayor of Fairview “Having a victim assisopportunity tance coordinator in our area has been needed for a long time I am glad our city manager Nancy Jane Woodside kept pushing to get the grant “The Victim of Crime Assistance program is going to be of great benefit not only to Fairview but to the entire county” says Worley The mayor invites everyone to meet the new coordinator and find out what he has to offer our community To contact Mark Topham call the Sanpete County Sheriff’s or at Fairview City Hall at Department On September 30 2004 the international pharmaceutical company Merck recalled Vioxx its arthritis and pain medication because of an increased risk of heart atisek and stroke i'v Any family interested in qualifying for the program needs to contact the Rural Development office in Manti by or going to 50 calling South Main Suite 6 or calling the SCAG office in Richfield at deal with victims of violent crimes in a sensitive courteous and calm manner Because of my law enforcement experience I am aware of most of the resources available to victims of violent crimes and will be able to advise victims of those resources” Topham is receiving training from Vicky Proctor victim assistance coordinator of the Provo City Police Department He is also vis- Did You Take VIOXX?l velopment uses programs to help families get financing “Hopefully we can say ‘yes’” says Donna Burke from USDA Rural Development’s Manti office about loan applicants Sanpete County Deputy Gary Larsen looks over records with new victim assistance coordinator Mark Topham WrS6 MS If you or a loved one took Vioxx and have suffered a senous injury (heart attack stroke deep vein thrombosis embolism or even death) you may have a claim against Merck I Call DFXTFR & DEXTLR today for a free consultation where w e w ill evaluate your claim and recommend appropriate and aggressive action t CM I I f |