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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black 75¢ Counter Copy Price Gunnison Valley Edition www.sanpetemessenger.com VOL. 86 • NUMBER 50 Unsung heroes receive Gunnison Valley Pillar Award Sanpete Weather By Karen Prisbrey FORECAST High/Low WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2007 % precip. Wednesday Snow, 32/12........................ 15% Thursday Flurries, 29/12..................... 25% Friday Flurries, 32/12..................... 35% Saturday Flurries, 28/7....................... 15% Last Week’s Weather (Courtesy Ted Olson, Snow College) Date Max. Min. Prec. Dec. 15 21 1 Dec. 16 23 14 Dec. 17 26 4 Dec. 18 28 7 Dec. 19 32 21 .01” Dec. 20 30 24 .22” FOR AVALANCHE AND MOUNTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION Staff writer GUNNISON—A memorable evening of music presented by students of the Gunnison Valley Middle School set the scene for the annual Pillar Recognition Award on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Three individuals, Lester Hill, and Don and Eunice Despain, were recognized for their contributions and service to their communities. Lester Hill was born and raised in the Gunnison Valley. A year following graduation from GVHS, he married his high school sweetheart Helen Knighton. During World War II, the Hills were concerned that Lester would be drafted to serve in the Army, so he enlisted in the Navy, and served in the South Pacific at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Australia, and China. Throughout his life, Hill has served the community in many ways. He taught gun safety to youth for more than 30 years. He has been a member of the Lions Club and involved in its many service projects. He served on the Gunnison City Council for eight years and another four years as mayor. He has been a member of the American Legion for decades. Along with his community service, Hill has served in various church callings in his ward in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. He has been a member Karen Prisbrey / Messenger Photo Lester Hill, (left) and Don and Eunice Despain, were recognized for contributions and service to their communities with the Pillar Award, presented at Gunnison Valley’s Yule Celebration Wednesday. Christmas magic in country towns Updated every weekend and holiday www.avalanche.org/~lsafc or: 1-888-999-4019 Provided by Utah State Parks and the MantiLa Sal Avalanche Center of the bishopric, president of the MIA, a dedicated home teacher, and an active member of the high priest group. With his warm personality and wit, he served as the master of ceremonies at many old folks parties, and was the auctioneer at the Fourth of July celebration. Hill was selected to serve as the grand marshal of the Fourth of July Parade a number of years ago. Lester and Helen were members of the Sage Brush Swingers, a local square-dancing club, for many years. Lester also did some of the calling. The Hills are avid fans of all the sports at GVHS, and have (See “Pillar” on A2) Charges still pending for former deputy By John Hales At a Glance Managing editor MANTI—Formal charges have not yet been filed against a former Sanpete County sheriff’s deputy arrested threeand-a-half months ago for drug possession and evidence tampering. The arrested man’s attorney, however, doesn’t think the delay has anything to do with an attempt to sweep the case John Stevens under the rug. “I don’t see anybody purposely dragging their feet on this,” said Doug Neeley, who has represented John Earl Stevens since Stevens’ arrest on Sept. 12. The arrest happened after Utah County authorities searched Stevens’ Gunnison home on a warrant on Ephraim Cemetery records go hightech. Fountain Green City not yet committed to idea of countywide detective. Manti Suspects in burglaries caught. Mayfield Santa pulled not by reindeer, but by town leaders. Moroni Council member has concerns over new city hall construction. Mt. Pleasant Church service is about community, not religion. You said It! “It’s just an awesome, awesome thing to do. It’s wonderful.” —Jackie Barber, Mayfield, who, with her husband, George, play Mr. and Mrs. Santa on Christmas Eve in Mayfield. Utah Press Association General Excellence winner 1999 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 SARA HANSEN / MESSENGER PHOTO George and Jackie Barber with paper bags of candy that they and a fleet of other Santas will deliver to every home in Mayfield. Christmas Eve Santas are a longstanding tradition in Sterling, Mayfield, and Centerfierld. Santa comes through front door, not down chimney on Christmas Eve MAYFIELD—One magical thing about growing up in the country that city kids don’t experience is that Santa sometimes visits in person on Christmas Eve. In Sanpete County, the town governments of Sterling, Mayfield and Centerfield have longstanding traditions of dispatching fleets of Santas to every home in town on Christmas Eve. Typically, Santa brings a gift—usually candy—from the mayor and town council. The looks on children’s faces when Santa walks through often unlocked front doors are priceless, says Jackie Barber, who, with the husband, George, have played Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Mayfield for the past few Christmas Eves. “They are just in awe,” she says. “They can’t believe that it’s Christmas Eve—and Santa’s here!” In Mayfield, preparations begin at the regular December town board meet- ing. After the meeting, board members and spouses sit down for a Christmas dinner. Then they form an assembly line to bag candy. This year, they put items ranging from peanuts to chocolate Santas in 800 small paper bags and stapled the bags at top. Mayfield’s population is only about 500, so the town put together enough candy bags for every adult and (See “Santa” on A2) Stake presidency recognize season as ‘time for giving’ As we celebrate the birth of our Savior this Christmas season, we recognize this as a time of giving. Many acts of service and giving, of “succoring the weak, lifting up the hands which hang down, and strengthening the feeble knees” take place. We are grateful to each of you for your acts of unseen kindness and giving. We recognize the greatest two acts of giving: 1) a father giving his son, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...;” and 2) that same son, our Savior, giving his life for us, for “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Because the son has provided us the way back, he reminds us of the way: “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” Expressions of happy and joyful holidays are commonly expressed. Our most memorable experiences will be those filled with the spirit of love. The greater the love, the greater the joy. We testify of the reality of the Savior’s birth, of his matchless life and his great aton- ing sacrifice. Thanks be to God for the gift of his divine son. He was resurrected, he lives, he loves us. We wish each of you the most joyous of times this Christmas season and pray you will enjoy a prosperous New Year. Gunnison Utah LDS Stake Presidency, Curtis E. Anderson Jan F. Christensen Norman R. Jensen (See “Charges” on A3) Presbyterian service is all about community By Sara Hansen Staff writer MT. PLEASANT—The Christmas Eve candlelight worship service at First Presbyterian Church isn’t quite what it may sound like. It’s not just a church service, it’s a community service. Every year on Christmas Eve, the Mt. Pleasant church sponsors a candlelight service where everyone in the community—whether they be Presbyterian, Catholic, Mormon, or what-have-you—is welcome to come and enjoy some sincere Christmas spirit, says David Boge, the church’s retired pastor. Although Boge is retired, he will still be conducting the service on Dec. 24 because his replacement has not yet made it to Mt. Pleasant to take over the position. Besides that, it has become tradition for Boge to lead the service. The service has been taking place so long Boge cannot even recall exactly what year it started. That’s not a bad thing, Boge said, because the event has become (See “Santa” on A2) |