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Show 75¢ HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Gunnison Valley Edition www.sanpetemessenger.com VOL. 85 • NUMBER 49 SANPETE WEA THER EATHER Pillar Award recipients exemplify service FORECAST High/Low % precip. Wednesday 28/13, Cloudy ........... 20% Thursday 33/19, Cloudy ........... 10% Friday 33/16, Snow ............. 30% Saturday 29/11, Cloudy ........... 10% Last Week’s Weather (Courtesy Ted Olson, Snow College) Date Dec. 10 Dec. 11 Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Dec. 14 Dec. 15 Dec. 16 MANTI, UTAH • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2006 Max. Min. Prec. Snow 38 40 35 41 49 46 32 13 28 16 23 29 26 19 .04 2” .09 4” FOR AVALANCHE AND MOUNTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION Updated every weekend and holiday www.avalanche.org/~lsafc or: 1-800-OHV-RIDE Provided by Utah State Parks and the Manti-La Sal Avalanche Center AT A GLANCE Residents celebrate life with service By Tanya Y. Spencer Education Editor GUNNISON—Last Wednesday Gunnison Middle School was transformed for a celebration of life and service as the Pillar Awards were presented to Jack Madsen and Rae Lou Olsen. Madsen is a native of the Sanpete Valley who values work and service. As a youth he worked on his family’s farm and spent his days swimming with his friends or trading eggs for squares of baker’s chocolate. While at Utah State University, he courted his high school sweetheart, Mary Lois. They have been married 57 years. They have seven children and 44 grandchildren so far. The Madsen family sheep ranch (See “Pillar” on A9) KEN HANSEN / MESSENGER PHOTO Jack Madsen chuckles with Rae Lou Olsen on stage as they are given the coveted “Pillar Awards” in Gunnison on Dec. 13 District votes to sanction soccer G-Town Times debuts in this issue Included in this issueis the first edition of the G-Town Times, a Gunnison High School newspaper written by students. By Tanya Y. Spencer Education Editor Sponsored by the Sanpete Messenger/ GunnisonValley Edition staff, this new publication will come out monthly and be part of the newspaper. You said It! “GPA improvement is why I am going to vote yes for soccer.” —South Sanpete School Boardmember Kim Picket INSIDE Opinion ........ A4 Lifestyle ....... A5 Sports .......... A7 Classifieds . A13 SEAN HALES / MESSENGER PHOTO City officials, volunteers and engineers gathered last Friday to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Sanpitch River Walk. Pictured are (L to R): Curtis Anderson of the Sanpitch River Walk Board; Jerolyn Young, city council member; Elizabeth Jensen, board member; Steve Buchanan, council member; Mayor Scott Hermansen; Lori Nay, council and board member; Andrea Johansen, board member; Amie Tucker, board member; Brig Rees, contractor; Steve Gossard, Jones & Demille Engineering; Tom Christensen, head project engineer, Jones & Demille Engineering. Gunnison cuts ribbon for Sanpitch River Walk But project not complete, community needs to make it ‘their own,’ officials say By Sean Hales Associate editor GUNNISON—More than 100 residents and children gathered to celebrate the official opening of the Sanpitch River Walk last Friday. After more than six years, city officials, project committee members and engineers met at the northeast entrance near U.S. 89 to cut a ribbon marking the formal opening of the walkway. City council member Lori Nay, who has led the project ef- SEAN HALES / MESSENGER PHOTO Utah Press Association General Excellence winner 1999 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Elementary kids start off on RiverWalk, donuts and hot chocolate in hand. forts, addressed the gathering, say- the beginning, told children from ing that the walkway is in place but the elementary school that the river far from complete. She said en- walkway was built for three reahancements for the 1.25-mile trail sons: to provide a safe crossing along the Sanpitch River are in the across the river and U.S. 89; to beautify the city, works and the or “take care of the next phase of Gunnison residents things God gave the project will react to Sanpitch us;” and to probe when city vide a vehicle for residents make River Walk. exercise to “stay the trail, “our See story on A2 healthy and own.” strong.” “We can The elementary students promake this a special place,” said vided some entertainment for the Nay. “It can be a part of a whole event, regaling the gathering with and healthy community.” Christmas songs from “Silent She added later that the walkNight” to “Sevivon,” a Hanukkah way could be more than just a safe song about a clay top. The high crossing across U.S. 89 or a beauschool group Cantus! opened the tification project. event with the Pledge of Alle“It’s good for the heart of the community,” she said, “both physi- giance. After city officials and comcally and emotionally. I think it will mittee members cut the ribbon for bond us in ways we can’t even conthe walkway, the elementary chilsider.” She said she has heard that dren took to the trail, crossing unthe walkway is already having derneath U.S. 89 and heading west something akin to that effect; down the asphalt path. couples have apparently learned “It’s a joy to see the kids walkthat a moonlit walk along the river ing the trail,” Nay said. “These is quite an experience. common spaces can define our Curtis Anderson, who has community.” been involved in the project since MANTI—In front of a standing-room-only crowd, the South Sanpete School Board voted unanimously last week to sanction soccer beginning with the 2007-2008 school year. The girls’ team will begin in the fall, the boys’ in the spring. Before the vote at the Wednesday, Dec. 13 meeting, some board members shared their concerns about implementing soccer with the students who attended the meeting. Board member Kim Pickett, Gunnison, turned to face the students and said, “I want a commitment from you to keep your GPAs up so you’ll be eligible to play. GPA improvement is why I am going to vote yes for soccer.” The students committed to keep their eligibility. Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) guidelines require students to maintain at least a 2.0 to be eligible for participation in extracurricular activities. The association allows a student to have one “F” grade as long as the student’s average is 2.0. In a later interview, Manti High School Vice Principal George Henrie said, “We hold our students to a little bit higher standard than the UHSAA. We still require a 2.0 but the student cannot have an F.” Several of the board members also expressed concern about the amount of time students from all sports and activities spend away from the classroom. Superintendent Don Hill informed those assembled that there are 180 days of instruction time and if the maximum number of contests are played, there are 244 games each year, not including region play. Hill also stressed the 244 games are just varsity contests. He reminded the students and (See “Soccer” on A3) |