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Show A12 Sanpete Messenger-Gunnison Valley Edition Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Retirement Sevier County & Salina City Presents (Continued from A12) “The second year I got a boil and staph infection on my back,” Paul said. “I went to the university’s hospital and sat in one of 30 chairs in a big room where anyone who needed an IV got one. I got IVs for 10 days.” Diana’s hospital adventure was because of a lost tooth. One of her students did the surgery in a cold, filthy hospital room. Then she was sent to another wing that was clean and brand new. “The Chinese didn’t do any maintenance on their buildings,” Diana said. “You can have a brand new building and six months later it would look old. Garbage could be armpit high before they emptied it.” Even though China is a Communist country, it’s also very capitalist. Janing has large stores like WalMart, Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald’s. Chinese people who have their own businesses can become extremely wealthy, which causes great disparity, because many people are poor. Mandatory retirement at 55 creates jobs at a faster rate, but unemployment hovers around 30 percent. Manual jobs are created to keep people working. When the people resurface streets, they have to plan in advance. “They have guys sit on stools by the road and chip the concrete with hammers,” Paul said. Diana asked some of her students why they threw litter on the ground. “They said it was so the street sweepers would have a job.” Typically, both parents work, and it’s not uncommon for them to work in different cities, seeing each other only twice a year. Grandparents help take care of the children, so with four grandparents and two parents, children are raised like little emperors. In 1980, China enacted a onechild-per-family policy, resulting in an overabundance of young men. The population growth has slowed. The Rasmussens worked in cities of 6 million people, considered small by Chinese ockin & idin Together in One Arena Chinese dog gets first class trip to the marketplace. standards. It may be because of the one child policy that a lot of Chinese own dogs and love them almost like children. The Rasmussen’s thought it ironic that Tibet’s “peaceful reunification” with China only resulted in several thousand deaths. “Things are a little different in Tibet because minorities are allowed to have more than one child,” Diana said. The people are poorer, but they seem happier and more open. “One thing we’ve noticed is that the way the United States media responds to things in China is a little distorted,” Paul said. “That bothers us a little bit.” When their second year drew to a close and the Rasmussen’s prepared to return home, they were offered jobs separate from BYU sponsorship. “We didn’t accept,” Diana said. “We wanted something different.” After they got home, they were SANPETE COUNTY CRIME AND JUSTICE Compiled by Sara Hansen Information is gleaned from court records, police reports and interviews with the Sanpete County Attorney’s Office. All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges Fountain Green Jayson Stephens, Fountain Green, is charged with three counts of distribution of a controlled substance in a drug free zone, felonies. Mt. Pleasant Destry Young, Indianola, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, felonies; criminal trespass, misdemeanor; and public intoxication, misdemeanor. Sentencing Ephraim Kendall Anderson, Wales, pleaded guilty to DUI, a felony. Sixth District Court Judge David L. Mower sentenced Anderson to zero to five years in the Utah State Prison. Mower suspended the sentence and placed Anderson on probation contingent on Anderson serving 62.5 days in the Sanpete County Jail and paying a $1,500 fine. Manti Kelly Embleton, Spring City, pleaded guilty in abeyance to issue of bad check/draft/presumption, a misdemeanor. Sixth District Court Judge David L. Mower sentenced Embleton to serve a year in the Sanpete County Jail. Mower suspended that sentence and accepted Embleton’s plea in abeyance as long as Embleton pays $792.02 in restitution to Big O Tires and pays a $250 plea in abeyance fee. Mt. Pleasant Rusty Allen, Mt. Pleasant, pleaded guilty to forgery and theft, misdemeanors. Sixth District Court Judge David L. Mower sentenced Allen to serve 60 days in the Sanpete County Jail and pay a $750 fine. Christopher Atwood, Mt. Pleasant, pleaded guilty to two counts of forgery, felonies. Sixth District Court Judge David L. Mower Sentenced Atwood to serve zero to five years in the Utah State prison. Mower suspended the prison sentence and placed Atwood on probation contingent on him serving 120 days in the Sanpete County Jail and paying a $2,000 fine and a $176.4 1 in restitution. Colby Sorensen, Clearfield, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with alcohol in the body and driving on a denied license, misdemeanors. Sixth District Court Judge David L. Mower sentenced Sorensen to serve 20 days in the Sanpete County Jail and to pay a $500 fine. Local. Community. Sanpete Messenger The voice of Sanpete County since 1893 surprised with a package from one of their students. “We were never allowed to mention the church or our religious beliefs” Diana said. “So we were very surprised to receive this.” She unfolded an intricate red paper cutting that showed silhouettes of Diana and Paul in the center, with “Forever” running around the border eight times. “We have no idea how she knew of our belief in eternal life.” Another oddity of the gift is that the Chinese woman sent several other intricate cuttings, each with a fortune included, but for the one that spelled “Forever,” she wrote, “You have to write your own fortune for this one.” The Rasmussens are still working out what it will say. Broken Heart Bull Wars Saturday March 8 7:00 PM Doors Open at 6 PM Blackhawk Arena in Salina Adults $10 (in advance) $15 at the Gate Youth (3-12) $6 2 & under FREE Advance tickets sold at Burns Saddlery in Salina or by phone at 435-529-7484 |