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Show -N E W S- Spanish Fork Late Arbor Day in WH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008 • A5 Covering what matters most Hilarie Orman STAFF WRITER Kathleen Olsen / Spanish Fork News CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Vernon Marshall and his wife Doris at Benjamin Days. Vernon Marshall named Benjamin's Citizen of '08 Kathleen Olsen STAFF WRITER Vernon Marshall, long time Benjamin resident, was announced as 2OO8's Benjamin Citizen of the Year at the annual Benjamin Days celebration held on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at the Benjamin Park. Verla Richardson was the chairman of this year's selection, assisted by members of her family including the announcing made by her sons, Mark and Sam Richardson. It was agreed by those in attendance that Vernon is a worthy recipient due to his many, many years of service in the community, his church, and the surrounding area. His nomination came from a wide group of friends, neighbors, and family. He has served in a unique way for over thirty years as a volunteer care- taker of the Benjamin Cemetery, including acting as chairman of the cemetery board. His duties in this capacity include supervising the opening and closing of graves, maintaining the cemetery records, keeping the lawns watered, broken pipe lines repaired or replaced, maintaining the water pumps, laying sod, cleaning up the wilted flowers, and anything else at the cemetery that needs attention. He also endeavors to provide comfort and solace to the bereaved families that come to the cemetery, trying to be thoughtful and sympathetic in their times of sorrow. He works with a cemetery board of three members and receives no pay for his services. There are times when he make repairs at his own expense and says nothing about what he has done. He does Tours daily. Call for breakfast and lunch. (reservations welcome) RELAX appreciate those who voluntarily appear at the cemetery and help with whatever needs to be done. In addition, Richardson has served as a volunteer coach, official at ball games, police officer, ambulance and EMT crew member, and as someone people can turn to for various issues 24 hours a day. All of this, plus the cemetery, Vernon does in addition to his regular job. Vernon has a supportive family. He is married to the former Doris Downey and they have five children: Jed living in Lehi. Sue Ann Ludlow and Melanie Dalton, both of Spanish Fork, and Angie Marshall and Amberlie Marshall, both of Benjamin. In addition, there are nine grandchildren. Congratulations to Vernon Marshall on this well deserved honor! ation. REFRESH It's not that Woodland Hills has a tree shortage, far from it, and it wasn't even Arbor Day, but the city park needs some assistance in the foliage department, so a group of volunteers assembled in the Meadows Park last Saturday to give Mother Nature some arborial help in a belated Arbor Day celebration. Lois Brown and her family were there with about 25 other people, and Lois explained the genesis of the event that she headed up. Last year the park was a year old, but some of the trees that graced the young park did not survive the winter. Mike Lauritzen of the city's Beautification Committee applied for a grant from the National Arbor Day Foundation to help replace the trees, and that resulted in a $250 matching grant for the purchase of trees. The Woodland Hills Property Owners Association stepped up with the matching amount and chipped in another $500. That money covered the cost of 11 trees from Laura K's Garden Center in Salem. Hilarie Orman / Spanish Fork News VOLUNTEER: Lois Brown plants a maple at Meadows Park. Lois, a member of the Property Owners governing board, volunteered to head up the project, and she found that "advertising is our biggest problem." Nor did weather this year help. Arbor Day in Utah officially happens on the last Friday in April, but the park was still under snow then. Woodland Hills decided to celebrate the holiday on June 7, but that was a cold, rainy, and muddy morning, not at all fitting for cel- ebration. Lois said, "Some people who came probably could not even see the few of us who were trying to plant." So, Arbor Day in Woodland Hills waited until June 14. Fueled by donuts and milk, the volunteers worked for about two hours planting the trees, having a great time in the fine weather. They also worked to remove rocks from the grassy areas. The rocks impeded mowers that could help control weeds. Benjamin Days celebration Kathleen Olsen STAFF WRITER The program featured the talents of Colby Gleaves, son of Nancy and Greg BalCurrent and former resi- zly, who sang and accompadents of Benjamin gathered nied himself on his guitar. at the Benjamin Park on Jill Cloward and Rick JenThursday evening, June 12, sen added hilarious humor 2008 to celebrate Benjamin with their 'redneck' conDays and to commemorate nections in Benjamin, and the 122nd anniversary of passed out prizes in various the establishment of the and rather unexpected catfirst LDS ward in the com- egories. In addition, prizes munity. The theme of the went to Walt Stewart as the evening was 'Benjamin oldest man in attendance, Roundup' and a large crowd and to Zoe Balzly as the was, indeed, 'rounded up.' oldest woman. The celebration began Under the direction with a flag raising ceremony of Verla Richardson, this conducted by the Benjamin year's Citizen of the Year 2nd Ward scouts under the chairman, the announcedirection Kevin Anderson. ment of 2008 's Benjamin A children's parade fol- Citizen of the Year was by lowed featuring Primary Mark and Sam Richardson. age children of the com- Vernon Marshall received munity. This was under the this year's honor for his direction of Lisa Coombs. long and dedicated work in Supper was served featur- the community and church. ing hamburgers and hot The event ended with dogs and supplemented by games under the direction pot luck dishes from those .of Roger and Diane Jones in attendance. Helping with assisted by James and Jathe set up and cooking were nine King. John and Marilyn AnderOngoing through the eveson, Wayne and Michelle ning was a bake/craft sale Anderson, Phil and Shirley which was put together by Diamond, and Bruce Rog- Janet Erickson and assisted ers. by Jana Lee Williams, Shir- ley Shepherd, and Phyllis King. Baked goods and craft items were donated by Benjamin citizens. People lingered through the evening, visiting and enjoying old and new friendships and the happiness of being together at least for a little while. This year's Benjamin Days was under the direction of the Benjamin 2nd Ward Activities Committee with Allan and Pat Swenson, chairmen, and Greg and Nancy Balzly, Richard and Janet Erickson, and Roger and Diane Jones, committee members. They were assisted by Benjamin 1st Ward's Activity Committee with Blair and Kathleen Olsen, chairmen, and Cy and Carol Nielson, Craig and Christine Pullman, Carl and Shirley Shepherd, and James and Janene King, committee members. Thanks goes to Rocky Mountain Real Estate for help with the advertising, to Verd Singleton for help with set up, and to Glen and Gina Tanner for help with the park. Also, thanks to all who attended and/or helped in any way. RENEW Community meeting tonight Baby Cakes Cupcakery is here featuring the finest gourmet cupcakes in the West. Mad< daily. Present thu ad for a complimentary cupcake/ SaCon • T)ay Spa • MedicaCSpa • 'Boutique Tea 'Room • SpoiCed'Rotten QirCs' Spa Like Beverly Hllb, without the Beverly Hilh prices 798-1103 'Round and About Benjamin Kathleen Olsen A reminder to all Benjamin landowners of the special community informational meeting being held tonight, Wednesday, June 18, in the Little Theater at the Spanish Fork High School. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at which time valuable information will be given to those in attendance. ••• Congratulations to Dean and Hilary Roberts on'the birth of their new baby daughter. The little girl was born on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and will be named Quincy Rain. She was welcomed home by three brothers and two sisters. Nadene Roberts is her grandmother in Benjamin. Hadley Russell, son of Nyle and Collette Russell, .received the Swine Reserve Champion award at the Uintah Basin Livestock Show in Vernal. His Benjamin grandparents are Jim and Jacky Caras. Congratulations, Hadley! ••• Cub Scout Troop 98 participated in a greatly appreciated service project at the Benjamin cemetery on Tuesday, June 9, 2008. In spite of the high winds, they cleared away dead flowers and other debris to make the cemetery look as nice as possible for Benjamin Days. Adult leaders helping the boys included Gayle Baum, Janet Wilkey, and.Mike and Julie Hales. Blair Olsen of the cemetery board also helped. Everyone is invited to visit the cemetery and take special note of the unique memorials standing there, plus the newly installed di- / • rectory courtesy of Colton Anderson's Eagle Scout project. ••• Special guests in Benjamin this past week were the grandparents of Greg Foy. Leo and Marilyn Foy of Duchesne and Don and Pat Scoffield of Three Forks, Montana, were here to attend Greg's Eagle Court of Honor. ••• Unfortunately — another warning! In the past few days, there has been a rash of car burglaries. Cars and trucks have been rifled during the night with valuables taken. Some of the vehicles were sitting in driveways while others were in garages. The thieves seemed to be very methodical in their breaking into the vehicles, and took just certain items. We suggest at least making sure cars and trucks are locked — it would at least slow up the perpetrators. |