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Show \z j y u u b ate 1UU Salt Lake City UT 84124-1550 T H E The O N E T H A T L O C A L L Y O W N E D R A N D O P E R A T E D WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2009 VOL. 4 / NO. 8 SPANISH FORK,UTAH East Meadows receives special visit from Senator Orrin Hatch Namon Bills EDITOR When Senator Orrin Hatch visited Spanish Fork Thursday, Feb. 19, he was grilled on all the issues — from the hardest decision he's had to make, to his most important accomplishment, to what his plans were for the weekend. The questions came from students at East Meadows Elementary, where Hatch's granddaughter, Lyndsay Whetton, teaches fourth grade. Each of the grades took turns asking questions, which ranged from issues of personal preference to national wellbeing. Some of the questions and answers were as follows: • What was your hardest decision you've had to make? Hatch said voting for the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) last fall was one of the hardest decisions he's had to make. He said he didn't like the bill, but felt something had to be done. "I hated to vote for it, but I did," he said. • Who was your favorite President to work with? Hatch has served in the Senate for 33 years, and has worked with every President since Jimmy Carter. He said he's liked working with all of them, but his favorite was Ronald Reagan. "I was like a brother to him," he said. "I went to 36 states campaigning for him." Hatch did concede that, excepting Reagan, Obama has the best smile. • What is your favorite thing about being a senator? Hatch said he most enjoys representing and serving the people of Utah and "being able to just make sure that you have a future like my generation has had.... It's wonderful to be able to serve you." • What do you like to do on the weekend? Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News Hatch didn't mention specific plans for the coming COMMON GROUND: Fourth-grade student Jorgen Olsen found out he has something in common with Senator Hatch weekend, but he did say he enjoys sports and was planning — they're both Jazz fans. to attend the Jazz game that evening. • What's the most exciting thing you've done for the White House to meet with President Obama and other ous influences in the world. Utah? "It's ... important you realize there are some really bad members of the new administration, three days after the Hatch said one of his most important accomplishments inauguration. Hatch said the President was looking for his people in this world, who will try to get you to do things was to stop plans to store nuclear waste on the Goshute help in bridging the gap between parties. you know are wrong," he said. He specifically warned Indian Reservation. "I'm one of the people who can help bring the two sides against drugs, smoking and pornography. • What do you plan to do after being a senator? Hatch encouraged the students to work hard and get together," said Hatch. Although Hatch will be 75 this year, he said he hadn't Hatch was also asked about his songwriting career. He good grades. even thought about that, and for now he plans to stay in said he's written over 150 songs, and had one gold and one "It pays to get good grades. It pays to work really hard," the Senate. platinum album. He continues to write songs and poetry in he said. "If you do that you'll be so grateful in the end, be"I have four years to go and if I feel as' healthy and his spare time. cause you'll be able to do whatever you want to do." strong as I do now, I'll run again," he said. "I just wrote six sonnets in the last couple of weeks," East Meadows Principal Dwight Liddiard expressed • How often do you meet with the President? he said. appreciation to Hatch for his willingness to visit the Hatch said he was probably one of the first brought to In conclusion, Hatch warned the students about danger- school. Benjamin debating possibility SFHS and SHHS Sterling Scholars move on to compete at State level of incorporating into a town Lindsay B. Wolsey STAFF WRITER Namon Bills EDITOR There is a saying that good fences make good neighbors. Let's hope those fences keep holding for the residents of Benjamin as they consider the possibility of incorporating their rural community into a town. The Utah County Commission held a public hearing regarding the request on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Riverside Elementary. By the end of the two hour meeting, emotions were running high as people began to side for or against incorporation. "If you want to be a town, leave us out of it," said resident Steve Bearnson, who owns property on the east side of I-15. Bearnson spoke in behalf of several adjacent land owners. The purpose of the public hearing was to introduce the concept of incorporation, allow the public to review maps of the proposed town, and to allow the public to ask questions and express concerns. "The reason for being here is to gather information to make an informed decision," said incorporation sponsor Karl Shepherd. Shepherd, a resident of Benjamin makes no secret of the fact he's for incorporation. Sterling Scholars from each of the high schools around the state went to the region level of competition Wednesday, Feb. 18. Out of the 676 high school winners, 195 were selected to go on to the state competition on March 4, including Jocelyn Waite and Christy Hardy from Spanish Fork High School and Casey Anderton and Michelle Clare from Salem Hills High School. For the region level of competition, schools were divided into north, central and south regions. Spanish Fork and Salem Hills competed in the south region and traveled to Mountain View High School in Orem for their interviews. Students were judged on overall scholarship, scholarship within their category, leadership and community service/citizenship. Jocelyn Waite is the daughter of Michele and Randy Waite, and will represent SFHS in dance. Waite has been dancing since she was nine years old. She is also one of this year's Jr. Misses for the Spanish Fork/ Salem area. In foreign language, Christy Hardy is the daughter of Jon and Julie Hardy. Hardy has lived in Spanish Fork all her life and has been studying Spanish since seventh grade. She has taken AP Courtesy photo DRAWING BOUNDARIES: The current proposed boundaries — if Benjamin decides to incorporate into a town — are based on the Benjamin 1st and 2nd Wards' boundaries. "We're going to grow," Moon and Connie Benson. Shepherd said. "We can't Following the public just stay as we are. Change hearing, the sponsors of is inevitable, change is go- the proposed incorporaing to come. My view is if tion have 90 days to file you want to have a say in an incorporation applicathe change and keep Ben- tion with the county. If jamin rural, we need to in- the county clerk approves corporate." the application, the county Not every resident commission will then comagreed with Shepherds mission a study to deterview. Resident Cloyd Har- mine the feasibility of Benrison continually brought jamin becoming a town. up facts regarding taxes, One factor in approving road repair costs, and went the incorporation is whethfar enough to offer each of er or not Benjamin can afthe sponsors a $100 bill if ford to become a town. As they could promise to low- a town, Benjamin would be er his taxes by just $1. responsible for providing The Utah County Com- basic services for its resimissioners strongly stated dents. If Benjamin does inthat no decision will be corporate, an election will made until the proposal has be held to elect a mayor run the course of the appli- and 5 town council members. If Benjamin does not cation. Sponsors for possible incorporate, the area stays incorporation are Janet Reynolds,. Carl Shepherd, See TOWN • A6 Glen Baadsgard, James Jocelyn Waite Christy Hardy Casey Anderton Michelle Clare Spanish and is president of the Spanish Club at SFHS. Also in foreign language, Casey Anderton is the daughter of Mark and Justine Anderton. Anderton lived in B arcelona, Spain for an academic year abroad. She speaks Spanish and Catalan, and is currently studying Portuguese and Italian. Michelle Clare is the daughter of David and Jayne Clare, and will represent SHHS in family and consumer sciences. Clare has competed in sewing contests on both local and state levels. She is also interested in interior design and floral design. |