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Show Tear Sheets 1521 E 3900 SSte 100 AN Hie EDITION R I D E OF & P R Salt Lake City UT 84124-1550 Forii j>ews L O C A L L Y O W N E D A N D O P E R A T E D WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 VOL. 3 / NO. 43 50* SPANISH FORK, UTAH COMPARING CANDIDATES The race for the State House of Representatives, District 66 is heating between House Representative Mike Morley and Debbie Swenson. While both candidates are extremely familiar with Spanish Fork City through growing up, raisingfamilies and owning businesses here in town, there are very distinct differences. Morley supports Republican party platform CANDIDATES AT A GLANCE ethics reforms in state government r/A ry- Jen Allen STAFF WRITER Michael Morley realized his desire for being a part of the political process when, as a teen, he visited Arlington National Cemetery and "came to the realization that freedom truly is not free." As a missionary' for his church during the 1970s, Morley faced a lot of harassment "by those who were less than supportive of America's role in the world ... Ever since that time, I felt that some day I would do something to serve and give back." "I am running as a Republican because I believe wholeheartedly in the platform of the Utah Republican Party. I believe it is an inspired document and absolutely in line with the principles I hold dear: strengthening families, controlling government growth and treating taxes as a sacred trust, which are to be used only to promote the proper role of government," said Morley. In regard to ethics, Morley said, "Honor and integrity are absolutely essential in both private and public life. Without them, there is no trust ... It is essential that we require honesty and integrity from our elected officials ... I can say without hesitation that I have never purposely done anything which would bring shame upon me or my family name. See MORLEY • A8 Swenson seeking Jen Allen *~*~H STAFF WRITER Michael T. Morley • Entrepreneur, contractor and commercial developer; 30+ years in. the business • Graduate of Spanish Fork High School with three years college between BYU and University of Phoenix • Married for 28 year£ with nine children ages seven to 27, Morley says his family has been extremely supportive of his efforts to serwand have encouraged him to continue to do so • Republican Party Member • Hqmemakest. . 34: years and Neb^f^qS ';fidafd;Member-foK6'yeairs'; •. Graduate fromVBQK. 0 Marriage, JFartiiiy*-aiid ftgir~~' •0pment from Brigfeirl^u • Marriedfor.34-.yeerS husband Kenneth have ^ children ages 21-32. arti family "has been -support" •DernocratiG Party L "The unethical political manipulations of the education omnibus bill SB2, forcing through poor legislation that had already been defeated, was the moment I realized that the only way to change things was to change the people who are elected to represent us," said Debbie Swenson. This is why she has chosen to run for the seat in the Utah House of Representatives. Upon the realization that the Utah County Republican platform no longer represented her views, especially on the issue of school vouchers, Swenson found that the Utah County Democratic platform is pro-life and "more closely aligns with my personal views about the proper role of government. That's when I chose to become a Democrat." The major themes of Swenson's campaign are ethics and integrity. "Ethics are vital to our political process. Without them government by the people, for the people ceases to exists," Swenson said. "Integrity is the root of ethics ... It's avoiding even the appearance of wrong-doing. Integrity is not what you do, but who you are." Swenson believes that her background as a school board member will help her as a legislator. See SWENSON. A10 Transportation plans for South Utah County Lindsay B. Wolsey STAFF WRITER Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News MAKING PLANS: Robert Perry discusses property questions with HDR Engineering consultant Jeff Simmons at the UDOT open house Wednesday, Oct. 15. UDOT to widen South Main Street Namon Bills EDITOR The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) held an open house Wednesday, Oct. 15 in the High Chaparral Room at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds to display and discuss plans for a construction project that will widen the southern portion of Spanish Fork's Main Street. Jennifer Elsken, UDOT archeologist and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) specialist, explained that the three goals of the project include: widening the road from two to five lanes between 500 South and Arrowhead Trail, so it matches the north section of Main Street; installing a traffic signal at Volunteer Drive; and replacing the main bridge over the Spanish Fork River, while removing the free right turn bridge currently in place at the intersection with Arrowhead Trail. Elsken also explained that environmental documentation for the project is currently underway, and should be finished by December. "Overall the project won't have significant impact to environmental resources," she said. Bill Townsend. UDOT project manager, said the project has gone well so far, and should be fairly easy to execute. "The bridge construction adds a little complexity to it," Townsend said. He explained that the two existing bridges will be replaced by one wider bridge. "The free right turn [bridge] is older and needs to be replaced," he said. "We don't have the money to build and maintain two new structures ... [so we'll] eliminate one and make the other wider." One of the purposes of the meeting was to receive public comment on the project proposals. Townsend said that overall public comment had been "pretty positive." See MAIN STREET «A10 Every four years the Mountainland Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) invites cities, UTA and UDOT to share their transportation and city plans with the community. This year MPO is splitting it's one seminar into three, one for South Utah County, one for Provo/Orem, and one for North Utah County. The South Utah County seminar was held Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Payson City Center. People attending the seminar were able to see planned, started and possible construction plans for transportation needs all over Utah County. Everything from bus routes to bike trails was on display. Almost every exhibitor had treats, pens, or, in the case of Payson City, apples donated by Allred Orchards to share with attendees. Even though the public was welcome, attendance was sparse. "Over $4 billion in projects are going on right now,"TransportationPIanner John Price explained. "This is unprecedented." One of the biggest projects is the reconstruction of 1-15. Slated to begin construction in 2010 and to be completed by 2014, 1-15 reconstruction will include adding lanes from University Avenue south and full reconstruction from University Avenue in Provo to Main Street in American Fork. For more information on the I-15 rebuild, visit www.il5core. utah.gov. Springville's 400 South is getting an overhaul, and will be completely shut down. The viaduct over the railroad will be completely rebuilt. When completed, 400 South will be a four-lane road, and the interchange will be similar to the one at University Parkway. "People will still be able to get to Wal-Mart," Price said. "But the rest of 400 South will be blocked off until the road is completed." The FrontRunner Commuter rail system running from Salt Lake City to Provo is slated to be completed by 2012, with future plans to extend it all the way to Payson. Utah County stations will be located at Thanksgiving Point, American Fork Main Street, UVU WestSee PLANS • A10 |