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Show C C3UU O OIC Salt Lake City UT 84124-1550 Woodland Hills: Annual celebration held, B1-B2 I Sports: Football Guardian of Your Community News SERVING SPANISH FORK ^ 2 L SALEM • MAPLETON •WOODLAND HILLS • ELK RIDGE VOL. 4 / NO. 34 formerly The Spanish Fork News WEDNESDAY, AUGUST to) i-n\ j V r- ,-. ' \ i ; :\ 26, 2009 50^ ) \ J M v*_/J SF woman celebrates milestone to the extreme Marilyn Nielson STAFF WRITER For her 80th birthday on Aug. 14, 2009, Spanish Fork resident Donna Stevens decided to do something not many 80year-olds would attempt: go skydiving. "About three months ago, I decided I wanted to do something real daring for my birthday," Stevens said. "When I said I wanted to go skydiving, my daughter said she'd pay for me to go as a birthday present, and then my grandson decided he'd like to try it too. Since his birthday is Aug. 3,1 paid for him to go with me." Many of Stevens' family members were in town for her birthday open house, and when the day came, they all drove out to a flight school near Tooele. We got signed in and watched a training video,' said Stevens. There were Courtesy photo HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAY: Donna Stevens skydives with an instructor to celebrate her 80th birthday. i o t s o f young kids going Up skydiving for their first time, and some of them were pretty nervous, but when they saw that 1 was going up too, they got pretty excited for me." Stevens watched one planeload of skydivers go up before her, and then she and her grandson went into the next plane. "It was really exciting," Stevens said. "I never did get scared. My grandson asked me before we jumped,'Are you scared yet, Grandma?' See STEVENS • A7 Area Clayson receives eye treatment fires abated Jen Allen STAFF WRITER Christy Hardman STAFF WRITER Mapleton City Mayor Laurel Brady took a few minutes prior to city council meeting to discuss the recent fires in Hobblecreek and Maple Canyon. The Hobblecreek fire covered around 151 acres, and the Maple Canyon fire took out about 85 acres. Brady said that reports indicate they were both human-caused, and authorities are still investigating details. One of the fires was started on the south side of the road, and if it crossed to the north, Brady said, "It could have been an absolute disaster if it got into the brush. We could have lost every tree on the mountain." Brady said that the disaster was averted largely because of the quick response of the Mapleton City crews. "We're all very attached to that mountain," Brady said. "We can't thank you enough." Brady said they had a total of 200 fire fighters from Nevada, Idaho and Utah respond to help contain the blaze. The cost of the fire was around $150,000, and See FIRES • A7 Lori Clayson has had an interesting couple of months. In July, Clayson traveled to New York City to visit Dr. Laurence Yanuzzi for her recently diagnosed Parafoveal Telangiectasia, also known as Mactel. The disease causes the barrier between the blood vessels on the top of Clayson's eye and retina to disintegrate while the blood vessels hemorrhage and pool in the back of the retina, creating scar tissue. This scarring then completely blocks out vision. Clayson explained before she left for her trip that she couldn't read, stitch or go out and about as most of us do every day. But after her visit with Dr. Yanuzzi, Clayson came back with a breath of fresh air and an incredibly positive outlook. Although Clayson won't get her full vision back, there is hope that she will be able, with correcCourtesy photo tive lenses, to read again. As for stitching, Clayson, EYE DOCTOR: Lori Clayson is pictured above with Dr. Laurence Yanuzzi during her visit to his office in New York. with the encouragement from a friend, has picked doctor in Orem actually To help further that goal, doctor back in Orem, there- all those who made it posup embroidery. helped stop the leakage in Clayson is participating in fore allowing for Clayson's sible for her to see Yanuzzi "I use a special light, her left eye. It is Yanuzzi a study which will continue insurance to cover any and his staff. my glasses and with a mag- and Clayson's hope that for the next five years. costs necessary, but at the "If it weren't for everynifying glass I can embroi- with the same treatment, Clayson was impressed same time having the com- body's help, everyone we der," Clayson said. the leakage in herrighteye with Yanuzzi and his staff plete expertise that Yanuzzi don't know and everyone While in New York will also cease. Although during her visit. She said has gained over the past we do know, we wouldn't Clayson was able to re- the original vision can't be she explained the financial 20-plus years of studying have been able to go," she ceive some good news repaired, there is hope that situation they were in up this disease. said. "It's so hard to ask for from Yanuzzi. After taking a new treatment will be front with Yanuzzi. He reIn all, Yanuzzi gave help, but it was so positive. a new angiogram, Yanuzzi found that can in fact slow sponded by telling Clayson Clayson a positive out- I'm so grateful to strangtold Clayson that a treat- and even stop the progres- that he would be a co-doc- look on her diagnosis. And ers and people I know. It's ment she received from her sion of Clayson's disease. tor with Clayson's regular Clayson is quick to thank been awesome." |