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Show 3 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, September 3, 1987 WVC Police Waiting Continued from page 1 called their assignment desks and (I couldnt help but overhear) spoke long and hard about nothing. A lot of aimless chatter passed back and forth. They, too, waited. Assistant Attorney General Earl Dorius came to be interviewed and he spoke of the terrible burden these last 13 years have created on everyone close to the case. The burnout of attorneys on both sides, and the strain on families of the victims, witnesses and attorneys as well. Dorius spoke of the need of a quicker, less complicated way of arriving at the time of execution. He told of the terrible financial debt such years of conflict bring. As midnight neared reporters turned again to their legal pads, found their own areas of privacy and began to update their stories. News witnesses for the execution left the media room at midnight to be taken to the execution chamber - and still we waited. It was quiet. Laughter was stilled. Voices muted and we waited. It was indeed a death watch. It was a long night and although I had requested to be a witness to the execution, I was, (I am ashamed to say) relieved to be denied that request. I was, however, pleased to be chosen as one of those to cover the nights events. Praised By Sheriff death, executive director Gary There is Deland quickly said, nothing humanitarian about taking anyones life, but this method is than surely more humanitarian any other. The reports of the death, to me, I dont were almost know what I had expected, but not the almost cold, objective, sanitary words I heard. In an remark, Phil Reissen, of Channel 4 TV, perhaps stated what many of us felt. He, a witness to both Gary Gilmores death by firing squad and Selbys by serum injection, said, Gilmores execution was violent, noisy and bloody. Selbys was peaceful, quiet and clinical. And so the death watch was over. We slowly walked back to our cars, drove the long way home and, as I slipped into my bed, the clock before my eyes said 4:15 a.m. It had been a long, long night and it was over. WEST VALLEY. Police protection in West Valley City received praise from an unexpected source last week. In a gathering of Salt Lake Countys elected officials, convened to discuss a possible tax hike, County Sheriff Pete Hayward made the following comments: Nobody here understands what we're up against. We have less than one officer per 1,000 people. Ive heard for six years about the incorporation of West Valley City I want to make it very clear to you. When we were patrolling that area, which then was known as Granger, we had five officers out there. Now they (West Valley City) have 80 officers there. They have more people there than we have for the entire west side of the county. In February 1980, during the debate over the proposed incorporation of West Valley City, opponents of incorporation had warned that police services in the new city would see "a smaller number of officers per capita than present county levels. off-han- d One a.m. approached and - no matter how blase news people claim to be I saw everyones eyes moving time and time again to watches or clock, knowing that those were the moments when Selby was dying. He was declared dead at 1: 12 a.m. He died peacefully, quietly and -- - quickly. Entirely the opposite from the violent, prolonged tortuous deaths of his victims. The media witnesses soon returned to the news center. Warden Cooke reported on the death and when asked if this had been a humanitarian Death Watch Continued from page 1 the official Death Watch logs. 7:40 p.m. This is a description of the Selby cell: bed is made of one sheet, one mattress, one pillow and one blanket sitting on a wooden bench with another sheet are one pair of tube socks sitting on the blanket, one pair of things were sitting on the floor in front of the bed, adjacent to the toilet. One tin foil packet of vaseline sitting to the left of the washbasin. That one kind of floored me. I chuckled and walked over to a friend. One who had been chosen to see the execution carried out. This is obscene, I told him. Im all for capital punishment, but good grief. Theyre going to tie this guy down, stick some needles into him and kill him and here we all are studying and documenting his last few hours almost minute by minute. This whole thing is weird, I told him. Laughing, he agreed. But the laugh was one I recognized as one of resignation, not comedy. Another who would be a witness spotted me and walked over to say hi. Whats the matter, I asked him. Ive certainly seen you in better spirits. Arent you excited? He chuckled, shook his head, looking like he couldnt believe what was going on either, and we both turned and resumed our pacing, waiting for what seemed like an eternity for sothat for anything. meone to come in and say som ething As the night continued to move that would send us into our usual slowly onward, there seemed to be a state of consciousness. That of reaclittle impatience in the air. ting, not having to think about it Everyone anxious to get this thing anymore. moving and over with. All of us runnYet another friend, a newspaper ing around, confering with each reporter, said hi. I asked him how he other and with editors and anyone was feeling. "I didnt really want else we had to check in with. I kind of got he said. this, Everyone seemed tired. Why do volunteered for it. I thought I could they do these things at one in the I asked someone. A recognize the its just another story morning, shrug and tenor of the voice. It shrug. No one knew. I talked with one of my friends seemed like he was trying to convince himself more than me. Hey, again. A fellow reporter. I hadnt dont worry about it, I joked. The been picked to be an official witness, whole world is crazy, they just dont but I still had a recurring thought go know it, is all. He laughed and we through my mind while trying to both started looking around for figure out just how the hell am I goothers to talk to. ing to write this one. I kept seeing Later another Death Watch Log flash through my mind the thought was handed out. I saw many of us of someone down there in the prison shaking our heads, but still clamorbeing taken from his cell, walking ing to know when the next one would that final 100 feet, being strapped to a gurney, having tubes stuck into his be coming. Opened orange juice. It was still arms and a bunch of people standing frozen. Left it on sink and continued there staring as he closed his eyes and just died. I shuddered. pacing. 5:15 p.m. Sitting on bed working Yes, it was quite a different feelon study lesson Life After Death ing from just reacting to something with scriptures. that you hadnt really had time to Landscape Ordinance, Mobile Park To Top WVC Agenda The ordinance is citys landscape by Steve Warren Green Sheet Staff Writer WEST VALLEY.Two items of old business dominated Tuesday evenings planning session of the West Valley City Council. Both the Southfork mobile home subdivision plan and a recommendation for further study of the citys landscape ordinance will be on City Council agenda tonight (Thursday). The Southfork mobile home plan has been before the Planning Commission and the City Council on many occasions. The mobile home park, which will be developed at 6400 W. 3000 South, is the subject of an appeal by a group of residents in the area represented by Norman B. Fish who want Southfork developer Kent Norton to build a clubhouse and swimming pool in the first phase of the three-yea-r development plan. There will be 41 mobile home lots in phase one. Council members noted that the slow economy has affected this development over the years, but "the proposal has deteriorated with each said application, Janice Fisher. Coun-cilwoma- n Two or three of us looked at that one together. I shook my head. Thought, No way. Wouldn't touch an example of overlegislation, added Councilman Duane Moss. I dont want the city or county or anyone else telling me what I have to plant in my yard, he said. Moss brought a copy of a ne ws article about a residence at which electricity was not turned on because the developer failed to plant two trees as required by the landscape ordinance. He observed that some residents simply dont want trees on their property - - who wants to mow around trees? Tonight the Council will decide whether to ask the Planning Commission to review the ordinance. At the suggestion of Mayor Brent Anderson, the council directed that city funds be utilized to provide immunization of fire fighters against Hepatitis B. Other items on tonights agenda include public hearings on zoning changes for property at 3850 South 4000 West and at 3000 South 3400 West, a request by Randy W. C beer Cushing for a Class license, and special recognition for former Green Sheet editor Don Robinson. 'HfHOME IMPROVEMENT think about. Finally the witnesses were called up. A brief moment of levity as a few of us noticed while walking outside that the blinds had been accidentally left up and we got a full view of the reporters being frisked in preparation for being taken down to the prison. Finally, an official came in. Lets said to a group of journalism students years ago when they asked me the same question about a particularly big story I had covered. I dont think you believe that statement any more than I did back then, I thought. Finally, it was all over. How in the world am I going to write this? I thought again on the way home. Thinking again of the pages and pages of death watch logs I shook my head. Yes, the whole world is crazy. Forget it. Its just another story, write it and move on to the next. I told myself. Ive seen many reporters, and at times myself, get like the police. You get kind of cynical, calloused. You see so many different things that nothing surprises you or bothers you much. Sometimes something does, like a case involving children or mass death, but a majority of things dont anymore. Somehow, though, this didn't seem to be one of those that didn't bother reporters. You couldn't help but be affected. You had a chance to think thats why. Reporters are human too. No matter how hard we try not to be and how much readers might criticise us. Were only human too. go. Watching our watches, a number of us commented that, Well, he must be dead now. Then the official word came. The official walked up to the podium and said, The execution has been concluded. Those of us left behind breathed a sign of relief and waited for our fellow reporters to get back. Waiting so we could get actheir thoughts and first-hancount. After a briefing by prison officials, the time was turned over to the reporters who had watched. I think it would be better if you would just ask us questions so we can get this over with and get out of here, one said. My thoughts exactly. Another was asked her personal feelings. She refused to answer. It might bias her coverage and wasn't important. The story was, she said. I chuckled to myself. Same thing I d Booklets On Constitution Available WEST VALLEY. Free booklets containing the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights are now available through West Valleys Commission on the Bicentennial of the Constitution. Civic, service and church groups or organizations as well as schools and other institutions are invited to request these attractive booklets by calling commission 968-509- 968-488- Kearns Council To Hold Election KEARNS. Two positions will be up for election when the Kearns Town Council meets on Sept. 24, with Arlo James and David Howick seeking to retain their seats. The election will be held during the regular council meeting, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Kearns library auditorium. All in attendance will be able to cast ballots. During a meeting Tuesday night, Council members saw a presentation regarding the Strike Force method of fire fighting. When put into use, the method will place a ladder truck in the Oquirrh T-- B it was announced that Kearns is in line for a master plan to be prepared Fire Station, which would be backed up in case of need by the Kearns station, said Mr. James. Council members also heard a discussion on geological faults and earthquake hazards in the area, and by the county. Council members approved plans to build a Kingdom Hall Assembly of God church at 6200 So. 4500 West. LADOR DAY WEEKEND IPCME HIDYZ SALE PRICES EFFECTIVE NOW THRU LABOR DAY SEPT. 7 Citizen Study Release Delayed TAYLORSVILLE. A citizen study concerning incorporation of the Taylorsville-Bennio- n will be releas- ed in late September, according to Chairwoman Grace Sisco. The group had previously announced the study would be released in late August. Sisco said the committee decided to release its study at a later date since a county report will also be divulged at that time. The county hired a consultant to update the original John Short study on Taylorsville-Bennio- n incorporation. The citizen study will disclose information about taxation, municipal services and the different forms of government available to the area. Seniors Continued from page 1 third Tuesday of each month at Reach more than 81,000 every Thursday morning. mid-valle- y homes ADVERTISERS: SAVE With Our Special Fall Home With Everything Improvement Section Geared & Winter Fall For To Ready The Home PUBLICATION DEADLINE: DATE: September 24th September 17th FULL CIRCULATION: 81,000 Call Today 262-668- 2 GREEN SHEET NEWSPAPERS members 4 or Miriam Farnsworth at at Richardson Kathy The free booklet distribution is part of West Valley's effort to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the signing of the U. S. Constitution. Trinity United Methodist church. The group has been meeting bimonthly the past nine years, with an attendance of at least 60, said Mrs. Diviney. We are an independent Christian group, not affiliated with the county or the Service Area, but we would love to see a senior citizen center in Kearns, it is badly needed, she said. Members of our group who are in need of companionship, a meal or activities with other people have to go clear to Redwood or Magna, which can be very difficult for many of them. A spokesman for Salt Lake County Aging Services said county personnel are looking into the problem in Kearns, but because of funding problems no decision has been reached at the present time. Final Reduction All Remaining Ladies Spring Sportswear NOW & & Summer Dresses 23 OFF reg. price Bid Award Continued from page 1 track record (considering the millions of purchases made by the district each year). But once the purchase order is out there is nothing we can do other than consider this a learning experience. FASHION PLACE - MURRAY SHOP MON.-FRI- ., 10-- 9; SAT., 10-- 6; SUN., 12-- 5 USEYOUR ROPER'SOPTION CHARGE OR YOUR BANKCARDS |