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Show xMnSSMkkWh zzzzzzzhzii: "Render Unto Caesar" i 1 . . 11 im,i.i.i m, 11 11I inm i i mini ri for the teachers that are helping educate our grandkids in elementary school. The second check was larger than the first check. I was tired of seeing budgets for these wonderful teachers slashed. I wanted them to have some money to buy things for their classrooms, with no strings attached. I recalled when we had eight children in school. Two were foster children. In no way were we paying enough in taxes to support all of those kids. Now we are paying taxes to help support other kids in school. I see it as an investment in the future of our community, state and nation. I appreciate those who helped support us as kids and our children. Now it is time for us to do our part. As a Boy Scout I pledged my honor to do my duty to God and country. Part of doing my duty to country is paying my fair share. The Scout Law taught me to be thrifty. Part of being thrifty was to learn to pay my way in life. I hope I never forget the image of my Great Grandfather Mark Bezzant walking across the plains as "Bezzant" continued on Page 3 that nothing of importance happened that day. That was the day revolutionaries signed the Declaration of Independence. It is understandable that the King of England thought nothing of importance happened that day because they didn't have "Face Book," "Text Messages," "Tweeter," "Cable News," "Cell Phones," "Instant Messaging," etc., etc. Those days of "Snail Mail" are long gone. Now we can see in real time what is happening around the globe. A six year old kid is frisked in an airport and it is beamed around the globe before the microwave TV dinner is ready to serve. Not only are the days of "Snail Mail" gone but so are the days of taxation without representation. During the relatively recent concerns over smells coming from the Timpanogos Special Service District waste water treatment plant, I reminded city officials of some history. Pleasant Grove helped establish that organization and set up the bylaws that govern it. That organization has allowed for the growth of our communities in the north part of Utah County. If the organization has become unresponsive to our needs, we have no one to blame but ourselves. But, like almost any organization, we only have a say and don't always get our way. Recently I found a framed quote which I purchased and gave to one of our city officials who had taken lots of criticism from citizens over recent rate increases. It said, "It is a great country but you can't live here for free." I remembered what my Grandfather Adamson taught us as children when he served on the city council. He had been involved in the erection of a new city hall that stands on Main Street. He believed that we should always work to make the city a better place. He would know since it was his father who helped establish the first flour mill in Pleasant Grove and had seen the first paved roads. Those early lessons stuck with me. This was our city, our state and our nation to make better. After writing out a check for my property taxes last Fall, I wrote out another check. The second check was earmarked by Mark Bezzant Monday was the deadline for paying federal income taxes. Normally the deadline is April 15 to pay federal and state income taxes. Last November was the deadline for paying property taxes. Each year I send a thank you letter in with all three payments. In the early formative years of America, colonists were angry because there was taxation without representation. The King of England did all kinds of things without consultation. This was the same king who wrote in his journal on July 4, 1776 "Bezzant" continued from Page 2 a ten year old boy. He came here when Pleasant Grove was called Battle Creek. It was a two day walk from Salt Lake. He came here and lived with his grandparents in a sod hut because his mother and little sister died that same year and the family was too poor for all of them to travel together. Others paid his way to America. Later he grew up and served on the city council and became the judge in Pleasant Grove. Others may chose to complain nonstop about almost everything, but this is one grateful American who will never forget what the block G on "Little Mountain" stands for. "We will not Grumble or Growl but will become Great through Growth in Pleasant Grove..." God bless America! |
