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Show September 30,1980 fmtae 4 Vandalism Solar Bill , F Maps Siffnost Vandalism is the most critical crime that is committed against elderly people, according to Dr. Marlene Young-Rifai, a Portland, Oregon attorney . Dr. Young-Rifai made the comment during a video presentation for those attending a conference on mental health and aging Thursday at Weber State College. The conference was co-sponsored bv WSC and The University of Utah. According to Dr. Young-Rifai, twenty-three percent of the older people today are subjected to harrassment and vandalism. Many elderly persons have a hard time understanding and coping with vandalism. This can cause serious mental breakdowns. She cited the case of a woman whose home had been vandalized to the point that she locked herself in an upstairs room and refused to come out for a long period of time, causing serious Dooooooooooooooooq D D 0 0 D D D 0 0 0 p D 0 D Ogden 1 1877 Washinton 394 4527 mental and physical problems. The attorney also noted that when an older person becomes subject to a legal guardian, it reduces that person to the level of a child, in the eyes of the law. They cannot do such things as buy and sell property, sign checks, deal in any financial matter, marry, and in some cases they cannot give gifts. James Tanner, state legal developer for the Utah Legal Services, told the gathering that Utah has e uniform code which states that age alone is not grounds for appointing a legal guardian. It must also be proven that the person does not have the capacity to care for his or herself, among other requirements. Tanner spoke mostly about the Utah law as it applies to the economic situation of the elderlv. He said "It is clear the public does not know what the law is. These laws apply to all x)ijQ(rQKm Blvd. Ogden 2 1225 Country Hills Dr. 627-1920 residents, including the elderly," he added. "A court does not just look at whether a contract is-reduced to writing, but also if there is an agreement between the parties involved." H1 also said there are many types of contracts that do not have to be reduced to writing in order to be valid. Among those that must be written, however, are the sale and leasing of land and property; the sale of good for $500 or more; and any contract that is to be performed over the period of at least one year. He covered law in olving door-to-iioor salesmen as well as third party debt collectors. The attorney noted two laws which have been proposed but are not yet in effrc which would require a cru.i.nal to make restitution of property, and would give a person living in a mobile home more that the standard fifteen days to vacate the premises upon request of the landlord. o o o o c a Washington- "We can be proud of the diverse roles Utah will play in the nation's energy future," said Representative Gunn McKay (D-Utah) as a House Senate Conference Committee approved a solar power project McKay proposed for Utah'shGreat Salt Lake. At McKay's request, one million, 225 thousand dollars was appropriated for the project by the House of Representatives in June in the Energy and Water Appropriations for 1981. However, the appropriation was not approved as the bill was acted upon in the Senate. McKay, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, said he was pleased that the project was restored at $1 million in the conference through the efforts of his colleague Rep. Tom Bevill (D-Alabama), Chairman of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. "I have been working with Chairman Bevill to have the project restored in the conference," McKay said. "Iam happy that these efforts have been successful and that development of promising new energy sources like this one will be a top priority. Even though the final amount is under the House figure, this worthy project will go forward," he said. The Utah lawmaker said the Great Salt Lake has the potential to supply substantial amounts of electrical power by solar energy in the future. He explained that a 150,000 kilowatt pilot solar electric power plant on the Dead Sea in Israel provides a prototype for the Great Salt Lake pro-ject."The unique operation in Israel proves the feasibility of generating electricity from solar energy continuously, day night, winter and summer." The Great Salt Lake is uniquely suited to power production because of the availability of fresh water along with the high salinity of the lake water and combined with plenty of sunshine. The process uses the thermal gradient developed in salt water ponds. "The power produced will cost no more than conventional and nuclear power, and can be generated without the threat of environmental pollution or ecological damage," McKay added. Energy experts from Utah State University, Weber State College, and the University of Utah are prominently involved in the project. The Utah Department of Transportation is warning motorists to beware of and to report service station operators who are selling the Utah State Highway Map. The maps are printed and distributed free of charge by the UDOT and are paid for by an appropriation from the Utah State Legislature. Each map has printed on its covers, "Issued for free distribution by the Utah Department of Transportation." Operators who are found selling the maps are in violation of two state laws and could be prosecuted. Any person who is asked to pay for the map should contact the Community Relations Division of the UDOT at 533-5656 with information on the name and location of the service station involved. ROTC Two Weber State College Army ROTC students have been commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army Reserve in ceremonies conducted at the college. They are Robert J. Lessey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lessey of Ogden, and Charles Blaser, son of William Hankins also of Ogden. Lt. Lessey is a Bonneville High School Graduate. He came to WSC and majored in Business Management. His reserved commission is in field artillery and he will be assigned for duty with the 6th battilion of the 83rd field artillery in Ogden. Lt. Blaser is a Ben Lomond High School Graduate. He majored in Engineering, commision is Automotive His reserve in the Army Corps of Engineers. He has been assigned for duty at the 321st Engineer battilion in Ogden. |