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Show Letters to the editor . .The Record welcomes letters from all responsible individuals or groups. ..Letters should be typed or printed neatly, double spaced. Also no letters will be printed that are not signed. However, if the writer requests, with good reason, that his name be withheld from publication that request will be honored. Jail comments Editor: Some time has passed since the bond election for a new jail in Cedar City. You have heard a number of post mortem analysis and accusations that have been hurled, like the one by 'Bleeding Heart' Messerly, wherein he pointed the finger at the people of Parowan and Paragonah for the bond's failure to pass, and the pitiable lament of Judge Ronnow that the interrupting noises of building that disturb the proceedings in his court, and that they will probably go on for a long time. Are they building a skyscraper there? Also, the Judge has fear that one of the criminals that is brought into his court, in broad daylight, will attack one of the students. Where will the peace officer be? Judge Jackson says that Governor Matheson doesn't like him to be quartered in rented space. Well then, why doesn't Governor Matheson build him a place with State funds? Ten years ago, or more, there was a hard fought campaign in this County to move the County Seat from Parowan to Cedar City, and everyone was aware of the arguments for and against. I, for one, was in favor of the move, but the required number of voters said "no." Parowan remained the county seat, and so a new county court house was built there. I very strongly believe that all functions of county government and county business should take place in the county courthouse in the county seat. Now that part of the crocodile tears have been shed, make a realistic analysis of the real motivation behind the jail issue : My opionion is that it was nothing more than a Trojan horse endeaver by Dee Cowan and the Cedar City Chamber of Commerce to move the county seat to Cedar City. Is there any kind of ruling that says . that jailbirds from county and city have to be housed in the same sturcture? I understand that when the present' courthouse was built, constructional provisions were made for jail facilities in the basement. Oh no! there is no natural light ! Did it ever occur to anyone that holes could be knocked in the walls to let in natural light? Build the county jail where it should be, in the county court house, and then there will be ample room in the" present building for the Cedar City criminals. Of course they may not have a library, but the mobile library could be invited to make calls periodically. Of course it would be a shame to kick the dance studio and the clinic and other extracurricular . activities out of the courthouse, but that is the way the ball should roll. There is always the big bug-a-boo talking point that we may be sued by the C.L.U., the P.L.C., the A.D.L., the B'nai B'rith, or maybe the CIA. It has happened so many times. The worst that could happen would be thct they would jail the County Commissioners, but they would always be able to plea bargain, and after a pre-sentance pre-sentance evaluation they are sure to get some kind of frivolous sentence, after which they would be bound to be given credit for the time they had been in jail and placed on probation, and in a very short time, would be back on the street to kill again. Surely there is less costly way than you and I having to pay one, three, five or even nine million dollar bill to satisfy the whims of Dee Cowan and the Cedar City Chamber of Commerce. There are a number of schemes being mulled. Dee Cowan may keep . flipping the coin until he wins, or he may have some of his friends build a palatial building that we will have to pay for, or to show a little implied government pressure, Judge Burns may impanel a grand jury to finagle the deal. Don Mathews Teachers thanked Editor: We would like to use your media to let the people of Cedar City know that Jan. 25-29 was teacher appreciation week. Many times we wish to let our teachers know how much we appreciate them, but we don't know when or how. We would encourage you all to have your students write a note give a telephone call or take an apple to a teacher who is important and influential in his or her life. Any way you find to say "thank you" is greatly appreciated. As a PTA Board, we wish to publicly express our appreciation for the many outstanding teachers in the Middle School who really care and who help our youth in their educational pursuits. Cedar Middle School PTA Board |