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Show -. .f '. '' ; 1 . - ' I . ,(,,-.. ?' -"" ; .-. 4 . ........... Ballad shop video machines ordered stopped ; V By GARY R. BLOfrGETT ' j .--,.'' J BOUNTIFUL You can never judge a Bountiful City Council " meeting by what's on the agenda. Last week's agenda had an item .' listed: consider approval of four amusement devices for the "Four E's Dugout," a baseball card shop located in the Colonial Square shopping center, 1 l Bountiful ' police Sgt. Dave Winter started what turned into a. heated debate by telling the council . that the store owner, Jim Etheridge, was in violation of the city or dinance by allowing the store to be -open prior to the closure pt school each day 2:30 - p.m. Monday through Friday) and jhat students, age youngsters were found to"be in the store at 11:30 a.m. He saidtdiere were also reports that youngsters had been smoking in the parking lot outside the store. ' City prosecuting attorney Russell Mahan also noted that an inspection of the premises revealed that there -were 13 amusement devices already in the store-and that the city ordinance or-dinance limits four devices per establishment. es-tablishment. ' !'The owner was in violation of Jhe law by the excessive number of devices, but he was also in violation -- of the city ordinance because he. ' does not have a permit to operate , any devices," said Atty. Mahan ' "1 ) r The attorney also told the council that he placed posters in the , window, of his establishment stating there were two neighboring stores ; in the center which "did not want L kids hanging ardund their stores." ; "I believe this was done to antagonize an-tagonize young people who frequent fre-quent his (Etheridge's) store and if not illegal, it was in bad taste and created a poor business relationship . with his neighboring stores," said ' .Atty. Mahan. I ; Mr. Etheridge's attorney . said, ' I . "the things being stated here are i not true, but misunderstandings between - my client andthepolice and tity Officials." ; Cixi He pleaded with the council to "give . Mr. Etheridge another ! chance to prove that he can, and ) will, operate his business within the law and follow the city ordinances that have been established. You will find that everything has been a complete misunderstanding." My client has done nothing wrong." Councilman Keith Barton challenged the attorney by asking, 1 "Wasn't having 13 amusement! machines in the store wrong? He; (Etheridge) knew the limit was four.! because he had appeared before the ; council earlier to obtain an extension exten-sion of that number."- ?; ; Councilman Bob Gramott added,' "He also knew he was in violation ; of the city ordinance by having his store open during school hours. He promised us that he would not do that" 1 ; Then the scene shifted. A ; young-looking, ; 19-year-old mother of two approached the council and pleaded with them , to "give Mr. Etheridge another chance because his establishment is about the only place in town that teenagers can go and have a good time and still be in an approved environment." en-vironment." i - ' Monta Tingey continued to tell the council that if youngsters to not have such a gathering place, they ' will gather somewhere else, smoke pot and get into trouble. She also questioned the council for their reasoning of limiting the number of devices to four. f . , r She told the council that she had "gone astray" at age 16 and that teenagers these days need a place, like the Four E's Dugout to gather and have good, , clean fun in a reputable establishment. 1 " After being instructed of their options-including not being arbitrary and capricious in their decision-the council decided to deny the request for the four amusement devices at this ; time, but to invite Mr. Etheridge back before the council in two months for another hearing. As the crowd of young spectators left the chamber, Councilman Harold Shafter turned to the press and said: ' . ' "J want you to know that that young lady had a wsmendous impact im-pact on me and probably the rest of the council," he said." Without her testimony, I doubt, that Mr. Etheridge would have been invited back for another hearing. I just hope he comes in with as sincere an at-r at-r titude as Ms. Tingey.' ' |