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Show Page Two - The Springville Herald EDITORIAL More than dancing The Springville World Folkfest is a unique program. It is centered around ethnic dancing and music, but it is much more. It is also about sharing, giving, exchanging, uniting and most of all caring. As one of the director's from a visiting country said, "This festival is not just about dancing." The dancing and the music and the beautiful costumes are just a part of the festival. The people are the other part. And it doesn't take long to find that out when you get involved in the folkfest. This is the eleventh year that hundreds of dancers and musicians from all over the world have come to our small community to perform. And each year hundreds of friendships are formed because of the event. It doesn't take long to love once you get acquainted, and that is what will be happening all over Springville and Mapleton next week. With some of the guests it is harder because of the language barrier, but lots of hand and body gestures and a lot of laughing bring the knowing and the liking the love and understanding. It is a thrill to see the American flags waving all during the folkfest week. It is an even bigger thrill to see the flags of each visiting country waving side by side on the festival stage each evening. That is the way the world should be, everyone's flag waving together. We hope that you will take the opportunity to offer your friendship to our international guests. This may be their first visit to the United States and their first chance to meet Americans in their surroundings. We hope that you will enjoy the opportunity to enlarge your cultural and humanitarian vision as you participate in the parade, performances, workshops and street dance. It is a chance to meet the world and learn more about people who are different from us. If you get involved, you will feel the love and the caring and the friendship as well as the beautiful dancing. How to appeal property taxes Due to Utah's booming economy, econo-my, property values are skyrocketing skyrock-eting throughout the state and county assessors are working to bring taxable values up to market levels. As a result, many property proper-ty owners are experiencing hugh increases in property taxes when they receive their annual Notice of Property Valuation from the county auditor. Here's what taxpayers can do to appeal assessments assess-ments they feel are overvalued. If the market value listed on your notice is higher than what you think your property would sell for, you should appeal to the board of equalization within 30 days or by the date on the notice. 1. Obtain a copy of your property tax file from the county assessor and check it for errors. Make sure the property description descrip-tion is accurate. See that the acreage of the lot and the square footage of the building are accurate. accu-rate. Verify the number or rooms and any unfinished space in the building. Errors which would inflate the value of the property should be identified in your appeal. 2. Substantiate the value of your property. This can be done with real estate closing papers, a professional appraisal, or values of recent sales of comparable property obtained through a realtor. Many realtors are willing to provide a computer listing of property sales at no cost in hopes of getting your future business. Those who have had their mortgages mort-gages refinanced recently can submit that appraisal with their appeal. 3. Submit any errors found during Step One, and the value established in Step Two along with your appeal to the board of equalization within the time prmgfrtlle Ipbralit (USPS 51 3-060) Published Weekly by Art City Publishing Co., Inc. 161 South Main Street Springville, Utah 84663 Publisher Martin W. Conover Editor ..Patricia Conover Periodical Postage Paid in Springville, UT 84663 Postmaster send change of address notice to: The Springville Herald, 161 S. Main, Springville, UT 84663 Subscriptions in Advance per year $20.00 Out of County Subscriptions per year $23.00 Per Copy $0.50. Delivered by carrier, per month $2.00 Member Utah Press Association - July 10, 1996 period indicated on the notice. In larger counties, your may appeal may be heard at the same time your request is made. Some counties allow taxpayers to mail their appeals and some of these may be decided without a formal hearing. 4. The hearing: There will be three parties at the hearing: a representative of the county assessor, a neutral arbitrator appointed by the county, and you or someone you select to represent repre-sent you. It is up to you to show why your property is not worth what the assessor says it is worth. This is not the time to complain com-plain about high taxes. The only appropriate matter to be considered consid-ered is the value of your property. proper-ty. The assessor's representative will show why he feels the property prop-erty is worth what is shown on the notice. You will have the opportunity to ask questions or make comments about the assessor's asses-sor's information. 5. If you are unhappy with the decision of the board of equalization, equaliza-tion, you may appeal to the State Tax Commission. However, you have only 30 days to make the appeal. The Tax Commission will review the record of the hearing, including your information and the findings of the board of equalization. equa-lization. As a general rule, taxpayers tax-payers will not be able to introduce intro-duce new evidence to the Tax Commission. 6. If you are not satisfied with the decision by the Tax Commission, Commis-sion, you may appeal through the courts. In some areas of Southern Italy "no" might be indicated by nodding the head up. Thanks Mapleton policeman Editor: On Saturday, June 22, 1 attended attend-ed an open house for Kay Bills in Mapleton. I locked the keys in my car, but one quick phone call by a sweet lady brought Mapleton Maple-ton Police Officer Ryan Bagley to the scene. Three minutes later I had access ac-cess to my car. I can't begin to thank Officer Bagley for his swift cooperation, his wonderful attitude atti-tude during the process (it was hot) and his overall kindness. We need more of his kind in this country. Mapleton is a wonderful place to live. Alice B. Hansen Boy finds wallet in Lake Powell Editor: Thirteen-year-old Carl Kyns-ton Kyns-ton of 1200 W. Maple Street had an interesting experience recently. recent-ly. While snorkelmg at Lake Powell he noticed a wallet at about the 15-foot level. He dove to the bottom and brought the wallet to the surface. He showed it to his family and found that it contained several credit cards, $46 in cash and other personal papers. The wallet contained papers that were dated early in May 1996. This wallet had sat at the bottom of the lake for several weeks. Carl was able to call the wallet owner and inform him. The owner was very thrilled. Carl mailed the wallet and all of its contents (including the cash) to the owner. He was rewarded with warm respect from his family and big thanks from the wallet owner. His Dad Dorel Kynaston Springville police report Police had six calls about fireworks fire-works last week. And one man, Michael Wayne Terry, 311 E. Center, Meadow, Ut, was cited for throwing lighted material from a vehicle, firecrackers. Keith N. Carter, 555 S. 410 East, Springville, was arrested for three outstanding warrants. Genny K. Darais, 1652 S. 550 West, Orem, was charged with theft and forgery. Nicole Davis, 574 S. 300 East 1, Springville, was arrested on two warrants. Brian R. Dunkley, 180 S. 100 West, Springville, was charged with writing a bad check. Joseph Campbell Livingston, 4145 W. 9800 North, ' Pleasant Grove, and Paul S. Mortensen, 447 W. 800 South, Orem, were both charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession posses-sion of marijuana. Anthony M. Lucero, 1310 E. 400 South, Springville, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and for a warrant. Quinn Mounteer, 1015 S. State 23, Provo, was charged with telephone harassment. Jack T. Wrightman, 187 E. 400 South, Springville, was arrested for DUI. Callie R. Wright, 360 W. 400 North 51, Springville, was charged with assault. Crystabelle Taylor, 1612 Hobble Creek Haven Rd., Springville, Spr-ingville, was charged with DUI-not-a-drop and illegal consumption consump-tion of alcohol. A juvenile was arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol; another juvenile was arrested for giving false information to police, illegal consumption of alcohol and open container. A female juvenile was arrested for assault, theft, forgery and on a juvenile warrant. Several burglaries occurred last week. Two stereo speakers were taken from a vehicle at 388 E. 300 North; a blue notebook containing a life story was taken from a vehicle at 570 S. 500 East; and CD's were taken from a vehicle in Brookside. The fire extinguishers were taken out of the Hobble Creek church on Averett Ave. and thrown in the creek. The boxes they are kept in were damaged, A wallet, checkbook, 22-rifle, camera and pistol were taken COMMENT PAOE Why we njoy HiosSimgi Dear People of Springville: If you've been waiting for the very last minute to decide about hosting dancers during the Folk-fest Folk-fest this is it! And, here are some of the reasons we enjoy hosting: 1 . The dancers bring a bit of their country with them, and you get the feeling you've traveled to someplace exotic for the week. 2. My children are fascinated by the dancers and the feeling seems to be mutual. My kids get petted over and adored all week! 3. I have a built-in reason to avoid all committee meetings and assignments for the week: "Sorry, "Sor-ry, its Folkfest time, you know. We're already involved in plenty this week." 4. The dancers are easy to impress and amaze. For many of Reader upset with police Dear Editor: Saturday evening my friend and neighbor was robbed. I called the Springville Police and waited with her. It seemed that they decided to take their own sweet time getting to her house. The officer on duty, realizing that my friend was hysterical, handled her appropriately. The problem I had with the whole ordeal was the way he handled the investigation. investiga-tion. The officer went through the house, asked me questions, took notes and found where the intruder intrud-er entered the house. The screen in the bedroom window had been slit. After the officer apparently felt that his duty was done, he told my friend "my name is Officer and I am on duty after 10 p.m. Let me know if there are any other problems." and that was the extent of it besides telling her to make a list of what was taken and bring it to the police department in a couple of days. He didn't bother fingerprinting finger-printing the window, sill or anything any-thing else that was only obvious Freedom isn't free by Howard Stephenson , In this month when Utahns celebrate both our nation's independence inde-pendence and our state's pioneer heritage, I have decided to write : about what I feel is the biggest . threat to the freedoms and liberties liber-ties which our forbearers won through their toil, sweat, sacrifice and blood: our real national debt. Mapleton police report i Mapleton police want to re-i re-i mind citizens that on July 24, the parade route has been changed due to construction of the sewer on Main Street. Therefore, 300 West will be closed off between 1 Maple Street and 1600 North fiom midnight to noon that day. There will be no parking allowed during those hours on that street. Cars violating this will be towed. Mapleton police had 62 calls last week including .13 animal related. They impounded two, three-wheelers for having no registration and another was cited for expired registration. Robert Lloyd Weatherston, 40 W. 2700 South, Salt Lake, was arrested on a warrant. Korey Killpack, 231 S. Woodland Dr., Orem, was cited and released for theft of construction materials. A citizen saw him and reported the theft. . A rear window was shot out of a backhoe at 1697 W. 1200 North. A bicycle was taken, and there were two reports of illegal fireworks. from 698 N. 650 Eastthe wallet was recovered. Two trailers were broken into at 360 W. 400 North. Taken were jewelry, portable stereo, cassette tapes, cash, watch and 22-revolver. Someone also tried to break into Art City Auto. ' Other thefts included tools from 490 S. Glenwood Dr., two bicycles and a juvenile was arrested ar-rested for shoplifting at Maxum. . A person was hitting golf balls and one went into the drive-in and hit a vehicle. . them this is their first trip to the States and they love the grocery store, the canyon, K-Mart and our Disney video collection. 5. A large segment of the community is involved and you feel part of something very worthwhile wor-thwhile and important. 6. We love attending the Folkfest every night (host families fami-lies get in free, you know!) The atmosphere is casual and laid back and the entertainment is terrific! 7. Another spot on the map becomes "real" to usbecause now we have friends from there. 8. My children pick up on some of the country's customs, what their flag looks like, what language the people speak-all without making any effort at all. (OK-my husband and I learn a it was touched by the intruder. It didn't seem that he even cared what happened that evening. The more I started thinking about the situation as the night wore on, the more it amazed me that he really didn't do anything about the robbery except for what little notes he had taken so he could complete his report without any questions from his supervisor. supervi-sor. After I talked my feelings over with my friend, she called the Springville Police back and asked them why the officer didn't take any fingerprints. The dispatcher dis-patcher told her that someone would call her back. After a few moments another police officer called my friend back. When he addressed my friend, he called himself "brother " from her LDS Ward. He also stated that he was a police officer and apologized for the case not being handled properly. He also said that he and the previous officer would be back to take some fingerprints. It was apparent when the original officer When I speak of America's real national debt, I don't mean the $5.15 trillion national debt which encumbers each American with nearly $20,000 of financial obligations. These liabilities are relatively unimportant when compared with the type of national debt I'm talking about. The more dangerous danger-ous and threatening national debt we h ave accumulated in the United States is our failure to pay the price of the . liberties and freedoms we have received from previous generations. Someone once said that each generation must pay anew for the freedoms they are given, or they will lose them. I believe we are in the process of losing those liberties because we have refused to pay the price they require. Thomas Jefferson said, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." vigi-lance." But today there seems to be few citizens who are even occasionajly vigilant. In the 1994 general elections less than 40 of eligible voters in America were vigilant enough to vote, and I'm sure only a fraction of them could pass a basic test about the candidate's positions on the issues. is-sues. Worse, Utah's statewide primary elections this year yielded yield-ed a .voter turnout of just 15. If less than one in five citizens supports our representative form of government through the simple act of voting, perhaps we're not worthy of the blessed lifestyles we've inherited. : I admit that staying abreast of the political process, becoming informed, and participant in the marketplace of ideas isn't much fun for most people as a day on the lake, fishing, golfing, spending spend-ing time with the family or even mowing the lawn. But it's not necessarily supposed to be fun. I don't believe the revolutionary soldiers thought a winter at Val-' ley Forge was fun nor did those who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor in signing the Declaration of Independence. But today, most people couldn't could-n't name their three county commissioners com-missioners if their lives depended on it. According to surveys, less few things too!) 9. We get a chance to dispel some of the images of Americans that the dancers have gained from American TV shows broadcast in their countries. We are not a nation full of Melrose Place and Ban Simpson families! 10. We make a connection to people we would never meet in our daily lives are enriched be cause of it. Don't hesitate a moment longer! lon-ger! Your kids probably won't mind doubling up for the week, or even camping out in the living room or backyard. You don't need to remodel or change your whole lifestyle. Just open your door and your heart and be prepared pre-pared for an adventure with an exotic flavor! Sincerely, Debra Wells came to the door that he had been reprimanded because he was very rude to my friend, and he was. not at all thrilled to be back; Thrilled or not, after both police officers were through, my friend and I felt that at least there was finally a proper investigation. Fortunately, they found two fingerprints where the intruder entered the house that would have gone unnoticed if my friend had not called. My questions are: What would have happened if my friend did not go to that same LDS ward? Would he still have been able to, have the proper investigation done? Is this why we pay our taxes: to have improper investigations investiga-tions when our houses are broken into or when other accidents happen to us? I feel that if the police cannot do their job right or complete, then they shouldn't be police officers (or the police department should hire only; those .who,- can do their job). r,n. Name Withheld than one in five adults could accurately identify either their state senator or state representative, representa-tive, much less tell how they voted on key issues. ! In a representative democracy, one would expect several candidates candi-dates to file for each office. Not; so. The two major political parties par-ties work hard each election to' get at least one candidate to file for each seat. Many seats g go uncontested. This lack of interest doesn't stem from a sense that all is well in federal, state and local government. govern-ment. Polls show that a majority of Americans feel we are headed in the wrong direction. I don't' think I need to take the space to enumerate the many crises in' federal spending, state and local tax and infrastructure problems,' crime, government policies that stimulate the deterioration of the family and ailing educational outcomes. Too many citizens posses the apathy and ignorance of "Joe Six Pack" who is content as long as he has NFL games on Sunday afternoons, who lives for the weekend and has never attended a neighborhood political caucus, . written a letter to the editor ot) made a contribution to a political I race. He votes for candidates based on their television image or; political party or name recogni- tion. : These citizens are the biggest: contributors to the real national: debt: the failure to pay the priced of vigilance. They are the reason? politicians from both political', parties make promises in order to; get elected, promises which-produce which-produce our nation's fiscal debt. They are the reason our children : and grandchildren will be strapped with the liabilities of today's excesses. Ultimately, when we see our-liberties our-liberties and freedoms slipping away, we can't blame the politi- cians, the bureaucrats or the; judiciary; there is only one place to look for the culprits: in the" mirror. : . We need to remember the, words of a once popular patriotic, song: "Freedom isn't free, you've got to pay the priced you've got to sacrifice for yourJ liberty." |