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Show REM AND VINEYARD - i.-7 ION BCVatfl EDITION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2006 50 CENTS BUM n i m r COMMUNITY IN 0 DmUti ffl3 SCHOOLS: Canyon View engages in Penny Wars TOWN HALL: Of em discusses heetle infestation SPORTS: Timpanogos girls rally past Orem BUSINESS LIFE IS SWEET AT WENDY SUE'S CANDY Orem is 3rd most digital U.S. city Michael Rigert NORTH COUNTY STAFF As Oremites continue to get more connected to technology with everything from Blackberries Blackber-ries and iPods to wireless communications, com-munications, these overtures increasingly are being echoed in city government. Ia a report released this month by the Center for Digital Government, Govern-ment, Orem was ranked third in the 2006 Digital Cities Survey for cities with populations between 75,000 and 124,999. Cities were self -assessed on criteria such as online services available to residents, city planning plan-ning and management technology, technol-ogy, future technology plans, and in-house innovation and wireless development, said Janet Grenslitt, the Center for Digital Government's survey director. Orem scored high for its realtime real-time wireless building inspection inspec-tion services, online mapping services, membership in the Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Infra-structure Agency the fiberoptic fiber-optic communications network better known as UTOPIA she said. City programmers have developed over 60 innovative applications, ap-plications, Grenslitt added. Salt Lake and Ogden also scored high in the rankings and in the Digital State Survey, Utah ranked fourth in the nation. "Quite obviously Utah is doing a good job," Grenslitt said. Orem's ranking, she said, reflects well on the willingness and leadership of city officials to make digital government a priority prior-ity and appropriate the resources required to make it happen. Ernesto Lazalde, manager of Orem's information technology division, said in the last three years the city has added dozens of online services and earlier this year completely redesigned the See DIGITAL, Page 2 Hospital Smiles :J1 XV 7 s' I n Wf-l --- I MELISSA FARGODaily Herald Rick Story (as Harley Claus in center), Leo mascot of the REAL Salt Lake Soccer team and a member of the Central Utah Harley Owners Group chat with Tanner Zeeman, 12, after giving him a game at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo on Saturday. Harley Claus spreads holiday cheer Michael Rigert NORTH COUNTY STAFF ri n capitalized children resting in II I their beds may have been ex- I w pecting Santa Claus, but instead f" they were greeted Saturday by II I Harley Claus and his band of U LJ merry bandana-and-leather-clad bikers bearing stuffed animals and toys. In what has become a Christmas tradition, employees and customers at Timpanogos Harley -Davidson (formerly Monarch Har-ley-Davidson) collect toys and teddy bears for a special ride on their hogs to Utah Valley Val-ley Regional Medical Center in Provo. For three years running, the group, led by store general manager Rick Story in his custom 'Harley Claus' suit sporting the motorcycle company's orange and black colors, has jumped on their bikes and visited children at the hospital. "At Christmas time, they want to be home watching movies," said Lisa Thomas, a Timpanogos Harley-Davidson employee. "It's a little thing we're hoping will brighten their day." Complete with a police escort from Orem Public Safety and Utah County Sheriff's Office squad cars and flashing lights, the SCERA president takes organization to new level Reva Bowen NORTH COUNTY STAFF For Adam Robertson, the president and CEO of SCERA, the acronym is synonymous with "community." "To me, I think 'community' when I hear SCERA," Robertson said. "The thing that is so good about SCERA especially in this world that we live in is that it is so neat to be part of an organization where everyone's goal is to lift and support and provide wholesome entertainment. entertain-ment. What better job could someone have than to work with those who share those same principles?" prin-ciples?" Robertson is widely credited with being a key player in the preservation of SCERA, and was recently honored by the Provo Orem Chamber of Commerce with the Watkins award for "Businessman of the Year." Orem City Councilwoman Karen McCandless has worked with Robertson in her role as the city's liaison to the SCERA Board of Directors, and said that in speaking with him, a person can sense the excitement and passion he has for SCERA. "Adam loves the community. That excitement, passion, and love have been a driving force in SCERA 's success, and make him a very worthy Watkins award recipient," McCandless said. Robertson came to the SCERA in October 2003 as director of marketing development. At the time, the SCERA Suites offices were opened in the building north of the theater, and Robertson Rob-ertson worked there for about a year," See ROBERTSON, Page 2 I EL 1. Adam Robertson z Comn Briefing if IV MAN KILLED IN OREM CROSSWALK - An auto-pedestrian auto-pedestrian accident Monday evening claimed the life of the 75-year-old man who was hit. He died from complications Tuesday morning. Deloy Hemenway, of Orem, was crossing the street at a crosswalk at 1200 South and Main Street in Orem when a woman turned left into the intersection, hitting him. Lt. Doug Edwards said the accident is still under investigation. No citations have been issued. He said that at the time, the accident did not seem to be serious. seri-ous. "The man was up and talking and seemed to be OK, but apparently things have taken a turn for the worse," he said. Edwards said Hemenway had a stroke Monday night at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where he was transported after the accident. Police have 10 days to file charges with the state if they find probable cause to do so. SANTA SHAKE-UP - A Santa Claus at University Mall has been replaced after a woman reported he made an inappropriate comment to her teenage daughter last week, the Associated Press reported. Mall officials "found that the claims of the mother ... differed considerably from those of Santa and the witnesses there," said general manager Rob Callas, according to AP. But to avoid any problems, the mall sent Santa on his sleigh and called another, the AP reported. Santa is always with two other people when he greets children, chil-dren, Callas said. SUNCREST ELEMENTARY FETES SCHOOL'S 20TH BIRTHDAY - A special student assembly will be held Friday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m. at Suncrest Elementary El-ementary School to commemorate the school's 20th year. Highlights will include former principals sharing their memories of the school and a multimedia slide presentation of the Suncrest's history. Students will release balloons while a new flag is raised. Suncrest Elementary School is at 668 W. 150 North in Orem. SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CHORAL PERFORMANCES PERFOR-MANCES AT THE MALL - Local school groups and organizations will be providing Christmas choir performances at the University Mall's Canyon Court adjacent to Mervyn's through Dec. 20 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. According to the schedule, the Orem High School choir is set to perform Dec. 14 at 5 p.m., a Suncrest Sun-crest Elementary School choir will perform Dec. 14 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and a Bonneville Elementary School choir wiil perform Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. For the full schedule, contact the University Mall's customer service ser-vice desk at 224-0694. OREM PUBLIC LIBRARY FEATURED IN NEW BOOK OF AMERICA'S TOP LIBRARIES - Read ily acknowledged as one of the top libraries in the country, the Orem Public Library is one of 80 libraries librar-ies across the U.S. spotlighted in a new coffee table book of stories and photographs entitled "Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love." Published by Berkshire Publishing, the book highlights select American libraries, both large and small, including the Salt Lake City Library and the Boston Public Library which boasts 6.1 million titles. CHRISTMAS HELP AVAILABLE - The North County Newspapers are continuing their holiday tradition tradi-tion of accepting nominations for needy families in north Utah County to receive help for Christmas. Through Dec. 12 nominations may be made, in writing, writ-ing, to the newspaper office. Forms are available at 399 E. State Rd., Pleasant Grove. Individuals or groups who wish to sponsor one or more of the needy may make selections during office hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Submissions should be based on the need for help. They should include information about unemployment, unemploy-ment, illness, injury or other reason the family may be facing a bleak holiday. Each nomination should include the name, address and telephone number of both the family which needs assistance and the person per-son making the nomination, so the sponsor may use them as confidential contacts. 6 nl,6 055"00050Mll8 no Home, Auto, & Personal Loans ... Open to all oJVtuk Cmrily. Once a member, always a member- no mailer where you go. Cfli if viWiMiii) nit mum a wwr i AJr Y |