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Show J L AN EDITION OF T is 3te 100 1 UT 8Z4-1501 1 YOUR-TOWN, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11. 2004 50 CENTS VOL. 26 NO. 46 i j1, 'i ''v;' n ' J ' x ' J ) I f (I If A v - " ;;;"";:'!. ". '''"".' ,' Photo by Barbara Christiansen Brooke Hundley and Kellie Wentz take a practice run at Tri City Golf Course. Race promotes literacy Gov. Olene Walker will be in American Fork on Saturday, Satur-day, Nov. 20, to support literacy lit-eracy - one of her most passionate pas-sionate causes. Runners and high school athletes from around the state will gather at the Tri-City Tri-City Golf Course for an intermountain area crosscountry cross-country competition. All proceeds from the race will benefit the American Fork Community Literacy Center, Cen-ter, and will help the center buy vital teaching aids and computer programs. Race organizers anticipate antici-pate the fundraiser will attract some of the state's top cross-country runners. "We have tried to position this event so that it follows the state competition and provides a good warm up for the Footlocker Championships Champi-onships in California in early December," said Richard Merkley, co-chair of the event. The Race for Literacy Lit-eracy will feature divisions for each high school grade, with boys and girls running separately. Champions in each division will be recognized. recog-nized. Additionally, there will be races for the general public as well as a "Beat the Chief course for young children, who will compete against American Fork City Police Chief Terry Fox. The courses have been carefully planned out and the use of the Tri-City Golf Course has generated a lot of interest among racing enthusiasts. "This will undoubtedly be one of the premiere cross-country racing rac-ing venues," Merkley said. "We have already heard from several cross-country teams who v are excited about the chance to run on such a great course." Runners of all ages and abilities are invited to register regis-ter at www.afcity.orglitera-cy. www.afcity.orglitera-cy. In addition to various high school race divisions, there will be a "fun run" for the general public as well as an opportunity for children to challenge Police Chief Terry Fox on a shorter course. Length of the regular course is 4000 meters (2.5 miles), and winners in each high school age division will be awarded the Utah State Cross-Country Championship. Champi-onship. All proceeds will go to the literacy center housed in the basement of the city See LITERACY on page 3 Council sets more study on park trade Barbara Christiansen City Editor American Fork City Council set up a committee to study a controversial proposed pro-posed property trade. Council members Tom Hunter and Keith Blake were appointed appoint-ed to work with city staff and the developer to negotiate terms. As originally proposed, it would have been a nearly one-for-one exchange, with approximately two-thirds of an acre from Hunter Park going to developer Dan Richards. He would use the property for two lots. Richards would have given the same amount of land to the city to be used for the right-of-way for 1120 North as it nears 900 West. The controversy has come because some residents do not want to lose any park property and feel it is improper for the city to make the trade. One of the proposed uses of the park land is for a trail head. Another issue is whether there should be any reimbursement for deeding the road to the city, since it in most cases that is a condition con-dition of annexation or development. Richards has said the 1120 North road is not essential for him to develop the property proper-ty since he has sufficient access and traffic circulation without it. City officials have expressed the view that the road and the related right of way to place sewer and water lines are extremely extreme-ly important to the community. That was part of the impetus for the city to approach Richards to find a solution to get the place for the road to g6 through. With that request came an unofficial "Don't confuse the importance of the road with the price or method of payment." City Planner Rod Despain assurance that such a property trade would be feasible, Richards said. It was suggested as an alternate instead of purchasing the land. This was an easier method of acquiring the road than it would have been to put out cash," Richards said. Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission disagreed, however. When the proposal came before that body they determined deter-mined it should be a standard annexation agreement in which the developer would be responsible for the roads. No property trade See PARK on page 8 Construction to begin on basketbaii court at Miller Park in northwest AF Miller Park will soon sport a three-quarter size basketball court, thanks to a . donation from the Utah Jazz and the Larry H. Miller Charities. The basketball bas-ketball court will be the first of the sports courts to be built for American Fork's current parks upgrade. "This court is a tremendous tremen-dous gift to the youth of our community and to our Jr. Jazz program," said Steve Bailey, recreation director for American Fork City. "What a great thing it is for kids and families in the north end of the town to have a place to play ball." According to Bailey, the location was chosen to comply com-ply with the master plan for American Fork parks, and approved by Dave Wilson, Wil-son, general director of the Jr. Jazz program. The mas ter plan, which was adopted adopt-ed by the City Council in 2003 after many sessions of public input, calls for sports courts at various parks throughout the community. com-munity. Of these, Miller Park was the best choice for the Jazz donation because of its visibility along 150 West, its proximity proxim-ity to American Fork Junior High School, and its location in a neighborhood with plenty of kids. The $25,000 gift enables the city to build the outdoor out-door court on a durable, six-inch slab of concrete. The court will have six baskets, bas-kets, one on each end and two on each side, to allow for both full-court and half-court half-court play. In the finishing process, the colorful Jazz logo will be incorporated into the top layer of cement. The Larry H. Miller Charities mission is to assist with youth and children's chil-dren's projects in the community, com-munity, especially those that have an emphasis on health and education. As part of a community relations rela-tions program begun during dur-ing the 2000-01 season, Larry H. Miller Charities, the Utah Jazz and Chevron first teamed up to refurbish refur-bish a local basketball court at Sugarhouse Park in Salt Lake City. The program has continued contin-ued for four years since then. The 2004-2005 season is the first year more than one gift has been awarded. Construction at Miller Park, located at approximately approxi-mately 1080 North 150 West in American Fork, is slated to take place in the spring. Expansion begins at AFHS Barbara Christiansen City Editor Alpine School District has begun an expansion of American Fork High School. There will be nearly 43,000 square feet of classrooms class-rooms added on two floors, west of existing classrooms. District officials plan on adding approximately 25 classrooms on the two floors. There will also be 6,000 square feet added to the music facilities. The present band room will be used for practice space. Portable classrooms on the school's north side will be removed. The school district dis-trict will determine whether they will be moved to another location or sold. to 12 months. "We are trying to get it finished so that we can be occupied in the fall of 2005," he said. "It will hopefully be The portable units cur- completed in August.' rently on the site contain about 23,000 square feet, said Alpine School District representative David Hold-away. Hold-away. . ' ' With the increased size of the expansion, the school will have approximately the same number of rooms, but they will be larger, with larger halls, computer labs and more restrooms. Holdaway said the work would be completed in eight Hughes Construction is doing the work. The project is part of a $200 million bond approved by voters, which was divided divid-ed into four phases. This is the final phase of the work. Holdaway said the district dis-trict was on schedule with the work. "We thought we would take about five years to finish fin-ish all of the projects," said Holdaway. is Photo by Barbara Christiansen Workers prepare footings for expansion of American Fork High School. 05 CHEVY CAVAl ltR A '05 CHEVY MAlimi JjC CHT.VY THAILBLA2ER S4, 4i nm ! pwn . d't IS' MUWWMFH5 CO S-WlfO ifOH'S i Ji D(JH. fNCIHt . SCUSI KttfW.IC-N .kf 51S,l?i , ' f"f j ; to .,. .J .A. JUST FOB ASKirJCI nmrniMHmtnorrm j in oft rtiniiSHAY, Hwmea n; COPY J.. |