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Show . New Utah - Thursday, September 23, 2004 - Page y, Former oasKstball coach files suit after dismissal CncABETH NARDI Utah Valley Staff Lehi High School's for-r for-r girls' basketball coach filed a lawsuit seeking .?5 million in damages for Elements made by par-" par-" ts and others in the community com-munity that he says were Untrue and defamatory," U , which he claims cost 1 his coaching job. The lawsuit, filed by former for-mer coach Michael O'Con-or O'Con-or m 4th District Court on git. 15, names 30 people, including some parents of -tudents on the basketball Jeam and Lehi High School principal Sheldon Wor- thington- . The lawsuit states that O'Connor lost his coaching assignment on Sept. 10 because of accusations that have cost him both personally person-ally and professionally. O'Connor is still teaching physical education, educa-tion, health and driver's education, and has been kept on as an assistant i. 1 Lracf and cross-country coach, but is "keeping his options open" when it comes to looking for another job said Joseph Rust, O'Connor's O'Con-nor's attorney. O'Connor did not return calls Thursday. Thurs-day. According to the lawsuit, O Connor coached the girls basketball team to back-to-back regional championships champi-onships for the first time in more than 20 years and compiled a 52-17 winning record for the three years he coached. O'Connor's coaching ability abil-ity is the reason he was hired by Worthington and then moved to Lehi from California, according to the lawsuit. , But problems began when parents started complaining com-plaining to Worthington about the way their daughters daugh-ters were being treated by O'Connor and claiming he was playing favorites, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit goes on to state that parents met with the Alpine School District Board in July to voice their concerns and alleged that O'Connor abused players, discriminated against them based on religion, that he was unethical and that he had misused school money. Specifically the lawsuit claims that Worthington sided with the parents and gave "validity" to the accusations accu-sations when he . fired O'Connor. Rust said that there will always be parents who disagree dis-agree with a coach's style or the amount of playing time their children get, but what was done to O'Connor was more than just normal parent-coach frustrations it was illegal and has hurt his career as a coach. "This is another level, especially because of the defamatory and terrible things, that are not true, that people have accused him of," he said. "They have tried to besmirch his reputation. repu-tation. It is very mean-spirited." It was mean-spirited because the parents' complaints com-plaints were not about how the coach acted, but about personal problems the parents par-ents had, Rust said. "A few parents were mad because he wasn't playing their daughters they weren't getting the limelight," lime-light," he said. "It's absolute jealousy and they intended to get him fired so they could get someone else in there." John Spencer, administrator adminis-trator of human resources for the Alpine School District, Dis-trict, said the district does not comment on personnel matters and would not say if O'Connor was fired as coach because of parental complaints. Spencer did say Worthington Wor-thington had decided to go a different direction with the coaching of the girls basketball basket-ball team this year. The district was surprised sur-prised that O'Connor decided decid-ed to sue, but officials have no plans to take any retal iatory action against O'Connor, he said. And both Worthington and O'Connor will continue to work together. "Both of these men are dedicated professionals and we would not anticipate any disruption to the academic program at the school," Spencer said. While some may argue that the $1.5 million price tag seems high, Rust argues that the damage done to O'Connor's career is tremendous. "What happens if a person per-son loses their livelihood and reputation for the rest of their life, what is that worth and what are people! willing to pay?" Rust asked.) The Daily Herald tried to,' reach several parents' named in the lawsuit, but those contacted declined to comment on the suit and the others did not return phone calls. j Rick Robins, LHS assis-; tant principal over athlet-; ics, confirmed that the high; school administrators have? been instructed by district; officials to make no further! comments on the case. Elisabeth Nardi can be. reached at 344-2547 enardiheraldextra.com. or County Commission supports 'Family Day' The Utah County Commissioners, along with a number of cities and states around the country, declared the fourth Monday of each September as "Family Day: a day to eat dinner with your children" This year Family Day lands on Monday, Sept. 27. Parents across Utah County are encouraged to plan a family fam-ily dinner that night, whether it be eating at home or taking the family out. The purpose of the event is to get parents and children to open up to one another and hopefully begin the habit of eating together regularly. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University began the program pro-gram in 2001 to foster close communication communi-cation between parents and their children. chil-dren. Research done by CASA found teens that did not eat regular meals with their family were 72 percent likelier like-lier than the average teen to use illegal ille-gal drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. On the flip side, teens who regularly regular-ly ate dinner with their family were 31 percent less likely than the average aver-age teen to participate in those activities. activ-ities. Pat Bird, Prevention Director for the Utah County Division of Substance Sub-stance Abuse, hopes every family in the area will take advantage of mealtime meal-time conversation. "The dinner table is a great location for communicating and listening to your child," he said. "Parents can start up a conversation on any sort of topic which can help to lead into a number of more personal issues and help foster positive relationships." rela-tionships." Getting the whole family together for dinner is not always an easy task. Planning ahead and involving each family member can help to decrease the amount of time and energy it takes to create a good meal. Involve each member of the family fami-ly by giving them a specific responsibility responsi-bility for the meal Create a list of each family member's mem-ber's favorite meals and take turns making them Take family members grocery shopping, and give them tasks to perform per-form while at the store During dinner, turn off the TV and the phone Think of positive conversation items to talk about at the table Get the family involved after the meal with cleanup More family meal ideas and information infor-mation on Family Day are available at www.casafamilyday.org. Hospital 5K planned for Saturday "HOW MUCH LIFE INSURANCE 00 YOU NEED?" rr SPSS 4 St .J,1 t , .ir i i us i y s H ,j y CALL US. WE CAN HELP. JoAnn Adams 52 E. Main Suite 1 Am. Fork 756-3503 Glen Pack x 140 S. Main PI. Grove - 1 7fiii 216 E. Main 6 Lehi 768-8853 instate. FINANCIAL Allstate Financial is the marketing name for Aitstate Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries. AlUtacc Life Insurance Company. Home Office: Northbrook. Illinois. 2001 Allstate Insurance Company Runners of all levels are invited to participate in the ninth annual Keith Klassic 5K fun run, Saturday, Sept. 25. Hosted by American" Fork Hospital, the event will begin at 8:30 a.m. in front of the hospital, located at 170 N. 1100 East in American Fork. Named after the hospital's hospi-tal's current administrator, Keith Alexander, the race awards movie tickets to all runners who can make it to the finish line before he does. The cost for the event is $10 and includes a T-shirt, food, fruit and bottled water. Runners can pre-register pre-register by requesting a registration form via e-mail at lana.nelsonihc.com. Registration will also take place the morning of the event at 8 a.m. The race is geared for families and people of all ages. The race course starts and finishes in front of the hospital and runs through local neighborhoods. There will be a prize drawing at the end with many great giveaways from local vendors. ven-dors. More information is available from 855-3279. 1 Milestone entries, including weddings, missionaries and other announcements must be turned in to fa paper by Monday at 2 p.m. of the week you would like the notice to be printed. HayrideS to the Pumpkin Patch at the Red Barn! Come to the Zatt 3etiml on Sept. 24th A 25th irpf. nle eatina contest fun tor en ages ! u . , A. . -Q. m-. AFri f rem 3 til 7p.m. Ail day on Sot. b,kyrtdes run thru Oct. 29th Mon. & rn, irv iromd to rhdufe other time durir the wek. Croups ore welcomd Come teste the MM C1p of crisp Afp!eS . &da . Red & Gold Delicious Jonathans Comeo ond Fuji coming m" South Ridge Farms e fat 4 Utah's favrt-xt& 9dne! Tcke the South Santonin ex.t 245. Drive wrth om mile. Vj cm t mss the 89 754-5511 Healthy You Two Breast and Prostate Screenings Digital Mammograms Prostate Exams PSAs Saturday, September 25 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. First-come, first-served basis. No RSVPs, please. Central Utah Clinic's Imaging Center 852 North 500 West, Provo 812-4624 Breast Care Mammograms play a central part in early detection. The American Cancer Society recommends a baseline screening between the age of g Uitr 35 and 40. After 40, all women should have an annual screening Ct, mammogram. Women with certain risk factors and family history iLL..J may need to follow up more often. Central Utah Clinic has a new mammography system that detects breast cancer earlier. Our new system features direct-to-digital imaging technology. Increased accuracy ensures better Faster studies results in reduced detection and fewer repeat waiting and less patient studies discomfort Central Utah is the only facility in Utah County offering this technology. Prostate Care Regular screening tests can help detect prostate cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage. Men should be screened regularly for prostate cancer beginning at age 50. Make this event a special date for a healthy two! Central Utah Clinic I Your Health, Your Choice.1 |