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Show 28, 1985 - Page 2 Free Press - Wednesday, August comment Where are they now? Still singing songs you better How not to hold believe it By BETTY FOWLER Talent? It was never so obvious as when they played a tape at the reunion of the Class of '65. David Featherstone, musician, piano tuner, jokester, father, friend, decided to write a song, complete with words and music, to be played for his classmates at the reunion. He recorded the song, complete with band and back-u- p singers. His classmates were impressed -to say the least. That song could be a best seller. It could soar to Number One on charts. It could be a gold record and bring David fame and fortune. It seems that you have to "know" someone in the recording business before success can be achieved, but how do you promote a song? This one is so great. It's as least as good as "Seventeen" of a few years back. It's whimsical, yet sentimental without being corny. David really did it this time. public meeting The handful of interested residents who attended a public hearing last week on the implementation program for Utah County's proposed "Vehicle Emission Inspection Maintenance Program" saw bureaucracy in action. The meeting did little other than to frustrate those who attended and remove government one more step from the people. Initially it seemed as though county officials were seeking some public comment on a plan that will require virtually all Utah County residents to undergo annual auto emmission tests to make sure the cars aren't polluting the air too much. Those attending felt like this might be a chance for them to say they thought the program was a waste of time and money, and why don't we just get rid of it. In fact, the meeting had nothing to do with whether or not there will be such a program. That was given long before last Wednesday's meeting. Starting next July, Utah County residents will have to have their car's emissions tested before the car can be registered. Actually, it was pretty hard to tell just what the meeting was for. At the outset, Dr. Joseph K. Miner, the director of the Utah County Health Department, read a brief bit of convoluted English which more or less meant that the meeting was called to order, and then asked if anyone had any comment. "Isn't there going to be some kind of presentation?" one of the members of the audience asked, voicing the feeling of many there. But the few individuals who attended were told, rather curtly, that the implementation program had been available for inspection at the county courthouse since July 16, and if the individuals were really interested, they would have picked up a copy of the report read it so they could comment intelligently on the contents. The situation was vaguely reminiscent of a scene from Douglas Adam's science fiction satire, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." The novel opens with the earth being approached by several alien space ships intent on destroying the planet to make way for a hyperspacial express route through the star system." In response to the hue and cry of individuals facing imminentdestruction, the earthlings are told, also quite curtly, "All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display in your local planning departments in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years, so you've had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it's far too late to start making a fuss about it now." So it was at last Wednesday's meeting. The individuals at last week's public hearing were told they should have waded through some 47 pages of often incomprehensible text so they could suggest ways It used to be that the first week of school was hard for the youngest fourth of the high school class. Of course, that was when high school freshmen were common. Only a few schools have them anymore. In those days, from the freshman's viewpoint, that first week of school meant more than hitting the books after a three-mont- h vacation. It meant INITIATION - a series of mindless pranks played on the hapless ninth graders by the ruling class of high school - the Seniors. Initiation had been a big thing at my high school - until the year my brother, Kerry, was a senior. That was the year before I was a freshman. In a way, he saved my classmates BvMAKC HADDOCK and me from a lot of the humiliation that accompanied initiation. He and the other seniors did that by inflicting such degrading indignities on the freshman class that preceded around, all of us freshman started us that school officials toned down sweating the upcoming rites of initiation activies severely the next passage. As it turned out, we were worried about nothing. year. At the heart of the scandal was a As in the past, freshman class midnight escapade. Kerry and members were assigned a senior others of the lordly Senior class who would help us get used to the dragged several frightened freshrigors of high school life - at least man boys to one of the many small during the first week. And for that cemeteries in the area, ordered first week we had to wear a placard them to strip, and then sent the boys around our necks telling the other out to gather information from students who we were - something in different headstones the like they do now in kindergarten and moonlight (if you'll pardon the pun). first grade. It probably wasn't the first time With the namecard in place, Montpelier High Seniors had done everybody knew who I was - I was this - but this was the time they got Kerry's little brother. The way 1 caught. figured it, that meant a lot of people Once the word about just how "who wanted to get even with him horrible initiation could be got would probably try to do it through the editor's column -- plan was prepared or been. presented, and it should have No formal presentation was made explaining what the program entailed, and it should have been. Instead, complaints and concerns were listened to and since they were not the topic of the then dismissed hearing. This is no way to involve the public in decisionmaking. Local involvement was sought after the fact, and after it could make any difference. It was a frustrating experience for individuals who attended out of concern and then learned that they would make no difference. Such hearings kill the public-spirite- d approach to problems that local governments should be working to foster. And they removed the public one step further from a process that, by design, should be operated for them and by them. In short, last week's public was hearing the kind that gives such meetings a bad name, and keeps the people who should be in the audience away in droves. Numerous calls from citizens have kept local police officers busy, according to Chief Bill Gibbs. Although none of the complaints constitute "major" crime, they have and to be investigated the wrongdoers must face action for their deeds. The complaints range from misdemeanors, to burglaries. Some of the cases have been solved, others diptheria, pertussis cough), tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella. "I strongly encourage parents to make sure their children are fully immunized as they enter school this year," said Dr. Suzanne Dandoy,Executive Director, Utah Derart- university too. at the powers-that-b- e let him write his own me. was ready to do almost anything just to get through initiation. (Although I'm not sure I would have run, naked through a cemetery at midnight for anybody. Bear Lake valley has pretty cold nights all year around.) However, when the freshman were assigned to seniors, I ended up with a girl I'd never heard of - and with good reason. She had just changed her name that summer, when she was married. I don't remember Trudy's last name - married or maiden - but a married high school senior simply does not have the same mystery as one that's single, even for a freshman . . . especially for a freshman. Oh, she'd been popular. That was one of the reasons for her recent change in marital status. But married women aren't as involved in regular high school activities as when their other girls husbands have graduated and work just like real people. The worst thing I had. to do during that first week of school was help Trudy clean her apartment. Here I had been What a looking forward to an exotic addreamed venture up by an imaginative upperclassmen, only to be turned into a houseboy by a housewife who didn't want to mop her own kitchen floor. I was really happy when initiation week was over! Of course, at the time 1 thought I'd get a chance to do it right. You see, when I was high school freshman at Montpelier High dusting furniture, my brother was I -- n. will be investigated until the cases are closed. One incident involved the investigation of people going selling cleaning products without a city license. Other complaints brought to the attention of local police were the theft from a mailbox and the theft of a gun from a local residence. A. citizen was questioned for door-to-do- shooting a gun within the city limits, and several bicycle thefts were reported. Two bikes were also reported found. An incident of criminal mischief involved the g of a car. The citizen also reported that her car was smeared inside and out with detergent and obscene words were written on the vehicle. The burglary of a stove and lawn toilet-paperin- Drivers lookout for children It's that time of year summer vacation is again when over and children will be returning to school. Children must be immunized (whooping school. In fact, the Dave wasn't able to attend the reunion - his first son was born that day, but he was there, believe me. His song created a magic that brought the class together in spirit, and friendship harmony, Classmates are ordering tapes, expecting that the song will hit the charts. At least, the composer will always rank right up there with Rogers and Hammerstein in the minds of the Class of '65. Demand that local disc jockeys spin it. You've got to hear it the Four Bits, married a home-tow- n gal, and keeps his drumming sharp by playing with Dennis Huggard once in awhile. He is a pipefitter and works at the I.P.P. in Delta. He and his wife, Teresa, have two little girls. Dave loves music and is one of those fortunate people who has been able to turn his hobby into his life's work. He has a degree in classical guitar from the University of Texas at Arlington, the first ever at the '65. going through the regular hazing activities as a freshman at Idaho State University. And boy, I thought that little orange and black beanie he brought home was cool (which was what extraordinary things were in those days.) And I was fascinated as he told me some of the things college seniors expected freshman to do. I looked forward to wearing that same beanie four years later when I would be starting my first year at ISU. And before that, I figured I would have a chance to torment a freshman or two during their first week of high school when I was Senior, as well. It was not to be. By the time I got to be a senior, it was at a consolidated high school that no longer had freshmen, and the sophomores had already been in high school for a year. There were no more initiations. And wheal went to ISU as a lowly freshman in 1969, social conscience had replaced campus hijinx. Only fraternities and sororities still held hazing ceremonies. The members of my class were, for the most part, admitted painlessly into the ranks of the college student. So I never saw a proper initiation ceremony, either as an initiator or as an initiatee. And I guess the students of today are fortunate that they don't have to undergo that humiliation. But everytime I pass a cemetery at night, I still wonder what it would be like to send someone running to the far end to bring me back the name on that tall, white tombstone. Police respond to numerous calls - diseases: -- will tell you that life isn't all roses to prove and has a few battle-scar- s it. Ron Lloyd, the third member of First week of school used to be tough to improve the written plan. No simplified summary of the The Utah Immunization Law requires all children in kindergarten thorugh grade 12 to be immunized against the following It's a far cry from when he, Don Davis, Ellis Lehmberg, Ron Lloyd labeled themselves Four Bits Plus Tax, and put their genius together to record Moon Doggie, or something like that. I still have that record. Maybe someday it will bring thousands as a collectors item. Each one of the Four Bits have played in bands, and specialized in some phase of the music business, but now Don has given up his guitar, banjo, (you name it - he could play it ) and is head medical technician at the Moab Hospital. He plays for his own and his family's pleasure these days. Ellis is an erstwhile truck and race-ca- r driver with an eye to an occasional gig with a rock band. He program to attain his degree. Dave has a music store in Dallasv and is in the piano tuning business.v You might say he has a certain freedom to pursue his musical pursuits which include composing. He has written several beautiful pieces for ward and church programs, and vented his creative bent on the theme for the Class of ment of Health. "Schools can prevent a student from attending if the student is not fully immunized or the parents have not requested a specific exemption from this state law." Dr. Dandoy explained that Utah law requires four doses of the DPT vaccine, three does of polio vaccine, and one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. be activated and all other traffic control devices will be in place on highways throughout the state during the upcoming week. excellent time to help educate your own. children about the hazards will That also means that motorists are going to have to be extra cautious and observant when traveling Utah Department of Tranthrough school zones. sportation Safety Engineer Mark Flashing school speed limit signs Musuris says, "This is also an about half of school-ag- e children pedestrian accidents happen after school hours," says Mr. Musuris. . . -- Saugerlii-s- , N.Y., "Catskill Mountain Star" p55 8750-466-9 U S P S. No. 309-50- 0 32 West Main Lehi. Utah 84043 Published weekly except y for Thanksgiving and Christmas by Newtah, Inc. Telephone Numbers 9 Advertising & Circulation. Publisher Editors -- Fellows in ISSN No. News Reading a metropolitan newspaper is like eating a restaurant meal - you pick and choose from what's offered. But reading the hometown weekly is like eating a good d meal - a fellow doesn't want to miss a thing. -- Donald free with associated highways and automobiles. Studies indicate that iMimmmm. home-cooke- and a .mower was reported made. was complaint trespassing Other incidents involved the throwing of water balloons and the illegal possession of beer. One citizen complained that her boy suffered from a dog bite that required 23 stitches to close, and a case of phone harrassment was reported. Police officers also investigated a case of assault and battery. Another incident involved the illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. y P.O. Boa ?. American Kara. 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