OCR Text |
Show -- 1- - 530 expires 013895 F WESTERN MICROGRAPHICS E SOUTH 3600 WEST 71 WEST VOLLEY CITY UT 84119 50 Wednesday, February 23, 1994 Vol. 16, No. 8 cents a single copy Cedar Valley may lose post office after 138 years By RUSS DALY The post office which has served the people of Cedar Valley for over 138 years might now be in jeopardy, and residents seem to be against the proposed change. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has notified its customers in the Cedar Valley area about a meeting to explain their proposals for future mail service. A representative of USPS will meet with Cedar Valley citizens tonight (Wednesday) from 7 to 9 p.m. in the lunchroom of Cedar Valley Elementary, 40 E. Center, Cedar Fort to discuss possible options and changes. d In addition to the meeting, a group of concerned and 14 boxes designated for Fairfield and nearby White Hills. "Out of 21 fourth class post offices when I retired," said Mrs. Cook, "we were number three in revenues." She explained that Cedar Valley is at the top grade within the fourth class designation andisnearingthe level where it could be upgraded. "If we could keep it, we can raise our revenue and could become a third class post office in a few years," she said, adding that Cedar Fort added 14 new homes in 1993 and expects to add nine more this coming summer, in addition to an expected seven in White Hills. "When we're starting to build up, USPS-spon-sore- Cedar Fort citizens has scheduled an earlier meeting of the townspeople at 5:30 p.m. in the same building. According to one organizer, petitions have already been started in the town and will be available for signing by customers who want to voice their support for retaining the current postal service format. Donna Cook, former postmaster of the Cedar Valley Post Office, said that the facility has 80 boxes that are currently rented, with 12 additional boxes still available. They also have 13 general delivery boxes why do this," she asked. The USPS has suggested establishing a community post office (CPO) in the area, which would be administered by the American Fork Post Office and would provide the same services as an independent post office, with the exception of permit m ailings and meter settings. Mrs. Cook said that they currently offer services similar to any other post office, including express mail, money orders, and bulk Boxholders can get their mail from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Under the new service, USPS would solicit bids from the citizens to contract to provide services and s. City looks at old depot, jt 7. 1 old Sandy man was killed Monday, Feb. 21, when he crashed his ultralight in a field 2 1 4 miles northwest of the Cedar Valley airport. Lt. Ron Fernstedt, Utah County Sheriff Department spokesman, identified the victim as Daren P. Kelsey. The accident occurred at 11:50 a.m. Fernstedt said the FAA came to the crash scene but will not investigate because an ultralite is not considered an aircraft. The Utah County Sheriffs Office is continuing investigation into the cause of the crash. A 28-ye- ar 60-da- y 30-da- y followed by a period for customers to appeal the decision to the Postal Rate Commission, which must make a decision in 120 days. 30-da- y profiled f Editor's Note: This is the second in a four-par- t series highlighting Lehi High School's Sterling Scholar Nominees. Mil: f ,1 4 ' V-- ' Corbin Julie Tucker, Christensen, and Janae Wilkey will represent Lehi High School in the fields of science, business education, and art, respectively, at the upcoming Sterling Scholar compe- i 1 Julie Tucker tition. Julie Tucker, science. through my scientific reI can help preserve life from ravaging diseases and improve living conditions for all of us, I will have succeeded," said Julie Tucker "If, search, Is - f about her goal in life. She was one of 20 students throughout Utah who participated in the a program at the University . Sandy man dies when ultralight aircraft crashes service." One of the parties who has expressed interest in operating the CPO is said to be the owner of the local convenience store. He and any othersbiddingon the service would have to meet criteria set by the USPS. Walt Borla, retired postmaster from Helper, Utah, writing in the Aug. 1993 issue of the Postmasters Gazette, said that USPS usually proposes three changes, which include a CPO, rural contract delivery, or consolidation with a neighboring post office. "Nothing is said of retaining the present status of the office," said Borla. "The strategy behind this approach is the hope that the customers will accept the lesser of the three evils." Federal regulations require that the USPS provide a posting of the proposal and inviting customer comments, with subsequent response to written comments. Following the notice of proposal, the USPS must then provide a posting of final determination, Lehi High Scholars park site By RUSS DALY At a recent city council meeting, Richard Van Wagoner presented each councilmember with a complimentary souvenir calendar and reminded them of their previous discussion about the purchase of the old railroad depot building and a future park site, which would be developed through matching funds grants. John Rockwell, president of the Lehi Historical Preservation Commission, asked the city council if they had authorized the purchase of the building and if the city would insure the building itself until it could be placed in its final permanent location. "I have no problem with them purchasing the building," said Councilmember Wayne Carlton. "The insurance issue we ought to look at." "To argue about payingfor insurance..." Carl Mellor tried to interject into the ensuing discussion, leading to his offering to pay the See DEPOT on Page 2 that "many communities are satisfied with this type of postal claims v I . w,. t fit tr - , " "' .: in-sho- 'Annie Get Your Gun' opens March 3 ates receiving 50 cents off admission. The play is being directed by Jan Shelton, a 1983 graduate of the school, who was asked to guest direct the show. Ms. Shelton is a theater arts graduate of Southern Utah University, where she also served as studentbody president. While at SUU, she worked at the Utah Shakespearean Festival and was invited to direct on their main stage. She has also participated in many shows, such as her role as Aunt Eller in the recent Lehi Arts Utah this past summer, where she helped research the role of DNA methylation in gene regulation. Other science programs she has participated in include a lab course at BYU, an AP Biology trip to Catalina Island, and math and science conferences at the University of Utah. Julie is a member of the National Honor Society, the Academic Decathlon Team and the Science Club, and has been awarded the Scholar and the National Merit Award, and has been listed in Who's Who in American High Schools. She is the daughter of Val and Elaine Tucker and was a 1993 delegate to Girls' State. An avid supporter of recycling, she also has been involved with aprojecttoelimi-nat- e the lethal effects of plastic k rings, which she calls "death traps for birds, animals and fish." k In a scene from the upcoming Lehi High School production of "Annie Get Your Gun," Frank, left, played by Jeremy Whittaker, and Charlie, center, played by Jared Evans, try to convince Sitting Bull to back their Wild West Show. Justin Whittaker, as Sitting business. Bull, says, 'Wo put money "There's no business like show business," as Lehi High School students and alumni are finding out as rehearsals are underway for the upcoming production of "Annie Get Your Gun." The production will open March 3 and will play for four performances through Monday, March 7. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. each evening, and tickets are available from cast members or at the door. Due to the number of Lehi High School alumni helping with the production, a special Alumni Night performance will be held on March 4, with Lehi High gradu of Council production of"Oklahoma!" and is currently in rehearsal as Miss Skillon in the Orem Community Theater production of"See How They Run." Ms. Shelton taught debate for two years at Davis High School before leaving for a year of teaching English at Mori High School in Hamamatsu, Japan. She is currently teaching theater an d other cl asses at Lakeri dge Junior High School in Orcin. "In this year of youth violence and crime," she said, "it's great to offer them a productive alterna-Se- e ANNIE on Page 2 Corbin Christensen vv i six-pac- Corbin Christensen, Business and Marketing Education. As president of the school's chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America and the Junior Achievement Student Corporation, as well as observing and participating in See SCHOLARS on Page 3 X Janae Wilkey Mayor also served as newspaper editor By RICHARD VAN WAGONER Many of Lehi's most prominent early citizens were former Brits. George Webb, our 11th mayor, was born in Studham, Bedfordshire, England, May 6, 1839. A convert to Mormonism, he married Julia Cushing in 1864. She died later that year while crossing the Great Amerin can Plains. The young husband arrived in Lehi in November of 1864. George married Mary Ann Ward on May 30, 1865. In his native England he had apprenticed as a miller, and for the first year in Lehi he followed that occupation at Mulliner's Mill, a grist mill then situated at our local Mill Pond. In 1866 he purchased a large farm and engaged in that occupation until grief-stricke- 1891. Prior to beingelected Lehimayor on Feb. 9, 1887, Webb briefly served as acting mayor for two months. Although he was not a lawyer, Webb served a term as Lehi City attorney, and was also chief alderman (justice of the peace) for many years. In 1884 he was chosen a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature, and thereafter served as a member of two Constitutional Conventions. ' During Mayor Webb's administration the city planted trees in the cemetery, purchased a site for a community park, and opened several new streets, including the one we now call Mill Pond Road. Of the many laws and ordinances passed j ' byLehicitycouncilsduringtnepast century aneVarhalf, none were more interesting than the Curfew Law of July 18, 1887: It shall be unlawful for any person under fourteen years ofage to be or remain in or upon any of the streets, alleys, or public places in this city at night after the hour of nine o'clock, unless said person is accompanied by a parent, guardian or other person having the legal custody of such minor person, or is in performance of an errand ofduty directed by such parent, guardian or other person having the care and the custody of such minor person, or whose employment makes it necessary to be upon said street, alleys or public places during the night time after said specified hours. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, on conviction, be fined in any sum not to exceed five dollars for each offense, and shall stand committed until such fine and costs are paid. In September 1887, Mayor Webb was authorized $50 to purchase a bell which was installed in a belfry atop city hall on Main Street. The curfew bell, rung by the marshal every evening at 9, served as the standard for setting all Lehi. timepieces. The bell also served as a fire alarm, andstartingin 1895 sounded at 9:30 each Sunday morning to announce Sunday School. That his toric bell is now permanently mounted on a framework in front of the fire station at 176 North Center. Near the end of his term, Mayor Webb became interested in the sugar beet industry. The First Presidency of the LDS Church had issued a March 22, 1889, prospectus to "All Persons Interested in the Development of the Resources of Utah." The letter sought financial investment in the beet sugar business. "As this industry when fully established," the document concluded, "will provide labor for hundreds, save the outgo of a very large amount annually, and yield a good profit to investors, we recommend it to the careful consideration and palpable support of all who desire to aid in the development of the resources of our Territory." On Sept. 4, 1889, the Utah Sugar Company filed incorporation papers in Salt Lake City. Officials estimated that a beet processing factory could be built for approximately $350,000. Such a plant would be capable of handling 30,000 tons of beets per season, from which would come six million pounds of sugar. If farmers were paid $5 per ton for the beets and sugar sold for 7 cents per pound as predicted, profits would amount to $120,000 per season, a yield of 33 percent on investment. Encouraged by the potential prof-- its, the company's board on Nov. 20, 1889 decided to proceed with a factory. Competition between cities for obtaining the plant was fervent. Former mayor George Webb, along with Bishop Thomas Cutler, and wealthy local entrepreneur John Beck were the principal interests behind Lehi's efforts to secure the sugar factory. In addition to their $88,000 stock purchase, the Lehi group tendered other attractive financial inducements, which included a buildingsite on Mulliner's Mill Pond, and a $1,000 donation to purchase additional land as needed. The site was admirable from a transportation standpoint since the Rio Grande X - f I 35-ac- re Western Railroad transversed the property and the Union Pacific line bypassed a mile north. Other aspects of the package included perpetual water rights to the Mill Pond, 80 acres of limestone quarry at Pelican Point, 1,500 acres of ground for a company beet farm, and $1,000 worth of labor to improve the road to the factory site. After visits to several areas, the choice for the future plant was narrowed to two possibilities: Lehi and American Fork. On Nov. 18, 1890, the Board of Directors voted to build here. Elisha Peck, Jr., described the town's reaction when it received the news. "Lehi went wild and crazy," he remembered; "at night the whole town was lit up with bonfires until it looked like the city was on fire, See YESTERYEARS on Page 2 George Webb, Lehi's eleventh mayor, was the founder of the Lehi Banner, the progenitor of the Lehi Free Press. off |