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Show 1- - 340 WESTERN MICROGRAPH W COMMERCE LAKE CITY 13'2B c's"5 'uflf El 51 Www Vol. 19, No. 13 Wednesday, April 2, 1997 50 cents a single copy To subscribe call 756-766- 9 Lehi Council pulls legal advertising to protest news coverage By RUSS DALY City Editor Voicing displeasure at recent opinion pieces published in the Lehi Free Press, the Lehi City Council unanimously voted to consider taking their business else- where. After reading a memo from the mayor and council (see full text below), Councilmember Frances Comer made a motion to instruct two staff members to look into other options for publishing legal notices, such as meeting times, agendas and notices of public hearReed Councilmember ings; Sunderland seconded the motion, and all councilmembers voted in favor of the action. City administrator Ed Collins informed Marc Haddock, managing editor of the Free Press, on Monday that Lehi City would be publishing its legal notices in the Provol Daily Herald. "They've used their public office to retaliate against us for exercising our rights of free speech," said Free Press publisher Brett Bezzant. "Furthermore, they've used taxpayer money unwisely. What do the citizens get? It will cost them more money for less service." According to Bezzant's estimates, the legal notices will likely cost more money and will reach the number of only about homes in Lehi that the Free Press newspaper welcomes comments from the city council at any time through letters to the editor, but said that "this is clearly retribution. It is an inappropriate way for the city to throw its weight around." that they would abuse their public office for such petty, personal reasons," said "We feel bad Bezzant. "They seem to have forgotten that the power to govern resides in the people, not in the elected officials. Their first concern should be the people." The text of the city's statement one-thir- d currently serves. "They have violated our civil rights," said Haddock. "Cities can spend their dollars in a lot of ways, but they cannot do it in retribution for someone exercising their right to free speech. I don't think they realize how follows: In the March 19 edition of the Free Press, the editorial board took Lehi City to task for what it termed the "inconvenient scheduling" of City Council meetings. The conclusion of the editorial called upon elected officials to adopt an "...attitude of openness that invites citi extreme the response is and how sensitive those First Amendment rights are." Haddock explained that the District honors liili! participation and understanding." The Free Press also described it as a folly to use "tactics" that seem to frustrate the public process in order to move the business of governing along at a comfortable pace. We agree. In another article, Russ Daly pointed out that the business zen of our city was concluded in a mere 10 minutes. The agenda for that meeting was short and some items were removed at the last moment due to circumstances far beyond our control. As your elected officials, we are offended at the way in which the Lehi Free Press chose to characterize our efforts and feel that we must offer you the facts. To suggest that we quickly dispense with the business of the City is false and Mr. Daly knows it. Over the last six months, the average length of Council Meeting was two -M six LHS supporters Six Lehi High School supporters were honored by the Alpine Foundation at the March 25 meeting of the district board of education held at the school. Recognized with an "apple" an apple shaped jar of daily saywere Bill Smith, Paula ings Fugal, Berna Dee Wathen, Betty Fowler, Eva Johnson, and Elaine Tucker. Betty Fowler and Eva Johnson were honored for their long time dedication to and support of Lehi High School sports. The two women were described in their introduction as the "Dynamic "Double Your Pleasure Duo," twins, Batman and Robin, Laurel and Hardy, Thelma and Louise and Everything else you can think of in this twosome. They are moms to Lehi High's aspiring young athletes, attend very event at the high school and support the teams even to the extent of yelling at the officials." Betty's nine children all attended Lehi High School. Five of them were studentbody officers, two being studentbody presidents. Seven of them graduated from college. Betty herself worked for the Lehi Free Press for 20 years, several as editor, and is presently in the process of compiling a book of her weekly columns. She is a hopeless romantic and an avid sports fan quite a combination young-at-hea- rt for such a individual. Eva Johnson is a Lehi graduate and raised four children who all graduated from Lehi High School. She enjoys hunting, riding horses and looking for Indian artifacts. Cowboy poetry is a special hobby she shares whenever the occasion calls for her talent. She is the old- est brand inspector in Utah, taking care of business on a regular basis. Bill Smith has been serving as an hourly custodian at Lehi High School the past three years. He seldom misses work at the school, is a very positive person about life and is "very much appreciated," his nomination says. He also knows how to work and does not concern See HONORS on Page 3 4 and hours, not 10 minutes. But the meetings were only the beginning. Each member of the Council is responsible for oversight of various City operations. We all take these three-fourth- s tasks very seriously and spend hours each day fulfilling our assignments. In fact, our burden in this growing city has become so great that we have scheduled a third meeting for each month. This meeting is held at 3 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month and is open to the public. Regular Council Meetings were getting so long and the business of running the City was getting shortchanged. Our goal in establishing a thud meeting was to permit more time for thoughtful discussion and careful decision making, not less. To suggest that we scheduled the meeting to avoid public input is ludicrous. An even greater leap in ST-- ' By RUSS DALY Many of the concerns were the same, but the property in question would join the city on the southwest side of the city instead of the northeast. Several citizens attended the recent meeting of the Lehi City Council to express concerns over the Frandsen-Power- s annexation of 77. GS acres located at approximately 1100 W. 700 South. Dee Councilmember Ray Russon told the audience that they would not be acting on the item that evening, but in a vote to be taken at the April 8 meeting of Si. W5. the council. The public hearing allowed the I A. 4 : I Photo by Russ Daly A father helps his son check out the find at the Lehi Chamber of Commerce Easter last Saturday in Wines Park. egg hunt Easter egg hunt termed a success of The Chamber Lehi Commerce held a successful Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at Wines Park through the support of donations from area businesses. Chris Tillack, president of the thanked Chamber, Carolyn Player and Carma Johnson for organizing the event and carrying it out. Special thanks also goes to for her Mary Ann help with the hunt. Area merchants which supported the activity included Bank of American Fork, Best Western Inn, Broadbents, Timpanogos Judd-Johnso- n Davis Bank, Dental, First Security Four Season, Gaylon Pugh, Geraldines, Holmes Heating, Hutch's, Kohlers, Lehi City, Lehi Block, LW's Chevron, Metal Letters- - Signs Now, Metrix, PBC Auto, Reams, Round-uDeli, Thomas J. Peck and Sons, Walkers and Zions Bank. p Wal-Mar- t, to complete. When we ran for these offices we kneiv that we would make sacrifices and we have willingly given of our time and efforts to the best of our abilities. For our serious and diligent efforts to be so roundly criticized by this paper and its staff is a breach of the partnership we have ought to establish. Finally, to paraphrase Mr. Daly, when you exercise your right to read the local paper, do you expect to see facts reported in an objective and professional manner? Our local newspaper makes us wonder about whether that is possible. Mayor and Council -- Different side of town, but concerns about growth still the same City Editor 1 jfrX'W& logic is required to believe that we considered the editor's schedule and intentionally created a conflict. The truth is that the coucnil agreed on a time and day that would permit the full council to attend to the chores we were elected residents to address individual concerns with Mel Frandsen, developer of the property. Neighboring property owner John Kopinsky said that boundaries between the properties had not been defined as of the last Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and felt that that would "put the fence lines in disarray." He also said that he was concerned about the size of the lots and the animals rights that many of the area residents have there. or an "It seems like an would fit in better with the five-acr- e lots and the animal rights," he said. Frandsen said they would have to obtain boundary line agreements with all of the neighbors when they get ready to plat the area, but that they won't be 5 0 doing that until the new sewer line is completed. He also said that he understood that the animal rights were "grandfathered" and could not be taken away as long as the owners lived there. "All we're saying is we want to maintain the same kind of flavor," said resident Steve Davis. "We know there's going to be development. We're just saying we want to see it developed in an orderly nature and the public has time to comment on it." "I think you have to be fair to said the owner," property Reed Councilmember Sunderland. Councilmember Robert Fox suggested that Davis look at the city's new Development Code, which he said addresses those issues. He added that there "could be cohabitation between dissimilar uses." "There's a group of people we're not hearing from tonight," said Frandsen, "and that's the people who might live there." He explained that some people would not be able to afford the larger lots. He also said that they had originally planned to request lot sizes, but upgraded to 8 Kopinsky, City Editor Great love stories are meant to last a lifetime. For Nessie and Arnold Brems, their life's love story began more than 70 years ago, and despite the struggles of advancing age, the two remain as devoted to each other as ever. "They always got along," said their son, Arlo. "They've always been very compatible, loving people." The two grew up together in the old Lehi Third Ward area, Nessie being the daughter of Isaac and Frances Winn Fox, and Arnold being the son of John and Margaret Wilcox Brems. "We got interested in each other," explained Arnold, "and Bishop William Hadfield came expressed Teachers, Alpine sign contract on earliest date ever Alpine School District teachers and administrators can enjoy the upcoming summer vacation knowing they don't have to worry about salary negotiations. At the earliest date ever, teachers and other certified employees and the members of the district board of education have approved a contract school year. Final for the approval came during the board's public input session held Tuesday at Lehi High School. The contract also sets a new precedent. Supt. Steven Baugh said for the first time ever, this year's contract sets the framework for the following two years. The new contract, in affect, according to administrators, settling many of the major factors in the negotiations for three years including such items as base increase, health insurance, and years of service (step and lane) increments. The new pact gives teachers and other certified personnel a three percent raise in the base salary', a 1.40 increpercent boost for ments, a .94 percent to cover increase in insurance costs, and a .2 percent longevity hike for a total package increase of 5.54 percent. The district, which for the past p years has either started several school without teachers having a contract or with final approval given in the final days before classes started, may be the first district in the state tliis year to reach an agreement. The contract had been ratified week by the district's nearly 2,000 teachers, said Nile Miner, president of the Alpine Education Association and a teacher at Orchard last Elementary in Orem. Miner said the multi-yea- r contract was approved by the majority of the teachers, with only faculty members in two of the districts 43 schools voting against it. The discord came because of a recent district policy which allows the district to, under certain circumstances, give a newly hired, but experienced, teacher full credit for years of service in other districts. Brents' love story lasts a lifetime By RUSS DALY however, concern over implementation of the Planned Residential Development (PRD) concept, where the developer can have some lower lot sizes in exchange for dedication of land for a park. along and said, 'The Lord wants you to go on a mission,'" Nessie told Arnold she would wait for him, and after he completed a mission to southern California, the two were married on March 24, 1927 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple by President George F. Richards, a counselor in the First Presidency of the church. On that pleasant spring day, the couple boarded the Orem Electric train at the station on 300 North in Lehi. They traveled to the temple alone, according to the custom of the day, then celebrated with family and friends at a dance held the next Saturday night at Carter's Hall. Arnold said they did not have a because of their honeymoon financfcc, but spent an "honeymoon" by serving an LDS mission as a couple in 1972 in the Colorado-NeMexico Mission. They served first in Nebraska and later in New Mexico before being transferred to the Navajo reservation in Arizona. While on the reservation, Nessie served as Relief Society president, a position she also held in the Lehi Third Ward. Their home on State Street served as one of the sites for some of the many quilting bees enjoyed by several of the sisters. "The ladies would have a lot of fun," recalled Arlo. They would quilt at the sisters' homes, as well as at the church. Arnold served in the bishopric and as ward clerk for many years. He also served as music chorister. He and Nessie used to sing duets for church and funeral services, IPOOR and according to Arlo, they were always in demand for singing. Another of their hobbies was gardening, raising both produce for their family as well as flowers. peo"They were ple," said Arlo. "Their whole lives were centered on church work, gardening and raising their children." Arnold and Nessie have four children: Arlo, and his wife, Geraldine, Lehi; Mrs. Eldon (Esther) Chandler, Rupert, Idaho; KaeLynne Adams, Pleasant Grove, whose is husband, Grant, deceased; and Mrs. Dennis (Lee Ann) Peterson, Burley, Idaho. They also have 21 grandchildren, 40 and 'if " ' if r 4 v. f f three The family celebrated their anniversary with a few friends and most of the family members present. I, I -- Wr i III - I Nessie and Arnold Brems, A shown in 1927 and today. |