OCR Text |
Show Free Press - Wednesday, April 8, 1998 - Page 2 Opinion Look for the rainbow from your own side of the fence School crossing safety It seems only logical that drivers should exercise the utmost caution at school crossings. After all, young children on their way to school are most vulnerable when crossing busy city streets. And with the growth our cities have experienced, most of the streets our children have to cross are busy ones. Since children are young and many lack mature judgment, it falls upon drivers, who have demonstrated enough maturity to obtain a driver's license, to accept the responsibility of making school crossings safe. Some of us are failing in our responsibility. That's why the use of crossing guards has grown in the recent past. These adults, attired in vests and carrying stop signs, are hard to miss. They do a great job of keeping an eye on our children, making sure it is safe for them to cross the road, and then . placing themselves in harm's way to ensure a safe crossing. So when one of American Fork's crossing guards near Barrett Elementary was clipped by a careless driver recently, it sent up warning flags that should be heeded at school crossings everywhere. The guard suffered a broken arm and some nerve damage, and was back to work sporting a cast after the accident. But other crossing guards in larger Utah cities have not been so lucky. And if local drivers don't slow down near schools and pay more attention to nt Cruising through the wonders of the Internet, I found myself gazing at the Orange County (Calif.) Register, traffic signals, especially as they relate to school zones, more tragedy is sure to follow this recent accident. The rules are pretty simple. Slow down to 20 mph when you enter a school zone indicated by flashing yellow lights. It seems obvious, but one recent traffic survey in American Fork showed drivers pushed this limit, averaging about 24 mph, and many were driving faster than that. When a crossing guard extends his or her stop sign and ' steps into the road, STOP! Regardless of which side of the road you are on, stop and wait for the kids to cross the street, and for the guard to get out of the road and lower the stop sign. Exercise additional caution any time you are driving near a school or in a neighborhood with lots of small children. Obey the posted speed limit. Almost all drivers now exceed limits posted in our neighborhoods most of which are 25 mph. We all seem to be in such a hurry to get someplace or other that safety takes a back seat to our own sense of urgency. This is a recipe for dis- aster. It doesn't take much effort to drive more slowly and more safely. With spring weather approaching, it would be a good time to reflect on our driving habits and make a personal commitment to keep our city streets safer, whether we are near a school zone or not. and more specifically, at the obituaries. One in particular caught my eye, not because of the person's achievements or circumstances of death, but in the final arrangements for disposition of the body itself. Perhaps this person made his own arrangements well ahead of his demise, or a sudden exit may have forced the family to make a hasty decision, but the undertaking was directed by Discount Cremation, Casket and Burial. Now I'm not advocating that one need not have a golden casket "all dressed up and nowhere to go" sort of but bargain shopthing, you know ping for funeral services shouldn't have to be so blatantly, announced. The pessimism of a discount funeral was dispelled by the attitude of a new friend I met recently. She told a that she had seen a rainbow and wanted to share the news with us. When she came down to where we were, she led me outside to show me the marvel of nature. Not seeing it immediately, we ended up walking almost all the way around the building. And even though it had disappeared by then, her optimism lifted my spirits, and I pondered that the negativity of the world often prevents us from seeing the great, albeit little things that happen every day in our lives. Like the analogous glass with water we choose to view the or cup as either half-fuFor example, when I start to complain about the rainy weather we've been having lately, I only have to recall that we didn't have day after at mid-poin- t, half-empt- ll y. Some people may complain about the growth in that area, but I would be willing to wager that they have used the conveniences of those outlets at one point or another. I know I don't complain, especially if I need a hot dog or a soda in the middle of the night. I remember an economics professor day of a lot of snow last winter. And since having a sufficient amount of who explained one theory by citing the water is much preferable to drought, I environmental effects of the Geneva can more easily tolerate a few drizzly Steel plant. We may say that we want completedays. Who, among those of us who drive ly clean air in Utah Valley, but on the other hand, we also recognize that we or evn ride in cars, hasn't complained need the employment opportunities about the freeway reconstruction on that the operation creates. My teacher clean air versus Although our basic "fight or flight" said that the two are,' to some degree, survival instincts kick into high gear employment when we take our lives into our hands mutually exclusive, and to the extent by motoring to Salt Lake, I dare say we want the jobs, we must accept a that when all of the trucks go back to lower air quality. If we insist on having completely their garages and we start appreciatair, then we must be ing the improvements that will be pollution-fre- e made, we will forget the inconvenience willing to sacrifice some of that ecothe work has caused through these nomic benefit, or the right to dash about at our leisure in our vehicles. many months. In a similar vein, we may all comI've heard people comment about the Lehi Roller Mills, and recollect plain about one politician or another (sometimes with a little gentle nudge) doing something outrageous, but that it was featured in Footloose. unless we actively participate in the These people recall that the building was used in the dance scene, and a few of them even remember the work scene earlier in the movie. As a native of Lehi, though, the scene that comes to my mind is that of actor John Lithgow and his actress wife standing in a field in the distance, pondering the goings-oIt is hard, though, to remember that open space, even with the aerial shot in the movie, because those fields across the street from the Roller Mills now house several fast food outlets, two convenience stores and two hotels, not to mention a supermarket and a developing strip mall a little farther removed. n. election process, I don't think we have any right to complain. And unless we stay involved in city government, our complaints about the actions of any administration become less substantive. Young people often wish to speed up the growing up process, longing k become adults long before they need to. What they don't realize, though, is that many adults have a similar, yet opposite, yearning to become children again. The grass may be greener on the other side of the proverbial fence, but you can still see the rainbow, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IT, from both sides, including the one you are on right now. Some April Fools jokes are too good to forget We hope you enjoyed last week's April Fool's page; more importantly, we hope you realized it was an April Fool's page that's why we printed page 20 upside down. I think it gave our editors some sorely needed comic relief. I'm not sure whether Kelly (my wife) will ever forgive me for an April Fool's joke of a few years past (I've tried to be less devious since then). Our second son, Nate, who is currently serving a mission in Southern Brazil, was still recovering from a severely broken leg. He had worn a thigh high cast for several weeks and had endured some painful therapy to relieve the atrophy and stiffness. The cast was off, but he was supposed to be careful until his leg became more Lehi. On the way home, we realized it was April 1st and soon hatched a scheme that has since become infamous. When we pulled into the driveway, Nate covered his face with his hat and acted as if he were in great pain. I helped him out of the car and into the house where he collapsed in the family room couch. With a nauseous feeling showing in her face, Kelly asked what had happened, but kindly spared us the Nate's younger brother ran over to the neighbor's house to borrow the set of crutches we had just recently returned. Over Kelly's protests, I insisted that the whole family should go to the hospital. We carefully and tenderly loaded Nate in the van and Kelly made sure no one would bump his leg. On our arrival, everyone was walking to the emergency room door. I followed close behind Nate and said, "I lecture. I fabriwonder what would happen if I..." and cated a story that he had caught his then promptly kicked his crutches out foot on a rock the recently injured from under him. Kelly gasped with one, of course. Meanwhile, Nate kept horror; Nate started dancing around his faced shrouded in his cap so his on both feet and I said, "April Fools!" mother thought he was grimacing Kelly gave me one of those with pain. (Actually, he was trying looks and not to laugh out loud.) She tenderly quickly got in the van... She didn't resilient. In fact, the doctor had consoled him; prepared an ice pack speak to me for a long time. When my brothers and sisters specifically warned us that the bone and gave him pain medication (which was brittle enough that a new frac- Nate somehow only pretended to gathered to remember life with our ture could result quite easily. take). dad, I recalled another April Fool's After discussing our options, we Day from over 30 years ago. Well, in spite of his mother's warning, Nate and I had been out riding determined that we would have to go My dad was very good at making dirt bikes at Five Mile Pass, west of to the emergency room to get his own farm implements and any s. thing else he put his mind to. While I was still in elementary school, I convinced Dad to use one of his spare Briggs & Stratton motors to make a This, however, was not your It had bicycle wheels typical t. two in back and one big one in front; it had a hand clutch, a roll bar for spills, and a friction bar for go-ca- go-car- brakes. The first time I rode it, I ended up in the ditch because it was geared too high, but once that was fixed, the became great fun. However, I was always bugging my Dad to let me ride it to school. At that time, Valley View Elementary was under construction in Pleasant Grove and I was attendall ing Fifth Grade at Grovecrest the way across town. One morning Dad woke me early and said I could to school; I was ecstaride the tic! He took roe out and we checked the fuel, oil, tires, steering, etc. After anticipating the ride through all that preparation, he reminded me go-ca- rt go-ca- rt 8. that it was April 1st. At first I was seriously disappointed, but then I got this BIG IDEA; I became so excited I could hardly wait to get to school. As soon as possible, I shared my secret with the teacher, Roger Olsen. He announced that after school my Dad would arrive with my to give free rides on the playground. The whole class cheered. When the bell finally rang, my classmates were jockeying for position, "First!" "Second!" and so on. They formed a huge line on the playground. I carefully took my position in front of them, looked them straight in the eye and said, "April go-ca- rt Fools!" They chased me to the bus, but I was laughing so hard I could hardly run. Although I was the April Fool, I have to thank my Dad for this and many other wonderful memories. Reader's Forum know that Richard Mack is seen as the "golden child" of the "radical right" political move- Is Mack qualified? militia groups and ment, including Editor: It is with some concern that I have been Constitutionalists who support such activities reading the outpouring of support for Richard as the bombing in Oklahoma City, as well as His Mack, who is currently running for Utah racist white supremacists and County Sheriff. While some may be impressed rhetoric revolves around "the monster of govwith his dialogue about how the Constitution ernment intervention," and advocates rejectis in danger, we need to stay focused on the ing such fundamental Constitutional concepts real issue; namely, that Utah County needs a as the separation of church and state. His speeches often include the statement Sheriff, not a national spokesperson for dan"Hitler was more moral than Bill that office of The Sheriff gerous fringe politics. needs to focus on solving our problems here at Clinton," which demonstrates not only a danhome, not use the office as a bully pulpit for a gerous insensitivity to the deaths of millions of national agenda, while leaving the citizens of innocent people, but also underscores the supthis county largely without a law enforcement port he regularly receives from the militant hate groups that have embraced him. He repleader. Is Richard Mack qualified to serve as resents a dangerous political agenda that not only demonstrates a serious misinterpretation Sheriff? Ask the citizens of Graham County, Arizona why they threw him out. Sure, he of this country's founding principles, but also overturned the Brady bill while he was there, sets up the citizens of this county to receive a but it was this appetite for national attention level of negative attention and public ridicule that caused him to seriously neglect the needs which we neither need nor want. We do not need Richard Mack and his radiof the citizens he was elected to protect. His cally dangerous politics, nor the fascist groups policies regarding law enforcement continue to be borderline ridiculous. For example, one of he often represents, involved in any way with his solutions to problems in Utah County is to this county's law enforcement department. have police officers stop writing speeding tick- Please take a good, hard look at this wolf in ets. Just as in Graham County, he offers no sheep's clothing before letting him lead the concrete solutions to our local problems, which flock. Bill McGee include a rising crime rate and problems assoPleasant Grove ciated with our burgeoning population. Received via On another level, it might be important to is. neo-Naz- ffidji Wxtt $ms (ISSN No. 8750-466(U.S.P.S. No. 309-500- A ) member ol NATIONAL NEWSPAPM ASSOCMriON Published weekly by ..Tie IV'ewjUiliA'ews f 2 roup -- 59 West Main American Fork, Utah 84003 I Circulation ' 9 News Publisher Managing Editor Brett Marc City Editor Subscription price $24 Good Samaritan Editor: I was disappointed that we did not have more people attend the recent party caucuses. I know not everyone has a disposition for politics. Even George Washington, prior to the Revolutionary War, said, "I do not understand all the causes, but the Spirit of Truth tells me they are just." Our political system was designed for people such as us. We do not need to know the details of issues to participate in our government. The purpose of the party caucus is to choose individuals we know and live among, who have the same basic fundamental beliefs as we do, and then give them the task of studying the issues more closely and becoming more personally acquainted with those seeking for office, so the best might be chosen. The best way to insure that politics does not just become a political game is for the people to attend their caucus meetings. I think the plan is remarkable and ingenious. These meetings are not large meetings; they are small, divided into individual districts. When we attend, we are meeting with those people right in our very own neighborhood. I believe if everyone would exercise their privilege of attending caucus meetings we would be amazed at the positive difference it would make in our land. Irene Quilter Editor: Deadlines Telephone Numbers Advertising Low turnout disappoints Bezzant per year POSTMASTER: Mnd tddran ehmgi to S9 Wnt Mam, American Fort, Utah M003 . . Monday, 5 p.m. News Monday, 2 p.m. Community ' Calendar Letters to the Editor Obituaries . . : . . . ut I-- near the Center Street exit in Orem when her car caught fire. Thanks to people her to pull over she was able to exit signaling the freeway and get out of her car safely. We would like to thank the employees of the police, firemen and the "little English lady' and others who comforted her and offered to bring her home. Thank all of you for your compassion, love and help to our We are thankful there are so many daughter. wonderful people willing to stop and help those in need. Gary, Rhea and Gerilyn Lewis 2 p.m. Monday, 2 p.m. .Monday, to a.m. All letters must include the author's name (printed AND signed) and a telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, punctuation, taste and length. Letters are welcome on any topic. .Monday, Weddings sions. One stormy cold night on her way home from Tooele, she had a blow-oon her car tire between Fairfield and Cedar Fort. A young couple from Pleasant Grove stopped to help her after several other cars, including two sheriffs, passed her by. They were so good to help her change the tire. Then a few days ago she was traveling on We welcome letters to the editor. Tuesday, noon Display Advertising Missionaries Haddock Russ Daly Periodicals Postage Paid at American Fork, Utah Classified Advertising When under stress, we often forget to inquire about the names of those individuals who go that extra mile to help those in need. Within the past few weeks many people have helped our daughter on two separate occa- .Monday, 10 a.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m. HOW TO REACH US By Mail P.O. Box 7, American Fork, UT 84003 In Person 59 W. Main, American Fork (I By Fax , 756-527- 4 By newtahaol.com 1 ,. . |