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Show Free Press - Wednesday, July 15, 1998 - Page 2 Opinion it or not: This could be the Believe Take Pride in Utah It's a great idea a day set aside to make Utah a nicer, more beautiful place to live. That's what the State of Utah is hoping for with its annual Take Pride in Utah Pay this Saturday, July 18. The fact that it coincides with the "Day of Service" activities of many of our local LDS stakes and wards doesn't hurt, either, since it ensures that there will be plenty of bodies on hand for the arduous task of cleaning up our parks, streets and neighborhoods. This state-wid- e effort to tidy up our collective dwelling space does more than just "polish up this jewel of a state," although every town benefits from the efforts. Getting our hands dirty in the act of cleaning up our home town instills in us a sense of ownership in the community that is often missing in these days of multiple moves and work commutes. When we work to make a neighborhood more beautiful, we value that beauty and the neighborhood much more. This theory works particularly well with the younger set. Children and teens who are involved in clearing the weeds, painting the fences and picking up the neighborhood are less likely to be the kids who are spray painting public buildings with graffiti or smashing their neighbor's mailboxes. Recent rapid growth has provided all of our communities with plenty of work left to be done. There are that parks-in-waitin- g always need a lot of work before the children can come to play. City entrances and public byways need serious attention, but most city crews are occupied elsewhere on more pressing tasks. As a result, weeds grow, dead tree limbs become clutter, and structures fall into serious disrepair. Well, here is one good chance to make a difference, and the more who join hands in the effort, the bigger a difference it will make. But the effort to Take Pride in Utah should be more than a clean-uventure. If any significant difference is going to be made here, it will be the result of commitment by those a long-tersame people who will turn out Saturday with rakes and shovels and hoes and paintbrushes. Anything less amounts to a cosmetic clean-u-p that fails to result in a permanent solution to the long term challenges posed by the need to maintain and improve our streets and parks. The Take Pride in Utah Day is a great start, but rather than taking pride in Utah as a event, it should be a way of life. That means picking up the trash by the side of the trail on every hike, taking care of public property wherever it's found, and minding the land at every turn. Take pride in Utah it's a great theme for an annual cleanup day, and works even better as a personal philosophy for all of us who live in this great state. once-a-ye- ar p m once-a-ye- Putting things in perspective By Zks Have you heard the news? A Los Angeles developer has purchased Blocks 37 and 39 in Lehi and is Ziglar 1997 Creators Syndicate Inc. Professional golfer Casey Martin has a serious problem with his right leg that makes it impossible for him to both walk and play golf. Some of the pros adamantly opposed granting him an exemption to ride a cart; others were convinced that allowing him to ride in a golf cartteas tha thing , The golf cart was invented in 1930 by Curtis Willockj-a- n amputee with a wooden leg and chairman of the greens committee at Anandale Golf Club in Pasadena, Calif. The club gave him permission to develop an electric car, which allowed him to keep on playing. Eighteen years later, R. J. Jackson won a U.S. patent for a golf cart, which he called "the Arthritis Special." To use one, you had to produce a physician's cer- tificate testifying to a serious disability that would preclude walking. Today, 95 percent of all courses have golf carts. Undoubtedly, golf would not be enjoyed by literally millions of men and women who are either unwilling or unable to walk courses had it not been for the golf cart. Additionally, there are thousands of people who are employed in the golfing industry. Many of those people manufacture golf carts that are sold and maintained by others. To that, add secretaries, clerical staff, accountants, assistant pros, bag boys, wait persons, club managers, accountants, greeters, etc. at the clubs. Then add the millions of people who enjoy watching golf tournaments on television, which enables commercials to be presented and thereby countless thousands of other people are employed as a direct result. The list could go on and on. So, the golf cart has been an economic boon to America. At any rate, regardless of where you stand on the debate, because the game of golf is popular, millions of us have something to smile about. 18-ho- le ar rumored to be building an eclectic mall on the site. The area is located from Main Street to 200 South, from 100 West to 100 East. According to the developer, purchase of the land was possible at this particular time because the Post Office vacated its property and First Security Bank could simply transfer its operations to their new branch office in Albertson's. The bank has not said whether it would establish a branch in the mall, but at the very least, would install platinum-edge- d automated teller machines near the larger stores. Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, which cater to the more upscale markets, will serve as the two main anchor stores on the east and west ends of the mall, with an expanded Hutch's TV and Appliance forming the central court. The existing Bridal Center will also move into larger quarters in the new mall and B & K Auto Parts will assume the Pep Boys franchise and will construct a y facility on the south end of the mall, accessible from 100 South. One disappointment in the proposed development is the news that the Hard Rock Cafe will not be opening on the site of the old Dan's Drive-icurrently used as an office for Tetco. Because the rock music-theme- d restaurant recently located in Trolley Square, a second location in northern Utah is not possible. (If another Hard Rock Cafe is developed, it would likely be erected in Fillmore, Utah's first capital.) In place of the Hard Rock Cafe, however, the mall's development board is in negotiations now with the owner of Porter's Place to see if arrangements could be made to establish the popular local restaurant in the mall. 12-ba- n, If the negotiations are successful, the restaurant will not only be located in the new mall, but the mall itself will be named Rockwell Place. Furthermore, the statue of the (in)famous figure in LDS history, now being created by Lehi artist Stanley Ward ass, will be located in front of the new mall instead of by the Memorial Building. The negotiations are on hold at this writing because of quirks in Utah's liquor laws. Due to the fact that Rockwell once owned a tavern, mall developers would like to that atmosphere in the trendy new restaurant. Current liquor laws, however, do not allow the sort of freedom that Rockwell himself once enjoyed. If the Salt Lake Olympic Committee is successful in its attempt to modify the liquor laws for the upcoming winter games, Rockwell Place has a great chance. On the other hand, a ruling in favor of Porter's at Rockwell Place could have the same effect on the 2002 Winter Games. Mall developers have already peddled their influence on the Utah Department of Transportation, which has agreed to install a fourth traffic light in Lehi, this one to be located at the intersection of Main and Center. Additional lights were also requested for 100 East and 100 West, but UDOT officials were hesitant to place six lights on one street, particularly since city officials have already requested lights on State Street as well. Lehi City officials were concerned at first about having their Planning right Place Department forced out of their office buildspace in the First Security Bank ing. Developers of Rockwell Place, however, seeing a chance to obtain additional lease revenue, have agreed to construct small office towers at the east and west r, ends of the building. With a lease likely to be signed, Lehi City will occupy the entire west tower of suites at a cost of $250,000 per year. Funding for the expansion of the offices will come from a second increase in pool prices, as well as new $5 per person usage fees at Wines Park, Bandwagon Park and Centennial Park. The city's modest lease rate was made possible through an agreement to change a city ordinance. Several years ago, Lehi City outlawed dance halls in the downtown area. By rescinding that action, Rockwell Place developers will be able to construct a Dance-a-Ram- a spectacular $3.5 million in the center tower, above the new Hutch's store. Complete with laser lights and sound, the dance hall is revolving and has already attracted the attention of such music notables as David Bowie, Elton John and Barry le et ic glass-enclos- state-of-the-a- rt Manilow. Does all of this sound too bizarre to be true? Of course it does. I made it all up. But then that's what I thought when Alan and Karen Ashton came to the city council asking permission to turn a dairy farm into a botanical garden, or the near the plans to create a mini-cit- y Point of the Mountain, or the huge aquarium that another group hopes to construct here in little old Lehi. Nothing surprises me any more, because it seems that everyone has discovered that Lehi, not the Salt Lake Valley, is the right place. You can start calling us New Utah! I rarely use this column to make a sales pitch, but in today's newspaper we're announcing a history-makin- g change and I want our readers to understand why we believe this change is so important. f First of all, pTeiMssufed that we understand that our marketing niche is local, local4 local news. In fact, we believe bur news must be MORE LOCAL than any other media source and that's part of the reason why we're making this change. We've been successful in tying together three separate weekly newspapers. As the cities of North Utah County have grown closer together, we have combined some of the news so it appears in a common section, while, at the same time, preserving the unique identity of each newspaper. For example, a former publisher dropped "American Fork" from the Citizen name in order to include Alpine and Highland in our service. With all the growth we've seen the last few years, old boundaries are being erased and new neighborhoods, schools and communities are begging for their own type of news coverage. Since we already have an iden .,., tity crisis in the operation of three separate newspapers and a shopper, we believe it would be foolish j to add even more names to the mix. Our newspapers are listed in dozens of advertising and media directories, but always as separate newspapers with separate circulation figures, separate advertising rates, etc. A weekly newspaper with paid circulation under 5,000 is far less attractive to a potential advertiser than a weekly with circulation over 10,000. Advertisers look for the highest paid circulation (number of subscribers) with the best market penetration (a high percentage of subscribers in any given market). Most advertisers look at North Utah County as one market. We want them to see that this newspaper has the highest paid circulation and the highest paid penetration of any media source available. We accomplish this by presenting all the newspapers under one name New Utah! However, our readers subscribe to get the most local media news available about their own community. That's why New Utah! will continue to have an American Fork Edition, a Pleasant Grove Edition and a Lehi Edition. To the reader, these editions will look, taste, walk, talk and read just like the Citizen, Pleasant Grove Review and Lehi Free Press. By any other name, this will always be your local newspaper! The good part is that the new name will allow us to produce as many local editions as necessary ' to serve each new community. Beginning Aug. 26, our readers in Alpine, Highland and Cedar Hills will also receive the New Utah! Lone Peak Edition and our readers in Lindon will also receive the New Utah! Lindon Edition. We will be producing five rather than three local editions, which will also free up more news space in the American Fork Edition for our American Fork readers and in the Pleasant Grove Edition for our Pleasant Grove readers. For the present, only the name will change in Lehi, but before long there may be a need for a Saratoga Springs or an Eagle Mountain edition. When that time comes, well be ready! Last Fall, we produced a prototype Sunday (or weekend) edition. The name change also turns out to be a logical first step toward bringing you more than one edi- - tion each week. The New Utah! Sunday Edition will be our next major project. Again, our objective is to bring you more local news. We also felt it was important to have a presence on the world wide web, but it was prohibitive to maintain a website for each newspaper. Hence, www.newutah.com is now under construction. It is scheduled to be fully on-liby when the new name becomes official. Of course, we always wish for more reader feedback. Let us know what you think. Directions for writing us are at the bottom of this page. As we've racked our brains trying to meet the demands of our readers and advertisers, we've adopted the following mission statement: mid-Augu- st "Our mission is to create and supply community information so relevant, timely and that it is indispensable to every home we serve. As a result, our readers will enjoy an increasing well-packag- sense of community Reader's Forum Early morning blasts unwelcome Editor: In response to the letter by Tim Hunt in last week's Free Press, he says the fire department has had a tradition of setting off salutes at 6 a.m. in Lehi for the past 105 years. Well, for the past 70 of those years (less four years in the Army, of which three years and nine months were spent overseas) I have been awakened by their enthusiasm. Not once did I enjoy it, nor did my babies when they were so frightened they couldn't get back to sleep. I know of no good purpose served by awakening the whole town to preserve a tradition that to me is questionable in the first place. He said one individual even chased them down and verbally abused them. My sympathies are with the individual. The firemen have a fine tradition of setting off a free fireworks display on the Fourth. I applaud this tradition and hope it continues. One of the reasons is that I am up at that hour and anticipate it. He made a big "to do" about the dedication of the firemen and the "thousands" of hours they have spent on training. This is true. However, we have other volunteer organizations here that have spent considerable time in their endeavors without seeking public acclaim. He says that the usual calls are at an inconvenient time at parties or in the middle of the night. I know of one day he could sleep I and maybe I could too if he didn't get up before 5:30 on the Fourth of July so he can make sure the whole town won't be able to sleep in. I always thought that in a volunteer organization members joined because they wanted to, they enjoyed the camaraderie, and were anxious to render a service to their fellow citizens, and on occasions, use some of their own finances without complaint or thoughts of recompense. In any organization I have been in, if we have seen a better way to do something, we sought to do it. We would also listen to the public for more input. I, for one, would like to be able to enjoy the morning of the Fourth of July. I spent nearly four years of my life in an often hostile environment, trying to ensure that my country could sleep easy at home. I should like to have the public decide if they want to continue this tradition, rather than keep something that the majority would rather do without. Newell Turner Published weekly by 8750-4669- A ) ' 309-50- member of NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION iewtalijews 0lip 59 West Main American Fork, Utah 84003 & Circulation Publisher Managing Editor City Editor Subscription Brett Bezzant Marc Haddock Russ Daly per year Periodicals Postage Paid at American Fork, Utah POSTMASTER: Mnd addraw chtnp to S WMt Main, Anwtcan Fork. UUh S4003 .. .Tuesday, Classified Advertising Display Advertising Monday, 5 News .Monday, Missionaries Calendar Letters to the Editor Obituaries noon p.m. 2 p.m. Monday, 2 p.m. Monday, 2 p.m. Weddings Community Street as the sun was coming up over Timp and the tradition country where that sound salutes freedom and not the sound of war. A country that gives us the liberties to celebrate the freedoms that has been preserved by men and women that were and are willing to give their lives, if necessary, that we could enjoy this great day. I have traveled in countries where people are not able to enjoy these freedoms, that don't have the blessings we enjoy. I'm sure that one day Lehi will become so large that we will not have this tradition any longer. What a sad day that will be. But let's enjoy this as long as we can. Let's keep alive those things that help build community togetherness. I would also like to thank the Veterans for their dedication in putting the flags on Main Street. After the salutes, I drove down Main Deadlines 9 price $24 a great Editor: After reading Tim Hunt's letter to the editor, I feel compelled to respond. I wish there was a better way to say thank you Lehi firemen for a great Fourth of July. I love the sound of the cannon going off saying "Good Morning Fourth of July!" Isn't it great that we live in a Telephone Numbers Advertising News (ISSN No. (U.S.P.S. No. Fourth . . .Monday, 10 a.m. . .Monday, 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Tuesday, flags waving in the breeze made me proud to be an American and live in Lehi. Thanks to all the dedicated men and women that do so much to make Lehi a great place to live. Garry R. Sampson Round-u- p appreciation Editor: As the events of the 61st Annual Lehi Roundup go into the history book, recognition of the efforts, time and talents that are given by each and everyone who made a contribution. Looking back over the full week of activities, Lehi once again renewed its traditional western spirit of cooperation to celebrate our unique community and provide a "round up" of fun and good times. To you who made it all happen, a hearty "Thank You" is extended. We hope you know how much your work is appreciated. The Board of Directors of the Lehi Civic Improvement Association We welcome letters to the editor. 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. HOW TO REACH US By Mail P.O. Box 7, American Fork, UT 84003 In Person 59 W. Main, American Fork Bv Fax 756-527- 4 By editornewutah.com |