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Show Lehi Free Press New Utah! - Wednesday, March 3, 1999 - Page 2 Opinion Leave it to the New interchange means change Thanks to Envision Utah, area residents have been taking a close look at how their communities are going to grow in the near future. This Saturday, north Utah County will have an opportunity to express their opinions about one of the most significant factors in where, in what way and how much the area will grow. The meetings will focus on what local residents think should happen when the new interchange is built for Pleasant Grove. Recently the Mountainlands Association of Governments, made up of mayors from Utah County as well as other neighboring counties, put this project at the head of the list for local projects still awaiting federal funding. That was a major step forward for the project. The new interchange will be built near the site of the former rest stop on the south It will have a major side of economic impact on American Fork, Pleasant Grove and Lindon. Lehi is proof that improved freeway access can be directly translated into economic impact. Just look at the growth around the Lehi Roller Mills that accompanied the upgrade of that interchange. Rapid growth in the area definitely helped encourage new business in the Lehi area and the location of the interchange determined where a lot of come. Lindon recognized the value of interstate access several years ago when it annexed a chunk of undeveloped property on the south side of all the way to the American Fork city limits. It is a move that has already paid off, as Barnes Bullets located their new business in Lindon near the proposed site of the interchange anticipating the benefits of interstate highway access when it becomes available. A few other businesses have followed suit, locating in Pleasant Grove along 700 South, one of the main access roads for the proposed interchange. The other major access road is that one known by about eight difAmerican Fork's ferent names 1100 East. This road is already a major public road, as it passes American Fork Hospital, the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, the Utah State Developmental Center, Lone Peak High School and the Adventure and Learning Park' in Highland. It also provides direct access Utahpreneurs you expected. to Alpine. There are all kinds of issues surrounding this project. Developers are considering locating the proposed commuter rail station near the interchange. What other businesses and uses do we want for this crucial project? Our chance to have some input comes this Saturday. Envision Utah drew a number of participants. Now we are being asked to envision north Utah County in a more concrete application of planning and development. It is an important opportunity to look into our very real future. that growth would Freeway access has also played a crucial role in the growth at the North Valley Business Park in American Fork near the 500 East interchange. Death of outrage that Babbitt has ranted against miners being able to claim properties that they, through their efforts and Editor: expense, have located and developed. We I have watched as multimillion dollar know that he has ranted against local "environmental" groups have placed claims to roads across the public domain. We know that he wants more millions of their operatives in the halls of government in Washington, in the mammoth acres reserved for the purposes of the bureaucracies and in the courts. I have central government and removed from watched as these skilled propagandists the industries of the people. And we know that Babbitt is perhaps and sophists have compelled legislation, regulation and court decisions that have the most outspoken proponent of powerful centralized controls, which have the begun the demise of private property, basic industries and historical uses of power to strip private property rights land and resources. without compensation. These special interest factions, derivMarx and Engels exploited a distincing tax exempt dollars for their elitist tion between the bourgeoisie and the and socialist objectives from thousands proletariat. Babbitt and his organized of liberal philanthropies, have nearly environmental legions exploit "the envidriven mining and timbering out of this ronment." In either case the object is to country. They are close to destroying the further communal social ends. But who rights of private property owners. Theirs cares? is a philosophy in part based on the prinAs has been said, we have witnessed the "death of outrage" in this country. We ciples of socialist Karl Marx. Marxism would have the resources of have become a shallow thinking society a country centrally controlled. Now conand that is our vulnerability. Said J.P. sider the words of the United States Sec-r- e Curran, in 1970, "It is the common fate of tary of Interior. Bruce Babbitt, also con- the indolent to see their rights made a sidered the patron saint of the radical prey by the active. The condition upon environmental movement sweeping the which God has given liberty to man is country and the halls of government: We eternal vigilance: which condition if he n should "drop the concept of breaks, servitude is at once the conseproperty with lines on the ground and quence of his crime, and the punishment of his guilt." develop a more communitarian sense." A "communitarian sense?" What Lillie Mae Noorlander could the good secretary be speaking of? Moab Anglo-Saxo- - We all By Richard Draper don't ever have enough time," my friend griped, "and I never get to do what I want to," he stated flatly as we made our way to another busy day at work. Does this scenario sound familiar? Do you ever feel like my friend? Though his statement is a bit exaggerated, most of us can relate to being caught in the demands of a hectic schedule. After only allowing a few extra responsibilities and people into your life, time flies by and the day seems to be over before you've even begun. But before we start to feel overly sorry for ourselves there are some things we need to consider. We all make time for what is important. In fact, I will go so far as to say that, with the option to choose, nobody neglects what he or she cares about the most. Does that statement seem press like an exaggeration? Perhaps an illustration will suggest that it is not. a theoloDuring the gian by the name of Rudolf Bultman loved to tease his students by saying that all people, including the most avowed atheists, had their gods. Bultman would also say that all people payed equal devotion to their god. He defined god, in this context, as a person's "ultimate concern." In other words, "that for which you would sacrifice all other things." The "ultimate concern" resides as your highest priority behind which all other things fall. It sets your standards, dictates your efforts, and mandates where you spend your time, energy and funds. In other words, it controls your life. Bultman's teasing may be a bit over exaggerated, but it contains important truths. First, it shows us that our "ultimate concern" is what mid-centur- y, Published weekly by Kewlftah! (ISSN No. junket to that fact-findi- soon-to-b- e Green mecca of "natural" attractions River, Utah. While in Green River, you will learn how the local leaders are planning ta revamp a cold water geyser that has lost its steam, so to speak, in recent years. The trip will include meetings to show how an electronic billboard near the desolate freeway will lure potential visitors off the seldom-beate- n path into your commutheir to money in your local spend nity businesses. After the first day, you will be escorted to the southeast corner of the state, where you may become inspired to copy another g riaturauy-occurrinphenomenon in your own unique way, then onto southwestern Colorado to see the potential salvage value in one of those many residential developments. 80-fo- ot I-- Hot Spots While we don't have a geyser, either hot or cold, in our area, we do have natural warm springs, and some bubbly mineral mud pots where I'm told one can participate in some rather "sophisticated" entertainment. Borrowing Green River's excitement surrounding the reclamation of their geyser, we could develop the hot pots of Spots. Young people of varying degrees of inebriation have been known to go there, so why not capitalize, literally, on the activity. Businesses catering to these provocateurs could be given tax incentives to locate in the area, which could bring in a treasure trove of new sales taxes to our area. Of course, since Lehi passed up the opportunity to annex the Saratoga project in its infancy, the taxes will actually go to the town of Saratoga Springs. But we could still get some of the fallout from those who must travel through our city to get there. Four Corners North Okay, we didn't get Saratoga, but if we could get the town of Bluffdale to annex the northwest corner of the junction of State Roads 73 and 68, we could create our own version of the Four Corners. With the towns of Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs and Lehi each encompassing one of the other corners of that area, we could develop a monument where one could stand, drive or park their vehicle in four Utah cities simultaneously. And the really smart community among those four would erect a hospital on their corner to treat those who could not get out of the way of those who would prefer to just drive over the four communities simultaneously. Verde Canyon Given the groundwater situation in a couple of local subdivisions, I have often wondered what the future will bring. Student drama has seen better days. For example, a parent in Lehi called expressing concern that the school was preparing to mount a production of "Damn Yankees." Why, she wondered, did they have to choose a play with a naughty word in the title? And besides, one of the characters is a "loose" woman who is assigned to seduce the main character of the play. I tried to explain that the "damn" in the play title was not being used as a swear word, but referred to the Faustian nature of the play, where the character sells his soul to the devil for a chance to play with the New York Yankees. Of course, the title can be read on other levels. That's why the title works so well. I suppose you could change the name to "Darn Yankees," but it sort of loses its impact, doesn't it? As for the production itself, it is a marvelous look at our obsession with baseball, and includes some marvelous tunes such as "You Gotta Have Heart" and "Whatever Lola Wants." Lone Peak High School went a step further when it canceled plans for its winter play the week before it was scheduled to go into production after weeks and weeks of rehearsal. This particular play was a look at the lives of various First Ladies, and was to be presented in an unusual vignette format, with the audience being taken by tour guides through various scenes of the lives of these famous women. Some of the portrayals were perhaps too intense for the Lone Peak audience. Just imagine combining the tourist value of the Grand Canyon with the tourist value of Mesa Verde, and you can see the potential for Lehi's version of a portmanteau park called Verde CanyonJ where visitors can ride mules into the bot torn ofthe pit to view the excavation of tha Lite 20th century dwelling known as thd split level. All the better if we can get the President du jour to create a quasi national park out of the area in some vague politi-- l cal move. The environmental aspects of; this park could appeal in particular to our next president, if that happens to be Pres.! - Gore. ; Six Saints over Utah Finally, we have another great potential tourist attraction in a facility that could be likened to a "great and spacious building." Knowing how Utahpreneurs like to focus on the local religious market, I can picture a group of pyramid-schem- e investors could rake in thousands on a theme park devoted to the ecclesiastical history and development of the area. Check out the Brother of Jared Submarine, take a ride through the wilderness on a motorized camel enjoy a sandbread wich made from freshly-bakemade from wheat (ground that morning although it has been stored unused for 75 years), and finally, take d d freshly-groun- home your own hand-craftesouvenir Salamander Letter. We don't need to be just a bedroom community. The creative and financial possibilities are right in our own back yards. d s in the audience flinch every time he appears on stage. And he's tht? year-old- . hero. The list can go on and on. This is the stuff of theater, which attempts to portray real characters, who have real problems and real faults, even if they are placed in unrealistic situations. If our student thespiartSaWt learn to deal with the reality part of their school productions, then they are not learning what their drama classes ' should teach them. Certainly productions should be cho-sen with care and concern for the sensibilities of the cast members and the audience. But alterations in scripts can ' - - -- -- HMMMHai From what I understand, Mary Todd Lincoln proved to be problematical, as well as some others. Apparently student drama is largely misunderstood. Last year I had two daughters in a junior high production call "The Boyfriend." This is a bit of 1920s silliness that centers around a bunch of girls in a French boarding school. I got a call from the grandfather of one of the actresses complaining that they were doing a show about the goings on in a French house of ill repute. only go so far. A few years ago, Park City High School mounted a production of "A Cho rus Line" which had been edited drastically so it would fit local community standards. The folks who own the' rights to the play levied a hefty fine1 against the school for changing lines and lyrics from those in the original! critic. production. Our local high schools have a fine rep-- ' utation for student drama, and with" good reason. They compete well in various drama meets, and bring home state' honors each year. It is a shame to see this theatrical' tradition challenged by small rnihds and' misunderstandings. These young adults handle mature themes every day and can deal with them in their high school' productions as well, if we give them the! Apparently, the girls were (ailing the head mistress of the school "Madame." Frankly, it's tough to find plays where there isn't something offensive to someone. I once appeared in "South Pacific" in Lehi, and drew criticism because my character talked like a sailor. The fact that he was a sailor was missed by my The same problem arose in "Annie," a show that most would think was geared to the young audience. But in the play, Daddy Warbucks punctuates bis language liberally with "hells" and "damns." If you play the guy as he's written, the 9- - 309-50- A member of NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION & Circulation Publisher Jewjahiews H enroot 59 West Main American Fork, Utah 84003 so much about who we are and how we will spend our lives. The schools in our area are helping our students see the importance of caring for people. Boats, snowmobiles and cars are nice and even fun, op E3 I but caring for them will not improve I r L society nor, ultimately, the quality of life. What our schools are teaching our children is that people are our "ultimate concern." It is through service and genuine caring that the marrow of life is found. Unfortunately, an attitude of carwe care about most. Second, it points ing for people swims against mainout that what we care about sets our stream society. The promotion of priorities, and third, it suggests that power and money saturates the "ultimate concern" could either bene- media, poisoning the minds of our fit our well being or be harmful to it. youth. Because evil influences of If something as base as drugs or as society work against the sanctity of seductive as fortune stand as our helping our fellow man, it is guilty of "ultimate concern," we and others committing the greatest immorality will suffer. Therefore, caring is one of loving things and using people to the highest values because it defines get things, rather than loving neigh fO UPIBPlH10l Telephone Numbers Advertising News 1521-685- (U.S.P.S. No. ht y, southwest Lehi into a veritable Adult Resort which could be known as Hot chance. make time for our individual 'ultimate concern "I flxlji Wxtt The rumor that the old Saratoga Resort was being purchased by Six Flags turned out to be nothing more than rumor; the jury is still out on the future of the Micron project; and apparently the mega-gallo- n aquarium people pulled up anchor and moved on to some other shore nearer to the Great Salt Lake. So clear your schedules and pack your four-nigbags for an exciting five-da- Student productions should teach drama Reader's Forum We know Will future archaeologists digging in these former residential areas be baffled by why whole neighborhoods sunk into the ground intact If life hands you lemons, make lemon ade and sell it for Heavens sake. Attention City Councilmembers: The continued development boom of the comexcluding the residential promunity course of may not be quite what jects, Managing Editor City Editor .... Deadlines 9 Classified Advertising 3 Display Brett Bezzant Marc Haddock Russ Daly Subscription price $24" per year Periodicals Postage Paid at American Fork, Utah Mnd tddnw chtngt to S Wart Mam, Amrtan Fort, UUh MOOS POSTMASTER: Advertising News Missionaries Weddings Sports .. .Tuesday, noon ... .Monday, 5 p.m. Monday, 2 p.m. ........ .Monday, 2 p.m. The schools will be more successful in their efforts if we help our children practice caring for others. One of the best ways we teach the tradition of compassion and caring is by showing our children that we care for them. All we have to do is to give our children some time by paying attention to them. The myth of quality time blurs our perspective on the importance of quantity time. All too often parents miss minutes of important interaction with their kids because they look for the elusive windows of "quality time." Children do not have some gauge that measures it, but they do know when a parent stops for a moment to care. Children need our attention in order to develop a sense of caring. It is from our "ultimate concern" that they will determine the morals and values of our future. one-on-o- ne 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 Monday, 2p.m. .Monday, 10 a.m. Community Calendar . .Monday, 10 t.m. Letters to the Editor . . .Monday, 10 a.m. Obituaries Tuesday, 1 1 im. bor. P.O. Box By Mail 7, American Fork, UT 84003 In By Fax 756-527- Person 59 W. Main, American Fork 4 By editor newutah.com ca |