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Show f No one has more 'kids' than this Sandy woman by Renette Anderson Sentinel Staff Penny Peterson loves kids. It shows. Because of her positive attitude, "I probably have more kids than anyone in this world." Penny and her husband, Bryce, are the parents of Chris, an LDS missionary in Seattle, Jeff, a freshman at the University of Utah, and Greg, a sophomore at Brighton. Having a family of three sons in and of itself is not that until you add in extraordinary job in the counseling center as a "That ". . . ... her their was really I was scared nervous to be around all those kids photography; Until then, photography had been a hobby. Her skills were expanded as her boss taught her a number of printing and developing techniques. During football season of her first year in the media center, Brighton was scheduled to play an important game down in Orem. "I wanted to go but I had to work. So I told my boss that if he would let me go down, I would take pictures of the team." Her boss gave his approval. After the game, Penny printed the pictures and presented them to the football coach. He was so impressed that he displayed them in a case for the studentbody to see and asked if she would like to be the official team photographer. accomplishments. She spends countless hours "supporting" them as an official photographer of the basketball, wrestling and football teams and as the assistant advisor to the B.A.B.E.S., Brighton's spirit club. Although many of her opportunites have come as a result of her aide's job at the school, she quickly points out that it's the students and not the money that make her job worthwhile. "If you wanted to do my job for the money," she said, "you wouldn't be able to." Much of the time spent is voluntary. The rewards are measured by the and memories friendships gathered each year. "I love these kids," she continued. "They're great. They make it all worthwhile." ' now she Although . enthusiastically recommends working with teenagers to anyone who is interested, there was a time in her life when she was a little me made It was the beginning of a Brighton tradition. Since then, Pennv has traveled with the team and shot pictures of the games. The pictures are rotated in the display case each week and presented to the players at the end of the season. After seeing the treatment the football team was receiving, the wrestlers and basketball players such an about undertaking. Shortly after her youngest began first grade, Penny decided that she didn't "want to sit home all day" and applied for a job in the schools. The district sent her on an interview at Brighton High, not exactly what she had in mind. "I was really nervous," she admitted. She hadn't worked around teenagers before. At the time, her own children were in grade school and she had her eye on an elementary position. Several days after her interview, the principal called and offered her a skeptical Extra Miles Service HasThe24S0 Tune-U- p With The 6000 Mi. 6 Mo. Guarantee 566-984- 5 8550 So. 3520 W. . . When you're down on the sidelines with the players, you get to know them all . . . they become special to you . . ." ". demanded equal time. Penny cheerfully consented. "When you're down on the sidelines with the players," she said, "you get to know them all. Watching them through your viewf inder, they become special to Local dancers Region singles conference set named to 'Style' Elder Neal A. Maxwell, from the Council of the Twelve, will be guest Nadine Boynton of Sandy and Jodee Mitchell of Midvale are members of the new dance group at Ricks College, "Style," it has been announced by Robert Oliphant, dance instructor at Ricks and director of the new dance speaker. group. A region singles conference will be held Jan. 30, at 10 a.m. in the Sandy stake center. WORLD'S LARGEST BAJA.no DUNE BUGGY CENTER Foreign Car Service Parts game 1 No matter how many hours you put in, or how much work you do, the rewards are one' hundred times greater . the back. "I really got some weird looks," she laughed. B.A.B.E.S. draws from every kind of girl Penny explained. "We have former J.V. cheerleaders who didn't make the varsity squad as well as girls who have just moved into the area and want to get to know others." At the end of each year, the B.A.B.E.S. hold a social with their mothers. Last year, one of the girls came up to Penny and motioned her aside. "I just wanted to let you know what B.A.B.E.S. has done for me," she confided. The girl went on to relate that at the end of her junior MTV' - fimii-l- w . (I f MnflMiiiiMiii mm n Brighton B.A.B.E.S. Cindy Fisher, treasurer, Lori Cyches, spirit leader, Connie LeCheminant, advisor, .Penny Petersen, advisor, and Kathryn Turley, vice-preside- you. It's as if all those kids belong something going, but without an to you." organized group to support them, The boys like having Penny everyone else held back." there and will smile at her as they .. After .the. game, . Penny, come off the field.. ., .. ... . overheard, the. basketball coach", Penny remembers a basketball talking about how badly the team player who was having trouble had felt. He noted that the losing with his foul shots. His coaches team's studentbody had cheered watched him closely, but were louder than the winning team. It unable to pinpoint the trouble. At was difficult, he said, to keep his one game, she took a picture of team motivated under such him shooting and, upon closer circumstances. examination, the coaches were Penny approached Principal able to see that the problem was in Glen Beere with the problem. his wrist action. After that, it was Brighton had the best athletic teams in the state and the worst quickly corrected. School spirit is extremely spirit, she told him. There must be important to Penny. From the something they could do to get the time she began working at student's involved. She asked for permission to Brighton, she and her family attended as many of the school's organize a spirit club. Beere gave but told her that athletic functions as possible. Now the are attend the that older, they boys less frequently or go with their friends. But almost without, fail, People think kids Penny is down on the field shooting this age are terrible. It pictures and Bryce is up in the go-ahea- "... stands. In 1976, the Brighton pep club was "cancelled" because of lack of interest and for several years the school went without a cheering section. Penny remembered that the second year without the club the basketball team was playing in the state tournament at the University of Utah. Brighton was winning by fifteen points. They had twice as many fans present as the other school and though the cheerleaders were "cheering their heads off," the crowd wasn't responding. "The other outcheering us," almost indignantly. The cheerleaders team was she recalled, "It was sad. tried to get only takes a few bad ones to ruin it for everyone and It's those few you hear : the girls do in their behalf and show it with thank you ads in the newspaper, special treats, and parties in their honor. Parents and teachers note the difference of school spirit, especially at games. It's pretty difficult to ignore the cheering girls. You just have to join in. V Penny loves her job and plans to stay at Brighton as long as she can. She treasures the "never . 50-pl- us ending friendships" she has developed with the students Over the years. "Once they're your friend, you're friends forever," she commented. "Even five or six years after they've graduated, I still have students coming up to me in the stores, saying 'hi mom' and giving me a hug. They don't she was "headed for year those ". . . she had to quit wearing her was sweater it because for "old an embarassing lady" to be seen in the supermarket with a sweater that says BABES across trouble." She had gotten involved with a "bad crowd" that was drinking and experimenting with drugs. "I didn't know how to get away," she continued. The girls tried out for B.A.B.E.S. "I didn't think I would make it," she said. "The day I found out I had was the greatest day of my life." The girl made new friends, stopped drinking and taking drugs, and developed a new enthusiasm for life. By the end of her senior year, she. had done a .complete turnaround and was headed for college. forget you. "People think kids this age are terrible. It only takes a few bad ones to ruin it for everyone and it!? those few you hear about. You don't hear about the good kid. . . . there are so many neat kids who are high school age. "No matter how many hours you put4n or how much work you dd," she concluded. t "The rewards are one hundred times greater." S Category two officers trained A new Category class in "Reserve police officers, 2 Officer state park officers, and Training gets under way Feb. 1 at Utah Technical College at Salt Lake, taught by Clyde Palmer, training supervisor for the Department of Public Safety, Police Officers Standards and Training. Full-tim- e police officers regular are known soon. Following the course, which meets 5:30 p.m.-8:3- 0 p.m: each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Utah Tech, there is a state certification test, and 40 hours of training. The course costs as Category 1, whereas $200. , The Category 2 training Category 2 refers to part-tim- e officers, or those requirement came into having limited police being as a result of action a authority. This includes legislative jailers, constables, the couple of years ago. All . officers and those having limited police authority are required to take the training. For registration part-tim- e details, call 967-413- 7 or 967-420- 1. Elders named in Sandy Stake Douglas J. Simons, Hop Davis Hopkins, Blake Allen Yates, and Robert Charles Williams were named Elders in the Sandy Utah Stake. Eugene Wayne Folker and Joseph A. Hall will be in the Seventies. Harry Fletcher and Dennis James Campbell were named High Priests.. since she was not a member of the faculty, she would have to find an advisor. Penny chose Connie Le Cheminant, a home economics teacher who has "really good repoire with the kids." Penny became the assistant advisor. By popular vote, the club was named BABES - Brighton Athletic Backers Exert Spirit. B.A.B.E.S. started three years ago with 45 girls. This year there are 55 participants. T 4C S- - J SAVE 566-247- 3 Ti '400 '500 on BAJA or DUNE BUGGY TiyA Reg. $3995 To $4400 $ Dad Martin INC. W can I mtt In ftacnMhoncl Equipment um4 to m luti met a m on) of t. about..." 7800 5. State CHOICE & PRIME MEAT With This Ad sweater designating them as B.A.B.E.S. admitted that Penny u p MAnTTON'S-MIEA- OFP and a days are as girls iwbo find that B.A.B.E.S. in participate to be part of it makes a difference a group that cares about the school and about them as individuals. Coaches and team members are appreciative of the hard work that dramatic, half-joking- ly : & VW, DATSUN, TOYOTA, SUBARU, HONDA All Merchandise Although not all incidents which build school spirit. Each girl has a uniform which she wears at games. They also have a special outfit they wear on that "for every kid causing trouble" there were "hundreds" of "really good kids." Penny spent one year working full time before deciding that it was "too much to handle" along with family and other responsibilities. She switched to a parttime position in the career center. She worked there for two years before taking her present job in the media center. It was here that she became with involved Penny speaks glowingly of and really nervous," Penny continued. She's heard all the stories about how "bad" high school students were. "I was scared to be around all those kids." She relaxed, after several weeks on the job. "I really had my eyes opened," she said. She learned the several hundred she has "adopted" during her past seven years at Brighton High. "kids" B.A.B.E.S. are senior girls with a minimum 2.5 grade point average. They spend their time cheering at games, performing skits at pep assemblies, making treats for the players, and sponsoring activities secretary. 8452 South State Street Midvale. Utah 84047 (801)566-398- 7 Pizza! a |