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Show THESENTINEL Page 2 Thursday, March 17,1983 Letters to the Editor Editor: Opponents of Planned Parenthood have been meeting in River ton. Because I am a nearby resident (W. Herriman), I feel particularly chagrined and I am a misrepresented. community educator with Planned Parenthood. Last Friday a Riverton resident called PPAU administrative office and asked if it were true that PP had made a presentation to the State Board of the PTA asking them to let PP present maturation programs in the schools. The caller said the fear was that we would now be getting to even younger children! Not just teenagers! Let the truth be known. On Feb. 9 (after months of trying to get on the agenda) I presented a proposal to the State PTA Board to teach PARENTS From .LOCAL PTAs how to present maturation programs that would encourage parent and child dialogue during the actual program, as well as give factual maturation information. Because most programs are presented by an outside professional and are lectures with films, very little parentchild communication is fostered. Children instead learn that "outside professionals" give sexual information. Is this your intention? I doubt it. I proposed that local parents should learn the maturation in- formation and some simple strategies for forcing "safe" communication between parent and child during the presentation. The parents judge for themselves what and how much information to present and what values (if any) are palatable to their own community. Does this sound like undermining the family? The response from the State PTA board? Maybe it's a good idea, but sorry, they won't help us promote any program. For verification, call Gail Judd at the State PTA office. Once again, lets gather the facts, not second (or third or fourth) hand information. Respectfully, s Mary Kay Lehto Community Educator Planned Parenthood Assoc. of Utah Deadly force... "It's a fine line of shoot, don't shoot" You're staring down the barrel of a .44 caliber Super Hawk Ruger Magnum. You don't have a lot of time to think. It's dark, but maybe if you moved quickly you might have a little more cover, but then again there may not be time to move. You've got a sinking feeling: this By Tom Lewis great waste in education is buildings. We spend $20 million for a high school, using it for an average of 9 hours a day, (this includes extra-curricul- activities) ar days a week. 5 Assuming the building will last about 70 years, we project hours of use during its life. That structure, public property, will sit locked and 116,550 empty for 496,650 hours. 76.5 percent of its life will be lost; that's waste. What can le done about it? There are? two ways of ncrea?:ng building use. The most obvious is extending the school year to 12 months. This would increase the use of the building over its 70 year life to 151 -- 00 hours; an increase of 34,050 hours. The 12 month school presents some problems which must be considered. First, the state constitution stipulates that students attend school for 9 months. Requiring students attend 12 months would necessitate a constitutional amendment and would be met with opposition both on the part of students, and their parents. " Various schedules like the as been have proposed plan remedies. These schedules have students attend for a time (45 days), and take time off (15 days). The problem with this concept is scheduling the team, "45-15- band, drama, etc., students together while insuring that students have the same schedule as family members. This is a potential nightmare. month scheduling is True, more cost effective as far as building go, but it is more costly for salaries and maintenance. If you believe that teachers will work 12 months for the same pay they now get, please contact me; I have some "Studebaker" stock I'd like to sell you! Given these problems, 12 month schools are a good way to 12 better use our buildings. Perhaps an even better way is the community school. ' Next . week we'll explore community schools a little more. and all could have ended up with the use of deadly force justifiably. In the five incidents, the "Put the gun down," you yell while jumping to cover. Miraculously, the gun goes down, but in a split second it's pointed at your partner who has no cover. Again you yell, "Put the gun down." suspects the but is also partner's." Adding that the area is very gray, patrol investigator Mark Trujillo states a critical decision is made and carried out in 30 seconds or less. Officer T. Hill, who has been involved in a recent incident, declares all situations are different and nothing can be preplanned, especially with fast moving events, however, he notes, "We do everything humanly possible not to use deadly force." Often innocent victims, psychological problems, including long term depression. After such incidents, officers usually leave the police force within two years. According to Utah State law, deadly force can only be used in protecting the life of a citizen, an officer, or a partner. It cannot be used by either police or citizens to protect property. In a hostage situation, it may be used if the threatens or has including wives and children, ' are part of the confrontation and events leading up to that scene. One wife explains her husband repeatedly told her, "I can't afford to feed you and the kids." r He also kept doing more and more ' destructive things over several months, such as driving under the influence and Quality to be maintained . . . Canyon Advisory releases report After a year of study, the Canyon Advisory Committee reported its goals and recom- mendations concerning the Wasatch Canyon Areas to the Salt Lake County Council of Governments Thursday. The 57 recommendations include protecting canyon resources for the future, maintaining the quality of the watershed, encouraging a greater level of intergovernmental cooperation among canyon jurisdictions, increasing the public's awareness of the unique values associated with the canyon, recognizing the need for an equitable balance between private and public rights in the canyons. Three additional recommendations suggest canyon areas hold joint meetings to share view points and consider development of unified policies and guidelines, the holding capacity of the canyons should becare-full- y considered, and the Canyon Advisory Committee should be continued in some form to provide for inter- on-goi- agency coordination. Alta Mayor William Leavitt stated immediate implementation of the recommendations should be considered to make sure they actually happen. "I am proud of the accomplishments but we need the support and help of all concerned for these recommendations to be a reality." The report continues by outlining the need for vehicular safety and improved access by improving canyon roads, encouraging development of the proposed "Park and Ride" facility at the 6200 S. Interchange on informing the public about maintenance priorities and needs for canyon and roads, implementation e and encouraging for short-ter- m transportation concepts developed by the Wasatch Front. To provide public safety and environmental protection in the canyons, the report calls for maintaining adequate law long-rang- enforcement and search and rescue capability with recommendations of increasing crime-watc- h programs, coordinating and cooperation between regulatory, public safety and search and rescue responsibilities through interlocal agreements and providing funding for public safety agencies establishment of a service canyon through county-wid- e revenue mechanism. The report also recommends the continued use of canyons for recreational, residential and commerical development as long as none of these activities does not deteriorate the water quality. To maintain water quality, development permits which would have a detrimental effect on water quality must be closely scrutinized, continuous water quality monitoring is necessary to ensure established standards are met, sewer lines should be constructed in Big Cottonwood and Emigration Canyons and a prioritization should be established on acquiring private lands for public ownership to protect critical watershed areas and preserve public access. In addition to water quality, protecting and developing local canyon water supplies to meet the needs of Salt Lake Valley is recommended by prohibiting the drilling of wells and construction of surface water treatment facilities or importation of water from outside the canyons. Also of importance is the re also commendation to provide recreational opportunities without unacceptable resource damage. To accomplish this goal, other general recreation facilities need to be developed, sensitive canyon recreation areas must be protected and a proper balance between day and overnight use in the canyons must be identified. Information stations at the mouths of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons are suggested, minimization of pollution must be considered, limited summer service by Utah Transit Authority should be encouraged, parking and sanitation facilities at major trailheads should be improved and the Wastach Crest Hiking Trail should be developed. To provide winter recreation a coordinated effort among the Forest Service, Utah of Transportation, the County Sheriff, Alta City and the major ski areas must be able to provide avalanche forecasting and control services by studying the possibilities of decreasing avalanche hazards such as tree Department planting, barriers diversion mounds and snowsheds. The report further recommends the importance of disposal of solid waste and encouraging the public to avoid littering by asking for a "pack-in- , pack-out- " policy so that garbage goes out with the traveler since most canyon users live within a relatively short distance from the canyons and prompting a civic pride in residents and visitors to keep the areas looking nice. To protect the canyons and lives, property and watershed values from destruction by fire, the recommends report complete development and implementation of a fire code, of enforcement strict regulations governing the use of fires, development of programs to educate the public concerning the proper use of fire in watershed areas, enhance and training equipment of volunteer capability firefighter organizations and a coordinated providing response through the Arson Task Force for all suspected arson cases. . The last recommendation is to eliminate erosion and sediment transport through regulation of canyon development by incorporating the best management practices for sediment control in all construction activities, maintaining access to streams by keeping structures a minimum . Handicapped employe protests dismissal "Shoot me, go ahead and shoot to officers in such show the who use previously harmed a victim and if the suspect is running down the street, whether armed or unarmed, deadly force may be justified because the suspect may take or do bodily harm to an innocent victim who may get in his way.' r ' West Jordan Public Safety Director Kal Farr states for friend. He describes the events as fast moving with a me." deadly force suffer severe suspect children which caused the suspect to pull a knife on the suspect repeatedly shouted, real scene which public, highly In another attempt, after officers were able to get the gun away, the suspect ran out into traffic throwing himself in front of an oncoming car which narrowly missed him. The decision to use deadly force is extremely tough and critical which only the officer can judge, says Farr. "It's a fine line of shoot, don't shoot which can only be crossed by the officer involved. If the officer chooses not to use deadly force, it is at the risk of his life or his of 20 feet from steambacks and designing all structures crossing main streams to pass debris. In order to accomplish these goals and recommendations the Advisory Committee stressed the importance of public ownership of the canyon areas to ensure opportunities for enjoy- ment by the public while protecting the water and scenic quality. Although the committee has no jurisdictional authority and no power to enforce its own recommendations, its purpose was to act as a forum for the discussion of major canyon development issues by recommending goals and recommendations. situation." After the incident the suspect with is usually charged aggravated assault, brandishing a weapon and discharging a weapon within city limits with the judge ordering placement in ' and Alcohol a Drug Rehabilitation Program and the County Mental Health Clinic providing counseling. Guns are placed in police custody. eternity and I felt helpless. All I could do was talk a lot and work the problems out." In two West Jordan incidents, a friend intervened after the suspect threatened his own . confronted West Jordan police officers recently. Even more frightening is that deadly force was almost used and would have been justified. Deadly force is horrifying to excruciatingly painful who are involved incidents. Statistics majority of officers were time I hear of a hostage situation, I relive those circumstances and I understand the difficulty the police have of talking someone out of a deadly hours. "It seemed like an intoxicated, unpredictable and had threatened to take the lives of others and themselves. In these type of situations, adds Farr, suspects who have unseccessf ully tried to kill themselves, will often provoke officers into shooting them because they cannot go through with the suicide attempt. One Nothing happens. You know the gun is loaded and the vest your partner is wearing won't stop the blast. You tighten your grip on the trigger and start pulling back, but at the last possible instant you hesitate. The gun is thrown down. The sigh of relief you feel is unbelievable. Three people that night will never know how close they came to dying: you, your partner and the suspect. Although the above depiction is imaginary to most of us, it was a very A used deadly force, five confrontations involving guns occurred during the past year is it. of increase would be it adds and adrenalin difficult to think logically under those circumstances. "Each tremendous speeding. Each time he seemed more insistent on getting hurt and he tried to top the last incident with a new one, she said. Relatives and friends are often involved in the negotiations with the suspect. Lt. Trujillo states he faced a friend who had a shotgun leveled at him for over four every case of deadly force there are twelve or more cases where officers put their lives and their partner's lives on the line and do not use deadly force. Although West Jordan officers have never ' v dumped garbage, which he was able to do well. The family of a handicapped West Jordan employe who had been dismissed by the city protested the city's actions at the Mar. 7 council meeting but Randall Dennis Mayor After that time the city kept him with other senior employes but for two years were unable to place him in a position because he could not drive, operate machinery or work without constant supervision. explained that former shop employe Danny McDonald had the right to appeal but needed to follow the process as stipulated in the Employes Handbook which includes filing a letter to the city and then requesting an stated he was tried in cit. shops, the parks department, streets crew and the janitorial department but was unable to do the required work. "Unfortunately, we don't have the flexibility of numbers so we can't afford to use one employe nes appeal before the council. Stating there is no equal opportunity around here, Roger McDonald, Danny's brother, said although Danny had worked for the city for ten years without complaint he was fired because he was handicapped. "I'm able to work as well as anyone else is," said Danny, who added he would fight all the way because he felt he had been position with twenty to twenty five percent efficiency, plus lose the efficiency of another position because Danny must be supervised or driven around. The city can better use its funds." treated like dirt and that employes and supervisors had a personal grudge against him. But Public Works Director Darryl Jones said there was no basis for that allegation and added employes were protective of him and tried to help. "I haven't heard Danny made fun of or ridiculed," said Jones. Explaining Danny had worked for the city for eight years, Jones said he worked from Aug. 21, 1973 to Dec. 1, 1976 then quit but came back Feb. 14, 1978. Until late 1980 when the city contracted with BFI for garbage collection, Danny stood on the back of a garbage truck and In more action that evening, the council awarded the low bid of $89,477.50 Steven L. Weaver Construction for the construction of a 10 inch water line and fire hydrants along 7000 S. 7800 S., 1300 W. The council originally budgeted $106,000 for the project. - s.The council also unanimously a resolution approved 3 as proclaiming Mar. Women's History Week in West Jordan. Previously Governor Scott Matheson declared the week be set aside throughout the state. Snowpack about average for Mar. This Year LastYr. Water Water Snow Parleys Canyon Summit Silver Lake (Brighton) Mill Creek Mill D. So. Fork Lambs Canyon Snowbird (Gad Valley) 54 67 58 59 47 101 15.3 23 17.7 18.4 13.9 31.4 Forecast Parleys Mill Creek Emigration City Creek . Ave. of Ave. 16.1 19.6 105 117 17.1 108 19.3 21.5 35.0 y) of Ave. i Average Acre Feet 133 124 139 162 151 133 121 325,000 47,000 53,000 25,000 9,500 6,500 13,000 - 17.8 (Apr.-Jul- Acre Feet Utah Lake Inflow Little Cottonwood Cr. Big Cottonwood Cr. 17.8 26.2 1 244,000 38,000 38,000 15,400 6,300 4,900 10,700 Environment Impact Study underway for Riverbottoms Bridge The City of South Jordan is currently involved in "The arduous process" of compiling information for an Environmental Impact Study on the Jordan River bridge at 10600 S. In order to qualify for funding under the Federal Bridge Rehabilitation and Replacement program, the city must complete an EIS of the project before proceeding to the design phase of the bridge. termed "a Although bureaucratic nightmare" by city officials, the EIS guidelines must be strictly adhered to in order to be in line with the National Environmental Policy Act. The federal document outlining procedures for completion of the Environmental Impact Study consists of 52 pages of requirements. According to City Aclministrator Richard Warne, "They keep changing the rules. We've received 3 updates on how to proceed since we started," he said. the Bridge Rehabilitation Program, the federal government will provide 80 Under percent of the funding necessary to replace the bridge, leaving the city with a financial obligation of only 20 percent of the cost of construction. The state will also play a part in the cost of construction. $43,000 will come from the Jordan Parkway Authority. As part of the Jordan Parkway project, the City of South Jordan will provide bicycle and horseback riding trails which will run under the bridge. The city must receive appropriate clearances from at least 20 state and federal agencies that are affected by this project. According to Warne, "Once we've coordinated with these agencies, adhered to their proceed with the design phase of the bridge. The bridge design must then be resubmitted through the same approval process on the state and federal level. Bidding and construction of the project will follow the design approval. The other requirements consist of one required public hearing and various demonstrations of significant community support for the project. The city's goal is to have the bridge 1-- off-ram- cleared, p. is 1985. p Midvale Sentinel, Inc. Continuing the Midvale Sentinel, a weekly newspaper established In 1925, published every Thursday by Sentinel Newspapers at 125 W. Center clearance; then we sit down and prepare the final EIS document. then the city will off-ram- Jordan Valley Sentinel restrictionsregulations, and the gotten appropriate The completed study will then be submitted to the Utah State Department of Transportation for their review. From there it is forwarded to the Federal Highway Administration for their approval. Once the EIS has been and replaced straigthened prior to the completion of the proposed The target date fo rthe Street, Utah 84047. Midvale, Postmaster: Send address changes to The Jordan Valley Sentinel, P.O. Box 128, Midvale, Utah 84047. Subcr1pt)on Rat Stntar Citizen Rat yMr In SUI of UUh 3" yar In Stat of Utah . David C GodfreyJames M. Lander |