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Show SB Ooinions Letters: with full less than 406 words, stated Should be typed double-space- d, name, and include address and phone number (number won t be J73-S0published). Direct questions to Flint Stephens, editorial page editor, Atwater should quit for sake of his party Although Lee Atwater's pit-bu- W&$8mmwti& 5, 1989 B. WmanD ll approach to politics has won him high praise among many of the Republican Party faithful, it has made him a liability to the GOP in general and the Bush administration in particular. Two recent incidents show the abrasive Atwater, who masterminded George Bush's dramatic comeback victory last Noas chairman vember, to be of the Republican National Committee. Several weeks ago, Atwater approved by phone the sleazy memorandum insinuating that newly installed House Speaker Tom Foley is ill-suit- ed a Wednesday homosexual. After persuading President Bush that he had not personally seen the vicious hit piece before it was released, he promised to be more careful in the future. Whereupon he proceeded to embarrass the party with an inflammato- ry, partisan speech during last week's conference of mayors in Charleston, S.C. In both instances, Atwater was quick to attribute most of the heavy fallout to spiteful Democrats who are still smarting over his pivotal role in demolishing Gov. Michael Dukakis's presidential candidacy. Yet, this response ignores the problems that Atwater's scorched-eart- h tactics pose for Republicans. There is a fine line between being a politically adept gunslinger, which party chieftains are supposed to be, a and a mudslinger crucial distinction Atwater fails to grasp. To the contrary, he seizes upon every opportunity to smear Democratic opponents, no matter what the negative consequences. For examnle. the dav after the Foley memorandum was drafted and distributed by Mark GooHin, his former aide and protege, Atwater defended it as "no big deal." His assessment changed abruptly when self-indulge- nt Herald comment Republican leaders, led by the president, denounced this as the dirty trick it was. As a consequence, Atwater promptly conceded that it was indeed in bad taste and accepted Goodin's "resignation." Given Atwater's relentless instinct for the Democratic jugular, it's difficult to take him at his word that he meant Speaker Foley no harm. This, after all, is the same man, who after being accused in 1980 by a Democratic congressional candidate of planting stories about his electro-shoc- k said therapy as a teen-age- r, he would not respond to allegations made by someone who had been "hooked up to jumper cables." Atwater's rationalizations notwithstanding, he must be held strictly accountable for the despicable Foley memorandum. As party chairman, he helps to set the moral tone for Republican campaigns. Rep. Mickey said it best, "if Edwards, a run you sleazy campaign ... to build a majority by trashing the other side, it has a tremendous potential to backfire." So long as the Atwater-smea- r syndrome pervades the Republican National Committee, the GOP will have forfeited the high ground that a., the Democrats' ethical problems had given it. Republicans are, ac- cordingly, increasingly vulnerable to a voter backlash against the smear strategy. And so long as Lee Atwater Republican Party will be stuck in the muck. If he doesn't have the good sense to resign for the good of the party, President Bush should show him the door. - tary retribution against the captors. This was their thunderous response to our recent television report on terrorism, the results of which we sent to the White House. Only 9,831 callers wanted to continue relying on diplomacy to gain the hostages' release. From intelligence reports and briefings, we have learned that the American hostages have been singled out for special abuse. Usually they are confined to dark cells, chained to their beds and blindfolded. When they are moved to new locations, they are sometimes wrapped like mummies and transported in wooden coffins. One hostage has gone mad and babbles incoherently. Two escaped but were caught; they were beaten so mercilessly that they haven't fully recovered. The hostage vith the most time in custody, Terry Anderson, once became so frustrated that he smashed his head repeatedly against a wall until blood streamed down his face. The terrorists responsible for this inhuman treatment, ironically, call themselves the Party of God (Hezbollah). They look to Iran for guidance. Iran's Speaker of the Parliament, Hashemi Rafsanjani, has jurisdiction over the terrorist underground. He communicates with them through the "Office of Support for Ibanon," which is located in the Revolutionary Guards' central head- Teheran. quarters President Bush does not disagree with those who want action to free the hostages. "If I could rescue hostages by use of U.S. force and feel that the odds were reasonably good that they would be saved alive," he told us, "I certainly in would." Sources who have studied the possibility of a rescue mission tell us ii would be impossible. The hostages are guarded by the Musawi clan, whose members are related to one another and, therefore, cannot be infiltrated. At any sound of commotion outside their makeshift prison, the guards also rush into the cells and put guns to the heads of the hostages. But military retribution remains an option. We reminded the president that U.S. intelligence agencies possess positive evidence, including intercepted messages, that the Party of God takes orders from Teheran. Why, we asked, doesn't the United States retaliate against Iran? "I leaned long ago, when I was Editor's note: This is the second in a weekly series of stories from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District about the Central Utah Project. small army of construction workers is armed with giant earth movers six the transforming rolling landscape miles north of Heber City into a boating, g fishing and paradise. Jordanelle Dam and Reservoir, expected to be completed in 1992, will offer numerous recreational activities for some 300,000 enthusiasts per year, according to Don A. Christiansen, General Manager of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD), sponsor of ihtTuam. In addition to its recreational offerings, Jordanelle will meet a significant portion of Utah County's water demands for the next 20 years, a vital purpose of the dollar Central Utah Project, the largest water resource development program in the state's history. Jordanelle entered its current phase of construction in April with a $78.7 million contract to Granite Constrution CompaA water-skiin- multi-billio- Some want military to free U.S. hostages In an outcry heard WASHINGTON all the way to the White House, 146,630 angry Americans took to their telephones the other night and called for military action to free the nine remaining American hostages. Or if a rescue is not feasible, most Americans want mili- Jordanelle a recreation paradise ny of Watsonville, Calif. "The 'V shaped reservoir will supply of municipal and industri2,400 acre-feal water to northern Utah County annually, enough to serve the M&I needs of up to 70,000 residents and 15,000 acre-feet et Jack Anderson & n Dale Van Atta for Wasatch and Summit Counties," Christiansen said. "Provo city has the right to 10,000 acre-feof storage capacity inside Jordanelle free of charge enough water for 40,000 residents," said Lee McQuiv-ey- , assistant project manager for the Utah Projects Office of the Bureau of Reclamation. This is water Provo already owns. The new reservoir gives the city a place to store it, allowing Provo to better manage its water supply, he explained. Not only that, but the Jordanelle will greatly reduce the threat of flooding at Utah Lake. After all existing water rights are et fMi UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE director of the Central Intelligence Agency, not to comment on intelligence matters," said Bush. But he added quickly: "If the fingerprints of terrorism are found on hostagthat state should be expecte-taking, ed to pay a price." The typical American attitude was expressed bluntly by Col. Iceland Holland, himself one of the 52 original hostages taken in Iran, and who was abused by his captors. Even when his life was on the line, he said, he would have liked to see his government react more forcefully. "The Russians do that," he said. "The Iranians haven't picked on the Russians." In his opinion, "there needs to be some kind of program sold firmly and swiftly that if they take an American, it doesn't matter who does it or where it occurs, we're gonna do something about it. ... We're not a bunch of pushovers," he said angrilv. HONORING HEE-HAAlthough Congress faces a platter of major issues, it always finds time to waste. lawmakers spend as much time promoting pet causes and constituents as they do tackling the tough problems facing the counstate-sponsor- - try. It's all geared to generating votes for the next election. Sugary statements honoring leading citizens and high school athletes, and bragging about home state fruits, are good P.R. and are more pleasant than discussing taxes and budget deficits. The torrent of statements occupies reams of paper in the Congressional the daily transcript of proceedRecord ings on the Senate and House floors. One recent day, a lawmaker lauded the new president of an auditor's association in Texas. Another rose to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of a high school in New York. - The Old Men of China really know how to fill their state coffers. Three young dissidents were recently shot in the head for torching a train during the democratic uprising in China. The families of the three young men were charged for the bullets that killed their sons. Copyright, 1989, United Feature Syndicate, Inc. L honored, Jordanelle will store excess flows of the Provo River that once passed through Utah Lake. During low runoff years, if the diverted storage water is required at Utah Lake, it will be replaced with water from Strawberry Reservoir. During the high runoff years, he said, water from Strawberry Reservoir will not be released into Utah Lake, reducing the risk of flooding. Filling Jordanelle will reduce Utah Lake's inflow and contribute to flood control on the lake, according to y. "But there will be a direct exchange," "Water withheld from the Provo River for the Jordanelle can be replaced in Utah Lake from three new sources. Utah Lake won't be affected." The three sources are: 1) releases from Strawberry Reservoir; 2) Project return flows that is, used Jordanelle water that returns to Utah Lake from outdoor runoff and treatment plants; and 3) Salt Lake County irrigation water that was specially purchased by CUWCD. This water previously was taken out of Utah Lake by Salt Lake County users but now will be withheld in the lake. In addition, the flow in the Provo River at the mouth of the Provo Canyon will probably never exceed 1,500 cubic feet per second once the dam is operational, McQuivey said. By comparison, in 1984 the worst flood year in Utah the flow was nearly twice lake history that amount. The regulated flow of the Provo River will provide a better base for fishing, rafting and tubing, he said, because the river won't drop excessively during low runoff, and it won't flood during high he added. runoff. McQuivey added that the bureau has been careful to honor all historical Provo irrigation, municipal and industrial uses of Provo River water. In response to recently voiced concerns regarding Provo's water rights to the Provo River, Gov. Norm Bangerter and the Republican members of Utah's congressional delegation have publicly stated Jordanelle dam would be filled in a manner consistent with all "valid existing (water) rights" enjoyed by Provo and that the dam "will assist in providing ,.. required minimum flows (of the Provo River) during the fall and winter" to protect fish. The recreational benefits of Jordanelle should be enormous, according to Wasatch County Planner Bob Mathis. He said the bureau must provide recreational facilities on every reservoir it builds, and $26 million has been earmarked for the Jordanelle's recreational amenities. He outlined some of the public facili- ties plannedfor the .new reservoir, which will be more than twice as large as nearby Deer Creek Reservoir: A major recreational site on the west shore, near the U.S. 40 diamond interchange; A secondary recreational facility at the east end of the south arm of the lake; A possible third site on the east side of the north arm of the lake. Facilities would include a marina, camping and picnicking units, stations, boat launching ramps, car and trailer parking, electrical hookups, restrooms and drinking water. Mathis also said private developers are proposing two hotels, some 2,620 dwelling units (hotel, condo, duplex and single family), a nordic skiing community and possibly a golf course. A new state park will also be developed along the shores of the reservoir. The Jordanelle playground will be a boon to Park City and Heber Valley, only 15 minutes away, where real estate agents are already excited about added recreational opportunities Jordanelle will offer potential property owners. fish-cleani- "By alleviating flooding, by providing vital water supplies, and by being a recreational gem, you might say the Jordanelle is a situation," said Christiansen. win-win-w- in Feedback Zone change plan wouldn't be good Editor: At the present time. Riverfront Partnership, a local developer, is proposing to change the zoning for the Provo area north of 4800 North (Center Street. Orem and west of University Avenue to the Orem Bench, the "river bottoms." The present area is zoned Residential and Agricultural. The purposed zoning would be P.I.C., Planned Industrial Commercial. Instead of developing the land into prime residential, as it is now zoned, the new zoning would permit the following types of industrial uses: stone, clay and glass products dairy products 'may include home delivery trucks) textile mill products (with shipping facilities) furniture and fixture perfumes, cosmetics and other toilet) R-l-- A-l- ries bottling and canning soft drinks food preparations (i.e. cider, vinegar, yeast, etc. ) hotels and motels paperboard containers plastics and synthetic resins miscellaneous plastic products drugs fabricated metal products And the list goes on, according to the Provo City Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 14.29. The greatest impact we're facing with the P.I.C. zoning is the devaluation of properties and their future uiunarketa-bilitas has been seen occurring around other industrial areas. With the industrial facilities developing in our area, one only has to imagine how the semi tractor trailers and increased traffic flow will affect the quietness of the area (Center Street, Orem and 800 North being turned into major trucking and traffic arteries to supply the industrial park). Logic says, put our industrial areas near our freeways for easy access. There are far better suited lands for "planned industrial commercial" zoning. For example, west of the freeways, along Geneva Road, south of East Bay, etc. With industrial development in such areas, the tax revenues realized from industrialization would be the same as in the river bottoms. And with increased employment from such, more homeowners are brought into our market. Utilizing the greatest potential for the river bottoms would mean development of neighborhoods and homes among the trees, river and streams. In order for Riverfront Partnership to change the zoning, first it must persuade the Provo Planning Commission to change the master plan for the area. The public hearing will be July 12, 7 p.m., Provo City Municipal Council Chambers, 359 West Center Street, Proy vo. If the master plan is changed to incorporate the project, then the area must be rezoned. The public hearing for the rezoning will be: July 25, 1989, 7 p.m., Provo City Municipal Council Chambers, 359 West Center Street, Pro- vo. With a concerted group effort, we can keep the Riverbottoms zoned residential. Steve Juassi Provo People in Salem are wonderful Editor: In a world where there is always local something to complain about crime, pollution, apathy for fair play, honesty and integrity, I am grateful to be living in Utah County because of all the good things that can be found here. One of those choice blessings is to live in the little community of Salem. We have our share of all the worldly problems other towns do but we have our share of dear hearts and gentle people too. This week Salem IDS Stake performed a wonderful musical "It's a Miracle." My personal thanks go to each and every person who helped in any way to make this production so successful. This too is one more reason to be thankful for living in this little community. People working together, giving of their time and talents to bless the lives of others in many, many different ways. It's easy to pick out the flaws or thorns in life but so much more enjoyable to seek out the beauty that surrounds us, not only in Salem, but all over Utah County. Lorraine Underwood Salem |