| OCR Text |
Show "He are dedicated to the public interest, to fairness and accuracy, to innovation and growth, and to the restless pursuit of excellence." Pulitzer mission statement LDITOR: MARK. l.DDINGTON Want proof? at Heber City resicele- dent Alton Thacker. He brates Christmases south of the border with a spree that would do Santa proud. In fact, the retired barber is known as Thacker Santa Claus in the Mexican city of Casas Grandes, which is located southwest of El Paso, Texas. Only Thacker does Santa 11 better. His gift runs often take place every month, not just once a year. Working with Tiny Tim's Foundation for Kids, Thacker takes truckloads of basic necessities to the needygift-givin- SUNDAY. NOVEMBER g - adults and children of Casas Grandes. He is not alone. Derrell Rudd and Dennis Baker, his fellow barbers at Den-ell'Barber Shop before his retirement, are also heavily s involved. Their charitable endeavor began three years ago as a onetime deal. It has since bloseffort. somed into a year-rounefforts and Thanks to their generous donations from local residents, fathers in Casas Grandes get food to put on the table, mothers receive blankets and sewing machines, kids get clothes. In other words, Thacker and his volunteers provide the people of Casas Grandes with hope. d HERALD EDITORIAL If the United States had no need for heroes, for inspiring deeds or for tapping more knowledge from the heavens. Sen. John Glenn wouldn't be returning to space. There can never be enough heroic acts, enough events that send spirits or enough creative approaches to sharing the benefits of space exploration. As a younger astronaut. Glenn presented a role model of stellar proportions for the youth of this nation. Today, as America's oldest astronaut, he still wears that hero's mantle. The youngsters of the early HMOs, of course, have reached middle age. They, of course, watched his space flight intently and likely brought their own children into the experience. Older Americans, too. can draw inspiration from Glenn's feat. Living longer and remaining active, they can hold up Glenn as a senior who still has the right stuff. ... This time, though, didn't rocket off alone, with limited knowledge, as he did so long ago. He rode in the company of a crew, astride a legacy of U.S. achievements in space that his mission promises to en hance. space-shuttl- e 'litis editorial appeared recently The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel. "Hope is a wonderful thing, especially if you have none," Thacker noted in a recent article in The Daily Herald. Hope comes in many forms. One is a physical therapy center the foundation provides for s handicapped Mexican 350-plu- children. There are wheelchairs for the disabled. Eyeglasses for the and much more. This year, there is even a trailer. El Azteca restaurant donated the money needed to purchase the trailer. With a trailer now at his sight-impaire- d disposal, Thacker and his fellow volunteers will no longer have to behalf of the needy in far-of- f Mexico is an example to us all. We commend the volunteers and donors for all they have done and encourage more to lend a hand. Donations of clothes, blankets and other items can be taken to Derrell's Barber Shop, 333 W. 100 North, in Provo. Monetary donations are also welcomed. Checks should be made out to Tiny Tim's Foundation for sewing machines. The efforts of Thacker, Rudd, Baker and other volunteers, as well as the generosity of local residents and business owners who have donated to the foundation, are worthy of praise. Their generosity and selfless service in Kids. in John Glenn is probably making his final ride into space and he's not kidnot even himself ding anyone about why he's going. It's not about research into the aging process as he's been saying. It's about fun, heroism, nostalgia and a lot of public relations. Back in 1962, Glenn squeezed into the tiny Mercury capsule, made his historic flight and landed in American history books and the hearts of people around the world. Glenn, the first American to orbit the Karth. circled the globe three times and came home a hero. His flight symbolized the country's optimism and aspirations because it was dangerous and exciting. Hack then, the U.S. space program was not motivated by science but by national pride, the romance of exploration and the determination to make a human mark on the heavens. When Glenn stepped aboard the Discovery shuttle this week, he rekindling that spirit of America and as long as they were going anyway, they might as well take him along. 77? is editorial appeared recently in Hoswell (X.M.) Daily Record. BOSTON' Ah yes. another civics lesson. Just in time for the 1998 election. Koseanne Ha it offered up a public service message to any woman who might be planning to vote Tuesday: Don't bother. "It doesn't matter." said the talk show host. "I don't think they are ever going to address anything that matters to women, neither party, nor any of them, women or men, so let's just all. like, find some guys and party." Whoopee. Roseanne. the icon of the working-clas- s mom. hasn't hit such a since her note patriotic rendition of "The Banner." Turn off. Turnout. The common wisdom of 1998 is that less than 10 percent of registered voters will actually vote. It's said that many races may turn especially on the decisions of women who came out in '92. stayed home in '91. and were back in 'Hi. What will they do this year? The thought that women will drop off again has led the very politically incorrect Hill Manor to call this "the year of the angry white man who is screwing around on the soccer mom." Which brings us to the next civics lesson from the Republican National Committee. The motives behind the ads about the Lewinsky scandal have boon analyzed more than Clinton's psyche. Some say the point is to refresh the short-termemory of the public. Others say it's proof that the whole Republican agenda comes down to two little words: Got Hill. Hut I see another method in the madness: They're meant to turn off the turnout. The stars of the ad tire two thirtysomething women. dros--- d good-lookin- AT LARGE A g much-heralde- d Ellen Goodman Lands' End and coiffed like J. Crew, talking about how hard it was to tell the kids about "IT." These are not the "waitress moms" that Democrats want to got to the polls. They are the suburban moms, the swing voters, the gender gap makers that Republicans may want to keep away from the polls. As Ruth Mandel of the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers says succinctly, "It's in the interest of Republicans to depress the turnout. If women who in might vote Democratic become disgusted, maybe they'll take a break this year." One other thing about this campaign. Laced in among the attack ads. it's also been the year of the mom ads. At least throe elder "moms" have taken to the airwaves to laud their candidate sons. Maybe we need a "mom" to teach civics again. Here's how it goes. Mom. Apple Hie. First you vote. Roseanne, and then mom wili let you "like, find some guys and party." good-lookin- g Ellen (tvwlman is a columnist for The Boston Globe. ; : Members of 'flie Daily Herald edi? torial board are Publisher Kirk Parkinson, Managing Editor Mike Patrick, Opinions Page Editor Mark Eddington. City Editor Sharon Gholdston and Provo residents Kay J. Andersen and David Dixon. TSS" EDITORIAL ROUNDUP 1998 elections: Turn off the turnout mom-to-mo- 1998 rent one to carry the donations from Utah County to Mexico. In fact, Thacker is now packing the trailer and gearing up for a Christmas run. On Nov. 4, he will begin his journey to Casas Grandes. The stocking stuffers on this Yuletide trip include shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs and other personal hygiene articles. All this is in addition to 50 tons of donated clothes and another 72 Glenn proof that seniors still have the right stuff Star-Spangle- 1, trip no siesta for barbers and other volunteers Christmas knows no borders and the spirit of giving transcends holidays and seasons. look BIO THE DAILY MliRALD 4 M exico Just OPINIONS League of Women Voters opposes Proposition For 78 years, the League of Women Voters has worked to protect the vote for all citizens. We do not take voting lightly, and wo believe strongly in citizen participation in the legislative process. This year proponents of Proposition 5 are asking citizens to vote yes now so that they will not ever have to be bothered to vote again on any issue involving wildlife. Their stated purpose is to make it so difficult to pass an initiative on this issue that no group will ever go to the trouble of putting such an initiative on the ballot again. While they imply that initiatives would ban hunting and fishing, the fact is that no such initiative would ever bo placed on the ballot in Utah. The league of Women Voters believes that if voters understand Proposition 5, they will vote no. Proponents of Proposition 5 have raised over $650,000. and they are currently sponsoring advertisements encouraging people to vote for the proposition. These are sophisticated, attractive ads. urging voters to protect the beautiful Utah environment. However, they have nothing to do with the proposition. They do not toll voters that Proposition 5 changes the requirements for passing an initiative on wildlife from the simple majority required for all other initiatives to a super majority. They do not toll voters that Proposition 5 makes the vote of a person voting yes count only half as much as that of a person voting no. The ads are specifically designed to confuse voters about the proposition. Proposition 5 is an arrogant attempt by a special interest group to take voting rights away from the people of Utah. It is critical that every voter take the time to become informed about Proposition 5. The League of Women Votes urges citizens not to be confused or persuaded bv slick, uninformativo ads. D LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Information is available that describes specifically what rights every voter in Utah will lose if Proposition 5 passes. The League of Women Voters has published a Voters Guide that is available in 77ie Catalyst, in libraries throughout the state, and on the web at www.lwv.org. Vote no on Proposition 5. Janice Gygi, President league of Women Voters of Utah Kuhni performs service Kuhni and Sons animal rendering plant was at its present location when it was sitting in the middle of a swamp, useless ground behind the old Ironton Steel plant. The only competition Kuhni had was a couple of homes and the garbage dump. We had a small farm in south Provo and when a cow would die, we would call Kuhnis. The company even paid us $5 to come and get it. It takes a very huge hole to bury a cow, and then you have to got the cow to the hole. Provo City decided to build a golf course by Kuhnis in East Bay. The land became valuable and business came like the Pied Piper. Now the residents of East Bay have to go. Kuhni and Sons services Salt Lake, Utah and Wasatch counties. Kuhni also picks up animal byproducts from butcher shops from Ogden to St. George. Yes, Kuhni must be making a profit or they wouldn't be in business, but so does every other business or professional person. Each renders a service. This reminds mo of an elderly gentleman who worked 30-4years for a old-tim- e 5 5 company and was fired just before he was about to retire. Does Kuhni have any rights? Christine Carting ' American Fork Editorial stated the obvious An editorial is to provide some recommendations andor substantive judgment on current issues. Your Oct. 25 editorial, did not arrive at any recommendation or conclusion other than it is in "Kuhni's and the city's best interest work together." This recommendation is obvious and has no specific recommendation for closure. As is widely known. Kuhni has been at this location for three generations, longer than most residents of the county have been alive. We have lived with, tolerated or benefitted with the problem for many years. Personally, I worked there shortly while in my teens and was benefitted by enough spending money to buy gasoline for my car. The Kuhni family and business have been a real asset to many along the Wasatch Front, smell and all. Now the developers at East Bay move into their neighborhood, know- ing of the "stench and aroma" and hustle the rest of the city residents to' start complaining about their inherited problem. I concur with the Provo City Council balking at the $2 million cost of buying out Kuhni. It is not a taxpayer problem. If it is a problem of the businesses of East Bay and environs, then it is up to them to make a lucrative offer to the Kuhni family to take their business to a more desirable location. And it is probably better for Kuhni to move on to a more central and cost roduc-- , ' ing locality than continue in this ' ' ' ' urban sprawl. Hilton R. Terry Provo |
