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Show I Melissa Stearman Is Good As Gold by Lisa Slmunacl With the approach of the Fourth of July, patriotic festivities are being planned to make this years celebration in Grantsville 1 imr W- When Bob and Barbara Stearman adopted their daughter Melissa, they didnt know she was se- - Veterans Of Viet Nam Sought For July 4th Parade I ; : . verely retarded. "At first you cry a lot, said Barbara, "Then you realize theres only one way to go and thats up." Things did go up for the Stear-man- Melissa, 27, brought home a gold and a silver medal from the Utah Special Olympics held in Provo last month. "She was so proud of herself, all kids that participated brought their medals to school and clanged them, it was the nosiest day ever." "The Special Olympics have gone farther than anyone ever expected," said Jan Beckerhoff, a teacher at Oquirrh Hills school for the mentally and physically handicapped. "It builds a lot of confi- dence in these kids. "The slogan at the school is that if Melissa can do it, anyone can do it, her mother said, laughing. Oquirrh Hills is the only school for the mentally and physically handicapped in Tooele county. "The kids stand out for what they can do and not what they cant," said Stearman. "Melissa cant do a lot, she has an IQ of about 40, but her capabilities are unlimited and unpredictable, shell fool you every time. I feel so proud of her, it gets to the point that I feel sorry for people that dont have a retarded child. Although Melissas mentality is very limited she enjoys life. "Shes a happy and cooperative person, when you get around her, you cant help but enjoy life too. Melissa loves to go to the opera and ballets with her parents. "We take her anywhere we go, said Stear- needed to help create this special float. If you are willing to help, please Glenna Joe Griffith who spoke to the Rotarians, said when he, a bachelor, turned 40, he began feeling desperate. "I went to a singles bar, he said, "walked over to this doll and said, Where have you been all my life? ly cares, Even though Stearman said things any other way, she admits sometimes she can get frustrated and burned out. "Living with a retarded child is a birth to death affair. So far, weve covered birth to age 27. Retarded people have a normal life span with todays medication. "Its very difficult to know what is going to happen when youre gone, said Stearman. "In the beginning you have to accept that they are retarded, and then treat them as normal as possible. They fit into the world, said Stearman. Their behavior and appearance are important. Especially their appearance,, they learn to take care of themselves. "It makes them take pride in themselves," said Stearman. "We have never had any problems with people loving Melissa, said Stearman. "Some other people have problems, but everybody here knows her and accepts her. I think its because of our attitude toward the situation." Since they discovered that Melissa was retarded, 25 years ago, the Stearmans have been fighting "the good fight for the retarded." "Its a hard fight, and you cant wait for someone to say, "Ill help you. When they moved to Dug-wa14 years ago, a sergeant got together some boys to help special y, Teething. she said. "Weve worked hard for many years, she said. There are laws regarding care of special children, but according to Stearman, you have to push people to follow them. Currently, the Stearmans are trying to arrange a shelter for the older retarded kids. It would be a place for them to live and work to the best of their ability to earn their own money. "We want it and need it, she said, "but in Tooele, Why should we have to go to Salt Lake if we St. Special tours available upon request, for info, call or IF ITS GOT AN ENGINE. . . WE SPECIALIZE IN ITS REPAIR - MOWER TUNE-U- P SPECIAL lem, said Beckerhoff. A workshop would provide a home for these people and help find them jobs so they can better support themselves. Presently there are 11 students at Oquirrh Hills over the age of 22. Theyre eligible for a workshop program, but have nowhere to go. "They continue to come to school so they can maintain skills ' theyve learned, said Beckerhoff. . - In the next five years, Beckerhoff estimates the number of eligible students will double. 'There is a growing need to provide this type of environment for them, she said. Repetitive work, like packaging or sorting bore most people. Some of these students would be able to perform this type of work and would find it challenging, according to Beckerhoff. There are many misconceptions about what these people can do, "the community needs to be educated, Beckerhoff continues, "then hopefully, the community and a workshop program could grow together. July June 26, 7:30 a.m.: KIWANIS CLUB meets for Breakfast Meeting, Glowing' Embers Restaurant. p.m.: CHILDRENS MATINEE Tooele Public Library, East Vine St. For addiFor tional info, call children 6 thru 12. 3 Plus Parts Replace Ignition parts Clean carb.tank Change oil Clean cylinder head Adjust MENTION THIS ADVERT. & GET A June 27, 7 p.m.: ' call June p.m.: CHILDRENS 83 NORTH MAIN, TOOELE 882-084- Li- 882-218- 2 meets for Breakfast Meeting, Glowing Embers Restaurant. Chamber of Commerce Breakfast, Mantes Chevrolet parking garage. Juice, eggs, ham, hash-- . browns, all the pancakes you a.m. or 882-104- 6 Thurs., Frl., Sat. INSTANT 1.00 SSL SAVE 2)yj OFF Reg. Price On Pints can eat, coffee. $3 adults, $2 children. For additional info, call 9:30 a.m. - Tooele parade 882-069- 11 a.m. - MORGRO garden Large Selection BLOOMING PLANTS i Large Beautiful chokecarb. 7 TAX ASSESSMENTS AND PENALTIES UNPAID CREDITORS CORPORATE RESTRUCTURE AND DEMANDS ECONOMY OF THE AREA 4t t kj. 1SG!9 ORDERED TO SELL WALL TO HAS BEEN WALL CONTENTS - SELEsOVP;FICE EQUsoVSENT - DELIVfcOLR'RUCK - OTHER MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL IMMEDIATELY mm u SELECTION IS Qyracu S7IE.IL GP! ACCEPT Mastercard Visa RSMB Cash Checks ALL noon LIVING SET SOFA Cl LOVE SEAT Choice of 3 styles Both pices MATTRESS SETS SUPER DISCOUNTS AT REAL BARGAINS SAVE BIG ON TOP-O-LI- Concessions at Tooele City Park on Vine St. and 2nd West. Food, game, entertainment. 8 p.m. - Rodeo at Tooele Rodeo Grounds Fireworks dis10:30 p.m. play from Tooele City Golf Course TION PLANNING A MEETING OR SPECIAL EVENT? HELP AVOID CONFLICTING DATES, CONTACT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICE WE WILL BE HAPPY TO YOUR EVENT IN THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR 882-069- i OAIC VENEER NE VELVET SWIVEL ROCKCERS - IS YOUR CLUB OR ORGANIZA- open to public, no charge, corner of Broadway and Vine St. Special tours available upon request, for info, call 1985 KDBQflG COSHER CELEBRATION . 20, Second Section ELP FORTHE HOMEOWNERS 3, 7:30 a.m.: KIWANIS CLUB 7:30-9:3- 0 TOOELE 29, 4 p.m.: TOOELE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM, 882-234- 5 3 ' 882-069- You can bid on the animals yourself or contact this years sales committee to bid for you. They SONS CHESHIRE AND County July 4: TOOELES JULY 4th 2 COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, general membership meeting, Dugway Officers Club. Dinner meeting and presentation of Outstanding Civilian and Outstanding Military member of Dugway for 1985. For additional info, 2-- tional info, call a.m.: STORY HOUR, Tooele Public Library, East Vine St. For addi882-218- at Tooele brary, East Vine St. For children 6 thru 12. For addi- 10-1- 1 June juuuiiii g FREE BLADE SHARPENING (3B MATINEE, Tooele Public ' ? 2, 7 p.m.: TOASTMASTERS meets July 3, 882-218- tional info, call Bunn as auctioneer. If youre planning on stocking your freezer with meat this is the perfect time to do it. WE ALSO Courthouse, Auditorium. July A premium book of the stock show is available from these men or Wade Bitner of the County Extension Office. Admission is free. tion of market beef, lambs and hogs July 20 at 10 a.m. with Steve Clean air (liter "When the childrens parents are gone, it becomes a real prob- 882-104- June 27, A horse show will be held July at 7 p.m. There will be an auc- SAVE live in Tooele County? The workshop would be a combination of a work program and a group home for the older kids. open to the public, no charge, corner of Broadway and Vine 2-- 17 in Grantsville. DURSDAN SEVIN DIAZANON Community Calendar 22, 4 p.m.: TOOELE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM, Hun-sake- r, will be held July 17, 18, 19 and 20. r BIUJY OrODILE June 26, She said, are: Jim Gowans, Leland Beck-stroor Lynn Wyatt in Tooele, or Jerry Hurst and Teryl (3333331 kids. "The boys started training the kids for Special Olympics, and like many people they got hooked," said Stearman. "Once you get involved, theres no way back. Its not a sacrifice for people that help, theyre pleased to do it. One of the boys that helped is now a special education teacher. "Dugway has been very cooperative, said Stearman. The high school band played for the Special Olympics in Provo. "The Army has been very cooperative, it real- shes happy and wouldn't have 882-234- 5 at Its time once again for the annual Tooele County Livestock Show and Sale. This years show Melissa Stearman man. June Thomas 884-642- munity help in obtaining the names of all Grantsville veterans of Viet Nam so that a float may be created in their honor. If you are a veteran, or if you know of someone who is, please contact Vicki Anderson at s. Volunteers are also 884-600- contact fun for everyone. The Fourth of July parade com-- . mittee is working especially hard to make this years parade out- standing. They are asking for com- Stock Show On Docket Were COLOR TVs AND VCRs 40 PRICE BLOWOUT ON FAMOUS MAYTAG, GIBSON & AMANA APPLIANCES 289-'40- OFF 0 50 'ENTERTAINMENT! EM7EE1 SOFAS! ODDS & ENDS TABLES si SFAS! SOFAS! Take Advantage of a Factory Showroom Closeout. . . Save Big On Your Furniture MAPLE BOSTON ROCKERS ",7,7 9405 |