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Show Volume 66, Number 42 Brigham City, Utah 84302, Thursday Morning, October 1 8, 1 973 38 PAGES Gives hospital group more time sales tax Box Elder county officials Tuesday delayed a promised decision on the consales tax issue. troversial half-ceIn doing, so, Commission Chairman Don Chase said he could press his fellow officials for a vote. However, he noted that a request to hold off for a week had been received from a spokesman for the North Box Elder Community Hospital corporation. The latter, a citizens group, hopes to build a community hospital at Tremonton and to utilize sales tax revenue to finance bond issues. The group reportedly has made agreements with five north Box Elder communities under which each would Issue bonds, then pool the resulting revenue for the hospital, paying off the bonds with sales tax income. Said Okay Mel Foxley, spokesman for the hospital HELLO, TREMONTON! Vice President-designat- e Gerald Ford waves to welcoming crowd after arriving at James Brown home in Tremonton Sunday after proponets, said Tremonton, Garland, Howell, Elwood and Portage have said okay. He expressed hope that Deweyville, Fielding, Plymouth and Snowville would agree to the arrangement this week. "I question that this will be done in a Commissioner John Holmgren week, . stated. . ; If this isnt the case and its the consensus that a decision should come today, Im ready to vote today, Commissioner Chase declared. "I suggest that we take a week or whatever time it takes to get the innoon. On his right is the congressmans son, Jack, formation," Commissioner Malcom C. and at left is James Brown, his host for dinner. Ford Young opined. said he was pleased to be in Tremonton The commissioners two meetings Guess who's coming to dinner? Box by Flo Munson, Elder Journal Writer to have the nominee for vice president of the United States come for dinner? To Mrs. James (Gloria) Brown of How does if feel Tremonton it seemed a casual and natural thine, ucapt for the fact that the family were surrounded by secret servicemen. The new vice president designate, Gerald R. Ford, and his lovely wife, Betty, and their family are intimate friends of James and Gloria Brown and thier family. We met in the early 1960s, Gloria told me. It was at a benefit dinner at Weber State college in Ogden for congressman Burton where Gerald Ford was the guest speaker. We doscovered we had many things in common and our friendship has grown during the years. We have spent the past nine Christmas together. We go to their condominium home in Vail, Colo., to Michigan, to Sun Valley, Snow Basin, Beaver Mountain, etc. We thoroughly enjoy skiing. I was privileged to go to the Brown home Sunday shortly prior to their leaving for Hill Air Force Base to meet congressman Ford and the group who were accompanying him. As I pulled up to the curb, I noticed a secret serviceman pacing back and forth across the front lawn. The door suddenly opened and Gloria Brown came on the step in attractive red lounging pajamas and called out a cheery greeting as she motioned for me to come in. I followed her into her elegant, spacious living room. Everything was immaculate. Come and see our tables she invited. In the dining room a lovely table was covered with a pure white table cloth accented with bright red napkins and elegant white china. It was centered with an exquisite floral arrangement. It was here Gerald Ford, his son, Jack, who is attending Utah State Vice presidential nominee Gerald Ford helps Mrs. James Brown from car after arrival at Brown home. Others in the photo are secret AT ARRIVAL servicemen. University, and the Brown family were to be seated. The walnut high-bac- k chairs had lush gold velvet seats. In the adjoining dinette was a smaller table, set up identically to that in the living room, where Jacks roommates and the three members of Mr. Fords staff were to be seated. Come into the family room Gloria said. This lovely room was impressive with a long table with places set for eight secret servicemen and 12 national newsmen. The table was covered in bright red with white china, white napkins and also centered with a floral arrangement. We were delighted when we (Continued on Page 14) previously said they would reach a decision within two weeks. Commissioner Holmgren said he was ready to vote to meet the commitment, indicating that his vote at the moment would be no. He continued that he had found little support in Brigham City for the local option tax increase, adding that a considerable amount of misunderstanding exists over the citys financial condition, and need for the added revenue. It was the Brigham City council which asked the commission for authority to impose the tax in Brigham City. That was on July 31. Two weeks ago the city reiterated its request. And thats when the county promised to have a decision by Oct. 16. In proposing a further delay. Chairman Chase said not only was a delay requested other by the hospital group but organizations have asked for additional civic groups and agricultural time to contribute input. groups He said since a delay now doesn't threaten any city programs, that it would be in the best interest of all concerned that it be delayed a week. ' . Other Business In ' other - business, the 'commission opened bids on furnishings for the new addition at Pioneer Memorial Nursing home. Apparent low bidder on a total bid basis was Joerns Furniture company, Stevens Point, Wis., at $4,297.28. Four firms bid on the furnishings, all or in part. Home Administrator Margo Eberhard and Commissioner Chase were named to . study the figures with power to act. Included are beds, mattresses, bedside cabinets and overbed tables. Construction on the addition was begun May 1 and may be completed in December. Need Maintenance Dave Schen, state forester, and Lloyd Robinette, district fire warden, met with the commissioners on the need to perform maintenance on fire trucks located throughout the county. These are unites furnished through the Utah Forestry and Fire Control for combatting wild fires. Most are in need of maintenance. Robinette said units at Promontory and Golden Spike National Historic site dont even have brakes. The fire warden also reiterated a need to update agreements between the county and various communities where the trucks are located. The current pacts, described as vague, were made in 1958. Robinette has asked that he continue on the job through the winter to bring the trucks up to standard and negotiate new agreements. He goes off the state payroll as fire warden at the end of the fire season Oct. 31. Commissioner follow up on the ' Young said he would matter. Fire District Schen advised the county board of steps that could be taken to create a fire protection district. One route is by petition signed by 25 percent of county taxpayers and the (Continued on Page Eight) Nursing home runs over Will print Seemed natural . . . except for secret service ddsin Nows early Cou nifty proposes budgeft increase The Veterans Day holiday next Monday, Oct. 22, means that Sundays issue (Oct. 21) of the Box Elder News will be printed and distributed early. And this means that adand editorial vertising deadlines will be moved up. Advertisements must be received no later than 5 p.m. today (Thursday) and editorial matter by 10 a.m. Friday. The Box Elder News and Journal office will be closed Saturday and Monday. Government offices will observe the Monday holiday and schools In Box Elder district also will take Monday off for Utahs annual deer hunt, closing earlier than usual on Friday. for most However, businesses, Monday will bring business as usual. Box Elder county is proposing to adjust the current year budget, a move which portends a substantial deficit for operation of Pioneer Memorial Nursing home. A hearing on the budget changes is scheduled Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. in the county commission room, basement of the courthouse in Brigham City. Specifically proposed is a $100,000 increase for the nursing home to sustain the Brigham City facilitys operation through the remainder of this year. Its also intended to increase the sheriffs department budget by $7,500 to accommodate personnel increase; to boost the Bear River Health district budget by and to reduce the jail building budget by $18,000. the health in The change $10,500, district budget, according to Clerk K.B. Olsen, is simply a rescheduling of this expenditure. The district operates on a fiscal year system and the county on a calendar year basis. County Not Needed The jail expenditure had been planned to take care of repairs and upgrading. However, in view of a county decision to include the existing jail in a total jail complex project, this money will not be used for its originally intended purpose. Olsen explained that the nursing home budget is being handled by the county for the first time this year. Previously, the nursing home board was charged with this responsibility. Some $310,000 was approved for the home in this years budget. The proposal now is to increase that amount by $100,000. The county clerk said $280,000 in revenue is anticipated from the home. . Citizens at Mantua, Honeyville and Portage have named candidates for political office in the Box Elder county communities. The nominees were selected at conventions held during the past week. All terms are for four years. At Mantua the Citizens party, meeting in the LDS church house, Saturday nominated Guy Higley for town president n and Gardner Jeppsen and Bruce for trustees. Some 20 persons attended the session. Jep-perso- The Peoples party, gathered in the old Mantua school, named Leon Johnson as its candidate for town president and Richard Noyes and Ralph Yearsley for town trustees. The convention saw 27 townspeople take part. The two party organizations also elected new leaders. Stewart Reeves took the helm as chairman of the Citizens party with Carol Sara, vice chairman, and Janet Reeves, secretary. The Peoples party selected Hal Rasmussen as chairman and Janette Rasmussen as secretary. At Honeyville, the Peoples party, meeting Thursday night, nominated Ursel Hunsaker, outgoing trustee, as candidate for town president. Trustees nominees are Oral Johnnie Hunsaker, a veteran of town government, and Vernon Mozingo, a relatively new resident of the community. Both incumbent President Byron, Hunsaker and Trustee Alt Hunsaker declined to seek reelection. The meeting was conducted by Acting Chairman Ralph Tolman who encouraged those present to actively campaign in behalf of their candidates. Also, volunteers were solicited to help transport older voters to and from the polls on the Nov. 6 election day. At a town meeting called Wednesday Wendell night by retiring C. Hall, citizens of Portage named their nominees. The citizens party nominated Loren LaDell Biggs for town president and VarC (Continued on Page Eight) Town-Preside- Leaves Gap This leaves a gap of $130,000 between income and the amount budgeted for expenditure (if the $100,000 increase is officially approved). However, Olsen said the picture is not so drastic as it seems. The county put out $60,000 to get the home current in its financial obligations, a e outlay. And he expressed doubt that the full $100,000 will be needed to sustain the home through the balance of this year. ' one-tim- However, it appears the annual subsidy paid by Box Elder county to operate the home this year will exceed the ususal $25,000 to $30,000 amount. Olsen said the monthly cost of operation is running more than $30,000 while income is averaging less than $25,000. Cost increases, particularly that for food, are blamed for the higher expense of operation, the clerk explained. Olsen said to cover unexpected expenses, the county is borrowing from the $196,000 set aside for the county jail complex and will pay it back when property tax money is received. |