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Show 2 Thp Salina Sun Wednesday Oct. 10, 1984 dHjfcoHal Strike at School attendance policies The Salina Sun should be stricter! The new Sevier County School District attendance policy states that few factors have greater influence on a students success in school than regular class attendance, and we agree. Daily participation in a demanding and structured educational program is the key to success and if a student is going to reap the benefits possible from our educational system, he or she must be in school. We have found from discussions with teachers, administrators and parents that it does not matter why a student misses classes, the problem with being absent comes from missing what is being taught that day. Under the present school attendance requirements, approved absences are defined allowing a student to miss days of school with permission. What the policy does not insure is the makeup of topic discussion and information that was missed during that day. The school district has made vast improvements in the area of attendance with the adoption of new rules, but we feel they stopped one step short of their desired goaL.that of students mastering all the necessarv skills they should have and would have received had they attended all of the classes offered to them. We suggest that any time a student misses more than five classes in a quarter, for whatever reasons, they should be required to pass a competency test in that class. The test should be geared toward only testing the student on the , presented during that quarter. It should also be a pass-fa- il testing situation. ..if the student passes they would receive the grade already earned. If they fail the test an information incomplete would be recorded. It has been our experience that ultimately a student will make more of a concerted effort to be in class, if faced with taking such a test at the end of the quarter. We realize that at times this policy would penalize the more involved students at the school, but once again does it really matter why a student is absent? At many times, a student can miss as as 1 5 days a quarter when they are out for pictures, assembly practice, football, drama, volleyball, or planning meetings. When these absences are added to days of sickness, etc., you can see how severe a problem this can be. Chlidren cannot be expected to master expected educational skills if they are not in class. We feel that in order for a student to recognize their responsibility to attend classes and make the effort to make up missed work, a more complete policy should be enforced. It has been shown that when students desire on their own to be in school, their ability to learn and function with others improves. They are happier, the teacher is happier, the administrator and parents are happier because skills are being mastered by competent students who are attending school. Lighting Freedom's Way The nation's community newspapers are, and always have been lighting freedoms way during National Newspaper Week, October 7 through 1 3. The nations printed press has always pictured itself as shedding light in one way or another because its our contention that the truth is there for the public to see if we shine that light on it. In other words, we don't have to create the news, or hype it its there, and our job is to present it factually so that citizens of an informed democracy can make their choices based on knowledge. One of the newspaper industrys continual problems is convincing our readers that we dont make up or hype the stories we report in order to further our own aims, or make some political or social statement. Our primary task, as we see it, is to be lighters...not fighters. That is, to tell the story of events in the best way we know how rather than to try in our news pages to shape our readers opinions. We express our opinions...yes...But we do it on the Editorial Page, and clearly mark it as such. We do our best to report the news straight, correct and to the point, without slanting the story or making it Emery Mining Bill Zeller, general manager of EMery Mining Corporation, reported that the strike against Emery Mining asks Emery employees to sacrifice their income - not for themselves, but for the benefit of retirees or primarily the large eastern coal companies. According to Zeller, Emery Mining has already agreed to fully fund the 1974 UMW pension and benefit plan which covers each and every one of our employees. In fact we agreed to give our employees wage and benefit increases. But we refused to continue to fully fund the 1950 plan, which does not provide a dimes worth of benefit to current or former Emery Mining employees or retirees. Hie strike has gone into effect, however, at press time, no picketing had been conducted. Officials say perhaps this is due to the elk hunt miners would rather be out hunting than picketing. Officials say the strike may be a long one. -- Utah Power and Light has stockpiled a 90 day supply of coal, and are the chief contractors for Emery Mining Corp. coal. Task Force set up Sheriff Blly E. Weaver reports of quiet pride within our news community that reporting the news has become more professional every year. Most of us agree that we are also fighters. .that we will put ourselves, through our editorial pages, in the forefront on issues that are important to the community. But we also know that there is no subsitute for the informed action of the community, and we take care not to confuse the two. Best of all, we know that lighting comes first.Jf we dont get the facts right, our opinions and those actions that we in those urge opinions will have diminished value to the community. In the weeks ahead, when we stress the role of newspapers in the health of our democracy, we proudly say we are 'lighting freedoms way because, if we can show our readers the truth, that truth will make them free. Robert J. Woodruff Managing Editor National Newspaper Association Sheriff's Viewpoint Think before you vote that the first meeting of the bigger, or smaller, than it deserves. Printing the objective truth, and confining our own opinions to our opinion page is our creed. There is a wonderful debate within the newspaper community, about how to do this best. No reader can be as hard on an editor who has strayed from the path as his or her colleagues are. Its a matter Letters to the Editor Victim-Witnes- s Task Force, was held September 21,, in Panguitch. The task force was established under the direction of President Reagan to assist in counseling and providing resources for victims and witnesses of crimes. Members at the meeting had been nominated by the Utah Sheriffs Association, who were chosen to spearhead the project because of their accessibility to the court system and county wide jurisdiction. New members present at the meeting were Sheriff Kan Campbell, Washington County; Sheriff Clair Poulson, Duchesne County; Dan Carter, Sevier County; Kathy Holt, Garfield COunty; Gayle Smith, Davis County; and Lynn Yates, Box Elder County. Each member is assigned a region to help develop victim-witnes- s programs. They are to seek out resources in their individual regions to help establish a master resource list in the state. The task forces ultimate objective is to train those people involved in the criminal justice system to better understand and assist the needs of victims and witnesses. Sheriff Weaver stated It seems that the victims and witnesses often become victims again in dealing with the court process and it is hoped that through proper training and information the victims ordeal with the criminal justice system can be a less traumatic experience. In order for the program to be successful it must have the support of the community. DEAR EDITOR: For the past two weeks, I have been studying the five Utah State Constitutional Amendment Propositions which will appear on our November 6th ballot. When reduced to their lowest common denominator, authority, it appears to me that Propositions 1 and 2 and 3 take authority from the people and vest it in government, while Propositions 4 and 5 restrict the authority of government. It might readily occur to me, if I were a voter who advocates Power to the People and favors restriction of the authority of government, to glibly go to the polls and vote AGAINST Propositions 1, 2, and 3...and FOR Propositions 4 and 5. But wait, along with any authority comes responsibility. In this instance, the responsibility is to become fully informed on the whole contest of each Proposition, mull it over carefully, and then vote the way I believe is in my best interests and the best interest of the state. After all, this vote is not just a popularity contest among individuals may hold office for only two to six years or on a law which could be repealed at the next meeting of our legislature. These Propositions are Constitutional amendments. We may have to live with them for a long time. Many portions of our Constitution have been in effect since 1896. As to those slackers who are prone to ask another How should I vote?, I think their question equates to Can I copy your Homework? Nobody said it was easy but it sure beats any other governmental form Ive ever seen and we all enjoy the benefits. Voter information pamphlets will be available at the Count Clerks office and will appear as supplement to newspapers on or before October 17th. I hope voters dont wait until they get into the voting booth to check out whats going on. Sincerely, A1 Ricksecker Monroe, Utah - Feed Program Continued from page 1 average of the acreage planted to feed grains in 1983 and 1984. Land designated for the acreage conservation reserve must have been devoted to row crops or small grains in two of the last three years except for a summer fallow farm. The. land must be protected from wind and water erosion throughout the year. Haying will not be permitted on the acreage conservation reserve lands. However, the acreage may be grazed, except during the five principal growing months as designated by county ASC committees. Contracts signed by program participants will be considered as binding and will provide for liquidated damages for failure to DEAR MR. ASHBY: This is a letter in reference to your editorial in the Salina Sun dated October 3, 1984, regarding Double Taxation. You asked a question, "As to what extent should the citizens of Salina pay for county law enforcement? At some point in time the City Fathers of Salina decided to enforce city ordinance and for added protection they would create and pay for a city police force. By doing so they have not removed the sheriffs overall responsibility nor limited the jurisdiction within which he may operate. In other words, the citizens of Salina are still receiving the service of the sheriff with the added protection of the city police. As for Salina City having to pay for jail costs when a person is arrested by a Salina City Police Officer, let me clarify this issue. When a suspect is arrested by a city officer for a felony or violation of state law, the county assumes all costs including jail, prosecution, and costs of the court. If the violation is on a misdemeanor alcohol charge, the Sheriffs Office through its alcohol and drug program pays for the first five days of incarceration. Very few suspects spend more than this on an alcohol charge. The only time the City of Salina is billed for jail costs are $27.00 per day per person. It should be pointed out that Salina City is responsible for prosecution and court costs on city arrets; Salina City receives any and all fines received from these arrests. For the first nine months of 1984, Salina City has been billed $752.45 for jail fees, which they have paid $172.05. If the citizens of Salina feel they are paying too much in the way of law enforcement, they might consider contracting with the Sheriffs Office to provide that additional protection and enforcement of city ordinance they deem necessary. Studies have shown that it is economically unfeasible for a city to operate a police department with less than ten officers. In closing, let me assure the citizens of Salina that the Sheriffs Office is here to serve their law enforcement needs. We have made it a custom to leave local policing to local law enforcement officers, but this does not alter our responsibility to the citizens of the City. Yours Truly, Billy E. Weaver Sevier County Sheriff ivvghta,0 comply with program The Salina Sun SECD 4780-800- 0 60 East Main 9 60 East Main Street Phone 0 The Salina Sun SECD is published each Thursday for $8.00 per year in Utah and $1 0.00 per year out of Utah, by the Salina Sun, 60 East Main Street, Salina, Utah 84654. Second class postage paid at Salina, Utah 84654. POSTMASTER: Send address change to the Salina Sun, P.O. Box C, Salina, Utah 84654. Single Copy: 254 Kevin Ashby, Publisher Carol Jensen, Editor 529-783- 4780-800- Proposition 2,You make the decision Under the provisions of the current constitution, the legislature meets in a 60 calendar day general session in odd years, and a 20 calenda day budget session in even matter years. No may be considered in the budget session unless it receives a two thirds vote of each house allowin git to be heard. The proposed amendment would provide for the legislature to meet in annual sessions of 45 calendar days each. Both general and budgetary matters could be considered in each session. The amendment would add ten days to the amount of time that the legislature spends in session in a two year period. If approved by the voters, the amendment would take effect January 1, 1985. The legislative sessions no longer meet the legislative needs of the state. As Utah has grown, so have its problems. There are many items which require legislative review or action on an annual basis. Since the first'budget session in 1970, the legislatures workload has increased dramatically. The size of the budget has increased to almost 500 percent of the 1970 amount, from $482 million in 1970, to $2.3 billion in 1984. The number of bills considered by the legislature has also increased. For example, there were only 42 bills introduced in the 1970 Budget Session, compared to 300 introduced in iv budget sessions. 4 By making the two sessions equal, and adding ten days to the time the legislature meets in a two year period. Proposition 2 would enable legislature to better handle its growing workload. Compared to many of the neighboring states, Utahs legislative sessions are very short. Every western state except Wyoming currently spends more time in legislative sessions that Utah does. The House passed Proposition 2 in their legislative vote in March, The following day the Senate approved the legislation, The Proposition now goes before YOU, the people, to approve, or disapprove in the November 6th Election. 3. Alan Curtis Enterprises 40 East 200 North 529-715- 3 Aurora |