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Show __ TheSait Lake Tribune UTAH Friday, May 26, 1995 Miss America Tells Utahns Her Deafness Is No Barrier By Tom Quinn SPECIALTO THE TRIBUNE OGDEN — Reigning Miss America Heather Whitestone predicted Thursday that some day an “appearance impaired” women would wearher crown. “T’m hearing impaired,” the Alabama native said, “and that didn’t stop me. A Miss America need not bepretty. She needs to be a person whohasachieved, has a positive attitude and is dedicated to serving others.” Whitestone, 21, is deaf in one ear and has only 5% hearing in the other. Shehaslived in hersilent world since she was 18 months old becauseofa rare reaction to an immunization shot. But she speaks andspeakswell. “People said I could never be Miss America because of my deafness,” she said. “But it didn’t bother me. I couldn’t hear them sayit.” The packed audience at Weber State University’s Austead Auditorium laughed frequently, and responded to her anecdotal presentation with a standing ovation at the end of the hour. About 350 hearing-impaired students from all over Utahfilled the first 10 rows. Theydid not all hear her words, but by watching the “signer” who stood beside Whitestone, or by reading thelips of the brunette “beauty” queen, they got the message. Sigrid Larsen, 13, and Jamie Nielsen, 14, both students at Centerville Junior High, are hearing impaired, but read lips with ease and speak withclarity. “Sheis really proof that an impairment can’t stop people,” Jamiesaid of Whitestone.“Like she said, an impairmentis really just a challenge to the imagination.” To Sigrid, Whitestone’s message was oneof perseverance. “T like the part of her speech whereshe talked about everyone needing a dream andnever giving up trying to makeit cometrue,” he said. One who especially enjoyed Miss America’s progressive message that a womanwholacksa petite body and beautiful face cannot win the pageant was Lynn Romer. The Ogden resident is the founderofthe Pinocchio Plot and Plain Janes, organizations dedicated to breaking down societies stereotypes equating moralfiber and intelligence to a person's looks. Biases, she says, perpetuated by the entertainmentindustry. “There is nothing wrong with being ugly, nothing to be ashamed of,” Romersaid. “Buying into the society myth that what is beautiful is good and whatis ugly is bad, now that is something to be ashamed of.” She would like to see alternatives to pageants so women“don't have to parade down a runway half nakedin a swimsuit showcasing their body parts to win scholarship money.” Anotheryoungladyin the audience also had a special understanding of what Whitestone was saying. Lisa Jolley of North Ogden was Teen Miss Utah in 1991-92. She, too, was diagnosed as deaf while a toddler — the result of spinal meningitis. “Tso admire Heather.Sheis doing so much to make Americans aware of the capabilities of the hearing impaired,” said the 20year-old who bears a striking resemblance to Whitestone. Whitestone also told her audience: @“Have a positive attitude. People whothink poorly of themselves have a worse impairment than I do.” @ “Believe in your dreams and makesure one of your dreamsis to get a good education.” Whitestoneis an accounting majorat the University of Alabama. @ Obstacles — handicaps, whatever they may be — are opportunities for creative thinking.” Whitestonesaid her life’s role model was a fellow Alabamian, Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind and becameoneofthis century’s most influential women in America. During her year as Miss America — the 75th one — Whitestone travels roughly 20,000 miles a month, living out of suitcases, and able to go hometo her family only twice: Christmas and Easter “T’ve learned a great deal about the geography of America from the air, butall I get to see close-up ofare the insides ofairports, hotels, and auditoriums,” she said. UTAH DATELINE PLACES MAKING NEWS tL(ie AS| ee OGDEN rested All of the warrants involved felony drug-distribution charges During the bust this week, police also confiscated methamphetamines, marijuana and somepistols. — Vince Horiuchi LDS,Residents Settle Parking-Lot Dispute CEDAR CITY SANTA CLARA { . 2 iiaue Tribune Regional Desk: 237-2053 Task Force Arrests 21 in Drug Sting CEDAR CITY — Membersof a southern Utah drug task force arrested 21 people Wednesday as part of a six-month sting operation. The Iron-Garfield Counties Narcotics Task Force made the arrests throughout Cedar City and Iron County, said Cedar City police Sgt. Roy Houchen.Several of those arrested included high school students, he said. The task force issued 50 arrest warrants from its operation, developed mostly from drug buys with undercoverpolice. All but 15 people have been ar- OGDEN — A dispute between neighbors and a Mormon Church Institute of Religion over a parking lot near Weber State University apparently has been settled by compromise. Under the agreement, homes still will be demolished to make wayfor the new parking lot, but measures will be taken to preserve the neighborhood, said Bll ard, the project's architect The final changes must be passed by the Planning Commission and City Council — TheAssociated Press Santa Clara Residents To Vote on Tax Hike 27 special election. The City Council, seeking a way to balance Santa Clara’s 199! budget, voted to put the issue before voters. The measure would give the city $147,000 in property-tax rev enue, $33,225 more than it gets now, City Administrator Richard Boivie said The extra taxes would not be SANTA CLARA — Residentsin this southwestern Utah community will be asked to approve a property-tax hike during a June enough to cover an $85,000 shortfall in the tentative budget also approved Wednesday. — TheAssociated Press Hank Nowak, a 27-year resident of the neighborhood. A portion of a nearbystreetwill be closed and landscaped, reducing traffic flow, said Brett Rich- BUYIT. SELL IT. FIND IT. A Teak Outdoor Furniture by KINGSLEY~ BATE Hugeselection of: Bene ‘ables, Chairs, Chaise arts, and much. for the Garden or Patio 30 000 ANXIOUS? The Mood Disorders Clinic at the University Medical Center is conducting free treatmentoriented research and would like to see youif: Sicek contemporarystyling, in weather-resistant teak, for years of outdoor dining pleasure. Our 50” dining table provides ampleseating for four and . 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