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Show AUGUST 26, 1986 Council honors basketballers Cyclops Lighter Side By Bryan Gray New look at Mormons d Most newsmen hate to admit it, but one of the section of any newspaper is the letters to the Editor column. Its frustrating. Throughout this country there are hardd writers pounding their working, professional, beats, researching documents, conducting clandestine interviews, hammering out 22 deadline masterpieces as they search for the correct word or phrase. ..And, for all this work, their story will be read by less people than that of a grammatically-irritatin- g letter from a housewife complaining about the cost of peaches. The Letters column is the height of people power, a real victory for the common man. And, in Utah, a reoccurring topic continues to surface in the Letters column--thtopic is the Mormon Church. issue in that almost everyone has an The Church is a sure-fir- e opinion. In your youth you were probably told it was unwise to this advice is often lost on argue about politics and religion--bthose writing letters to the editor. The daily newspapers continue to receive letters on whether Mormons are truly Christian, whether Mormons can be saved, whether Mormons control Utah government, whether Mormons eat their eggs sunnyside up. Such letters take little research. Some of the comments come from Scripture while others come from a conversation at a Tupperware party. As an avid letters to the editor reader I thought I had heard all the arguments. But last week I read a new bend in a letter to a Salt Lake newspaper which is published by a Davis County printing operation. It instantly earned my nomination for my new award, the Cyclops Most Stupid and Idiotic Letter of the Year. The letter was written by an East Bench man who began by saying I feel there are too many Mormons enforcing and making tough laws. (I was expecting the usual diatribe on religious control of government, but the letter instead rambled on incoheold drinking law, hardly a Morrently concerning the mon invention.) But the writer saved the best for last. This is what he wrote: Also the population of Mormons is too large. I live just across the street from a Mormon church. On Sunday, when services are going on, the Mormons park their cars all around my house when the parking lot is full. I cant even water my lawn when the cars are there. Some of the cars even block my driveway. I feel that some changes should be made very soon. He doesnt say what changes he recommends. But he does fervor. The Mormons have been shed new light on blamed for a lot of things, from the Mountain Meadow Massacre to our current educational woes. But now they are being blamed for something totally new: Yellow Lawn. Its obviously the type of charge that the Environmental Protection Agency should investigate. Yellow lawns are a direct blow to civic responsibility and property values, made even worse by a charge of a religious culprit. But note the other challenge made by the esteemed letter writer. He writes that the population of Mormons is too large. ..Changes should be made very soon. Since euthanasia is too controversial, the obvious answer is to place an embargo d on Mormons entering the state either through birth or to immediately encourage Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Moonies, Unitarians and Scientologists to "catch up. This is the type of challenge we should coordinate needed with the Utah Travel Council. (ALERT: to settle valley. Low mortgage rates for cults, special rates for bonafide Catholics and Protestsnts.) There is, of course, another answer. Eliminate stupid letters written to newspapers. That would be much easier than displacing one million Mormons. best-rea- college-educate- By TOM HARALDSEN KAYSVILLE - In a relatively short meeting, the City Council recognized the efforts of a youth basketball team in a national tournament, made some housekeeping changes in two city ordinances, and heard the concerns of a local businessman over the citys power system. The basketball team, the Kays-vill- e Cougars, returned earlier in the month from the Olympics basketball tournament in -- AAU-Juni- Bellevue, Washington. The Cougars surprised many by not only taking region and state titles this year, but by finishing among the top eight teams nationally. Perhaps more importantly, the Kaysville team was honored with By DONETA GATHERUM ut anit-Morm- immigra-tion--an- Non-Mormo- Reflex-Journ- FARMINGTON-Tuesd- ay evening Davis County Board of Education passed a new policy governing high school pep teams and drill teams. The policy was recommended by a committee appointed last April to study current conditons of pep and drill teams. Jim Hill, physical education supervisor for the district, was committee chairman. Members included high school princip- als, pep club and drill team teachers, a representative from the school board and PTA. Five areas were considered: pep club as a for drill team participation; credit for pep club; pep club cost; value of drill team and its cost. The board approved the commit-te- e report with a few minor changes. The new policy says the pep club cannot be used as a for drill team and cheerleading because that is discriminatory. Every student in the school should have the chance to tryout for these activities. Pep club credit can be given if the program is offered as a full-yeclass, the policy continues. One-haunit of elective credit can be unit as phyawarded plus one-hasical education credit. The physical education credit is te ar lf lf given only when the program meets the state core curriculum requirements. Currently, Viewmont, Woods Cross and Layton high schools offer full year prep club courses. Physical education credit is given at Layton High, because the class is taught by qualified PE instructors. Bountiful offers a semester of pep club while Clearfield and Davis give elective credit for their semester programs. Bonnie Pierce, a study committee member and Viewmont High al In a tree-planti- ceremony, Humana Hospital Davis North joined hospitals throughout the United States in a national birthday party com- memorating the 25th anniversary of Humana Inc., one of the largest investor-owne- d health care companies in the world. Executive director Dean Hol- man joined several city officials and community business professionals including County Commissioner Harry Gerlach, State Senator Haven J. Barlow and Layton Chamber of Commerce president, Harris Adams, in planting a silver maple tree outside of the Layton hospital. The planting is a symbolic pre-requis- te for drill team and cheerleading helps keep pep club membership high. Offering credit for pep club could help encourage girls to take the class, she said. The policy regarding cost says, Cost should not exceed $150 totIt should al, including be adopted by a parent-studefund-raisin- g. nt advisory committee from each school and the administration. The committee strongly felt that drill teams have value, promoting school spirit. Drill team members have opportunities for leadership and competition, they develop higher academic and citizenship achievement and a positive self image, members felt. A fee of not more than $500, in- was set for cluding drill team members. This doesnt include travel. The limit was set by the school board at their Aug. 5 meeting. Dr. Ray Briscoe, school board member, questioned the amount, indicating he felt 500 was excessive, and too much for any given fund-raisin- g, activity. He said he favors significant d reduction in all costs, adding that he hopes the Utah School Board Association will develop cost guidelines. Based on Dr. Briscoes objection to the $500 fee, he cast the only across-the-boar- negative vote. In conformity with the UHSAA policy, the board policy limits drill team uniforms to one complete uniform or costume a year. The committee made a positive statement aboat high school dance programs. The report states, Dance production did not replace the value of drill team. However, schools that do have strong dance programs and dance productions should continue. This gives more students an opportunity for success. - company gesture of growth--th- e now ranks 33rd on this years Fortune Magazine survey of the 100 largest U.S. diversified service companiesand of the roots extending to health care service in northern Davis County. The company commemoration is the beginning of a fall celebration in which Davis North will celebrate its 10th anniversary in northern Utah. It is part of a national health care firm that includes 86 hospitals, 62,000 members of Humana care Plus health plans and more than 150 Humana Medfirst primary care offices, eight of which are located in Utah. The Humana story begain in 1961 when two young lawyers from Louisville, Ky. began discussing methods of increasing patient care at a nursing home. They recruited four friends, and each of the six invested $1,000. By 1968 the com- pany, then called Extendicare, Inc., owned and operated eight nursing homes, sold stock to the public and acquired its first hospital, a facility in Huntsville, Ala. The company divested itself of its nursing homes by 1973 and, in January of 1974, changed its name to Humana to "project more truly the philosphy of the company. Despite rapid expansion, the company says its patient questionnaires reflect a 96 percent satisfaction level and all complaints receive individual attention from company management. The company ranks third nationally among service companies in total return to investors (1975-85- ) and fourth in percentage growth Davis Reflex-Journ- al Published weekly by Clipper Publishing Co. Inc. 96 South Main, Bountiful, Utah 84010 1 InWeekly newspaper published at Layton Utah every Wednesday in the terest of Davis County and colonies formed by former residents Address all correspondence to 197 North Main, Layton, Utah 84041 Subscription rate 25c per copy, $650 per year, mailed In county $750 per year outside John Stahie, Jr. Lucile S. Stahie Noel C. Stahie Keith Duncan Martin Lee a PresVManager Vice President Advertising Manager Nows 'Editor SportsReporter Production Manager day of the week, and not Saturdaj night when the stores in Kaysvillt are mostly closed on Sunday, h stated. He told the council that hit store was not looking for any finan cial relief from the city, but simplj wanted to have its complaint or record. I just came to tell you that were unhappy. Weve been ir Kaysville for eight years now anc weve had nothing but problem; with the power. Our store has los $40,000 since we opened here," h added. Council members also approvec the reappointment of Mariar Maughn to the recreation committee, and agreed to allow Nekf Roundy to finish an unexpired tern-othe same committee. cheerleader adviser, noted there would be changes in the makeup of pep club due to the new policy. Having pep club as a Layton Hospital celebrates 25th LAYTON just before the busiest shoppinj 500 to join drill team at ar Council members approved changes to the city criminal code and to Title 17, the Planning and Zoning ordinance, which raised the which coach Cal Stevens premaximum fines to levels approved sented to the city during the counby the state legislature last Spring. cil meeting. Mayor Gerry Purdy told Mr. Stevens and the players Two other minor changes in the that the city was extremely proud Planning and Zoning Ordinances will be discussed during a public of their example and representation of Kaysville, and added the hearing set forTuesday, Sept. 16 at plaque would find an appropriate 7 p.m. In other business, Gaylen Spraplace for display at the city munigue, representing a supermarket in cipal center. Kaysville, told the council of his In addition, Mr. Stevens prestores concerns with the citys sented Owen Fisher with an system. He was particularly power awars which he earned over three planned exercised was Owen tournament. the at that occurred the first part outages 15 selected as one of just from the field of 300 of August, and two subsequent outages. players. A story on the team "unplanned I question why the outages in the appeared were scheduled for Friday night, three weeks ago. the AAU National Sportsmanship Team award, a beautiful plaque with the names of each player PARTICIPATING IN THE Humana Hospital 25th anniversary tree planting were, from left, Dr. Jack Cox, chairman of the hospitals board; Dr. Jay Chip Yeates, president of medical staff; Dean Holman, executive director of Humana Davis North; Harris Adams, president of the Layton Chamber of Commerce; county commissioner Harry Gerlach and Utah State Senator Haven J. Barlow. An original share of rate (1975-85Extendicare stock purchased in 1968 for $8 was worth $900 as of the end of 1985. ). The company has received national attention for its pioneering artificial heart research at the Humana Heart Institute International at Humana Hospital Audubon in Louisville, one of 14 Humana regional referral centers established as Centers of Excellence. According to Mr. Holman, Humana hospitals achieve productivity by using proven business management methods, centralized computer systems and volume purchasing of supplies and equipment, all of which help to contain the cost of consumer health care. The individual patient is still our most important concern, he says. HASKETT ELECTION JUDGE WATCHES while unidentified voter casts her ballot. Election results Continued from page one in this Primary Election with ago, was also the top 5,162 votes compared to 4,287. Jeffrey L. Frost pulled 2,646; Dean L. Carlston had 1 ,884; and William Marshall gained 1,366. There were two precinct elections for Davis County School Board. In Precinct 4, Louenda Downs was the top with 1,208 votes compared to 973 for incumbent Dee R. Forbes, and 340 for Nathaniel C. Johnson. In Precinct 5, Robert L. (Bob) Thurgood led all candidates with 1,120 votes. The others were Nora Stephens, 896; Laura Mitchell, 341; John Diamond, 296; Reed Thurgood, 247; Stan Norton, 169; and Wayne Volk, 97. in John Covey with 7,099 votes was by far the top the race for State Board of Education. Other results were Beth K. Kitchen, 2,479; Richrd S. Prows, 2,141; Doug Hunt, 1,705; and David Pearson, 1,664. The only other Davis County race was for U.S. Senate with two Democrats on the ticket. Terry Lee Williams pulled 914 votes compared to 771 for Craig S. Oliver. Since there is no opposition in the General Election, Melvin C. Wilson will become the new County Attorney, and Ruth M. Kennington will be County Auditor. However, the November General Election ballot will pit William L. Peters against Democrat Harold Shafter for Commission; Glen E. Saunders against Democrat Howard F. Stoddard for Commission; and Brant L. Johnson against Democrat George L. Miles for sheriff. All other county seats are unopposed in the General Election. In the State Senate race, David H. Steele will oppose Democrat Bruce G. Perry. There are seven House of Representative seats up for grabs. Primary Election winners Scott W. Holt will face Democrat William Fred Fisher; Walter Bain will oppose Libertarian Mary Ann Mickelsen; and Stanley M. Smedley will test Democrat J. Dell Holbrook and Libertarian J.R. (Jim) Ethridge. In the four remaining House of Representative races, District 15 will pit Republican Harry J. Dickamore, Democrat James Hurst, and Libertarian Theresa Myers. District 16 will include Republican Frank Knowlton, Democrat Jay Ann Preston, and Libertarian Patricia Hunt. District 19 will feature Republican Kim R. Bumingham, Democrat Cynthia J. Hepworth, and Libertarian William Marshall. In District 20 it will be Republican John P. (Jack) Redd opposing Democrat Connie J. Meske. Republican Haven J. Barlow will oppose Democrat George L. Mills in the race for Sentate District 22 in the General Election. In a prepared statement for the press, Commissioner Harry Gerlach said in part, I am very disappointed that I did not win, but I am at peace with myself because I believe it was meant that I return to mv private iob. . . and a tremendous weight of responsibility has been lifted from my shoulders. Rep. Selleneit said he firmly believes that it was the crusade of the DEA that cost him the election. I dont mind being defeated - Ive been defeated before and came back to win - but I dont like being defeated by the influence of educators. He said he does not think he will run (for the legislature) again but that he will work behind the scenes as a lobbyist. vote-gett- er vote-gett- er vote-gett- er ar -- -- non-pai- d School travel policy Continued from page one Heath, said he felt action would be inappropriate because only one group representing one side of the issue was at the meeting to present its views. When we act after hearing only one viewpoint, we become involved in a game of ping-pong. Mr. Forbes made a motion to put the discussion of cheerleader travel on the Sept. 2 meeting agenda. This will give adequate time for media coverage and notification of parents. About 30 parents of cheerleaders from district high schools attended the meeting. t |