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Show Page Two - The Pyramid - August 3, 1994 A Penny Wortk vLM1IM By Free The Department of Transportation appears to know whats best for Mt. Pleasant residents. At least its treatment of the crosswalk on Main Street between State and 100 West would indicate so. Confused pedestrians used to the boldly marked crosswalk, which used to join the walkway on the north side of Main Street to businesses on the south side, wonder why its no longer there. About a month ago, great effort was taken by UDOT to erase the crosswalk and, of course, it takes some people a while to notice these things. We first noticed the slippery fine sand from the sandblasting process which was left on sidewalks and wondered who would create such a safety hazard. It was a few days later that the reason for the sand became apparent. Someone had sandblasted that crosswalk into oblivion. A few phone calls identified the culprits... and the reason. It seems that the crosswalk wasnt a legal crosswalk in the first place. Mt. Pleasant residents had just been used to it because it had always been there. But it wasnt really safe, UDOT officials claimed, because pedestrians depended on those two white lines to keep Main Streets motorized traffic from running over them while they crossed the busy highway. Maybe were missing something. We had always supposed a crosswalks purpose in life was to do just that, and that was the reason for its existence in the first place. But not so with this one. Crosswalks apparently arent supposed to be in the middle of the block. AM UDOT reasoned that if people wanted to cross in the middle of the block, they would be safer without the crosswalk because they would be more cautious in crossing the street if they thought they stood a good chance of getting run over, and the crosswalk wasnt protecting them anyway. We disagree. are meant to preserve safety, Pedestrian crosswalk as long as the pedestrian steps into it when traffic is reasonably clear vehicles. and doesnt just step out in front of Drivers of automobiles failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk will not care if the crosswalk is at an intersection or in the middle of the block. Eliminating the crosswalk will not discourage pedestrians from k Main Street cross, and it could making the familiar move motorized traffic at faster speeds making the to encourage crossing more perilous. Furthermore, the crosswalk adds to the centralization of downtown Mt. Pleasant by making businesses on both sides of the street more accessible to potential customers. Its good for business. to the We believe UDOT officials should become more needs of those who frequent Mt. Pleasants downtown district and k crosswalk. their decision to remove the Those who agree should contact their nearest UDOT office, at last Mayor Ches Christensen Better safe than sorry Due to the increasing number of complaints from Mt. Pleasant City citizens about OHV-ATV- V in-tu- ne mid-bloc- Letters Healthcare reform costs We continue to hear a great deal of discussion about healthcare reform. In virtually every meeting I attend, the Nevertheless, it appears that subject comes up in one way or the federal government will another. do something to ensure eventually To help you be informed, that basic healthcare is available heres a dimes worth of what I to all Americans. Government is know on the subject. the only entity with pockets deep At the federal level there is a to make that sort of tremendous amount of debate, but enough guarantee. precious little action. At the state level there has Most seem to believe that until been a little action. During the the federal government does last legislative session. Governor at minimum, to, something Leavitt proposed and the protect people from catastrophic Legislature approved a couple of we will continue to have healthcare reform bills. Most events, a healthcare crisis. significantly, the state now has a Sanpete Valley Hospital is Healthcare Commission, chaired to hold down the cost of trying by the Governor, to guide Utahs healthcare by: healthcare reform process. At the local level, i.e., at the participating extensively in level of individual physicians, IHCs shared services programs, hospitals, insurers and businesses, such as group purchasing (Our the rate of change is so fast it is membership in IHC saves literally millions of dollars annually.); Sonpata'a Landing Nawspapar the recent purchase of a new V OHV-ATV- has which it significantly reduced our cost for processing many lab tests; and setting up an employee team to explore ways to: reduce clinic patient waiting time, thereby (800)OHV-RID- per-un- (USPS 365-58- 0) Published Weekly at Mt. Pleasant Utah, 84647 49 West Main Street Telephone: FAX: 462-24- 462-213- 59 Publisher Penny Hamilton Managing Editor Lynda Grover SUBSCRIPTION RATES (In Advance) s $18peryear-50(percop- y $21 peryecroutsideSanpete County CORRESPONDENTS Manti, Bruce Jennings 835-382- 4 Ephraim, Bill Willson 283-503- 6 Moroni, Barbara Gordon 436-876- 0 427-337- 9 Fairview, Lory Beacham Ftn. Green, Jessie Oldroyd 445-34- 0 Spring City, Phyllis Johnson Dean O'Driscoll Snow College 462-385- Reporter, Ray Truitt Photographer, Hollee Anderson 445-33- 462-31- Send change of address to He Pyramid, 49West Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647. Second dass postage paid at Mt. Pleasant, UT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: SALT LAKE CIT- Y- The IRS is who reminding persons submitted extensions for filing their 1993 federal income tax returns by April 15 that the Aug. 15 due date is fast approaching. A few additional, very special extensions are available for persons in extreme hardship cases, and for military personnel Persons in those categories who need more information and others who need tax assistance can call cutting by made during registrationadmitting eliminate patient which will re-wo- Associate Editor Shirley Christensen..... Office Manager Our physicians are working together to deliver care in a more standardized fashion, reducing costs by reducing variations in physician practice patterns. Dr. Bateman and I are participating at the corporate level in the formation of a capitated health plan designed specifically for our area. Current trends suggest this is the wave of the future for payment of physicians and hospitals, and may be the cost in healthcare ultimate containment because it will reduce actual medical insurance premiums. We have established an annual health fair and a diabetic education program which have met with great success and have provided information large. Daisy), no more cats, not even a gold fish or a canary bird. I was free at last How absurd to allow oneself to believe such propaganda. No one is ever really free, but I was beginning to enjoy a petless lifestyle. Now, those who know us are aware that we have been dogsitting for Pauls mother. But Sparky isnt ours. Caring for him is like having a job. Hes cute, but hes also acutely aware of who his owner is; and he misses her. It was this significant longing for the kind of companionship he was used to that prompted us to start looking for a friend for Sparky. Of course, having his master suggest that he was lonely after one of their brief reunions helped us decide to act. We had already had a cat adopt us, but that was not a suitable companion for a moderately large and active dog. And somehow we managed to acquire two horses, but they didnt fill the social calendar for that dog any better than the cat did. We finally realized that the only viable replacement for the human companionship Sparky was used to was (perish the thought) another dog. After all. Fountain Green LaVon Coombs visited relatives in Riverton and traveled to Albuquerque, NM, to attend a cousins funeral and visit. She went on to Zuni, NM, where she and her husband had served an LDS Mission. She next visited Las Vegas and returned home before visiting relatives in Tooele. Derrell Williams was elected commander of the 1994 Black Hawk Encampment last month in Santaquin for the eighteenth year. He says he enjoys the work that goes with the position. much-neede- d to the community at George Winn Administrator 0. REMINDER i NOTICE OF TAX INCREASE The Central Utah Water Conservancy District has proposed to increase its property tax revenue in Sanpete County from $106,208 to $122,354 or 1 5.2 and to increase its total District budget from The 7.6. tax revenues will come $12,143,730 to $13,068,818 or proposed increase in property from the following sources: ,896 of the proposed increase will come from an increase in the property tax rate from .000361 to .000400; and $1 1 $4,250 of the proposed increase will come from natural increases in the value of the tax base due to new growth in its tax base. E. Tax returns due inefficiency; reduce the length of time it takes to make up a Home Health billing; and reduce errors 4 Craig Conover cost reducing I was once told that true freedom comes when the last child leaves home and the dog dies. I wasnt exactly thrilled when the last child left home. It had nothing to do with freedom. I just wasnt ready for the empty nest. But when the family pet of 10 years died last February (on my birthday of all days), I felt a little different. Once the devastation and the tears subsided, and little Daisy was laid to rest, something akin to freedom began to emerge. We could actually go on vacation without worrying about boarding her in a kennel or suffering through her various medical problems (one of the worst of which was breath bad enough to vaporize granite) if we took her with us. We could throw away her dishes and her special prescription for digitalis; forget about the groomer and the vet; and actually spend a full night without being awakened by her alarm that high pitched sounded anytime the phone rang, there was a knock at the door, or a leaf fell off a tree. The death of our last" pet would symbolize a new era in our lives. If it could be called freedom, then I would relish it fully. I resolved to have no more pets... no more dogs (even cute little ones like V frightening. Healthcare reform is happening and will continue to happen regardless of what government does. machine police 8-- 16 mid-bloc- lab the s, department feels it prudent to reacquaint them with existing laws that apply to operation of such vehicles. are Any persons ages required to have taken the OHV Rider Safety Course, and possess the license issued by the Division of Parks and Recreation for OHV-AToperation. If the operator is 16 years or older, they must have a current drivers license to operate an OHV or ATV. Both of these licenses are to be on the operators person while driving the vehicles. Parents and operators should remember that these vehicles were made for only one rider, and at no time should passengers be taken. This makes for an extremely dangerous situation for both the operator and passenger. Anyone under age 18 must wear a safety helmet at all times during vehicle operation. The OHV-ATvehicle being operated is required to display a current registration. Operators should remember that all OHV-ATare subject to the same traffic laws as any other motor vehicle, and the driver can be cited for any violation. The OHV-ATroutes were designated by the city to give operators a way into and out of the city. These are the only routes that operators may use. If they continue to be operated roads other than those specified, not only will those drivers be cited, but the city may find it necessary to take those designated routes away. The mayor, city council and the police department are concerned for the safety of vehicles these and their Those having operators. specific questions regarding the s safe operation of can contact the police department for information. To find out how to obtain a license from the Division of Parks and Recreation, call right-of-wa- ys THE PyRflmiD , Mayors Corner Bye bye crosswalk Dear Editor: Penny Hamilton he had gotten along quite well breath and with Daisy-b- ad everything. Its really quite easy to find dogs. We found little Datsy in the pound. And we found Sparkys new friend quite close to home. One of our children had an extra one (dog that is) just lying around. We felt that since we already knew the dog, and because she was full grown and definitely an outside pet, she would fit in quite nicely. Sparky seemed to think so, too. It was a match made in heaven, except that Tai (the new recruit) was a girl dog and obviously in the family way when we got her. That was part of the plan, however. We figured that she wouldnt mind being transplanted in her condition and once the pups were bom they would be an added incentive to stay in her new home. Who would have believed that she would have ten puppies. And even more incredible that she would begin weaning them at three weeks of age. I became nursemaid to her puppies, teaching them to eat and drink. I didnt lose a one. Even the runt survived. And I was successful in finding homes for three of them. Now its time to reclaim my freedom. Sparkys friend has a date with the vet (we didnt lose his phone number when Daisy died... just in case); the seven remaining puppies, now approaching eight weeks old, have a rendezvous with the animal shelter (yes, it sounds a bit harsh, but I do have to face reality). No more great escapes from the puppy run. No more puppies in the flower beds. No more Puppy Chow. Hooray, Im free at last. Now about the cat and the two horses Milbum Reunion Saturday Aug. p.m. 65 Lynn Daley Residence 4300 N. Milbum Rd. Dinner Is Pot Luck For more information all 427-947- 8 A home valued at $75,000 in Sanpete County which based on last year's property tax rate and budget paid $18:23 in property taxes would pay the following: 8.41 if Central Utah Water Conservancy District does not budget an increase in property tax (1 )$1 revenue exclusive of new growth; and (2)$20.40 if the proposed increase in property tax revenues exclusive of new growth is adopted. All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing on the tax increase to be held on August 1 6, 1 994, beginning at 9:00 a.m., at the District office located at 355 West 1 300 South, Orem, Utah 84058. |