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Show mt Page Two - The Pyramid - February 12. 1997 Commentary Merrill Ogden & Calvin Hobbes SAWPBTBI Religious Diversity It has been a strain and a Politics and religion in Sanpete are really two things which I should avoid in this column. For most people they are far too serious of topics. My odds of being "flamed" by an offended reader rise when certain subjects are raised. There are times, however, when 1 can't help myself. I saw on the Channel Two news Sunday night that The True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days (TLC) dedicated their church building in Manti. The Salt Lake station sent a news crew and covered the event. They taped the events of the hoisting up of a special church flag on top of the building and what appeared to be a "Hosanna Shout" complete with white handkerchiefs. Bits and pieces of interviews and speeches of various members of the TLC Church were shown. I recognized some people as I am acquainted with them. Jim Harmston. the president of the church, used to be the scoutmaster in our "neck of the woods." A few of the kids from the church were on my baseball team last summer. They are good kids. I have yet to see the inside of the refurbished building on M antis Main Street. It would appear from the television news piece that it is as nice inside as it is on the outside. Its a pleasant enhancement to M anti's downtown. The formation and development of this church over the past few years has not been without some stir and controversy. I gather that an overwhelming majority of the members are people who have previously been affiliated with the mainstream "Mormon Church." difficulty for some Sanpeters to accept that there are people who choose to believe differently than they do. It is especially difficult when people see others leave beliefs they share behind for something else. The evolution of the TLC Church renews the opportunity for Sanpete to practice Christian tolerance and good will. Sanpete has historically had cultural and religious diversity. I believe that parents have a duty to teach their children respect and courtesy to all people regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. Respect y and courtesy is a street. My mom told me that I was just as good as anybody else. Not better, but just as good. As hard as it sometimes is, we have to learn to disagree without being disagreeable. Friends don't have to think the same on all issues. I, for one, don't happen to believe that the "end is near." At least not in the near next 10 years kind of near. I have friends, some in various denominations and some who disagree with me. One acquaintance wouldnt buy tickets six weeks in advance for a Neil Diamond concert in the Delta Center. He felt like the imminent "wrapping up" of the world situation would make Salt Lake City inaccessible and in a condition of chaos by concert time. (Salt Lake City has been chaotic for a long time.) That was three or four years ago. Anyway, I congratulate the TLC Church on the dedication of their building There is much in common among all people in Sanpete. We all share basic needs and desires for safety, health, and happiness. I have hopes that neither pettiness, nor the moie ugly prejudice, from any corner will detract from the relative peace we have in Sanpete.... Merrill tw'o-wa- s, Former officer enjoyed working for people of MP Dear Editor, I have enjoyed working for the people of Mt. Pleasant for the past 20 plus years, 15 of which were with the Mt. Pleasant Police Department. It has been my pleasure helping and serving the people. The support of my law enforcement duties from the patrons of Sanpete's Leading Newspaper THE PyRRdllD (USPS 365-58- 0) Published Weekly at Pleasant Mt. Utah, 84647 49 West Main Street Telephone: FAX: 462-245- 462-213- 4 9 Publisher Craig Conover Penny Hamilton Office Manager Staff Writer Lloyd SUBSCRIPTION RATES (In Advance) $20 per year-50- C CORRESPONDENTS Monti, Bruce Jennings 835-382- 4 Wales, Chester Mathel Anderson 436-857- 0 Fairview, Sabrina Haycock 6 Moroni, Barbara Gordon 436-876- 0 Ffn. Green, Jessie Oldroyd 2 North Sanpete, Leah Freeman Dean O'Driscoll Reporter, Ray Truitt POSTMASTER: 445-332- 6 Send change of address to The Pyramid, 49 West Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647 Periodical postage paid at Mt Pleasant, UT and additional mailing offices Night deliveries are right on time SALT LAKE CIT- Y- Most the myth that most babies insist on making their arrival in the middle of the night. Well, it may not be a myth at all. According to a recent article on human biorhthms. mammals generally give birth during a phase of the day when they are not doing anything else, such as foraging. Thus, rats are usually born during the day, and sheep and monkeys at night. A recent Dutch study of the timing of human delivery showed that the onset of labor peaks between midnight and 5 a.m. and birth occurs, on average, four hours later. In contrast, induced labor and Caesarean sections usually peak during office hours. have heard per copy $23 per year outside Sanpete County Snow College I understand the difficult and agonizing decisions which had to be made in my behalf by elected officials of this community, and I hold the utmost respect for individual members of the city counI will miss working with cil. everyone in this community and especially the youth whose grow'th I have observed during the years of my service. I am also appreciative of my fellow officers throughout the county. I have enjoyed my association with you all. Chris Larsen Mt. Pleasant Managing Editor Cheryl Brewer Andrea this city and the surrounding communities has been generous and at times overwhelming I am especially mindful of those of you who hav e spoken in my behalf during this time of transition in my life. Your friendship to me and my family is greatly appreciated. t'v"w v: Safest place for child to ride in car back seat is in the rear seat. Bills to help county finances o SALT LAKE CIT- Y- Airbags with seat belts provide the best available protection occupant today according to a news release from the Utah Highway Patrol. Proper occupant use is a must when using airbag systems. Always wear lap and shoulder belts; sit about 12 inches from the steering wheel; and keep hands to the sides of the steering wheel at the nine and three oclock position. If a vehicle has a passenger side airbag, care should be taken when using childrens car seats. The safest place for a child to ride Legislative update A rear- facing car seat should never be used in a seat protected by an airbag. Treycen Chance Cook, son of Cameron and Stephanie Cook, Moroni, will celebrate his first birthday, Saturday, Feb. 15, 1997. Grandparents are Boyd and Shauna Johnson, Mt. Pleasant; and Roger and Marianne Cook, Moroni. are Ralph Crosland, Morris and Betty Cook, all Moroni; Nina Johnson, Mt. Pleasant; and Don and Phyllis Larsen, Great-grandparen- ts Chester. Helena McKinnon, Rural Utah, school children, highway users ask Leavitt to investigate trustland issue Dear Editor: would suggest that Governor Mike Leavitt further investigate and more thoroughly consider his position on the school trustland issue within the Escalante Grand-StaircaNational Monument. His decision not to take issue with the Federal Government over this designation needs to be rethought. As was reported in the "U.S New's and World Report" Jan. 20 issue, this whole fiasco is the result of a whim of environmental strategist Katie McGinty and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbit. Even the Presidents advisors cautioned against it. The impact of this designation is devastating for our school children as well as our rural economy. The plot in that mass of area for mining environmentally clean coal is a I se 40-ac- re little price for the environmental community to pay in exchange for the billions of dollars of revenue it could produce for this state. Half of all of the royalties would come directly to the State of Utah. This seems extremely important when the Governor is proposing a massive tax increase. It is difficult to suggest that the Governor is mistaken, when his popularity rating is high, but I in all good consciousness, is West that the believe looking at Governor Leavitt to take the lead on this issue. Certainly rural Utah is, as well as the parents of the school children in this state and the highway users facing huge fuel tax increases. Met Johnson Executive Director, Western States Coalition 4 , II foundation does not solicit by phone Make-a-wis- h Dear Editor: It has come to our attention that there is a telephone solicitation in progress in Utah. The callers claim to be soliciting donations to the h Foundation. Citizens who called our office to complain all indicate that the solicitors are rude and demanding and that they use guilt-ladeemotional scripts. We would like the public to know that the Foundation has a policy prohibiting phone solicitation. If they receive a call asking for donations in our name, they can be absolutely certain that it is fraudulent. If anyone has information on the person or organization conducting this campaign, we hope they will call the Commerce Department, Division of Consumer Protection. This is not the first time that we have encountered pushy and Make-A-Wis- exploitive phone appeals using our name. In the past, these appeals have come from illegal boiler-roooperations or from groups who offer no wish granting services in Utah. m We are pleased that the community has begun to question the legitimacy of these solicitations, as witnessed by the dozens of people who alerted us to the possible misuse of our name and mission. We would also like to thank all those who made gifts in response to this solicitation, believing that they were fulfilling a wish for a Utah child with a illness. Our office address is 2091 East 4800 South in Holladay, 84117. The public is welcome always to visit us or to mail donations to that address. Christine Sharer President Meeting scheduled to discuss old schools future Dear Editor: Many people have expended a great deal of effort over the past years toward the preservation and restoration of the Spring City Old School. I am grateful for all of these efforts, though I know that the people who made them did not always receive the recognition and appreciation they expected. It is too easy to sit back and let others take the lead while smugly complaining about the way things go, and it is hard for private citizens to muster the support or to provide the accountability that these efforts seem to require. That is why the elected officials of Spring City, mayor and city council, have determined to take charge of the building and to call on citizens and friends of our community to reorganize ourselves and redouble our efforts toward this worthy project. We hope that everyone who has concerns will come to a public meeting at the city hall on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. and join in a discussion of ideas for quasi-insuran- ce high-profi- is Moroni. by Leonard M. Blackham Senate Majority Whip Let me start by thanking those who have written to let me know their position on issues facing the legislature. I appreciate the information and perspectives provided. Two of my bills important to county government and their citizens will be in committee this week. Both of them are designed as a program to protect counties from extreme debt due to forces beyond their control. The first is the Indigent Defense Fund Bill, S.B. 74. The United State Constitution protects the right of the accused to competent legal assistance. When a defendant is unable to hire their own attorney, the government must contract with a defense attorney to represent the accused. The cost of paying the attorneys fees can be budget breaking in some counties. The Indigent Defense Fund Bill establishes a pool to which the counties can collectively pay premiums, and then draw from the pool should they handle an extraordinarily costly case. The bill spreads the cost of cases among the counties choosing to participate based on their size. The second is the Wildland Fires Fund. Last year I sponsored a bill that established a pool to which counties can contribute and then withdraw money for wildfire costs. I am hoping we can finance the state portion of the fund which will require $1.5 million. This would eliminate the current problems we face in many of the counties in District 28. For example, last summer Juab County experienced severe fires and their share of incurred costs was $437,000. The budget allocation for Juab County had been $5,700, leaving the county debt the preservation, restoration, use and funding future of the old school building. Chances are still excellent that if we work together we can achieve some exciting results! Gary Parnell Spring City Chew sugarless gum after meals SALT LAKE CIT- Y- Chewsugarless gum after eating will reduce your likelihood of developing cavities. University of Indiana researchers studied a group of 700 fifth- through seventh-grader- s who chewed sugarless gum for 20 minutes after each meal. ing Another group of 700 middle schoolers didnt. After three years, the gum chewers had significantly fewer cavities than the Researchers believe the gum stimulates the flow of saliva which helps buffer decay-causiacids in the mouth. ng le of $431,000. To pay off the debt, they would have to raise property taxes 38 percent. The fund eliminates much of the risk associated with paying for wildland fire protection by spreading the costs among counties desiring to participate. As you are aware, we are scrutinizing the state budget to ensure than any tax increase for highways will be as minimal as possible. This process often creates concerns regarding those programs that receive careful review. Many of you have contacted me about the program and I share your concerns and recognize its importance for rural Utah. Thank you for your letters, I am always happy to hear from my constituents. If you would like to inform me of your feelings on or write to me at 319 legislative issues, please call State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114. You can track legislation on our website, www.le.state.ut.us. Meals-on-Whee- ls Issues that affect rural Utah by Rep. Michael Styler Each week, the Legislature spends endless hours sifting what they and their constituents feel would be of most benefit to the citizens of Utah. Three weeks have passed, and many issues that will affect rural Utah have come about. Drainage Districts. Wednesday, House Bill 189, which streamlines the process for setting up drainage districts and the regulations put on them, was pushed through the senate standing committee. Elk Fanning. Throughout many states elk and reindeer are raised commercially to harvest their antlers and velvet. For centuries Korea and China have used antlers in folk medicine. Last week the House of Representatives passed House Bill 90 that would allow commercial ranching of elk while protecting wild elk populations. Within the bill, enforcement and penalty provisions are provided to ensure humane treatment of the animals. House Bill 90 is on the time certain calendar waiting to be debated on Feb. 10, at 11 a.m. Electric Industry Restructuring. The Utah Public Service Commission is studying the feasibility of restructuring the electric industry to allow for retail competition of electric power. California has enacted a bill creating retail competition, and nearly every state and the federal government are investigating electric industry restructuring. The interim committee has been monitoring the Public Service Commissions study. Tobacco Issues. Legislation is anticipated relating to the following issues: 1. unwanted environmental tobacco smoke drifting into adjoining condos and apartments; 2. tobacco tax rates; 3. youth access to tobacco products. Local Government Revenue Sources. Potential legislation includes changes to the B and C road funds distribution formula. Reduced Taxation. House Bill 347 was introduced which reduces the taxation for IPP and UP&L by approximately 4.5 million dollars. The bill will help strengthen the financial position of IPP and remove the tax targeted at only two businesses. I appreciate all who have taken the time to fill out and return the questionnaires that were published in local papers throughout Sanpete and Millard counties. For those with further input and have capabilities, contact Representative Styler at: USU professor teaches about plant diseases at master gardener class series MT. PLEASAN- T- Plant diseases will be the topic of instruction taught by guest instructor, Dr. Sherm Thompson, a Utah State University professor, at the master gardener class series to be held at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, in the Mt. Pleasant Public Library. The class will cover prevention, detection and elimination of plant diseases common to the Sanpete County area. Dr. Thompson has done extensive research in fire blight, a plant disease found in apples and pears. He has also worked in the plant disease area in New Zealand and Utah. In rural Sanpete County, gardening has become a necessity as well as a hobby for many people. The knowledge gained by these classes can make a difference in quality and quantity of produce grown, according to a library press release. These classes, with a wide variety of topics, were designed to attract serious gardeners who wanted to be taught and advised by experts. The classes are cosponsored by Sanpete County Extension Service and Mt. Pleasant Public Library. For further information, call Sanpete County Extension Office 1 at or Mt. Pleasant Library at 835-215- 462-324- 0. Ftn Green news FOUNTAIN GREE- N- A bridal shower, with 24 guests, was given to Joni Machen Dyc-he- s, daughter-in-laof Tom and Beatrice Dyches, Chester, at the Cook residence and hosted by Euleda Cook and Beatrice Dyches, on Saturday, Feb. 8. Games were played and the bride received many lovely gifts. w |