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Show AN the EDITION op YOUR TOWN, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR NEWSPAPER Daily $5Hcralt i THURSDAY. APRIL 22, 2004, - VOLUME 112, NUMBER 15 50 CENTS Freemasons dedicate cornerstone at Wasatch Academy MT. PLEASAN- T- On April the Grand Lodge, Free and 15, Accept- ed Masons of Utah, performed an ancient cornerstone dedication ceremony at Wasatch Academy, Mt. Pleasant. There new Loftin-Lewi- s Dining Hall and Student Center will house adining hall, book store, snack bar, mail room and student lounge. Wasatch Academy, featuring antique brick buildings is designated a National Historic Site. Since its founding in 1875, Wasatch Academy has provided an open environment for academic and personal excellence. A co-e- d college preparatory school, it maintains a rich tradition of academic achievement, personal growth and adventurous outdoor activity and is as strong today as it was 129 years ago. The cornerstone dedication ceremony was supervised by Steven D. Lancaster, Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of Utah and was accompanied by the Grand Lodge officers. Every building at the Wasatch Academy has had the ceremony performed through the school's 129 year history. Freemasonry, theworld's oldest and largest fraternity, traces it's origins to the stone workers that built the great cathedrals of Europe in the Middle Ages. IT is open to men of every race, creed, color and walk of life; opportunities to engage in charity work, through education, family and social activities, church and community involvement. The several organizations in Utah's Masonic Family perform extensive charity work: including the Masonic Model Student Assistance Program, the Intermountain Shrine Hospital for Chidden, York Rite Eye Foundation, numerous college scholarships and Rite Care Learning Centers for children with learning disabilities. Every year the Masonic Foundation of Utah awards over $250,000 in college scholarships and grants it to dozens of Utah Beverly Pierce cuts the ribbon as Jack Lewis, Wasatch Head Master Joseph Loftin and Martin Pierce make sure that she cuts the ribbon properly at dedication services of the Joseph LoftinJack Lewis Student Center building at Wasatch Academy last Saturday afternoon in Mt. Pleasant. Wasatch Academy dedicates new building by Martin Conover THE PYRAMID Wasatch Academy celebrated 129 years of education in Sanpete and existence by dedicating a new student center and dinning hall last Saturday here in Mt. Pleasant during impressive ceremonies held on the porch of the new facility. The new facility which will be known as the Joseph LoftinJack Lewis Building after the head of school and the largest donor to the project. The new facility which will allow all of the students to be fed at one time, has state of the art cooking facilities and serving equipment, hard wood floors and beautiful new dining furniture and lighting both natural from a beautiful bay window and overhead fix- non-prof- tures. Cornerstone pictured above was laid last Thursday at Wasatch emys new Lofton Lewis Student Center building. Also game facilities such as air hockey and foosball are available for student use as Acad- well as a big screen television set and comfortable lounge chairs and couches. The building has been designed as the heart and hearth of the campus according to headmaster Joe Loftin. The $3.1 million facility replaces an old dinning hall which was located in the basement of an adjoining building which was not large enough to accommodate all of the at one time to eat, forcing the school to eat in shifts. Wasatch Academy was founded in 1875 by the Presbyterian Church, is the oldest secondary school in the state and the second oldest school after the University of Utah in the state. It was at the time one of many schools founded by the church in various cities in the Utah area and is the only school founded by the church here to survive to the Soap Box Derby returns to Mt. Pleasant Editor's note: This is part of an occasional series by the Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council on the people, places and preservation efforts along U.S. Highway 89, the Heritage Highway. MT. PLEASANT- - Mt. Pleasant's Main Street will take on the look of yesteryear come May, when the city hosts the Third Annual "Soap Box Derby" races. The event was designed to races bring the back to the streets of Mt. Pleasant. It has grown in popularity in the last couple of years, with some 20 cars expected to compete in this year's races, which will be held May 22. They are spon once-popul- sored by the Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council and local resident John McClelland. Soap box derby races were once a yearly ritual in Mt. Pleasant as part of the July 4 celebration and Sanpete County Fair. Several Mt. Pleasant youths entered and swept the 1966 Utah Soap Box Derby held at Derby Downs in Provo. Contestants were Dennis Nielsen, Mark Beck, Mike Allen and Ron Staker. Beck went on to take fifth place in the national competition and received a scholarship for his efforts. "Anything goes," says McClelland, who also oversaw last year's festivities. "And we get anything and everything from a board with wheel barrel wheels, to streamlined, competitive cars. We leave it open so that the kid who just has a set of lawnmower wheels can come and have fun too. There too, y .. , ", A If k if' 41 ' is something for everyone." The races get underway following an Ugly Truck Parade at noon down Main Street that will include soap box derby cars. Both the parade and races are part of the city's annual Rhubarb Festival. A ramp will be built at one end of the street for the Soap Box derby, with a finish line at the opposite end. A police radar will display times and speeds. McGelland plans to run qualifying heats to determine which cars will compete against each other. Winners of each heat will move to the next round, with the final winner receiving a grand prize. "We want to have the "fast cars" racing the fast cars so that it is fair and enjoyable," he says. But, he adds, the fastest, slickest-lookin- g cars don't always win. "Last year, the winner brought a car that his friend had raced in 1964. He ended up beating all of the new, streamlined cars." 16-fo- ot Moroni Gty names Miss Moroni MORON- I- Ashley Nunley, daughter of Ron and Camille Nunley, Moroni, was crowned Miss Moroni 2004 during the annual scholarship pageant held April 17. She also received the interview and talent awards. First attendant is Betty Jo Cook, daughter of Lawrence and Jeannine Cook; second attendant is Jamie Bulow, daughter of David and Diane Bulow. Tiffany Bulow was selected by the contestants as Miss Congeniality. The new royalty will reign over the Moroni Fourth of July activities and fulfill other county activities. The pageant committee wish to extend their appreciation to Master of Ceremonies Bruce Mehew and Mistress of Ceremonies Miss Moroni 2003, Almaneli Vega for doing such a wonderful job. 14 WWW.HARKTHEHERALD.C0M Soap Box Derby races used to be a popular event in Sanpete County, with a lot of local residents taking part as children. The races first became popular in the 1930s. It is believed they officially started when a Dayton, Ohio, Daily News Photographer encountered three boys racing homecars down made, engine-les- s an inclined brick street. He reportedly came up with the idea to hold a coasting race and award a prize to the winner. The first official race was held in 1933, with more than 300 kids showing up with homemade cars built of orange crates, sheet tin, wagon and baby-bugg- y wheels and almost everything of "junk value." As to be expected, Soap Box derby races have grown in popularity and sophistication over the years, with contests now full of regulations and restrictions. But Sanpete County's races remain true to the original "anything goes" soap box derby philosophy. Two cars will race from the ramp on the corner of State and Main in Mt. Pleasant and will run to approximately 200 West. Cars can be made of any material, including plastic, wood, or metal. They must have brakes, be no more than seven feet long or 40 inches wide, and weigh no more than 300 pounds, including driver. Drivers should range in age from eight to 17 years old. peasant day. The present studentbody is comprised of 135 ninth through twelfth grade students and a staff over 80 employees including full time and e teachers and necessary others to administer the various programs at the school and care for fulltime part-tim- hve-i- n students. of the 135 students at the school are from the Sanpete area. The school is noted for its ability to prepare high school age students for college work and has students come from all over the United States and several foreign countries. The formal dedication of the new building was part of the annual founders days program which included the annual meeting of the board of trustees of the school, a traditional laying of the corner stone by the Utah grand Twenty-tw- o Body found southeast ofManti by Mitch Peterson MANT- I- A body found in rugged terrain southeast of Man-t- i last Sunday, April 18, has been identified as 35 year old Manti resident Matt Madsen. According to the Sanpete County Sheriff's office, Madsen was reported missing April 12, after having been last seen on April 7. His body was found by Sanpete County Search and Rescue members after a citizen reported seeing his truck Sunday evening, on the Sheep Trail south of Manti Canyon. Madsen apparently left his vehicle after it became stuck just side-by-si- 462-380- 8. 375-51- off the Sheep Trail road, and took off on foot down the mountain. His footprints were located and led down the steep terrain of Funk's Canyon. Searchers followed those tracks and located Madsen's body just before dark Sunday. Madsen had apparently come out of a group of trees, and fallThe en off a 20 foot drop-of- f. cause of death is unclear at this time, and will be determined by the State Medical Examiner's office. As of press time, no other information is available from the county sheriff's office. Rhubarb Festival to Feature Soap Box Derby, Ugly Truck Contest MT. PLEASANT- - Residents of Sanpete will not have to leave Mt. Pleasant May 22 to enjoy a full day of activities and entertainment. The fifth annual Sanpitch Rhubarb Festival, Ugly Truck Contest and again this year, a soap box derby should . keep everyone busy and satisfied. The Rhubarb Festival celebrates the lowly rhubarb plant and it's many uses. Local vendors come up with some unusual and interesting things to eat, drink and use including ice cream, salsa, syrup, freshbaked goods and soap, all made with rhubarb. Rhubarb starts, grown by Marie Lindahl will be available for sale. One of the highlights of the Sanpitch Rhubarb Festival is the world's best rhubarb pie contest. There are For entry forms or informatwo categories to enter; classic tion, call John McGelland at (435) rhubarb, which is rhubarb only; and Entry forms are also available at Mt. Pleasthe fantasy category which has to ant Gty Hall, and Flix Video. have a crust and some rhubarb but Last year's winners were can contain other items. Robert Lund, age 12, first A cash prize is awarded to the winner of each category and cash and place, sponsored by Big Pine Sinclair and New Wave Beaugifts awarded for second place winsecners. The public is encouraged to purSalon; ty Tyler Harvey, chase tastes of the entry pies after ond, age 15, sponsored by Beck's Home Furnishings; and the judging and then vote for their faJessica Allen, third, age 11, vorite thus bestowing the People's Choice Award to the lucky winner of sponsored by Rog's Garage and Max Butterfield. this category who will receive a tro CAIL lodge of Free Masons, which has been done in many of the other buildings constructed on the campus, on Thursday and a large banquet provided by the school before the dedication services. Trustees of the school are from the Sanpete area and other parts of the state and country. Headmaster Loftin was honored by naming the building after him because of his role over the past 15 years of saving the school from being closed about the time he was made headmaster. Since that time the school has remained a financial success and able to fill its role as an honored institution and alternative to public education in the state of Utah. The school is presently independent from the Presbyterian Church, but maintains close ties to the church. phy and the proceeds from the sale of the tasting tokens. Pies must be entered by 3p.m. The Rhubarb Royalty presides over the festivities including The Defender of the Rhubarb, who usually ' with tales of ; regales festival-goer- s the Rhubarbarians, The Rhubarb Maiden and The Queen of Rhubarb ! who bestow the prizes for the world's best rhubarb pie contest awards, the Rhubarbarian Raw Eating Contest and the Ugly Truck Contest. Cool jazz tunes are offered by Duane Stephens and the Cocktales for the dancing pleasure of festival goers until 9 p.m. Native Wines will release the rhubarb wine from last year and be open for wine and cheese tasting from noon to 6 pm One of the favorite events on this day is the Ugly Truck Contest and parade. Trucks must run to enter and there is a small entry fee. Owners are encouraged to enter their trucks previously at Mt. Pleasant City Hall before the day of the contest. The parade will assemble in front of the library at noon and will include the rhubarb royalty and all kinds of unusual vehicles. The ugly trucks will be on display throughout the day. -- - TO SUBSCRIBE XXX k I |