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Show WEEKLY REFLEX DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL, NORTH DAVIS LEADER, JANUARY 1 5, 1981 Human Life Worth Only 50 Today In Davis County By MARK D, MICKELSEN FARMINGTON - How much is a human life worth in Davis County these days? Less than 50 cents, according to Emergency Services Director John Zippro. WHILE RUSSIA spends $9.50 per person per year on Civil Defense, he said, the United States spends 50 cents, and things don't appear to be getting any better. And even more frightening in a nuclear attack the Russians would sustain four percent fatalities in their population, while the U.S. would lose 50 percent of all its people. AND THERES a good chance that unless something is done to further emergency preparedness efforts in Davis County, the death toll here could be even higher. Mr. Zippro explained Wednesday in an interview that residents are not aware of what is taking place in the county w ith regard to Civil Defense. Even though "we have fantastic plans," he said, "people are not aware of how extensive they are. BUT ADMITTEDLY, the director says there are problems. Critically, there is no food storage in any of the underground emergency shelters in the county. Plus there is only enough shelter space for 21 percent of the population. (Emertency Services is "trying to prepare the individual to take care of himself," Mr. Zippro said, because there is a good chance that in a major emergency the Civil Defense workers won't be able to get to everyone in one day, and people may have to depend on themselves.) ANOTHER PROBLEM the county faces is the fact that most of the newer buildings don't have basements. And according to Mr. Zip-prbasements have traditionally been the best places to shelter people from disasters and nuclear attack. Police Training Joe M. Borich. director. s Utah State Peace Officer Stan-dard- BIKE CHAMP PERFORMS By DONETA GATHERUM Fantastic and phenomenal are words that best describe Mike Poulson the BMX World Champion for 1980. The old Layton High School sophomre is quiet, a good student and a competitive sportsman whether he is racing bikes, playing football, attending school or just being a member of Virgil and Bonnie Poulsons family. THE INITIALS "BMX" stand for Bicycle Moto Cross. This popular sport is conducted on a dirt race track about 1,000 feet long. The course is laid out in a zig-za- g fashion that resembles a motorcycle course. BMX races allow no motor bikes. Competition is controlled and sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association (ABA). bikes are used in Twenty-incthe race. Mike first became interested in bike racing when his neighbor Bruce Villard invited him to attend a race. He liked w hat he saw. entered the competition, did well, and decided he would like to participate in more races. That w as 21: years h ago. trophies later Mike is now deeply involved in BMX competition. He is recognized as a champion in Utah, the nation and in international circles. His most recent honor is the BMX World Championship. Mike won the title in Indianahundred polis. lnd. Thirty-on- e hike riders, representing every state and eight foreign countries. competed in the championship race. TO W IN, a rider had to do well in three qualifying moto cross races. He could then advance to the quarter finals, the semifinals and the finals. The top eight riders competed for the title. Mike's trophy stands nearly six feet tall. BESIDES THE World Champion award. Mike is recognized as the number one BMX rider in Utah in 1979 and 1980. He is ranked third national in the ABA standings; first in the world in the 15 expert class and second in the world championship over-al- l class. Another special honor was given Mike by the Bicycle Motocross Action Magazine. This popular BMX magazine asked readers to pick the number one racer for 1980. This individual would receive the honored Nora Cup. Many contestants were professional riders and Mike placed 13th in the voting. MIKE RIDES a Schwinn "Sting." He owns three bikes that have all been modified with special equipment like hubs and cranks (the rods the pedals hook to). Mike competed in local races for a year and a half before entering national races. Races are usually held locally once a week during the winter months and one to three times a week in the summer. There are over 500 BMX racers in the Wasatch Front communities. COMPETING means spending nationally time away Laytons Mike Poulson does his stuff Layton Junior High School. North in front of and Training, Mike's Christmas present in 1979 was the money to enter his first national contest. It was held in Corona, Calif. After establishing himself as event of tremor. traveling companion. Practice is important. Mike has his own practice starting gate. He works out at the Bingham Bike Shop or at the Ogden 4th Street Park. His uncle plans to build a BMX track in By y "I'm not accusing BIKE CHAMPION conducts himself at the races. Manv have commented to her that Mike doesnt get mad or loose control of himself when he isn't doing well. He has established a fine reputation as an outstanding sportsman and gentleman. MIKES MOTHER feels the experience Mike has had traveling and meeting people and the chances he has had to represent Utah is as important to Mike and his family as rac- ONE NATIONAL racing magazine featured Mike in an article. Lay ton's champion was described in these words. "Into the competition came an almost unknown rider from a state few even knew had any king of BMX racing. Mike IN ADDITION, he said the government needs to come up with a publicly-fundewarning system (hat everyone can hear. He said there's one in Farmington, but no one can tell if it's an emergency or if theres just a fire somewhere since the fire department uses it for emergencies as w ell One thing he said he'd like to see are radios in each home d . It was a far smaller Fantastic and phenomenal are words some might use to describe Mike Poulsons rise to world bicycle moto cross champion. Poulson. No big heavy duty factory sponsorship, just and immaculate Schwinn Sting, a Bingham Cyclery race jersey and a desire to be the best in the country. ..could the hick from the sticks hack it when the real heavy action rolled around? "Time after time Mike Poulson not only blew the best aw ay he flat out jammed in the trophy dashes against the top pros. THE GREATEST part of Mikes w inning comes as win ning as a human being. No matter how bitter the disappointments, Mike remained cool, even supporting all the other Utah riders. More than one beginner rider has had helpful hints, or borrowed parts, or had a chain adjusted by a good sport in the person of Mike Poulson. WE KNOW that Utah will be well represented by a fierce competitor, a good sport, and a fine gentleman, ail in the per- son of one Mike Poulson. LESS THAN 50 showed to hear results from statewide meetings held July 9, along with other data gathered by the statewide committees. Areas covered included growth, natural resources, social services and health, education and cultural resources and public services and facilities. Local committee members included Lucile C. Reading, who also serves as school board president; Lawrence Welling, school district superintendent; Norm Sant, Sunset mayor; and Ernest Eberhard, county commission chairman. MHILE REPORTS were mostly of a gen-- , eral nature taken from material geared to statewide needs, some comments were y oriented, including those of Dee Burningham, Davis Education Association executive secretary. "On drug and alcohol (funding) we get about the money Weber gets. The state is going on funding that grossly discriminates. When they've gone on the past pattern they only fund yesterday's needs." Davis-count- h Kaysville Kiwanis TURNING TO education as a representative of the school district's .600 teachers he referred to the state summary "Growth for 80s" report "talking about an abandonment to provide school buildings in the traditional way. school is being discussed but such a practice would add "25-3percent' capacity but some areas faced with "doubling and tripling in population that won't meet (needs). Talk On Tax Laws Year-aroun- d 0 The Kiwanis Club of Kaysville hosted Newell Johnson, a CPA. as the featured speaker at their Jan. 7 meeting at the Chateau Center in Layton. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Salt Lake firm of Hansen. Barnett and Maxwell. Jensen, announced that the charter night banquet would be held on Feb. 5 at the Oakridge Country Club, np one." HE SAID HE has even approached the state about a plan to have the government pay for the basement part of new buildings where the space could be used for storage until it is needed in an emergency. The state authorities told him they would relay the message to the W'est's Emergency Preparedness headquarters in Denver. County "Agenda for the 80s" session Wednesday night at the Davis School District auditorium in Farmington. active in student government. Bike racing will probably continue to be an important part of Mike's life for many more years. He wants to turn professional when he is 17 and perhaps ow n his ow n bike shop or become a stunt man. president of the club, any he said, noting however that in Russia there is enough shelter space to house the entire population in an emergency. TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON among Mike's interests. He was a member of the Layton High School's sophomore football team this year. DR. L. BRUCE major ground HE SAID HE has approached the school board to convince them to expend the money to provide shelters in the new schools, but the rep-lhas been "there's no money." crow d w ho attended phase two of the Davis Layton this spring. Other sports besides racing are HE SPOKE on the subject of income tax laws and tax shelter programs. He warned against becoming involved in a tax shelter program which did not return a good yield on investments. He stated that a shelter should first of all be within the framework of the law and secondly should return good dividends on the dollar invested or else it was not worthwhile. He covered the subject of Social Security taxes and discussed changes in some existing tax laws. a that could be tied into the county's emergency headquarters. where warnings could be issued to every household without much trouble. But that, he sad. "is an immensely costlv program." COSTLINESS appears to be the problem all over. Six years ago. Mr. Zippro said county officials were approached about budgeting a certain amount of money to stock the county 's existing underground shelters w ith food supplies. The county said that program would be "too expensive." Mr. Zippro said Presidentelect Reagan is a strong supporter of Civil Defense preparedness. and hopes more money can be put aside nationally and locally for adequate emergency services. MR. ZIPPRO plans to approach the new county commission for additional funding to better equip residents for unseen disasters. Many cities throughout the Clearfield. Woods county Cross. Bountiful. Syracuse. Kaysville. Fruit Heights and are implementing Layton community wide emergency preparedness programs for their residents. AS A GOVERNMENT agen- cy, Mr. Zippro said the Emergency Serv ices branch is taking all the action for a disaster situation" ranging from the formulation of specific committees that teach certain sectors of the professional world how to handle themselves during an emergency to a team that visits churches and civic organizations with presentations on preparedness. "People are told not to fear these disasters." he said, because "panic kills. If they know what to do. they can remain calm." Fewer Than 50 Attend 80 Agenda IN 1980, Mike competed in races held in 24 different states. His fatner is Mike's proud of the way Mike H. Charles Johnson and Brad K. Wilcox. Davis County Sheriff's Office. money to enter the races. Sometimes, he also receives motel money and money for food. is Academy. Sheriff LaMar Guymon, president of the Police Department; a winner in Utah and the nation, Mike received financial support from the Schw inn Co. The bike manufacturers usually give him air fare and the She held at the new Utah Police THE FOLLOW ING officers from Davis County were in attendance at the 89th session: Dwayne A. Baird and Daniel L. Yeaman, Clearfield Mike placed fifth. ing itself. mencement exercises were Sheriffs Association was the keynote speaker. from home and securing money to finance the trips. WHILE A student at North Layton Jr. High Mike was a starter in five sports and was announced that the first com- BUT NOW,. HE explained, the county is finding it very difficult to convince contractors or to to construct basements meet the specific building code requirements for earthquake resistance. "All of the older schools in Davis County were not built under the code (earthquake resistance), Mr. Zippro explained, posing an inevitable danger to hundreds and hundreds of school children in the AND THE minute you have to bus" that raises costs, Mr. Burningham added, d school is a false econoting. nomy. "The thing that has impoverished local governments they've made school districts largely subject to federal officials and haven't adapted monetary programs to the needs. Instead they've left it dependent on property tax." INCOME TAX should be used instead, he said. "Putting a substantial part of income tax on would have a fairly equitable foundation." Addressing financing in general was Mayor Sant who said, We can't bury our headm We need to plan now we need innovative financing. "Year-aroun- CLINTON SHOPS Clintons public works director Steve Smith gets settled in new 3200 square foot shop. CLINTON A new building. constructed to house the city's equipment has been completed here according to public works director. Steve Smith. The 3200 square foot "shop" was begun in August and completed at a cost of $80,000. IT MILL house the back-horoller and assorted other items, according to Smith, as well as afford the city's mechanic a garage in which to work on vehicles. A loft in the building provides room for storage, lounge and public works office. Builder was Jerry B. Jones Construction Co. Iw city-own- the-san- REMINDING the audience of Gov. Matheson's reason for calling the "Agenda for the 80s" across the state. Mrs. Reading said. "Some years ago we educated our young and then they had to go out of state (to find work). The industry in Utah and projected grow th means there are opportunities. especially in minerals. With growth there are some very negative aspects such as pollution, rising crime, an increase in taxes and congestion w e never had before." along with positive impacts for business and the economy, she continued. IT (GROMTH) is a reality. It isn't a matter of whether it will be. It is. Some projections are there w ill be as much as 42 percent growth during the 80s almost double the present population (of nearly .5 million). A delegation fromthe Davis County Library addressed the meeting, calling for inclusion of library services and needs in the state report. Similar pleas were reportedly voiced at other meetings held around the state. NINE GENERAL steering committee observations and recommendations were listed including: greater efficiency in government expenditures, such as split school sessions and a community investment strategy to rank public expenditures on capital facilities (buildings). Also looked at were ways to get more in services from fewer dollars but those studying the issue found growth brings added costs such as a need for better road maintenance if coal hauling traffic increases, the summary report said. MORE CHANCES of citizen involvement must be found in government activity. it was noted, along with a call to alter many state agency boards for greater representation of the average citizen and less "special interest" membership. Prevention programs should be stressed over repairative (such as jails) and should receive more stress, the community found. Public hearings should be fostered at all levels of government. LOOKING AT land use, it was recommended that state zoning enabling legislation be strengthened allowing local governments to take action to preserve agricultural lands. At the same time minimum standards for mandatory local zoning ordinances and master plans were urged. Several views on w ater were expressed by different committees ranging from the of "inviolability private water rights, even if prime agricultural land is taken out of production through the sale of water" voiced bv the Natural Resource Task Force to growth and public service committees calling for "introduction of public interest criteria in the reallocation of water rights." THE IMPENDING squeeze" on water was viewed as casure for redefining water rights criteria. To obtain added revenue to "help cover and mitigate the impacts of grow th" a severance tax on minerals, especially coal was endorsed. That included a recommendation from the natural resources group for a "uniform tax based on net value to be levied on all extracted minerals." |