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Show Page 2 Messenger-Enterpris- Doesnt want Letters to the Editor August 20, 1998 e Wal - Mart Trivia . . . not only in Ephraim, but throughThank goodness for our de- out the county. This is not mere mocracy where we can express, in speculation, but fact, as expressed has a free press, our feelings on issues. in other areas where It is in this context that I write to set up their predatory business. A third reason relates to the express my opposition against cemetery. How many of us have coming to town and more To the Editor: Webster's definition: trivia Insignificant or Inessential matters, that which comes from the street, of little importance or significance, trifling, ordinary, Wal-Ma- rt Thanks to Ephraim To the Editor: proved by the faculty at Brigham Young University. Once it has been bound, I will donate one copy to the Ephraim City Library, and another to the Snow College Library. If you have comments on it, I would be glad to hear them. I will be at the University of Michigan working on my PhD. The address will Last summer spent some time Ephraim doing fieldwork for my masters thesis in sociology. I was trying to assess the community spirit there, along with the obstacles and successes you have been through in trying to build that feeling in your community. I had no prior connections to your town at all. I did my fieldwork there simply because Ephraim has a history of strong collective action and sentiment. I received assistance from dozens of individuals in town, and that cooperation was essential to the success of the project. Thank you 1 in My thesis was recently ap the proposed location that being just north of the cemetery. How disrespectable can one be toward this sacred place and to the spirit that one feels upon entering its grounds - that of peace and solitude? I would like to speak to several reasons why I raise voice in opposition. First is that I think our rt growth is already too fast. A - visited the cemetery in the hot summer and enjoyed the seemingly cool shade of those trees? Can any of us define the heat that the combination of sun and 1 5 acres of blacktop will create. In addition to this, add the very undesirable elements of floodlights and noise. Can anyone say that the spirit of our cembe: etery will not be polluted? The last reason for my oppoThe University of Michigan can be explained in my passition Department of Sociology sionate desire to see Sanpete rewill 3012 Literature, Science, & only accelerate our bastion a main utilithe against commercialthe Arts Building growth at expense of our and ization urbanization. ties. Those who seem to be pushAnn Arbor, MI 48109-138- 2 Mr. Monte Bonas letter last ing Wal-Ma- rt Thank you again for your assay, But it will increase our tax base. Are the week spoke so sincerely of the sistance. Todd Cioodsell people suggesting that our taxes beautiful picture Sanpete Valley will be lowered? This is nonsense! offers all to see. This picture exAnn Arbor, Michigan It may have the opposite effect. Our presses the hard work and sweat and tears of our forefathers, who some dictate growth at point will another round of expansion of our struggled to make our valley blosutilities. Lets mention our sewer som. He spoke of the livestock trees. system that was constructed in the grazing in our green fields. Mr. Perhaps when Ephraim City late 60s. That system was put in to Bona might be interested to know rt officials cut down those black wilbe built on handle a certain number of users. that should 1 5 acres that low trees they too can find an apthe then site, proposed Im fearful that critical point is propriate flag to fly near the tree nearing. What happens when that once produced stands of alfalfa stumps. And then, like Springville point is reached on our growth and, more recently, was the grazPark, little plaques could be placed scale? What will happen is that our ing place for sheep, will be turned in front of the hazardous trees constructed streets will be into bricks and blacktop. What a newly stumps, with a likeness of Jack gutted for new and larger sewer waste! Kcrvorkian holding a chainsaw The law of diminishing returns pipes. bronzed on it. After all-taway will accelerate the can be applied to population A Wal-Ma- rt with the old and diseased! inevitable. The expense of such a growth. Simply stated, it tells me As I think back to our 1 1 project would make our street that to a point growth is good, but groups Tree Rest Area Project project look small indeed. In such at some point along the growth I wonder about service cases the increased tax base will scale, it will have a negative effect projects in Ephraim 1998. My in no way pay for such expansions. on communities from which people imagination runs wild. I wonder if A second reason for my oppowant to escape. Logan, Salt Lake when the black wil low trees are cut sition is the negative effect it will and Provo were once small - like down, will another group be have on our established small busius! there among the willows like my ness owners. You can bet that Dick Olson many club of long ago? But, unlike my of them will be put out of business, Ephraim, Utah club, will this club be there to pick and broken up the sawed-of- f branches and then haul the mess away? I can even hear their leader To the Editor: say, Now, children, remember in Sterling is a pretty little corrals and hay built on the city years to come when you walk by town. street property. The weeds have these stumps, that you were here That is how I remember Stertaken over the streets and it looked to haul off the limbs. You can tell like the people use city property to ling, the town where the meadowyour children of the fun you had larks sang their song, Sterling is dump their garbage and what outdoing this service project and how a pretty little town." buildings are left are in bad shape you had a fine wiener and marshI remember my young years and broken down. It is plain to see mallow roast andbumed limbs that down on the Evett Jensen farm that the Mayor and City Council were about 50 years old! where my father famied. We enhave dont any pride in their town. It is sad that living trees will there as a and I joyed living am hoping if I get the chance family be cut down. All the trees will be kll the enjoyed people of Sterling. to come to Sterling once more, that gone in a decade or less . . . mark My business has taken me through the people will have made it look my word! The 63 historic trees Utah from Idaho, where I now live, neat and clean as I remember Stershould be allowed to grow until and every chance I get I come ling. they completely die naturally. I am thankful that I live in through Sterling, driving around LaRuc Hansen Bailey the few blocks. 1 always took speMalad, Idaho. Nothing like this Vernal, Utah cial notice of the homes and how would be allowed on or off youi all the lots looked so neat and clean, property. After, all the Lord let us with all the bams and outbuildings use the earth. We should take pride trees die naturally Let To the Editor: the early 1960s I was in an 1 Ephraim group. Our club leader was Virginia Nielson. One summer our group met under the In black willow trees north of I pliraim. Wc were told a very spiritual story about the pioneers and the black willows. Then our club cleaned up an area and added a picnic table for weary travelers to use while they rested in the shade of those 63 trees and possibly learn their story. I learned that those trees were a living, visual link to the past. We all know that tree planting of long ago symbolized an end to a long, arduous pioneer journey and the beginning of a new life for pioneers and their sapling trees. flic summer of 1997 was the Scs(uicentcnnial celebration. It was wise of Ephraim City officials to wait until this summer to start cutting down those trees the pioneers planted even though they had already cut down many, many trees within Ephraim City by then. Besides, now expert" studies have been done to verify that the sapling trees the pioneers brought to Sanpete were hazardous materials. The black willows have been labeled a hazard. Recently stopped in their city visited and Springville I didn't feel I was surrounded by hazards as I sat under their lovely trees and gazed at their free City, USA flag and the bronze Faith in Every Footstep" plaques placed at the base of a few I Wal-Ma- ylo 4-- 4-- H 4-- H Sterling needs to beautify 1 WEATHER for the Monti area Reported by Lee J. Anderson looking well-kep- t. I was so let down and embarrassed recently when I came through Sterling with some of my family. As we drove around the blocks there were a handful of homes that are still t, but to my disappointment most of the town is in a shambles. The Peterson home on Main Street - the lot is filled w ith junk cars, and the Arthur Bradley home next to it has horse well-kep- THE ANTI M ESSENGER USPS I 3284-000- 0 EPHRAIM ENTERPRISE USPS 1777-200- 0 THE Published each Thursday for 50c each, $16.00 a year inside Sanpete County and $19.00 outside Sanpete County, by Messenger-Enterpris- e !r.r , 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642. Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti, Utah. Send address changes to: POSTMASTER: e Messenger-EnterprisInc. 35 S. Main, Manti UT 84642 Max and Beth Call Publishers Max Call Editor i David Call General Manager Tricia Call Sales Representative Karen Buchanan Manti City Reporter Lynn Schiffman Ephraim City Reporter Shirley Bahlmann Sanpete County Reporter Manti High School Sports Greg Dettingcr MEMBER TROIID MEMBER OF fff j NATIONAL VEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION Beths definition: fnVfa. hogwash. rt Wal-Ma- for your help. park. residents Wal-Ma- what he as given us. I do hope businesses in Sterling will display this letter for evin eryone to read. I also noticed there is a new store on Main Street. Good for Sterling! With the best to the Town of Sterling. Robert Dempsey Malad, Idaho (A past resident) Write a Letter to the Editor VOTE - My definition: trivia: lot of fun. balderdash, but a i By Max Call Sixty years ago last May a group of 68 enthusiastic, eager, and excited graduates of Star Valley High School in Afton, Wyoming set out to prove that the future of the world rested indeed in their generation. Their graduation was filled with exciting talks, which, at this juncture, no one can remember, even the people who gave them. But they were reminded that they could meet any challenge in making the world a better place. Last week as my Class of 1938 met for its 60th reunion we came to grips with whether or not we had measured up. We came from all parts of the nation, and all walks of life. Most (like me) were wearing hearing aids. No one was on crutches or in a wheel chair, but two carried canes, although I suspected some left canes in the car so as not to detract from their positive image. The food which was served was soft enough that no one was embarrassed by not being able to chew efficiently with their false teeth. I saw no toupees, although I saw several who should have worn one. I saw quite a few pouches, especially on the men. Some guys wore ties and coats, trying to cover up their shapes (including me). Beth and I had studied our yearbooks long and diligently so that we would be able to identify everyone. (Beth was actually a year younger, but she knew those in my class). Everyone had changed (except me) so much that unless we had worn name tags we were at a loss to identify anyone. When I mistakenly said, I li, Darwin, it turned out to be Dennis. So I w ho they were. I admit I and that chance asked quit taking just knew Mel Baldwin, but few are as ugly as he, making it easy for me to remember him. (1 le says the same thing about me!) Max Porter still has black hair, but I suspect he uses a quart of Grecian Formula before coming to the reunion. There was quite a bit of hugging, and even a little kissing (I liked that pait). When I saw others giving one another a smack, I decided to try it. I walked up to Nedra Stock and said, wonder if you kiss as well as you did in 1938. "Try me, she teased (just like old times). I accepted the challenge and gave her a smack while her husband looked on suspiciously. I low come you never told me about this guy? he asked her musingly. He didn't deserve mentioning, she said. I felt a little put down, but I enjoyed the experience nevertheless. When I decided to try the technique on the next lady, 1 said, I wonder if you smooch as well as you used to. Youll never find out, she snorted. I dropped the subject and went on to the next person, who turned out to be my cousin who let me give her a peck on the check. It wasnt much fun kissing your cousin. I walked up to the next stranger from the back, put my arm around her waist, and said in my sweetest voice, Hi, Im Max Call. I know, she said icily, turning around. It was Beth. Lest you get the idea that it was all hugging and kissing, we had a program. Each of us was to stand and give a summary of the last 60 years. When my turn came, I took a modest three minutes. After I sat down I thought of a dozen things I should have bragged about. I should at least have told them that I had had dinner with President Reagan at the While I louse. Some were even too shy to stand up. But one of them took 7 minutes to tell us how successful he was. I felt kind of ashamed, but I didnt take 7 minutes. Most people bragged about their kids how many, how many were famous doctors, etc., ad nauseam. My only claim to fame in this regard was that I had the youngest child, by far. In fact, I dont think any of them had a child within ten years of David. But they didn't seem to think that was so much of an accomplishment. In fact I heard one person nicker that it was merely ignorance or bad management that we had David when Beth was 1 1 1 - 49. The one who was voted The Most Pleasing Personality had been married three times. My friend, Ross Findlay from Ephraim, who was in the class, was unable to attend or Im sure with his white hair, hed have been thought of as the most distinguished looking. One of my lady classmates said that she was a practical nurse. When I asked her what that meant she said it was a lady who married a rich patient. Several of those who lived near Afton, didnt attend. Probably because theyd seen enough of each other for the last 60 years. A bunch of optimists, they appointed a committee to plan the 65th anniversary. And I suppose when they have that one, theyll plan a 70th, and I intend to be the best looking man at that one also. And Beth will be the best looking lady. After the reunion I ror, mirror on the wall. looked in the mirror and chanted, MirWhos the fairest one of all? If its me, dont answer! Committment Honesty to the People If this column sounds like you had already read it, its all 60th reunions are the same. a Not so trivial: F riendship is the only cement hold the world together. Knowledge of Experience Government & that will ever Leadership otm PRICE Jay D. Alder 24,995 Tape & Texture 30 Roof Load DEMOCRAT for County Commissioner COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE COUNTY FAIR! Top Quality Hone at Guaranteed Lowest Price. 2x6 Walls 5 Year Warranty SIMILES rrwi1t20.y2(J TRIPLES rmnlt39.995l QUALITY WHOLESALE HOMES sirvihg m HAmHwme |