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Show 'ffaEso ' DU 'TPtiLiQnEQ L 'i i . i femaplafs? Home of The Mormon Sr'I 50c a copy VOLUME 108 NUMBER 35 Christensen to seek In an interview on Saturday, Feb 26, J. Keller Christenson announced his candidacy for another four year term as Sanpete County Commissioner. He will be running on the Republican ticket Christenson has been a commissioner for nine years. He was also elected this year to be chairman of the Six County Association of Governments, to which Sanpete County belongs. In order to more efficiently administer services, small counties band together and pool their resources. Sanpete county is a member of the six county organization which also includes Sevier, Millard, Juab, Piute and Wayne counties. re-electi- July 7, 8, 9,12-1- 9 MANTI, UTAH Manti LDS Temple 84642, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994 on Two local projects that the commissioners are working on are Expanding the Palisades Golf course to 18 holes and the Narrows," or Gooseberry project Ive been working on this one for forty years, laughed Christenson. During WWH, a dam was built creating Scofield reservoir. Sanpete county was promised some of the water (5,480 acre feet) from the reservoir and hasnt received it yet Nationally, Christenson supports the National Association of Counties congressional plea for more PILT money (Payment In Lieu of Thxes). In eastern states, the Federal government owns about five percent of the land, but in Utah, 73 percent of the land is public owned. Counties in (he cat receive taxes from nil of their privately owned land. In Utah, the counties are required to maintain roads, take care of garbage, etc., on the public lands, but receive no tax money to pay for the services. A few years ago, Congress allotted money to be paid to counties in lieu of taxes. But congress hasnt increased the amount to match inflation. Christenson also intends to preserve our livestock business by fighting against Secretary of the Interior Babbitts Grazing Reform Act and promoting the multiple use concept. It is a privilege and a pleasure to serve Sanpete County as commissioner and appreciate the support and cooperation of the citizens of our great county, said Christenson. He went on to praise the work of the other two commissioners, Robert Bessie and Eddie Cox, and former commissioners; Senator Leonard Blackham, Dr Wendell McGarry, and Newton Donaldson. Christenson stated, I feel that there is no substitute for experience and seek your support in the 1994 elections. School Board to seek $10,000,000 for building program in 1994 by Bruce Jennings The South Sanpete School District is preparing to embark on a five year, $10,000,000 building program. The major elements in the proposed program are a new middle school in the Gunnison valley, and extensive improvements at Manti High School to alleviate serious overcrowding. On the priority list, the Manti High School program comes first since its needs are most urgent, according to Superintendent Lewis Mullins. The district proposes to spend $4,000,000 at Manti High School to add eight or ten more classrooms, develop the commons area, add a physical education facility. and enlaree the auditorium. Manti High now utilizes six mobile classrooms, cant seat the studentbody in the auditorium, and has students eating lunch in hallways, all because of overcrowding. The school is now more that 100 students over its rated capacity. The South Sanpete School District also hopes to build a new middle school in the Gunnison Valley within the five year period at a cost of around $6,000,000. It wants that school to be in place by the time phase two of the Gunnison Regional Prison is operational. The district is now negotiating on a 35 acre site for the middle school and expects to locate it so that some facilities can be used in common with the other Gunnison Valley schools. Where will the building money come from? The district plans to hold a special bond election in August or September that will ask the voters to approve borrowing $5323,447. This amount would be added to the districts current indebtedness and would require a property tax increase. This amount would push the districts bonded indebtedness to its statutory limit, something that would set a precedent, according to Paul Gottfredson, district business administrator. The district hopes it can raise the rest of the $ 10,000,000 from several possible sources, including a Community Impact Board loan or grant The district will also aske the State Legislature for a special allocation. The reasoning behind that request is that the South Sanpete School District has the lowest assessed valuation per student in the state, meaning in ability to raise money for new schoolhouses, while being impacted by two state institutions, the Gunnison Regional Prison and Snow College, which do not pay property taxes. Their presence in the area is deeply appreciated, district officials say, while acknowledging that they are also main factors in the growth of the student population and the need for more classrooms. In the meantime, the district has accumulated around $500,000 in capital outlay money, including $181368 in state aid, that it will largely spend this summer. Part of it will cover the purchase of the 35 acre site for the new middle school in Gunnison Valley and part the installation of two new rubberized asphalt tracks at Manti and Gunnison Valley High Schools. Remember Our New at Noon! Manti High Seeks New Principal for 1994 Manti. by Bruce Jennings A three year state approved and partially funded team management experiment at Manti High School is now ending. That means that next year the school will return to the traditional principalship structure. The South Sanpete School District thought it already had the principalship vacancy filled with Don Hill, currently principal at Gunnision Valley High School. Hill had previously served one year as principal at Manti High. After some waivering, Mr. Hill has decided to stay at Gunnison Valley High School, and the South Sanpete School District is now looking for a Manti High School principal. Announcement of the vacancy has been made, and the selection process is now underway. The new principal must have a Masters Degree and the proper state credentials. The team management experiment that is now ending involved having three classroom teachers, Robert Bessey, and then Leslie Good, and Earl Wheeler, teach part-tim- e share administrative duties, the traditional principalship (Continued on Page 2) serving in the New Mexico - Albuquerque mission. Upon returning to Snow, his roommates talked him into enrolling in an Institute class called Preparing for Eternal Marriage. On the fust day of class he met Miss Snow College, Shirley Anderson. They saw each other nearly every day and were married the day before graduation in the Manti Temple. After two years of studying Landscape Architecture at U.S.U., he was offered a job as Residential Landscape Manager at Millcreek Landscape in Salt Lake. They moved their growing family into a home in West Valley that was surrounded by fields. Once again the city grew out around them so they moved to Manti. For three years Bob worked fall and winter at the turkey plant, then switched to Palisade State Park during the spring and summer. Snuggling to raise a family on a limited income, they received an offer I didnt think we could refuse," and moved to Sandy. Bob went to work as an artistcrafts-ma- n There arent many making granite headstones. artists that have their work etched in stone, he said. Its fun to travel the state and be able to see my work in both landscapes and headstones. Two years was about all they could stand of the city so, once again, they took a cut in pay and moved back to f . i if..? Bob Bahlmann Joins MessengerEnterprise Staff Bobs parents immigrated to Utah from Holland after World War II and joined the LD.S. Church soon afterward. That makes them converts to both the church and the country, he said. I like to think that gives me a little more appreciation than most people for the blessings and freedom we enjoy. Bom and raised in what was then the rural outskirts of Salt Lake City, hes always been a country boy at heart He graduated from Granite High School where he was active in athletics all three years. Weekend trips to visit an uncle in Fairview introduced him to the Sanpete area. He decided on Snow College for a year of school prior to secuSince that time Bob has been working part-tim- e rity at the Manti Temple and doing freelance writing and photography. His connections in the monument industry have also generated an increasing demand for his custom hand etchings on granite and glass. For three years hes worked closely with local fanners as a depredation specialist with the Division of Wildlife. Ive gotten to know a lot of the local landowners and like to think weve gained a mutual respect for each other. Recent budget problems in the Division of Wildlife have resulted in the elimination of his position, putting him in the market for another job. Ive always dreamed of making a living with my writing and artwork, he said. Now Ive got that opportunity and Im really excited about it Bob and Shirley are the proud parents of five sons. Andy is 14, Jeff 13, Scott 10, Zackary 3, and Brian 4 months. I know that people make the news and that we can't be everywhere at once, he said. If you know of a story you think would be of interest please feel free to contact us at our news office or call me at home. His phone number is Ive always believed in doing what I do the best I can. 835-825- 5. I Kaha tKa ronriore oniiMr rmr aiV up vmwK op T nrill |
