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Show Home of The Mormon Miracle Pageant 1991 Attendance 166,000 Volume 106 Number"22 50e a MANTI, UTAH 84642, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5,1991 copy Thanksgiving Day fire destroys Gunnison's Valley Furniture Store (Story courtesy Gunnison Valiev News) Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1991 will be a day many residents of Gunnison will remember as the day a major fire broke out in the Valley Furniture building. Before it was all over, the store and almost all of its contents were destroyed. Fire departments from Manti, Ephraim, and Salina also responded and rushed to assist in battling the blaze. This time of the year is when the store's inventory was at its highest peak, Larry and Brent Jensen, owners, said. They added that it will take some time to come up with an estimate of the cost of the fire as they have not yet been invoiced on some of the merchandise in stock. At approximately 6:00 p.m., November 28, Larry Jensenhad returned to the Valley Furniture building to check the building. When he arrived he found smoke and proceeded to turn off the electrical.connection .and checked the furnace area in the back of the building. At about this time another business owner, Kim Pickett, looked out the front of his window of the Gunnison Implement building and saw smoke in the Valley Furniture building. He went across the street and found Larry inside. From there he called 911 and alerted the fire department of the possible fire. He and several others proceeded to start carrying things out of the building. Kim explained that it took very few trips before the building was so engulfed with flames it was hard to go back inside. It didnt take long before an explosion was heard and the effort to remove items from the store stopped and about this time, the fire departme nt had arrived. A slight breeze from the north kept the firemen busy as they tried to contain the fire in the Valley Furniture building only. Jensen Drug was the main concern for most of the evening Later on Friday they were also able to retrieve the box with the layaway names and merchandise. As they talked with Cotter and Company, one of their main suppliers, Larry was told that all would be done to pull from warehouses across the country to accommodate as flames threatened that Gunnison area shoppers for the building also. Trucks with lift merchandise that had already buckets from Utah Power and been put on layaway as well as Light and Gunnison Telephone stock their shelves for additional Christmas shopping. Company were used to spray the roofs and they were able to If anyone has a question keep the fire from spreading to about the status oftheir layaway the Jensen Drug building. they can call Valley Furniture for an update. There is a real As the firemen worked from the front and back ofthe burning concern that everyone be Erika Frischknecht and Jared Bagnall as the Prince and Clara in "The Nutcracker," which will be building those in the back satisfied for their Christmas performed December 7 in Mt. Pleasant. photo by Mansion House, Gunnison season expectations. seemed to have the most trouble Also affected with the smoke with extensive smoke. Before the nightwasover three firemen were the NAPA, Jensen Drug had been taken to the Gunnison and the Liquor Agency, all Valley Hospital to be treated for located on main street in smoke inhalation and another Gunnison. The NAPA building, for a cut in the head after a piece owned by Keller Christensen, of flying glass hit him. had extensive smoke damage. Always the same, but better in her footwork and technique, Bagnall said. - - " Also, they had to pump out their . y ,, ' i t r each year," is how Artistic so this Balanchive choreography In past years, attenders It took several hours before basement the following day Director Vivian Kosan Bagnall looks great on her," Bagnall said have been amazed at the talent the roof burned through and before they could begin to work characterizes this excellent has years Holly stage exhibited and the on was furnace their that flames then finally collapsed as high calibre of of The presence and carriage which the performance received. have water. the shot into the air and lit up the damaged by training they Nutcracker." The story itself will Sugar Plum Fair needs." This year will be even sky. Hundreds of thousands of Jensen Drug was also never change, Bagnall say s, but New and improved scenery gallons of water were used in damaged by the smoke. Owners as the students techniques and better," Bagnall said, as many will be seen in this years of and the the heat her dancers are now and Pat Jensen, along skills progress, the choreocontrolling Redge blaze before it was finally with a lot of volunteers were graphy has to change to adapt production. real into developing have Rehearsals contained late Thursday night. gone professionals." to those improved skills." abletogetalotoftheirinventory smoothly, with only one cast Hundreds of spectators out ofthe building but most was Tickets may be purchased The third annual and cuts in significant witnessed the Thanksgiving damaged to some extent by the s through cast members or at the performance of this Act I characters I. for smoke. always voiced that blaze. their Most Redge Central Utah Ballet School, 191 explained Day Christmas ballet will be felt Act I looked crowded, so we North Main in Manti on Tues, concerns and fears of fire as even though the fire was close presented this year on Sat., Dec. came up with a cleaner and Wed., or Thurs. between 5 and 9 they watched the blaze devour the fire departments did a 7 in the North Sanpete High what has been a prominent remarkable job in keeping the School in Mt Pleasant. Two simpler overall design," Ms. p.m. Gunnison business for many flames from spreading to his performances will be presented, years, leaving it in a pile of building. In fact the covers on one at 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. his air conditioners were not burnt timbers and ashes. Ms. Bagnall is being assisted Before the fire was even scorched. with the choreography by There is still time to make a float or any type of lighted Valley Furniture has been internationally-know- n established in the building Larry Mark in the parade. There will was able to retrieve their owned by the Jensen family Lanham, a bronze medalist in plans to enjoy the Christmas entry be hundreds of dollars of prize celebration this in Ephraim computer and financial since 1977 when they bought it world ballet competition, and a for 7 th. Santa December money everything from information for the business. from Vance Peterson. Prior to personal friend of Ms. Bagnall. Saturday, of to originality, the town to will be at Claus beauty entry coming their ownership it was a Western Specifically, Lanham did the 2 p.m. Later in the evening the special effects, music and more. Auto store prior to it being with choreography for the Snow Santa Claus will be at the True Value in 1966. It has also Scene in Act I, Scene II. The Electric Parade will make its Ephraim City Building way down Main Street housed such businesses as a scene is almost eight minutes Dennis Hansen preparing the lumber be will in also the perfect beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday This yard and black smith Snow Karen The is long. Queen afternoon. The Electric Parade orchestra. Soloists will include: earlier opportunity to get some of that years. the and is Cavalier Armstrong will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will Mark and Jenny Parnell, Spring Christmas shopping done before As far as what will happen Chris Cox, both of Manti. City; Ryoko Sasaki, Snow to the the holiday sneaks up on you. A take the traditional parade route Valley Furniture business Another example of The down Main Street. College; Julie Christensen, in Gunnison it is the consensus large number of Ephraim Barbara Barton, Lee Thurston adapting the choreography to merchants are going to be open following businesses will be open and Lily Jane Miller, Manti; of the family members that they the technique of the dancers is extra hours on late for your convenience: Saturday night will open another store to serve De Pac the Grand and David Duex," Doyles Hardware, Anderson Wallingford, Carolyn to accommodate the shoppers. the of needs in the the people danced the Plum Lees by Mike Helms, Janet Jordan, Sugar Fairy Variety, Drug, There is still time to make Both area. and Brent the and Larry Prince Holman Christiansen Furniture, The (Holly Mitzi Sanders, Sandra an entry into the parade. You Hair Christensen and Joan Navlor, commented that it may not be and Jared Bagnall, both of Bender, Ben Franklin, built in the same location as Manti). This dance will have simply need to call Joanne Green Scone Haven, Fat Jacks Pizza, Ephraim. 3 or Gwen McGarry there might be other locations Clara (Erika Frischknecht of at Sanpete Shop & Save, Top Stop Civic and at church more with suited better parking and Sanpete Sampler in the The concert is free to the Manti) doing the famous female for such a business. variation. Erika is very adept groups are encouraged to enter Ephraim Coop. public. Two performances scheduled for the Nutcracker Dec. 7 i world-famou- Santa Claus coming Saturday 'The Messiah' on tap Sat. The 58th annual performance of Handels Messiah will be held on Sat. Dec. 7th at 7 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 8th at 5:30 p.m. in the LDS Institute of Religion in Ephraim. This is a change of location due to facility scheduling difficultie s, so please take note. The Snow College Community Choir and Orchestra combine to bring this master work to life each Christmas season. The performance will be conducted by Judy Morgan with 283-403283-412- 5. These new faces have lead roles in 'The Nutcracker' 30 4 4. VimiiriniTlMTwA Holly Dyreng Columbine Amy Nay Dew Drop Jennifer Alder Maid Melanie Cox Moor Holly Holman Sugar Plum Fairy Mouse King Harlequin |