OCR Text |
Show p tr ginrirniiii rV Home of The Mormon Miracle Pageant 1990 Attendance was 132,000 50 a copy Volume 105 Number 33 MANTI, UTAH 84642, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1991 Moroni Feed upbeat about future of industry Although the industrys economic Moroni Feed Co. would expand production this year, although turkey cycle reached a down point in the 1990 production year, no indications of financial distress were evident at Moroni Feed Co.s annual banquet Saturday night. Weve been through several difficult situations in our history, said Frank Cook, banquet master of ceremonies. We have faith in the future of our industry." That faith was expressed in over-productio- And Moroni Feeds optimism is also reflected in the forecast that national production will be up around nine percent in 199 1. Moroni Feed Co. officers explained that an annual production of around 4 million turkeys is essential if the Company is to maintain a high level of efficiency. Mr. Cook pointed out that Moroni Feed Co. is a major contributor to the areas economy. More than 900 people are employed in variotis phases of the companys integrated operations, he said. At the companys business meeting, Leonard Blackham was elected a member of the board No theme, Clowning Around Best to be Found. -- - MFC is is blamed for last years poor returns. 50-ye- ar the banquet n the That theme was illustrated in the table decorations and in the hundreds of balloons that arched over the stage. And it was also expressed in Mr. Cooks statement that Keisel, former Ephraim City Councilman and founder of a task force responsible for obtaining the Central Utah Correctional Facility at Gunnison, was .honored Feb.- - 6 by Economic the Development District Six-Coun- ty The award was presented in Nephi by Carolyn Brock, outgoing chairman of the Committee. According to Randy McKnight, retiring Six County Economic Development District chairman, Keisel was selected as Sanpete Countys nomination of an individual making significant achievement and contribution to the countys economic development through his efforts to locate a regional prison in the county. He received a plaque and commendation. Each county in the Six County District nominated an individual for the award. McKnight also presented the single district award for long- standing excellence to a business in the region, to Moroni Feed Co. of Moroni. The award was accepted by Lynn Cook. , Keisel was described as one man who made a difference. Because of his hard headedness and thick skin over 700 jobs and over $140 million in annual payroll js. now. .a Reality for . Sanpete County. Keisel envisioned the benefits of the Central Utah Regional Correctional Facility, in Gunnison, over ten years ago. Many thought he was a dreamer when he shared his vision of a stable job base through the development of a correctional facility in Sanpete. He was serving as Ephraim City Councilman when he first came across an article in the Readers Digest, Ihe Industry Nobody Wanted." From this article branched the ideas and determination to make the prison a reality. He researched in depth the effects such a facility would have on a community. He traveled throughout the United States, visiting many prisons and interviewing personnel about elements necessary to operate the facility. the state Although penitentiary was filled to capacity, the state had no plans m as the replacement for IaVar Francks. Kim Blackham and Kayle Morley were elected to additional terms on the board. Don Shand has one more year to complete his board term. During the banquet, a moment of silent tribute was paid to two members of the coop who died last year: Evan Johnson, one of the founding fathers of Moroni Feed, and Rex Kellet, who, over the years, had been a leading producer. Gifts were awarded four retiring employees and Joseph Nielsen, the companys president and general manager, made a special presentation to Paul Orlopp, president of Orlopp Turkey Farms, in recognition of Moroni Feeds long and fruitful association with Orlopp over a (Continued on Page 4) Theme of Annual Moroni Banquet was "No Clowning Around - MFC is the Best to be Found Ephraim man is honored for economic development efforts Keith 1 V . to create another satellite prison. Keisel anticipated the eventual i i need and set a campaign in motion to secure the prison for Sanpete. He selected a committee he describes as key in acquiring prison funding, local people who shared his dream of jobs and a stable economy. The committee drafted a plan that was presented to the state cold turkey." Later Gary Deland, Director of Corrections, said he had never seen anything put together as well as the plan by Keisel and his committee. never thought of his project, even when givingup the first bid went to Cedar City. Keith Keisel grinningly admits he knew all along that the prison would come to Sanpete, even though about 34 other locations were considered for the facility. As a direct result of Keisels diligent efforts, the prison is now a reality, being opened last year. It is now fully operational and is indeed an economic boon to all of Sanpete County, as well as surrounding communities. 1 and Mrs. Joseph Neilsen (left) and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Shand were among leaders of turkey industry who addressed turkey growers at annual banquet. Mr. Keisel Board reviews building projects BY LLOYD CALL The South Sanpete School Board reviewed the renovation plans for three projects on the board for the district; the Ephraim Middle School and Gunnison Valley High School projects, and the boiler problem at Gunnison Valley High School. The plans presented by architects to the Board at their meeting last Wednesday laid out the blueprints that have now been substantively accepted by the board. The Ephraim Middle School project will cost approx. $650,000, and will add four new classrooms and a new gymnasium to the school, which has been faced with severe expansion problems, especially in physical education classes. We are actually getting injuries in the present gymnasium, Principal T.J. Rees said, because the students were all crowded in there together for activities. We really need this project The Gunnison Valley High School will have an addition that (Continued on Page 4) Board declines to renew English teacher's contract BY LLOYD CALL First year Manti High School English teacher LouAnn McNaughtans contract will not be renewed next year, decided the South Sanpete School District Board last Wednesday. The decision was not based on student criticism or parent pressure, affirms the Board. A petition was presented at the board meeting by Dean Robinson, a Manti citizen, to ask the Board to offer Mrs. McNaughtan a continued contract at Manti High. The petition was signed by about 30 parents and over 150 students. The petitioners were concerned that Mrs. McNaughtan was under review because certain students had threatened her to get her fired", leading to influential families putting pressure on the Board to fire the teacher. If student criticism and parent pressure can get a teacher fired," Mr. Robinson said, it would undermine the support system that teachers have to be strict but fair teachers." He urged the board to continue her contract, and send a clear message to students and parents that pressure techniques would not control a teachers job security. Athletes, or influential families," he said, cannot control school personnel policy. Jay Alder, also present, said he too thought that athletes and their families did indeed have influence in policy too much, going back more than 25 years." Mr. Robinson also said he thought thatMrs. McNaughtan had not had the chance to face her accusers properly, been accorded impartial treatment, or received the support from Principal Donald Hill that she deserved. If you fire her," Mr. Robinson said, It will tell these minority students that they can get their way and win." The Board denied that students or parents would have pressure in making such a anything to do with their decision It offends me, Mr. Shand said, that you would even think we would bow to parent or student pressure in such an issue. on whether or not to renew Mrs. McNaughtans contract. Legal constraints advise the board not to make public the "reasons for of a contract, and teachers in fact, (those with under three years of teaching), do face of contract from the Board for whatever proper reasons the board deems fit. This board will make the decisions based on policies that will provide the greatest benefits for all the students, teachers, and communities under our charge," stated the Board. Rest assured, that we will make the best decision for all parties concerned, they said. Board member Donald Shand told Mr. Robinson that the Board would make their decision based on policy, and resented the fact that Mr. Robinson even suggested that the board would bow to public non-renew- al non-tenur- non-renew- al decision. to provide an impartial panel for review. The review was favorable to Mrs. McNaughtan, and sustained her. This is only a and recommendation, it is not binding on the School Board to accept it as the only I can tell you that the families mentioned have no influence factor. In other discussion with the whatsoever in this case." The board then met in public, the School Board executive session, and decided discussed the upcoming change not to renew Mrs. McNaughtans of certain spring sports to a contract. She has been given summer schedule, which was the option to relocate to Gunnison proposed by the High School Activities Association. Affected High School, said Superintendent Lewis Mullins. sports will be golf, baseball, and Superintendent Mullins softball. The change would have said, We feel she could become these sports actually moved to a good teacher, but not at Manti the summer, and out of the spring High School. If she transferred school schedule, to lessen the to Gunnison, she could start over demand on academics on with a fresh start, and become a students in the spring. good teacher." Mrs. McNaughtan Principal Donald Hill, as a has said she would not accept a member on that Association, transfer to Gunnison. voted against the changes, But Mrs. McNaughtan agreed the majority said yes, he said, to a review of her peers, a process and it looks like that is the way that involved the superiwill be next year," he conceded. it ntendent, principal, and a noted The actual effect will be to English teacher from Panguitch, how-eve- r, A om.WLn..wt!Mww.w iii imm force students to decide between those sports and summer activities, such as summer baseball and softball programs, Mormon Miracle Pageant, vacations, and summer employment. The change will also move many of these activites on a league basis to Friday evenings and Saturdays, which again will further decrease attendance. Because this change could have sweeping effects on the sports, the matter is being given to the School Boards for their vote, but Board members were glum of their prospects to overturn the decision. It would take almost a unanimous vote of our school boards to make the other committee change their minds, and that is unlikely," they noted. The move is being pushed by mostly Northern districts, who contend with playing conditions that are just not ready for baseball and golf in the spring. |