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Show 1 J.D. Wellings backyard in Clearfield is host to a mountain range, .several waterfalls, a lake, a forest, two elk and a buffalo. The catch is theyre all models -- - scaled down replicas of old West MINIATURE HAVEN Since leaving the lights of Hollywood, Welling admits he has not lost his love for landscaping, miniatures and gardening. By MARK D. MICKF.LSEN - If you CLEARFIELD ask J.D. Welling which hobby he likes best these days, he'll tell you miniatures. PEOPLE COME in from over and want to take the tour," he says of his unique NOT THF. kind of miniatures you find in doll houses or all in backyard. tour takes The visitors around J.D.s miniature village by the way of a tiny stream, a bumpy mountain forest. range and a expensive train sets, but scaled-dow- n replicas of the West. As a matter of fact, Mr. Wellings Clearfield backyard is host to a mountain range, are two ing chairs which represent Mr. Wellings escape from sunny July afternoons. And when he isnt recone log structing cabins or sculpting mountains Mr. Welling does some gardening-some gardening that, for years, has baffled area agricultural experts. smaller-than-lif- surround the grassy plain. One of the largest rocks, a two-to- n boulder near the back porch, has numerous rings which reach all the way multi-colore- d NINE FOOT HOBBY Using only fresh grass as fertilizer, Mr. Welling has managed to d tivate watermelons, potatoes and corn that are usually larger than normal in size. Corn stalks shown are nine feet tall. cul- one-thir- WHEN THE tour" is over, no question that J.D. Welling has an interesting life. theres But the movie lanscaper admits still another hobby y chores of when the gardening and miniature- - DEADLINES AT ITS peak, J.D.s DISPLAY AD DEADLINE Wednesday at Noon PICTURE DEADLINE Thursday at 6 P.M. corn reaches more than nine feet into the morning sky, his tomatoes resemble giant red his watermelons huge green basketballs. Whats the secret? Mr. Welling says he uses very little fertilizer. cant-loupe- s, BUT WHAT he does use is a lot of fresh grass. Grass is finer, he explains, and has more nutrition. By the latter part of September, Wellings two gardens are fully conditioned for spring growing season. Fresh grass is scattered over the soil, then turned under eight or nine inches, leaving the soil loose and airy. THE REST is history. Mr. in land- scaping and soil conservation experience was just what the studio boss was looking for as many of the movies were shot outdoors. So, from 1940-4J.D. Welling spent his time in the movie business. YOU GET all the nutrition you want that way, he said. The proof lies in the fruits and vegetables, some of which are two and three times larger than others grown locally. Ive had potatoes a third Everytime the studio needed a landscape or building I took over, he said. bigger than normal size, boasts the soil expert, adding, Ordinarily, a good share of d larger. my stuff is The Good Earth. starring Katharine Hepburn, that things began to change at the studio. I was the only one in the history of the studio to turn a picture over to a director," Mr. Welling said. states, building are finished. He likes taking care of his car a vintage I960 Thunder-bird- . fold- shadow-covere- d MR. WELLINGS interest in miniatures blossomed in the 1940s when he began working for MGM Studios in Hollywood as a property manager and set designer. The studio job came as a result of a routine trip to California. Mr. Welling said he traveled to Hollywood to visit and research a brother-in-lasome soil samples for the company he was working for. While in the movie capital" Welling became acquainted with Bob Gray, then studio manager at MGM. MGMs HUGE BOULDERS, hauled IN THE rear, in the shade of AND, BELIEVE it or not, theres still enough room for two vegetable gardens, a puffy green lawn and a good size patio. The catch is the buffalo, mountain range and waterfalls, as well as all the other western memorabilia', 'are all cut to scale models of real places and real animals. in . in from four Western several towering pine trees, bighorn sheep and a buffalo. IT WAS self. around the outer surface. Another rock, when the shadows are just right, reveals the face of an old man, a funny hat atop his head. life-si- serveral waterfalls, a lake, forest, two elk, a moose, a Wellings expertise Its like rolling on a big mattress," he says. You go down there and fall down and itsimpossible to hurt your- one-thir- . AS IF gardening and modelisnt enough to keep him Oh, Teachers, Here Come Pre-Scho- ol FARMINGTON With school only a month from educators are reminded of some away starting, day meetings scheduled by the Davis School District. ALTHOUGH students wont report until Aug. 31, pre meetings start Aug. 24 with administrators and supervisors called to a session at the administration building in Farmington. The following day will see processing for new teachers while that same group will be involved in a workshop Aug. 26. The annual teachers convention involving the districts 1,700 instructors, will meet the 27th at 8:30 a.m. at Clearfield High School. Following that morning session, teachers will be invoved in faculty meetings and other preparations that will spill over into Friday, as well, Supt. Lawrence Welling says. ing busy, J.D. Welling prides himlawn a self on a carpet-lik- e green mecca for bare feet. Meets ADDITIONAL information will be available later. tb By TOM BUSSELBERG Parents Form To Help Solve School Problems MINI-MOOS- E BOUNTIFUL- - Concerns by some parents about discipline, student attitudes, lack of school books and a barrier between parents and teachers have led to the formation of Concerned Parents in Youth. THE BOUNTIFUL-BASEgroup, spearheaded by Bonnie Tibbitts and Murle Casler, has been formed, the two say, to give concerned parents a place to air concerns and hopefully receive answers d to questions. The groups first meeting was held last Wednesday with another slated tonight at the South Branch, Davis County Library at 6:30 p.m. School District Business Manager-Boar- d Clerk Roger Glines will speak on how school tax dollars are spent. school-relate- IN AN interview Monday morning, both stressed they want to work with the school board, and school officials on both a district and local level, to create a communications network where an interchange can take place so parents don't feel intimidated and can provide input. A lack of sufficient school books was raised as an issue, creating, they say, the need for students to waste class time completing assignments rather than at home or during study hours. And the quality of books in the schools was emphasized as a problem that could contribute to downgrading of patriotism, respect for authority and desire to learn and work. CITING THE books, Flowers in the Attic, Run, Shelley, Run and Snowbird, Mrs. Tibbitts Scale models of various wild animals are abundant in Mr. Wellings backyard. Welling became interested in miniatures while working as a landscape designer for MGM Studios in the 1940s. I realize many dont want censorship but I imagine any parent wanting these (books) in the schools. They were in ajunior high and dealt with incest and reproduction and were removed after a school board member, principal and librarian were alerted. she added. They quoted other books being used as texts in state schools, such as USA" that described several U.S. presidents negatively, and read from other books that could be interpreted as supporting certain behavior, such as, Jack be nimble. Jack be quick. Snap the blade, and give it a flick. Grab the purse, its easily done. Then just for kicks, just for fun, plundge the knife and cut, and run. taken from The Inner City Mother Goose" by Eve Merriam. said, cant TO WHAT length does this educate my child?" Mrs. Casler asked. These are readily available at bookstores in Salt Lake City. I object to the full negative-positiv- e range available--- I dont think our children are intelligent enough to make the choice when its not clearly defined. If the child could take the book home to preview with the parent, then they could draw proper attitudes. she continued, adding that although the law requires children be sent to school "weve lost control of what our children learn. THE POSITIV E must be taught with the negative but it should be presented so a child will recognize the difference and not read it all as fact, they said. They cited examples of many top" teachers leaving jobs primarily because they had to spend so much time trying to discipline in an atmosphere where other teachers would let students study most of the time or where a teacher would play the guitar, as an example. ATTITUDES STRESSED in books such as equal rights for children have gone to the point a child may insist he doesn't have to learn, as well, they said. Guidelines should be set down at the beginning of the school year so children know what is expected of them, the pair noted. IN BACK to School Nights," rather than merely allow the teacher to present an outline of plans for the year, parents should have a chance to give input on what they expect for their children, they said. Some members of the group would like to see a private school in the area although the pair stressed the group wants to work with the school board and others to create communications between parents and school officials in an effort to improve education. I HAVE yet to find one parent who is delighted with the education his child is receiving. At least it should be a majority who say they're pleased," Mrs. Tibbetts said. In addition to meetings, the group may be reached by mail by writing, "Concerned Parents in Youth," P.O. Box 326, Woods Cross, Ut 84081. MEETINGS ARE tentatively set for each Wednesday evening to discuss a wide range of educational problems and the possibility of a private school in the area with a group awaiting public input before acting, the two said, noting plans call for inviting other school district officials to participate in future sessions. |