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Show 2 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, July 21, 1988 Caution, Restraint Required To Prevent Fires a period over the July 4th fullest extent of the law. weekend, Sandy firefighters were called to Generally the law says that anything that responded to 56 fires - the bulk of them be- leaves the ground is illegal. Items such as bottle rockets, roman candles and firecracking fireworks related. One of the sad commentaries on that sta- ers are illegal. These types of fireworks can tistic is that quite a number of those inc- easily cause fires in the current extremely idents were apparently deliberately set. dry conditions. Within 48-ho- OUR READERS WRITE ur Firefighters and city officials throughout the valley are naturally concerned with the upcoming Pioneer Day holiday. Officials are asking the public for cooperation in spotting arsonists and not using illegal fireworks. They are also asking residents to use extreme caution with those fireworks which are allowed. Last week, the Murray Fire Dept, asked residents of that community to forego using any pyrotechnics this year. Citing the hot, dry weather and lack of moisture, Assistant Fire Chief C. Dean Larsen asked for public cooperation in not discharging fireworks at all within the city limits to mark the 24th of July. "Draper Is holding one of the largest public fireworks displays in the state, and this year would encourage parents to take their families there to celebrate Pioneer Day," he said. While Murray's request is not a fireworks ban, it underscores the volitile situation which faces the Salt Lake Valley this year. Legal fireworks may still be discharged, though their use is discouraged. Illegal fireworks, he said, would be dealt with to the I While discharging illegal any fireworks poses some risk, the deliberate use of fireworks to cause damage is of great concern to all valley fire officials. Arson may be the most expensive properStates. No one knows exactly how much damage it does, but the best estimate is at least $1 billion a year. Thats direct property damage only. When you add up indirect costs such as lost jobs, lost property tax revenue, lost profits, higher insurance premiums and tax money spent to investigate and prosecute arson cases, the total annual arson bill is between $10 billion and $15 billion annually. And more than 1,000 person die in deliberately set fires each year. The Green Sheet concurs with fire officials in asking residents to watch for those who deliberately start fires. Some people have been driving around throwing fireworks into dry areas. Anyone who sees anything of this nature can note the license plate number and car description and call either the local fire department or police to help us all have a happy, healthy Pioneer Day. ty crime in the United This Reporters Walked That Proverbial Mile After 20 years as a journalist, you begin to think you've seen just about everything and that nothing surprises you anymore. Sometimes you feel yourself becoming a bit jaded. You truly become an observer. Then all of a sudden something happens to remind you just how human you still are. Thats what happened to me last week when, instead of being on the observing end or reporting end of an armed robbery, I suddenly found myself on the other end a victim. I was rather surprised at some of my thoughts and feelings after countless times listening to others and, as I now understand, not really understanding what they went through. The old saying, "Dont judge a man until youve .valked a mile in his shoes," took on a whole new meaning. Now I really understand the countless victims Ive heard. Their confusion, their fear and everything else that happens afterwards. While a crime is in progress, time seems to stand still, when in reality everytliing really happens rather quickly. I understand now the jumpiness, caution and the frustration that occurs for days afterwards. And the fear and suspicion that seems to jump out at you unexpectedly, as the event, for no apparent reason, replays itself in your mind, sometimes at the most inopportune moments. The feelings that perhaps there was something else you should have done, or not have done that would have made it turn out differently or not have happened at all. I will also understand better the next time a police officer tries to explain his actions having been confronted by a suspect who decides to point a weapon or to take a shot. The moments of uncertainty about what my suspect was going to do where the most emotionally charged I think Ill ever go through, at least I hope so. I had taken a job to earn a few extra dollars to pay off some bills. Since the job is an early morning one, the last thing I ever thought would happen was a robbery. After all, most robberies are at night, or so I thought. As I was getting ready to leave, two black males came roaring through the side door. I looked up and instantaneously noticed the pantyhose mask on the part-tim- e firct one through the door. "Oh, oh," I thought, "somethings wrong with this picture." At the same instant the second guy, also wearing a mask, raised a sawed-of- f shotgun and leveled it at my midsection, ordering me down on the floor. Aiiiie 1 was down, the gun handler covered me while the other proceeded to ransack the cash register and any other container he thought might contain cash. After about 30 to 40 seconds they stepped over me and, again offering their unneeded advice not to even think of moving, left. I waited some 20 seconds, reached up and hit the silent alarm and waited another 10 seconds or so before getting to my feet. As an extra precaution to make sure help was coming pronto, 1 called 911. I can still clearly recall my thoughts while lying there with the one standing over me. "Man, these two are going to blow you away." It wasnt until the police were questioning me that the full impact of that thought hit me and I started shaking. I had to sit down, I told the officer. Another thought came to me while lying on the floor. "Youre a reporter dummy. Youve been trained to observe, so what are you observing?" The answer came right after that, even before the question was completed. Theres a difference between knowing youre looking for something on a story and when something blows up in your face like this. Yet another thought that entered my head during those 30 to 40 seconds was how undignified I felt. I was slightly angry at having my face and head digging into the condrete with a gun over me. Then, "What are you thinking of? Heres a guy that might blow you away any second and youre worried about, decorum?" As I said, it all really hit me while being questioned by the police, giving them descriptions and a narration. It was that gun that really made an impression on me. Ill never forget looking down the barrel. Ive walked in others shoes for a few minutes. Its a stroll I hope I wont ever have to take again. Ray Friess is a free lance journalist for the Green Sheet. Have We Been Subject To A National Hoax? According to my mailbag, weve all been exposed to a national hoax! Officials at Reynolds Aluminum kidney dialysis machine. The rumor has plagued both organizations for years and all efforts to track down its origin and stop it have proved unsuccessful. Time officials after time, Reynolds If it is aluminum, it can be recycled. During the Reynolds past Recycling 20 years,. has paid consumers over $900 million. That didnt hurt the nations economy one bit. Its also been a positive impact on saving of resources as well as doing a small bit to help the nations growing garbage problem. There are over 500 recycling centers, including 13 in Utah along the Wasatch Front. Groups and individuals turning in aluminum for the Keep Tabs say, public spirited have brought large volumes of pull tabs to their centers thinking they could be exchanged for dialysis time, only to be told that no such program exists. Now, however, with the new On Your Cans effort will be given campaign, such citizens can an itemized receipt for record become involved in just such an keeping and tax purposes and effort. Chuck Johnson, business Reynolds will forward the manager for Reynolds, says his donations to the Foundation firm is pleased to be providing a through local affiliates. positive program for those who The value varies, depending on want to help fight against kidney world aluminum conditions and disease. They will no longer be regional Used competition. turned away. beverage cans are worth more Not only that, the entire can than 40 cents a pound, on the will generate more money for the average, which totals about one cause than did the pull tabs. And cent per can. there are a wide variety of other Diseases of the and aluminum products that will be urinary tract afflictkidney more than accepted. 20 million Americans and are citizens Here above-mentione- Go d state-operate- d Pay The Price Commissioner David Watson was arrested, Dear Editor: I am no particular friend of Wayne Owens but fancy myself a dedicated friend of charged and found guilty of crimes that included cocaine, and wildlife, and must take objection to your recent possession of a controlled substance article on the CUP and remarks by the former driving under the influence of alcohol. State Senator Renstrom was arrested and charged with "forcible Govenor Matheson. sex with a hitchhiker. Two University of There are two very good reasons why the remarks have been ignored." When it comes to Utah football players were jailed and charged with wildlife issues he either doesnt know what he is selling cocaine and marijuana to undercover officers. talking about (or only adopts the ideas of most A BYU football ace was arrested and charged a farmers, ranchers, developers). He also has a very second time with forging prescriptions in order to poor record of wildlife support (wilderness yes, obtain illegal drugs. And the Channel 2 News commentator stated that a recent poll has shown wildlife, no). that 80 percent of Utah teens have' experimented A s Congress is no longer going to with drugs. throw money at western water projects and a growing outdoor constituency is now challenging In two years, within one mile of my home where I some old ideas. am surrounded by seven police officers and 98 Owens bill Rep. requires that revenues from percent LDS families, four brutal murders have public power facilities associated with the project taken place, two stabbings, 27 nine rapes. pay for fish and wildlife protection during and after High on the east side of town, robberies, things are even worse construction. And why not? Is wildlife on such a low with home burglaries being the worst in the countiy, priority that the only time the money gang thinks not to mention narcotics use and sales by teenagers about it is in the context of extinction? Sounds like (re. the East high and Highland high incidents.) It was, therefore, refreshing to read the letter of thinking to me! The former govenor states the proposal is "a jerry-buidraft." Given the rebuttal written by Amber L. Bodine, of Yuba City, to? span, of course, it is somewhat but Calif. murder capital of, 'America, if Matheson and his gang had done their homework because(theJuan Corona murdered more than 40 and done the right thing, a lot earlier, it wouldnt be transients and young girls continue to to necessary piece something now. disappear, only to be found murdered, by together persons Matheson also termed the proposal "an to unknown.) rewrite decades of federal water and powerattempt in LeMar policy Winegar, D.E. Wilson and John Lemon all the west." Well, its about time they rewrote this disagreed with my first letter. That is their right. thing. It is outdated and stale. In fact, it stinks. If However, throughout history people have denied the 10,000 people had a wrong idea decades ago-i- ts still truth, because it is the truth that hurts. a wrong idea. I am LDS through and through, directly descended Western water history is both fascinating and irom the original pioneer families and a number of complicated and were only discussing one of it members of the Twelve Apostles. And I do not fear here. But public power facilities (you know-t- hepart ones the truth. Too bad that such a fear is an affliction of who make the profit) should help offset the obvious the uninformed. impacts of draining, diverting, and damming Unita Basin streams. Wildlife Resources budget is Wm Ryan thin already and Utah cannot pick up the mighty $10-1millionyear it is going to cost to rewater the eleven streams that will be wholly or partially dewatered. Gone are the days of total disregard for The Green Sheet welcomes contributions environmental protections. We have to start from readers for either Letters to the Editor considering, and paying for, our debt to wildlife and or As I See It. Letters should be confined to its environs. a length of about 250 words and not contain Jack Roe libelous comments. They must be signed and must be received in our office no later than 10 a.m. Tuesday for publication that A week. Dear Editor: Longer correspondence may be used as We are very proud of our cement street along seventh west and especially our wide sidewalks, but As See It commentaries on a space availif you go walking everyday like I do you will find the able basis. Primaiy consideration will be givweeds along 700 west between 5900 and 6040 South en to those submitted by people with experso high and the weeds creeping over the sidewalks tise in the topic about which they write. A they take up half the sidewalk in places. Who is brief description of that expertise may acfor weeds? these If down responsible you walk the submission. company Bullion street the sidewalk is simply covered on both All submissions are sides and you have to walk in the street. subject to editing for space and clarity. They may be addressed Why spend money on sidewalks you cant walk on? to: The Green Sheet, P.O. Box 7187, MurVi McCleery ray, Ut. 84107. Murray ex-Co- deficit-consciou- wrong-heade- d lt jerry-buil- t, ride-hitchi- 5 Problem I long-standin- g, Its called "Keep Tabs On Your Cans" and is intended to kill the rumor and yet help save the lives of sick persons suffering from ! idney and urinary tract diseases. The public is being urged to turn in the entire aluminum container at Reynolds recycling centers as a contribution to the National Kidney Foundation.. Dear Editor: Editor: Each week when the Green Sheet is delivered I I read with interest a recent "letter to the editor" first hunt for "Lines from LaRee." in the Green Sheet entitled, "Utah is not so Great, Those few lines give much food for thought. There in your May 12 edition. It contained many misleading elements which can is indeed wisdom in "Lines from LaRee." Keep up the good work. only serve to prejudice the public against Utah and its many great qualities. The Green Sheet welcomes contributions from Lucile Simpson readers "with expertise in the topic about which Magna they write." Why, then, would your paper print a letter with such inaccuracies written by someone who obviously knows nothing of which he speaks? We This deeply disappoints me. Again As governor of the state of Utah, I am very proud of Utah and all it stands for. In my opinion our state Dear Editors: deserves better treatment. The controversy I stirred up with my letter (May Norman H. Bangerter 26, 1988) is both amazing and entertaining. I hope Governor you appreciate the opportunity it has given you to study the attitudes of those who read The Green Editors Note: Mr. Ryans letter was sent in Sheet. This includes John Lemon (who I suspect is response to our editors column proclaiming Utah a the obligatory illiterate who chooses to blame all his Pretty Great State. Wie do not restrict our letters to faults, and those of the world, on "California, drugs those we happen to agree with. The or a college professor.") Mr. Lemon obviously did not quotation concerning expertise refers to "As I See It," agree with my statistics any more than did LeMar a "guest editorial feature we offer. If the governor Winegar, of Midvale. read subsequent issues, he found people did many not agree with Mr. Ryan. Indeed a second letter Since my letter, some interesting events have written by Mr. Ryan was rejected because it taken place. A in my neighborhood committed contained potentially libelous material and some suicide, a womanboystabbed her husband, a husband language that raised concern among staff members. beat his wife and was jailed for the act, a horrible A third letter was received and appears today. It is murder took place in a video store, 27 businesses only on a rare occasion we would deny a reader his have been robbed, nine women and young girls have right to speak out, even when in our opinion he is been raped, 3.5 million dollars was di scovered stolen Wie misinformed. care very deeply about First by employees of the Timpanogos Mental Hospital, Amendment rights. Yours and ours. and subsequent investigation showed nearly 70 businesses had their percent of all finances tapped by dishonest employees. Weeds Recycling Co. and the National Kidney Foundation are banding together to kick off a joint campaign they hope will put to final rest a but false, rumor that pull tabs from beverage cans can be saved and redeemed for free time on a Likes Those Lines Utah Deserves Better -- ) H a major cause of death. MEALS.READXJOJAI Medicare covers about 80 percent of the cost of dialysis, regardless of age or financial status. The other 20 percent is usually paid by personal health insurance or state kidney programs. The National Kidney Foundation and its 50 affiliates and 200 chapters help fight these disease. Donations through the Keep Tabs On Your Cans program will help finance research, treatment, diagnosis and cure, says Deen Verrerli, director of Utahs NKF. Groups or individuals wanting to get involved in the recycling effort for Utahns can contact the Utah office in Provo, or the Reynolds center, and find out how to band together for even greater efficiency. Its certainly a worthwhile cause. Can you imagine how many soft drink and beer cans we could collect at the family reunion, the office or even around the house. Think about it. Wed be helping sick people and taking some of the pressure off the landfills. Just remember to leave those pull tabs attached. 972-592- a SATURDAY 72 HOUR ALL WIRE FOOD SUPPLY Meat Entrees Meals Ready To Eat Meat Entrees 3 Beans with Tomato 3 Applesauce 6 Fruit Bars 9 9 ONLY Reg. 85' 3 Brownies 1 : ALL MRE CASES Pkg. Survival Candy k 9 Complete Meals with Snacks $4250 Reg. 10.95 NOW Meatballs with BBQ Sauce $9s PROVO 3227 N. CANYON RD. 373-104- 7 Heg.M9.95 SANDY 8928 SOUTH 700 EAST 561-116- 8 39 Clzomoiww |