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Show UTAH PRESS ASSOC. 467 E. 300 SO. SALT LAKE, UT. 04111 Single Copy 25 c T J, Santa, Shoppers Usher In Christmas Season MURRAY. season made The Christmas its official debut in the Green Sheet area Friday. Merchants reported that if the weekend shopping trends are any indication, Utahs economy is on the rebound. Some shopkeepers suggested " that the weather cooperated in a big way. storms put shoppers in the mood for Christmas, one area mall manager said, calling Friday one of the most successful Christmas shopping days in recent memory. Fred Meyer, for example, was open Thanksgiving Day, while Shopko stores were the clock Friday open around ' in an through Monday to lure those attempt shoppers who prefer to avoid the crowds that packed virtually every business establishment during traditional shopping hours Friday and Saturday. Extended shopping hours will be in effect through Christmas - WEST VALLEY. Residents here fear that the combination of snow and next springs warm weather will create excess water that may eventually leak into basements. The city will prepare for that eventuality by participating in the National Flood Insurance Program through the federal government to help prevent problems due to flooding and ensure guidelines in construction and home maintenance. Tonight (Thursday) the City Council will vote on an ordinance enacting part of the city code which governs construction on land considered as flood plain areas. This agreement states that people buying land in flood plain areas will be notified of the hazards. flooding Developers must comply with the standards outlined in the ordinance to the and protect buildings surrounding areas from water Eve. Santa timed his arrival in West Valley Citys annual of Commerce Chamber Parade with the opening of Valley Fair Mall. Despite cold (but dry) weather, Santa was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic children and their parents. He arrived in Murray at Allied via Development helicopter and was greeted with the same excitement. Shopping malls throughout the area have made a place for the jolly old gent to greet children.- - Most of those include a photo franchise. The high school and college basketball seasons tipped off with the usual plusses and minuses for local squads. ' The weekend also braided ' the hoped for opening of the ski season. While snowfall was limited in the valley, the received ' a mountains amount of snow significant that will also help insure a healthier economy in Utah this year, and, of equal importance, a good start on replenishing water supplies that were severely depleted during the summer. While the weather created some travel hazards, especially a black ice situation Saturday night, most of the storms were of the nuisance variety and once over, highway crews were able to restore roadways to near Council To Tackle Flooding Concerns damage. The council CHILLY WELCOME ... Santa and Mrs. Claue (Joined this year by "Uttiefoot") were In the annual West Valley Santa Claus Parade Friday momlng (above), and with a bit of magic, St Nick al- - so rod a fire engine In the annual Magna parade a few hours later (bottom, left). Residents of both ar- g eas braved cold (bottom, right) to wel- come the holiday season. bone-chlllln- will also decide whether to sign an easement agreement with the North Jordan Irrigation Company slowing a walkway and bridge at about 3400 W. 3800 South. The agreement would make the for the city responsible construction and maintenance of the walkway. The city would also be liable for any damages, injuries or deaths, plus legal fees, in connection with the walkway. The council will also determine how much money and from what funds to donate to the construction of the State Veterans Park and Freedom to be built at Camp Williams. The state government set aside 23 acres of land for the veterans park and cemetery along with $289,000. Tonights agenda also includes selecting the underwriter for the West 'Ridge Golf Course in the Hercules Hill area and deciding whether the firemens retirement plan needs revision to give firemen back benefits they believe were lost during city cutbacks. The councilman appointment to the city council will also be announced. Memorial Memorial at-lar- Kearns Eyes Recreation , KID Balloting KEARNS. Registered voters in the Kearns area will have an opportunity Wednesday to vote fill a seat on the Community Recreation Board. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Two voting locations will operate including the Kearns Library for residents living east of the railroad tracks at about 4800 South and at the Kearns Improvement District Office for those who live west of the tracks. David Howick, current board for is chairman, running against three other candidates, Ralph E. Hoggan, Glenn T. Reeves and Owen A. Continued on page 4 Bruce Ackerman Will Manage Magna Theatre MAGNA. Bruce Ackerman is back. But this time he isnt in the character of the irascible J. n Golden Kimball in a show, he is acting as the new manager of Magnas Top Hat Theatre. Ackerman, producer of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," is equally talented on stage, but is currently lending his expertise to the local community theater group, bringing with him skills and techniques he has picked up working in films and doing a quanet musician-mothe- ' organized by his r. When he was a freshman in high school he was in the chorus of My Fair Lady , and he had "such a blast" that he discarded his plans to become a doctor and graduated in 1981 from Utah State University with a degree in theater arts. From there his career has taken some interesting turns. At Utah State a performer got sick just before a production of Our Town, and although it was unheard of for a freshman to be cast in a television commercials. Ackerman aprole, leading Although as a boy he planned to proached the director for an become a doctor, he admits to audition. Since he already knew always being an entertainer. His the part, he was handed the role first-rate first part was "playing a of George Gibson. Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz at He then toured with Ensign a New community Jersey went Continued on page 4 tour on in theatre." Then he one-ma- prime conditions. All in all, Utah residents, skiers and non, and the business community had much to be thankful for on the weekend traditionally devoted to the counting of blessings. Stewart: Magna Area Council Official Voice by Ray Friess Green Sheet Staff Writer SALT LAKE. As far as the County Commission is concerned, the issue of who represents the citizens of Magna is settled, and the officially recognized body will be the Magna Area Council, not the Magna Community Council. Mike Stewart Commissioner said this week that the County Commission has made a decision and has instructed the Planning and Zoning Department to accept and official as requests the from recommendations elected members of the Area Council and not the Community Council. the to Stewart, According County Commission would now like to see the two feuding bodies shake hands and find some way to work out their differences and try once again to get along with each other. Something the two entities have been unable to do for several years. The Area Council and the Community Council have been at each others throats ever since the Area Council was formed, arguing over which body has the "right" to represent the Magna citizens before the county on such issues as planning and zoning. The latest round of fighting flared up earlier this month when the Community Council fired off a ) letter to the Area Council demanding that the Area Council change its name or face a lawsuit because the Magna Area Council name was "deceptively similar" to the Community Council name which has been in use for around 60 years and is registered with the state. The Area Council has been using the similar, but different, name since its formation about two years ago without any threats and those who have watched the MCC, fighting between the two bodies are not offering any opinions on whether or not the Community Council action can, or should, be viewed as some sort of retaliation for the recent official recognition of the Area Council by the County Commission. to Stewart, the According County Commissioners decided to step in and make a decision on which council to recognize for planning and zoning purposes because the previous requirement Water Board Vote Set MAGNA. There will be two elections held here Wednesday. The Magna water and sewer Improvement District election is a legal election, the only one dentist; and Tom Bird, 50, a teacher. The .term of office is six years. The Magna Community Council election features eight people including Betty Panopolis, 37, who is a beautician, in District 55, a One; Nia Zabriskie, substitute teacher, in District Two; Michael Retford, 35, an architect, in District Three; Mary Chavez, 31, who works for Utah State Parks, in District Four; and Cecil Sellers, 51, who teaches at Salt Lake Community College, in District Five. seats The two members are being sought by Kay McDonough, 43, an assistant to a psychologist and a member of the on Commission Governors Women; Orlando Barber, 68, a Continued on page 4 residents here can participate in on a local level. Both the Magna Community Council and the Magna Area Council are volunteer organizations who act in an advisory capacity. The Community Council will elect Monday. The Area Council held its election on Nov. - 18. The Magna Water and Sewer District race involves one seat on the board of trustees and there are three candidates. They are Charles Paris, the incumbent, who has held the seat for the past 18 at-lar- Improvement years; Dr. C.D. dark, 72. a local 1 that developers meet with both bodies was causing too much confusion and time delay. "Often we ended up with conflicting recommendations and requests and it was time consuming as well," Stewart said. "In order to make life easier, we decided to instruct the planning staff to tell developers to meet with the Area Counril." Its not that the commission no longer wants or will accept input from the Community Council. Stewart said the commission will listen to input from both bodies, but official and requests recommendations will now have to come from the Area Council. While the Community Council has been in existence for about 60 years, the commission opted to go with the area council primarily because of its elected status, Stewart explained. Unofficial will be accepted from the input Community Council because it still represents a wide variety of people, including the Chamber of Commerce. ' "The Community Council is tied to the Chamber of Commerce," Stewart commented. "It represents everybody in the area," while the Area Council, as are other community councils with input on planning and zoning matters, is purely advisory to the County Commission. None of the Continued on page 4 HELPING HAND ... Top Hat Theatres new producermanager Bruce Ackerman Is shown here in character as J. Golden Kimball In the one-ma- n show, "J. Golden." |