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Show 'i a TFll3 dcolGDcd A" r 0 gde?3 asaDDtmSucnS m During all the local, state and national elections coming up, you are going to hear numerous opinions bout who is going to win. Most of these will be backed up by political V A polls. Americans have a fascination with polls that leads to their use In advertising, sports and politics. But how do you know whose polls or sur- t veys to believe? What do you make of the "Pepsi "four out of five denchallenge, tists recommend a: or "our early voting returns predict....? This simple check list will help you evaluate opinion polls or market research on nearly any topic. 1. Source: The Gallup and Harris polls are probably two of the best known. Their business Is doing piblic opinion research and they favor no particular side of an argument. This Is quite different from companies that do research on their own products, which are likely to have built-i- n bias. 2. Margin of Error: No polling method is perfect, but the pollsters should tell you exactly how Imperfect their poll Is. Most professional research has a five percent margin of error. That Is, If the survey says 45 percent of the people prefer Fords and 40 percent prefer Chevys, the actual opinions of the people could be 40 to 50 percent for Fords and 35 to 45 percent for Chevys. This means that people might actually prefer Chevys over Fords. An ac- - HERE'S City Connell .. By Dennis Hlnkamp Consumer Information Services Utah State University curate statement about this survey would be It Is too close to call. 3. Timing: Opinions, especially political opinions, change rapidly. It Is Important to know how recently the poll was taken to determine how accurate it is. 4. Sample Size: You should ask "How many people were questioned or products tested? In general, the larger the sample size, the more accurate the results. If the number Is too small, the margin of error will by talking to your child about the problems that he or she may be having. Parents who believe that their children are abusing drug; should be straightforward in their approach to the problem. They should tell their children that they are concerned, and they should tell them why. They should point out, in no uncertain terms, that taking drugs is dumb and dangerous, that can be very harmful to the mental and social it childs physical, U S Servers o' Health and Hunan Department Health Serve Pub well-bein- Parents, Kids and Drugs Drug use by young people m our society is a serious problem. According to government surveys, roughly of all young Americans try an illicit drug before they finish high school. At least one in every 18 high school seniors smokes manjuana daily. Even though there have been declines in the use of some drugs, American youngsters still have a higher level of drug use than teenagers in any other intwo-thir- dustrialized nation. Experts cite a number of reasons for the decline in the use of some illicit drugs by young people. They point, for instance, to the health risks that accompany drug abuse. Young people are beginning to understand those risks and to reject drug use and users within their peer groups. Another positive factor is the growing and significant level of parental awareness and intervention. Parents have begun to realize how important a role they can play in preventing drug use among their children. They are asking questions They want to know, How can 1 tell if my child is abusing drugs or alcohol? They ask, What can we do? Parents have to be aware of the early, possible signs of drug abuse, while realizing that some signs may only reflect a normal teenagers efforts lo grow up. With that caution in mind, some warning signals of drug use are-Aabrupt change in mood or attitude A sudden decline in attendance or If you learn that your child is using drugs, I recommend that you tell him or her that you are opposed to drug use and that you intend to enforce that position. To help your child avoid drugs, you need to know something about drugs, yourself. That doesnt mean you have to become a drug expert, but it does mean you should have enough facts to support your views. As early as the fourth grade, your children may have some knowledge of the drug scene. Much of what they learn will be inaccurate, and most of it will tend to glamorize drugs. Thats why its important that you be prepared to set the record straight. Most of all, parents need to give their children support and help them find ways to say no to drug use. Strong family support and relationships with children that are based on trust, mutual respect and caring help children develop the personal values and they need to resist peer pressure to use drugs. Parents should recognize, too, that they set models for their children with their own use of alcohol, cigarettes and prescription drugs One of the most proven and potent ways a parent can help is by forming a parent peer group with the parents of their childrens friends Parents working together can help each other. They can set rules for their childrens behavior, make the rules clearly known and be consistent in enforcing them. One of the mam reasons kids take drugs is pressure from peers When parents performance at school Trouble getting along with family join together and take a united stand or friends against drug abuse, they are much more effective than they are when they Ignoring the curfew. flare-upact s of Unusual separately. Around the country, temper Increased borrowing of money. parents are discovering the effectiveGreater secrecy about actions and ness of united action. They are learning that if they work together, and if they possessions make the necessary commitment of A new group of friends, especially time and energy, they can have a tredrug users son or mendous impact on drug abuse. Its rarely easy to tell if your with involved Dont wait until your children are inis becoming daughter volved a in drugs to sit down and talk can or but get you alcohol, drugs pretty good idea by observing your with them about this most important child for a period of time, by getting to issue. Do it now and do it in concert know who their other friends are and with other parents. I PwbittWd V A ( IM 4751 POSTMASTf Hi Send address ctunrjes Box J6H, HiJford, Utah P.0. , SUBSCRIPTION RATES IN UTAH ELSEWHERE to Beaver County Telephone: News IN ADVANCE 110.00 PER YEAR 115,00 PER YEAR COPY DEADLINES UOT -- II 0 Milford f ntered M second rises Matter weekly in the Milford Poet Office. UWA-- MONDAY NOON r Mr VolUm tali r n tb'v tin M Via wmt ataa all aaltaaa fervtrtf ow Ml vorttlaf 4v IHwfey mm, N.E. EDI TOP AND PJELI L1IEP "RED MU a 'UuL.da WILSON , "111 CORRESPONDENTS BEA7LP riLFORD IN NOTION ... 387-26- 72 386-22- PAROWAfl A SAN RUST! CO VALLEY 387-261- 6 SNAKE VALLEY ADAfTSVILLEGREENVILLE BEAVER SP0PTS , - V NEWS PIIKERSVILLE xl r e t HEWS . 61 .. .. .. .. MADELINE DAVIS WILMA DAVIS LIZ ZALESKI BARBARA AYLR ROBERTA COKDE BESSIE EDWARDS PLL OSBORN Uattad ftiiw af kmtri aWiiie feeeebh tee flic f aU m mr cm. eefiete, naanf mo new hm MOKE ABOUT ff? wanowai joined the beautification effort this summer In an effort to make a real drive next year and the following to beautify and make Milford as attractive as possible. Photo byMargie The Lady Engineers volunteered their time to paint and touch up the artifacts and monument in the Historical Park Most organizations and many last Thursday. individuals JUST A TOUCH UP! be too large to make the results meaningful. A reputable re5. Wording; search report will tell you how A the questions were worded. biased question might read: "Are you going to vote for Walter Mon -dale or against the future of the A good survey United States? not should give you any questions clues about which side the pollster favors. Who are 6. Representiveness: the people being questioned. Reader -ship surveys done by Cosmopolitan magazine or Reader's Digest may make Interesting reading, but they reflect only the views of people who read those magazines. For Instance, If a magazine's poll says 80 percent of Its readers are anti -- big business, that does not mean that 80 percent of the United States Is anti-bl- g business. In most cases, only people who have strong opinions and buy those magazines respond to the surveys. Similarly, the "man In the street Interview is Inaccurate. People who happen to be walking down the street In Salt Lake City do not necessarily represent te views of farmers In southern Utah. Whenever you read an advertisement or article that begins with "studies Indicate or "research shows. you should look for some of the Items mentioned In this checklist. Reputable researchers should be glad to tell you how their survey was conducted. President's form credit plan could help locally President Reagans farm credit initiatives are designed to help farmers in the cost price squeeze who are experiencing severe financial -- stress and cess who show promise of sucwith an extra economic boost, FmHA County Supervisor JohnMor-ga- n said today. Annual reviews of FmHA farm loans will soon begin, Morgan said. A major priority of the reviews will be to determine which farmers In Beaver County will qualify for a rescheduling of part of their loans for to five years. Under the Presidents plan, the Farmers Home Administration will; Reschedule up to 25 percent of a qualifying farmers FmHA loan, to a maximum of 100,000 for as long as five years with no Interest payments. Guarantee a non -- FmHA borrowers farm loan If the lender Is willing to write off a minimum of 10 percent of the loan, up to the amount necessary to achieve a positive cash flow for the borrower. Borrowers under this plan must meet the general eligibility requirements for FmHAs farm operating and farm ownership loans. As another part of the Presidents initiative, FmHA will contract with local farm financial and management experts to help prepare and analyze credit statements and loan applications as part of an effort to speed loan processing. Rescheduling FmHA loans and guarantees of other lenders loans should be accomplished well In time for next springs planting season according to County Supervisor John Morgan. nationwide hunting service Rapid response for NRA members seeing information is the objective of the new computerized NRA Hunter Information Service. Members having used the service of any guide, outfitter, or taxidermist In North America since January 1, 1982, should write to NRAs Hunter Service Division, 1600 Rhode Islnad Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 with the fol- - Discussion ensued with Mayor Pettey and Raines Insisting that esspecific guidelines and dates be tablished, so that the project Is completed next year. They authorized partial payment from city funds to A & F Electric for the payment lost In bureaucratic red tape. Raines reported on the street project, stating that money was left fbr another rick of mulch, but It would not be mixed until spring In order to get a good job without weather problems. There Is enough left to finish the job on 200 West. He also discussed lawn mowers, and said that several companies should be In Milford to demonstrate their product this week. He recommended that one mower te purchased and the John Deere be repaired. They discussed UP&Ls dedication ceremony for the geothermal plant at Roosevelt Springs on Wednesday, October 24 in the high school gymnasium. They discussed hiring one person to clean city office, library and judges office. Councllwoman Lister said the TV committee felt most problems with TV reception were of an Individual nature, and that the Committee wants to hire a man and purchase a field strength meter to check those problem spots. No immediate effort would be made to replace the equipment on TV hill, and that which Is of no use to the city should be sold. Raines reported on Utah League conference and suggested that the city consider purchasing radios for communication with city crew, fire department and EMTs. He said that the pool walls were pulling away and that extensive re -pairs would be needed next spring. Signing of the new parking lot will limit it to police and city busi- ness. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. |