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Show 2 The Magna TimesWest Valley News, Thursday, March 16, 2000 they still sing God Bless America? Will West Valley Citys By DANIEL S. WHEELER By Chief ji Alan Kerstein ! Chief Alan Kerstein On Sunday, April 2, 2000, the West Valley City Police Department will begin its new Basic Car Plan, a deployment modification plan that divides the city into six geographic patrol areas of equal size and workload. The combination of the Basic Car Plan, and our new program of Village Policing, will bring the Department much closer with the community we serve, and create a partnership that will enable the police to work with the community members to identify police-relate- d problems and develop meaningful, and resolutions to them. long-lastin- g, Basic Car Plan The major benefit of the Basic Car Plan is the assignment of the patrol force to specific geographic portions of the city, or Basic Car Areas. An officer can normally expect to be assigned to hisher Basic Car Area for a minimum of eighteen months, and shift rotations will occur within that Basic Car. The Community Oriented Police Officer (COP) will become the lead officer in coordinating the activities of the cars officers and the neighborhoods they serve. It will also become incumbent upon each officer assigned to a Basic Car to handle all the radio calls broadcast within hisher area; to identify the problems within the area; to leam the community members who reside there; to develop problem-solvin- strategies to g resolve the identified concerns; to develop a knowledge of the criminal element that may live, or frequent, the area; and to ensure that hcshe is available to contact community members who request service during the individual shifts. Each Basic Car Area officer will be evaluated according to the crime reduction in hisher area; the reduction of serious and fatal traffic injury collisions, and the MAGNA TIMES USPS 325-58- 0 Second class postage paid at Magna, Utah 84044 8980 West 2700 South Magna, Utah 84044 J. HOWARD STAHLE Publisher BONNIE STAHLE Advertising Manager Office Manager DANNY JOHNSON Lead Computer Technician KEITH LOBDELL Newt and Lay-o- t Editor GARY R. BLODGETT Editor ALAN BLAIN Staff Writer KENT GOBLE Sports Writer H. RACHELLE GRAHAM AS3T. Editor DALE SIMONS Sports Columnist S. DEAN LEDBETTER Staff Writer Copyright Magna TlmeaWeat Valley Newt . Ail rights reserved. Reproduction, reuse, or transmittal of all matter herein la prohibited without prior written permission by he publisher or editor. The Magna Times and West Valley Newt are published each Thursday Subscription SIS per year $21 per year out of slate Postmaster; Send change of addraea to; Magna Times 8980 W. 7700 So. Magna, UT 84044 (801)250-888- or FAX (801) 8 280-868- 8 Tha Magna Thnta Is a bontfhd nampapar Mar, iter of tha Utah Praaa Aaao&ation ' ATT Ths enforcement of all traffic regulad tions; the reduction of time to crime; response high priority radio calls; and the quality of service provided to the members of the community. The COP will also coordinate a quarterly block party or Town Hall meeting in which all the Basic Car Areas residents will be invitgang-relate- ed, along with every officer assigned to the car. Crime prevention techniques and strategies can be discussed; crime patterns, including crime maps, will be reviewed and distributed to citizens; and community feedback and suggestions will be discussed to ensure a cooperative environment between the police and the customers they serve. The agenda and format of the quarterly meeting should be a mutual decision of the COP, the officers assigned to the car, and the community members they serve. Often I am asked by reporters, What harm docs it do to bum a flag? This question usually comes from young men and women, most of whom arent veterans, and I frequently sense that they really do not understand why this issue is important. Recently I was asked this question: Tommy Lasorda told the story of a flag burning during a Dodger game in 1976 where Rick Monday ran out on the field and tore the flag stood and sang God Bless America. Doesnt that prove that we dont need the flag protection amendment? When I heard the. question, I was reminded of what Gen. Patrick H. Brady, Medal of Honor recipient, said. He pointed out that nobody can change your mind or my mind about protecting our flag. Its the children of America that we have to think about What happens when they lose, or are no longer taught, respect for our flag? What will moral fiber has become so desensitized - our patriotism has been so eroded - that ordinary citizens arent willing to stand and fight for the United States? Brady reflects on those thousands of men and women singing God Bless America in Dodger Stadium. Why were they doing it? Well, obviously they did it because they loved their flag. But why do they love their flag, and why do they love their coun- try? Its not something you are bom with, this patriotism and love of our flag. Its something you learn from your parents, your teachers, your Sunday School teachers, your drill instructors, your life experiences. Throughout the lives of those who rose to their feet, we had laws protecting Old Glory. Throughout their lives, theyd been taught that America was a good nation, in fact, the greatest nation on earth. Many probably risked their lives in her defense. They understood that the tree of Liberty is watered with the blood of patriots. Thats why they stood and sang. But what of this generation, and of the next? What are they being taught about love of country? What are they being taught about the greatness of America? How many of them will start each school day pledging their allegiance to our flag, as most of us did? How many of them will leam the proper way to respect her, and what she means and why patriotism if important? And what of those who grow up learning that the flag is just one symbol among many, just one point of view, not deserving of any special recognition, dignity or Lobster Tank 1 , respect? How will they reconcile the idea that we prove our love for our nations flag by allowing those who hate America to desecrate it without penalty? Twenty years from now, when another Rick Monday snatches a flag, or urinating on it, or defecating on it, or trampling under his feet, will not harm Old Glory. But its not true that no harm is done. The harm is done if the American people fail to respond to such vile and hurtful conduct. The harm is done only if, by our apathy, we condone the defiling of the banner that has draped the caskets of our American heroes. Edmund Burke once said: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Failure to protect our flag by law is not a celebration of liberty; it is the celebration of evil, A great nation cannot preserve its greatness by turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to that which is wrong, to that which is immoral and evil. What harm does it do to bum a flag? Over time it destroys the very fabric of our nation. It undermines the goodness that makes us great; and it ensures that future generations will not stand and spontaneously sing God Bless America because they will not know that once- God did. -- Supervisory responsibility Supervisors will be responsible for a specific number of basic Car Areas, and each supervisor will be responsible for meeting with the COP officers to help coordinate g problem-solvinstrategies and to assist the officers within the supervisors assigned cars in achieving the goals of the Basic Car and the Department Each, supervisor will be. held strictly accountable for the success of the officers in identifying and solving problems, and for the officers overall performance and conduct Supervisors should ensure that the Basic Car officers have sufficient time during their shifts to work on specific problems, and should meet regularly with their officers to properly guide their efforts. Watch Commanders Responsibility lies. Those who participated in the rally wore dark funeral attire and had a candle light vigil on the steps Governor Mike Leavitt plans to of the capital building. sign two adoption bills that were There was a presentation inside the House and recently passed by die capital where many activists Senate. HB 103 and SB 63 state that couples are not - spoke or represented musical tal-- 'f fit to, and should not have the Among those iri attendance were to whether Stephan Clark from the rights parent children, in foster care or adoption. This American Civil Liberties Union, legislation will take away their Stephen Epperson from the Unitarian Universalist Church; and ability to provide healthcare and our communities youngest activist, other benefits for our children. r. These bills will not only affect MacKenlie I not Governor want Leavitt bills these dp couples, will take away the rights of all to sign these bills, I have two mothers who love and care for me families to choose who will care for their children should something deeply. This constitution says them. to should have the same everybody happen Activists met at the Capital on rights despite who they chose to love, said Monday, March 6, from 6:30 am to 8:30 am to plea one last time to the This bill will likely cost the Governor not to sign these bills. state millions of dollars in child The activity was called a care and lawsuits. Untraditional families spoke mourning or funeral for Utah fami Jensen-Wysinge- al Jensen-Wysing- Watch Commanders will be responsible for the activities of all the Basic Cars and the efforts of the supervisors Activists rally over adoption laws By H. RACHELLE GRAHAM er. about how much they love their kids and that they are just as good as parents or better than traditional families in Utah and how they wouldnt take such a pleasure away from anyone. 0 j Look around the room, said Robert Austin; an adoptive father who spoke to the crowd. The legislature is afraid of this? Then I thought, of course their afraid. These people are smart, they can think for themselves and they can vote. They better be afraid. One activist said, This bill is really about discrimination. Another sign read, Bigotry is not a family value. Activist also sang :Amazing Grace, and We Shall Overcome. Many expressed love, not anger, towards the legislature. Hope filled the air and determination to one day succeed in granting rights for all people. and officers assigned to the entire watch. Each watch Commander shall be required to articulate the problems within each Basic Car Area and what actions that have taken to assist their supervisors and officers in successfully resolving those problems and addressing the pertinent issues. The efforts of watch Commanders in providing the field supervisors with support and assistance, and the direction of the individual officers on the watch will be the main component of the Watch Commanders performance evaluation report. Watch Commanders will also be responsible for attending periodic neighborhood watch meetings, providing guidance for the quarterly neighborhood meeting, and for attending Departmentwide crime control meetings. In addition, each Watch Commander should ensure that the input from the detective section is provided to the field officers for maximum crime preventiondeterrence. The race to the bottom By BILL HILSTEAD I must disclose that I have three whole shares of Wal-Ma- rt stock which I purchased all to late. Some $1,000 invested in the nations largest merchandiser when it went public in the 1970s would be worth something like $2.7 million today. Maybe if I had done that, I would feel the way I do. I do not like everything I see today at and some other big store chains. And I would not burden you with my personal bias against the cheaper is better mentality in merchandising today except that I was at a retirees club meeting last week and was the topic of discussion. But this is not ONLY about one name brand. The low wage, few benefits concept is moving throughout our economy. Upstart firms often can only offer lower prices to lure cus Wal-Ma- Wal-Ma- rt rt tomers from existing firms. And the lower prices are often arrived at by stiffing the help and suppliers. Or by buying from foreign sweat shops and bypassing your customers employers. Two family friends are men who made careers working for Sears. Sears has fallen on harder times, partly due to the new, low The problem is, the price leaders. "low price leaders often hire part-tim- e help at low wages and pay few if any fringe benefits, such as health insurance. At old name retailers such as Wards, Penneys and Sears, a person could easily make a career there and look forward to retirement. For an increasing number of low end workers, thats getting to be nearly impossible. A woman came into my business, saying she was just hired as an assistant department manag- er at part-tim- e, Wal-Mar- She was hired at $6.00 something an t. Questions? Opinions'? Write a letter to the editor! . ' letters to: . " EDITOR, TIVE5 A WEST VALLEY HEATS, CCC3 Vizzl 2TC3 South, Ue gno, UT Ct044 ' hour. Wonder if shell ever be able to buy a new car and help Detroit out Theres a pizza chain which is doing the same thing, eating into the business of older pizza firms. The idea is to operate on the cheap, cutting overhead at any opportunity. This new pizza chain, in my opinion, has cut down on the cheese, operates out of converted gas stations and wears out the cars of its drivers for whom it pays as little as it can get by with. I grew up with a Midwestern City, a baby boomer where good, union wages were had by about anyone who wanted to apply Tuesdays and Thursdays. It seems when labor and fanners did well, the merchants and everyone else hared. And I still believe that. What goes around comes around, good and bad. Henry Ford believed it to: pay people well and they can afford to trade with your. We now have a boom in businesses that want to do business with you over the phone lines...no local office, no neighbors or fellow church-goer- s as employees, no local taxes, no local donations, no local anything. A dot But it may be cheaper. At some point," the game of musical chairs stops. It seems today so much is decided on price...not On loyalty, not on dedication, not on longevity. Just cm who will sell it the cheapest or do it the cheapest. And we have a lot of junk and poor workers out there. Cheapest is not always bestesL ; , : J By Keith - $ Junior Jazz Lessons, nrt 2 It came up toward the end of the season, when does a coach step over the line? When has he or she offigone to far with the players, is that Trust me, referees? or cials, a hard question to answer. To start, a coach is the representative of not only the team that he coaches, but all those who support that team. Fans and others in attendance will take their cues from the coach. If the game is a game and the coach in his is calm and the for crowd the will, approach, most part, stay relatively calm. As roudy as they- are at Duke University, you have never seen anyone in the student section get arrested for roudiness, thanks to coach Ks demeanor (Im not even going to try and spell his name). Meanwhile, when a coach is and out of conwild, trol, the fans will take that cue also. There should be no fans getting run from a Junior Jazz game, or a high school game, for that matter, but I saw that happen in both programs recently. I have already talked about the latter, so the former would be at the end of the hard-contest- - Olympus and Pleasant Grove game, where a blown call late lead to bedlam. Yes, the coaches had the right to be angry that the ref had started the clock, but while one Oly coach was having a seizure while trying to go after a ref, a Oly fan came onto the court and went for the officials. Once captured, he left the stadium to cheers. CHEERS! If I had any respect for Oly fans (which was already fading during the game with the way-the- y treated the Pleasant Grqvefans), g gone e now. To answer the question that was prevalent during the final two weeks of Junior Jazz, J have an opinion for each league from top to bottom. NBA: Thinking your above the game. NCAA: See Bobby Knight ilie-.,- ! ", poorest example, of sportsmanship, coach-play- er I relations, conduct . with referees, and overall any coaching ethic you can find.. High School: Ragging on your basketball players and team on the front pages of the sports section' pf the Trib. Maybe their not the ones that have no commitment? Junior High: Not playing the whole roster, playing to kill. your,, opponent. You never know when that nothing scrawny kid that you never let play will grow up , to a 68 almost reserve on Syracuse Universities team. ,' If only he had been coached early. Junior Jazz: Not caring, and not displaying sportsmanship.. Show all of your kids that you care for them and respect them. Maybe then they will respect you and their teammates. Never get thrown out of a game when the back of your shirt has Its only a game, plastered all over it. Please, remember tht-Thi- s is jiot the NCAAs, the NBA Finals, even the high school states. , Refs are human, coaches make mistakes, and Ill be the . . ' ot Those of you out there that laughed at a player on my team . trying to score his only basket of the season, SHAME ON YOU!! I hope they never let you into another game again. You should go back under your rock and stay there. Your a poor excuse for a person and a basketball supporter, and if you were a parent, I hope you dont do that to your own kids.first to admit that Ive gone too far ' many a time. r, To conclude this let me leave a personal farewell to my - two-parte- seventh grade team of bailers. Who cares. You played your guts out. You left it on the court. Records . lean nothing. You are all winners in my mind and in the minds of the few parents who would come out to support you. Thanks to those who showed, I really appreciate your help over the season. Good luck in the future and Ill sec you around someday. Thank you for, your effort, sacrifices, and most of all, being my friend as 1 hope I was yours. ' . - |