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Show t t Corner Page 4 Life is ABC meant to be enjoyed not endured . -- I Author unknown 0 i i I : r.F J.! VOLUME 92 NO. 16 Thursday, July 20, 2000 Crime rate rises throughout city i i By DEBBI OLSON 1999 to 84 in 2000. Editor Residents will have an opportunity to say no to crime in fee community during the fourth annual Night Out Against Crime. The event will take place July 31 at Arbor Park beginning at 5 p.m. The night out will bring the community together with the sheriffs and fire departments to leant how to make the community a safer place to live and send a message to criminals feat crime is not going to be tolerated. Crime is on fee rise throughout Reports of vandalism increased from 297 in 1999 to 323 in 2000. While overall reports of domestic violence has dropped slightly in the city, there was in increase in reported rape and sexual crimes in the first half of fee year. A positive note on fee crime rate is the number of calls the sheriffs department received from residents reporting suspicious circumstances. That is a figure that we like to see high, Hendrix said. It means that there are people calling and reporting crimes, so that is good. Magna, according to statistics released from the Sheriffs According to Sheriff Aaron Kennard, the reduction of some Department this week. For the first six months of the new year, the number of crimes committed was higher than the crimes could be related to a variety of prevention programs being instituted by the department, especially those targeted toward fee youth in fee community. The first step of a long-tersolution in crime reduction is to educate and believe in our youth, Kennard said. We have many prevention programs for fee education of youth, including programs like drug and gang prevention. Sheriffs deputies are active participants in DARE and SAY programs at local schools and spend time talking with fee youth during recess and lunch periods to build up a good relationship with them. number of crimes for the same time period in 1999. Crime is higher in Magna than some of our smaller areas but less than in fee big cities said Mindy Hendrix of the Sheriffs Department Id say it is average to medium high for a city that size. The largest jump in crime were thefts and burglaries. In the first half of 2000 there were 342 thefts reported to the Sheriffs department, up by 71 from 1999, which has 271 in the same time period. Burglaries were up by 21 wife 1 16 reported in fee first half of the year. Auto thefts were up by 17 with .176 reported compared to 159 in 1999. Juvenile crime was down slightly in Magna with only 18 incidences reported on gang violence and 22 less juvenile related incidents than last year. Drug related crimes were down from 119 in m There is one uniformed officer assigned to the high school and junior high schools to help give a law enforcement presence to fee school and be a positive influence for teens, Hendrix said. We want to be friends with them, not just teachers, Kennard said. Our SAY deputies converse and build relationships with fee high school students. School district approves $385 million budget Corina, 9 months, and Daniel Blanchard, 2, look at books with there mother, Marisa, while librarian Linda Dial, above, reads to children. Alexis Callister and Austin Hurd participate during storytime. -- jections estimated at 70,738 By GARY R, BLODGETT Staff Writer Granite School District will spend more than $385 million during fee 2000-0- 1 school year but there will be no increase in taxes. The budget was adopted unanimously by the District Board of Education at its June 20th meeting following a hearing that drew no public comment. The new budget year begins July 1. - Maintenance and Operation Fund, which pays for the operation of the schools, will take fee lions share of fee budget, $304.8 million. This represents an increase of $14.8 million , or about 5.1 percent more than the 1999-200- 0 photos by Debbi Olson day-to-d- ay budget, according Mitch Library awards prizes during cosmic summer ; reading program. , By DEBBI OLSON .Editor Young readers are taking a cosmic journey through the solar sys- tem this summer through the Magna Library summer reading program. Cosmic Connections will take readers to five stopping points, along the way as they journey through the galaxy. But, instead of rocket ships, readers reach their destination by reading books. For every two hours of read-- 1 ing, a reader will receive a small prize, said Librarian Jerilyn Names. - The program helps encourage some kids to read that wouldnt have read as much ing the summer and for those who do read, its an extra something for them." To complete the voyage, 10 , i COP st. 1 mm hours of reading is required. Readers are given a star chart that is stamped when they reach each checkpoint. A super prize will be awarded to readers who finish the journey by Aug. 12. According to Names, more than 500 readers have registered for the summer reading program. We have younger children in the program who receive awards when they are read to by their parents or an elder brother or sister, names said. No one is too young to read. Reader up to sixth grade can receive such gifts as pencil top. pers, tattoo stickers and a free book. Young Adult readers in grades 7-- have an opportunity to enter a contest for a new CD player. When the young adult readers fill out a registration form they are entered into the drawing, Names said. For every two hours of read- ing they do they have another chance to win Other alien prizes, including key chains and water bottles will be given to young adult readers as time increthey complete two-homents of reading. When other kids see someone receiving a prize it encourages them to want to read and get prizes too, Names said. Hopefully the program will be the key to helping someone learn to love to read. Star readers that complete their reading mission will be invited to a party at fee library on Aug. 26 from p.m. at Centennial Park, 5405 West 3100 South. ur 12-2:- their favorite space alien for the morning reading activities. Additional reading activities are scheduled on Wednesdays at 10:30 Robinson, district budget director. Ninety percent of fee budget will go toward teacher and school personnel salaries and benefits. The district is anticipating fewer with pro students, in 2000-200- 1 a.m. Reading activities can be enhanced through the librarys Cosmic Connections website at www.slco.lib.ut.uscosmic.htm The website offers a Take Me to Your Reader contest, coloring and activity pages, book lists and links to space sites. The library has 10 computers with internet access for library-user- s. Caution urged for fireworks use Pioneer Day will bring more enjoyment and fewer accidents this year if consumers take safety precautions when handling fireworks. to the U.S. According Consumer Product Safety Commission and fee Utah licensed fireworks industry, most injuries associated with fireworks are Star Readers have been participating in entertaining and educational reading and storytime events at the Magna branch cf the Salt Lake County Library system since the beginning of the summer, including a magic and juggling clown show. A space hop will be held at the library on Aug. 9 a; 10:30 a.m. Readers are invited to dress up as stu- dents, compared to 78,819 during its peak year in 1993. For the ninth year, there will be a 5.5 percent increase, or about $105 per student, from fee Weighted Pupil Unit from the state. The district will spend about $55.5 million in capital outlay funds, including $3 million for technology and $2 million above the state allotment for textbooks. These expenditures are partially covered by a 1999 property tax increase. Some of fee capital outlay for new construction and remodeling will include remodeling Granite Park and Central facilities to receive additional student populations; enclosing open classrooms at James E. Moss Elementary; beginning construction of a new alternative high school and funding the second year costs for a new junior high school. The computers are very popular, especially during the summer and after school, Names said,. Computers can be used for up to 30 minutes and can be renewed for an additional 30 minutes if the computer room is not busy. The Magna Library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Friday and Saturday fiom 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Details: 944-754- 7. caused by misuse. , The CPSC advises residents to purchase only legal fireworks feat have been approved by fee U.S. Department of Transportation, fee U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and which are sold at licensed stands or retail outlets in Utah .and are legal for use in the state. To help make Pioneer Day the safest on record, fee licensed Utah fireworks industry offered fee following safety rules for people celebrating wife fireworks this year: Buy fireworks in Utah from licensed fireworks stands or retail outlets Select only safe and sane fireworks that are legal for use in Utah Always read directions carefully and follow them Never experiment with fireworks Ignite outdoors away from buildings Never malfunctioning fireworks Light one at a time Keep a safe distance away Never give fireworks to small children te |