Show Serving Utah's Great Pahvant Valley USPS Millard High 349 - 520 Vol 92 No 1 July 11 2002 principal's release not official By Ron Draper one of the many bikers promoting the Topaz Pilgramage in the Delta 4th of July parade Topaz Pilgrimage promises full day of events in the park To commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the opening of the Topaz Internment Camp Delta residents and the Topaz Museum Board w ill host a T opaz Pilgrimage on August 0 in the Delta City Park The new monument erected to replace the one vandalized last year will also be dedicated The day w ill begin at 7 a m w ith a bike ride to the site leisurely from the Delta City Park Those who would rather drive are free to do so Once at the camp tour guides w ill point out the remains of the blocks and give a brief history of the camp Water and shade will be provided The tours will continue until 4 pm Back in town people ready will be able to participate in a variety of activities: games and cratts for the children including marbles origami folding videos and displays for the adults Guides w ill also show people buildings that were at the camp but were brought into town after the war and used as residences At noon will be a short program troducing former internees Local residents will tell stories of their parents and grandparents and their involvement w ith the camp The theme of the day “Ties that bind" points out the importance of remembering the ev ent for both fomier and those from Millard internees county Internees and Deltans lues were changed by the camp "We hope that w e w ill has e a number of former internees and local people who worked at the camp tend because we want to honor them during the program!’ said Jane one of the hosts for the day Community members w ill be designated hosts in the park and will answer questions and welcome guests to tow n Anyone interested in becoming a host please call Susan Stefanoff at Beckwith The Japanese American Citizen League w ill dedicate their new monument at the site at 4 p m JohnTateishi director the JACL executive will speak Tours of the site w ill continue until the dedication In the evening everyone is invited to hear big band music and dance in the park T opaz opened on Sept 2 942 and housed as many as 1000 Japanese who after Pearl Harbor were moved from the San Francisco Bay area to the Tanforan Race track and then to Topaz which became the fourth largest city in Utah at the time Delta’s population then was 1500 Over 800 people worked at camp or helped construct it The camp closed on Oct 3 1945 For more information Stefanoff at Beckw ith at call Susan or Jane Fire fighting plane crashes near Fillmore By Kathy Walker and Knox Huntsman A small single engine aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from the Fillmore Airport Sunday July 7 at 6:53 pm leaving the pilot with minor injuries The plane is contracted by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to fight w ildland fires and w as en route to a brush fire about seven miles south of Scipio along State Road 50 said Deputy Nathan Tingey Investigating Officer Pilot Calvin Stratton told police he experienced a loss in power and lift soon after takeoff He flew the plane to an area south of Fillmore and at tempted to release the load of fire tardant As he reached for the lever to release the load the aircraft dipped to the right and the right wing struck the ground causing the plane to turn and impact the ground Witnesses said after the plane came to a stop the pilot was seen exiting the aircraft and appeared not to be injured Fire and medical personnel w ere dispatched to the scene and as a precaution the pilot was taken to the Fillmore Community Medical Center Stratton was released from the hospital w ith minor scrapes and bruises Tingey said a complete investiga tion was conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Millard County Sheriff s Office Vahl Buchanan FAA investigator said in excess of 100 high temperatures degrees may have contributed to the plane losing the pow er and lift to maintain a safe altitude Aircraft wreckage was removed Tuesday by Spanish Fork Flying Service The company has a contract with the insurance company to remove wrecked aircraft Allen Woodhouse Spanish Fork Flying Serv ice ow ner said the plane is valued at about $50000 w ith special equipment Millard County answers call in Smart search By Kathy H alker Searching Millard County’s 6818 square miles may help w ith the investigation of the Elizabeth Smart case but requires assistance from residents and visitors to the area Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City home June 5 and officials have requested help from the Millard County ShenfT s Office to search the county said Janet Lindquist MCSO search coordinator “We are asking that anyone going camping horseback riding or participating in any outdoor activity search the area for anything that looks out of place" Lindquist said “Look for clothing jewelry drag marks shallow graves or an thing that appears out of the ordinary" Boy Scout groups or others wanting to conduct a volunteer search in the county may contact Lindquist for areas that would be the most beneficial Upon returning from an outing and searching the area residents are asked to go either to Delta City Offices or the Millard County Sheriff s Office in F illmore Debriefing forms are available from the receptionists and must be completed accurately to be helpful Indian Knoll Fire update Kathy II alker and Knox Huntsman Strong support for Millard High Principal Dennis Alldredgc has led many East Millard residents to express their frustration and anger in public meetings letters to the editor petitions and other means in their fight to reinstate his position “No decision regarding the reassignment of Mr Alldredge has been made by the Board of Education Nor has a possible replacement been discussed by the Board The matter is a personnel issue w hich cannot legally be discussed” Superintendent Ray Timothy said imothy said Alldredge w ill appear before the Board of Education in a Any hearing Thursday July made by the Board follow ing the nearing w ill be made public Principal Alldredge said he received 3 letter of intent June 22 from T imothy The letter stated the reasons he was being released as an administrator and reassigned as a teacher w ithm the Delta Middle School No mention as to who may be assigned to his position was made in the letter He was informed a final decision would be nude by the Board of Education after the July hearing Alldredge said he told one person the contents of the letter and that person in turn spread word of the gourd’s intent throughout the community He chose not to reveal what charges were issued against him in the letter during a phone interv iew Monday July 8 “I was quite surprised and disappointed when I received the letter It was from Superintendent Timothy but I think it w as also from the Board of Education since the letter used the term “we” throughout Alldredge said "I am grateful for the strong support show n to me and the people w ho speak up on my behalf It means a lot” he said About 500 East Millard residents attended an informal public meeting June 27 The meeting began in the Fillmore City Council Chambers moved to the County Commission Chambers m the County Courthouse and when filled to capacity moved outdoors onto the lawn Millard High George Richardson School Counselor had a copy of the letter of intent and read the charges After reading a charge Richardson explained the circumstances surrounding the charge while the crow d applauded Richardson said another administrator within the District has been as outspoken as Alldredge and has gone so far as to tell the Superintendent he does not trust him hat administrator got into a physical altercation w ith a member of 4m ow n staff Board members said the administrator had been disciplined by the Board however he still retains his position Ruth Ann I uttle and Kim Christensen patents told the audience they were dissatisfied w ith their treatment in the April School Board meeting “We arc tired of being jacked Tuttle said Tuttle said Timothy was reluctant to allow a group of parents on the April School Board agenda They were told they could present their petition of MX) signatures supporting Alldiedge to the Board Restrictions imposed by the Board included allowing three members of the group to address the Board and were given five to speak They weie also told the Board would not answer questions but would listen to the presentation In a follow-umeeting with Timothy the group expressed concern that members of the Board were told the group represented a very small but loud group of parents and did not represent the majority of They were also concerned parents the Board was told most of the signatures on the petition were forgeries or those of high school students I imothy said he would clarify all information w ith the Board Ihat did not hap around" pen I uttle said staited my term with the "When School Boaid thought Superintendent Ken Topharn was a great leader and superintendent and supported a hen lot of his policies and programs Superintendent I imothy was in charge all the policies changed As a school board member was on the insurance committee I 'ruler imothy was not allowed to attend insurance was frozen out and not meetings lowed to do my job Under imothy the policy turned around to keeping resigned the people in the dark School Boaid toward the end of my second term out of protest to imothy and his policies" said Iiient Olson former School Boaid member "I come here not as a County ( onr missioner but as a parent Before we ask imothy to resign and have a call on the Board members they should come forward and address the public in an open meeting and be held accountable” said Commissioner John Cooper ourisnr Duector and illmoie businessman Bob Sanderson said this problem is not an county he county should be united problem as a Millard County School Distiut After talking to people in Della they ate also concerned about these issues and their teachers A petition was started at die meet ing and donations accepted for he Alldredge s legal defense fund meeting ended with a blaring fire engine leading 82 vehicles home as a sign of past Alldiedge's support Since the June 27 meeting petitions have circulated among the communihe first petition ties of Fast Millard declares a vote of no confidence in Timothy and elected board members he Cloyd Day and Monte Kimball 423 signatures petition them to reinstate Alldiedge and resign from their positions Ihe second petition expresses support of Alldredge and m the actions deep disappointment taken to remove him In the stiongest the 450 signatures terms possible urge restoring Alldredge to Ins position at Millaid High "I will be taking witnesses to the hearing before the School Board I'll be trying to defend myself in light of the charges and maintaining my position is the hope" Alldredgc said Truck hits power line By County maps in a gnd pattern will be posted at both sites enabling searchers to sec what areas need to be examined Volunteer searchers with questions may call Lindquist or leave a message at the at Millard County ShenfT s Office at or “When someone goes into one area for an activity and completes a search we hope the next outing w ill be in another spot This is a huge county and we need everyone’s help to do a through search What if anything may be found is unknown But it is a worthw hile effort" Lindquist said The Indian Knoll Fire about seven miles south of Scipio has destroyed approximately 165 acres The brush fire was 65 percent contained Mon July 8 and full contained was expected by late Tuesday according to BLM firefighter Royce Stevens Three hand crews are fighting the blaze Kathy II alker 8 of Delta was credZach Byran ited w ith using his head after the truck he was driving hit a sagging power line Tuesday July 9 Byran has been hauling chopped hay from Lyman Fecdlot to I’hil Adams in Sutherland for the past two days As he pulled out of the driveway the truck hit sagging power lines and the line snapped “I saw the line snap and thought it was hanging onto the truck I just stayed inside the truck and radioed by dad A few minutes later some guy told me the line was not close to the truck so I slid over to the passenger's side and jumped out” Byian sard Ray Lyman Byran's father said the heat has probably caused the lines to sag and his son was smart to stay side the chicle until help arm ed Delta Fire Department and Sgt Roger Young of the Millard County ShenfT s Office responded to the approximate 5 p m call Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday to us! The Chronicle Progress is celebrating it’s 92nd birthday this week For 92 years the Chronicle Progress has been informing the people of Millard County and beyond of births deaths weddings anniversaries public notices sports academic achievements police fire and court proceedings other general area information and most importantly upholding the 1st Amendment - the right to free speech ) ' i |