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Show 4UikesideRevievvTftjef I LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Interior Secretary violated the law JgSKCttWWfclWfiff The recent ruling by a federal judge that Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt violated the Enindangered Species Act when he troduced wolves into Yellowstone Park is another reminder to Utahns of the way the Clinton Administration designated the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Just because Mr. Babbitt thinks the public supports his ideas is no justification for violating the law, as a federal judge says he did in the Yellowstone wolf transplant case. Three years ago. Babbitt chose to ignore the valid concerns of ranchers and announced a program that would reintroduce the gray wolf population to Yellowstone and central Idaho. Babbitt also misinterpreted the law when he launched the initiative. U.S. District Court Judge William Downes, delivering a painful lesson, reminded Babbitt in December that the law must be his guide when it comes to doing his job. In Farm Bureau vs. Bruce Babbitt, Downes ruled Babbitt exceeded the authority of the Endangered Species Act when he launched the wolf reintroduction program in 1994. Farm Bureau tried to tell Babbitt that bringing the gray wolves into the Yellowstone area posed a threat to area ranchers and their livestock. Babbitt also was reminded that the Endangered Species Act was not intended to reduce protections to existing populations in areas where species were reintroduced. And Farm Bureau tried to tell Babbitt that under the ESA, species can be relocated only to areas where they no longer exist. Gray wolves already inhabited Yellowstone National park and central Idaho. Farm Bureaus concerns went unheeded. Now, Babbitt is scolded by a district judge for violating the very law he used to justify the wolf reintroduction program. "A s Donny brings back memories, starts new ones came back to Utah. He came as Joseph. He is Donny Osmond. I couldn't care less. It's nothing personal, you know. Donny and I are about the same age, so I basically grew up hearing him regularly. I can remember the first time I reached over my fathers shoulder while he was driving to push the button on the car radio to change stations when Puppy Love was playing. The problem had nothing to do with my impressions of Donny's talents. It had to do with the females around me. Ever since elementary school it was "Donny this . . . and Donny that . . ." from tire girls I grew up with. Whether it was relatives, friends or even romantic interests, the females in my life, no matter what stage, always had crushes on Donny He Osmond. My wife is no exception. So when word first came out ny that Don- Osmond was going to return to the Viewpoint Howell q Andy Davis County Editor Utah stage in his Canadian production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, I was about as excited as a Utah County conservative at an ACLU fund-raise- r. But I had to go. My wife wouldn't have it any other way. Ive seen a couple of community pro- ductions of Joseph. I figured there w asn't anything in the Livent production at the University of Utah that I hadn't seen before. Boy, was I in for a surprise. It was apparent early as I sat in the packed house at Kingsbury Ilall that this Jo wasnt your average, seph production. The supporting cast, musical production, staging and, in particular, dancing, made me realize something special was going on before me. But the highlight was Donny. A grown-u- p Donny, playing Joseph. If there was ever a part someone was bom to play, it was Donny Osmond as Joseph. In theater, it is supposed to be good when you forget who the actor is playing a particular part. But the part of Joseph was made for Donny Osmond. The play should have been renamed Donny and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. You didnt forget for a moment that it was Donny Osmond on the stage. And it w asnt just because of the inside jokes, like when Pharaoh remarks to Donny, er, Joseph, that hes a little bit rock n roll." Donnys whole persona fits the part of Joseph. The fact that 1 brothers become jealous of Joseph and sell him into slavery is humorous just knowing about the Os 1 mond family. Heck, Id love to see a production in which all Donnys brothers play the parts of Josephs brothers. You couldn't forget it was Donny on the stage as the shy, naive Joseph receiving unwanted attention from scantily clad females in the show. His expressions and mannerisms were pure Donny. But that doesnt take anything away from Donnys musical talents. 1 le can still belt out a song. His renditions of Any Dream will Do" and Close Every Door will stick in your mind for years. Ill never be able to sec another production of Joseph w ithout thinking of how well Donny performed the lead. He has grown up. He has talent. Ive become a fan. Andy Howell is an assistant managing ediand a member tor for the Standitrd-Examine- r of the newspaper's editorial hinird. lie can be 1. reached weekdays at Commissioner Steven- Gajle County Courthouse State 451-320- Commissioner Dannie County Courthouse Slate Farmington, Utah 84025 Office 451-320- 0 Commissioner Carol R. Page (R) Davis 28 E. County Courthouse Stale Farmington. Utah 84025 Office 451-320- 0 Centerville City Council Mavor Frank V. Hirschi 8 Home Michael IJarton 6 Home Frandne I.ucak 4 Home William Nelson Home 292-262- 0 Rick Bangcrter 4 Home Ron Russell 5 Home 295-918- 292-427- 292-993- 298-019- 295-374- Clearfield City Council Mavor Thomas aggoner 1 Home Ivan D. Anderson 0 Home Diane La) ton 5 Home W 825-565- 825-695- 825-784- 773-979- 773-563- 0 McConkie (R) Davis 28 E. V. Barlow 3 Home Curtis Oda 6 Home Garr L. Roundy 9 Home 773-828- Farmington, Utah 84025 Office James Clinton City Council Mavor DcWar Mitchell 1 Home Dennis Simonscn 8 Home Arvcrd Tavlor Home 776-08Joanne Hansen 9 Home Richard I a'c 5 Home Merlin Mitchell 2 Home 773-583- 825-841- 773-420- 825-689- 773-195- Farmington City Council Mavor Gregory S. Bell 9 Home Pat Achter 1 Home Gary E. Elliott 3 Home David J. Dixon Home David M. Connors 1 Home Iairry W. Haugen 6 Home 451-728- 451-508- 451-245- 451-77- 451-283- 451-735- Fruit Heights City Council Mavor Richard L. Haney 8 Home L. Dale Green 0 Home 544-436- 544-868- Anna Tina LePendu Home Daniel 546-378- 9 J. Phelps Home E. Robert 547-012- 9 Purdy 9 Home Diane Maynes Home 544-214- 544-08- Kaysville City Council Mayor Brian D. Cook Home 544-587- 1 Joe Hill Home Stephen Whitesides 0 Home Arthur Johnson 8 Home Reed Nelson 2 Home Robert 11. Rees 544-32- 544-329- 544-844- 546-491- Home 451-600- 3 Layton City Council Mayor Jerry Stevenson 2 Home Brent A. Allen James D. Bridges Home 825-374- 0 Max Hill 5 Home Carl Clayton 0 Home Carl Trussed 5 Home Mel Wood 4 Home 825-809- By UNDA C. HOFFMAN and ANN 825-652- 547-90- Debra Ixdkins 1 Home Stuart Adams 9 Home Steve Curtis 9 Home F, Renny Knowlton 6 Home 546-353- 544-010- 546-444- 546-114- Sunset City Council Mavor Jan Galbraith 3 Home 773-779- 1 C. Booth Wallentine Executive vice president ' Utah Farm Bureau Federation Letter Policy The Lakeside Review encour- - , ages readers to submit letters to . . the editor. Content of letters should ad- - , dress issues of interest to our , readership throughout north Da- - , vis County. Letters .should be typed, dou- - , and must include the name and telephone number of the writer for verification pur- poses. Shorter letters are more likely to be published. ' Long letters will be subject to Lakeof the discretion at editing side Review editorial staff. Letters will also be edited, if necessary, to meet journalistic standards of good taste. Send all letters to the Lakeside Review, 2146 N. Main, Lay-toUt., 84041. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Letters can also be faxed at d, n, 773-728- 4. Guest Column MAHTINLZ growth in Utah and western slates to set new records, communities arc scrambling to put together master plans they hope will help guide and manage growth and future development. These plans address transportation corridors, open space areas, trail and recreational development as well as infrastructure needs brought on by increased population. These plans are usually developed at considerable expense -city planners are hired to provide expertise, experience and a nonpartisan eye towards the best solutions for the community as a whole; consultants may be hired As 825-590- 825-052- Syracuse City Council Mayor Robert Thurgood 6 Home Dana Love 3 Home Gary I). Mecham 2 Home Robert S. W ood 9 Home Jon . Jepperson 3 Home David R. Bernard 2 Home 773-446- 776-443- 773-02S- 774-981- 779-124- 774-522- 544-517- Home non-nativ- Master plans are good idea but do they work? Government Directory son (R) Davis 28 E. 776-495- According to Rick Krause, as- -. sistant counsel for the American Farm Bureau Federation, this is a major decision in a sense that it tells the government and tells other people that you cannot do whatever you want to do under the Endangered Species Act. The' gray wolf is not threatened by extinction. What is threatened, however, is the livestock of western ranchers. According to wildlife researchers at Utah State University, it is quite likely that Yellowstone wolves will migrate to Utah. So this is an issue of valid concern to Utah ranchers as well. The gray wolf reintroduction program was approved on Nov. 22, 1994. Farm Bureau filed suit three days later. Wolves were brought into the park in January 1995. Downes decision deemed the reintroduction program invale id, and he has ordered all wolves and their offspring to be removed from Yellowstone and central Idaho. It is not Farm Bureaus wishes to have these wolves killed. Farm Bureau hopes the government backs up its assertion that it could easily capture and remove all Canadian wolves from the Yellowstone and Central Idaho region. Those who say Farm Bureau wants the wolves killed are either unaware of the facts or are purposely trying to defame the organization. This issue, however, goes beyond an animal rights issue. Its a matter of whats right and legal. Babbitt, ignoring the implications the plan would have on ranchers and the Endangered Species Act, moved forward with the wolf program. He turned a deaf ear toward Farm Bureaus concerns, for his efforts all he got was a dose of legal castor oil. Hopefully, it will cure him of his unwillingness to listen. West Point City Council Mayor Jay II. Ritchie Home Robert Fraser 2 Home Farrell Cook 5 Home Glen Wade 2 Home Gary M. Kapp 8 Home Dennis J. Montgomery 6 Home 825-505- 825-03- 773-935- 773-971- 773-790- t for troublesome problems; surveys arc sent to the community at large for input; and public hearings are held. Finally, the city council votes to accept or reject the final version of the master plan. When accepted, it is theoretically the framework by which all decisions arc made and by which specific infrastructure projects are triggered. W'hethet or not a master plan can actually serve as a growth, management tool depends less on the quality of the plan than on the quality and integrity of the politicians using it. Some cities have spent years developing and approving excellent master plans only to nullify them with a city council vote for an "exception. This was the case recently in Ogden where the Ogden City Council decided to dead-ena road which had been designated as a collector street in the citys master plan. Against the advice of city planners and contrary to the approved plan, the city council members bowed to special interest groups and made an exception to the master plan that went against all transportation logic. d They have set a precedent that will make it difficult to refuse further exceptions in the future. Master plans can provide an invaluable framework for community development, especially in times of intense growth, but they are only as good as the politicians that choose to implement or make exception to them. |
