Show rocus Happenings 27 Senior notes 31 The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday October 6 1996 For love of Despite the hustle and bustle of Logan 10 minutes away lies breath-takin- g scenery hope some bush league news organization doesn’t pick up this story and beam it around the world If it does all of us are in serious trouble It’s October and Sardine the gateway is red It also is red in Blacksmith and Cub River but they’re not a problem They dead-en- d or counturn into try where few dare go But red Sardine the major highway and link to the world to the south is a threat to us all The Russians are coming the Russians are coming And high-mounta- in the rest of the world with them Because the Olympics are coming I think I’ve figured it out the difference What makes Cache Cache Take a drive in the evening to Franklin when the sun is just right Take a drive in the evening to Wellsville when the sun is just right Look west Once out of Logan which doesn't take a whole lot of time mostly what you will see are a few farmhouses and barns fences animals — and sprinklers What you mostly see is green From one end of Cache to the other the west is green It’s October in Cache and it is weather to die for It even smells good Good because it is green That’s the difference The difference is rural Cache is rural Johnny Mathis wrote his first hit song at the age of 19: "Chances Are” Chances are the west will not stay green Evan Olsen a dairyman who lives in Young Ward a berg southwest of Logan sees it coming Olsen has been a member of the Utah Legislature for 18 years and in part because of that has been involved in the growing issue of growth in Utah "I don't see anything happening in the preservation of agriculture land” Olsen said the other day Olsen said Utah has lost 300000 acres of farmland to development Through it all he points out the price of butter has doubled and there is a shortage of milk "I told the governor that it's beginning to be a serious situation” said Olsen who has chaired a tad: force on growth in Utah for two years "This is one of the most difficult issues I've ever dealt with” If it doesn't stop Olsen warns food prices are going to go Text by Phil Jensen Photography by Mitch Mascaro through the ozone holes But it’s not just a question of food prices The question is larger more fundamental more philosophical Like Alaska is to America Cache County is to Northern Utah And like Alaska Cache still may have a choice: Keep things the way we were or become West Valley City If those three little words don’t get your attention you either don't care or you haven’t been there Ttocnty years ago West Valley City wasn’t there Now it’s the second largest city in Utah and at last check had land about the size of a city block that was green According to the Utah League of Cities and Towns West Valley Gty which was incorporated in 1980 had a population in 1994 of 94663 In 1994 there were 78300 people in all of Cache County But Cache County had ballooned by 12 percent since 1990 on top of a growth of 27 percent through the 1980s Richard Maughan superintendent of Bridgeriand Applied Technology Center and chairman of a task force looking at demographics to see what to do with more students entering Cache County public schools says growth today in Cache is pell-me- ll On your next pleasure drive across the Wasatch Front you might drop into West Valley City that place west of Salt Lake Gty that used to be farms While there you might want to roll up your windows get used to strip malls and fast-foo- d joints and houses and warehouses and noise and pollution and people and what not To civilization And get used to people who don’t seem to smile a lot After your cruise through concrete city go on to Sandy Utah's boom town Houses are spilling over on all sides now and the newest subdivisions will have a pretty good view of the state prison Sandy has gobbled up Bluffdale Centerville to the state pen is a megalopolis Remember Davis County the Davis of say 1980 when West Valley Gty was born? It's gone People in Cache County in all levels of government who are in the knew say growth is here and sustained and widespread and will get worse Or is it better? Growth means jobs More opportunities for our young ' y people the way to keep them here Jobs for our young people and who can argue? Isn’t that l the American way? So it is a phrase that has been used by every community in every state in the nation w f' It is the politically correct thing to say But is it the correct thing to do? See SPACE on page 24 4 Vvy i - At left A com field is harvested South of Logan earlier this week The massive loss of farmland is becoming a 'serious situation' according to some local politicians Below: Rustic red bams could be hotels if popugiving way to lation growth isn't kept in check hi-ri-se s nv j w r- - - m:K — - - - i 4 Sr T Monday Homefront: Discouraging deer Top Photo: Cattle pear through their feeder in Benson Farm animals are one of the many characteristics that lend to Cache Valley's rural appeal '- if Features: 752-212- 1 |