Show r Ctm mMtktiAm mfflm Wednesday August 14 2002 A4 i The Herald Journal Our view The War Drum Rubber stamping not P&Z’s purpose A front-pag- e headline in last Tuesday’s Herald Journal read “P&Z passes Powder plan” It might well have read “P&Z passes the buck” With several commissioners admitting they were still confused and “on the fence" with regard to developer Brent proposal for a 3500-acr- e development at Powder Mountain ski resort the Countywide Planning Commission went ahead and voted 4--1 to approve a rezone for the plan Their rationale: Let the Cache County Council which has the Anal stamp of approval sort it out “Let them take care of it” said Commissioner Donald Taylor “This is a recommendation I’d just give it to them with a spe- dal warning in big writing “Hike care of the water’” of An estimated 300 acre-fewater is needed for the Cache County side of the development and the planning commission is not convinced Ferrin can get it Yet under pressure from Deputy County Attorney Don Linton to reach a decision they voted yes Seems to us the correct response when after careful ' Fer-rin- ’s study a body can’t come to a decision they feel good about is to preserve the status quo — not forge ahead Of course as Taylor pointed out the planning commission does not have the Final say And members may well be demoralized after the council ignored their recommendation not to create an RR zone to facilitate the project Still we elect the planning commission to study all the issues surrounding a development and bring a recommendation before the council In this case the commission simply passed the buck well-thought-- 'if tbs cuustux sexsves On Editorials in this space are the opinioriofthe Herald Journal editorial board which by no means views itself as the last word on matters Of public interest If you i please feel free to respond with a letter to the editor or contact editor Charles McCollum about a possible guest com- et 1 Ext 3020 mentary (Phone: cmccollumOhjnewscom) See ’information box at bottom of page for more details 752-212- il: Your view Petersboro plan well thought out the editor By massacre newspaper war John Stewart JLikely you read the HJ’stop front page story in Sunday's paper: “Massacre book stirs pot” with the subhead “Author points finger at Brigham Young Church vehemently disagrees” With it was a photo of the author Will Bagley a columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune C G Wallace AP writer in Salt Lake was author of the article: The lengthy title of the book is: “Blood of the Prophets — Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows” Several weeks ago I received from the publisher University of Oklahoma Press an advance copy of a preliminary draft of the book with a request that I review it More recently I received a copy of the final version Perhaps in my next column two weeks hence I will write my review and critique of itI have not found time to complete book ' my reading of this 458-paand I don’t wish to pass any snap judgment of it I do have a personal interest in it inasmuch as my greatgrandfather James Holt Haslam who later became a resident of Wellsville had a related key role in the affair though not in the massacre He was one of the fortunate men who escaped involvement in the tragedy In his AP article Wallace erred in one important aspect which I trust does not reflect any such error equipment similar to what the Snow will be removed much more diligently than the road has ever experienced They have also lb volunteered to put dust retardant on Monday's article about the Peters- ' the road in the summer boro “castle” gave much space to the ' ' The increase of traffic won’t be as protester's complaints but little was as described The number significant mentioned why Gary and Benita of employees commuting to the site Roberts need this property They will will reach a maximum of 15 Those be operating a residential treatment 15 employees will be divided facility for girls from across the between three different shifts country as well as locally with diagthroughout a 24 hour period Finan- nosed eating disorders Treatment cial incentives are being offered for will literally save lives Their unique carpooling This won’t increase program uses animal rescue and usage of the road much more than horsemanship as part of the therapy already exists and certainly less than The girls will be caring for and helpif a family with teenagers moved in: heal themselves ing animals as they Gary and Benita Roberts are willRoberts need that a The property ing to spend thieir own money to will accommodate their family horsimprove the safety of a county road es other animals and their patients are researching several options' They They have been searching in Cache the “blind spot ” ami will to improve Find locafor a over a year to Viillcy is agreed upon to be the do whatever tion that fits theseneeds The “casbest solution They’ve been very tle” property in Petersboro includes a do to it takes to whatever willing huge horse Bam fenced pastures in the book make this location to acceptable and a home Since ‘ Coincidentally the day I received everyone atno increased taxpayer facilities are already in place there ' the preliminary draft of the book I expense will be no negative impact to the also received letter telling that benefits this The of having facility agricultural area Richard ETurley chief historian for in this outPetersboro location far Although only a few Petersboro the LDS Church and two BYU pro-residents ate “up in arms” many res-- " weigh any reason for not having the fessors are collaborating on a book ' approval given I urge any residents idents from Petersboro and Mendon titled “Tragedy at Mouh- tentatively the known of have somevalley who agree that the “castle” is a perfect tain Meadows” to be published by one with an eating disorder or who location There are only two homes ' Oxford University Press and seeking would like to see this facility imple- up the mile of gravel road the castle further information available any mented as planned to show their wide being the second The 20-foYou may recall that Turley authored ' - road meets all the of support by writing to the Cache requirements one of several books on the Mark County P&Z 179 N Main No 210 county and has already been Hofmann murders several years ago- approved by the county road departi His bdok “Victims” was a top qitali- ' Kiri Jorgensen ment T)ie Roberts Inve pledged to ty job so I am hopeful that hu Petersboro maintain the road in the winter with upepming book on MMM will also on-si- te county-use- s ge 6000-square-fo- ot ot - be well done So far as I can recall Bagley’s book is the first major treatment of the MMM since the late Juanita Brooks’ book “The Mountain Meadows Massacre” published many years ago also by the University of Oklahoma Press I find interest in the change University of Oklahoma Press made in the cover on Bagley’s book from the preliminary draft to the final version In the fust we see a faint gray full ' size image of Brigham Young’s face with a focus on his left eye as backdrop to the book’s title printed in brilliant red In the final version now on the market is an artist’s sketch of a landscape and the title is done partly in red and partly in black Price of the book i? $40 That is all I care to say about it now Meanwhile if you read it I would be pleased to receive your comments on it Several weeks ago I mentioned that occasionally I would devote a column to questions and comments I receive and my response to them With the US Open Tennis Toqnuh ment coming up soon I have chosen to deal with one received from a tennis buff: Q: Assuming that you are the same John Stewart whose articles I have read in one of the tennis magazines I am interested in knowing what your personal skill level is as a player Are you a 2 a 3 or a 4? A:' Assuming that I am the same John Stewart I prefer to not deal in numbers but rather indicate my skill level by telling you that I have never been beaten by Fete Sampras Andre Agassi or any other of today’s top players Further if I am able to live another few years and stay sober it is my ambition to become the fust person over 80 to win the Big Four tennis grandslam events: the Australian French British and US Open tour- naments also die Italian Spanish and German I am moving steadily resolutely and relentlessly toward that goal having recently captured third place in die Sunshine Terrace : Open Here is another question: Q: As a journalism major at USU I enjoy reading your column and " would be interested in your take on the controversy that has Been raging over the ownership of the Salt Lake Herald Journal The OpHonipape is Handed to acquaint of viewpoint on madam of puUc importance and provide members of the community with a fonim for ttieir views Penonal ooiumna cartoone and Men from madam reflect toe options of ttairwritais and creator Edtoriah under toe haadtog ‘Our Vepraeent toe views of toe Hand Journal dal board Membersof the editorial board: leaden wUi a variety : US Tribune and its relation to the Deseret News A: If you have been reading the HJ articles on this you should have a good grasp of the pros and cons involved There are no villains in this just good guys with divergent viewpoints If I were a member of the clan I would be fighting to regain ownership of the Tribune as the McCartheys are doing If I were a member of the MediaNews group I would be fighting to retain ownership of it as they appear to be successfully doing If I ’were a member of the Deseret News ' group I would be pleased by what has happened I find it interesting that a Cache Valley native Ted Stewart is the federal judge who has most recently refereed this legal battle While in graduate school at the University of Oregon School of Journalism I started to do my graduate thesis on the fight between the Deseret News and the Tribune back in the rough and tumble days of the late 1800s and early 1900s But while researching on it I found something that interested me even more mid so switched and did my thesis on “Joseph Smith as a Journalist” which I later developed into a full biographical book But die Trib-Newarfare was of keen interest Both newspapers have since published biographies telling their versions of those days and their history since For the past 50 years the rivalry has been less vocal until this recent flareup Just out of high school I was employed by die Deseret News and became well acquainted with its managing editor Therein Liddle a friendship which later resulted in my becoming a nationally syndicated columnist thanks to Theron’s influential contacts and in many of my USU journalism majors becoming reports and editors at the News including Jim Mortimer of Logan who became editor and publisher Keams-McCarth- ey non-Morm- on John Stewart is a longtime River Heights resident He is among a number of Cache Valley freelance witters whose columnseppear in The Herald Journal as part of an effort to expose readers to a variety of community vota-esis not On employee of the newsbe reached by emal at paper He cn johnstewart843210yahoocom: I Mallard Fillmoro If Momtroa (MRREtiEHRLfCKUty adtor ' CINDY YURTHIIaaiuraa adtor BRUCE SMTHpubtohar'1 CHARLES McCOUUMAnanaginp adtor MM r i Ths Hamid Journal pafcomee tetters to toe adtor Potentially Stooue or offensive tolam wa not be pubtohed however and the adtor reeeivaa tie right to adl el totem kxoonfdnh totoe length and style requirements of the Letters should be: ' ' ' TVpeniriltonandrtmtoa-epace- No mom than SSOwonk in langdv ' Addressed andincludedaylme phone ' number for pupoeee of verification " Signed by toe author IndMduals are toted to one pubtohed to-- tar wtoin any y period Address Htosto hjtotoO hinewsxom Quest conv manlailes are also walooma and am rente u iMii wm mmjTM QUCfUQOn Miw |