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Show page 13 - SEE-IT-THROU- May 16, 2000 Basin LIFE ATTITUDE GH Altaniont woman says her volunteering is a hobby By Cheryl Mecham ; Vallorie Thacker believes in seeing things through, she explains, that's why she's back at Altamont Elemen-tai- y workingwith heryoungstudenta as a Physical Education aide just a couple of weeks alter her husband Boyd passed away unexpectedly, because, she says, "we have plans." Those plans include passing off physical fitness goals the students have made as they work toward the Presidential Physical Fitness program. Vallorie's"see-it-throughaoutloo- k has been a boon to her in her personal lifeand to her community through her volunteer e (Torts, which she calls, "a hobby." For the past five years Vallorie has worked as an aide at the elementary school However, she's resided in Altamont since she was 12, raised by her parents LR and Opel Marshall, who now reside in Vernal. She and Boyd went to school together and married right out of high school. They moved to Salt Lake for a time so Boyd could complete diesel mechanic courses at the community trade school. When they moved back to Altamont he ran big equipment with his dad Wei ley Thacker. Boyd worked on pipelines throughout the western United States. "We had the opportunity to move to other places, but we felt this was the best and safest place to raise our children. That's why we stayed. People here are like a big family," Vallorie said of Altaniont. Boyd and Vallorie raised six children together, and all are grown and living independently except DJ, a senior at Altamont High. When herchil- - "We had the opportunity to move to other places, but we felt this was the best and safest place to raise our children. Thats why we stayed. People here are like a big family. dren began to grow and Vallorie saw a . need for the community to provide a sports program, she got to work organizing her friends and callingupon all available resources. She speaks humbly ofthe opportunities she has had to serve, making it understood that she was part of a whole, as many were involved in the proem. Vallorie, with the help ofAltamont neighbor Kevin Patterson, organized a Little League football team to help build the high school program. When the junior high wrestling program was discontinued due to lack of funds and it was turned over to the community, Vallorie stepped forward to set up a Little League wrestling program for 5lh graders. Years oftraining helped produce Altamont High state champions in 1994. She accepted the responsibility as den mother to Cub Scouts and worked within the program for over 20 years. She was searching for projects for her "little robbers to do, to she helped them raise money to buy large planters in town and they filM them with flowers. The Booster Club provided a way for Vallorie to be actively involved with her boys in their sports programs in school. she "Shes done a lot to help to field football the get up painted ready for games. She's a hard worker. When she sets her mind to something, she does it, said her son DJ. Vallorie admits that she has done g a lot of through the booster club. One of the most recent projects she has seen to fruition is eonstructionofanewannauncm booth over the football field. Her zealous volunteer spirit has infected others in the community, prompting them to contribute skills ami volunteer hours. You call your friends, one whosan electrician, you get your husband to weld." Vallorie said, explaining how she managed the project, adding, "If someone says no, youjust call on someone else." Vallorie's love of the community runs deep, her love of the youth even deeper. She believes that the future depends on the youth growing up in our cities and towns today. Revs Pattenon.an Altamont neighbor who has served with Vallorie on many projects, said, "She has a reputation for getting things done. I think if it hadnt been lor her, there were a lot of years where we wouldnt have had a lot ofsports programs. She got a regional wrestling program going. She's the type who goes from one thing right to the next, ifnot in school, somewhere else. She always thinks of others before herself. Vallorie said she doesnt think of herself as anything speciaL "Part ofil was Boyd being gone so much, 1 filled my time that way. When I saw a need 1 thought I could contribute to it, why not?" The folks in Altamont who have fund-raisin- rubbed shoulders with Vallorie throughout the years have rallied around her since Boyd's passing. She acknowledges that she has never felt more love and support. Her future, she say, will continue in Altamont: I will continue to contribute. You just goon. Come Kick Up Your Heels! There will be a community dance held at the Crossroads Senior Center on Tuesday, May 16 from 8: 30 10:30 pan. Come eijoy great company and a live band. All ages are invited! -- Rummage Salest the Crossroads Senior Center on A rummage sale is scheduled Friday, Saturday, May 19-2- from 10a.m. - 4 p.m. Ifyou have rummage but can not 9 aod make arrangements to have get it to the center, call Judi at it picked up. 0 722-426- Miss UBIC Contestants Mias UBJCsign-up- s are Thursday, May 18at6p.rn.at the Moon Lakrbuilding 6 in Roosevelt. Call Lynne at for mote information. 353-403- Belletristics Book Club Belletristics Book Club invites you out to a night with Harry Potter. Club begins at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Rea Taylor. A car pool will meet at Sarah Snow's at 7 p.m. Hope to see you there. Duchesne Rodeo Queen Pageant AT WORK Yalloric Thacker, recognized in the Altamont community as an outstanding boss in her PE class at Altaniont Elementary. ALTAMONT HIGH GRADUATE, TOP OF HER CLASS Afflicted with chronic kidney ailment Anika kept fighting failure. "Site spent 26 weeks in the hospiAnika Carlson, an Altamont High tal that year, related Anika's father School senior, laughs when she says Amie Carlson, who added that his she is suffering from "seniorit is" a daughter underwent weekly chemocondition that occurs the last few therapy treat ments for weeks before graduation. But. the disyears. "On her last chcmo treat ment, her ease that has truly afflicted Anika is no laughing matter and could have kidneys shut down again, and instead taken her life on at least twooccasions. of her last treatment it turned out to The first time sjie became ill doc- be her first treatment, which started tors were ballied at Anika's symp- everything all over again. But she's toms and sent her to a specialist in doing really well now.'Arnw related, Salt Lake City. At the time she was adding that, while she isn't cured, she is on medication that is keeping the only ten years old. "They picked it up right away. 1 illness in check. have Lupus nephritis," Anika said. AlLerattendingonly one quarter of her 5t This disease causes chronic inflamyear, Anika as too ill to mation in the kidneys to the extent of come back to school for the rest of the year. "My teachers thought I could keep up so 1 wvr.t into 6th grade, Anika recalled, noting that she did well, though she had missed months oflearning. She attributes her success in school to her happy attitude," and her desire to "be smart." Her positive at! itude, she says, is a matter of perspective, developed by observing kids with cancer. They were in a far worse pc ! on than I was they were having treatment all week, and I only had one treatment a week Anika worked hard in school for tw o reasons she wanted to he "smart" like her parents and older brother and she wanted to do her best. "1 knew I had to work to get my scholarship. 1 wouldn't haw been able to go to school without it. Or 1 would have had to take a break instead and work for a while." Her high grade-poin- t average has earned Anika acceptance into the College of Eastern Utah Ambassador Bv Chervl Mecham lf Licensed Child Care Providers bit Child Care Resource ft Referral presents: Family Child Care: For You? A free workshop for people interested in becoming Licensed Child Caro Providers held Wednesday, May 17 at 7 p m. at the Ashley Valley High in Vernal. Those interested please preregister by calling toll free at 613-566- Mini-Cla- 722-444- Trail Ride Drive Association will be having itaSpring Fling trail High Country ride on Saturday, May 20. We will meet at the Premium Oil Amoco (850 W. Hwy 40) in Vernal. Registration is at 9 am. Potluck lunch. To pro- Our toll free information register rail Joni Smith at In the Vernal area call number is 781-751- 9. Veterans of Foreign Wars Uintah Basin Post 9275 for Veterans of Wars will meet Foreign Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m. in the Moon Lake Building in Roosevelt. Native American History a celebration of Native American Art. Culture and History on Experience Friday, May 19 at 7:30 p m. at the Jewett Center for the Performing Arts, Westminster College. Admission is free - limited seating. Call 2 for reservations. 823-223- Main Street Clean-u- p Duchesne City main Street clean-u- p will be held Saturday. May sign-up- s starting at 8 a. m. and Clean-u- p starting at and get clean-u- p assignments, 4 or contact a member of your Duchesne City Council. Come help the community come togrther and make Duchesne a better plare to lire! 1" Annual the morning 9 am. Call the city office to 27 with pre-regist-er 738-248- Child Find 2000 DDI Vantage and Duchesne County Preschool presents Child Find 2000 with free Developmental screenings for children birth to fire on Tuewlay. May 23, Altamont Medical Clinic, from 9 a m. 2 30pm ; Wednesday, May 24, Duchesne School District Building, 8 30 a m. 1 1 30 p.m.; and Myton Duchesne County Preschool Building (ConAraore), 1230 2 30 pm.; Thursday. May 25. Roorerelt Crossroads Senior Onter. 9 a m-- 2 30p m. Call for appointments. Birth 3 yra. DDI Vantage. 3 - 5m, Duchesne County Preschool, -- Copy) zn Program. She will travel to Utah high schools and inform students hat CEU has to offer their studenU as weU as conduct tours of the campus. For her eflbrts she will receive a two-yescholarship to the college where she intends to take pre-nw-d classes, then transfer toanot her school and study sports medicine. Anika was initiaUv offered three different scholarships before she decided to attend CEU. "1 was manager of the drill team and wrest ling team and it gave me an idea of what would be needed." Anika said, adding that through training in the School to Careers program she worked with radiologists and learned a bit about massage therapy. Getting after Anika to do her homework was newr a problem in the Carlson home, or during her hospital stays. Arnie said. "Its nothing that we did. She handled it better than our oilier kids maybe because she Lad to grew up a little quicker. With her health proV ienut she had to take on a hti more responsibility for her life. She si very responsible person, she lows to be helpful toothers.she lows to plan and to organize. Anika believes that her illness affected the family in negative and pi-tiways. "My family really supported me We bonded a lot." she said, not mg that her mot her. Cindy, who had just graduated ml h Iot teaching certificate, was unable to work in order to stay with Aiuka in the hospital. At times Arnie stayed, giving Cindy a break. "With either me or my wife in the hospital the whole lime, the rest of the kids didnt haw a mother and father at home. It hrought some negative feelings to her brothers and sister. Where she was getting all the attention they wanted to be sick to they could get a whole week withmoin and dad .. . but. as a w hole, it was pod for the family. It definitely ma-i- e us appreciate our blessings and learn to he grateful for the day and appreciate it and nuke the most of it," Arnie commented. At fur Anika. the says her "somoni isn't going to go away until she's out ofthe doors of Altamont and on to her new life away at college." ar BENEFITS BECOMING MORE WELL KNOWN ss There will bra ProscrvatkmMini-CU- s on Tursday.May 23 at the Duchesne County Library from 7 - 9 p.m. For more information contact a member of the library staff at (435) May 17 : READY TO BREAK ERIE! Anika Carlson has w orked earnestly to keep hyr grades up and Jo w ell in school, though she has suffered from a chrome illness that requ ired five years of chemotherapy treatments. She w ill graduate fourth in her class nevt month anJ has accepted a scholarship to the College of Eastern Utah. 7. Preservation i c The 2000 Duchesne County Rodeo Jr. Princess, Princess, and Queen Pageant will be held on June 6-- The entry deadline is Thursday. May 25. Fwnmre information call Kerri Le Iverson. 848-535Jans Clyde. or oluntcer. coaches oung healing remedy of essential oils is making a popular modern day comeback Age-ol- d By Utlrr E. Whiting They will be the first to tell you they arc skeptics when it comes to rather unorthodox idess for treatment of bodily ills. But they agree that essential oils small drops of oil. distilled from exotic land some not plants may be the right prescript wn for w hat ails you. Now a Believer Redge Palmer spent year in pain and lots of money in doctors' offices in an attempt to find relief for chronic lower hark pain that is, until three years agowhen he agreed to humor his friend StereMalnar and rubrsern; ,al enhofbtrch.prppcrmuil and FanA ay on the afflicted area. "It got to the point that rrery time I stood up 1 would hare to walk like sn old man for the first few minutes until I could straighten up It affected my work, I couldn't hit. 1 spent nights on a heating pad and weekends resting up. I suffered from it for right years, it eras a fairly intense bark pain." Redge explained. "He treated my back and put several different oils on it he luid me to lie there for fire minutes After that 1 gut up to answer the phone, and the pain was completely gw It eras another sis or eight months before Palmer nred'd another treat ker ment using the essential oils. "I was a new man! Within two or three weeks 1 was lifting a drum of oil into a truck." tie said adding that in the post three years he has only needed three treatments with essential oils and hasn't born back to the doctor. n Raindrop Therapy Doctors recommended that Polly Karren'a 15 year-old daughter. Cassidy, undergosurgeo to Itarea rod placid in her hark tororroct curvature of the spine. While seeking other options, a physician in Salt Lake mentioned a possible alternative, essential oils The doctor surprised roily eren more by telling her a man in Roosevelt could help her with the therapy. After about 13 nundrop-thrraptreatments by Ma.nar.and continued chiropractic care for symptomatic Cassidy i pasture wascorm wd 100 percent, and her back was straightened by about 50 jvTvrnt. sad her room, Over time the correction may be even more pronounced because the therapy includes oils that are rvpi-itcU k.i the kv!.. virus in the Ndv. Iw very plcared with hat happened." reported chiropractor Or. JvF.E 'FSSrXTl' VL ,6u5m v d W ben Maren ris'iV'g had three wiJm teeth removed she she would rub some Hriahrevum on the outside ol her prevroved a check f.c pam. Her two Wnin teeth were embedded, and she feared an extended recovery pc'iod She was skcrtnal about the oil. Nit is now; a believer. "A chin two minutes 1 wav fine." Not eoN was she pain free, she J Jn't vwc!:"g nj river needed the tnrdxr'ion prescribed fre her SO Pki (" |