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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 2 Volume X Issue II May 1, 2004 Letters to the Editor The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Staff: Shanna Francis Tel: 745-2688 Fax: 745-0062 Cell: 791-4387 E-Mail: slfrancis@att.net Jeannie Wendell Tel: 745-2879 Fax: 745-2879 E-Mail: crwendell@att.net crwendell@msn.com Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists or letters to the editor are not necessarily the opinions of the owners and staff of The O GDEN VALLEY NEWS. Guidelines for Letters to the Editor Letters should be 300 words or less. Letters must be signed and the address of the writer submitted. The O GDEN VALLEY NEWS reserves the right to edit or decline printing of any submissions. Announcements Sought As a community service, The O GDEN VALLEY NEWS will print local birth, wedding, obituary, anniversary and missionary farewell & homecoming and Eagle Scout announcements free of charge. We invite residents to send their announcements to: The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS PO BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 If you would like your submitted items returned, please send a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS, while respecting all property received, will take no responsibility for lost or misplaced items. Please remember to keep a copy for yourself. Invitation for Articles The staff of The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS welcomes the submission of articles by our readership. We invite you to submit local historical accounts or biographies, articles pertaining to contemporary issues, and/or other material that may be of interest to our readers. We also invite you to submit to the paper, or notify the staff of local events. Awards that have been earned by the reader, family members, neighbors or friends are also sought. While the staff of The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS invites the submittal of information and articles, we reserve the right to select which material will be considered for publication. All material, to be considered, must be submitted with the full name, address and telephone number of the person submitting the material. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS’ liability on account of errors in, or omissions of, advertising shall in no event exceed the amount of charges for the advertising omitted or the space occupied by the error. The O GDEN VALLEY N EWS does not endorse, promote or encourage the purchase or sale of any product or service advertised in this newspaper. Advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS hereby disclaims all liability for any damage suffered as the result of any advertisement in this newspaper. The O GDEN VALLEY N EWS is not responsible for any claims or representations made in advertisements in this newspaper. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS has the sole authority to edit and locate any classified advertisement as deemed appropriate. It also reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Note: The contents of The OGDEN VALLEY N EWS are copyrighted. To protect this publication and its contributors from unlawful copying, written permission is required before any individual or company engages in the reproduction or distribution of its contents, by any means, without first obtaining written permission from the owners of this publication. Business Owner Solicits Input for Commercial Business Since we became part-time residents of the Valley about four years ago, we have been receiving the OGDEN VALLEY NEWS here in Rock Springs, Wyoming as a means by which, in our absence there, we can experience Ogden Valley vicariously. I especially enjoy the historic page which helps me to better understand the basis upon which the Valley was initially established and is presently viably sustained. I spent two years in Yugoslavia from 1971 to 1973 locating and connecting with members of my ancestry; it was quite a joy to have done so. Both Helen and I are mental health workers with a focus on family systems, so it is a joy to see so much written about the youth and the variety of familial activities. We have our second home in the Valley and have personally striven to enhance the viability of the community both by having a second home and by contributing to the community by constructing The Eden Car Wash that is located near the junior high behind the Eats of Eden, a few doors down from the Red Moose Lodge and Valley Junction intersection. The Car Wash employs many ecological elements such as recycled water that is treated with organic compounds. The car wash also uses cold water soaps to save on natural gas consumption. It does not use irrigation water so precious to farmers. As the new Eden Car Wash owner/members (Debby and Dr. Edmund Boese; and Helen and myself—Dr. Stanislav O’Jack), we want to express our thanks for the utilization of our facility at Valley Junction by both the full- and part-time residents, plus those visitors who frequent this peaceful Valley. Architecturally, I, Dr. O’Jack, one of the original owners, strove to design a facility that was both utilitarian and monumental, the latter as a tribute to the Valley and its necessary controlled expansion. In the rental space above the car wash and laundromat is an area that is want for use for a business that can incorporate the needs and wishes of the Valley’s citizens, and also of those who frequent the Valley. We are toying with the idea of using it for a boutique, or for Yoga and/or T’ai Chi classes, bingo, or other such activities that conceivably would appeal to Valley residents as well as to visitors who recreate by skiing, hiking, golfing, boating, or just peacefully vegetating in Ogden Valley. I would like to ask for the residents of the Valley to contribute suggestions on how to utilize this space. Please submit your suggestions to Dr. O’Jack at <hojack@sweetwaterhsa.com> Dr. Stanislav O’Jack, Rock Springs, Wyoming Inspirational Thought Don’t listen to those who say, “It’s not done that way.” Maybe it’s not, but maybe you will. Don’t listen to those who say, “You’re taking too big a chance.” Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor, and it would surely be rubbed out by today. Most importantly, don’t listen when the little voice of fear inside of you rears its ugly head and says, “They’re all smarter than you out there. They’re more talented, they’re taller, blonder, prettier, luckier, and have connections . . . “ I firmly believe that if you follow a path that interests you, not to the exclusion of love, sensitivity, and cooperation with others, but with the strength of conviction that you can move others by your own efforts, and do not make success or failure the criteria by which you live, the chances are you’ll be a person worthy of your own respect. — Neil Simon Deadline for material for the May 15 OVN issue is May 7. Resident Wants Question Answered About Incorporation In my conversations about the Eden Incorporation effort with other Eden residents, I keep hearing the same question again and again: If incorporated, what is the benefit to the community, or to me? This question, to my knowledge, has never been answered. Those who are proponents of incorporation are, to this point, either unable or unwilling to answer this basic question. It is not widely known that if incorporation is successful, the new city will be able to annex any property it likes. The new city will also have the power of bonding and to levy tax for water systems, sewer systems, and street lighting (UT code 10-7-7) (UT Code 10-7-14.2). The new city will be able, thru Acquisition and Condemnation (UT Code 10-7-4), to acquire the existing water systems in part or whole. This is almost never done at fair market value. In order to get the money to buy your share of water, they will be able to bond or levy taxes, which will paid by you, to pay you $0.25 on the dollar for water you now own! Once they have your water (which you must have) they will be able to charge you anything they want for it. Can anyone tell me how this will be good for me? Another little unknown fact by most— those who are behind this effort. The sponsors of the movement to incorporate Eden are as follows: Jim Halay Owner of Alpine Pizza Dick Manley Realtor, Great American Reality Steve Clarke Retired IBM Paul Delong Retired, Powder Mt. Ski Host,Area representative for Lindal Cedar Homes Jim Ormsbee Ormsbee, Consultant, financial planning Ed. Rahrer, Eden Democratic-Republican Government “The true foundation of republican government is in the equal right of every citizen, in his person and property, and in their management.” —Thomas Jefferson (1816) Jefferson captured the essence of a government “. . . of the people, by the people, and for the people” in those simplistic words. Governments in the United States are based upon democracy, which has been too lightly characterized as “one person, one vote.” There are many responsibilities for citizens who wish to live in a democracy. Self-rule is difficult if justice is to reign. Democracy dictates adherence to “the majority rules.” Democracy works well in necessarily limited surroundings. When the citizens are all equal, when they are members of a similar race, creed, culture, economic class, etc., democracy is the ideal manner of governing the common interests, of governing the community. When all citizens participate and all opinions can be heard in a forum of civil public debate and when, through compromise based upon acceptable concessions from all persons, a decision can be reached in which all derive equal benefit and/or equal burden, liberty is held inviolable, the common good is enhanced, and tranquility reigns. Persons relinquish certain individual rights to become members of a community. Those are the rights that are reasonably necessary for societal cohesion and mutual benefit. No person ever forfeits the right of self defense and no person ever gains the right of aggression upon the equal rights of another. When the community is expanded beyond the point where all voices can be heard, or when a marked difference of race, creed, culture, economic class, etc. becomes established, democracy breaks down and the formation of a republic is requisite to promote equity in the laws. The fifty states are the base of republican government for communities. The state unites diversity into a cohesive unit while maintaining diversity. The citizens approved a constitution (the law which forms and regulates state government) in which they told the elected officials what they were authorized to do, and each citizen has agreed to place certain rights in trust with the state, rights they agree not to use separately but as a state, to enable it to govern. Districts within the state select representatives charged with representing the citizens of their district in the state legislature (only one state has a one-house legislature). Those houses are, by design, democracies whose size is limited to allow all voices to be heard and a consensus to be achieved. With faithful representation, the will of all citizens can be formulated into just legislation benefiting and/or burdening all equally. Population, citizen diversity, and the states natural characteristics dictate that the state government cannot efficiently and wisely regulate the local affairs of citizens. The state created counties, cities, etc. that are the local republics to regulate matters too specific for generalization. The United States Constitution formed the individual states into one nation. That constitution was authorized by the people on a state by state basis and is the law dictating form and jurisdiction for the federal government. States subsequent to the original thirteen agreed to abide by established laws. Representatives to the federal legislature, again limited democracies, are the citizens’ voices heard on matters of general application as authorized in the constitution. The president of the United States is the chief executive officer put in place to manage the affairs of the nation as dictated by the people through the legislature. The same is true of governors and the executives of cities and towns. When functioning properly through the citizens assuming responsibility for proper governance, the democratic-republican form of government is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Government is ruled from the bottom up and managed from the top down. All problems with government in the United States can be placed at the feet of the citizens. The president is not to blame for troops in Iraq or the loss of jobs. A democratic or republican majority in congress is not responsible for high taxes or fuel costs. The fault lies with the people. Individuals must learn what their rights are. There are no rights given to the people by the constitution (see Amendment IX). What responsibilities for government and to the community do people have? Why should citizens insure the rights of others that they will never use themselves? Who would make the best candidate for an office? Why should people select and support candidates for office from communities when they feel the party candidates will not faithfully represent a community’s views? Is adherence to party platforms in the best interest of the community, the state, and the nation? Some of these questions and many others should be on the minds of citizens because it is they who need to work for equity, peace, tranquility, and all of the blessing of liberty for which our society was formed. Get involved. Engage the work of protecting equality of rights for everyone and governing your own affairs. Make your voices heard. Roger Price, Huntsville |