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" r IF ' Lehi Free Press New Utah! OPINION I !:'''l :: MME1z3 :! W' :ffr ?::z ore s e e S itt0 "':ai s::::l 4"::Nzv Gaining new access to ' :v 1 1-- 15 resources to the project But the money wasn't the hardest part The project had to be designed and engineered in record time Planning began last January and the project had to be completed and ready for bid by Aug 15 in order to qualify for Federal Highway Administration funding Those who worked together to meet that remarkable deadline deserve credit for making the project Wednesday's groundbreaking n for a Pleasant is the interchange on result of years of planning and some hard work on the part of both communities All of north Utah County will benefit The Interchange will be built close to the location of the old rest stop on the southbound lane of the freeway It will provide direct freeway access to Pleasant Grove and Lindon — work and more Construction will take The new interchange will almost two years with the new also offer the most direct freeway access to American Fork interchange scheduled to open in September 2002 Hospital the Mount TimpanoLone and Peak The work won't be completed gos Temple even then although Pleasant High School as well as and Grove and Lindon will have American Fork Canyon and done their part to improve Timpanogos Cave National access to major areas in north Monument Utah County The new interFurthermore this interchange will increase traffic on change will likely provide freefor a access Cedar several local roads — most Valley way notably 4800 West which runs highway that will run through through Highland and Cedar Saratoga Springs Eagle MounHills and provides access to tain and Cedar Fort taking the temple Lone Peak High pressure off of the Lehi's Main and American Fork Canyon Street Plans to widen that road are And that's not to mention a in the works and could start number of businesses that are next year sure to follow in the wake of a new major access point to an Landscaping and road interstate highway improvements in Pleasant Grove and Lindon near the In fact a number of commercial and industrial buildings interchange are also necessary but discussions in both commuhave already been built in nities demonstrate a clear the of interchange anticipation construction understanding of what needs to None of this has come cheap be done The new interchange will or easy The interchange will cost $109 million — and that provides improved access and doesn't include the cost of landreduce stress on other interchanges most notably Ameriscaping the area Funding for the interchange will come from can Fork's overworked interthe Federal Highway Adminischange at 500 East It will also tration the Utah Department provide opportunities for economic development which is of Transportation and local resources The key here is that supported by this kind of freethe local resources had to be in way access This interchange has been place before the other funding would be made available needed for years It's good to see ground broken for this Pleasant Grove and Lindon have committed substantial landmark project Grove-Lindo- 1 I 'Striking a balance with nature They're The alliga- ba-a-a- ck tors that is Hunted almost to extiracin earlier in this century Florida's remaining alligator population wu finally officially protected in time to prevent the M r' 4000: t: II A Beky Off As I can personally attest after a visit to the Everglades last week the alligators are doing just fine thank you very much In some sections of this national park there was one about every 10 feet it seemed but they certainly weren't in apparent short supply any- where The risk in encountering them was on posted signs in every one of the several wildlife preserves I visited along with a reminder to observers that they are natives with an important role in the natural ecology of the area Actually the alligators are doing so well that Florida game authorities now allow limited hunting in the preserves to keep the population in check The irony here is unmistakable but it's one that's a common theme here in the West In Utah where a number of e animals were brought back from decades ago debates continue over whether or how many to hunt as well as over other philosophies and big-gam- near-eradicati- on herd-managem- practices It's an uncomfortable but undeniable truth that conservation efforts here as well as nationwide are largely funded d by the fees paid for the Beaton path - game-relate- licensing Conservation does cost money and there has never been enough commitment of private funds to meet the needs So in Utah and Florida and many other places it has come down to a question of balance There are those who would advocate that anything still existing in a "natural state" should be perpetually left that way This is a lovely sentiment but it isn't very practical In the first place I'm not sure if there is anyplace left in the world untouched by the hand of man which is how I would define a 'natural state" In fact the addition of so-call-ed that is ones that were not a part of the "exotic" species original mix of flora and fauna of any given area — to delicately balanced ecosystems has become a worldwide problem Attempts to eradicate such invaders continue in many places but in most there is no hope the war will meet with ultimate success In some the damage has been so widespread that many native species can't be brought back because they no longer exist I first became really aware of this type of problem during my visits to Hawaii the past five years but I've seen evidence of it everywhere now that I know what to look for Though not one of the case histories Utah has not been spared as witnessed by even a casual investigation of the available literature on the high-profi- le subject My Katie had always been the child who was the strong one who rarely got sick arid always had a way of taking charge She was invincible and as her motherI had rather gotten used to it When she was yotmger she helped manage the children And she was organized She had a way of looking at things that could help you come up with answers to a problem Additionally what would be normal challenges for any other child seemed easy to hen The first time she tried to ride a bike she rode it like she had been riding fir year She never found school studies difficult Not at least until algebra in seventh grade 4ind even then she eventually figured it out could talk your ear oft yet withdraw into herself so quickly And she always was very good with children She would form her own little neighborhood preschool and enjoyed teaching her sisters and their friends That was Katie Sometimes it was an enigraa associating with he How does one lead a child when the child so often leads the leader? But it was this same child I took into the doctor's office for a persist-oupset stomach in early September While Dr Stmdwidl was checking her ears nose throat pulse he paused as he held his stethoscope to um ' CathyAlired encounters with nature in Florida brought these issues back to my mind For those of us who have been taught that earth's natural riches are a stewardship not simply something to be exploited and discarded the question of how to balance the needs of man and nature is one we need to continue to consider whenever the two appear to be in conflict New Utah! (ISSN No 1521-685(11SPS No 309-500- 1 A member Published weekly by - Developments: Nothing can quite compare to a parent going into an immediate adrezudin 'this is my offspring you'le talking about" mode This had Katie and the was in fault be a me there might just the Rock of Gibraltar Katie had no chie as to the posalle time bomb the doctor had just dropped in my lap After reassuring me it was probably nothing to worzy about the doctor suggested a digestive medication for her and then discussed an appointment for the echocardiogram Katie went home happ3 Mom got on the Internet After printing out a 118 inch thick fileI learned all I amid about heart murmurs There are different types of heart murmurs and the most common is the innocent heart murmur It was highly likely she just had a lazy valve Two months later it was confirmed by a cardiologist at Primazy children's Medical Hospital that Katie indeed had an innocent heart murmur and no more than that Two months of not knowing There were moments before the diagnosis I would worrS feel at peace then worry all over again Thoughts hire what if God just doesn't want me to worry because in the grand scheme of things this is a physn ut hear her heartbeat 'By the way has anyone ever told you your daughter has a heart 110 a a a a a It is a beautiful stem one more worthy than the small space and skills we have to offer it It is an unusual account of faith and tri- -: umph where a family's sorrows become their joys I would hie to thank the Birch family for being so gracious and letting us intrude one more time into their private lives so we could share this story with you for the holiday& This year they truly have so much to be thankful for As do we all May the ilicommg holidays bring you happmess and memories to last a lifetime And may your trials whether great or small be eased by the heartfelt comfort of peace Without the expiration date of course Remind me to never complain again Ws very late Monday night I don't want to write this column It's hard I feel hie complaining There are so many things I could complain about kbr instance I don't hie people who whine The onbr time they talk to me is when they have something to complain about It makes me tired In other words my first paragraph has probably made you tired or sick or maybe sick and tired On the other hand there are so many things to be tlumkful foz Yes I know 1114mkagiving has pissed but I'm a little tardy I hate people ' who are tardy Let's try !again "And he who receiveth all things with thankfidness shall be made glorious11CD&C benefactors of a great journalistic legacy founded and forged with the community over many years We know we can't drop the ball Thank you to the many who contaute some of themselves to the newspapez We could never pay you enough because what you do is worth a lot more than money Thank you to our friemds in the press and mail rooms and the delivery drivers who toil through the night so the newspaper le on your the morning Without get it all together Last week was our company Christmas partyy For me its pnmary purpose is to say thank you to every employee We have some very talented even amazing who work in our little office good and they care Lees all try to minimize the hectic in the holidays and really enjoy the gifts of the season Thank you to all of you who decomte on the Brett Bezzant corm-'preda- te Looking r N" over the O'biloust f''4110111Q 7 needy famffies That says something about the character of our commu— - -- nities r Thank you to the 'person' who sts on making our day better here at the office Your smile your laugh and your pleasing personality make it all worthwhile Thank you to all the drivers who don't seam and swear when my own driving is less than it should be Thank you to city employees who are always being asked to do a little more with a little less Even worse than having as your boss thousands of subscribers is you guessed it working for thousands of taxpayers Thank you to every newspaper carrier and every mailtrum who takes pride in seeing that our literary efforts actually get in the hands of those who matter most Without you we're just talking to ourselvea Thank you to the readers who spontaneously remind us how important this newspaper is in their lives It reminds in that we are the I'm very thankful that my first grand child is about to be born — tonight — soon — we any minute nova hope this isn't waiting for us to name the next US president I'm thankful my two oldest sons have found - wonderful compan ions— and no I'm not talking about companions monary Yes there are so many reasons to change my grumpy attitude-- You're probably one of them Thanks to all of you who quietly do Christmas for others who are less fortunate In our ennual1lChristznas Family" prqject we always seem to have more would-b- e Santas than - 7in d de It's now early Tuesday morning I just returned from the hospital where I held my granddaughtez She has two bright eyes 10 toes 10 fingers lots of hair and fat cheeks She is in perfect and so well glorious Remind me to nevez ever even think about complaining again evez And have a veryjoyous Christmas with everyone and everything that matters most READER'S FORUM education Fix Editor: - This in response to Julie Loveridgre's column in last week's Lehi Free Press New Utah! I am sorry to hear about the cancellation of the community theater production during the teachers 'job action" Lehi needs all the arts and entertainment it can get it's hands on I do hóweve4 question your reasoning and priorities The education problem in Utah is one that needs to be fixed NOW Teachers have been so laid back about the problems in the public school system that it's Jmost too late This job action was not meant to inconvenience parents or to 'teach" anyone anything It is a last ditch effort to tell citizens of this state that their children are being short changed and that public education is in real trouble especially in this state This job action was a wake-u-p call a gentle one at that So don't shoot the non-irritati- ng inotiono I d messenger get to know the facts and bring your ideal and energy to the table to help find a viable solution to these seriosproblems that effect all of us 1 Overcrowding of schools: Alpine School Dist is the fastest growing in the state 2 Teacher shortage: Almost every school began the year without a full compliment of teachers College enrollment in education is e low levels Some at r salaries after a degree start at just $18000 They are blamed for the low enrollment a Lack of equipment books computers libraries and refer-mic- e materials education ' — Debbie Dean ' Cemetery lots Editor: LeM City recently increased the costa of cemetery fees I insist-nthat the increase take place until Jan I 2001 Lehi citaxens can save about half if they pin-- : chase their cemetery lots during the next two and one-haweeks Many of the old time family cemetery accounts with Lehi City ot - all-tim- c : lf four-yea- are inconsistent and may be in error If you are not sure if your cemetery accounts are in order I suggest you check them out before 4 Violence the first of the 'year It may save 5 Language barriers you money in the future These are just some of the chalIf you plan on dying within the lenges teachers face If we don't next hundred years or so and if realize the importance of these you wish to be buried in Lehi challenges and meet them with keep in mind that you not the city new and Aventive alternatives council can control the costs of we may be parting with more your final resting place in Lehi than a theatrical production We Cemetery will be parting with a whole lot of —Cari Mellor Lehi City Council Member money money for a private school - - i NATIONAL NEVAINPOt ASSOCIATION WWI I Cicidation Ness AewcahAews ESict Wen Edior Group 59 Wed Main American Fork Utah 84003 sax Telephone Plumbers ar1he etttLefLoo asswoLiigmflw 7566273 Bra Burst alas Hadtdi Psteslier aly Casa Sod Pomba 756-76t- e Zoity eked Sibiattion price Tc2e pet pet Periodicals Postage Paid at American Fork Utah POSTMASTER surd maims Mop lo 111Wag al Awing' Foe UM MO Nag Sons Illgoolanos Vislimps Spoils CONIMIAly Calordw 'Lora to Mee 11 amain Tulsa noon Mond S pot Monday 2 pia Money 2 pal Ikodif 2 pia Mundt 10 aft Manama 10 as Jaordip Ameba 10 SAL 11 ant We welcome letters to the Al letters mud kiclude the author's name (printed AND signed) and a telephone number We reserve the right to edit letters tor dark punctuataste and length Lettersare welcome on any topic now " - PO Fork 758-527- 4 - By III PERSON 4IAL " : ditorenewutaltoom 59 W Main American Fo rk f : A A lb Rug BY MAL Box 7 American UT 84003 : To REACH US I ' INLA - UN Free Prim : A very minute problem? What Heavenly Father just wants me to know that this too shtgl pass (some day eons from now)? What if the peace-fifeeling is only good for today but hie a coupon expires tomorrow? M you can see faith is not one of my greater meets I wan a basket case for nearly two month & It is so much easier to rise to the occasion when you know what you are fight-bi- g instead of dealing with the unknown However ours was a minor problem There are other families rho have had to endure so much more This week's feature stoty is a story not just about one person but about a family and bow they and fought against the :1S74 44 - - A- g NeW 78:19) Beaton otherwise-i- nevitable - Faith depends on the expiration date if " ! - Wednesday December 13 2000 - Page 2 : egee amiao p001 |
