OCR Text |
Show AN E D I T I O N O F P R I D E p Utah Press Association Tear Sheets 1521 E3900S3te 100 Salt Lake City UT 84124-1550 illllllllllllllllllllllllllimilllllllllllllllimillllllllll The Fork News L O C A L L Y O W N E D A N D O P E R A T E D WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008 VOL. 3 / NO. 4 1 SPANISH FORK, UTAH Jen Allen / Spanish Fork News DONE DEAL: County Commissioner Larry Ellertson and SF Councilman Wayne Andersen shake hands after signing the contract to keep the County Fair in Spanish Fork. It's official: Fair to stay in SF Jen Allen STAFF WRITER Courtesy photo LIFE SAVERS: Pictured at Starvation Reservoir are, back row, left to right, Adam Russell, Jason Matsuoka, Matt Huntsman and Luke Olsen; front row, Gracie Bowcut and Jessica Murdock. V Jen Allen STAFF WRITER Jason Matsuoka, a 34 year old resident of Spanish Fork City, says he learned a valuable lesson as he was saved by five youth this past summer. Matsuoka said "Even leaders can forget sometimes that the best swimmers can drown." Matsuoka was acting as a lifeguard to two of the boys, also from Spanish Fork, as they certified for their swim test. The group was attending a Youth Conference at Starvation Reservoir and had to pass a swim test before being allowed on the boats for the rest of the activities. The swim test requires that one be able to swim 100 yards without a life vest in water deeper than their own height. As the two boys, Adam Russell and Luke Olsen began to complete the last quarter of their swim Matsuoka felt his muscles stiffen up and his body become extremely heavy and tired. Much to Matsuoka's luck, the two boys realized the predicament he was in and responded quickly. Olsen was the first to reach Matsuoka and as he did, asked him to float. Matsuoka faintly replied that he could not. "That was when I really started to worry" said Olsen. Using proper lifesaving techniques, Olsen wrapped his arms under Matsuoka's and over his chest while he tried to swim him back to the shore. Russell soon caught up with the two and finished swimming Matsuoka in when Matt Huntsman threw them a buoy attached to a rope. Along with Gracie Bowcut and Jessica Murdock, Huntsman was able to See TEENS • A10 Wind Farm dedication Two of the most important key players in the deal between Utah County and Spanish Fork City were seen cooking steaks to celebrate the signing of the contract. County Commissioner Ellertson and Councilmember Andersen both donned cherry red aprons as they grilled the main course for those in attendance. The night's festivities were to celebrate giving a home to the Utah County Fair while also providing grounds that every Utah County citizen would be able to use. The county has purchased land to the immediate East of the Fair Grounds and is planning to build an Equestrian center so that South County citizens can have access to this kind of facility. Those county and city citizens and officials in attendance were addressed and sincerely thanked for their work in the fair and city by Councilman Andersen and Commissioner Ellertson. Andersen said he was "tickled to use the facility to a greater extent" and that the whole council hopes that they will be able to wear out the facility rath- er than let it rust out. Steve Money, Special Events Coordinator for SF City attributed Andersen with being the driving force behind this deal with the county while Commissioner Ellertson thanked him for having stuck with the process. The county has been looking for a place in which a Southern Utah County Equestrian Center could be built for years. Spanish Fork Fair Grounds with its available land directly to the East was what Ellertson called the "proverbial no brainer." The contract, which holds steep penalties for either party should they want out of the contract, binds the city and the county for a unforeseen amount of time. Although the language specifies that the contract is solid for the next 50 years, both Andersen and Ellertson stress that the intent is that the two work in conjunction, despite any personality conflicts that may arise, for the infinite future. It is extremely clear that those at the signing as well as county officials and city officials are happy to see the fair return home where some claim, it rightly belongs. Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN: Randy Gordon of Lake Shore talks pumpkins with Denise Smith of Salem. Courtesy photo / Bryce Walker, SFCN RENEWABLE: Governor Jon M. Huntsman was in town for the official dedication of Spanish Fork's commercial wind farm. Huntsman said, "We didn't pass senate bill 202 and set a renewable portfolio initiative in the state just to have numbers for people to look at and scoff at. Now that Spanish Fork has done it, not just talked about it, it can be done again and again and again. ... The Spanish Fork wind farm represents the four pillars of energy that we all need to be focused on 1, affordability, 2. predictability, 3. independence and 4. sustainability." Above, Mayor Joe Thomas presents Huntsman with a flag made 100 percent out of recycled pop bottles, a symbol of Spanish Fork's commitment to renewing our resources. Farmers' market Christene Choate STAFF WRITER The farmers' market has been in Spanish Fork for the past seven years. It runs from the middle of September to mid-October See MARKET • A10 |