OCR Text |
Show WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009 • A3 Guardian of Your Community News Getting involved in government on a local level Mike Morley them get elected or run for office yourself. STATE REP. • Attend mass meetings. I have been pleased and Serve as a delegate or supencouraged by the increased port a good, principled cancommunication from, and didate. with, so many here in our • Participate in town hall community over the past meetings. They are usually several months. It is obvi- very poorly attended. ous that events on a nation• Every city in our area al level and right here in our has- municipal elections in own state and area have en- November. Meet the candiergized interest in and dis- dates. Attend open houses. cussion of government and Read their literature. Vote our inspired founding docu- based on how well their ments and I am thrilled. principles align with your Nearly every email, con- understanding of our foundversation, and letter con- ing documents. tains the question, "What • Communicate with can I do?1' We all recognize your local, county, state and things are not as they should national leaders on issues be and we want to make a that are important to you. It difference, but it can be dif- may surprise you how loudficult to know where to start ly your voice is heard. and what to do. Let me of• Realize that local issues fer a few suggestions: are as important as state and • Read the federal and national issues. This sumstate constitutions and the mer, a $160 million school Declaration of Indepen- district bond passed with dence only about 10 percent of • Read books which in- registered voters particispired our Founding Fa- pating. Whether or not you thers with the fire and jus- supported the bond, it is untification to act and the cer- fortunate and certainly distainty they could succeed. plays a great deal of apathy Such authors include John on the part of the electorate Locke, Adam Smith and that 10 percent decided for Thomas Paine. everyone. • Understand the dif- Edmund Burke, an 18th ference between a repub- century British parliamenlic and a democracy. The tarian, said, "All that is United States of America is necessary for the triumph a republic, not a democracy. of evil is that good men do See http://www.wimp.com/ nothing". Certainly, this thegovernment/. applies equally to good • In a republic, we are women. Let us not be conruled by the voice of the tent to do nothing. Rather, people through elected, let us boldly-move forward representatives. Do your and do all that is in our elected officials represent power. your voice? If so, help them Please feel free to conshare their message. If not, tact me with comments or find someone who repre- questions at mikemorley® sents your voice and help utah.gov. Madison's Avenue by "Big Al" and Tarnzy" All the children sung really c)ood and loud today in the church program. Letter to the Editor Around Benjamin 'Round and About Benjamin Candidates Kathleen Olsen You've probably noticed the campaign signs popping up around town and that means its election time again. This year we are going to elect a new Mayor and two city council members. I think it's important that you know exactly what and who you are voting for. In the Mayor's race you are voting for a figure head. If you think you are voting for someone who can actually do something for you and make direct changes to policy, you are wrong. Over several years, past City Council members, administration and the State Legislature has stripped the Mayor of the power you assume a Mayor has and when the Mayor you voted for doesn't appear to get anything accomplished or you don't feel they are representing your interests, they simply aren't allowed to do very much. In Spanish Fork, as with many local cities, the Mayor cuts ribbons, presides in most meetings, and is the public face of the city in many settings. The Mayor does actually have some clout when he is dealing with other elected officials on the county, state and Federal level. If the Mayor is able to establish working relationships with those officials he will be able to have a seat at the table which can benefit our community in many ways. This process does take time and effort. That leads us to voting for a City Council member. This year you will vote for two council members. City Council members, individually, can also do very little to represent you. The legislature, past city councils, and administration has also stripped council members of some basic tools that would help them to better represent you. They are strongly advised not to email citizens about specific issues, they aren't allowed to gather in neighborhood meetings on issues affecting your neighborhoods, they can't discuss issues among themselves outside a public meeting and once in the meetings the laws, processes, and procedures don't allow for serious public input or debate. The public meeting laws are so complicated that the citizens have no idea when their voice can be heard and often by the time they realize there is an issue that will affect them, the time for public input has long passed. Most elected officials don't even know all the rules they are supposed to follow. It is the system we have allowed to be created. It can be changed but it takes three city council members to do it. If you want the status quo and like to feel frustrated when you have a concern because no one seems to listen to you and in some cases they aren't allowed to listen or represent you, then I'd vote for those candidates that have proven they know the system and haven't done anything to change it. If you want the system changed and candidates who can be given a chance to change the system, then vote for newly elected officials. In the Mayor's race, you should research for yourself which candidate has put in the work to build those relationships that will benefit our community now and into the future. The citizens deserve the type of representation they elect. During this election let's take two steps forward and not three steps back. Get to know the candidates and for those incumbents or past elected officials, look at their records and decide what type of government you want to have. Matt Barber Spanish Fork Happy really feels like fall to you. And looks like fall, too. The drives in some of our near by canyons are truly breathtaking - we hope everyone gets the opportunity to take a ride to see the colorful views. ••• Benjamin 1st Ward enjoyed its Frost Fair (which, weatherwise, lived up to its name) on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at the Benjamin Park. It was a cool, crisp, clear night and the bonfires were very welcome as people took advantage of them to sit around and visit. Supper consisting of chili, scones, vegetables, cookies and apple juice was served and seemed to hit the spot. The scone cookers were kept very busy throughout evening. Despite the rather rough growing season, there were enough pumpkins to make contests for different kinds of pumpkins plus jack-olanterns. Winning the prize for the heaviest pumpkin was Sheldon Hansen. Other prizes went to Ray Virchow, Rick Story and Elijah Oxborrow. All of the children who entered jack-o-lanterns were deemed prize worthy and all of the entries were awarded fun prizes. This year, there were no weed or flower entries. The Primary age children were delighted with the pinatas just for them to break and get the candy prizes that fell when the fatal blows were delivered to the pinatas. It was sort of sad to see the beautiful pinatas made by the Montoya family broken but they provided some great fun. The Frost Fair was presented by the ward Activity Committee consisting of Craig and Christine Pullman, James and Janine King, Rick and Christa Story, Tony and Maureen Er- HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING • Service • Furnace Replacements • A/C Add Ons • Green Sticker • Financing OAC Fan saue ocTOBer 16-ocTOBer 31 "Yeah,... we really got JIGGY with the hymn." GymCheetah Dancewear, Shorts Leotards & Gifts Soccer Clearance All soccer shorts & flocks 25% Off 428NSR198 Salem me SOFTEST BLanKCT sou Bring a mem) arm sou win ever mu a n pip- BOTH can Be ervrereD in a perenTcowrsanp sizes. Drawing For a Free rasa THereissomeTHingFor BLanKCT! everaone. . Com£ §££ us at 60781>. 4000 W., Spanish fork MonDaa-saTurDaa 10 &IIL-6 p.m. or can Mana For an appr. aT 798-3681 Mention this ad and get 10 % off your total order JILSO visiT us aT www.marLaroo.com NE of Chevron behind Papa Kelscys MJtV4G:W T& Til 4-7 Sal lO-li White NppGfj Uri See our store at COUPON GymCheetah.com The Sentinel "If you do big things they print your face, and if you do little things they print only your thumbs." Arthur Baer Keep in mind! The Benjamin community Trunk or Treat will be held on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, on the Benjamin Church'grounds. Kids are invited to come in their costumes while adults are invited to -be their with their car trunks open with treats for the various ghosts, goblins, witches and whatever other kinds of creatures that might be lurking around that evening. This is always a fun and safe way to celebrate this special evening.. PORTERS Maria IRpo's Mink^ys fadlngo LL.C, Allan Otean and Danvn Fames ickson and John and Jody Topham with Blair and Kathleen Olsen, chairmen. Others who helped with the evening's preparation included Duane and Jody Lundell, Clay Foy, Jason Taylor, the scouts of Troop 98, the Young Women of the ward, and many others who stepped up when they saw a need. It was such a fun evening that even going home smelling of smoke didn't bother anyone. Thanks to everyone who helped in any way and we hope to see everyone at next year's Frost Fair. ••• It seems that it's time again to remind folks to keep their dogs home unless they are accompanied by a responsible person. Dogs have been seen running in packs and harassing livestock that are now in the fields since returning from the summer ranges. They have even entered barnyards and harassed chickens, ducks and other fowl. The dogs think they are having a good time chasing the animals but it is very stressful and, many times, fatal, to them. Some sheep are nearing lambing time and loose dogs can raise all kinds of havoc with sheep and their lambs. It is also against the law to allow your dog to be running unsupervised. Thanks for your help in controlling this problem. ••• bryant Hasting & Cooling Symtems WHATEVER IT TAXES 798-1700 Your source tor Community Views Hie Sentinel 'Guardian of Your Community News'' |