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Show TheEmeryCountyReview.com Black & Gold Miss Peach Days Ferron crowns its queen for annual celebration It’s Spartan vs. Spartan as football season returns REVIEW A4 A5 Emery County The Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Local News, Local Voice, Locally Owned Volume 2, Issue 34. 75 Cents Lawsuit filed on treatment center issue James L. Davis The on again off again debate over a residential treatment facility for troubled teenage girls in Ferron is on again as a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District court on Aug. 6 against Ferron City. The lawsuit, filed by disability law attorney Raymond Scott Berry on behalf of Charlotte Williams and her company, Pine Meadows Residential Treatment Center, asks the court to compel the city council to issue the center a business license. The battle between Williams and Ferron City has been ongoing since last December over the issues of permitting the development of a residential treatment facility for troubled teenagers in Ferron. The Ferron City Council voted during its Feb. 28 meeting against amending its zoning ordinances to allow the facility to go forward, the last action by the city in a back and forth debate that has embroiled much of the community. In February residents for and against the facility filed into the council chambers after the Ferron Planning and Zoning Committee returned the hot potato issue to the council with the recommendation that the council change its zoning ordinance to allow the facility to be established in South Ferron. The residential treat ment facility and discus sions about it encompassed three separate items on the Ferron City Council agen da on the night of Feb. 28, with proponents for the facility and critics of the facility both requesting their opportunity to address the council prior to its deliberation of the issue. At that time Williams addressed the council and read a letter from her attorneys at the office of Hughes and Morley. In the letter At torney Jaymon J. Thomas presented his analysis of the issue, stating: “The starting point of our analysis is the fact that the proposed use is for a residential facility for the disabled; in this case, disabled young women be tween the ages of 12-18. The young women who will be admitted to this residential program suffer from a vari ety of mental impairments, including emotional and behavioral disturbances, depression, communication disorders, and attention deficit and disruptive behaviors. These impairments substantially limit the major life activities of these young women,” Thomas said in his letter. William’s attorneys argued that as a matter of state law residential facili ties for the disabled are al lowed in any zone where non-disabled individuals are allowed to reside. With that being the case, the at Continued on Page A3. New postmasters selected for local post offices Kathy Ockey The retirement of one postmaster and the transfers of two other postmasters have resulted in the appointments of three new postmasters in Emery County. Debbie Newman, Huntington resident and post office clerk, was appointed postmaster in Orangeville effective Aug. 16. Debbie has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 21 years. “This is my career. I love it. I love being involved with the people and the community. I really enjoy the people of Orangeville and want them to know I am here to serve them and want to do a good job,” she said. Jamie Bingham was appointed as postmaster in the Castle Dale Post Office and will start Aug. 30. She grew up in Huntington and is now living and working in Pleasant Grove. Jamie started as a clerk in Huntington 25 years ago. She said she is really excited Debbie Newman to work in Castle Dale and has been trying for years to come back to this area to work. Christine Anselmo was appointed postmaster for the Cleveland Post Office beginning Aug. 30. Christine has worked for the postal service in Price for 17 years. She lives in Elmo and said she was pleased that she will be closer to home. Christine said she has been a supervisor and is excited for the new position. “It will be a welcome change,” she said. The funeral procession for Montell Seely makes the slow trip to the Castle Dale Cemetery. Historical Figure Author of Castle Valley Pageant and local legend is laid to rest after accident on hand cart trek F James L. Davis riends of Montell Seely might say he was a 19th Century man who lived, and died, in a 21st Century world. The passing of the husband, father, farmer and lover of pioneer history who dreamed of the Castle Valley Pageant and with sheer force of will brought the pageant to life, was in many ways a testament to his life. He died on Aug. 12 while doing what he loved, reliving a little of the pioneer past that he came to personify. That Montell was struck down by a motorist while leading a handcart expedition across the mountains came as a shock to the county that had grown used to him being here, a living piece of history, although he was only 74. If his death leading a handcart expedition in 2008 seemed a little surreal, it might have made Montell himself smile. Less than three days after the last performance of the 2008 Castle Valley Pageant, Montell died recreating the trek the pageant told the story of. With Montell, Hannah Wagstaff, 13, was also killed when they were hit by a motorist who was blinded by the Photo by James L. Davis Community members watch as the funeral procession for Montell Seely makes its way up Spartan Avenue. early morning sun. In the accident two of Montell’s grandchildren, Johnny Seely, 7, and Hannah Seely, 9, were injured. On Aug. 16 Montell was laid to rest in the Castle Dale Cemetery, and at his funeral his loved ones tipped their hats to the man and his way of life. His funeral held true to the pioneer heritage he so loved. Continued on Page A8. Trash contract debate continues in Ferron Colleen Davis The garbage debate continued, dominating the Ferron City council meeting Aug. 14. Wade Williams, owner of City Sanitation opened discussion, stating that he was caught off guard by the special meeting that was scheduled for the garbage contract bids. He said he was not aware that a decision on who would be awarded the contract would be made dur- ing that meeting. Williams then handed out copies of the original letter that was sent out to City Sanitation when bids were first opened, along with a copy of Emery County Sanitation bid and a new five year bid from City Sanitation to all who were present at the city meeting. Williams argued that it was reported in the original letter that was sent to City Sanitation that it would be a three-year contract. Williams further argued if he had been aware of it being a five-year contract instead of a three-year contract it would have definitely changed the numbers. Council member Trent Jackson stated that Williams could not change the numbers now from the night the original bid was opened. Williams countered that if the council would look at option two his bid was the lowest bid. It was argued by the council that option two should have just been thrown out; the bid was open for interpretation because it was lacking any hard numbers. There was some concern expressed by the public during the meeting that a more detailed letter had been sent out to Emery County Sanitation. Ferron City Treasurer, Tami Bennett reported that the only information that was sent to Emery County Continued on Page A3. |
