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Show A6 The Emery County Review, Tuesday, September 16, 2008 ‘An Oasis of Tranquility’ Continued from Page A1. Templeton spoke to the gathered crowd about the process she went through in creating the monument. “I made the monument six feet high so we could look these men in the eyes. As a portrait sculptor, I’ve come to believe the soul resides in the eyes. When you truly look into someone’s eyes, it’s impossible to stereotype them,” Timpleton said. Perhaps one of the most touching moments of the evening came as Wendy Black spoke to the audience. Praising Governor Jon Huntsman, she recalled that it was the governor who first used the phrase “Heroes Among Us” that has come to signify the miners that make up so much of the Emery and Carbon County community. She asked for those miners involved in the Crandall Canyon rescue operation who were in the audience to please stand and as a dozen or so miners, interspersed among the crowd slowly climbed to their feet, applause erupted around them as the crowd gave the miners a standing ovation. “Yes Governor Huntsman, you are right. There are heroes among us,” she said. Speaking briefly to the crowd Governor Huntsman praised the community for being such an example to not only the state, but the country and the world, for coming together and “embracing our neighbors without barriers.” “Let us remember this place as an oasis of tranquility, an oasis of love and remembrance,” Governor Huntsman said. “It’s now time to celebrate the lives of these good men.” As the loved ones of Manny Sanchez, Carlos Payan, Kerry “Flash” Allred, Luis Hernandez, Brandon Phillips, Don Erickson, Dale “Bird” Black, Brandon Kimber, and Gary Jensen unveiled the monument, they took a moment, despite the glare of cameras flashing, to touch the likenesses of those men they loved, the nine men that in death came to define the life of a community. Crowds gather for the unveiling of the miner’s memorial Heroes Among Us in Huntington. Voters of Senate District 27, thank you for taking the time to become informed on this important political race. Cleveland Town announces winners of cleanup contest I first ran for state legislature twelve years ago, when I felt that the state was going the wrong way in its funding and in policy decisions concerning public education. I wanted to add my perspective and my experience to the debate. Kathy Ockey At that time I realized that I only had two things in my life of real value: my family and my reputation. In twelve years in public service, I have worked hard to keep both intact. Serving in the legislature from a rural area requires extra effort. I spend the required hours in meetings plus many additional hours gathering information, reading bills, and responding to my constituents’ concerns while driving between Salt Lake and Price to attend my family’s ball games, concerts, school nights, church meetings, etc. Being in legislative leadership for ten of these years demands additional meetings and hours driving Highway 6. These sacrifices are well worth it! They keep me involved in the significant events in the political and personal arenas of my life. As for my reputation, I am a hard working legislator who is more interested in making a difference than in making a point. I look at bills based on their content and not at their sponsor or party. I dig deeply into the intrinsic value of bills, their long-term consequences, and their actual cost before committing my support and reputation to them. In my first campaign I made three campaign promises. • Always put Utah’s children first • Never embarrass my family and the people I represent, and • Always consider how each law affects my constituents Therefore, I feel that I must quickly and firmly answer the attack on my reputation and my values that were contained in what was “characterized” as an opinion poll this past week. This so-called poll selected four or five of the more than 10,000 votes that I cast during my tenure in the legislature to misrepresent my positions on moral and other emotional and divisive issues. This was a PUSH POLL not an opinion poll. PUSH POLLS shape opinion, they do not seek opinion. “A PUSH POLL is an insidious form of negative campaigning. PUSH POLLS are not surveys at all, but rather unethical political telemarketing -- telephone calls disguised as research that aim to persuade large numbers of voters and to affect election outcomes, rather than measure opinions,” according to the American Association of Public Opinion Research. If you received this phone call, I ask you to go to my web site, www.bradking4utahsenate.com for the truth. Here is one example of how this “poll” is a textbook example of negative campaigning, that relied on shoddy and incomplete research, and that would receive a failing grade for a junior high research paper. Example: The poll asked something along the lines of, “If you knew that Brad King had voted against the ban on partial birth (late term abortion) would you be more likely or less likely to vote for him?” This question emotionally impacts most Utahns. The insidious nature of this question is evident given some context. In 2004 the Bush Administration was successful in passing a federal ban on this type of abortion. The law was immediately challenged in court. That same year the same law was proposed in the Utah State Legislature. Passing this law made it no more illegal for this type of abortion than not having this as a state law. However, passing it would expose Utah to a very expensive lawsuit. I voted no on the bill. Does this mean that I do not support the ban on partial birth abortion? No! Had the Opinion Research Company (who refused its name to those who inquired) done legitimate research, they would have found that I sponsored in that same legislative session a resolution entitled “Resolution Urging Support of Federal Law Prohibiting Partial Birth Abortion,” (http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2004/bills/hbillint/hjr019.htm). This resolution called for Utah’s Attorney General to file a brief in the federal lawsuit supporting the federal ban. This resolution clearly shows our support of the federal ban without exposing the state to an expensive lawsuit. I do not have space to address each of the negative points fabricated by the push poll, but please visit www.bradking4utahsenate.com for thorough explanations and facts. If you have questions about my positions on issues that are important to you, give me a personal call rather than relying on some unknown voice on the telephone. I will gladly address your concerns; I have been doing it for years. My number is 435-637-7955. I sincerely hope that my opponent, those whom he has hired to advise him on how to defeat an experienced legislator or whoever authorized the push poll, will do more thorough and accurate research. If my opponent chooses to follow the “big city politics handbook of negative campaigning,” citizens will be inundated with negative advertisements, flyers, post cards and radio ads followed by a “surprise” negative piece the week before the election. Let us keep our rural races above that level. We always have in the past. Voters of southeast Utah must reject these tactics now! I promise that the next campaign literature you read from me will focus on my accomplishments and plans and will not waste my resources on defending myself against negative campaigning. I want to talk about issues that face us in Southeast Utah including: economic development, transportation, and public education. I have enjoyed representing my constituents for the past twelve years; I wish to continue for the next four with the same campaign promises: to put Utah’s children first, never to embarrass my family and the people that I represent as your Senator, and to consider how each law will affect you. I appreciate your support on November 4th. Thank you, Brad King “Paid for by Friends and Neighbors of Brad King.” Four Corners Mental Health has received a grant that is to be used to combat prescription drug abuse. Mindee Nicholson, FCMH representative, informed the Cleveland Town Council that in order to receive this grant they need a representative from each community in the county to organize a coalition and decide how to use these funds. The council will appoint someone to be on this committee to act on behalf of the town. Heather Norton thanked the council for the efforts that have been made to combat the problem of speeding on Main Street. She said many cars have been slowing down and reported it is being patrolled more often by the sheriff’s office. Several other options to slow the traffic in this area were discussed by the council. Eldon Holmes received a zoning clearance to construct a new home. He reported the county zoning administrator had approved the plans for the home and he has also received approv- al from the special service district. Mick Rogers approached the Council with a possible subdivision in Cleveland. There was a discussion of problems with a subdivision and complications with roads and utilities. Rogers said he wanted the council to know there may be future development in the area discussed and the plans will be reviewed as it progresses. Winners of the Cleveland Cleanup contest were announced. First place was awarded to Corey and Julie Bell, 185 North 800 West; second place, Ryan and Karissa Mann, 145 South 300 West; third place, Bryan and LaNae Christensen, 15 South Center. The town plans to make this an annual contest and gives special thanks to those that made improvements on their property who didn’t enter the contest. The Emery Telcom franchise agreement was discussed and the council decided they needed more information and would table this matter until the next meeting. Elmo set for busy meeting on Oct. 8 The next Elmo town meeting, scheduled for Oct. 8, will be a busy one. Much of the meeting will be spent in revisiting and adding to the town’s schedule for installing sidewalks and curb and gutter on the town’s streets remaining without the modifications. The original schedule for the installations was prepared by the Elmo Planning and Zoning Committee in the late 90s, but the city ran into problems with construction on several streets and many other streets now need to be considered. Mayor Kurt Rasmussen reported that there are over 20 streets in the town which will be placed on the new schedule, and invited Elmo citizens to attend the meeting to assist the council in developing a new list. Clawson Town prepares for Harvest Celebration The Clawson Town council finalized plans for their annual Harvest Celebration at the town council meeting on Sept. 11. The celebration will be held at the town hall on Saturday, Sept. 20. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with crafts and face painting for children. The council and volunteers will also provide music, balloon animals, sail boat coloring and snow cones. The dinner, auction and bake sale will take place later in the evening at around 6:30. The town will provide Sloppy Joes for those in at- tendance and invites citizens to provide for the rest of the meal, pot- luck style. During the meeting, Councilmember Gerry Hatch reported the Emery County Special Service District had voted to not chip roads in Clawson and Emery this year because of the high price of asphalt. He said the step would put the towns “first in line” for the road work in 2009. Mayor Carey Bloomer also confirmed that the large dumpster will remain in town for citizens’ use until October. |