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Show A-2 Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, February 23-26, 2019 The Park Record Continued from A-1 The Park Record. Serving Summit County since 1880 The Park Record, Park City’s No. 1 source for local news, opinion and advertising, is available for home delivery in Summit, Wasatch, Salt Lake, Davis and Utah counties. Single copies are also available at 116 locations throughout Park City, Heber City, Summit County and Salt Lake City. SUBSCRIPTION RATES In Summit County (home delivery): $56 per year (includes Sunday editions of The Salt Lake Tribune) Outside Summit County (home delivery available in Wasatch, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Utah counties; all other addresses will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service): $80 per year To subscribe please call 435–649– 9014 or visit www.parkrecord.com and click the Subscribe link in the Reader Tools section of the toolbar at the bottom of the page. To report a missing paper, please call 801–204–6100. Same-day redelivery is possible if you call during the following hours: * Weekdays: 6:30–8 a.m. * Saturday: 7–8 a.m. * Sunday: 7–10:30 a.m. To request a vacation hold or change of address, please call 435–649–9014 or email: circulation@parkrecord.com THE NEWSROOM To contact the newsroom, please call 435–649–9014 or email editor@parkrecord.com For display advertising, please call a sales representative at 435–649– 9014 or email val@parkrecord.com To place a classified ad, please call 435–649–9014 or email classads@parkrecord.com For questions about your bill, please call 435–649–9014 or email accounts@parkrecord.com The Park Record online is available at www.parkrecord.com and contains all of the news and feature stories in the latest edition plus breaking news updates. The Record’s website also hosts interactive entertainment, restaurant and lodging listings and multimedia features. Contents of The Park Record are Copyrighted 2015, Wasatch Mountain News Media Co. All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the managing editor or publisher. The Park Record (USPS 378-730) (ISSN 0745-9483) is published twice weekly by Wasatch Mountain News Media Co., 1670 Bonanza Drive, Park City, UT 84060. Periodicals postage paid at Salt Lake City, Utah, 84199-9655 and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Park Record, P.O. Box 3688, Park City, UT84060. Entered as second-class matter, May 25, 1977, at the Post Office in Park City, Utah, 84060 under the Act of March 3, 1897. Subscription rates are: $56 within Summit county, $80 outside of Summit County, Utah. Subscriptions are transferable: $5 cancellation fee. Phone: 435–649–9014 Fax: 435–649–4942 Email: circulation@parkrecord.com Published every Wednesday and Saturday Steps honor the fallen Living history This year’s Epic challenge solidifies an already-existing connection between the event and Park City. A contingent of Parkites was among a force of athletes who hit the shores of Normandy during last year’s D-Daythemed challenge on June 6. And for this year’s event, Epic Charity Challenge founder Lance Cummings (a former Navy SEAL) selected the NAC as a beneficiary after seeing the organization work with his son, Tanner, who is a skier with lymphedema. “Both Lance and his son have lived the mission of the NAC because they participate in our programs,” said Carey Cusimano, director of development at the NAC. “We were honored to be selected as the nonprofit beneficiary of this year’s event.” The event, set to take place the weekend of March 2 and 3, aims to honor a less triumphant event in a different theater of World War II. In 1942, the victorious Imperial Japanese forced tens of thousands of Filipino and American prisoners of war to march between 60 and 70 miles to prisoner-of-war camps after they’d lost the fight for the island. The prisoners weren’t freed from their brutal captors until the Philippines were retaken in 1944. Thousands died on the march and at the camps. Melancon has met a few of the survivors of the war crime and said speaking to them was “incredible,” but he also tries to keep their struggle in perspective. He aims to push back against traditional narratives of military heroism. “It’s so easy to put people like those brave men and women (of the march) on pedestals,” he said. “They’re not these overwhelmingly incredible people, they’re very, very human and when times were tough they were able to call upon the strength inside of them.” Cusimano said she’s “thrilled” to have Melancon representing the NAC. “It’s amazing what he’s overcome and has been able to achieve,” she said. Rock bottom A native of Cedar City who is now a student at the University of Utah, Melancon has his own experience to draw upon. He joined the Army after turning 18 with the intention of never returning to his home state. He passed through basic training in Ft. Benning, Georgia, sniper training in Ft. Riley, Kansas, a deployment in Iraq and a station in Germany before heading to Afghanistan. In September 2011, three months in, a roadside bomb hit the vehicle he was occupying, breaking the bones of both Continued from A-1 Skiers out of bounds ver King Mining Company accepted lift passes as compensation for the use of the land. Silver King Mining Company and the current owner of PCMR, Vail Resorts, were unable to reach a long-term agreement, though. The failure to reach an agreement triggered the closure of Scott’s Bowl and West Scott’s Bowl. Direct Importer of the World’s Finest Rugs A t t h e H i s t o r i c Vi l l a T h e a t r e 3092 So. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City (801)484-6364 888.445.RUGS (7847) Mon.-Sat. 10 am to 6 pm of his feet and resulting in two years of attempts to salvage the limbs. The experience brought Melancon to “rock bottom,” he said. At one point he weighed 300 pounds and was on 14 different medications for the chronic pain. Eventually, an infection forced the amputation of his left leg. “It was this revolving door at the ER,” he said. “I’d pretty much given up all hope of ever having an active lifestyle, my salvaged legs were incredibly painful and I was terrified of becoming an amputee.” Eventually, through occupational therapy, he got active again. He lost 100 pounds and, a year later, doctors looked at his right leg and decided it had to go. In letting go of his limbs, he said, he started an ongoing journey out of his depths. “My first amputation helped me liberate from all of that, and then my second amputation I walked out of physical therapy 32 days after,” he said. “I haven’t looked back since.” Homecoming While living in San Antonio, where he had undergone his treatment, he decided he wanted to take his athletic goals to another level and asked where he needed to go to achieve them. The answer led him back to the state he had joined the Army to escape. “Everybody who was anybody in this industry was like, ‘Actually, have you ever been to Utah,’” he said. With some trepidation, he decided to visit the National Ability Center. “I flew in for a weekend, rented a car, drove up here, met my would-be coaches and the director of the NAC; even just parking I could just feel the spirit of the NAC and I just knew that ... it was going to happen here.” While he’s not a dedicated runner (making him thankful the Bataan race is a relay), his “Cheetah” prostheses, paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs, enable his athletic endeavors. In trading skin and bone for carbon fiber and rubber, the Paralympic boardercross hopeful has become part of a tight-knit, growing international adaptive boarding community. He has also become an advocate for a broader acceptance of amputation and prosthesis rather than pain mitigation regimens that involve extensive time spent at the doctor’s office and, among other medications, opioid painkillers. He hopes to show that people with disabilities don’t need to push for excellence solely for others, saying he dislikes words like “inspirational.” He’s open about his struggle. And he says things like working for the NAC, participating in the Epic Charity Challenge and training to become the third-ever amputee to bag Denali are just as important for himself as they are for others to see. “It’s been a nonstop daily grind to get to where I am,” he said. “Too often people highlight these exceptional individuals like Navy SEALS and Green Berets and (how) as soon as they were hurt they never let anything get in their way.” “The story I prefer to tell is the value of having hit rock bottom.” The president of Silver King Mining Company, Jack Gallivan, said in an interview he was not aware of the incident on Feb. 16 until contacted by The Park Record on Friday. He said the terrain is dangerous since there is no avalanche control performed. He is pleased the Police Department issued citations. Three weeks ago, Gallivan said, he saw approximately six people on skis traversing Scott’s Bowl. They were “clearly on our land,” he said. “It’s quite a concern to me. They could have kicked loose that slide,” Gallivan said. Gallivan said there have been no recent talks between Silver King Mining Company and PCMR about the longterm future of Scott’s Bowl and West Scott’s Bowl. Land trust still needs $800K for Basin farm Group has until end of March to raise funds to preserve acreage ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON The Park Record Cheryl Fox, director of the Summit Land Conservancy, has been in tears the last couple of days. She said it’s been a “long and sometimes bumpy road” the last two years as the land trust has worked tirelessly to raise $5.5 million to save the prized Osguthorpe Farm on Old Ranch Road in the Snyderville Basin. But, the organization had less than $1 million to go as of Thursday afternoon. The $800,000 needs to be raised before the end of March to preserve the 158-acre farm, which is adjacent to Willow Creek Park, from development. “It’s exciting,” Fox said. “We still get gifts every day and I feel like the momentum is kicking in again. But, we really have to kick this final month off in a big way to make it happen.” Summit Land Conservancy entered into an agreement with the Osguthorpe family in 2017 to purchase a conservation easement for the property. The community has highlighted the Osguthorpe Farm as a potential target for conservation for nearly 20 years. The property is recognized in the Snyderville Basin General Plan as the last heritage ranch on Old Ranch Road. The general plan defines heritage amenities as: past and present agricultural operations, among others. The plan acknowledges those operations are a significant and important use of the land and encourages protection of those uses through several means, including conservation easements. Summit Land Conservancy received an $8.8 million federal grant from a Farm Bill program to put toward the acquisition, one of the largest federal contributions toward land conserva- Continued from A-1 Voting bill debated than 10. We are one of the few Western states to allow this and if we don’t pass it we may be one of the last.” Many have argued that straight-party voting contributes to an uninformed electorate because voters are not considering each candidate based on their merits. Arent said down-ballot non-partisan races are also often skipped when voters select the straight-ticket box. She said it leads to confusion. “People think they have to mark that box to identify which party they are affiliated with,” she said. “So many people will call the clerk’s office in a panic after they have mailed in their ballot asking if they made a mistake.” Arent said she has spoken with county clerks across the state who have experienced this and she has their support. “Some people may think it is faster and easier, but they may be missing other races,” she said. According to vote totals, 6,668 straight party votes were cast in Summit County during the 2018 election, with 3,711 selecting Democrats and 2,451 choosing Republicans. Brantley Eason, the chair of the Summit County Republican Party, said tions ever in Utah. The Osguthorpe family recently lowered the purchase price to further help the effort to preserve the farm, bringing their total contribution to $3.9 million. Fox said the Osguthorpes are the “real heroes here.” She said the family has never sold their land for development and have “always wanted to preserve their properties for everyone.” “Steve Osguthorpe said it would break his heart to see houses on that property,” she said. “They (Osguthorpes) have seen how supportive the community has been and how enthusiastic people are about saving the farm. They are so appreciative of everyone’s gift that they were willing to make another significant contribution. “They recognize it is a legacy to the entire community and the fact that they are willing to lower the purchase price is huge,” she added. Fox said members of the community sometimes think the land trust has already closed on the deal. But, that isn’t the case. “There has been so much going on with open space and Treasure Hill that there are sometimes misunderstandings,” she said. “We can’t save everything. But, when we have the opportunity to really make a difference here, we need to take it.” Fox was confident the remaining $800,000 will be raised in time. She highlighted the more than $4 million that the community has raised so far, on top of the federal grant. She said it shows a desire to “keep this place as beautiful as we found it.” “A farm starts as the story of a family of hard work and early sunrises,” she said. “The farm nurtures that family for a generation or two and the family nurtures that land. But, usually that story ends with backhoes and pavement and concrete. But, we can write a different story this time. We can save this farm forever and every donation matters and sends a message that: Yes. We want to save this farm.” he generally supports the measure. However, he thinks some races may not get as many votes. “People tend to vote at the top of the ticket and down-ballot races don’t get as many votes so straight-ticket voting tends to help people out,” he said. “But, I would hope that you would see more people getting a little more informed about the people at the bottom of the ballot.” The bill would require people to individually select candidates in each race. Eason said that is easier now that most of the state has switched to a mailin ballot system. It gives people more time to research the candidates, he said. Eason said he could see how an end to straight-party voting may affect Republican candidates in certain pockets across the state. But, he suspects it would even out. “There will also be certain districts where it hurts the Democratic candidates as well,” he said. “But, overall, I think it is good to see that we are moving away from that.” Kellie Robinson, Summit County’s chief deputy clerk, said the bill wouldn’t affect how the Clerk’s Office tallies votes. “I see how it makes it easier for some people if they just want to vote for their party, but you do see that where people don’t look at anything else,” she said. “If this passes, this wouldn’t affect what we do right now because our scanner will recognize it either way.” The House Government Operations Committee narrowly gave the bill a favorable recommendation on Wednesday, 6-5. The measure will now be heard in the full House. |