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Show A-12 Wed/Thurs/Fri, December 24-26, 2019 The Park Record Boy berated by teacher speaks out Child, 11, says he is grateful he was adopted by 2 dads STARTING @ $35/SF INSTALLED (3CM THICKNESS) Free UNDERMOUNT STAINLESS STEEL KITCHEN SINK with minimum purchase of 50 sqft. FOR A FREE ESTIMATE CALL: SUE LIPKE 435.901.1722 Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah boy is speaking out after being berated by a substitute teacher for saying he was grateful for being adopted by his two dads, one of whom is a professional dancer from “Dancing with the Stars.” Daniel van Amstel, 11, told “CBS This Morning” on Friday that he got angry when the teacher began insulting his family. “Because it isn’t — it’s not right — nice to insult other families, even if you don’t like them. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it,” Daniel said. The unidentified woman began lecturing the class on her view that homosexuality is wrong after Daniel answered a question about what students were grateful for during a pre-Thanksgiving lesson on Nov. 21. The teacher was escorted from the classroom after other students walked out of the room to get the principal, and later fired from the staffing company that contracted with the Alpine School District south of Salt Lake City. A classmate identified as Demi said everyone in the room was uncomfortable and Daniel looked scared, so she went to the principal’s office when the teacher refused to stop. “I was a bit scared to go in there, but after that I knew I was doing the right thing,” she said. Father Louis van Amstel, who has appeared on “Dancing with the Stars,” said the boy felt forced to remain silent during the teacher’s diatribe because his adoption out of foster care had not yet been finalized. After five foster families and one failed adoption, the boy didn’t want to risk losing the dads he’d lived with for six months, he said. The adoption to Louis and Josh van Amstel became final on Thursday. “I am thankful for my dad and dad, my family, my dogs and everybody that I live with now,” said Daniel. Louis van Amstel said he doesn’t know who the teacher is, but he’d loved to have lunch with her to dispel misperceptions. Daniel isn’t ready for that. “I do not like her. If I ever saw her again, I’d probably have a heart attack,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what family you have. It just matters if you love them or not. And yes, I do love them.” Suspect in Lueck case to stand trial 801.487.8663 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM AT 3267 SOUTH 300 WEST (I-15 EXIT 303) VOTED PARK CITY’S BEST STEAK HOUSE 6 YEARS IN A ROW! Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY – A man accused of killing a Utah college student was ordered Friday to stand trial on charges he sexually assaulted another woman he met on a dating site more than a year before the slaying. Ayoola Ajayi, 31, pleaded not guilty to felony kidnapping and three counts of forcible sexual abuse. Continued from A-1 A banner year conservation work in the Weber River corridor in an effort to protect the important source of drinking water for millions of Utahns. Keeping development away from the river is important to that effort, Fox said. “Our goal is to keep building and housing back off the river so the river can flood and move, what rivers are supposed to do. That’s why wet- 840 Main Street, Park City 435.655.9739 • primeparkcity.com Defense attorneys had asked to cross-examine the woman, saying there were inconsistencies between her written testimony and initial statements to police, but Judge Venice Trease denied the request, citing victims’ rights law. Ajayi, shackled and in a yellow jail uniform, hung his head as the judge read the order, The Deseret News reported. He met the woman on a dating app for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and invited her to his house for dinner in March 2018, prosecutors have said. He pinned her arms and assaulted her as they were watching television but she was able to get away, charges stated. She reported the crime after seeing news stories about 23-year-old Mackenzie Lueck, whom authorities say disappeared after meeting up with Ajayi in a park in June. Ajayi is charged with mur- der and kidnapping in the death of Lueck, a University of Utah student from California. Her charred body was later found with her arms bound behind her back. Ajayi was also charged with sexual exploitation of a minor after investigators discovered child pornography on his computer. He has not yet entered pleas to those charges, and his lawyers have not commented. land is so ecologically valuable and important,” she said. “The more we can let rivers meander and flood ... the better it is for wildlife habitat. Ultimately, it’s (all) human habitat.” The Henefer transaction used funds allocated by the Eastern Summit County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space Advisory Committee, a board that manages a pot of money that grows every time a developer lot is sold in the Promontory development. The fund has put millions of dollars toward conservation efforts over the years, Fox said. She added that stipulations on how the money is spent means it can account for, at most, 10 percent of a project’s cost, ensuring that money is leveraged with other sources. The landowner, Bill White, made a significant contribution, as well, Fox said. He sold the easement according to a land valuation completed a few years ago, leaving the land’s recent increase in value out of the equation. Fox said the Summit Land Conservancy has big things in store next year and beyond. Along with 20 other local stakeholders, it recently applied for a new type of federal grant that would allow for different forms of land conservation. It also is contemplating establishing a nature preserve, which would necessitate owning land and its attendant costs like maintaining fencing and weed control. The nonprofit also has an ongoing campaign to raise about $150,000 to complete a transaction that would ensure public access to the Weber River in a park in Oakley. It’s the last step in a process that has already resulted in the successful purchase of a conservation easement for the new Riverbend Park near the Oakley fairgrounds. Asked to reflect on what’s she’s taken away from 2019, Fox responded with one word: humility. “We get kind of insular here in Park City, kind of talking to each other,” she said. “When we started getting gifts for Osguthorpe from Tooele, New Harmony, West Jordan — I was astounded. I’m touched and humbled by the idea that people beyond Park City would want to help us save something that’s important to us. And I was just humbled.” Buying or selling? Classifieds work! Local Park City news every Wednesday and Saturday Sell your stuff under $200 for free. SEMI-ANNUAL Pricier items? Free online ORIENTAL RUG & just $5 more in print SALE for stuff under $3K UP TO 70% OFF! We offer Utah’s most complete selection of quality handwoven rugs and tribal kelims at consistently lower prices because we import directly. During our semi-annual sale, take up to 70% off our already low prices! 12 x 18 12 x 15 10 x 13 8 x 10 6x9 5.5 x 8 4x6 3x5 1.5 x 2 India Agra Afghan Veramin Iran Heriz Afghan Patchwork Tibetan Contemporary Pakistan Silk Contemporary Iran Zanjan India Agra Afghan Mats Regular Sale $9,652 $8,881 $4,896 $3,949 $2,808 $3,144 $987 $772 $47 $2,895 $2,664 $3,672 $1,185 $842 $1,572 $740 $232 $20 Sale prices good through Dec. 31 1460 Foothill Drive in Salt Lake City Near the Mouth of Parley’s Canyon 801-582-3500 ParkRecord.com/placead Call 435–649–9014 to subscribe today! |