Sanpete Messenger Gunnison Valley Edition | 2005-02-23 | Page 2

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A2 Sanpete Messenger-Gunnison Valley Edition Stadium (Continued from A1) Snow is proposing to tear down its present 1,800-seat stadium, which Benson says is deteriorating, and build a 2,500seat stadium on the same site. A few years ago, the college discussed locating a new stadium on college-owned land near the Ephraim-Snow College softball fourplex. That has changed. While parking at the present Badger Stadium is limited, “the president just feels that the stadium is one of the anchors for the campus,” says college spokesman Rick Pike. “If we get the library (the proposed Sanpete County-Snow College Library), you’re anchored on one end by the pinacle of scholarship and on the other end by the pinacle of student life.” The financial base for the project would be the prospective major donation, which would be paid over several years. The remaining $1 million could come from a $750,000 foundation grant, possibly from the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, and $500,000 to $1 million from football and alumni boosters, Pike said. Booster money not re- Banquet quired for the stadium could be channeled into an athletic scholarship fund, he said. For the short term, the college plans to use contractor financing. Benson explained that some construction firms are capable of financing initial construction themselves. After the stadium was built, the college would issue bonds, which would be paid off from an ongoing stream of donor revenue. When Benson first took the project to the Utah Board of Regents, the Regents demurred because the major donation had not been secured. So Benson went back with a letter signed by Snow student senators agreeing that students, if needed, would commit to a $30 per semester special fee to pay off bonds. The fee would be added to all student tuition bills for as many years as required to pay off the bond. With student fees as a backup funding source, the Regents approved the project. But Benson said Monday that Snow will not use students fees to build the stadium. “Either we raise the money privately or we don’t do it” [build the stadium], he said. (Continued from A1) aging for the right birds. Blackham helped bring all growers together under the Norbest label. On the video, former employees and Blackham’s family members described how hard he worked. He was often at the plant at 4 a.m. When producers had complaints, he placated them. Bailey said that at various times when the company’s prospects seemed bleak, Blackham had been there to assure him, “We’ve been through this before.” Currently, three of Blackham’s sons and two sonsin-law are turkey producers. Blackham, who celebrated his 88th birthday the day of the banquet, said the award was a complete surprise. He gave credit to others, saying that Moroni Feed’s progress reflected the simple principle of “people working together.” LOU’S BARBER SHOP 19 N. Main, Nephi Hours: Tues. 9 to 5 Wed. 10 to 8 Sanpete News Company, Inc., publishing the GUNNISON VALLEY EDITION Member Utah Press Association Deadlines, Post Office & Contact Information UPS# 232-020 Copyright, Sanpete News Company, Inc.©2004. All rights reserved. Reproduction, re-use, or transmittal of all matter herein is prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. Published each Wednesday for 75¢ each, $24.00 inside Sanpete County, $27.00 outside Sanpete County, by Sanpete News Company, Inc., 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642 Phone [phone], fax [phone] E-mail publisher at: [e-mail] E-mail sports to: [e-mail] E-mail school items to: [e-mail] E-mail news to: [e-mail] [e-mail] E-mail ads to: Deadline: Thursday, 5 p.m. Manti: 35 S. Main, Hours: M-F, 9 am to 6 pm Periodicals Postage Paid at Manti, Utah 84642, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Sanpete Messenger, 35 S. Main, Manti, Utah 84642 Editor & Publisher ............................................. Suzanne Dean Associate Publisher .................................................. Lloyd Call Senior Reporter ..................................................... Sean Hales Assignment Reporter .............................................. John Hales Office Manager .................................................. Jacque Marsh Administrative Assistant ............................. Lindsay Kogianes Webmaster .................................................... David Armstrong Staff Manti ................................................. Judy Chantry (835-8010) Ftn. Green, Moroni ............................... C. R. Truitt (445-3326) Gunnison ........................................ Darlene Agren (528-3922) Centerfield ......................................... Elva Jensen (528-3382) Axtell ................................................ Audrey Boore (528-3309) Mayfield .......................................... Margaret Amy (528-7076) Spring City ...................................... Holly Nicholes (462-2758) Staff Writers .......................... Erika Johnson, Kathy Eggleston Sports Writers ........................... Doug Johnson, Jeff Ericksen, Craig Cox and Coaches Photographers ........................... Sean Hales, Vern Buchanan, Peter Goss, Russ Beck Columnists ........................... Roger Baker, Corrie Lynn Player Contributing Writers Jana Wahlquist, Karen Buchanan, Anita Lyons. By Kathy Lin Eggleston MT. PLEASANT—With more horses residing in Sanpete County now than back in horse and buggy days, equestrian enthusiasts agree that an indoor arena is an important step for Sanpete County to take. What started as a group of 10 individuals dedicated to their interests in horses has now grown to include others interested in building a facility that would provide opportunities for equestrian activities and other events and would bring dollars into the county. “In the winter, you have to hang up your horses, so a group of us decided we would have a monthly meeting to explore the possibilities,” Kevin Stallings of Mt. Pleasant said. One week after Stallings’ group presented a plan to build a covered arena to the Mt. Pleasant City Council, interest in the project flourished. “I thought their idea was a good one,” Councilperson Monte Bona said. “A facility like that could benefit the whole county.” On Thursday a group from various areas of the county met during Stallings’ group’s fifth meeting in Mt. Pleasant. This fact-finding meeting tested the waters as to whether a project as large as enthusiasts have envisioned would be possible and beneficial to the community. “It is such a good idea,” said Sally East, former county economic development director. “I know I am excited, and as we move further into the planning process, we need to involve more people countywide. “It is a chicken and egg thing,” East said. “We have to bring the people in before we can expand services and jobs. From an economic development standpoint, if we could build a covered arena to seat 3,500 people, it would dramatically increase the tourism in the county.” Tim Denton of Sterling, owner of Denton Farm, known for cutting horse training, said, “We could have winter rodeos, horse shows, barrel racing, team roping, team penning and cuttings competitions. “It would definitely benefit all the businesses and motels in the area,” Denton said. “The enthusiasm is growing countywide,” Stallings said, “and everyone was encouraging toward this project.” Several potential sites Learn How To Sell on eBay The Right Way! FOR ONLY Learn From An Education Specialist Trained By eBay About Open A Seller Account Create & Monitor Listings Improve Existing Listings Set Pricing Open & Use PayPal Complete Transactions “THE BASICS OF SELLING ON EBAY” [Put Your Event Information Here] For information call: Richard Duncan 435-851-1139 • [e-mail] register: ToTo Register: http://parkavenue.poweru.net/ [Put Your Phone/Email URL Here] SUZANNE DEAN / MESSENGER PHOTO Wells Orton accepts award at Moroni Feed Co. banquet. He recently retired as director of the Futher Processing Division. have been discussed and many people have already worked to bring a project such as this into reality. “We found that each community is struggling with the same problem,” Stallings said. “If we have learned one thing from our discussions, it is that no one city can fund the type of facility that is needed.” With projected estimates coming in between $2-2.5 million for a full service facility that would meet present needs and provide room for expansion, it will take the cities and the county working together to ensure success. “We like the idea of a county facility,” said Rick Pike, vice president of public relations at Snow College. “We would love to participate in it.” Kay Jensen of Manti said, “There is a definite need for an indoor arena, and there is no place as centrally located in the state as Sanpete County. “We have 350 barrel racers who race every other week. We have to go to other places to do it and we stay several days. Having a place here would boost our economy.” Jensen is also the director of The Child Abuse Prevention Team. “There is no better therapy than equestrian therapy,” Jensen said. “That is why the horse industry is getting bigger and bigger. It brings families together and it is darn good insurance for keeping kids out of trouble.” For Kris Burns of Fountain Green, horses are a way of life. Burns moved here from a community up north where she paid a yearly fee to ride indoors during the winter. “I own several horses including a miniature horse that pulls a buggy,” Burns said. “We could use a place like that here. It is a fun place to meet people.” According to the group, a membership to ride horses when the arena is not in use is just one of the many ways a facility could fund itself. With access to a facility, there is also more incentive for horse industry and other businesses to build in the county. “Our group would like to explore all the options that are available to the county residents in constructing an indoor equestrian park and facility,” Stallings said. “At this point, we would like individuals to let their commissioners know that they feel Sanpete County needs an indoor arena and that they would support a facility.” IMPORTANT! Centerfield City Public Meeting March 17, 2005 7:00 p.m . All Centerfield Citizens: Please Come Discuss the Water Project and Proposed Increases to the Water Bill Location: Gunnison Elementary School (If Different location, it will be Posted Next Week) [Enter Price $] • • • • • • Bailey also presented a plaque and a watch to Wells Orton, who retired last month after 24 years with the Salina plant, including the past 15 years when the plant was under Moroni Feed ownership. After purchasing the plant, Moroni Feed converted it into its Further Processing Plant making processed and smoked turkey products. Orton became director of the company’s Further Processing Division. Banquet attendees also got what community relations director Greg Bailey described as a “sneak peak” at a new consumer product, the Sweetheart Roast, a turkey breast injected with broth and frozen. It can be placed in the oven, still frozen, and baked in its wrapping bag. The product has been sold to the restaurant industry for years. This year, Norbest will begin marketing Sweetheart Roasts to households. As the crowd exited the banquet, each family received a free Sweetheart Roast. Does countywide arena make sense? Staff writer LEARN HOW TO: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 Centerfield City Council ® 2/23, 3/2,6,16G