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Show Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A4 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Wednesday, April 20, 2005 TO THE EDITOR... Office of Economic Development is waste of money I find the comments of Steven Clark in a letter last week in regards to Kent Appleberry, Monte Bona, and agriculture interesting to say the least. Mr. Appleberry promoted equal representation of agriculture and tourism in the economic development bureaucracies, not “agriculture first,” as Mr. Clark erroneously asserted. The number one reason for the negative impact on our economy, not only in Sanpete County, but also across the entire country, is the absolute insanity of the so-called “free trade” agreements. Mr. Appleberry is definitely not misguided. Agriculture is a big part of our heritage, as are logging and mining. These mainstays are being attacked from all directions. The American taxpayer is now paying approximately $147 per year to export his own American jobs. In my opinion the “Office of Economic Development” is a waste of taxpayers’ money. Private enterprise has a much better chance to revitalize the economic development of a community. Agriculture is—and should be—a critical component to our economy. But due to misguided trade agreements, agriculture and manufacturing jobs are being shipped out of this country at an alarming rate. Mr. Bona is strongly push- ing this county and five others into a partnership with the federal government to promote us as a tourist attraction. We then experience the same problems Mr. Clark claims to be part and parcel to agriculture low paying jobs in the service industry with little or no benefits. The promotion of this tourist dollar boondoggle might benefit a select group. Any number of people presently involved with the Heritage Highway Alliance could be in line for plush federal bureaucratic appointments to manage a federal “heritage area” stretching over six counties. Chris Mellen Fountain Green Good deal / Bad deal My congratulations to the swimming pool committee in its efforts to provide activities for the youth and for the community. However, from my perspective the enthusiasm has developed into an overly expensive extravaganza doomed for severe negative cash flow. First of all, let’s down-size to a project that will serve the needs. Secondly, put the project where it belongs—at the city park, already a beautiful area. Thirdly, to ensure the enthusiasts know what they’re doing, how about the six or eight individuals pushing the project putting up, out of their own pockets, about $200,000 as a contingency fund to cover the uneducated guess of a heavy negative cash flow for the next 10 years. As planned, the swimming pool project is a “Bad Deal.” Also, thank you foreign car buyers for shipping jobs over- seas. You’ve done really well. The trade deficit for February was over $60 billion. It’s too bad the federal government doesn’t wake up and grasp the mind-set of “fair trade” instead of “free trade.” I hope there is a wakeup call before it’s too late. “Fair trade” is a “Good Deal.” I would like to compliment the local radio station, KMGR, for playing music by accomplished musicians that is uplifting to the spirit. Ray Douglas does an excellent job of commentary on the music and other events. What a refreshing musical experience rather than the alternative noise of self-appointed country-western singers with a western slope mentality. KMGR is a “Good Deal.” The Utah Jazz had a rough year because of so many injuries. They have some excellent players who have tried hard to compete. However, the main reason for the lackluster year was Coach Sloan. He is outdated as a coach and has been there too long. The only reason he has had some degree of success in past years is because of the natural ability of John Stockton and Karl Malone. They made the coach look good. It’s interesting to observe that the teams who always beat the Jazz win the games by their three-point shooting. Sloan doesn’t seem to understand how to defend against the three-point shooters. Many times we hear him yell out, “Don’t switch.” If the defender is rubbed out on screen, for heaven’s sake, “switch” and guard by any means that left wide-open three-point shooter. Sorry Sloan but it’s time to move on. A new Jazz coach would be a “Good Deal.” C.R. Kelso Keller Manti By Tery Robertson In a letter read at the Centerfield senior citizens reunion April 9, Maxine Sorensen’s and Veone Jensen’s sister, Phyllis, described the two ladies as “treasured friends.” That seemed to be the theme that ran through the entire daylong reunion. Earlier, I had received an email from my editor, Suzanne Dean. “Any chance you could go to the Centerfield LDS Church Saturday at 10 a.m. and take some pictures of the Old Folks Party?” I stared at the email, and almost immediately a dozen excuses entered my mind. The main one was “Well, I really don’t want to show up to take pictures of a bunch of people whatever their ages, especially at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning. I thought, “It’s supposed to snow. I would rather sit around and relax. I need to do laundry.” Actually, it was the last thought—the one about the laundry— that made me email her back, “Yep. No problem.” (At least I could legitimately put off the laundry for awhile.) Arriving around 11 a.m., I prepared to take a couple of pictures and leave as quickly as possible; however, I found myself instead sitting down and listening to a tribute of love, joy and friendship honoring Maxine Sorensen and Veone Jensen. I sat back and looked around. Sitting toward the front were members of the committee, all the couples in matching pajamas and brightly colored aprons. Toward the back were the reunion folks—gray hair, stooped shoulders, wrinkled faces and smiles. Smiles everywhere. Couples holding hands. Tears came at the mention of Maxine’s husband, Keith, and Veone’s husband, Vernile, both of whom had passed away. I had to wipe away my own tears when Keith James said, “I’m honored that Maxine let me do it [clear away snow from her walk] because she’s done so much for so many.” Later in the afternoon, I returned to the had cried in front of her students shortly after a visit from me at recess time. Apparently, the topic of discussion was received in an unintended way. I would never want to demean or belittle a teacher, and absolutely not in front of students. Please know that I most certainly did not yell at Mrs. Jordan, as was stated in last week’s letter. After learning that she had shed tears in front of the children, I visited the classroom to clarify things with those little first graders, “Mr. Miller certainly did not want to make your teacher cry. Mrs. Jordan is a terrific teacher, and Mr. Miller is not mad at her in any way.” I sure try to make decisions that are in the best interest of our school children, and will continue to do my best for them, for parents, for faculty and for Ephraim Elementary. If you do have concerns with anything, please know that my door is open to you. I‘m confident that we can find solutions that keep spirits high throughout the school and community. Timothy J. Miller, Principal, Ephraim Elementary Search and Rescue members say thanks for donations On April 1, a lot more than some April foolery happened in Sanpete County. Due to tremendous community support, the Sanpete Search and Rescue raised over $27,000. We receive no county or state funding for operating expenses, except fuel from the county for our snow cats and snowmobiles and other rescue vehicles. We get some matching annual grants for a small part of our required equipment. The bulk of our funding to buy radios, pagers, GPS devices, avalanche beacons, snow mobiles and to maintain snow cats, four-wheelers, our mobile communications shack and scuba equipment comes from this one-day fundraising effort. To raise this kind of money in a small rural county is quite unique. Other counties have tried and failed. Due in large part to the generosity of businesses small and large, and individual citizens, Sanpete County has a Search and Rescue unit which is envied by the rest of the state. Over the past 20 plus years, two people have been central to the years of success of this fund raising effort. Doug Barton has been extremely generous and supportive in letting S and R take over KMTI each April 1. He gives up an entire day’s worth of advertising revenue, (and who knows what else) and keeps smiling through the chaos we inflict on his otherwise orderly operation. Kerry Deuel has been the creative genius behind posse days on KMTI, for the entire history of the effort. Without these two people, it is hard to imagine how S and R could have had such a successful organization. As S and R members, we feel it a privilege to serve this community in back country searches, winter rescues, avalanche searches, water rescues and recoveries, assisting the Sheriff’s Department, and help with various community events like the Pageant, county fair and other special events. It is an honor to serve with the other volunteer units such as volunteer fire departments and EMTs. We are more motivated than ever to continue serving Sanpete County to the best of our ability. Bruce Burnham Commander, Sanpete County Search and Rescue Posse Don’t want to lose fantastic teachers I have since moved from Sanpete County, but keep up with Sanpete current events through talking with friends as well as subscribing to the Sanpete Messenger. When the current Messenger arrived, I was outraged to read of Janet Jordan’s ordeal. I worked at the Ephraim Elementary for four years. Ephraim Elementary has a wonderful group of teachers and Janet Jordan is among the best. When I started, we had a wonderful principal, Grant Hansen, but things changed when Tim Miller was hired. At one time, I talked to the principal about some issues of concern I had about the children. I was told to “be professional and keep things quiet.” Apparently, being professional is not something he is very good at. I wonder how Tery Roberterson is associate editor of the Messenger’s Gunnison Valley Edition. News Would never demean or belittle a teacher As I read last week’s letter to the editor by Karl Rostron, I was saddened and confused. Janet Jordan is a very, very talented first grade teacher—this is so true. I would hate to see her move from Ephraim Elementary, as well. She is a rich part of this wonderful school and the community of Ephraim. This school is her home, and she is dedicated to it. I’ve observed her classroom many times over the past six years in the capacity of principal, and have always been deeply impressed with her effective, caring way of moving children along. I recently learned that she reunion to take some more pictures. I met Darla Roberts, someone whom I’d known casually. She almost dragged me to the table for dinner. It was a little awkward because I had expected to stay outside the group, snapping a few pictures then leaving. Suddenly I was surrounded by strangers passing me coleslaw, rolls and pouring me wheat beer. “What? You’ve never had wheat beer? You try the wheat beer.” I looked around. The men were drinking it while the women were trying not to laugh. When I took a sip, it was really like nothing I’d ever had before. An acquired taste certainly. Sweetened run-off from a dairy farm? I managed not to gag. Was this some kind of Senior Citizen’s rite of passage? If so, I think I passed because I managed to finish the cup. Perhaps the wheat beer contained some kind of magic elixir because when I sat down I felt awkward and out of place, but by the end of the meal, I found myself laughing and teasing people who had been strangers only minutes before. And that, really, was what the Senior Citizen’s Reunion was all about. I was honored that the wonderful people of Centerfield made me feel a part of their community, that they showed me friendship and love. As I work to report for the Gunnison Valley Edition of the Messenger, I meet more and more people and feel more at home. I even surprised myself the other day by exclaiming “Oh my heck,” and calling a 55-year-old grandmother “kid.” But out of all the people I meet, I’ve never met a nicer, more welcoming group of people than I met at the Centerfield Senior Citizen’s Reunion. Maybe there was a lot of fun on Grandma’s Feathered Bed, but “Treasured Friends” was the real theme of the day. many other teachers have been offended and treated unfairly by Principal Miller. I believe that Sanpete School District needs to take a good look at what is going on at the school and what is in the best interest of the children. We don’t want to lose any more fantastic teachers. Mary Gibson Eagle Mountain, Utah TERY ROBERTSON / MESSENGER PHOTO J.D. Brunnell and Matt Lund of the Gunnison Valley Fire Department take aim as they prepare for Saturday’s sporting clay contest. Cost for the event is $20 for 45 shots, with proceeds going to the fire department. Gunnison Valley Fire Department sporting clay contest scheduled By Tery Robertson Staff writer The Gunnison Valley Fire Department will hold the Second Annual Sporting Clays Tournament on Saturday. “We’d like to get as many people to come out and participate as we can,” Firefighter Shawn Kay Christiansen said. “It’s a great event with lots of prizes and it’s really worthwhile.” A fire truck will be parked and signs will be posted at State Road 137, milepost 6, between Mayfield and Gunnison to guide participants to the location. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and Round 1 will start promptly at 9. Adults may register as an expert, novice or amateur, and youth 14 and under may also participate. The registration fee is $20 for 45 shots guaranteed. Top shooters in each group will receive prizes. The expert shooter will win a .17-caliber HMR rifle, the novice will receive a .22-caliber long rifle and the amateur will win a skeet thrower. The youth prizewinner will be awarded a single shot youth shotgun. For those who can’t hit the broad side of the barn, much less a little round orange disk zinging through the air, there will still be many chances of leaving with prizes. Raffle tickets will be for sale, and winners don’t even have to be present to win. Tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, 12 for $10 or 25 for $20. Each tournament participant will automati- cally be entered in the raffle. The raffle grand prize will be a BSA Over and Under 12-gauge shotgun. The gun is on display this week at Rasmussen’s Ace Hardware in Gunnison. Raffle tickets may be purchased there or at the tournament. The Fire Department will be running a concession stand selling hot dogs, sloppy Joes and soda pop. All proceeds will go to the Gunnison Valley Fire Department. LOU’S BARBER SHOP 19 N. Main, Nephi Hours: Tues. 9 to 5 Wed. 10 to 8 |