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Show A4 Sanpete Messenger/Gunnison Valley Edition Sanpete Messenger issues reader submission guidelines, policies MANTI—The Sanpete Messenger has developed guidelines and policies regarding items readers and other submit for publication. “As we’ve expanded our coverage area, the number of reader-submitted items we receive has grown faster than our news space,” publisher Suzanne Dean says. “The guidelines are designed to make sure we treat people equally while maintaining our commitment to be a real newspaper, not just a bulletin board of retyped items from special interests.” Some basic points of the policies, which are posted being on sanpetemessenger.com (see “Reader Submission Policies and Recommendations” on the main menu) are: • If there is a timeliness factor, the newspaper makes every effort to publish items before an event or deadline. Otherwise, the Messenger’s commitment is to publish within of submission. • Submissions with complete information, such as names and hometowns of all people mention, titles of people in leadership roles, dates, places, etc. tend to be published more quickly because less follow-up reporting is required. • The newspaper reserves the right to edit for grammar, style, clarity and space. • The Messenger may reject an article entirely if it is self-serving, purely commercial or old news (example: Story on a school service project submitted three months after the event). One purpose of the policies is to define the balance between news and advertising, Dean says. “We’ve always supported youth programs, as witnessed by our special Girl Scout and Boy Scout sections, high school sports and graduation supplements, school page, and honor role pages,” Dean says. “But our capacity even in that area is finite.” Under the policies, the newspaper will publish three stories per year with one photo per story, or one story per year with 3-4 photos for a given commercial youth program, such as a dance school, karate school, children’s choir, etc. Additional publicity for such businesses must be paid advertising. The policies also address paid “people notices” that run in the Lifestyle section. Parts of the policies address what resolution the newspaper offers should an error occur. One policy of note is that the newspaper does not run first birthday notices written in the first person. (Example: “I’m Suzie and I just turned 1….”) “Afterall, we are a newspaper, with a serious news mission. As a staff, we’ve made the decision that we shouldn’t write or imply things that aren’t plausible, such as the idea that a 1-year-old can write his or her own announcement. We want to be fun, but not silly,” Dean says. The guidelines and polices also address photos submitted to the newspaper. The most important requirement is that photos be at least 200 dots per inch at 4 inches in width. The details of faces should be discernible, photos should be submitted as attachments to emails or delivered to the newspaper on a CD, and should not be pasted into an email. Photos containing groups of 10 or more people are discouraged. And full names and hometowns of all individuals pictured must be included for caption purposes, the policies state. “One of our biggest problems is receipt of low-quality photos that readers would not be able to decipher at all if we published them,” Dean says. “We hope the guidelines will help.” There are no changes in letters-to-the-editor or Sanpete Events calendar guidelines that have been in place for some time. Senior fitness program opens chapter in Sanpete EPHRAIM—Silver Sneakers, an exercise program specifically designed for older adults, has opened a chapter in Sanpete County. The program started almost two weeks ago after Health Ways, the founders of Silver Sneakers, contacted Marlo George, strength and conditioning specialist and fitness instructor for Snow College, and asked if she would start the program. Brooke Heath, Silver Sneakers fitness instructor, said much of the workout is based off of everyday activities, and this helps maintain muscle tone necessary for participants to keep up an active lifestyle. Besides providing a workout routine, Silver Sneakers also provides a way for aging TO Wednesday, June 6, 2007 THE EDITOR... FOR LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR POLICY GO TO WWW.SANPETEMESSENGER.COM, CLICK ON ‘OPINIONS’ THEN ‘LETTERS TO THE EDITOR’ Disappointed directory not in Ephraim Pioneer Cemetery I was in Ephraim for the Scandinavian Festival as I am every year. I always enjoy it, and my grandchildren have made it a tradition to go with me. As we took flowers to our ancestors’ graves in Ephraim’s Pioneer Cemetery I was disappointed that the directory was not there. Oh, there was some resemblance of one in a loose leaf but no map and no stories to read. I believe Martha Olsen has been in charge of this, and we have loved the stories and information she has had posted there in the past. Years ago when our youth came for the Mormon Miracle Pageant we did a service project at the pioneer cemetery, and Ms. Olsen entertained us with historical facts and humorous stories of pioneers. After doing a little detective work I found that Ms. Olsen is no longer working with the cemetery committee because of some differences with Ephraim City’s manager. I find this disturbing that one powerful person could not see the good and the hard work Ms. Olsen has contributed to the city and would not have done every- thing in his power to keep her doing just that, and that one person is making decisions for Ephraim City and he doesn’t even live in the city, therefore the decisions do not even affect his life. And while I am on the subject, why would your city council hire a manager who doesn’t live in your city limits? It explains a lot of things that are happening in your city. I am sorry for the citizens of Ephraim and hope that you realize what a gem Martha Olsen is for your city. Karen Allred Jensen Salt Lake City Fairview’s Cruisers is good place to eat I just wanted to write and tell people that I have a favorite place to eat here in Sanpete County. Some restaurants claim they are not fast food, yet supply you with fast food quality. Others say that they are fast food, yet the wait time at their drive up is almost 30 minutes at times. I have found a place that claims to be fast food (and is), yet supplies you with restaurant quality flavors at fast food prices. Cruisers in the Texaco in Fairview would become anyone’s favorite if they took the time to stop by. The Mexican menu is wonderful, reminiscent of a taco time or taco bell, but with better taste. The burgers are huge and of great quality; not so thin that you have to look for the beef in between a pile of lettuce. The kids meals are generous in proportion. The customer service was also very friendly. I know that they have just reopened from a slow winter and may be trying to impress the re- turning and new crowds, but they did exactly that. I think it would do any north Sanpeter good to give them a try. I know this may come across sounding more like an advertisement than anything else, but I promise you this: I have no affiliation with the company. I just truly feel that their food and service is that much ahead of anything else from Manti to the north end of Sanpete County. Bawb Nielsen Fairview The second edition of the Sanpete Telephone Directory SARA HANSEN / MESSENGER PHOTO Silver Sneakers fitness instructor, Brooke Heath, leads some participants in a basic exercise routine. adults to interact in a social setting, said Heath. She explained once the program was more established and enrollment went up, Silver Sneakers would help host barbeques, competitions and other events for the participants. Classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m.noon. Cost for the program is $2 per class unless the participant has Humana or Secure Horizon insurance, in which case the class is free of charge. WOMEN’S SUPPORT GROUP will soon be in your mailbox! Coming late June Michael Blair, Facilitator and Counselor Tuesday evenings, 8-9:30 p.m. Blair Counselor Services 90 N. Main, Sterling Conversations with ... (North end of the building, behind fence & across grass) FREE for those who cannot pay and $20 or insurance for those who can. Call 435-703-0756 to register Verl says sendin’ our Manti National Guard boys over to Iraq is just one more stupid thing the president has done. He says he was watchin’ 60 Minutes and they said most of the trucks and stuff the National Guard uses in the U.S. has been sent over to Iraq. I told Verl they’ll never bring it back, so we can plan on taxes goin’ up to buy a boatload of new stuff. Verl says Hoover and the Depression, and Nixon and Watergate look like days of milk and honey compared to what’s happened to the country in the last six years. Verl doesn’t hide his feelings very well when it comes to some things. Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials! Focus on topics such as Anger Management, Finances, Legal Issues, Divorce, Step Parenting, Creating Peace at Home, Creating Effective Connections in a crazy worls, and many others, as needed. Designed for: Single, Divorced, Married and Feel Single, Out of Control Parenting, Depressed or Anxious, Just Want to Support and be Supported, and those who are stuck looking for love in all the wrong places, custom fit as needed. We will start as soon as we have ten registered CALL NOW! Kids eat free Family Night: Monday, between 5 & 8 p.m. 61 S. Main, Ephraim 283-FOOD (3663) 2 Kids eight and under eat FREE with each “one” paid adult entree. Large dining room for wedding luncheons/ dinners. Several menu options to fit your budget. Call Don’s Reservation line at 8353663, ask for Gus or Don. Additional parking in back, with a back door, for your convenience Tell a friend! The Sanpete Messenger Serving Sanpete County since 1893 |