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Show f ' I f '' 1 l ; - ' -,i i 4 V-r-4' i" ' i VISITS SCHOOL. Norma Matheson, Utah's First Lady, responds to questions from students at South Elementary. Guv's wife grilled at 'news conference' Dan Rather may not have been there. And no one jumped up and shouted "Mrs. Governor, Mrs. Governor!" But it was still a news conference of the best kind. Rebounding questions from students of South Elementary, Mrs. Norma Matheson, wife of Utah's Governor Scott Matheson, said she has never been asked such hard questions, "not even when. I talk to television reporters in Salt Lake." The governor's wife was visiting the class of Carmen Hepworth, who have been in communication with the governor via letters all year long. Mrs. Hepworth estimates the children in the class have received as many as 20 personal replies from the governor. Later this May, Mrs. Hepworth adds, the class will be visiting the State Capitol on a special field trip. Mrs. Matheson prepared the students by telling them the capitol "was an extremely impressive building-one of the best in the United States. I still get a thrill when I go there." She told the children they should be sure to visit the museum in the basement of the Capitol, the Supreme Court chambers and the chambers of the legislature. Then came the questions. How do you feel about IPP, about abortion laws, about wife-beating, about moving to the Kearns mansion, about the two cent gas tax, and about the 55 mile an hour speed limit? Mrs. Matheson responded to the questions as honestly and as concisely as she could. i She said she was very glad the state legislature decided to let the governor live int he Kearns Mansion. She said it will not only be the governor's residence but will be a reception center for visitors-the state's official home. Asked about the controversial judge, Mrs. Matheson said Judge Willis Ritter is a "very old, very sick man and we should temper our judgements with compassion" when we talk about him. Concerning the treaties proposed by President Carter, Mrs. Matheson said the Panama Treaties "didn't just happen this year. They have been worked on for 14 years by several presidents." She said a new treaty is needed, whether changes are made in the proposed one or not. The 55 mile an hour speed limit should stay right where it is, Mrs. Matheson said, from a safety point of view. She, however, soft-pedaled right by a question on the location of the In-termountain In-termountain Power Project saying, "It doesn't matter what I think concerning where it should be located, because Secretary Cecil Andrus is going to make that decision." The well-informed students also questioned the First Lady of the State concerning her feelings on Right-to-Life (which she said she had a moderate view), and whether people watch too much TV, and on "lazy people who don't vote." Also participating in the news conference were the classes of Gary Roper and Randy Ence, all fourth graders. |