Moroni City Council: Junk is serious, so stick to your guns on cleanup enforcement 7/19/2018 Is junk serious? That is the fundamental question facing the Moroni mayor and city council as they try to decide how far to go to clean up the town. We believe junk is very serious. It…
Sanpete needs to step up and meet the needs of its fire departments “We’re trying to maintain the same standards as Salt Lake City and other big towns,” says Sam Draper, Mt. Pleasant fire chief and chairman of the Sanpete County Fire District Board. “In small towns, it’s hard to abide by those standards.”…
Let’s hang on to tradition and keep up our yards (including curb strips) Sometimes it seems that shared community values are breaking down all around us, including in Sanpete County. In times past, one of those customs was keeping up one’s yard, the area around one’s home, as well as possible, and ideally,…
Mayors and councils should understand their roles and perform them with civility In small towns that can’t afford to pay the mayor to work full time or pay a city manager, there can be some ambiguity about who is in charge of the city day to day. Is it the mayor? Or the city…
Is Ephraim losing never-to-be-replaced diamonds? Apr. 19, 2108 Sanpete County is an area rich in historical architecture built by the pioneers. But it’s not as rich as it had been many, many years ago before a great number of architectural gems—yes, some of them surely diamonds—began to disappear from the scene. Over 100…
Efficient government needed in Ephraim Apr. 19, 2018 When I came to Ephraim 43 years ago, Arlene Deleeuw and Valene Aston were running city hall. Wayne Sevy was the marshal with his own pickup. I was able to build my dome house, and everything worked fine. Today, I wouldn’t be allowed to build…
Students acted wisely, but not government Aren’t we all deeply moved and proud of students who have demonstrated their support, their empathy, for everyone who has suffered and who may yet suffer in the wake of the horrific shootings that grip our country. Administrators, teachers and parents too should be honored and respected for…
High School leaders to be commended for their focus during Walkout Mar. 22, 2018 The leadership at North Sanpete High School should be commended for their cool handling of student participation in the recent mass social movement, National Walkout Day, on Wednesday, March 14. The school’s leadership must have been faced with a…
Cabal agenda is the problem, not gun control As a mother and grandmother, I cannot remain silent. I must speak out against an evil striking at the heart of all that is held dear. The “Valentine Massacre” in a Florida-school shooting claimed the lives of 17 children and wounded many others. The toll of…
Congrats to state winners, says proud grandpa Last week the Manti High School boys basketball team was able to do the almost unbelievable…take state when no one at the first of the year thought that to be a possibility. What a great accomplishment and culmination of a lot of hours of blood, sweat, and…
State has $581 million surplus to use By Ralph Okerlund Senator District 24 Mar. 1, 2018 Dear Friends and Neighbors, We have wrapped up week five of the Legislative Session, and we now only have nine working days left until we adjourn till next year. We have officially passed a total 171…
Spring City heritage of military service worthy of recognition with veteran memorial By Courtney Syme Feb. 22, 2018 A committee of Spring City residents (Spring City Veterans Memorial Association) is working to ensure veterans of Spring City are not forgotten or ignored. With the support of city government, VFW Post 9276, The Friends…
Report from the Legislature By Ralph Okerlund Senator District 24 Feb. 15, 2018 Dear Friends and Neighbors, We have just concluded week three of the 2018 Legislative General Session, and what a productive week it was! We are nearing the end of our appropriations subcommittees who have taken requests from all the…
Report from the Legislature By Ralph Okerlund Senator District 24 Feb. 8, 2018 Dear Friends and Neighbors, The second week of the 2018 Legislative Session is in the books! We had a busy week getting two bills through committees and one through the Senate floor. We had the opportunity to entertain 180…