Eighth-grade Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
The EMS (Emergency Medical Service) is a work force made up of volunteers from around the area they serve. These men and women have studied from six months to two years to be able to fill this position. They have to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As soon as a call comes in, no matter what the time, the EMS responds as quickly as possible.
They have saved thousands of lives over the years. So, with all the EMS does for us, how come the people who work for it do not get paid? It is true that in larger places, such as Salt Lake City, the medics get paid for their work. However, in areas that are more rural, such as Sanpete County, the EMS is made up purely of volunteers.
Everyone says that there is not enough money pay them, but according to http://www.moneynation.com. the average NBA player makes about $5 million a year. My solution to this problem is, if there is a business or sports team in an area where the EMS serves, the business should be required to donate a part of their annual profit to the Emergency Medical Service.
Allie Bridges
Parents: Nathan and Shannon Bridges
Ephraim
Dear Editor,
We need to give some appreciation to our special education teachers. They make so many major contributions to our school than most people ever could in their lifetime. I think that these teachers need more appreciation for their service and hard work.
There are even some people who don’t get paid to take care of these sweet children. It is strictly voluntary for them. I feel like these people should be rewarded for their service. Some autistic children learn so much from these teachers. Our teachers at our school have to be kind and loving, just like Mrs. Chidester from Manti High School.
These adults, whoever they may be, need to be thanked for all of their hard work and service. There are so many examples of the love that these children feel from these people. They don’t even have to be adults. My sister is 16 years old and she worked with the special education program. She loved the children there so much. She worked with all of the children. She told me about how all of the children can feel accepted. There are no favorites, they just help whoever is in need. I believe that these people do so much for our community. They are great with children and deserve a thank you.
Alexis Naylor
Parents: Andrew Naylor and Alisha Traina
Manti
Dear Editor,
Have you ever had that worry about you, your friends or your child being bullied? Bullying is a real problem in our schools. I personally know some people in my school that feel like they have been bullied. Seeing your friends or even other people run into the bathroom or get on the bus and start crying because of bullying is hard.
Bullying isn’t just physical harm, as most people think. Bullying is saying rude or inappropriate comments to another person to harm them in any way. Bullying is also calling someone crude names that are not needed and very unwanted just to hurt a person’s feelings.
We can solve this problem by talking and interacting with people and the world around us. We can also solve this with many other things if we try. No one wants to see anyone get bullied, If bullying stops our world will be a better place.
Hope Marsing
Parents: Nick and Christina Marsing
Manti
Dear Editor,
Have you ever been walking along and a dog comes out and follows you or even attacks you or even (attacks) your dog? Once when I was walking home from school, a dog came out on the street and started to bark at me and even tried to bite me. This has happened more than once.
Lots of dogs are not chained up. There is a law that says that all dogs need to be on a leash or fenced up. When a dog leaves your property without a leash on, that is illegal. What can we do to keep dogs leashed up? We could make sure all dogs have leashes on or stay on your property.
I know lots of people that don’t keep their dog on a leash. Those are the dogs that end up at the pound or even dead from chasing cars or biting people or other animals and having to be put down.
Lots of these dogs are really nice, but if they think someone is trying to hurt their owner, they will attack you. We need to keep our dogs on leashes for our safety and theirs.
Karra Hacking
Parents: Steven and Kristen Hacking
Ephraim
Dear Editor,
I would like to say a very needed thanks to the EMTs for all they do and how much they help others. I am very glad to have them around because one night my grandpa wasn’t feeling so good. He was sitting in his chair breathing weird and just wasn’t acting right.
After my brothers left from their house, my grandpa suddenly fell out of the chair and his blood pressure was not right and was bleeding out! My grandma called my dad and then the EMTs and he was rushed to the hospital. Turns out the medicine he was taking made him feel the way he was.
I don’t exactly remember what it was like but I know for sure that he had a blood clot in his lung. This was a very serious condition and the EMTs helped him out, and to me, saved my grandpa’s life.
Now my grandpa is alive today thanks to the EMTs and the hospital. I wanted to thank them for all they do and how much they have impacted my grandpa’s and my life in a good way.
Tyson Meade
Parents: Brian and Valerie Meade
Ephraim
Dear Editor,
I would like thank the bus drivers for taking us from place to place. I feel like the bus drivers don’t get the proper thanks. In this world, we get off, of the bus and say thank you, but I don’t think that is that meaningful. We need to sincerely thank the bus drivers. The bus drivers have to deal with so many things.
We have some amazing bus drivers in Manti like Joe Dow, Ken Parry, Garry Bringhurst, Doug Birk. We never have to worry about getting to school on time because they always pick us up around the same time. I think that we all need to respect our elders, including the bus drivers.
If we didn’t have a bus driver, then our parent would have to take us to school. What about the kids that their parent has to go to work really early, how are they going to get to school? When we want to go on a field trip how would we get there? Once again thanks to all of the bus drivers, including the substitute bus drivers. It means a lot.
Sienna Thompson
Parents: Loren and MaryAnn Thompson
Manti
Dear Editor,
I want to thank our linemen for getting up and working in the cold, wet snow this winter. At times like it’s hard to get up early and go to work so we can have power. The reason I know all this is because my dad is a lineman.
I just really want to say thank you to all the linemen, and next time the power is out, don’t worry. They are out there trying to get the power back on.
McCoy Thomson
Parents: Brian and Melissa Thomson
Ephraim
Dear Editor,
I’d like to bring up an issue about not having a public roping arena in Ephraim. There are tons of people who would really appreciate it including me. We could pay for it with fund raisers, sponsors and having rodeo events. Also, we could put in for grants from the state.
I think a good spot for an arena would be west of Ephraim City. Having a roping arena would be a great place to have for after-school programs and extra activities. 4-H can use it for their classes also. People can come and learn about animals and enjoy the outdoors.
An arena could also be used for sporting events such as a motor cross, drag racing and having tractor pulling races, which can bring large crowds. If there was a top-of-the-line arena, then there is a chance that they could move the fair to Ephraim, which can also bring in income to our city to help pay off the debt.
Austin Hunter
Parents: Tyler and Ruby Hunter
Ephraim
Dear Editor,
I would like to express my thanks to Manti City Council members for their attempts to sell the street on 1st East to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I feel that this could benefit the youth of our city in so many ways.
The LDS church has offered the city double the value of the street. Manti City has said this money is earmarked for the new sport complex. This will give the youth a safe place to play sports. Currently the LDS church owns all the surrounding property. UDOT has closed the road, making it a dead end.
The only thing stopping this sale from happening is a small group who are concerned about their freedom of speech. They feel that if the city sells the property their freedom of speech is being trampled on. They want to sue the city if the sale goes through. I feel that they only want to protest the pageant. I think there are plenty of other streets in Manti they can protest on.
Rawlee Mickelson
Parents: Ryan and Jennie Mickelson
Manti
Dear Editor,
I love the community of Sanpete. Everyone works together, are so kind and I believe Sanpete has some of the nicest people on earth. I want to thank the people of Sanpete.
When the trailer park caught fire in Ephraim, I remember the families who lost their homes were immediately offered a living space. Someone set up an address you could go donate clothes to. When I went to bring clothes, I was astonished at how many people were there and the amount of things that had already been donated. When there is a need in Sanpete County, the need will be met.
I am grateful we have a fire department willing to check on a house and risk their lives everyday. Overall, the people I want to thank the most are the police officers. They keep our cities and streets safe. They risk their lives just for our safety, Without them there would be chaos and things would be totally different.
Jacob Norris
Parents: Ryan and Jennie Mickelson
Ephraim
