thePyramid We A r e S a n p e t e . c o m
An Edition of the
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We A r e S a n p e t e . c o m Thursday, January 23, 2020 • Vol. 129, No. 4 • 75 cents
MP elected leaders take oath, hear department reports RAY LAFOLLETTE
The Pyramid
MT. PLEASANT—During the first Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting of 2020, held Jan. 14, Michael T. Olsen was sworn in as the new mayor along with elected city council members, Russell G. Keisel, Rondy G. Black and Samuel Draper. In addition, several topics were discussed, including city power department changes, handicapped access at the library, council member training, sewer connection issues, road repairs, water runoff problems and possible meeting time changes. Power department Mt. Pleasant Power Department Superintendent Shane Ward addressed the council with an update on department plans. A proposal is in place to have a new master plan done by Intermountain Consumer Professional Engineers, Inc. (ICPE). It will entail a full study of the power department transmission capabilities, future growth needs, increased power input from solar customers, and a possible need for impact fees. Ward pointed out that whether we want them or not, changes are coming in the industry. Those changes include the increased use
Gale “Blue” Lewallan
New leadership is sworn in during a ceremony held Jan. 14, during the regular Mt. Pleasant City Council meeting. Shown are (left to right): Mayor Michael T. Olsen, and Council Members Russell G. Keisel, Rondy G. Black and Samuel Draper. (Photo by Ray LaFollette, The Pyramid) of electric cars, which will need charging and charging stations. Another change is an option called prepaid power. He briefly explained that prepaid power is when a customer pays in advance of use, then when the power paid for has been used it is turned off. Ward says the department looks at power rates every five years and
that time is now. The study may look at rates if the costs to do that are reasonable. He also addressed power connections. Residents living in the city boundaries only pay a connection fee, because the power is already on site and usually only needs to be turned on. Those who live out of town have to pay for everything, which may include poles, wire and
labor to install the connections. Ward did emphasize that the power department is trying to keep all costs down and stated that the Mt. Pleasant Power connections are less expensive than those with other competitors. Handicapped access Diana Prestwich expressed Please see SWORN IN, Page AA6
Continuing education available for alfalfa farmers Feb. 11 DODGE CITY, KS— High Plains Journal, along with Alforex Seeds and John Deere, are once again sponsoring Alfalfa U, Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Dixie Center in St. George. Alfalfa U registration is free and all are invited to attend the full day event with lunch provided. Attendees are encouraged to pre-register online at www. alfalfau.com, or by calling (620) 227-1834. Same-day registration will begin at 8 a.m. Alfalfa growers have very unique challenges and concerns in today’s marketplace. From identifying new market and revenue opportunities, to understanding how they can produce more yield and higher quality hay with fewer inputs, alfalfa farmers know that continuing education is critical to their bottom lines. Kicking off the morning program will be Josh Callen, of the Hoyt Report, speaking about hay market conditions that farmers may face in 2020. Callen will also dive deeper into alfalfa market challenges and
OREST LYZHECHKA
Producing higher quality hay and more of it may be a challenge in today’s marketplace. In an effort to help, Alfalfa U is available, free, to all interested attendees on Tuesday, Feb. 11, in St. George. For information, visit www.alfalfau.com. opportunities in two breakout sessions. Other breakout sessions will have something for everyone. This year, presentations will be made by Dr. Niel Allen and Dr. Matt
Yost, both of Utah State University. Allen will walk growers through their options regarding limited irrigation on alfalfa and Yost will share the latest research into rotating alfalfa with other crops like corn,
soybeans and small grains. Attendees will also hear from industry experts on topics such as harvest management; proper sampling for quality measurements and how growers can best utilize technology to get the best quality from their field into the barn. And, of course, there will be the highly popular Farmer Panel, sharing knowledge from the field. About Alfalfa U Alfalfa U is sponsored by High Plains Journal, Alforex Seeds, and John Deere. Since 1949 High Plains Journal has been the weekly source for news, markets and commentary for farmers and ranchers in 12 states across the Plains. From the Dakotas to Texas, rural leaders and influencers #RideWithUs in print, online at www.hpj.com, and now via our podcast “HPJ Talk.” The slate of educational events now include Soil Health U, Cattle U, Sorghum U, Wheat U, Alfalfa U, Row Crop U and Cotton U.
Hawk Wrestlers take ‘Battle for the Belt’ MARCY CURTIS
MANTI — For the first time, the three high schools in Sanpete County, North Sanpete (NS) Hawks, Manti Templars and Gunnison Bulldogs, brought their wrestling teams together Jan. 14, for the Battle for the Belt, a night of duels against rivals. The event was hosted by the Templars at Manti High School. Manti The first dual of the night was Manti against the Hawks. These two varsity teams are pretty evenly matched. With injuries and illness on both sides of the lineup, both teams started out by giving up some forfeits. Manti took the first match of the
evening in the 106 lb. wrestlers with Templar Bridger Christiansen pinning NS Hawk Owen Spencer in the first round. Hawk Wrestler Kasey Curtis defeated Manti’s Kaden Owens in the 113 lb. category with a technical fall in the early seconds of the second period. McCoy Tompson of Manti hung on for the win at 120 lbs., while Kylan Taylor of the Hawks took the pin at 126 lbs. Xander Shelley secured the 132 lb. win for the Hawks and Adrian Lemus defeated Kayden Fowles for more points for the Hawks. The 160 lb. weight class win went to the Templars with the Hawks North Sanpete Hawk wrestler Kasey Curtis, 113 pound sophomore, pinning his Gunnison opponent during the Battle for the Belt duels held Please see WRESTLERS, Page A6 Jan. 14. (Photo courtesy of Marcy Curtis)
Robert Stevens
FV museum opens twoperson art exhibit Feb. 7 FAIRVIEW—The Fairview Museum (FV) of History and Art will open a special art exhibit featuring two outstanding artists with a reception Friday, Feb. 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the Rotating Artists Gallery, 85 North 100 East, Fairview. The art will continue to be displayed through April 30. The art display will feature Robert Stevens, an award-winning photographer from Manti, and Blue Lewallan, who has a special talent in sculpting and mixed media with rock and metal. The mixture of these two art forms will provide an outstanding art display. Blue Lewallan Gale “Blue” Lewallen was born and raised in Weiser, ID; where he developed a deep appreciation of nature and wildlife. Lewallen now lives in Fairview with his wife and granddaughter. Lewallen served in the U.S. Navy, stationed on the east coast, working in the ship’s engine room. He was on board to pick up the Apollo 7 space capsule, and helped to decommission the USS Essex. Throughout his life, Lewallen has traveled many of the back roads of the country, usually on a shoestring, making many life-long friends and sometimes selling his art along the way to finance his adventures. In the 1970s, Lewallen moved to Colorado and found work in the mines, where he tried his hand at sculpting some of the oil shale rocks that he removed from the teeth of the primary crusher. For five years during that time, Lewallen and his wife lived in a tent high in the mountains. His skill as a metal worker has led him to the creation of many custom signs and art pieces, some of which he colors with the heat from a cutting torch. Robert Stevens Robert Stevens is a photographer and journalist living and working in Manti. After being raised on California’s central coast, he transplanted to Sanpete County, where his journey of art and storytelling truly began. Please see EXHIBIT, Page A6
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