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An Edition of the
We A r e S a n p e t e . c o m Thursday, February 21, 2019 • Vol. 129, No. 8 • 75 cents
Fulfilling the dream for 102 years LASHEL WHITE
Ray LaFollette
Editor’s Note: Welcome to the Pioneer Association Archive, a look at some of the historical locations in Mt. Pleasant prior to the association’s annual luncheon to be held March 16, at the Mt. Pleasant North Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 461 North 300 West. This year’s theme is “Looking Back in Time.” Doors open at 10:30 a.m., lunch at 12 noon. MT. PLEASANT — On the southeast corner of Main and State in Mt. Pleasant stands a public library. This public library, like many others across the nation, would not have been built were it not for the love one millionaire had for books. Indeed, without Andrew Carnegie’s distaste for money and dream of libraries, it is conceivable that today there would only be a handful of public libraries in the entire country. Andrew Carnegie’s life reads
much like a fairy tale. He was born in Scotland in 1835 and immigrated to the United States with his parents as a child. He started working in factories at the age of 13. Thanks to a combination of hard work, ambition, cleverness, and luck, by his mid-twenties he was an important executive for a railroad company. When Carnegie was 30, he struck off to do business for himself. By the time two more decades had passed, he completely dominated the iron and steel industries of the United States. In an age before government intervention and regulation made monopolies illegal, Carnegie dealt with the problem of competition simply by buying out his competitors. By the turn of the century, Carnegie was incredibly wealthy. Though his holdings did not quite rival those of John D. Rockefeller, the oil mogul, he was easily one of the richest men in the country. However, Carnegie felt that his wealth brought him great responsi-
Opened Feb. 15, 1917, this photo was taken in 1918. The picture makes it appear that the roof was higher and had a tower, but that is actually part of the roof and structure of the old Hamilton Elementary school which was located where the Mt. Pleasant Aquatics Center now stands, just east of the library. bility. He wrote a book, The Gospel of Wealth, in which he proposed that all money beyond that required for maintaining oneself and one’s family should be given to the poor. Indeed, he considered dying wealthy to be a disgrace.
Carnegie generously donated his money to philanthropic causes, but it wasn’t enough. He was earning more money than he was spending. While most of us today would be glad to find ourselves in such a situation, Carnegie was alarmed. If this continued, he
Granary Arts presents new exhibition EPHRAIM — The artwork of Richard Gate is now on display in the main and upper galleries at Granary Arts, 86 North Main Street, Ephraim. An artist reception will be held on Friday, April 12, from 6-8 p.m. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays. The new exhibit entitled, Richard Gate / Anthology, is a retrospective of work created by Richard Gate between 1985 and 2019, a survey of 30 years of work and will be on display through Friday, May 10. Gate has spent a lifetime drawing migratory paths across the northern continent. Working seasonally in Sanpete County from his rural studio, and traveling to remote areas of Canada to fish and Los Angeles to connect with the art scene – these repeated pilgrimages are evident in the evolution of his creative process. Deeply influenced by jazz, rock n’ roll, the alternative subcultures of the 1960s, and the desert rock landscape of the west, Gate’s work is an exploration of the metaphysical and alchemical. Informed by southern Cali-
Richard Gate / Anthology exhibit is now on display at Granary Arts, 86 North Main Street, Ephraim.
fornia hard-edge painting, he uses collage as a primary means of gathering signs and symbols into an orchestrated conversation – a contemporary renaissance collision of science, history, and art. This exhibition, spanning several decades of work and multiple mediums, is a nuanced visual autobiography of Gate’s experiences and visions translated from the pathways of his migratory travels. About Richard Gate Richard Gate was born in the lake country of northwestern
Ontario and raised in the red rock country of southern Utah. Most of his youth was spent out of doors, and except for an awareness of the primitive and mystical animist art of the American Southwest, had very little exposure to art or culture. While living in Switzerland and the South of France as a young missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he encountered the world and landscape of Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Van Gogh and Gauguin. He received a Bachelor of
Fine Arts degree from Brigham Young University and a Master of Fine Arts from the Claremont Graduate School in southern California. Represented by the Ruth Bachofner Gallery in Santa Monica, CA; for over 25 years, Gate has participated in 10 solo exhibitions and over 30 group exhibitions. His work has been reviewed in the Los Angeles Times, and his paintings are included in numerous corporate and private collections. Recently his large piece Catfish — Serpent — Star was awarded Best of Show in the Utah Statewide Annual: Mixed Media and Works on Paper 2016 and is now in the State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Collection. For more information about Gates, visit www.richardgate. com. About Granary Arts Granary Arts is supported in part by Utah Arts and Museums, with funding from the State of Utah and the National Endowment for the Arts, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and generous support from Ephraim City. For more information, visit www.granaryarts.org.
MP City to receive new pressurized irrigation system CHERYL K. BREWER
The Pyramid
MT. PLEASANT—Members of the Langdon Group met Feb. 12 during a special meeting with the Mt. Pleasant City Council regarding the pressurized irrigation system upgrade. The $18 million project will be paid for by a federal grant in the amount of $15,269,925 and with local matching funds of $3,343,121. The pro-
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cess will begin with the initial scoping meeting in April. Estimates are that it will take 18 months to complete the whole project. The current pressurized irrigation system was installed 30 years ago and has served its time. The system will be upgraded and replaced. The state of Utah now requires new systems to be metered. Mt. Pleasant has been plagued by water shortages and rationing has been the norm for several years. The new system will address those problems and be more
efficient in water usage. In the past, one system served both agricultural users and residents. The new system will be split so each will have their own system. Maintenance will be easier with improved valving. With the old system, the whole system had to be shut down to fix small water leaks, broken pipes, etc., in a small area. The new system will be created so each residence will have equal water pressure of 40 pounds per square inch (psi). Tracy Allen, Langdon Group designer, stated the
upper debris basin will be converted into a long term storage facility and the new system will also address flood and watershed protection. The two reservoirs will be completed first. Along with the irrigation project, Mayor Dan Anderson said some studies may also be used for the culinary water project the city is also enhancing, since a certain amount of culinary water is going down the river. He said there are many benefits of this project which include saving both irrigation and culinary water.
might die wealthy. Carnegie loved books and fondly remembered when, as a child, the wealthy Colonel James Anderson allowed all the working boys in the neighborhood to borrow books from his personal collection. Carnegie made good use of this offer.
Carnegie became an extremely intelligent and knowledgeable person, for one who had been forced to start working at a young age. He received much of what education he had on his own, by reading those borrowed books. Setting out with a resolve to spend his fortune, Carnegie began a concentrated effort to bring books to everyone, regardless of their economic circumstances. He envisioned buildings dotting the world, filled with books that anyone would be welcome to borrow and read. At that time in history, public libraries were virtually non-existent. Beyond small book exchanges and school libraries, which were often closed to anyone who was not a student or serious scholar, the only way to get a certain book was to buy it, or be lucky enough to know someone who might be willing to lend it. The modern system of today, where a library may be Please see LIBRARY, Page A3
Council selects Mayor Pro Tem CHERYL K. BREWER
The Pyramid
MT. PLEASANT — After two rounds of voting, Councilman Kevin Stallings was selected ad Mayor Pro Tem in the event Mayor Dan Anderson is absent. The voting took place during the regular Feb. 12 council meeting. Aspen Hills Blake Llewelyn, Aspen Hills representative, appeared before the council to request a water spigot with a meter be placed somewhere so residents can have better water access and be able to pay for water. Llewllyn said the subdivision association was willing to pay for the spigot and meter. He noted the county had approved the subdivision as a dry one, so most people have to haul water to use. He said several residents are filling water tanks at the city shop and then paying for the water at city hall. After much discussion between the council, it was decided to place the spigot and a credit card meter on about 400 East Main. The spigot would be available for anyone to use, but will have a special recreational use rate. Public works Colter Allen, public works supervisor, reported to the council about his department. In the past, it had been suggested that each person be over a specific department, such as roads, water, etc. Allen said he would prefer to keep the department working as a group citing problems with cross training, certification concerns and taking vacation and which department would take precedent with shared equipment, if the department was split up. Allen said he felt communication has improved between his department and city hall. He said each week, he sets work plans, has an on call roster and will be working with Shane Ward, power department supervisor, on a long-term plan. Allen has worked for the de-
partment for four years, Lynn Beesley, seven months and the department presently has only four employees. Council reports Councilman Keith Collier reported concrete work still needs to be done at the library so water runoff can be directed away from the building. He also said a chair lift is being considered inside the library for disability access. Councilperson Heidi Kelso reported she has been working on the personnel policy re-vamp, then she and Collier will meet with an appointed employee. Councilman Russel Keisel thanked the employees for snow removal at the aquatic center. He also reported the first train car is near completion and that sewer and water has been stubbed into each train car. A master water meter will be used for all the train cars. Keisel said the city is considering building new restrooms at the city park near the horseshoe pits. Councilman Kevin Stallings stated he is looking forward to the pressurized irrigation project that will take about 18 months to complete. He said the city is behind on heating maintenance and would like to have it all done before spring. Councilman Justin Atkinson reported that a designation needs to be made for chip sealing roads this year. He also said a work meeting will be held Feb. 26 to discuss options with Sunrise Engineering on the culinary water project. He also reported the city auditors would be coming that day as well. Mayor report Mayor Dan Anderson reported that Dave Oxman, chief financial officer, will start working on next year’s budget in March. He also reported that a boundary line agreement needs to be done at the industrial park and an adjustment on the deed needs to take place.