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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, May 2, 2019 • Vol. 128, No. 18 • 75 cents
Repurposing railroad, Spike 150 open house set May 10-11 RAY LAFOLLETTE
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MT. PLEASANT — In celebration of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad 150 years ago with the driving of the golden spike at Promontory, Utah, the public is encouraged to attend an open house May 10 – 11, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at The Coffee Depot and Track 89 North, at 845 South Highway 89, Mt. Pleasant. There will be treats, souvenir treasures, including Spike 150 pins, mugs, and train whistles for kids. Come celebrate the repurposing of the railroad in Sanpete County. The railroad united the nation and transformed the communities which were connected by a growing network of rails and depots. The Coffee Depot is located in the historic Mt. Pleasant Denver & Rio Grande Depot which was rescued from demolition in 1977 by a group of local citizens who wanted to preserve it and had it moved to its present location. Over the past few months, The Coffee Depot has done extensive remodeling of the old depot and Track 89 North has completed some of the work on what will be a railroad resort providing lodging in remodeled railroad cars. The open house will provide an op-
The public is encouraged to attend the Spike 150 open house celebration to be held May 10-11, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at The Coffee Depot and Track 89 North, at 845 south Highway 89, Mt. Pleasant. Attendees will be able to tour a completely remodeled lodging rail car, and see the fully remodeled depot, that is now handicap accessible. (Photo courtesy of Cindy Shogren) portunity to see the newly-remodeled large seating area in the depot’s cargo space where the original cargo doors and hardware are on display. In addition, The Coffee Depot is celebrating the completion of a handicap
ramp which makes the depot accessible to everyone. This project was made possible in part with a grant from Spike 150 and the Utah Department of Heritage and the Arts along with a donation from the owners of Track 89 North.
Track 89 North has been working to repurpose the train cars near the Mt. Pleasant City park from cargo cars to “cabins”. The red box car has been completely remodeled and transformed into a motel/guest room.
During the open house, everyone will be able to walk through both the finished box car as well as the caboose which is nearing completion. Work continues on four other box cars. In addition to providing specialty coffee cafe with espresso-based drinks, smoothies, hot chocolate and fresh, healthy food items, The Coffee Depot also serves as the tourist information center in Mt. Pleasant for travelers along Highway 89. Many communities in Sanpete County have a historic connection to the railroad. In 1893, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad expanded its line from Chester to Manti, bringing the railroad to Sevier Valley and connecting its existing line with its Valley Line at Thistle Junction via Mt. Pleasant and from Manti to Marysvale. At its peak, the line ferried passengers to Richfield where tour companies would meet the train at Marysvale and take tourists to Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. Over time, use of the railroad waned, and in 1949, D&RGW dropped passenger service in the area. Freight trains still rode the rails until the Thistle mudslide of 1983 shut down the line completely. For more Coffee Depot information, call (435) 462-2667.
Students compare blue whales vs dolphins
Lori Johansen’s first grade students recently learned about blue whales and dolphins. Part of that activity included drawing the outline of the creatures on the playground blacktop at Spring City Elementary. (Photo courtesy of Pam Anderson)
SPRING CITY — First grade students at Spring City Elementary recently learned about and compared blue whales to dolphins. Based on the book, “One Day on our Blue Planet... in the Ocean”, by Ella Bailey, Lori Johansen’s class learned the differences in what whales and dolphins eat and drew size comparisons. Object lessons taught students how dolphins vs. blue whales eat. Because dolphins have teeth, students used salad tongs to pick up raisins (representing fish) from a bowl of water. Since blue whales don’t have teeth, but have baleen, the water was sprinkled with dried basil (representing krill). Then a comb (similar to baleen) was used to swipe through the water to catch the krill. The students also used one-inch
graph paper, where one inch equals 10 feet and then drew size comparisons of the blue whale, 80 feet long, and a dolphin, eight feet, on the paper. Then outside on the playground, the students took four-foot lengths of yarn to measure the size of a blue whale and then drew a whale with chalk on the black top. Next they used the yarn and drew dolphins. The class also enjoyed making origami whales, listening to the sounds whales and dolphins make and discussing how animals survive in different environments. Spring City Elementary appreciates Central Utah Water Conservancy District for providing trained teachers regarding the lesson and for donating the book, “The Watering Hole”, by Graeme Base.
Artists celebrate with art exhibit set May 10
Spike 150 concert set May 11 at Casino Star Theatre
TERRY MADSEN
RAY LAFOLLETTE
FAIRVIEW — A celebration of fine art created by a number of talented artists will be exhibited Friday, May 10, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Fairview Museum of History and Art, 84 North 100 East. Admission is free, come as you are. Over 50 paintings will be on display portraying a variety of subjects. Many of the paintings will be for sale and tagged with artist and price information. Terms of sale may be arranged with the museum. This annual event is hosted by the art class of Marie Lindahl and is a celebration of the fact that each member of the class has now experienced an individual exhibit in the Rotating Artist Gallery of the museum. The public is encouraged to come, celebrate this event with family and friends. Children who attend must be accompanied by an adult and carefully supervised.
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GUNNISON — As part of Utah’s Spike 150 celebrations, Gunnison will host a 13-piece folk ensemble “Echoes of Hammers and Spikes” in concert Saturday, May 11, at 7 p.m., at the Casino Star Theater, 78 South Main. Tickets are available at the door and at select locations. For more information, contact Lori Nay via email at lorinay@ gmail.com or call (435) 979-9235. The group will perform songs and stories from the new 68-page illustrated book and 20-song album titled “Echoes of Hammers and Spikes.” The concert includes songs and stories related to the creation of the Transcontinental Railroad and its completion in 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah. Among well-known members of the ensemble are storyteller Sam Payne, host of the nationwide storytelling radio show “The Appleseed”; storytelling coach and performance director Suzanne Payne and Utah musician and arts advocate Clive Romney. “Gunnison audiences will be among the first to hear music from our new 20-song album, also called Echoes of Hammers and Spikes,” Romney said. “People who have seen our group perform often comment on how much they enjoy the diversity of instruments and perspectives we bring.” Among the ensemble’s more exotic instruments are the
Utah-based musicians and storytellers Clive Romney (on left) and Sam Payne will be part of the 13-piece ensemble performing at the Gunnison Spike 150 celebration Saturday, May 11, at 7 p.m., at the Casino Star Theater, 78 South Main, Gunnison. Tickets available at the door and select locations. (Photo courtesy of Tess Wood)
Spring City Arts presents Jorge Salas and Friends in concert Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m., at the Spring City Art Gallery, 79 South Main.
Good vibrations to be felt at Salas concert May 3 SPRING CITY — Snow College jazz percussionist Jorge Salas and Friends is set to perform Friday, May 3, at Spring City Arts, 79 South Main. A potluck dinner will be held at 6 p.m., followed by fine music at 7 p.m. Tickets available at the door. Jorge Salas is from Costa Rica and is graduating from Snow College as the Fine Arts Student of the Year. He has been accepted into the Master’s Program at Berklee’s College of Music in Valencia, Spain. Concert proceeds will go towards his education. This concert is a great opportunity to view the art produced by local artists in the gallery while also enjoying some great music by accomplished musicians. About SCA Spring City Arts (SCA) is dedicated to promoting art, artists, art awareness and art education in Spring City, Sanpete County and Utah. SCA promotes art through advocacy programs, education, mentoring, workshops and service. SCA supports and promotes the artistic process through peer directed and operated services, advocacy, economic and historic development and participation in public art and design in Spring City. For more information, visit www. springcityarts.com.
Appalachian dulcimer, Chinese guzheng, tubular bells, bodhran and Irish whistles. More familiar instruments like piano, bass, multiple acoustic and electric guitars, banjos, fiddle, mandolin and accordion will also be played. Please see SPIKE, Page A6
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