February 2000

News

Smithfield now the healthy city that reads
02/29/00 SMITHFIELD -- Even though Smithfield Health Days are just around the corner, the city has reading on its mind. The Smithfield City Council approved partial funding of a highway banner Wednesday night. The banner, which will stretch across Main Street, will mark Smithfield as "The City That Reads." / By Casey Hobson

VIDEO REPORT: College students rally on the steps of the Capitol in Salt Lake City for an increase in state money for public universities
02/20/00 SALT LAKE CITY -- Legislators were greeted by a crowd demanding more pay for faculty and a higher budget overall. Note: You'll need QuickTime to view. / By Rob Davis

VIDEO REPORT: Campus theft
02/23/00 Cars parked at USU are being burglarized. A group of teen-age boys is suspected of stealing CDs and other items. Note: You'll need QuickTime to view. / By Kris Nelson

Hyrum halts connections to irrigation system during upgrade
02/29/00 HYRUM -- Anyone wishing to connect to Hyrum's irrigation system will have to wait until a recently placed moratorium is lifted after improvements are made that will allow more connections. / By Lara Gale

Smithfield to base bonuses on longevity and performance
02/28/00 SMITHFIELD— City Manager James Gass proposed a two-part method for determining the salaries and bonuses for three new city employee positions at Wednesday's Smithfield City Council meeting. The basic idea behind the plan was approved for the lead streets, lead water and sewer and lead parks, buildings and grounds positions, but some kinks will be worked out before it is solidified. Gass said he hopes the system can be refined and used for all city employees in the future. / By Vicky Campbell

Wellville considers pressurized irrigation system
02/28/00 WELLSVILLE‹The Wellsville City Council is considering installing a pressurized irrigation system in an attempt to save money further down the road. ""The longer we wait, the more it's going to cost us," said Mayor Ruth Maughan Wednesday night at the city council meeting. "It's going to be an expense in the beginning, but in the long run it will be a savings." / By Liz Maudsley

The Howell House Inn Bed and Breakast may come to Wellsville
02/23/00 WELLSVILLE--The Howell House Inn Bed and Breakfast is one step closer to becoming a reality for owner Arlyn Brandt. Wellsville City's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to let Brandt proceed with his plans as long as he met specific conditions. / By Heather Fredriskson

Governor Leavitt encourages students to vote
02/22/00 Gov. Mike Leavitt spoke to students at USU sayting, "I come today wearing two hats," one to encourage Utah to be aware of the Mar. 10th primary and to focus on which candidate they would like to vote for, and the other to let people know that he had already made his choice and wanted to promote George W. Bush as candidate for president. / By Heather Wardle

Millville considers taking grant for new sewer system
02/22/0The Millville City Council discussed options on a proposed sewer system. The city has the choice of developing their own system or sharing with Logan or Hyrum. Millville City has been offered a grant by the state of Utah to help fund the project, if they decided to build their own. / By Bryce Petersen

Yep, that's Rebecca Gayheart, model and actress in the movie Scream 2, at Sundance. Actors and actresses and high-powered deal-makers, all dressed in black, were everywhere at the Park City festival. But they're not such a big deal, says USU student Andy Morgan. Literally. For starters, many film stars are tiny in real life. And many have no behinds. / Photo by Andrea Pickett.

SUNDANCE DIARY: Pushy people, stars with no behinds, and solid black wardrobes
(02/17/00) Wanna know something? Hollywood and its accompanying glitz, glamour, parties and the like, is not that cool. In fact, it's somewhat tiresome. Take it from a USU student who spent a week at the Sundance Film Festival and had his fill. / By Andy Morgan

Bed and breakfast to go up in Wellsville, but not infalatable building
02/18/00 The Howell House Inn Bed and Breakfast is one step closer to becoming a reality for owner Arlyn Brandt. Wellsville City's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to let Brandt proceed with his plans as long as he met specific conditions. The Commission also unanimously voted down the request of Thomas Harris who asked the City Council if he could raise an inflatable building on his property to house his tools until he could get a permanent garage built. / By Heather Fredrickson

Lewiston City Council addresses topsoil controversy
02/18/00 Members of the planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council listened to citizens voice their concerns about the proposed topsoil ordinance Wednesday night at a public hearing in the city ballroom. "We as land owners have the responsibility to be stewards," said Darrel Gibbons, a farmer in Lewiston. He has leveled his farm land, which he believes has made his farm better. "Give us freedom to be responsible for our own property," he asked the Council. / By Sarah Buttars

Banks forced to be flexible with change
02/16/00 In a luncheon hosted by The Logan City Chamber of Commerce, president and chief executive officer for Zions Bank Corp. Harris H. Simmons, spoke to Logan bankers, as well as other community members about the changes in banking, and more specifically the recently announced merger between Zions Bank and First Security Bank. Banking, according to Simmons, is an information service. This means that in order to keep up, "and remain contemporary, banks have to be flexible with change," he said. / By Heather Wardle

Professor aims to help victims of domestic violence and their pets
02/14/00 While many people might not see the link, Dr. Frank Ascione is sure to point out that there is indeed a direct correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence. Dr. Ascione, professor of psychology here at USU, has focused his attention on the study of domestic violence and abuse, and the prominent role animals play in abusive situations. A direct result of his work, Ascione has written a book, A Safe Haven for Pets. The book sets up guidelines for new programs and shelters, and deals with how to take care of women and and their pets at the same time. / By Heather Wardle

Teen-agers appointed to Hyrum Youth City Council
02/14/00 Eight Hyrum youths were sworn into the City Youth Council in a ceremony Monday evening in the city office building. During their two-year terms, they will juggle school, sports and family commitments with their duties as city leaders, and learn that leadership is really the humblest form of service. / By Lara Gale

Callaway argues case for alcohol with Smithfield council
02/11/00 At the rate things are going, Callaway Pizza may never get a beer license. Owner Bob Callaway, however, might learn a painful lesson in patience. After opening the floor for a public hearing, the Smithfield City Council said it would take time to further examine the city ordinance that prohibits the sell of liquor within 440 yards of any school or church -- an ordinance from which Callaway requested a variance Jan. 27. / By Casey Hobson

Water, sewer lines must span property for new Wellsville homes, council says
02/11/00 The Wellsville City Council voted 3-1 Wednesday night to require the extension of water and sewer lines across the full length of new residential property. That should end the practice of homeowners dead-ending their lines to save themselves money, at the expense of the city when hookups are required later. / By Liz Maudsley

Internet use to be measured in years, jobs for Generation Y, speaker says
02/11/00 Most members of Generation "Y" -- the one after Generation X -- will have at least two jobs that haven't been invented yet, according to a USU alumnus who co-founded the top-rated internet site for public relations professionals. Brian Schaible, a USU alum, spoke Tuesday as part of the Media & Society Lecture Series. / By Heather Wardle

Keeping crime down in North Logan through Neighborhood Watch
02/09/00 Crime in North Logan has not reached advanced levels, and members of the Community Oriented Policing System (COPS) aim to keep it that way. / By Lynnette Hoffman

Hyrum rejects non-residents connecting to water lines
02/07/00 Residents outside Hyrum's boundaries can't add on to existing water lines under any circumstances, the Hyrum City Council decided at Thursday's meeting. Making exceptions might "open Pandora's box." / By Lara Gale

College Ward water killing fish, ducks
02/07/00 For ducks and trout that once inhabited College Ward resident Duane Cox's pond, life really stunk, or at least the water did. And it stunk so much that the fish are dead and the ducks are staying south. / By Dan Chase

Brigham City turns on siren to alert firefighters, ambulance workers
02/07/00 At least one of the three sirens which alert volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers to emergencies will be turned on after being silenced for a three-month trial period. Brigham City Council members voted unanimously to restore the use of one siren, although several council members, including Mayor David Kano, said they wanted to turn on all three. / By Sally H. N. Wright

Millville man defends foster care services provided in his home
02/07/00 Luis Espinoza defended his home against allegations that it was a hazard to the safety of the community at Thursday's meeting of the Millville City Council.Espinoza said he gives foster care to youth who have been in trouble with the law. While he did not name specific crimes, he said that many of the youth he has cared for have been involved with gangs. He said that he did not accept anyone who had been convicted of sexual offenses or of aggravated assault. / By Bryce Peterson

USU to help train broadcasters for 2002 Winter Olympics
02/07/00 Students at Utah State University are being invited to sign up for training to assist in broadcasting the 2002 Winter Olympics to the world two years from now. / By the USU communication department

Simple beer license not so simple, but LW's evetually gets one in North Logan
02/04/00 What should have been a simple decision turned into a huge debate Thursday night, when the North Logan City Council voted 4-1 to approve a beer license for an LW's convenience store. First, though, the police chief and director of the Chamber of Commerce spoke out as character witnesses for the owner of LW's. / By Ruth Russell

Ordinance on car-booting would make rules and penalties clear, mayor says
02/04/00 Logan Mayor Doug Thompson told USU students that a proposed ordinance regulating the booting of illegally parked cars would ensure that the rules and penalties are clear. Thompson met with students Thursday in the Taggart Student Center to discuss student concerns and possible solutions. Students raised questions about a variety of issues and listened to the mayor's ideas for resolving them. / By Jen Feinstein

Callaway's Pizza seeks liquor license in Smithfield
02/04/00 Coming from a liberal Southern California community to Smithfield, Bob Callaway said he and his wife, Jackie, "didn't have a clue" what they were getting into when they opened Callaway's Pizza and Pasta. A little over a year later, though, they have found themselves petitioning the community for a liquor license - and learning the difference between California and Utah. / By Vicky Campbell and Casey Hobson

Lewiston commission approves low-income housing plan
02/03/00 The plan, which the Planning and Zoning Commission has endorsed and sent to the City Council, allows homes of any size to be built next to each other, and permits multifamily housing if they are not placed together. It allows for a "reasonable amount of growth." According to the city's master plan, a reasonable amount of growth is 2 to 3 percent. In Lewiston this translates to 12 to 15 homes annually. / By Sarah Buttars

Heather Mason, second from right, tells an audience of USU students Monday that the pace of getting stories and publishing them in some form will continue to get faster and faster. Mason reported business deals at the Sundance Film Festival last week using a palm computer linked to the internet. Other panelists, left to right, are Nicole Griffin Farrell of the Herald Journal; Melisa Ann Wilson and Joe Pyrah of the Ogden Standard-Examiner, Hilary Groutage of the Salt Lake Tribune, and Troy Oldham of Microsoft. Not pictured are John Taylor, formerly of NASA, and Julia Ferre of Fox News, Salt Lake City. / Photo by the USU Communication Department.

Pens freeze, sources often hate you, and your deadline always is 'five minutes ago'
02/01/00 What's in store for communication students as they prepare to graduate? Among other things, deadlines -- a compound word, the first half of which is "dead." A panel of USU communication alumni told students Monday what they would have liked to have known before graduating. "If you can't keep up, you're in trouble," said John Taylor, formerly a public information officer for NASA's Marshall Space Center in Alabama. / By Jessica Warren

Features

PUTTING ON BEST BEADS AND FEATHERS: Lorren Sammaripa, top, displays feathers and headdress while Lonnie A. Bear and his grandmother, Pearl Sammaripa, above of the Northern Paiute tribe, also participate in ceremonial dress in the Pow-Wow Saturday at the Nelson Field House at USU. / Photo by Heather Wardle

Donating plasma: saving lives and earning money
02/29/00 College students will do just about anything for money, this includes allowing someone to stick a needle in their arm and taking their plasma on a regular basis. And why not? It's safe, it saves lives, and hey you can earn up to $200 a month in cold, hard cash. / By Kay Dee Johansen

Seniors prepare for graduation with mixed feelings
02/29/00 There wasn't a lot of traffic at the Gradfair in the Taggart Student Center's Sunburst Lounge on Wednesday, but there was a lot of lurking excitement. While Utah State University's seniors were emptying their pockets to buy graduation announcements, class rings and other commemorative items, they reflected on what they'll miss most when they're gone. / By Dan Chase

Cache County Trail to help with overcrowding
02/14/00 Hyde Park, Smithfield and North Logan would like to keep their cities from becoming overcrowded like the Wasatch Front, so a trail is being considered that would minimize the effects of overcrowdness and give something back to the community. / By Debbie Lamb

Internet real estate
(02/08/00) Imagine being able to tour and compare homes for purchase, at any hour, without leaving your desk. 360House.com, an interactive real-estate website, allows buyers to do just that, courtesy of innovative technology and creative site managers and Cody Edwards of Providence is bringing this technology to Cache Valley residents. By Analisa Coats

A condensed history lesson on Tremonton
(02/08/00) Tremonton's history is somewhat unique in that Mormons did not settle it. The Bear River Valley was inhabited by the Fremont and later the Shoshoni Indians before the coming of white settlers. John Petty first settled the townsite, of what was to become Tremonton, in 1888. His farm took up of what is now the south half of the city. By Emily Jensen

Keeping teen moms in school
(02/08/00) North Campus was originally designed to help young mothers learn domestic responsibilities to help raise their children, but about 10 years ago the philosophy began to center more around education and helping the teen moms earn their diplomas. By Kendal Bates

The Wellsvilles, above, are one of the steepest ranges in North America. / Photo by the USU communication department.

Two USU students founders of the Wellsville Mountain Ski Patrol
(02/07/00) WELLSVILLE -- The Wellsville Mountain Ski Patrol doesn't do first aid. "We're not good enough for (that)," said Jason Wooden, a mechanical designer at the Space Dynamics Lab at Utah State University, and founding member of the two-man WMSP. Wooden and high school friend Tim Watkins, began skiing in the Wellsville foothills in 1987, Wooden said. / By Heather Fredrickson

Disco skating still far out
(02/04/00) Just before the end of the semester last year, Jake Fackrell started the weekly Saturday night Disco Skating Fever at the Logan Fun Park. Where for $3, and a "gnarly" costume you may claim your entrance to an atmosphere that is totally '70s. An atmosphere that permits college students something new, something exciting and something cheap. It's laid-back, stress-free time in the era that brought us "freedom, peace and love." Imagine an era where baby blue Camaros and red Mustangs with thick, white racing stripes, cruise the streets blastings Abba's Dancing Queen, along with songs by John Denver and the Beatles. / By Heather Wardle

Look, up in the sky! A green beam supreme to measure the middle atmosphere
(02/01/00) On a clear night, people walking around the campus of Utah State University may notice the beam shooting straight up from the Science and Engineering Research Building and wonder why USU uses an advertising searchlight. What's really going in is science, blindingly green science. / By Emily Jensen

Fencing: It's like chess at 90 miles an hour
(02/01/00) Remember the part in The Mask of Zorro when Antonio Banderas pulls out his sword and the light reflects perfectly along the length of the blade. Sure it was cheesy and flashy, but deep down we all thought it was pretty cool. And everyone knows the best part of Star Wars is the light sabers. Who hasn't left one of these movies and felt a desire to grab the nearest long object and start whacking on each other? Well here's your big chance, only this is for real. / By Kay Dee Johansen

Helping handicapped athletes in Logan: A short video clip

Sports

Aggies go where they never have gone before: 8-0 on the road in conference
(02/28/00) The Aggies improved the nation's longest winning streak to 14 games as North Texas became their latest victim, 76-68, Saturday night at the Superpit in Denton, Texas. Only two home games this week separate the Aggies from a perfect conference season. / By Doug Layne

Brown goes 'downtown' in leading USU to victory at hostile NMSU
(02/28/00) Sophomore guard Tony Brown came up big with a career-high 27 points against New Mexico State University, where USU has managed one victory in the last decade. The second half became the Tony Brown show, as he scored 19 of the 33 second-half points including 13 straight points midway through the half. / By Doug Layne

Just one more victory, and the Aggies wrap up the title
(02/23/00) Winners of 12 straight games (the longest streak in the nation) and 15 of its last 16, the Utah State University men's basketball team can cinch up its third Big West Conference Eastern Division title in four years, and fifth title all-time, with one more victory. But it won't be easy winning Thursday at New Mexico State University, where USU hasn't won since 1996. / By Wade Denniston

Aggies continue perfection with 64-55 victory over Pacific
(02/22/00) The team of low expectation is the team to beat in the Big West as the Aggies remain perfect at 12-0, having defeated the University of Pacific, 64-55, Saturday night in the Spectrum. / By Doug Layne

Beam performance hurts women's gymnastics team
(02/22/00) Trailing by a mere .025 halfway through a four-way competition at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Friday night, the Utah State University women's gymnastics team was as close as it wanted to be to the nation's No. 11 University of Denver. But then the beam came back to haunt them, and that ultimately spelled doom for the hosts. / By Dan Chase

Twenty wins! Eleven in a row! But who's counting?
(02/18/00) The Aggie basketball team continues to rewrite the record book, with a victory Thursday night in Reno against the University of Nevada, where USU has only won once since 1993 when the Wolfpack joined the Big West. / By Doug Layne

Aggie gymnasts defeat BYU, SUU
(02/17/00) After struggling to a 1-3 start, the Utah State University women's gymnastics team has reeled off two straight victories, including its first road win of the season Monday at Southern Utah University (194.575-193.300) in Cedar City and a thrilling 195.550-195.450 victory over in-state rival Brigham Young University last Friday in the Spectrum. / By Wade Denniston

Aggies to try to make it 11 in a row Thursday at Nevada
(02/16/00) With 10 Big West Conference wins in a row already behind it, the Utah State University men's basketball team will be gunning for its 11th straight Thursday night at the University of Nevada. / By Wade Denniston

Some people think red and see hearts; others want rugby blood . . .
(02/14/00) It's not your typical Valentine's weekend, unless you consider that rugby players from all over Utah were at the HPER field doing what they love: knocking heads and bleeding a bit. Utah State one once and lost once. / By Dan Chase

USU gymnasts beat BYU in a close one
(02/14/00) Falling off the beam three times and being handed a 197.075 to 193.175 loss by the No.4 ranked University of Utah on Monday, the Aggies, led by Christy Denson's heroics, rebounded in a big way on Friday night and stunned No. 14 Brigham Young University with a score of 195.550 to 195.450. / By Dan Chase

Aggies defy odds to beat Long Beach
(02/14/00) When the USU Aggies began the basketball season they were a team of low expectations; nothing was expected from a team with only three returning players from lasts year's squad nine new players. In the coaches' and media pools, the Aggies were picked no better then fourth place to end this season. On the other hand, Long Beach State was picked first in both pools. They were expected to be the dominant team in the Big West this year. / By Doug Layne

Aggies start hot in gymnastics, but then comes the balance beam
(02/10/00) The Utah State University women's gymnastics team posted a season-high 193.175 vs. fourth-ranked University of Utah Monday night at the Spectrum. However, it wasn't enough as the Utes scored a season-best 197.075 (10th best in school history), without two of their top gymnasts. / By Wade Denniston

Road trip and a home stand, all in the same week? Weird, but true
(02/09/00) Is the Utah State University men's basketball team at home this week, or on the road? The correct answer is both as USU hosts the University of Nevada Thursday night at 7 in the Spectrum, then travels to California for a game on Saturday at Long Beach State University. / By Wade Denniston

Lewiston's 'Chief' operates the controls of the Sky View offense
(02/07/00) Other than the basketball court in Eric Hall's back yard a half-mile out of town and the church's court across the street there isn't much to do in Lewiston except go to the city-owned Lewiston Theater -- and Hall hasn't done that since he was in ninth grade. Instead, basketball is his life. / By Aaron Morton

USU survives ugly first half to hold off New Mexico State and stay perfect
(02/07/00) After a sluggish first half, the Utah State Aggies improved their record to 8-0 in conference play, defeating the New Mexico State Aggies 66- 51 in the Spectrum Saturday night. / By Doug Layne

Aggies conquer Mean Green of North Texas
(02/04/00) The Utah State Aggies continue to dominate the Big West. The Aggies improved their record to 16-5 and are off to their best conference start ever as they defeated North Texas 83-70 in a game that turned out to be ugly. /By Doug Layne

Forsberg, first woman 300 bowler at Logan Lanes
(02/02/00) It had never been done before at Logan Lanes, but with nine strikes already behind her, the 32-year-old bowler was just three strikes away from becoming the first female bowler to throw a perfect game in Logan. By now, word had spread around the Wednesday Night Ladies' bowling league that one of their fellow league mates was on the verge of a 300 game. /By Wade Denniston

Women's gymnastics team sees first victory of the year
(02/01/00) As she has done so many times in her career at Utah State University, senior Christy Denson led the women's gymnastics team to its first victory of the year, 191.625-190.100, vs. Big West Conference-rival Boise State University Friday night in the Spectrum. /By Wade Denniston

Aggies are surprise of the Big West, staying perfect with victory at Idaho
(02/01/00) On the biggest day in the sports world, Utah State traveled to Moscow to play the University of Idaho and improved its record to 16-5, and a surprising 6-0 in conference. But it didn't come easy. Why are the Aggies suddenly such fearsome road warriors? / By Doug Layne and Wade Denniston

Opinion

Death of 'Peanuts' creator like a death in the family
(02/17/00) Snoopy's constant tapping on his typewriter made me aware of what it would take to be a writer. I still laugh when I think of his doomed manuscript for Toodle-oo, Caribou: A Tale of the Frozen North. It was always a dark and stormy night in Snoopy's stories, but he brought me sunshine every time he wrote something. Charles Schulz created many characters like Snoopy, who touched us in different ways. / By Sally H.N. Wright

Lifestyles

Will a little Mozart make you smarter in the short run? Possibly, but so could a little Van Halen
02/28/00 Researchers are backing off the idea of a "Mozart Effect." Elizabeth York, a professor of music therapy for Utah State University, says, "It is just too easy to say listening to classical music will make you smarter. . . . You can't take a music pill, because musical preference is important to the individual, it's personal." / By Kay Dee Johansen

Too sexy for my health: Magazine ads warp youths' minds about body image, expert says
02/18/00 Both women and men are affected by negative body image messages, according to Utah State University nutrition counselor Cynthia Allen. She presented an interactive program about the influence of media on body image at Friday's body image fair in the Taggart Student Center. "The number one magic wish for girls ages 11 to 17 is to be thin," says Allen, citing research of elementary and high school students across the nation. / By Sally H.N. Wright

This winter, try walking a few feet above the dirt
02/02/00 Snowshoeing is the second-fastest-growing winter sport in the country. One of the reasons is its mass appeal. It has very low learning curves, so people who basically like and enjoy hiking or they can walk, can snowshoe without any great difficulty. And you can do it even when the skiing isn't that great. / By Dan Chase

Arts

Young lovers and the all-knowing presence of Our Town: Shannon Tyler as Emily, Eric Van Tielen as George, and Mitch Berntson as the Stage Manager. / Photo courtesy of USU theatre department.

Review: 'Our Town' time warp leaves some viewers scratching their heads
02/22/00 Innovation is a wonderful thing unless it flops the way it did for Utah State University Theatre's production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town Friday night. The classic American tale about love and loss was presented with unusual production. Unfortunately this viewer, and several others, were left grasping in the dark for something concrete to hold on to during the wild time warp that left them dizzy. / By Heather Fredrickson

Striped Platter, circa 1997, by Susan Peterson, above, is one of many works on display through March 19. The museum on the USU campus has one of the top collections of modernist works created west of the Mississippi.

USU museum shows off some of its private collection of modernist wonders
02/18/00 An L.A. art critic says, "The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art has quickly become one of the most important repositories of modernist works made in the West." Until March 19, you have a chance to see some of the best of the museum's private collection in an exhibit titled "Moving Monumentally into the New Millennium." / By Kay Dee Johansen

1938's 'Our Town' to reveal timeless truths in updated interpretation
02/17/00 One of the most cherished and popular plays of the American stage comes to Logan in Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town, according to USU theatre arts department director Anne Berkeley. "Our Town continues to communicate powerful metaphors and symbols for the concerns and issues of our time, and in particular, for the communities of Cache Valley," says Berkeley. / By the USU theatre arts department

Review: Freelon wows crowd of students, faculty at USU
02/14/00 Only one negative critique can be given to the Nnenna Freelon concert given at Utah State University last Friday ‹ the concert began late. At exactly 7:42 p.m., the lights dimmed and Takana Miyamoto, Wayne Batchelor, Woody Williams and Beverly Botsford walked out on stage to take their places at the instruments of piano, bass, drums and percussion./ By Emily Jensen