Friday, October 10, 2008

SGR Meets the Candidates (10/6/2008)

Kimberly Johnson and Don Dunham extended a hand of welcome to members and guests. Ray Robinson lead the SGR choir in a rousing rendition of "You're A Grand Old Flag." Eldon McArthur invited members to follow him in the Pledge of Allegiance and June McAfee asked for the blessings of heaven on the meeting and the meal. Ken Sizemore took to podium to conduct a lucrative Horseplay while Dan Strobell collected the "filthy lucre" on behalf of Polio Plus!

Announcements: June McAfee reminded members of the assignment to deliver dictionaries to 3rd grade classrooms throughout the WCSD. Pick up books at Grant Carter's office.

Richard Isom enthusiastically shared one of several advertisements for TV promoting the upcoming Dixie Rotary Bowl (the first weekend in December).

Ken Seefeld announced the recent passing of Shirley Huskinson, wife of longtime Rotarian Garn Huskinson.

Program: Jeannine Holt introduced speakers Brad Last, incumbent candidate for the office of Utah House of Representatives (District 71); Don Ipson, Utah House of Representatives (District 75); Alan Gardner (incumbent) and Lyn Alder, candidates for the Washington County Commission. In remarks, Last called his service in the Utah Legislature "the most fun and at the same time, the most stressful assignment I have ever had." Ipson expressed kudos to Last and his colleagues calling their service "of great benefit to the people of this region!" The former president of the Utah Trucking Association, Chair of the Utah Applied Technology Colleges, Ipson is calling for a balanced budget and improvements in public safety. Alder, son of Doug and Elaine Alder has lived 22 of his 38 years in Utah's Dixie. A graduate of Dixie High School, Dixie State College and Utah State University, he is running as an independent "with the same priorities as my family has had in this community: education, environment, water, housing, roads, energy and taxes!" Alder feels there is an urgent need to develop renewable energy sources - "we should be developing our own (Boone) Pickens Plan! including a solar plant which would create power to be sold to California." Gardner, a member of the original sponsor of Vision Dixie, notes "our land is important and should not be locked up." Citing growth statistics, Gardner noted Washington County remains the lowest taxed county in Utah and supports the need to develop affordable energy sources such as oil shale. Citing growth statistics, Gardner noted the county has enough water to sustain itself for 10-12 years, but must move ahead on developing water from all sources.

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