LeBaronLogic

"Don't Quote Me, but ...." (From the dusted off Archives)

Post from 9-6-06

(Incidently, I just "celebrated" my 4 year blogiversary! Oh I should subtract a year for my 364 day sabbatical? You just have to mention and rub that in right? OK, 3 years then, Happy?

On various occasions in the last 32 months, news reporters will call me (as they do others), to comment on a variety of topics, usually action items to be voted on or have been voted on. Some of the subjects are controversial; such as zoning and land use planning, voting not to renew a long sitting administrator's contract, campaigns and (perceived dirty tricks), tax increases, water bonds, RDA money allocations, budget votes and on and on. At times a reporter will write a story on a meeting I was in and quoting me in the context of that meeting. 

 I believe it was William Randolph Hearst who said something to the effect that it is not wise to take on someone who buys ink by the barrels. I am certainly not looking for a fight. I have had a number of good experiences (and some regrets) in dealing with the media. The following are some media tips if any of you get a "call" from a reporter to comment on a story, or are in a meeting with a reporter present :

1. If you are not prepared or it is not a good time to talk, ask to return the call. Ask if the reporter is working on a deadline and what it is. Be sure to return the call well before the deadline.
2. If you don't want to see it in print or on the air, don't say it.
3. There is no such thing as "off the record".
4. Most reporters will try very hard to represent your views objectively and accurately. Their reputation is on the line with each interview as well as yours.
5. You can sometimes get a journalist to agree to check quotes or review footage with you before using them. Some reporters will agree to this, many will not.
6. You should never assume anyone from the media is your friend. It's all niceties and politeness until you see the quote or soundbite they chose, which misrepresents your position.
7. You should expect to have the worst thing you say be the quote that shows in print or on TV. You think you said something perfectly concise, intelligent and insightful? Great, it won't show up anywhere.
8. You should also expect the most sensational aspect of your story to be played up. (It has even been "reported" that reporters make up stuff to make it seem more controversial). I have never experienced this to date.
9. If you show the slightest bit of hostility, that will be favored.
10. Private conversations with others will also be reported if heard by the reporter (and usually only part of the private conversation is reported). Click here for an example, 4th full para. down, "Budget hearing".

Happy news reporting!!

Background Checks for Council Candidates?

David Lifferth, councilman in our neighboring city of Eagle Mountain has suggested future council candidates in that city be subjected to a background check. Click here for the dnews article. Hmmm, is that a good idea? No doubt Eagle Mountain has had its share of problems with elected officials. The problem with a background check (notwithstanding constitutional grounds), is it would have a chilling effect on willing and able standout citizens who would like to serve but unwilling for good reason to be subject to 1. Arrest and conviction records, 2. Division of Child and Family Services data bank, 3. credit report and 4. neighbor interviews. (All of which would have to be made public). Wheww, and we thought our dog ocassionally slipping out the fenced back yard and pooping on the neighbors lawn is a problem. This is certainly a case of the ends not justifying the means. Hey, what if someone has a minor skeleton in the closet, i.e. a compulsive shopper former spouse who ran the household finances into the ground or __________________________ (fill in the blank). Here is what a "background check" would reveal about me......

• Watches "Law and Order" too much, but doesn't miss Fred Thompson.
• Splurges occasionally on Rocky Road ice cream.
• Is obsessed with golf, basketball, traveling and city politics (not necessarily in that order).
• Likes recreational gardening (interpreted means anything less than an hour or is something the Mrs. or children can do).
• Once lived in Price and Moab (beautiful part of our state; southern carbon county of course is where the first moon landing was filmed).
• Sometimes runs out in pj bottoms to retrieve the paper from the driveway.
• OK, I did have a parking ticket or 2 at BYU (was late for a class I was teaching, couldn't find a parking place except in Lindon and gasp, parked in A parking). Was lucky I wasn't towed.

Early Voting Starts Today

Beginning today, American Fork voters can go to the AF Library at 64 S.100 E. from 3 to 7pm until Nov 1 or noon - 5pm on Nov 2.  Early Voters can also go to the Xango office at Thanksgiving Pt or to the Utah County Clerks office and cast an early ballot. The dates for registration have passed. The General Election is in 2 weeks on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.

Random Randomness

Greenwood Skate Park in American Fork (200 E. 400 S.) is now open officially. The park has the biggest bowl and street elements in the state. It is sure to be a welcome addition to our quality of life, if patrons respect the grounds and fellow users.

AF Broadband sale is closer to becoming a reality. This is good for the community and our citizens. Service should increase and our city finances should improve.

AF Punch and Politics, a gathering of candidates and local politicos was held last Thursday. Transportation issues were at play as well as school voucher discussions among state reps and school board representatives. There is sure to be alot of attention, misinformation and shell game finger pointing about Referendum 1 (school vouchers). As for local government, I am going on  record of endorsing .... Shirl LeBaron (surprise!), Sherry Kramer, Ricky Storrs and Dale Gunther (more details/reasons at a later point). Thanks to Tiffany Olds for organizing this forum.

BYU Football is creating some excitement. Two straight home sell outs. A road test earlier today found the cougs downing New Mexico 31-24 establishing them as the early conference favorite. Hopefully they will stay focused, fully invested, employing position mastery as well as precise execution.

AF High School Fall Sports is in full swing. First, the boys golf team reached the state tournament for the first time in 10 years, a great accomplishment. Football fans have high expectations. The 22-16 set back at Spanish Fork forces the Cavemen to win out, which means defeating Lehi, Lone Peak and Pleaseant Grove, a tall order, but doable. The girls soccer and volleyball teams are excelling too.

The Meadows LifeStyle Center is being planned with meetings upcoming. JCPenneys will be an anchor in an avenue of walkable, outside-mall like atmosphere, replete with middle to upper end shops for example; GAP, Banana Republic, Borders, Eddie Baur and the like. DISCLAIMER: Businesses mentioned are only illustrative, negotiations are ongoing.

And the Utah Jazz are preparing for fall camp. What about Andrei? Will they parlay last years playoff run into this season? Will Deron Williams establish himself as one of the best point guards? Will Carlos Boozer stay healthy? Will Jerry Sloan behave himself and lastly, will we see any Larry "You know this Guy" Miller tears? Time will tell.

The Naked Truth

Utah and more particularly American Fork made national news in somewhat skimpy fashion. In USA Today on September 14 was found this bare truth:

A man's naked run across a football field during a high school game is getting him some jail time.
    A judge did not find Jose Morales' attempt at a prank in the least bit humorous. She sentenced the 18-year-old to 60 days in the Utah County Jail.
    Morales pleaded guilty yesterday to misdemeanor charges of lewdness and possession of drug paraphernalia.
    Morales was arrested a few days after he streaked across the field during a game at American Fork High School earlier in the month.
    During a court hearing yesterday, Morales' attorney wondered out loud what Morales had done with the pipe when he was running across the field in the buff.
    Morales explained that the pipe was found when Morales was arrested a few days later.

I usually attend the games. It must have been against Anchorage when we were out of town for the weekend. Of course this begs the question? Where had this man bun? And really the incident is kinda cheeky isn't it?

I remember my senior year in high school watching the Academy Awards when a streaker crossed the stage on national TV.

One of the greatest spontaneous comments ever, follows:

"The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping... and showing his shortcomings." David Niven, commenting on the streaker who crossed the stage while he was hosting the 46th Academy Awards in 1974

But the bottom line is this....who apprehended him and how?

A Day in the Life of . . . Me

A typical day:

6:15a.....Alarm Clock (already?)

7:30......Arrive at office. Review file for court. Check phone messages and email.  Preview day.

8:15.......Travel to Heber City for hearing (beautiful drive through Provo canyon)

9:00......Court Appearance in Heber City, consult with client, conference with prosecutor.

11:00.....Misc. phone calls with office, texts, emails. Talk with city hall and opposing attorney for hearing tomorrow.

11:30.....Lunch at Junkies in Orem with wife, Allison and son, Justin (one of favorite places to eat in Good Earth, soon to be opening in American Fork sans cafe).

12:15p...Talk to Re-election Campaign worker, answer email and phone messages. Revise documents.

1:30.......Attend Short Game Clinic for AF High School Golf Team with PGA pro Rick Roberts at Fox Hollow Golf Club. (I am an Assistant Golf Coach). Left early.

2:30.......Back to office to sign documents

3:00......Preside at Orem Small Claims Court (my comic relief for the day)

5:00......Observe Basketball Skills Clinic at Open Court, Lehi with Coach Ray Stewart attended by son, Tanner and other AF and neighboring players. Multi tasked with email, doc revisions, texting with hand-held. Left early.

7:00......Attend and participate in City Transportation Public Hearing at AFJH. Turnout was good and input helpful as 5 target areas and the Master Plan was discussed.

9:15.......Visit with citizens and colleagues after Public Hearing.

10:00.....Dinner, Family Time, Exercise and TV News

11:00.....Check messages, emails, this blog posting

11:30p....Whewww, Lights out, Life is good and busy

9600 North Angst

The rumor mill is swirling and fingers pointing concerning our neighbor, Highland City's recent change to their transportation element of their General Plan to designate 9600 N. (which borders AF's northern boundary) a major collector road. Both AF and Highland neighbors have been in a dizzy thinking 9600 N. will be expanded on both sides on both borders in response to the change. Well, here are the myths and facts:

Myth: American Fork has sold out to Highland, receiving water shares for our agreement to consent.

Fact: No such thing has occurred. Highland has the authority to amend its transportation element as they choose. In this case, Mayor Franson an engineer has merely corrected the appropriate label of what the road really is.

Myth: This corridor and its widening is a "done deal" with UDOT and MAG (Mountainland Association of Governments). The Mayors in Utah County have so designated.

Fact: 9600 N. as a major east west corridor is only one of many proposals authorized by the county's mayors as an option to a major east west corridor in the overall planning.

Myth:  Construction on the widening of 9600 N. is set to begin now if not sooner.

Fact: Even if 9600 N. is selected by UDOT as a major collector, it will be 15 - 20 years before it begins. There are Army Corp and wetland issues regarding Mitchell Hollow. There are funding issues. There is the issue of Fox Hollow Golf Course. AF owns the majority of the golf course property to the north. There are restrictive covenants relative to the golf course property remaining as open space and/or recreational property. In additon this road involves regional transportation planning. Also buying the property from homeowners will be difficult given rising land values and budget restraints from funding agencies.

Myth: There is nothing we can do as Highland and AF citizens to let our voices be heard.

Fact: The power of the people in lobbying, petitioning and appearing at meetings brings much to bear. In this instance such mobilization can be directed to UDOT, MAG and Highland City.

Myth: The American Fork City Council supports Highland's decision and the Regional transportation decision makers in widening 9600 N.

Fact: I do not support 9600 N. being a major east west corridor road.  I know my colleagues are concerned about this issue as well. It seems to me that 9850 was planned and designed for that (it is much wider). Highland should be concerned about directing traffic toward its commercial center. We have or will make that known to the decision makers. Such action will have a detrimental effect on our citizens, homeowners and neighborhoods in the area. That said, we, (AF) do not have the right to dictate to Highland how to plan their city and have no authority to contest the changing of their transportation element of their general plan. (The entire road is in the jurisdiction of Highland City). Also, the fact that you call a duck a goose does not make it a goose, it is still a duck. 

Next Door Neighbor gets a High Five

Sometimes there are just heartwarming stories on the news. KSL - 5 TV honors individuals who have accomplished things and/or are just good human beings. The news station recognizes these individuals with a "High Five" (from channel 5), a clip on the news and some goodies.  One such good man is Rollin Sattler, my next door neighbor in American Fork. Mr. Sattler is a World War II veteran having fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He also volunteers at the LDS Bishops Storehouse, keeps a great yard, is involved in his community and provides service for others. Click here for a brief uplifting video of the award. Click "play" in the upper left for a larger picture. (There is a short advertisement at the beginning). Check out some cameos from other neighbors - some you will recognize, but may have to replay it 2 or 3 times. Way to Go Rollin! It is an honor living next to you.

"Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked and Walked and Walked"

Excerpt from Brigham Young: American Moses, published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1985.

Having taken the lead, Brigham Young and his immediate company entered the Salt Lake Valley on September 20. John Taylor, senior apostle in the Salt Lake Valley, started out on horseback to meet the president, astride "a Spanish pony." As they were riding across the fort where most of the people were living, his horse reared, Taylor was injured, and he could not proceed. Upon his arrival Brigham called to see him. According to Mary Isabella Horne, who was present, Brigham remarked that Taylor's horse was like many people, "only the people had the stiffness in their necks and the horses had it in their legs."

The last wagons rolled into the main fort four days later. That afternoon Brigham addressed a large congregation of Saints at the Bowery (an open-air meeting place covered with limbs and leaves), erected for public meetings on Temple Square. He commended the people for their "industry" and expressed his "joy in being able to come here in safety". That this is the place he had seen before he came here & it was the place for the Saints to gather.

At the end of a 1,031-mile journey, Thomas Bullock recorded "86 travelling days at an average of 12 miles per day; 36 days lay still. Total 122 days from Winter Quarters to Great Salt Lake City."

Brigham had made his long trek to Zion for the last time. He was in his new home, where he would spend the next 29 years.

Happy Pioneer Day.

Too Close to Home

We see the images of the war on terror in print and electronic media, but the casualties are not supposed to come to our community and certainly not a friend's home; but it does and it has. We received the sad news that Sgt. Nathan Barnes, son of Kevin and Donna Barnes of American Fork lost his life in the supreme sacrifice of dying in the battle field. I did not know Nathan, a life long resident of American Fork; but I know Kevin. Kevin is a dedicated father, scouter, agent for Farmers Insurance and involved in grass roots Republican party work as well as local civic affairs. This is where I met Kevin several years ago. I visited briefly with a broken hearted father in Kevin this morning. A most sobering experience. And yet this dad was so proud of the service Nathan gave. Make no mistake about it, the family is resolved that he was doing the right thing. He certainly was. Defending our freedom abroad and not merely "facilitating the move to a democratic government" that talking head Chris Matthews was putting forth as "the" cause in a late night apperance yesterday on Jay Leno's show. Thanks to young men like Nathan, we are fighting terrorists on their soil as opposed to ours. The following newspapers have followed this most difficult story: dnews, herald and sltrib. Broadcast news reports are found at ksl and abc4. The soldier's body is expected to be returned home in 7-10 days, funeral arrangements are pending. May God bless this good family and give them peace that they so need and deserve.