We Made Out in a Tree and This Old Guy Sat and Watched Us

The Daily Herald in Provo, Utah, has a twice-weekly section called Our Town. It consists of small-town news, written by local people (i.e., not professional journalists). Following is an article submitted for publication by two regular correspondents, exactly as it was received:

By BARBARA BLACKBURN
and SHIRLEY BLACKBURN
Herald Correspondents

PROVO — Customers in the Provo Deseret Industries may experience surprise and delight when they hear live music.

It may also be more of a surprise when they discover that the pianist is blind.

Ron Roberts (the piano player) and Shane Greer (the vocalist) are a musically talented twosome, who delight and serenade customers with good, uplifting — yet entertaining — music, that without question, make the Deseret Industries a place you want to visit often.

Roberts is an employee who hangs garments in the mornings and entertains in the afternoon in this one-of-a-kind Deseret Industries.

He was born in Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1965 — one of 12 children — with the special challenge of sightlessness.

He attended the California School for the Blind where he learned independent living skills.

He served a proselyting mission for the LDS Church for two years in Tampa Bay, Fla.

He still takes classes at BYU whenever possible, such as religion, physical education, and music, attending athletic events and concerts. The bus provides his transportation.

Greer sang in the Salt Lake Tabernacle as a soprano soloist, with a youth choir, at age 11.

Greer has partnered with Roberts at the Deseret Industries for the past two years as a volunteer. He writes original lyrics, sings them to Roberts, who puts them to music to make many of the pieces they now share with the public.

Their repertoire includes a wide variety of music to satisfy any and all requests; such as Disney theme songs for the youth, country, pop, classical, show tunes, and those with a religious theme. Each Saturday for the last two hours they play and sing spiritual music to prepare people for the Sabbath.

On occasion, other employees or passers-by join with them; some have been known to dance in the aisles.

Katie, who frequents the Provo Deseret Industries, said, “When they see me coming, they make my day by performing some of my favorites — such as ‘Baby Face,’ ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and ‘Hello Dolly,’ — just for me.”

Milan Hurst came and sat on the couch with his 7-year-old autistic son, Robert.

“Our boy is easily agitated and frustrated, but when we bring him here, this atmosphere calms and soothes him,” he said. “He can be grumpy when we arrive and immediately the music in this store lifts his mood and he’s comforted.”

They visit care centers, weddings, funerals, church meetings, clubs and community events such as an upcoming special patriotic, pioneer program July 24 at the Pioneer Village on 500 N. 500 West, Provo.

They can be seen at the Provo Deseret Industries most afternoons, or call 370-0510 or 358-3996.

Published in the Bonneville Byline at Bonneville Junior High School, Utah:

ILLA I THINK YOU’RE HOT! SARA B.-WE DO LOVE YOU! YOU’RE SO CUTE! CHANGA DE GLASIOSA JOEL DIDN’T YOU SAY SNOWBOARDERS GOT ALL THE CHICKS?WELL NEVERMIND.(FROM A BUNCH OF SKIERS WHO GET CHICKS)

LOGAN YOU ARE THE HOTTEST BOY I KNOW! OH YEAH JOEL I LOVE THE SKIERS KRISPEN BLACKETT IS THE HOTTEST GUY IN EIGTH GRADE! ALEIGH-MAD COW DISEASE- CALM YOURSELF! GIRLS KICK! SKI OR DIE

DANNY YOU ARE SOOOO…….HOT! ZACH WADE IS LURPY!

BAGEL CREAM CHEESE AND SOME HOT CHEETOS- WHAT WILL WE THINK OF NEXT? YOU GUYS IN SEVENTH GRADE ARE SEVIES DON’T DISRESPECT NICK CHIPPING’S COLOR CAYLAH-YOU ARE OBSESSED WITH CHAPSTICK! I BET YOU HAVE THE SOFTEST LIPS EVER!I’LL ASK SPENCER.

KENNA NEEDS MIRACLE GROW! GABBY YOU’RE KINDA SHORT BUT YOU’RE NICE. DANNY PAYNE AND [contributor's name] WOULD MAKE A CUTE COUPLE

From The Daily Herald in Provo, Utah, 2/6/01:

By AMY K. STEWART
The Daily Herald

PROVO — Pornography will be the subject of an all-day conference at BYU on Wednesday.

“Cyber Secrets” will address issues ranging from how to protect families from computer porn to the treatment process of those addicted to pornography.

The event is sponsored by BYU Women’s Services and Resources and is geared toward students, but it is also free to the public.

“No one has really taken measures to educate the students with this type of conference,” said Adrienne Sotuyo, 23, a senior from Omaha, Ark., majoring in social work. She is the program coordinator for BYU Women’s Services and Resources.

Conference hosts have received great support from BYU administration on this first-ever endeavor, Sotuyo said.

“We just felt like we wanted to hit it head-on and not beat around the bush,” she said.

From The College Times at UVSC sometime in the summer of 2000:

By Jeremy A. Davies
Opinion Writer

Hypothetically speaking, if you are driving in the “Fast Lane” and another driver pulls up next to you and asks you “Sir/Ma’am, exactly who are you passing?” what do you think that would mean? What I am trying to express is that certain lanes are designated for certain criteria. Of course many may think this is my opinion, but I think it should be universal to the driving population, as I believe they should apply many other techniques if it concerns them.

Is a driver do that? This is a question I have wanted to know for a very long time now, the driver only does this when he sees that you need to get over.

Ever since I became irate with a driver, pulled up next to him (ready to throw down) and saw that he was about eighty some years old, I have contemplated whether or not I should seek counseling. In speaking to the mass I feel I should recommend the same to you as well (if you have a problem with anger). In a matter of minutes I can see many situations of road rage when simply driving down the road. It is very interesting to note that many drivers who are victims of road rage have no clue what they did wrong. I must say this, I am in no way defending those who act upon their anger on the roads, but I feel the roots of road rage come from those people who are ignorant to the skills of driving, as well as a lack of anger management skills for the other party. I feel strongly that it takes two to tango. I believe both sides of an argument have the power to stop things from going further and in most situations–whether the victim wants to believe it or not–are in the wrong to bring things to a confrontation. If someone has shown you in some way that you have done something wrong then you must assess the possibilities of what you could have done. In my opinion, if you simply use the lanes on the street with courtesy and regard to others, meaning, the left lane is for people who like to drive in accordance with the speed limit or need to turn left (this does not mean drive down this lane for miles just because you will eventually use it), the middle lane is for general purpose and the far right lane is for coming on and off the road then you will be safe and will not interfere with those who do know how to drive. Also, when you are on the freeway watch truckers, follow their techniques, when they come to an entrance they move to the left to allow drivers on, and they only use the fast lane to pass. Please do not fret, I am aware that many think truckers are terrible drivers because they have such large vehicles to drive, and some may have had a bad experiences, but truckers like to be on the road and are not scared to drive as well as having a complete education on how to manage a vehicle.

I also conducted a poll on State Street, every time I came to a stop light I would quickly get out and ask a selfish or moronic driver a question. Needless to say, I did not get good results. The best answer I got when asking a man (pulling a trailer from approximately 800 North to 800 South in Orem) why exactly are you driving in the fast lane 5 miles under the speed limit, He said he only rolled down his window because he thought I was his son who just happened to be following him. Though, when I told him I was taking a poll for a local newspaper he told me he would, for my readers, move into the other lane and he did accordingly. As the driver of the truck moved for our readers, I ask you to change your driving and/or your reactions to other drivers if needs be so that our roads will be a place of transportation and not a location for the fight club.

From The Payson Chronicle in Payson, Utah, 10/11/00:

(It should be noted that this story appeared on the FRONT PAGE of the newspaper. Also, please note the use of the phrase “I was to a BYU football game” instead of “I was at a BYU football game.”)

by Ivan Haskell

As I was purusing the grocery ads the other day, in the middle of its pages were two witch pictures I readily identified as my daughter, Betty Ann (Haskell) Murray. It is the ad for Payson Market Place printed by Associated Foods in Salt Lake, and it goes to its many stores about the intermountain area.

I was to a BYU football game when this “witch” came down the stairs and gave me a hug and a kiss. I was somewhat startled, but when she repeated the process with my wife, DeLowa Haskell, and I could look at her, the familiarity came to me.

We were playing Pennsylvania, coached by Joe Paterno. He is very superstitious, I’m told, and Betty Ann as a witch confronted him and put a “hex” on him and his team, predicting that BYU would win the game, which is what happened.

She went up in the announcer’s booth with Paul James and talked with him and gave her name as Grinelda the Witch. She dons this costume every October and makes the formidable appearance of a lovely witch.

My son-in-law, and Betty Ann’s husband, works in the printing department and they were looking for a model to dress as a witch for pictures in these ads. Bill told them, I’m married to a real witch. They looked at some photos of her and told him to bring her in and they would look at her. Apparently, she passed their test.

From The Daily Universe at BYU, 9/25/00:

By Cameron Sawyer
NewsNet Staff Writer

When it comes to Olympic coverage on NBC, apparently not all sporting events are created equal.

Badminton, trampoline, shooting and handball are just a few events that will either see little or no television time at this year’s Olympics.

Brooke Harris, a junior from Calgary, Alberta, majoring in exercise science, is disappointed in NBC for not equally dividing television time among all sports.

“Badminton is the second most popular sport in the world. It’s second behind soccer,” Harris said.

Harris said she played badminton in Canada, and won four national titles playing for the Canadian junior and senior national teams.

Harris also said she worked out with six Canadians who are currently representing Canadian badminton in Sydney.

Olympic badminton is not the kind of badminton played in a yard during family home evening.

According to the Sydney Olympic Web site, professional badminton is the fastest racquet sport in the world. The bird has been recorded at speeds of up to 160 mph.

“People would be shocked to see badminton played at a higher level,” Harris said.

Rachael Bradford, a junior from Hong Kong, majoring in nursing, said Hong Kong badminton is always on TV.

“I lived in Malaysia for years, and badminton was on constantly,” Bradford said.

Harris’ younger sister, Page Harris, a freshman from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, majoring in business, played on the Junior Canadian National Team before suffering a knee injury in a badminton match.

“All I’ve seen the last couple of days is gymnastics and swimming,” Harris said.

Mike McCarley, a spokesman for NBC, said the better known sports such as basketball, boxing and gymnastics are scheduled to receive more television coverage.

“Obviously there are some sports considered more traditional than others,” McCarley said.

However, if a good story takes place in the Olympics, NBC will fit it into the schedule, McCarley said.

“NBC’s focus has been storytelling. What it takes is a story,” he said.

McCarley gave the example of Nancy Johnson winning the first American gold medal in the 10-meter skeet shooting event the first night of the Olympics.

He said although shooting was not expected to get any coverage, it was covered Friday night because it was a good story.

“Rhythmic gymnastics kills ratings,” said Matt Jesperson, a senior from Sunnyvale, Calif., majoring in English.

Jesperson said he would like to see more sporting events covered during the Olympics, such as the trampoline event.

“I can’t believe they don’t have trampoline Jumping on TV. Everyone would want to see that,” Jesperson said.

According to the Olympic Web site, professional trampoline athletes can jump up to 30 feet in the air performing various aerial maneuvers.

Derrick Woodward, a freshman from Alpine, majoring in neuroscience, said he agrees with NBC’s lack of coverage.

“I don’t think those sports have as big of an audience pull as the others. They’re sports I can play in my own back yard,” Woodward said.

Ryan Varkevisser, a sophomore from Pretoria, South Africa, majoring in accounting, said, “America likes to show all the sports they excel in. That’s probably why you don’t see table tennis and badminton on TV. Other countries are going to win those sports.”

Angela Smith, a junior from Logan, majoring in biology composite teaching, said that NBC is probably too scared to try anything new.

Smith said she would like to see other sporting events introduced in the Olympics, such as the egg toss and dodge ball.

“I would love to see people get smacked by the ball,” Smith said.

The Olympics will be shown on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC until Oct. 1.

From The Daily Herald in Provo, Utah, 9/19/00:

UTAH COUNTY — It didn’t snow Monday and hasn’t at this point in the year for 22 years.

The only measurable snowfall in Provo during the summer fell 22 years ago Monday.

“No matter how you look at it, a total of 1.5 inches of snow was measured on Sept. 18, 1978,” said David James, who oversees the weather station at BYU. “The high temperature that day was only 47 degrees, and a total of 1.64 inches of precipitation was logged.

“Low temperatures the next morning dropped into the upper 20s and lower 30s across Utah County.”

After that first snow, the city went for 45 consecutive days without moisture, James said. The next rain or snowfall was Nov. 3. Meteorologists that year also recorded highs in the 80s in October.

There were clouds Monday, but no snowflakes or raindrops.

Although the past weekend was one for the record books, with temperatures in the 90s, no records were broken Monday.

Orem was the hottest spot in the county Monday with 90 degrees; Provo, 83; Springville, 80; Pleasant Grove, 79; and Spanish Fork, 79, forecasters said. Heber City hit 85; and Nephi, 79.

For comparison, Zion National Park reached 99; Tooele, 85; Helper, 82; Price, 82; Salt Lake City, 79; and Park City, 73, forecasters said.

Similar weather is expected for the rest of the week, but forecasters had little expectation of rain.

Highs today could hit the upper 70s, which is within the normal range, according to the National Weather Service Web site. Nights could be near 50 degrees.

The weather pattern will continue to Wednesday, and then the cloud coverage could ease Thursday with highs approaching 80, according to the Web site.

Friday and Saturday could be dry and cooler with highs near 70, according to the Web site.

From The College Times at Utah Valley State College, 9/7/00:

By Megan Carlson
Of the NetXNews staff

Girls were glossing their lips and guys were chomping their winterfresh gum last night; all were waiting for their moment to get kissed.

“[I came] to get kissed and become a true wolverine,” explained Darin Schneider. “I can’t wait until next semester– I’m going to every single one!”

Utah Valley State College hosted their first True Wolverine last night in the new ‘Tunnel of Love’. The Student Officers only planned for a couple hundred students; however, an estimated 600 to 800 people attended the event.

“For the first year, we didn’t plan for this big of success,” explained Student Body Officer Juston Puchar. “Next year I bet it will be three times as big.”

While some students arrived with someone in mind to smooch, there were many who had never spoken to the person they were going to kiss.

Freshmen Amber Dyer and Jason Russon never met before they experienced their first kiss together; however, once the first kiss took place, many more followed.

“We made out in a tree, and this old guy sat and watched us,” explained Dyer. “We talked too– we didn’t just kiss.”

Dyer and Russon were not the only strangers making out; Dyer’s friend, Katie Larsen, and Russon’s friend, Christian Robinson, also got pretty close.

“They should hold these things every weekend. It’s a good way to meet people and get involved,” said Larsen. “This is why I went to UVSC instead of BYU– so I can participate in fun traditions like this.”

While Dyer and Russon plan to continue their new relationship, Larsen and Robinson do not. In fact, Larsen has a boyfriend and Robinson has a girlfriend.

With so many people wanting to make out, it was hard to avoid the one’s that you did not want to kiss.

“There were a bunch of freaky guys asking me and I was scared,” said freshman Ashley Garbe. “He (freshman Jake Anderson) basically came to my rescue.”

Anderson saw Garbe and began talking to her, then they ended up in the tunnel.

Although many people ended up in the tunnel by the end of the night, there were a few who were not successful.

“We didn’t get kisses because we’re freshman,” explained Dave Moody. “We came for a good time, but we haven’t quite had a good time yet.”

After searching for a girl to kiss, freshman Derek Meecham finally found the one.

“I just asked girls if they wanted to kiss and they would give an excuse,” said Meecham. “I used my best lines, and I got rejected like 20 times.”

But eventually Meecham found freshman Mandy Thacker and got the kiss he had been waiting for all night.

Junior Katie Coles also received a kiss she was happy to wait for. Although Coles’s plans were to oversee the event, she unexpectedly took part.

“He (name withheld) said ‘I’m not taking no for an answer.’ Then he took my hand, drug me in the tunnel, and kissed me,” explained Coles. “I never liked kissing so much until tonight.”