Download - Sanpete Messenger

C M
Y K
����������������������������
By Suzanne Dean and
Bryon Glathar
Staff Writers
EPHRAIM—At this time
of year, parents are keenly aware
of how expensive it is to provide
Christmas for their children.
But what if you had more
than 800 children on your shopping
list? If you spent just $30
per child, your tab would come
to nearly $25,000.
That’s the daunting challenge
Sanpete Sub-4-Santa is
facing right now. About 400
families, with about 800 children,
have applied for assistance.
How is the drive going?
Okay, but gifts and cash donations
are still urgently needed,
says Kay Jensen of Manti, Sub
for Santa chairwoman.
For starters, United Way
of Utah County has agreed to
help 100 of the Sanpete County
C M
Y K
children in need. “That’s a huge
help,” said Jensen.
Residents have two more
days (Wednesday and Thursday)
to drop new, unwrapped gifts in
donation boxes at 15 drop sites
around the county (see attached
list). Among favored gifts are
Barbie dolls, baseball mitts, basketballs,
storybooks and games.
By Friday, the organization
will be removing the donation
boxes, and the gifts inside them,
from stores and other locations.
However, if you want to donate
after Thursday, call Jensen at
851-4580 to make arrangements.
It’s never too late to donate
cash, Jensen stresses. Simply
mail your check to Sub-4-Santa,
P.O. Box 302, Mt. Pleasant, UT
84647.
Earlier this year, the organization
sent out what Jensen calls
the “beggin’ letter” to businesses
and past donors. The response
was excellent, she says. She
Mayor Natasha R. Madsen
doesn’t have a current total but
she’s sure more than $5,000 has
come in.
However, the organization
is well short of its record cash
year in 2010, when it brought in
more than $13,000.
This year, the organization
had its sights set on a large
donation from a Presbyterian
women’s group. Last week, that
donation fell through.
On the bright side, Sub-
4-Santa has received exceptional
support from the Mt. Pleasant
LDS Stake Humanitarian Center,
Jensen says. Almost every
child on the Sub-4-Santa list will
receive mittens, a crocheted cap
or some other item that has been
hand made by volunteers associated
with the center.
And Sub for Santa has perhaps
the best headquarters it has
ever had. Snow College donated
the building formerly used by the
Sanpete Academy alternative
�����������������
With less than one week before Christmas,
Sanpete Sub for Santa needs ‘urgent’ help
school in the northeast corner of
West Campus.
“We’re in a big, wide-open
room that’s wonderful,” Jensen
says.
Volunteers gather at the
building every Tuesday and
Thursday at 1 p.m. to review
applications, select suitable gifts
����������������������������������
would like to help, just show up.
As the clock ticks down
to Christmas, Sub for Santa
�����������������������������ever
it gathers among needy
families and kids, Jensen says.
And based on her experience of
helping families at Christmas
for upwards of 20 years, she is
��������������������������������
the Sub for Santa list will get
something nice.
“We’re pinching it,” she
says. “But you know what, it
always comes through. Neat
things are happening that are
gonna make this possible.”
Bell Choir prepares for annual Christmas Eve service
Light
(Continued from A1)
tor and several more years as a
member of the Ephraim Recreation
Board, “so he knew the
value the baseball/softball complex
would have for the youth of
this community,” Squire said.
In fact, Nelson has been a
driving force in one of the biggest
annual events at the complex.
He was a member of the
Ephraim Lion’s Club for 33 years
and president for three years.
������������������������������
and his love of youth sports, he
has run the Ephraim Lions Club
annual baseball/softball scholarship
tournament for the past 30
years,” Squire said. “The Lions
Tournament is a highlight for
hundreds of kids each summer.”
Nelson has served as a
bishop and member of the high
council in the Snow College
LDS Stake, among numerous
church callings. He and his wife,
Barbara, are currently serving
an LDS mission at the Manti
Bishop’s Storehouse.
The Nelsons have six children,
14 grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
“Bart has always been a
good friend and neighbor, helping
and giving generously to
many in need, but his calling as
father and grandfather, following
and supporting his grandchildren
in their many activities,
is his greatest joy,” Squire told
the crowd.
Wheeler, a native of Milburn,
also graduated from North
Sanpete High School. After
graduating from college, he
PHOTO COURTESY DOUG JOHNSON
����� ������ �������� ��������� ���� ������ ������������ ��� �������
����������������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������������������������������������
����������������������������������������������������������������
�������������������
brought his family to Manti.
He taught biology, science
and ag science, was the school’s
���������������������������������
baseball for two years.
According to Squire, he
wanted each student to succeed
and always said there were “no
bad kids, just bad situations.”
“He gained the respect of
many students, parents and other
faculty members at Manti High
School. He was truly a leader and
a friend to the students, showing
fairness and respect to each of
them,” Squire said.
From his years on the fac-
MT. PLEASANT—The community bell choir
is hard at work practicing for the annual Christmas
Eve candlelight service presented by the First Presbyterian
Church in Mt. Pleasant.
Due to renovation at the church, this year’s
service will take place in the Craighead Auditorium
on Wasatch Academy campus, kitty-corner to the
church.
The candlelight service, held by the church on
Christmas Eve for 50 years, has become a tradition
for many local families regardless of their faith.
The service will include multiple numbers by the
bell choir, along with selections by musicians in the
community and Christmas carols sung by everyone.
Following tradition, the service will culminate
in the passing of light from the single candle to
individual candles held by everyone in attendance,
symbolizing the coming of Christ’s light into the
world.
The service will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday,
Dec. 24. The Craighead Auditorium is on the
southwest corner of 100 South and 100 West.
Arrive early for the best seating.
ulty up to the present, he has
been a top supporter of athletic
and academic activities, Squire
said. As a faculty member, there
were few events he and his wife,
Jean, didn’t attend.
“To this day, they still attend
almost every football, basketball,
baseball and girls softball game,”
Squire said. “They continue to
have a love for the youth of our
communities.”
Wheeler was active in the
Manti Lions Club and helped
improve the city park. He served
as district commissioner for the
Boy Scouts. He was a member of
the Manti City Council for two
years. Then he left that post to
serve with his wife in the Washington
Belleview LDS Mission.
Today, Wheeler has several
LDS church callings and, according
to Squire, spends many
hours each week making sure he
completes his duties.
Wheeler and his wife have
been married 58 years and have
three children, 14 grandchildren
and 16 great-grandchildren.
Squire added, “He continues
to have a love for his com-
���������������������������������
respected citizen of Manti.”
RENOVATED MANTI CITY LIBRARY
Councilmembers: Darren Dyreng,
Vaun Mickelsen, Korry Soper,
Loren Thompson, Jason Vernon
North Pole
Sanpete
Fairview
��������������������
��������������������
Ephraim
���������
��������������
���������
���������������
��������������������
���������������
Gunnison
����������������
Hardware
�����������������
A Christmas Wish
for all of you from
Peggy, Daren and
Gene in the store
and Joel, John
and L.R.
in the field!
835-4351
TOOL
SETS!
C M
Y K
Sub for Santa
drop-off sites
Manti
��������������
�������������������
Mt. Pleasant
�������������������
���������������������
Hardware
�����������
�������������
Moroni
�����������
A special holiday thank you to
all of the citizens and visitors
who enjoy our community.
Special thanks to those who,
through their volunteer
service, make Manti such a
great place to live — not
just during the holidays
but all year long!
C M
Y K
��