$1.50 July 5, 2024 | Vol. 3 Iss. 23
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Family Tree Assisted Living Fair
MORGAN COUNTY NEWS
The center celebrates its 15 year anniversary Page 7
Covering Your Community Since 1929
Multiple schools join together for a revised production of ‘The 12 Dancing Princesses’
NEWS BREAK Presidential debate
“THE 12 DANCING PRINCESSES” CAST.
By Verlene Johnson
T
he 12 Dancing Princesses, a lesser known fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, tells the story of 12 princesses who frustrate their father, the king, when he wakes every morning to find their dancing shoes in tatters. An award of marriage is offered to anyone who can solve the mystery of his daughters’ shoes being worn out each morning. After several men fail, an old soldier returning from war is aided by an old woman and an invisibility cloak to discover where the princesses go at night. Thirty four years ago, this fairy tale came to life for Kathy Latham and her sister Dorthy Keddington of Layton, Utah. After being captivated as young children by their mom telling them the story of 12 princesses who danced every night at an enchanted ball, Keddington and her daughter Laura Bedore, came up with the idea of a musical version of their favorite fairy tale with the prin-
Photo by Kelsey Hadley
cesses being named after each month of the year and a shoemaker getting rich as he supplied dozens of dancing shoes to replace those worn to pieces each night. Keddington asked Latham to write the music and with the help of Stephanie Clark they were off and running. For over 25 years, “Princesses” has been performed by dozens of high schools, church groups, community theaters and colleges. Two years ago, Latham, a former member of the Tabernacle Choir, enlisted help from members of the Utah Symphony and Orchestra at Temple Square to record a new Young Performers edition. Melinda Taylor, founder of Mountain Green Musical Theatre, and daughter of Latham, decided to collaborate with her sister Lindsay Hickman to produce this revised version of “The12 Dancing Princesses.” Taylor gathered former and current students from Mountain Green Mid-
dle School that had performed with her during their middle school years, some who are now in high school and students from Morgan High School Theatre Department to audition for the play. Hickman’s son, George, who attends Davis High School reached out to several of his theatre friends to audition. In addition students from Northridge High School and Weber High School auditioned bringing high school students from multiple schools together. To round out the cast, students from Fairfield Junior School and Shoreline Junior High School also joined in. It was anticipated that the new orchestra recording would be completed by 2023 and hoped to produce the show that summer. However, the recording took longer than they had thought. “By waiting a year, our cast members had a year more of maturity and experience
PRODUCTION on page 2
2024 Morgan County Livestock Ambassadors
Supreme Court rules homeless can be ticketed for sleeping outside
The United States Supreme Court ruled last week that cities can ticket homeless people for sleeping outside, in reference to a case being heard by the court from a city in Oregon. The decision has already been extremely divisive, spurring vitriol from both sides of the aisle. In one camp, people argue that it is cruel to arrest people for sleeping outside when they simply have no other place to sleep, in the other, people believe that it will create more opportunities to funnel more homeless people into shelters rather than public spaces. According to the new ruling, violators could face fines of hundreds of dollars and up to 30 days in jail.
President has limited immunity rules Supreme Court In a decision that has shocked many, the United States Supreme Court ruled on July 1 that the president of the United States has immunity for “official acts” as president, but “not everything the President does is official.” and “The President is not above the law,” according to Chief Justice John Roberts, as reported by CNN. Former president Trump has hailed the decision as a “big win” as he continues several legal battles leading up to the election this year. At the time of going to print, Donald Trump’s 34 convictions from his most recent court case will still stand, although sentencing has been delayed until Sept. 18 of this year, instead of the original date of July 11.
Nicole Reed Morgan County 4-H Program Coordinator II/Livestock Ambassador Advisor
O
ur Morgan County Livestock Ambassador program is off to a great start for the new year, and this marks the seventh year of this program being in place.This program allows youth in 9th-12th grades who have been showing a hog, sheep, and/or beef for at least five years an opportunity to give back to the livestock program and earn scholarship money. 4-H and FFA are always looking for ways to provide leadership and service opportunities for youth. This program encompasses all of that plus more. Youth who wish to become livestock ambassadors must fill out an application, get two letters of recommendation from non-family members, and write an essay about their personal livestock experience and how they can help other livestock members. After the application process is complete, they go through an interview with the livestock superintendents and the livestock ambassador advisors, Nicole Reed (4-H Program Coordinator II) and Hannah Giles (FFA Advisor). There are a total of five livestock ambassador positions available (two sheep, two swine, and one beef). If selected ambassadors will serve from May 1 – Aug. 31, and must fulfill the following responsibilities: • Work with five – six, first or second-year livestock members, teaching them about livestock handling, feed pro-
Thursday, June 27 President Biden and former President Trump debated one another in an event many news outlets dubbed historic. The debate marked the first time a sitting president and a former president met for a debate in U.S. History. The two candidates for president addressed hot-button issues such as immigration, abortion, inflation, employment and more in a showing that left many on both sides disenchanted. Many Democrats were concerned with Biden’s performance and led even more to wonder if there were other candidates more suited to winning the next election. Both Biden and Trump are scheduled to debate at least once more before the election.
grams, daily care, show day preparation, and showmanship techniques. Meet with new livestock members in May before the June Show and in July before the Morgan County Fair. After farm visits send a follow-up text or email to new members and cc 4-H Office and FFA Advisor. • Assist new livestock members with filling out their 4-H or FFA portfolios. • Make two livestock educational videos. Topics will be decided on as a group. • Create an educational poster about your species to be hung up during the fair. • Assist at the Morgan County Fair with livestock sale as determined.
• Help with panel set up and take down for June Show and Fair. • Write an article for two livestock newsletters. Rewards for livestock ambassadors upon successful completion are as follows: • $250 Scholarship (Received upon successful completion of Livestock Ambassador duties) • Recognition at Livestock Sale and Achievement Night. • Ambassador jacket for show days. • One polo shirt to wear at events and when working with new livestock
AMBASSADORS on page 5
‘Amber Man’ studies plant life during dinosaur age Some 130 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, our planet went through a crucial turning point. The appearance of flowering plants transformed the fern and conifer-dominated ecosystem into the world we know today. In Lebanon, paleontologist Dany Azar –known as the “Amber Man” – has dedicated his life to reconstructing the drama that was unfolding during this time period through the specimens preserved in the hundreds of amber outcrops he’s discovered. “A piece of amber is a window into the past,” he says.